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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A third poop with leather bits!!!
I am crying and happy to have dug bare handed through dog crap!!!!!!
I did Ibizan Hound rescue for decades and my first boy, Jack, chewed up a cheap Walmart slipper that was maroon colored.
I had no idea he had done this and the next day out in the yard, I saw him pooping out what appeared to be his bloody intestines or something.
It was a 12 inch strip of maroon fleece.
I nearly had a stroke.
Sometimes I think Hrafi's trying to kill me.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY👏👏
♥️♥️♥️
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!
Whew! I'm so glad it came out. Our Wyatt Ray was the master of eating inappropriate objects. One of the advantages of having a big dog is those things usually pass in a couple of days. Super happy Hrafi is doing well!
Still picking out bits.
Hard to put them together like a puzzle to see how much is left.
OMG, this dog!
Chances are good they'll all pass through without any issues. Yeah, I can totally relate about dogs who do that!
I will be bringing him home today.
They say it all went well and the night nurse said he's doing great.
Hasn't eaten for them and as of 1am, hadn't pottied either.
I'm supposed to receive post-amp instructions on care but I'm so afraid I'll screw it up somehow.
He's been using a step I made to go up and down from the sofa for months, pretty much three legged for weeks and I worry about that.
I don't have a crate big enough for him anymore as he destroyed that one, getting out of it.
Keeping him restrained and off the sofa will be very hard as he is desperate to be next to me at all times.
He needs to lose the fat he gained from 10 months of me "spoiling him" and restricted activity.
I just feel so overwhelmed and inadequate and have no one to help with him as my elderly husband isn't capable at all.
Am I supposed to do chemo on him *again*, now?
He's had 6 rounds of carboplatin after the SRT, already.
I would have to go back to the oncologist 70 miles away for that, if she'll even see us again.
They just called me while I was typing those and they're really happy with how he's getting around so there is that.
Anyway, the angel who watched over last night even sent me a post-op photo which doesn't show the "scary part".
I'm dreading seeing that because I know I will have a terrible time seeing him with a surgical wound because it's like his pain is my pain, if that makes sense.
Anyway, here is my boy last night.
SURGERY IS DONE!!!!!!! And he looks do handsome in his photo!
When you go to pick him up today at the clinic, don't even bother to look at his incision or Draw any attention to it. All he wants to see is your happy smiling face telling him what a good boy he is and he's going home! Stay strong and confident and happy around him and he will know all is okay. And remember, the incision is a good thing because it is happening pain and giving him a chance at a good quality life full of more spoiling and loving. Actually, the scarier part is that they love to get Clipper happy and shave a lot of fur.
He'll probably be fairly drugged and not too anxious to be jumping around or trying to do the zumiez. You can take the cushions off of the sofa and leave one for you to sit on and put a blanket next to you so he can lay on that. From what you're saying, it sounds like with the step it's just one step up and he's on the sofa. But yes, you do want to prevent him from doing any saying that resembles jumping right now.
A lot of clinics feel like their job is done once they have done a successful surgery and forget to prepare us for recovery and what needs to be done. And that's exactly why we are here for you. Will help you navigate through the recovery and be here to celebrate as he gets more and more of his Sparkle back. Remember, this is major surgery and he's not going to feel like having a party quite yet. Plus, he should be anfully drugged and that will make him be a little bit loopy anyway.
Just put any decisions about chemo Assad right now and just focus on recovery. There are no right s or wrongs when it comes to deciding to pursue chemo. Yo you have a couple of weeks before you need to make that decision. We can provide feedback later.
Have to run out but will be back to check in and give some more tips. And remember, we have the tripawds helpline for you to call if you have any questions or concerns. 1 844 tripawds
((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Do you have anyone to go with you when you pick him up? The clinic will help you get him into the car but you might need some extra help in getting him out.
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!
Hubby is going but he's not much help.
I know Hrafi is gonna be bonkers about getting home so I'm taking one of his ramps along for the fairly low car seat.
I told the techs to hang on when they bring him out because drugged or not, he's gonna try and drag them like a plow, trying to get me.
They used to have 2 or 3 techs hanging onto him when they brought him out from his chemo sessions because he is *strong* and that was only 1 hour spent away from me.
After 30 hours away from me, he's gonna be flipping out.
My "sofa" has no cushions because it's not actually a sofa.
Always having a passel of dogs here, I got This End Up twin beds and they have a mattress instead.
