Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Tripawd friends and family, please Welcome Henri as he now is officially a "Tripawd"!
He is still in the ICU but I went to see him last night…pretty nasty scar as they amputated from the shoulder but I was very strong, no tears and my boy is so brave! I gave him so many kisses! He was certainly loopy from the meds~ But he tried sitting up four times~
The good news is that I called this morning to check on him and he went outside to potty and actually had something to eat~
Im very very happy~ : ) 
Now the decision is whether to visit this afternoon or not? They are going to slow the drugs down and I am affraid to visit him and cause anxiety and then leave him. I am paying for the extra night stay so they can monitor him one more night~
Thanks so much for all of you kind words and thoughts~
HUGS!!!
Wendy
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Spirit Cherry's Dad - Bob
I know it's hard not to go see your baby, but think about what's best for him. If Henri sees you, only to have you leave, he may get anxious indeed. It sounds like he is in good hands, and good things come to those who wait.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We welcome you Henri as an offical Tripawd!!!
Good news is Henri has already gone potty. That can sometimes be a milestone and pawty for a lot of owners here waiting for the first poop after the op. Who knew one could get so excited about a poop but it is such a relief when the dog starts getting back to normality.
Koda stayed on night at the vets and also went potty there and ate well. We kept Koda in a dog cage for his first night home so that he could not really move around at all and then we hd him in a baby pen for the next week. He hated it but there was no way I was risking those stitches popping open at all. He then chewed through the pen as it was made out of wood:)
A towel under Henri's belly will help to move him around esp if you have stairs. And get an old Tshirt and cut wholes in it if needed for legs and that will help to cover the amp site so that he doesn't lick it. For the first day I tied the back up with a rubber band so that it didn't sag at his belly and he didn't pee all over it when going potty. Then my housemate remembered she had 3 old boob tubes that we cut holes in for his legs and these worked heaps better as they were just stretch fabric and were old and fitted him perfect so I don't know if you have one of those lieing around but it worked a treat. I guess I am a problem solver and like a challenge... So once his dressing came off, pretty much a couple of hours after we got home (always the way) he had a little bit of weaping I then stuck a sanitry pad into the boob tube to act like a dressing just to catch the little bit of leaking and then changed these often to reduce risk of infection. This way there was nothing covering the site directly just sitting against it absorbing any leak and those things stick pretty well so I just had to place it in the correct spot.
Oh also lift up his bowls so he doesn't have to lean down.
I hope this tips in some way help and plenty of people have posted tips in the past so you could try a search. Just remember the first 2 weeks is the hardest. Koda was extremely good in his recovery and every day I thank him for being so brave. Not once did he cry or yelp. We were lucky.
I would not see him until tomorrow when you get to pick him up. If you don't visit he will be content resting and relaxing on the pain meds. If you do visit he will be all hypo and excited about seeing you and then when you leave have to come down off the high and have the anxiety of you leaving again and when is he going to see you again. At least at the vets he can get in a huge amound of rest and healing before he comes home!!!!
Keep us posted,
Storm and Koda
Great to hear that Henri is doing well. I agree with the others and think you should wait to see him again until you can take him home. Harder on you but better for him. At least that is what I think I would do. Best of luck and please keep us posted as to Henri's progress. We will be following in your foot steps since Ginger is scheduled for her entrance into Tripawds next Tuesday.
Ginger, Randy and Sharon
Wendy,
I am so glad the surgery is over....I am sending good thoughts your way. he will look to you for guidance, so stay loving and strong for him. He will not understand anything except he will be back home with his Mommy!
Take good care and ask for help if you need it, be sure to reach out if you have questions too. We are here to support each other.
Ginny & Angel Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Wendy and Henri,
Very glad to hear that things are going so very well. You have excellent advice above to make sure Henri does not over do it. It is not uncommon that they will, over stress themselves, and then crash the next day. Often our new TriPawd Pawrents will take this as a bad set back, but is is rather just their body reacting to the over activity and the pain killers. The next week or two will be the hardest, but you should see an improvement. This is not to say that there may not be ups and downs, but there will be an overall improvement. Henri will amaze you how quickly he adapts.
As Ginny and Angle Paris said, take good care (of youself) and ask for help if you need it. This community is filled with a very broad experience base and all will be pulling for you.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
That's great news about Henri! I hope it goes really great at home!
Best wishes tomorrow!
Ginger, we hope you do really well, too. You should start a new topic so your experience doesn't lost in the forum!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
So glad to hear Henri is doing well and ready to come home. He will need lots of love and rest. Let him do on his own, but watch he doesn't over do for the first couple of weeks. Get a big dose of patience for yourself, Trouble was extremely stubborn during the first week or so. She wanted to be outside laying in the sun, and she would hop out to the property line, get tired and lay down for a long rest, regardess of what my timeline was. Until she built her stamina a bit, she couldn't gauge what she was capable of doing until she had to stop – there was no concept of if I hop all the way out there and get tired, I still have to hop back 
, and she was way too big for me to carry.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I think everyone has given you good advice already so there isn't really anything I need to add. My vote would be to wait and not see him again until you pick him up. Just like dogs don't have calendars they don't have watches either (although some of us would swear they do). Once the meds were wearing off it would have stressed Emily horribly for us to see her and then leave her there. If Henri is layed back maybe he would be okay but by the fact that you asked I think you are thinking it would stress him.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
My Mom is glad she didn't see me until the next day when I was more alert. It really helped her cope, especially after she saw my big ol' scar.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to another Golden front leg amputee! Sounds like your pawrent has your best in mind (and is pretty clever!), so give her a break for not seeing you today in the hospital. You'll forgive and forget, as we Golden's are prone to do -- OK as all dogs do! Get lots of rest. I had a t-shirt on me for awhile too, and thought it was kinda groovy, especially in the winter like this. Take your time getting better and snuggle lots with your Mom, she'll need you cuz it is pretty hard on her seeing you are beat up. Don't worry, you'll get her through it, I know you will! Plus, you can sucker her for tons of goodies while she is suffering so, he he. Truly, take care, this is just about the same time I had my surgery last year, so the good news is -- you have lots of Tripawd fun to look forward too after you get your mom thru the next few weeks. Golden hugs and front leg high-5 to you! Shelby
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