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,
My girl had her leg removed Thursday due to hemangiocytoma. The tumor was first removed in February, but then went crazy resulting in five new extremely fast growing tumors two of which ulcerated. She is eleven years old and we agonized over the decision.
She's doing well -better than I expected. Not eating a heck of a lot yet but getting around well -just problems balancing to go to the bathroom and is one of those dogs that doesn't want anybody even looking at her then. She wants to go for walks and gets so excited when I pick up the leash to take our other dog out that tonight I took her for a short walk -not far just around the driveway and back. As soon as she had her "walk" she ate a bit.
I'm not sure how much exercise to let her have….. Suggestions????
roxie
Edit: I just read some other posts and am wondering if I'm allowing my dog to do too much? She hopped out of the vet clinic the day after her surgery, hopped into the car, hopped out and into the house up four stairs and really hasn't changed much from her usual self....
Hi Roxie,
I'm sorry to hear about your babie's diagnosis. But you have joined a wonderful support group here!
Just be sure not to overdo it with the excercise the first week or so after surgery. Amputation is a big surgery... and you don't want to cause any damage to the site. Call your vet and ask them more details about what to do and to expect during the recovery period. What kind of doggie do you have?
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I, too, am sorry to hear of your girl's health problems but welcome you to tripawds. You will never find another group of people that understand what you are feeling like you will here.
My Emily also ran full out when she first came out of the hospital and continued to jump on furniture like a pro. Since then I have read that tripawd dogs should not be allowed to rull full out but boy did she enjoy it. Each day is a gift so I quess we let her enjoy hers. On the other hand she now is suffereing from hip dysplasia so I would encourage you to start a joint supplement immediately to help cushion those joints better. Even with her hip dysplasia, though, I am glad we let her have those months of running like the wind She is a doberman mix and could run like the wind.
The first two weeks after amputation are unpredictable. Emily ran out of the hospital but crashed a few days later and rebounded. All you can be certain of is that there is no certaintly.
Good luck. Let us know your babys name and what breed she is.
Debra & 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.
Welcome to the group, everyone here has helped us so much! Stas had his front left leg amputated on 10-28-09. Our Oncology vet, the Animal Emergency Center and Specialty Services, discharged us with very specific instructions to limit all activity for the first two weeks.
We were told that Stas should be on a lease whenever he is outside. And that he should only be outside to eliminate. He should not jump, climb or exert himself. Pre-surgery, we walked 3 miles per day and loved to go to "the woods" and play wild dogs. After his biopsy surgery on the 13th, he really wanted to go for walks and do stuff. The vet really wanted him to stay put. They were/are very concerned that he would pull out sutures.
I hope that helps you. I'm sure other folks will share their experiences with you too.
We'll be thinking of you. And as one of Stas's doggie buddies "messaged" him the other day: I look forward to when we can sniff each other butts- stay strong!
Christina and Stas
I am glad you are asking about how much you should let your dog do! I wish I would have asked this question 😛 Jack had his front leg amputated in June, and seemed totally unphased by the surgery. I remembered that we were supposed to take it easy, but I guess I relied too much on what Jack was acting like, and I let him over exert himself. We would carry him down the stairs to go outside (we lived in a 3rd floor apartment), and would carry him up for the first couple days until he decided enough was enough and walked up the stairs himself. The day he started doing that (2 days after surgery), I started walking him up and down the sidewalk in front of our building because I figured he could do it, and I didn't want his muscles to atrophy. Well, that was a huge mistake. That night, he woke up screaming in the middle of the night, and we noticed he had started bruising along his groin and tummy. We called the emergency vet who said he should go to the vet the next day. We took him in and they ended up having to test him for viral infections and blood disorders (the bruising had deepened and spread to cover almost his entire underside). What had happened was that because he had been "too active" (just walking to the corner and back and up the stairs), he had broken some capillaries and his compression bandage had pushed all the blood into his abdomen. We had to leave him at the vet for a couple days for supervised mandatory bed rest. When we picked him up the second time, I got clearer instructions: NO stairs (either up or down) for 2 weeks, and only take him outside to peep and poop. Then, after the stitches were out, we could do a 5 minute walk, and start adding 5 minutes every day or every other day. So, for the first 2 weeks, absolutely NO unnecessary activity. Even if your doggie thinks she can do things, we have to remember she is still healing and things can happen. Yuck! Good luck with the recovery!!!
