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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Okay, you've done your research, you've asked all the right questions and now yiu and Saba can move forward!
Sure, recovery is no picnic. But that's what we're here for, to help you and Saba through any temporary rough spots so we can get to the fun part of watching her sparkle come back!!
You want a bed that's supportive enough so Saba can stand on it with confidence and not so squisy that she slips when she tries to stand. My Happy Hannah was 125 lb Bull Mastiff and I got The Big Barker Bed . It's made specifically got larger dogs. It really did help support her joints.
Traction is important for Saba so you'll want non slip scatter rugs or yoga mats (if you have hardwood).
Really glad you are able to have her stay the first night after surgery. She'll be seeing pink elephants and you can get some good rest!!
When you pick her up, don't even bother to look at her incision, she sure isn't! Just smooch her and tell her what a good job she is doing! BTW, when you do finally glance at her incision, be prepared for how much fur they shave! They really get clipper happy!
Every recovery is different, every dog is different. Try not to mae comparisons. Saba will recover at her own pace in her own way.
STAY CONNECTED!!! EAT LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!!
And PLEASE update us as soon as you have a moment tomorrow and then let us know how her recovery is going once she gets home!
Love!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
We also love the Big Barker Bed . I bought the first one when Otis was diagnosed with arthritis and two more coincidentally just before his amp. He loved them.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hi Marcin & Saba 
Any update ?????? How is Saba doing ???? And how are you ?????
Sending you a huge hug and cuddles to your girl
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Hi 🙂
Saba's surgeon called yesterday to let me know that her surgery went as well as it could have; she had minimal bleeding but was a bit frightened after surgery so she was given a sedative.
Family members will pick her up today. I will provide another update later.
Thank you for the support 🙂
Hooorrrray! Glad she made it through surgery. Here's to a relaxing recovery week ahead!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh YAAAAAAAAAY!! Surgery is done and Saba is on the road to recovery!!
STAY CONNECTED!! Recovery is no picnic and the first several nights can be a little rough!
Lots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
I deffiently get the first several nights being an issue. I was just told that the doctor does not feel comfortable releasing her today because she experienced "discomfort" and would like to keep her on IV again overnight. Not what I'd like to hear.
I'm sorry to hear that, but don't worry yet. Some dogs are more sensitive to pain than others and need more help. My Jack thinks she's dying at the first sign of pain and had to get extra help with pain meds after her surgery, too.
Are you allowed to go visit her?
They just called me again and said the overnight doctor says it's ok to release her. Apparently she was restless and having lots of bowel movements over night but that she is calm now.
Any tips about what to do at night?
Actually I think it is good news for all that she will stay another night. Trust me - they can better monitor the pain and keep her comfortable. pain management is key here! It is a delicate balance between too little and too much. Are you able to visit? If so, perhaps that would help you. I visited w/Shelby and it helped me a lot ... bringing her home as a tripawd was scary but I was able to ease into it.
Hugs!!!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart!
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
I slept on a thin mattress on the ground with her the first few nights (weeks if I'm being honest...). I used blankets and sheets that I didn't have to worry about and just tried to comfort her. If her pain is managed well, she's likely to be sleepy. She might also be a bit restless and seeing pink elephants, depending on how she handles pain meds.
I just got home. Saba seems to be doing well despite the rough night at the clinic. She is already hopping along and we are trying to confine her to a smaller space so she doesn't over do it. She is making more pronounced sighing/snoring like sounds (she made them prior to the surgery but much quieter) which is a bit concerning.
The surgeon flew out today because her father is doing unwell so we were not able to call her (she is very nice though and informed us of this in advance). However, the vet technician was not able to send me discharge instructions the doctor sent her because the email attachment seems corrupted or not compatible with the tech's computer. So I have texted the oncologist for advice.
The oncologist recommended 3-4 Gabapentin (300mg) every 6 hours, in addition to the 5 Tramadol every 8 hours (50mg) that the clinic instructed us to do.
The original instructions for the Gabapentin was 3 tablets every 8 hours.
Is it ok to give 3-4 every 6 hours, with the Tramadol? The Oncologist says it's ok, but I just want to confirm.
Saba also vomited three times earlier today shortly after coming home (3pm), it's now 7:21 as of writing and she has not committed again. This concerned the oncologist and she called in a prescription for Metaclopamide and asked us to give it for a day or two or until the vomiting stops.
I am just concerned about overdoing the medication, obviously I trust the vets but I am just making sure.
I realized I haven't posted any photos or videos, I am writing on my phone right now and will add some later.
Oh good!
As you'll hear from is soooo often, every recovery is different, every dog is different!
My Happy Hannah was very restless and whiny and jist could not settle down at all. Some dogs are pretty zonked out and sleep a lot and don't do much moving around at all. And some are actually hard to keep from wanting to run around and jump on the sofa or do stairs(all of which are no nos!). Sonyiu really do jave ro just play it by ear.
Watch for signs of pain...ears pinned back, restless, whiny, tail tucked, shaking. Your Vet should probably send you home with Tramadol, Rimady, an antibiotic and Gabapentin. Some dogs have a pain patch for a few days. Dogs react differently to various pain meds so you'll have to kind of monitor Saba and make note of what meds are given when. Some dogs get a little whacky on Tramadol, but it's really important to keep the pain under control.
She'll have the hospital meds in her for another day or two and sometimes dogs experience a bit of a crash once they are out of their system.
I slept on the floor right next to my Happy Hannah (well, she didn't actually "sleep" much the first three nights, nor did I) and just did what I coukd to comfort her
Okay, after all that rambling,the best advice is simply STAY CONNECTED! Let us know what's going on and if you have any questions. There is a whole lot of first hand experience with all sorts of different kinds of recovery!!
Ots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. YAAAAAAAAAY FOR POOP
A lot of dogs don't go for several days!!
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!
Well....my reply is alreadynout if date!!
How much does Saba weigh?
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!
I appreciate your reply :).
She weighed in at 116.4 lb yesterday (up from 106lb when diagnosed on Black Friday). Going to work on helping her shed some weight.
The surgeon replied and said that up to 600mg Gabapentin 3x daily with 5 Tramadol per 8hours is ok. Think we will give her 4 tablets of 300, so 1200mg.
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