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
Hey everyone, my almost 12 y/o dog Jynx just had his surgery yesterday and is at home recovering. With the way the incisions are and the staples on his front right side, I have no idea how to help support him in getting up to potty. In moving him home and onto his bed, we used like a hammock situation, and his wound was having some seepage from the movements. Just need any advice possible. The vet used a blanket to support his hind area in trying to move him before getting the stretcher to get him to my car, but the blanket sling didn’t really seem to help and there doesn’t seem to be a way to support his front without potentially harming his staples/wound. Thank you all so much! I’m just a very worried momma
Hi Jynx and his Mom. You have come to the right place for support, information and understanding. Your post has been approved so you can get lots of feedback.
Yes, it can be tricky with a front legger when it comes to assisting the first several days of recovery without interfering with the incision.
How much does Jynx weigh? When you say "seepage", as long as it's clear (maybe a slight tinge of blood) and not stinky, that's good.
Did he come home day of surgery or spent the night??
Try a towel or even a scarf type 'sling". Pit it as close to the front as you can without rubbing the incision. Even a DIY canvas bag. You can put some padding under the incision to protect the incision is you can make the canvas bag work. You will be able to use a harness later of needed, but we don't recommend it at first for all the reasons you noted.
What are his pain meds, dose and frequency? He may be quite drugged right now and not able to "help himself" Even of you have to put pee pads under him if unable to get him out to potty for a day or so, that may work very short term.
We understand how scary these first days home can be. It gets better....promise!
How is he doing otherwise? Rest is hugely important. Drink water is important....he may not have much of an appetite at first.
If you have hardwood floors you'll want nin slip scatter rugs for traction .
Stay connected! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!
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!
Thank you so, so much for responding!
To answer some of the questions:
Jynx was right at 70lbs right before the surgery, and he’s a husky mix that is built kind of like a greyhound. Very deep but narrow chest with long slender legs and slim waist.
The seepage is a little bloody, but not smelly. It hasn’t happened since moving him from the floor to his bed very early this morning. It just looks pretty gnarly and they told me not to clean around the area.
Unfortunately, his vet did not keep him overnight, we brought him home right before they closed last night.
I have his bed lined with an absorbent incontinence pad and extra large pee pads on top that I can change out.
He had a rimadyl injection right before I took him home that is to last for 24 hrs and then follow that with the chewable 75mg version this evening, he’s on denamarin for his liver before food in the morning, then gabapentin 300mg 2 times a day, an antibiotic 2 times a day, and I haven’t given it to him yet but they prescribed trazodone 1.5 100mg tablets as needed/2 times a day, but he is still woozy and sleepy. I just foresee him being hardheaded and wanting to get on the couch or do other things like he has been even with his fracture the last week while we were waiting for the soonest appt they could offer us.
Luckily shortly after I sent that first message, my brother was able to help me get a towel under him right behind his rib cage and then we guided him up just enough for him to pee in a bucket/on the pee pads. He must have been holding it since before the surgery because the amount was immense and I just feel so bad!
We changed the pee pad under him and got him laying down again, and he’s just been snoozing since. No seepage happened after that major movement!!
Outside of getting up being difficult right now, he is being a perfect boy. Resting a lot. Dreaming and wagging his tail and wiggling his back feet. He wants to eat bits of boiled chicken and pate wet food and cheese with his meds and he has been drinking water.
His only whining has been with a couple of the movements and then when I could tell he really had to pee.
And luckily when we moved into this home there is very short carpet everywhere! (Even the kitchen which is pretty odd, but will help once he’s getting around a bit better since it is between the outside and the dining room we have him sectioned off in)
Thank you so so much for the advice and just thank you for this whole site and community. I’ve been searching all over it since he had gotten his fracture and the radiographs showed what is most likely osteosarcoma, and it has definitely been helpful to see he isn’t alone. It also helped me get some items to prepare like the bed pad, pee pads, and ideas for harnesses and such once he is healed.
Again, I’m so grateful to you all and I hope what all I wrote makes sense!
Jynx’s Mom, Summer
Hi Summer, welcome to the club nopawdy ever wants to join. But we are sure glad you posted so we can help you and Jynx during this journey and cheer on your 3-legged adventures together!
How is today going? You had it pretty ruff bringing him home the same day of surgery but you made it through the first night! YAY! That is not an easy thing to do.
I want to mention that if he is showing pain signals (anxiousness, restlessness, panting) that could be a sign that his meds need adjusting. If so, let your vet know, and ask if you can adjust that Gabapentin to 3x daily. Most times that will do the trick to provide more consistent pain relief.
Also, that seepage is likely a seroma , a mixture of body fluid and blood. It's totally normal and typical. As long as there is no foul smell or a greenish/cloudy tinge it should be fine, and may leak for a couple more days.
Hope today is going well! He should be getting his sea legs real soon. Keep us posted OK?
I am also struggling with the same issue of getting my dog to go to the potty. I just brought her home today after having her front leg amputated due to osteosarcoma. She has been doing well otherwise. She's had some food and water and is snoozing on and off on her bed. Her tail wagging.
I've been using a towel placed under her chest area to help move her and a leash to help keep her front end from sagging- although I don't know if this is a good idea. I feel like I'm choking her. My brother and I carried her outside, but she didn't want to move apart from a step or 2. She doesn't seem interested in moving. I'm worried I'm not doing things right.
This forum has been helpful in knowing there are others going through the same struggles.
Hi Meghan ...Your post has been approved so now you will get some good support and information.
Did your pup come home same day as surgery or did she stay overnight? Regardless.the fact that she is eating and drinking is to be celebrated! Tail wags are always good news!!
She doesn't seem interested in moving.
Not surprising at all. She just had major surgery and hopefully is pretty well drugged up to keep the pain away!
