Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hi All, Girlie is 5 days post-op. Overall, she is doing great. I am letting her walk but occasionally I will carry her to the yard as she is still gaining strength. She does seem depressed. I am wondering if anyone has experienced this. Although I cannot blame her for going through down emotions, I need to bring her as much joy and peace for whatever time she has left. Has anyone found depression to be a common response during post-op? She is eating and drinking but very lackluster and - well depressed. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
If she is still on pain meds (which I assume she is at five days), it is more likely the meds than depression. Once her staples/stitches are out and she comes off the meds, you will start to see "your" Girlie.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Yep, ditto Kathi. Most dogs come home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotic. What's ber doseage and her weight? She could also still feel a bit of pain...or not.
Five days after ajor surgery while adjusting to three legs js still very, very early in recovery.
My Happy Hannah had to be enticed with a scoop of ice cream swirled in her water to get her to drink.
Of course, check with your vet to make sure there are no underlying issues and to make sure she isn't dehydrated. But as far as the experience of most of us here, this lethergy is not surprising at all.
In fact, for about three weeks during Happy Hannah's recovery, I wondered what it the world I had done TO my dog! But once her sparjle came back bigger and brighter than before, I knew I had done it FOR my girl!!
Try to stay upbeaw a d overly excited with every little victory, every little step in ner own. She just needs rest now and potty breaks.
As far as eating, a little trick you might try. Have someone come over she really likes and bring Girlie a cheeseburger. Sometimes just having that "new energy" around makes a difference! And also try pizza, or stinky liverwurst.
Stay connected! We are right here by your side!
((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I asked the very same question about 5 days post my Sketch's amp. He seemed so down much of the time. But as Sally and Kathi have posted, the pain meds play a big role in how your Girly is feeling and once she is off most of the meds you will see her perk up.
I did make special meals for Sketch for the first couple of weeks even though he was eating well and these meals became the highlight of his days. Then once he was acting more chipper I returned him to his normal dog food. Nice warm cooked hamburger or some baked fresh fish are big "lifter-uppers"! 🙂
Trini and my Sketchie Boy
First, if she's eating and drinking...yay! 
It's very common for us to see this type of behavior as depression, I'm pretty sure every Tripawd pawrent here has gone through this same scenario so you're not alone.
As others said, typically what we see as depression is a reaction to 1) pain medication, which can make dogs sleepy and dopey (what is she on?) and 2) tiredness and fatigue.
Five days out is not a long time. As hard as it is to see them so down, it's good for them to get their rest and not get overly-excited about anything. As long as she's eating, drinking and eliminating, that's awesome. If she's doing things like panting, pacing and whining, that's more of a pain indicator and you should definitely talk to your vet about adjusting her meds. Well, really, anytime you worry, call your vet, after all that's why you pay them.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just chiming in with the same experience. Maggie seemed more despondent and 'blah' at times second week home from surgery, than at first. I agree it's likely a combo of meds, tiredness (Maggie didn't sleep well thr first week so I think it caught up with her), and adjusting to life in 3 legs. In our case I think it also had to do with her picking up on my stress to some extent. Add to that not being able to go for walks like she lives to do, being restricted from jumping on the couch and going upstairs, and she probably was a little bored. But not depressed how we silly humans would be.
I guarantee Girlie is not ' missing' her leg. She's just patiently waiting until she can run and play and do normal dog stuff again. Maggie is now 5 or 6 weeks out and is acting like a puppy again! (She's 12). It's really like a new lease on life and I swear she knows it.
Good luck and keep on doting on her. She'll be better than ever, soon enough!!
Cindy and Maggie
Just wanted to add; it's amazing what a cheeseburger can do for your fur-baby, not to mention it will warm your heart to watch her gobble it down. 
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
One of our members once said that her new Tripawd was imitating a block of cement the first weeks after surgery!
I think that is what my little pug Maggie was doing. All the medical stuff was fine, eating drinking and eliminating just fine. She could get around on her own the day of surgery. I was really worried I had made a mistake by choosing amputation and I think my down mood contributed to hers. She was a stubborn little thing though who did not deal well with any changes to her world. Once she got used to her new normal she was just fine.
How does Girlie do with change? Be sure you are upbeat around her, and I second having a visitor or two to perk her up a little (just a little though, rest is most important).
And 5 days is really, really early in recovery. There are a few lucky pups who seem to bounce right back after surgery, but most of us had to wait at least 2 weeks to start seeing the 'sparkle'. Keep track of her progress every day, maybe even keep a journal or log of the positives you see each day. You will see improvement as the days go by and soon you will wonder why you were worried.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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