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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Maggie is two days post front limb amputation. She peed last night when we picked her up and took her outside and held her up. She has not peed today, but has had some water and eaten a little. She doesn't seem to want to get up. Last night she was laying on her bed and was whining so we thought she wanted to go out but then she tried to get up and we held onto her collar a little to help her and she stood up and hopped over a few steps to where she usually sleeps by the sofa and just layed down. When we take her outside, she just acts like she can't stand up at all, but she was able to walk a little inside. I don't know if this is normal or not. It's like she can't stand up or support her back end, but then she has gotten up with help and walked a few steps. I know she is on major drugs so think maybe that is why she can't walk or doesn't want too. Please let me know what to expect.
Welcome! Your future posts will not require moderation.
If it's been more than 24 hours or you have serious concerns, please consult with your vet. But, as Jerry's vet told us during his amputation recovery, when they need to go, they'll go. Check out Jerry's Required Reading List or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for much more recovery and care information.
Whining, panting, pacing and restlessness are common side effects of many pain medications. What is Maggie on?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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Let us know how Maggie is now when you can. All this recovery stuff can really be overwhelming and exhausting...for you as well as Maggie.!
Did she spend a night at the surgeon's? Did she walk for them? Pee for them? Yeah, the meds can really make them whacky and mess with their pee a d poop "routine". But, as admin said, if she hasn't peed by mow, you'll want to advise the vet.
Tell is more about Maggie.....why did shenhave the amputation....how old is she....and what she's like when she's not so druggy!
Recovery is no picnic and kt can be challenging gettkng the meds balanced. They usually have the hospital meds in their system two to three days. Is Maggie on a morphine patch? Tramadol? Gabapentin?
Does Maggie have any arthritis or was the surgeon concerned about any reason she may have trouble adapting to three legs? If she checked out okay for surgery, you may ask the vet if yiu can reduce her pain meds a touch and see if that makes her more "mobile"...She'll figure it out. the adjustment period can be quicker for some dogs than others
My Hapoy Hannah whines and cried and constantly paced and was restless for 19 hours straight before she finally settled down and "slept"...briefly. She did pee and poop and ate okay. Her little "reaction" was she didn't drink water! If Maggie starts to turn her nose up to water, let me know and I'll pass on a few tips!
Look forward to hearing more about Maggie...AND seeing pictures!! We love pictures!
Update us when you can! It does get better!! And you do EVENTUALLY get some sleep!!
Sally and Hapoy hannah
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!
When we brought Leland home from his failed TPLO surgery and his hind leg amp surgery it was a day or so before he peed. Actually after the first procedure he didn't even want to drink water so I was taking a syringe and squirting water in his mouth (which he didn't like) because I was so worried. One day he just started taking in water on his own and peeing. Also, he didn't poop for about 4 days after the amp surgery so don't get alarmed if Maggie doesn't have a bowel movement right away. Just stay on top of it and I'm sure you'll know if something is not right.
Sahana
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Do you have a harness? If not, try taking one of those reusable canvas shopping bags( the ones from your local grocer) cut the sides out and use it as a sling to sort of help her with balance. Ty wanted me right, tight against him for a while. I joked with him that I was his 4 th leg. The drugs can do strange things as well. Actually, when I would think of the post op meds I have ever taken, I felt goofy too. Keep us posted as to how she is doing. Lori and TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Maggie is doing so much better today! She had her front right leg removed because she had osteosarcoma. The surgery was on Monday, June 30th. She stayed overnight and the next day at the vet due to work schedules. She is 10 years old. Due to the high heat and humidity on Wednesday ( we have no A/C), when she woke up Thursday AM she was very lethargic and her eyes looked sunken. She had not peed since Tuesday and ate and drank very little on Wednesday. She was under the fan but still, it reached 85 in the house. I took her to the vet Thursday AM. When I carried her in, her bladder let loose. I was so happy that her kidneys are functioning fine. They said she was a little anemic, not bad though. They gave her a buprenophine injection since the Fentanyl patch was done, and her heart rate was running between 170-200. Granted, she hates being at the vet but too high. The injection helped her rest, they gave her some IV fluids and added Gabapentin to the Tramadol that she's taking. Today she woke up feeling good, brighteyed. She drank a lot of water, ate a whole can of a/d and rested well. It's nice and cool and rainy today. She drank more water and ate another can of a/d a little after noon. Friends visited and brought her a burger and she wolfed it right down. And she drank more water for them, too. She peed on her own accord, terrific. We can hear her belly growling so think we may have a little poo happening at some point today. She was so glad to see our friends, stood right up and whined because she wanted to go greet them. Thanks for all the encouragement! Keep it coming! Our friends did real well staying positive, even though it's hard because Maggie is pretty bruised and the incision is scary looking.
