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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For ten years, I have been grateful for this forum/website and once again, coming here for advice. We were a family of three tripawds (2 dogs/1 cat) but 2 weeks ago we adopted a 2 month old puppy (Chloe) born with a deformed front leg (we call it her chicken wing). After our vet consult it was agreed upon to amputate this leg (she doesn't use it and was born without a radius bone in this leg). While we are well versed in amputation surgeries, we are not with front amputations as our other three are all rear legs. She will have her surgery (and spayed at the same time) in January. I do NOT want to use the dreaded cone with her because she does face plant occasionally and I don't want the added stress on her or cause her any harm during recovery. I have seen people use compression shirts (where do you get these??? I am in Canada) or simple baby cotton shirts, etc.
I am looking all advise on what you used post-surgery for front amputations without using the hard cone. I have already bought the Ruffwear Flagline harness ...which is awesome! Now I just have to stop her from chewing on it or the leash...HA!
I look forward to all your advice on what to use.
Thank you and stay well,
Bonnie
Oh my dog welcome back! Ten years has flown by, I can't believe it. At some point you'll have to fill everyone in on Chester's story, if you're up to it.
We are honored you returned to share Chloe's adventures with us, thank you.
Thank you for adopting Chloe. What a lucky girl!!!
I am looking all advise on what you used post-surgery for front amputations without using the hard cone.
You're gonna love this, especially because it's made in Canada! It's good you're thinking ahead so you can have it ready for her surgery day.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Bonnie
My dog Mojo had her front leg amputated and was sent home with a compression shirt. We were told that she would wear the shirt for two weeks until she went back to have the staples removed as it also helped to reduce swelling (we could take it off and throw it in the washer if needed). However, at about the week and a half mark we noticed that the shirt's arm hole started to rub the "top" of her remaining front leg raw when laying down and eventually it led to a pretty nasty wound (we took the shirt off) which at the two week mark when she got her staples removed from her side they put a couple staples over this wound to help hold the skin together as it healed. I go into it in more detail here as well as have a couple pics of the sore. Eventually it healed up really well.
I'd say the compression shirt worked really well and I think Mojo was definitely more comfy with that on then a cone. If you go the compression shirt route, just be sure to keep an eye on the other front leg so your pup doesn't end up with a sore.
Hope everything goes well!
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