I gave up on sofas decades ago because with me and 5 or 6 dogs, it was just hopeless.
Didn't matter if I gave up on "my sofa" and went to sit on "their" sofa, because they'd all just follow me there.
🙂
Aww YAY! I'm so happy things went well. I hope at this moment you are giving him tons of smooches and lovin, it will be so nice to have him back.
Remember, the incision is temporary, it will get hidden under fur soon enough. Makes me jealous that we can't do that with our surgery incisions!
Stay strong, he will feel your energy and project it back to you. The more pawsitive and optimistic you are, the more he will feel it and respond well.
Keep us posted OK? Sally is on the Tripawds Helpline today if you want to talk. 844-TRIPAWD.
Thank you!
He is tired and doped up I think.
Came home and drank water but wasn't much for food.
Not quite got his sea legs yet but he can hop okay.
My heart hurts for him because he doesn't understand why this is happening to him.
Welcome home Hrafi!
Actually, it's good that he's quiet right now and fairly doped up. He will have the strong hospital meds in him for another day or so.
Great that he drank and can fo some hops already. Drinking is important as is peeing. It may take few days for him to feel like eating or to poop. Hopefully you can stop looking for leather bits so you can stop worrying about that "crap"😎
I know we say this a lot, remember that it just had MAJOR surgery 24 hits ago and is just feeling blah.....perfectly normal.
Dogs are so resilient and so lucky not to have some of the same hooman emotions we have. He's aware something is "different", but not really questioning the "why" or "how". He''ll assess the situation and adapt accordingly at his own pace and in his own way. He's not feeling sorry for himself, just a bit doped up right now. Which is good.
Try and get some rest tonight. You have been through so much to get to this point. You are such a strong woman who has a lot on your plate. You've powdered through some really tough times and you're stil standing! As he gets his sparkle back you will start to relax and you will celebrate seeing Hrafi being Hrafi again.
Stay connected and hang on to us, okay?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Loved your "adventures" with your dogs and sofas. Yeah, I get it!!
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!
WHEW! So so so happy he's home. Yes, he is dopey but that's a good thing, you really want him to rest so his body can heal.
His appetite will come back, don't panic. As long as he is urinating and can get outside to do that, he's on the right track. Don't ask him to do anything else than potty at this point.
Did you get good instructions from your vet? What questions do you have for us?
Very good instructions.
They're now taped to the fridge so I get his meds dosage times right.
He's back to stuffing his face.
My questions, as such, is this rant
------------
I think he wants to poop and keeps acting like he's going to but he was using the messed up leg for balance and I have no idea if he'll figure that part out.
He has always squatted to pee and Lord knows he's doing a lot of that.
OK, I know this is super overwhelming and you feel like you don't know anything. But you DO! And just by being here and asking questions, you already know more than you did yesterday. Be proud that you are reaching out and asking others who have been there. I see Sally is here right now and her experience is invaluable. She always has great things to add to the discussion and I know she can help you feel confident. You are NOT an idiot, really!
First, don't put anything on the wound unless your vet OKs it. You can call and ask about the Vetericyn (it's a great product), but they will probably tell you not to use it if it wasn't in their instructions. I know it's hard to believe but the wound does best when it only gets air on it.
Most dogs don't come home with bandages, and if you are finding the shorts or suit to be too much trouble than don't use it. I also wouldn't worry about your floors having germs. Dogs bodies are incredibly resilient and able to fight off all sort of bacteria, and it's healthy to be around a certain amount of it. If he gets dirt on the incision, gently blot a warm washcloth to remove it. That's really all you need to do.
He sounds like his having a typical recovery. Eliminating and eating is WONDERFUL! He is doing so well. And I know it feels like he's wondering what happened but it's more likely that he's wondering why you are so sad. Try to see the big picture. Your handsome boy is on the mend and he is going to amaze you when he's back to his old self! Stay strong and keep us posted.
Hello; I want to encourage you by sending you a hug right now. Please do not feel like you are alone because you are not. My Rocco had amputation of left hind limb he is on his ninth day. This support group has been wonderful and helped me through my darkest days just past 8 days. You will not do anything wrong you love your pup like we all love ours if not you would not be here writing your every experience before and after his surgery. He has a great mom!
I completely understand and feel everything you are going through.
His recovery sounds just like my Rocco’s recovery.
Interested in reading more about your experience and don’t let go of this group 💕
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