GREAT NEWS!! YAAAAAAA MAGGIE!! And Dad too!! Scary times are behind you now! We'll jave to remember your "techniques" fr getting her to pee should others have that problem....lift her up with a little pressure n that bladder....outside of course!!
Yoj are a very diligent partmer and good for you for getti her to the vet before things could ave gotten worse. Recovery can be rough and compications can set in all too quicklyif not addressed!
Sooooooo glad she is recovering nicelu and feels better! Relief!!!
Now enjoy the rest of your holiday and give Maggie a big smooch for us! And we need pictures!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY MAGGIE
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Yipppeeee! Lots more pawsitivity coming your way for continued success, this is GREAT! Go Maggie!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Way to go Maggie!!!! I'm so glad to hear that things are starting to function normally again. Keep eating and drinking girl...it will make you stronger. Now your parent can rest a little easier now.
Keep up the good work!!
Sahana and Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Today when I took Maggie outside to get some sun and green grass time, she got up on her own and walked about 5 feet to me!! And while she was up, I said "let's go to the house" and she walked about 15 feet back to the house without any assistance from me! Amazing! She is an alpha dog and does things in her own time, always has from puppyhood on up. So much happier today than 2 days ago. We're about to have our 4th of July picnic, a little bit late. Now these 2 moms can really celebrate.
Does anyone know of any tripawd communities in northeastern Vermont? We live really close to Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury. Would love to find some local friends to help us through.
Thanks so much to all for the encouragement!
Linda and Diane
Can you give me some ideas about how long Maggie will be on Tramadol and Gabapentin? Just wondering how long others have been. Our vet gave her an injection of buprenorphine on Thursday and they have it available for us if we want it. It's a little too scary for me, really strong and we would inject it. Seems like too easy to overdose with that. Do most dogs stop the painkiller after the sutures come out? 
Linda and Diane, that is GREAT news about Maggie! It sure pays to have an alpha pawsonality during times like this doesn't it?!
As for the length of time a dog is on pain medications, well it just depends on the dog. Generally about 10 days but some may need longer, there is no clear cutoff date for all dogs. Don't be afraid of pain relief, there's a reason why it's there, dogs need it just as much as humans to do help the recovery process. By keeping her calm and sedate you're helping things heal faster than if she were in pain.
The trick is to stay ahead of the pain with regular meds, so that it doesn't spiral out of control ("wind up pain") and then you need double the medication to bring it back down. As for buprenorphine, that's a short-lasting drug as far as I'm aware. I think that if you keep the tramadol and gaba steady and at a proper dose, she shouldn't need it, but talk to your vet.
Oh, I do know that we occasionally have other members in the Vermont/New England area (you're so lucky to be there, we love Vermont!), but the best way to get them all together is to do a call out for a "Tripawd Party." Did you see how Virginia Tripawders just had their first? What a blast! If you decide to do it, we will gladly help get the word out any way we can.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
GREAT UPDATE!! So glad you are starting to see some sparkle come back!! That makes it all worth it!
My Happy Hannah had a "slower" recovery than some. I started tapering off some of her meds arround the two week mark...maybe a little before. I bumped them back up a touch going into the third week as she needed to be on them a little longer. She's a "fluffy" Bull Mastiff and sometimes larger dogs need the meds a bit longer. But every dog truly is different and every recovery is different.
You'll fi d the right balance as you get closer to the two week mark. I'm with Jerry, I'd rather err kn keepkng them on pain meds to ensure they don't "hurt"! Sounds like she's got great moms as her advocate! Good job ladies!,
Hugs to all and continued healing!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
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