Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi there! I have an 8 year old German Shepherd mix that was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma last year which led her to get her leg amputated. Abby's incision healed nicely and she gets along really well! The only concern I have is that she is always licking where her leg used to be. Is this normal? Does anyone know why she could be doing that?
Thank you!
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Abby looks like a beauty in your avatar- is she a front amp? It looks like it but it is hard to tell for sure.
How far out from surgery? If it was last year then at least 3 or 4 months.
Is she licking her incision scar or the ground where her leg would be? I've heard of both.
Licking can be signs of lots of things- nervousness, boredom, nausea, pain. Did Abby have any issues with phantom limb pain? Has her activity level changed so much that she might be bored?
My quad-pug Obie is an OCD licker- he came from a history of neglect and abuse including being kept in a small carrier for hours at a time. He spends lots of time licking his front paws and the air and sometimes blankets- we guess because he had nothing to do in the carrier.
Have you checked with your vet? Assuming there are no medical issues you might try providing Abby with some mental stimulation such as training or interactive toys. My current Tripawd is a little pug mix named Elly who is only 16 months old. She still has lots of puppy energy to burn off- we practice obedience and work on core strength every day. It keeps her mind engaged and is surprisingly tiring. I use training and toys with Obie and it really helps.
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
Great tips from Karen there. The licking may indicate pain. Here is just one of many Tripawds News blog posts about pain management:
Is Your Dog or Cat in Pain? Here’s How to Know the Signs.
Please consult your vet with any serious concerns and keep us posted. Welcome!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Karen covered everything I was going to say. My Jack exhibits the same behavior when she's either bored or anxious. When I notice her doing it (or come home to find wet spots on her bed), I try to spend a few minutes training her to redirect her focus and it generally works well. But yes, it could also be caused by nausea or pain - do you notice any pattern to her licking behavior?
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