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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Hi Everyone, I'm Aaron and new to this forum. I have a front Tripawd great dane, and I'm wondering if you have any advice for lifting him the first time with a sling. We have 2 slings actually, but I'm not sure where to place the front one, so that I don't cause his surgery sight pain, and any other tips for lifting him, to get him outside for potty time. Any video links would be great too.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Aaron
Hi Aaron, welcome! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
I'm sorry you guys had to join our club but we are glad you are here! We'll do our best to make it easy as possible.
So, what's your dog's name? And when was surgery? If it was just today, he's likely going to be very woozy for a day or two until the surgery meds are out of his system. Then, pain meds might make him wonky for a week or so after. Right now, if surgery was very recent (like within the past 48 hours), don't expect too much and only ask him to go potty a couple times a day, no more than usual.
To help him, you want to put your sling underneath, if he lets you. Since dogs have all their propulsion power in the rear legs, you'll be able to place the sling in an area that isn't too affected by swelling so try not to panic, like this.
I know that photo is of our rear-legger friend. What I can tell you is that our Jerry, who lost a front left, didn't want much help with our sling efforts. We did try to place the sling closer to his chest but he refused. Most dogs are pretty good about trying to get to their potty spot on their own.
Many dogs won't want help when walking, and we get in their way of wanting to be more mobile. See how he does when you ask him to get up. Generally a sling can help him get up during the first 3 days or so, and they may allow it, but helping him walk with it may or may not be what he wants so play it by ear.
I thought we had a video showing how to walk a front leg amputee dog after surgery but I can't find it. If I do I'll share it here. If we don't have one, we will make one eventually!
Please let us know how surgery recovery is going OK?
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