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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Just more thing. When you pick Cash up, don't even look at his incision site...he sure isn't! Just look into his drug glazed eyes and kiss him and applaud for him and tell him what a good boy he is!!
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!
Hey there Cash and family
We are thrilled to hear the operation went well 
and Cash will be home soon !
The first couple of weeks might be a bit challenging but after the stitches are out recovery picks up a new pace!
Sending you a cloud of pawsitive energy and big cuddles to your gorgeous boy
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Well Cash is home. He is doing amazing. Seems very comfortable and I couldn't believe how well he did leaving the vet hobbling over to the car. He was so happy to see the kids. I know it's only been an hour but I think everything is going to be just fine. Cash is a trooper and hopefully the men's will keep him nice and comfy during the healing process.
Howdy and welcome!!
I'm just now catching up as well.
My very first post in this community had the word "terrified" in the subject line.
All of us have been in your shoes in one-way or another. If there was only one word I would wish for you to remember is "hope".
Don't let anything, sleep deprivation, emotional rollercoaster, blah, blah, blah, take your hope because that is what's going to keep you centered and balanced for your sweet Cash.
Can't wait to see pictures!!!
pam
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
Welcome home Cash! Sounds like he is doing great. You might get a bit of a crash around day 3 - 5 as the hospital meds wear off, but for now, let him sleep and pretty much direct his own activities. And lots of cuddles!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
HOME SWEET HOME!!!! Great to hear all is well. Rest, rest and more rest and potty breaksand lots of snuggles and treats. That's all Cash needs to be doing for awhile.
Pam...well said, as always!
Hubs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Well if he's already hobbled to the car and in the house he's ahead of a lot of the bigger dogs already. Great update makes my heart happy for you guys. Rest, eat, potty breaks, and more rest for now. 😀
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
So happy Cash is home and getting around well - you all must be so relieved and delighted!
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
cashdog said
...ruffwear harness recommendation. I was wondering if there was something reliable I could use other than a towel sling...
Cut a canvas shopping bag down the sides to make a sling with handles. Here's an example of the bag sling trick with photos.
I found it on amazon...gotta love Amazon.
Did you know about the Tripawds Gear blog ? Or find it in the Tripawds Amazon blog ?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just thought I'd jump on and give a quick status update.
Well the first night went really well. Cash got to sleep right away but then woke up and started panting fairly heavily at around 2:00. he wasn't supposed to get his next round of pain killers until 5:00 and 6:30. I didn't think he would last that long but I laid down next to him and we kept ourselves distracted with some late night TV. I guess we both fell asleep and I had to wake him up to take his meds. He is getting around pretty well. he has stood up once on his own and once he is up he doesn't need too much support. The webmaster sling is a god send. Glad I was able to get it same day delivery. It fits well and he actually spent the night in it and is still wearing it now. The incision looks really good and I have not heard a single whimper out of Cash aside from the one time he sat himself down on the wrong side. I'm sure he is in some discomfort but he has always been a tank when it comes to handling pain. I'm really glad I'm able to be here for him to help him in and out. He seems to be doing great...I hope he doesn't regress at day 3-5 like some of y'all have mentioned. Oh well who needs sleep.
I'd love to post some photos but. don't have anywhere to upload them to link the URL to. His avatar pick is him from day one shortly after I picked him up from the vet.
Sorry to hear about your situation. It truly stinks but here we all are! Our 73lb Pitt bull Boomer is on day 4 post surgery and doing great so it gets better. What medication did they send you home with? Whatever it is its critical to stick to the program religiously.
My vet suggested we pick up some Pepcid AC for his digestive system and give him 1 pill twice a day. We also feed our dog 1/2 banana every day (as he had a propensity of sampling 'cat cigars' in the back yard - not pleasant!) and the banana helps curb that temptation!
Between the Pepcid and the banana our guys 'system' has been tip top. No issues either end which is a concern with all the pain meds and antibiotics racing through their system. Of course if you have any issues there you should check in with the vet first.
Fortunately these block headed breeds like ours seem to have limitless capacity to absorb pain, unfortunately that also means you need to be extra vigilant that they aren't overdoing it (my guy has scared the hell out of me a few times already!)
the big man will be fine in no time!
Fascinated by your banana comment. Tess does that too - what in the banana prevents it? She not infrequently does it, and then jumps into bed. Yuck!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
It's a mineral deficiency that (apparently) makes them do it and bananas have a ton of potassium, manganese and magnesium in them.
They also have a lot of fiber to help keep things regular (and are a cure for the runs just like canned pumpkin) are great for blood pressure, contain tons of free radicals and tryptophan which is good for mood and sleeping. We swear by them! Boomer loves em and his system is bullet proof! Plus they're cheap.
Boomer, to answer your question on the meds. Cash has a Fentyl pain patch still on him from the day before the surgery. I'm sure that has worn off already and they are going to remove it tomorrow when I bring him back in for his second cold laser therapy session. Aside from that they sent me home with Rimadyl, Ciprofloxacin (antibiotic), and Tramadol. I have absolutely been religious on administering the pain mess and Cash has been reacting great. No signs of pain, back to displaying his playful demeanor and really good appetite. He hasn't made a BM since before his surgery but given how much he has eaten the last two days in sure something is gonna give soon.
I'm curious... is the cold laser therapy part of cash post op care or is it for another issue? I'm just not familiar with it.
Also looking at the list of his meds I don't think that includes a nerve pain blocker? I know a lot of people on here were given gabapentin to ward off the 'phantom limb pain' so if you see any of that in his recovery speak to the vet.
As far as meds go Boomer has Previcox (another NSAID like Rimadyl) gabapentin (the nerve pain blocker) and the fentanyl patch (which is coming off tonight).
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