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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi everyone,
How long does it usually take for a dog to walk on her own? I just brought Crystal home today and have been using a towel to help her walk (but I am really not good at this!). How long will she need me to help her move around?
Christina
To help other posters: Crystal is a 13 year old, 70 lb (pre amp) GSD who lost her right front leg.
I think all dogs are different- they heal and deal on their own schedule. But I think I have seen most pups walking unassisted in as little as 2 days- sometimes 5 or 6 days. That's probably not much help.
Tri-pug Maggie was a rear amp who was walking on her own the day of surgery. She never needed assistance except on stairs. She didn't get very far at first, but slowly built up her stamina.
If the towel isn't working you can try a cloth or canvas re-usable shopping bag. Cut it down the sides and you have an instant sling with handles. It might be easier for you than a towel.
Karen and the pugapalooza
All dogs are different indeed, but if Crystal has just come home she doesn't need to be getting up for anything except to eat drink and do her doody. And the more you help her, the more likely she is to become dependent upon your help. Please consult with your vet if she actually needs your help consistently after a few days. Otherwise, give her some time to get the hang of her new body and keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry - I forget, did Crystal just have her surgery today, or was it yesterday? If just today, she may still be quite doped up.
Abby was walking on her own the morning after her surgery, but was of course much younger than Crystal. Maybe someone w/ an older dog will weigh in.
Hope she has an OK time with the recovery. It can be a bit of a stressful time - we're here for you.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Spencer was much younger (a little more than 4.5 years old) and a little heavier (85 lbs pre amp, 81 post amp, now healthy weight at 74 lbs). He was able to stand and lay down from the first day; but it took him several days to walk. He had his amputation done on Wed. Stayed overnight. I picked him up on Thursday and he absolutely needed my help (with a sling) all of Thursday. He was getting better on Friday and did get around some on his own, though I wouldn't let him do much. I never used the sling again after Friday, by Saturday he was totally on his own. Slow and short distances at first; but doing a little more each day.
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
I agree, all dogs are different in how long it takes him or her to walk. And even if they can walk, most just want to sleep anyways. This is major surgery after all.
Also remember she is doped up and will not be herself for at least a week (usually), or until the pain gets under control. Walking will happen, it just takes time. Try the tough love approach and if you are concerned about anything at all don't hesitate to call your vet.
Good luck! Glad to hear she's back with her pack.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for reminding me about the shopping bag trick!
Crystal's surgery was on Wednesday so she seems pretty lucid and not in much pain. Of course, she hid her pain from the enormous tumor in her bone so I don't know how accurate my perceptions are. She got up by herself for the first time when we were driving into the garage last night. Major accomplishment! She also ate her first meal since the surgery this morning (Saturday). All in all she is definitely making progress but she still needs assistance walking. Her main trouble seems to be walking straight and balancing. Ramps are also really hard for her. Is that normal? She's only walking to go to the bathroom.
This is a very hard topic, because all dogs have such different recoveries. Zeus is 11 years old (45 lbs pre-amp) and he walked out to us when we picked him up at the vet. However, he had not been using that leg AT ALL for 2 weeks before surgery, so he was already ahead with learning to walk on three legs. We kept him very limited to bathroom trips only for the first few days. He has never been one to go to the bathroom near the house and he did not have the strength or stamina to walk to the far part of the yard. We were fortunate that he is smaller, so we would carry him out into the yard then put him down. He is one of those that needs to "walk out the poop", so he would walk quite a bit in the yard until he went. The first few times he was so tired by the time he finished, we would have to put a hand under his stomach to help him stay in his swatted position. We would then carry him back to the house. So, in your case w/ a bigger dog that you can't pick up, you may need the sling for at least a week, if not a bit longer for potty walks. By the end of his first week he was moving around very well inside the house, but then he tweaked his back. Although he would still walk, it seemed to require more effort and he would whine when we picked him up. By the end of the third week he had recovered from the back strain and seemed to get around just fine.
I will tell you that we did not see the normal Zeus for a month. I don't know if it was because of his age or because he stayed on the pain meds for longer due to the back strain. At one month, he literally started bouncing around, doing his now-modified "circle dance" when excited, etc. It was five weeks before he went to his basket, picked a toy and played. We are at 6 weeks now and he is doing great, so don't get discouraged if Crystal takes a bit of time to heal.
Good luck!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
cbyoung said:
Ramps are also really hard for her. Is that normal?
Check out Jerry's tips for helping Tripawds use ramps.
She's only walking to go to the bathroom.
This is about all Crystal should be getting up for now anyway. Confinement is key to swift safe recovery. Try to take things one day at a time and if you have serious concerns, please see your vet for an evaluation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
we made the 'shopping bag sling', lined with a bath towel to make it 'cushy'. gayle was about 70 lbs, right front amp and 10 years old at the time of surgery, a lab mix. although she was trying to hop on her own, i remember we used the sling for about 3 days to help her maneuver her way to the back yard. i built a ramp going from our deck, down through the landscaping to the grassy area. it was exterior 3/4" plywood, covered with astroturf. gayle had not limped or been in pain from her tumor prior to surgery, so she had to learn to hop on three legs. within about three weeks or so, her remaining front leg gravitated to a more central position, and it became much stronger.
charon & spirit gayle.
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
admin said:
Check out Jerry's tips for helping Tripawds use ramps.
Thanks. She's used ramps for many years but her problem with them now seems to be that she can't hop straight so she's close to falling off the sides. I suppose this will just take time. It's good to know that there is a lot of variability in recovery and that she's not super behind or anything. I'm terrified of the possibility that she will just never get the hang of it...
cbyoung said:
I'm terrified of the possibility that she will just never get the hang of it...
Please remember to be pawstive! Be strong for Crystal and she will follow your lead. As Dr Waldman says, if you want life to be normal again, you must act as though life is normal.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She WILL get the hang of it. Quicker than you think! The other day Zeus was in the yard on a slight hill and stumbled. It took about three hops sideways on that remaining front leg (it almost looked like he was in a play-bow position and bouncing) before he caught himself right before he fell. My heart was in my throat and pure terror overtook me. Once he regained his balance he looked over at me like "ha, did you SEE that!? I'm almost as clumsy as you, Mom" then he bounced off in the other direction like nothing had happened. I promise, they are WAY more resilient than we give them credit for. It's the whole trial and error thing - she will find what works for her as she experiences new situations. 
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
You are in the depths of the hardest part of the recovery right now. She will get the hang of it. It might take a wee bit longer because of her age. Just try to stay pawsitive and know that each day she is getting stronger and learning to adapt.
I'm sure she will be amazing you really soon. Just hang in there.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi everyone,
Something amazing just happened and I'm so excited and want to share with everyone. In the past few days, Crystal has been able to get up by herself and walk a bit by herself as well. All of you are right when you say she will get the hang of it :). But the really amazing thing happened just now when a friend came by to visit Crystal. After some head massages and love, my friend was getting ready to leave and asked Crystal if she wanted to go for a walk. Amazingly, Crystal jumped right up!!! This is exactly the reaction she would have had pre-amputation (so much so that in our household, we have to spell out the word w-a-l-k if we're not actually talking about taking her out for a walk). We didn't get very far but still, the fact that she wants to try and go out for walks is so incredible. I'm so happy right now :)!
1 Guest(s)
