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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Franklin's surgery was a success!
He's pretty heavily sedated.. and sleeping peacefully. Breathing is good. Heart is good. He hasn't been up to pee or anything yet because he just had the surgery done this morning.
I called back at 3 oclock to see how he was and he is still sleeping. I told them I would call back at 6 before they closed to see how he is.. probably still be sleeping then!! lol But I need to do that.. I need to know..
Now I need to find answers to questions...
Polysporin? DO I use it on his wound? Hydrogen Peroxide? What type of pain killers will he be on? Should he be taking any type of herbal vitamins or anything? Will he need chemo? Should he stayed covered with a t-shirt? should I invest in one of those harnesses for him for when he is healed?
The list will get bigger the more I think about it..
Thank you all for your encouraging words. I will be searching through the site for the helpful hints now... lol
bark 'atcha later!
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
I'm glad to hear Franklin's surgery was successful. I know it has been a stressful day for you.
Daisy came home from the vet with a pressure bandage that was on for three days. It really helped her swelling. I know that some vets send amputations home without any bandages.
I did not use anything on her wound. My vet instructed me keep it dry. They did send her home with oral antibiotics to prevent infection.
All I had Daisy on as far as pain killers was tramadol (as needed) and her Deramaxx once/day which she had already been regularly taking for two years for arthritis pain. The tramadol I administered on a regular schedule for the first week and then started weaning her off of it. I never could tell a difference with her on/off it. She did pant really bad that 2nd day home which can be a sign of pain or caused by the tramadol. Who really knows but it freaked me out.
Franklin doesn't have to have a t-shirt unless he likes to chew at his incision site or maybe laying outside where he might get dirt in it. Daisy didn't seemed interested so I didn't have to do that.
Don't hesitate to post any questions/concerns. We have all been there!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
That's such a great update, we're so glad he is doing well. To answer your questions . . .
Polysporin? DO I use it on his wound? Hydrogen Peroxide?
No, nothing unless your vet instructs you to. You especially don't want to use hydrogen peroxide. See this post for details, Amputation Wound Care for Post-Surgery Dogs
What type of pain killers will he be on?
You want to ask your vet about this. Your dog should at the very least have a NSAID like Rimadyl or Metacam, and Tramadol. Many vets also prescribe Gabapentin to prevent phantom pain , and many dogs also come home with a Fentanyl patch, which is strong painkiller that gradually releases in the body over the next couple of days.
Should he be taking any type of herbal vitamins or anything?
That's a huge topic and all dogs have different needs depending on their age, pre-existing health conditions, etc. Have you seen suggestions in our Tripawds Nutrition blog?
Will he need chemo?
Chemo is such a personal choice, and it's not mandatory, although studies show that dogs have a greater survival rate with it, depending on what kind of cancer and the type of chemotherapy. Have you talked to your vet about this yet? If you want to investigate chemo as an option, we recommend that you get a referral to a board-certified veterinary oncologist. Even if you chose not to do it, at least you will have all of the information you need to make an educated decision.
Should he stayed covered with a t-shirt?
No mandatory but t-shirts can help prevent them from bothering the wound.
should I invest in one of those harnesses for him for when he is healed?
They're not mandatory, but we find that harnesses like the Web Master come in very handy for car rides and helping new Tripawds get used to stairs and navigate slippery floors. If your house is entirely carpeted and you don't have stairs, and you don't travel with him often, you probably won't need it. For the first few days after surgery, a canvas grocery bag with the sides cut open comes in handy as a temporary sling (you use the handles to help lift him and support him).
Hope this helps!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad to hear his surgery was a sucess. Each dog recovers at a different speed. Sassy who is 20 days recover from her amputation is doing great. I didn't get a harness but used a bumper pad from a crib as a sling. its wider & softer than a towel or sheet.
I know Sassy was on a fentonal patch when she came home for 3 days, she came home that same day, they also had her on rymadyl. Did have to give a a tramadol on day 2 as she was a little in pain on top of the patch. I didn't use anything on her stitches, no peroxide and she has a coat i keep her covered when she goes outside otherwise nothing on the amputation site.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
A successful surgery is always amazing. Rest well Franklin
Dogs: Friends for life, faithful and true.
Courage is being scared to death... but saddling up anyways.- John Wayne
bikeintime.wordpress.com (will soon have Hank story)
Hooray for successful surgery!
Some dogs come home with a bandage, some don't. Abby didn't. We kept her in a t-shirt, because it caught the icky fluid that dripped from her drain when she moved around (if there's no bandage, and a drain, then every time they exert themselves a bit of thin bloody fluid can come out). It also helped keep her from licking her incision when we were giving her a break from the cone. And it helped to not scare the neighborhood children until her incision was healed up. 
We never did any sort of cleaning of her wound. It healed up quite nicely.
Herbs/supplements is a big topic! You might want to check out Dr. Dressler's Dog Cancer Survival Guide . He does a nice job of rounding up info on some key supplements. (Although he does push those apocaps of his a lot - which we never gave to Abby.)
Chemo is another big topic. You might want to search the forums as many have started topics asking for advice on chemo. We did it w/ Abby, but as I've said here many times, I'm not 100% sure I'd do it again. She did great on it and we had a wonderful 15 months with her... but I can't help wondering what might have happened if we'd gone holistic the whole way... (We did a mix of holistic supplements and trad'l meds.)
Hang in there! It's a lot to take in/figure out. If you have questions during his recovery, we're here!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Glad to hear the surgery was a success. You have lots of good advice here. My pug Maggie came home with a fentanyl patch, then we did Tramadol for almost two weeks. She was a rear amp and did not have a bandage, most rear amps don't.
Mag had mast cell cancer, not OSA. I chose to do chemo partly because post surgery tests showed lymph node mets. Mag had another cancer, and her little sis Tani developed mast cell cancer too, in both those cases I chose not to do chemo. For me I have factored everything into my decisions- health, age, etc. there Is no right or wrong answer, you choose what is right for you and Franklin. I would second Jerry's recomendation to see an oncologist so you know what all your options are. I made my decisions in consultation with my regular vet and our oncologist.
Remember, the first couple weeks can be full of ups and downs, so don't get discouraged! Let us know how we can help.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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