<3 Laura and Jackers
Hi,
I'm not sure what kind of dog she is - she was supposed to be a Rotti cross but has a long, narrow head and a Husky-like undercoat. She weighs 75 lbs and we got her as a puppy from not the best of circumstances. I've always joked that she is part coyote, she howls with them at night and has to be kept away from chickens and cats that aren't "hers". She's been a healthy girl all her life with only a broken hind leg once as a baby when she snuck in with one of the horses and was accidentally stepped on.
She's always been a runner for the sheer joy of it and lived to run and go for hikes. We live in a rural area too so don't have to go far for running places.
I have a portable pen that I have for her in the house where I have her for the better part of the day and night right now. I have the mixed blessing of having the flu which is keeping me home from work but able to be here for her all day right now.
She's always been such an active dog and just doesn't want to quit. She cries if she's in the pen too long but is happy if I put it on the porch in the afternoon so she can be outside. Then she will lay quietly in the sun. She hates being housebound and has always prefered to be outsde except in the coldest of weather. I am going to call the vet today though. My vet did suggest swimmimng and we have access to a therapy pool about a half hour's drive away when she's ready.
Welcome to our little family, glad you found us! Sorry your pup is going through this tough time. It sounds like you have a wonderful attitude and you are doing a good job. Give her lots of love and special attention, it is the best medicine!
I really think every dog is different with regards to post op activity. Our Lab, Paris was in the vet one night and home doing stairs and in & out of the car less than 48 hours after surgery. We were lucky because she never lost her appetite. More imortant than the food is to make sure she is taking water. I think the best thing to do is follow your dogs lead, they will know their limitations.
Hope the rest of her recovery goes well, we are all sending you our support. Keep us informed.
Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Cannot really add much to the discussion above but do want to extend a welcome and tell you how sorry we are at this diagnosis. Each will respond differently in the recovery process. Cherry pulled the tech across the waiting room to get over to us when we picked her up after surgery. She wanted to do much more than I had anticipated the first day, but then the chemotherapy kicked in and she was very content to lay quietly and rest. Pam would tell you that they need to develop a different balance and use different musles. Therefore, I would push for some quiet but really rely on your little girl letting you know.
Bob & Cherry
Thanks for joining Roxie, welcome! As you can see, all our Tripawds members will be very responsive and helpful.
When it comes to exercise, just follow your pup's lead. (Can we assume her name is Roxie, or is that you?) We recommend more frequent, shorter walks rather than overdoing it on long hikes. Also try to avoid fast pounding runs for a while, and just take lots of breaks, always bringing water with you.
Sounds like all is going well, we look forward to following your story.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Roxie is me and my dog is Brandy. She had a good day today. It was sunny and warm and she spent most of the day outside on the deck laying in the sunshine. I got her a padded vest to protect her chest and shoulder if she might fall. She's still not eating much but is drinking water, but she's always been a picky eater.
That is great to hear! Especially about the water.
Yeah, lots of us Tripawds lay around the first few weeks, it's pretty normal stuff. Just give Brandy time to heal, she'll get the hang of Tripawd living in no time.
And thanks again for joining us here. Just let us know how we can help OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It helps just to know there are so many others out there and people who are supportive. There are a few friends that thought I should euthanize her and I was mixed up myself not knowing how I could provide the aftercare, but I just couldn't do it. I have been reading some of the other posts but have nothing to offer in reply because I am so new to all this.
Brandy started eating a bit last night and ate quite a few hand fed biscuits.
I took my puppy to the park yesterday afternoon for a good walk so she doesn't get rambunctious and while there I met a couple out walking a German Shepherd and a Beagle. Once again, I didn't notice until I got up close that the Beagle romping happily along only had three legs. I guess it is something that a person never really thinks about or notices until it affects one personally.
Thank you
Hi Roxie
After a while, it won't be such a big deal that Brandy has only three legs. It sounds like she's coming along fine.
I think we've all had friends and family who thought that spending so much on a dog was crazy. Obviously, the folks here have a different opinion. Keep us posted on Brandy's progress.
Mary and Cemil
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Oh dear -she was doing so well and has just had a small seizure. I'm familiar with seizures, I had an epileptic Rottie for ten years but not sure what brought this on -she's never had a seizure. Have called he vet and will check in here again later.
Anyone else's dog ever had seizures after????
So sorry ... never heard of post-op seizures. Perhaps she had a reaction to her pain meds? Can't wait to hear what your vet says.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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