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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
This site and the books have been so useful in preparing us for what to expect when Eva came home. I think we've been quite lucky so far, as she hasn't been too whiny or unsettled!
Eva's surgery went well. She didn't seem particularly pleased to see us when we picked her up at the vets the next day, but got out of the car on her own when we got home, had a wee in the front garden, and made an attempt at going up the stairs to our door (we live in a first floor flat - that may be a second floor apartment to most of you), so she was obviously glad to be home! She had a big drink when she came in, and then spent a lot of time lying down with her eyes open. She had her evening pills in sausages, which went down well! She had a fairly first quiet night - a few bouts of squeaking.
Day 2 post-amp started with pills in sausages, which was popular again. She spent the day sleeping and hopping between beds, and my boyfriend cooked her mince for lunch. She had that and then ate our other dog's biscuit lunch! She managed to go down the stairs, with help, but he had to carry her back up (all 34kg of her!).
Day 3 (today) we had a vet check up - he was pleased with the way the wound is healing. There is a little bit of fluid building up but he said that's normal (which I know, because I've read about seromas on here and in Jerry's book!). She's had her normal three meals today, and had a poo outside the vets. She had a little walk up our road this evening, and it's true - tripawds do move quicker!
At the vets:
And her new bed arrived - this is her trying it out!
And just now, she did a roach!
She's beautiful! My girl comes home in a couple hours and I am crazy nervous but agree, these books/pages have been extremely helpful!
Lots of love and healthy wishes your way!
Alison & Shelby
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Online
Wow, sounds like she is doing great! Eating, peeing, pooping and walking a little! And she looks like she approves of the new bed too.
My pug Maggie was also a rear amp. Rear amps have more trouble going up, so that might take her some time to build strenght in that one back leg. Mag was so little that going up more than two or three stairs was too much for her but Eva is so tall that I bet she will have no trouble eventually.
Of course carrying a 8 kg (17 lb) pug up a few stairs is a little easier than toting a 34 kg (75 lb) greyhound 
.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Eva looks wonderful!
Sounds like she is recuperating well and is adapting her new reality on three legs 
Cheers
Linda and Tucker
Awwww yay Eva! You are soooo pretty, how wonderful that you're home and doing so well. YAY! 
I'm curious about what kind of pain medication she's on? She looks very alert!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She's done well today - starting to manage the stairs on the way down with less help, although she's still being carried up them. She did three poos on her morning hop down the road, and said hello to the postman and our neighbour.
She's moving round the house reasonably well, but likes to have a wall or the side of a chair to lean against when she sits down, as it helps her balance. Greyhounds are not terribly agile (even with four legs!) but she's working out how to manage with three. We are trying to keep the house really tidy so there is nothing for her to catch her hind leg on. I think we'll be less nervous once her wound has healed - at the moment when she gets up we're always a little worried she'll catch it or fall on it - but I'm sure she knows what she's doing!
She's on Loxicom, which is also called Metacam, I think. We are giving her slowly reducing daily doses.
YAAAAAAY EVA!! Splendid update, jst SPLENDID!!
And it bggles my mind that she's just on Metacam! No Tramadol or Gabapentin? And doesn't seem to be in pain? WOW! Humans would still be in this hospital and on lots of painkillers after this major surger!
I LOVE, LOVE LOVE her pictures! And tne one with her enjoyi g a stretch on ner back and holdng her ball between her paws.....soooooo cute! She's jist so pretty...so regal looking!
Yeah, I have an older with nly a few rooms that have been "restored".. basically the dogs and I just utilize a small living space...and one of those "spaces" is pretty much covered with a couple of different beds for Hapoy Hannah's lounging pleasure, sofa that I've removed so Hapoy Hannah can get up on it, toys, dried up beef bones, stuffies.....and a chair and tv for me!
As Karen mentioned, rear leg amps often times have trouble going up stairs. I kow you already kow this, just try and slow her stair up and down climbing as too uch too soon can cause wear and tear on her joints.
Thanks for taking tje time to give us this WONDERFUL uptate!! Steller job Eva! Steller job everyone!!
Look for forward to more posts AND pictures!
Hugs and love to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah
PS........Just curious, what does it mean when you say she "did a roach"?
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!
Wow she's doing GREAT for just being on Metacam. If you notice that she's antsy at all, you may want to ask for a stronger medication like Tramadol and/or Gabapentin, which really works well in a lot of dogs who need more pain management .
Sally I think he means the photo when she's laying on her back, she looks like a flipped over cockroach (kinda!)
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, 'roaching' is what greyhound people call it when their dogs roll on their backs and wave their legs in the air. Our other dog enjoys sleeping on the sofa in that position. I'll post a photo when I'm on my laptop!
She seems to be coping fairly well with only Loxicom at the moment. She did have a short period of panting just now, but has stopped and seems to be going to sleep.
Awww, sweet dreams Eva!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She was a little unsettled last night, but went to sleep eventually, and had a long lie in this morning. We put our other dog Fanta's Ruff-wear harness on her to help going down the stairs, and she managed the stairs down almost on her own. I think she finds it easier with the harness on than with a towel under her belly, because she tends to freeze if she feels constricted (I know somebody else said their dog froze if they tried to help - most inconvenient!). She has spent most of the day sleeping, occasionally getting up and moving between beds in different rooms. She did seem to be shivering at one point, but she'd taken herself to sit in a cooler room so perhaps she'd been feeling too hot to start with?
Ohhh what a fun pack you have!
Yes, many dogs will freeze up when you try to assist with a traditional sling. And in fact we've heard of a lot of greys who won't even wear a harness so it's great that she wore it without any issues. YAY!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Love the pictures! Eva sure puts every inch of that bed to use.
The bruising near the incision looks better too. Go Eva!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
ROACHING!! Of love seeing Grehhounds do roaches!! YAAAAAAY! Best pictures ever!
BEAUTIFUL dogs you have.....lovely gentle souls!
Okay now, I've got to get Happy Hannah to do a Roach and get a picture!! Oh yeah, chunky plus sized "well muscled" models can do roaches too!!
I could look at pictures of these two all day.....keep 'em coming!!
Hugs to all!
Sally and HappyHannah
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!
1 Guest(s)