What pain meds did she come home with, the dose and frequency? How much does she weigh? Drinking and peeing are important, but she may not poop for several days and may not have the best appetite at first.
It sounds like, even though it is difficult, you are able to help her stand and, with your brother's help, get her outside. Try carrying her out to her favorite pee spot. Wait until she start to show that she 's "anxious" and acts like she needs to pee, then carry her out.
In the meantime, even if she pees in her bed (get pee pads) that's okay.
She'll get her sea legs soon. Sometimes it's a matter of tweaking the meds....it's a balance....you want her pain managed but not so whacked out she doesn't want to move.
This first part of recovery is scary and challenging....but it gets better, promise!
Stay connected! Yoi are doing a great job!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Feel free to start your own thread so we can follow your pup and resp to his specific needs, questions, etc.
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!
Meghan_2 said
I've been using a towel placed under her chest area to help move her and a leash to help keep her front end from sagging- although I don't know if this is a good idea. I feel like I'm choking her. My brother and I carried her outside, but she didn't want to move apart from a step or 2. She doesn't seem interested in moving. I'm worried I'm not doing things right.
You are definitely not alone and yep, sounds like a pretty normal recovery is going on. Have you seen our DIY sling idea? This should work to help her out a little while she's still early in the process. Don't push her too hard, she will figure things out as she gets stronger. Rest is what she needs most right now.
Hi Sally,
She stayed at the clinic overnight, which I'm glad of. I would've been an even worse nervous wreck.
She's on gabapentin every 12hrs- 300mg and meloxicam every 24hrs- 30kg. They also gave her an antibiotic, cephalexin 750mg, which she gets every 12hrs. Now that she's been home a few days, all of the meds she had in her system at the hospital are gone. So I'm noticing panting and some inability relax. But it is quite hot here and she has always been an active dog. So I know it's against her instincts to be so sedentary. I have sent a message to the surgeon to see if she needs her meds tweaked a bit.
She had a huge poop and pee today, so I was quite excited! She's been out for a few short potty breaks today and seems to already have her "sea legs". She's quite fast! I have to use the leash to slow her down a bit. I don't want to push her too hard.
It is nothing short of miraculous how quickly they adapt. It's still a shock though to see her with only three legs. My other dog is having a hard time adjusting- she's used to walking with her friend.
Your dog, Hannah, did she also have chemo? My vet had mentioned to pair chemo with amputation to give her better odds of lasting a year, but unfortunately the cost was out of reach for me. It makes me hopeful to read about your Hannah and the other dogs who have gone through the same thing.
YAAAAAY. FOR.
WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE. AROUND HERE👏
Once her fur starts growing back you won't even notice she has three legs..For me, the shock of how mich they shaved was more shocking g than the inc itself.
Yes, you will notice that Tripawds need a faster pace for leash walking. It's all about balance, momentum and effortless flow.
Your dog, Hannah, did she also have chemo
My Hannah did have four rounds of Carboplatin. Part of my thought processes at the time: * Hannah enjoyed carrides and had no anxiety at the Vet. * The clinic had actual "appointments " so it wasnt like I had to leave her all day as some places do. * We were in and out within an hour. If she had any unsatisfactory reaction I could stop at anytime.* At the time I was able to put the cost on a couple of credit cards. I would NOT be able to financially afford it today!
Our very own Jerry lived a glorious two years without chemo
Now. all that said, and this is really important basically it's a crap shoot when it comes to chemo! We've seen dogs blow statistics out the water with NO chemo. We've seen dogs seemingly get much less extended time than hoped for WITH chemo,
The opposite is also true. We've seen dogs not get much extended time with no chemo and seemingly extended quality time with chemo. Thus, the crap shoot!
Keep things chunked down for now. Focus on getting through recovery and then you can decide how you want to proceed chemo wise....with or without.Whatever decision you make it will be one out of love and that is always the right decision.
Dogs don't count days on the calendar, they don't have time frames stamped on their butt. All they care about is living in the moment with no worries about the past or the present. They just effortlessly flow from one joyful and happy time with their humans to the next. They live in the now, they live in the present. That's what we call Be More Dog.
As you noted, you most likely are seeing some pain signals since all the hospital medsare out their system. You have a little wiggle room with the Gabapentin. Maybe bring the frequency closer to every eight hours and/or increase the dose up a bit. Of course, only make these changes at the direction of the Vet.
Jynx really is doing well! Mobile, eating, drinking, pooping....all good reasons to celebrate!!!!
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!
Jynx and I were having a really great day where he was able to get outside and potty (pee and poo!!) and he went out to pee a second time as well. I think he was getting stressed about pottying in the house even with potty pads.
Unfortunately I think he may have moved a bit funny or something because late this evening I noticed some slow bleeding (not just the seepage which is less red and more fluid) in the center of his three large incisions. I don’t know if a clot got dislodged or if the movement to the outside and back in pulled at his staples or what. I feel horrible if I rushed him, but he was just so relieved to go outside and sniff and potty.
I’m trying my best to stay calm and have left a message with the emergency vet he saw for the initial fracture because his primary won’t be available until Monday, and spoke with another emergency vet that said to just monitor it and take him to get seen in the morning if it isn’t “gushing”
I don’t want to do something and accidentally make it worse, and I don’t know how I’d get him in my car again and take him in by myself without also probably hurting him worse.
Please send love Jynx’s way! I am so scared to walk away to even go potty myself. I’m itching for a call back from the emergency vet that has seen him before.
I really am trying so hard to do everything to help Jynx, and I just can’t help but to think what if I’m not doing enough?
Hang in there summer, you really are doing a great job. Sometimes there is seepage like this, which can be caused by a blood vessel that didn't get tied off during surgery. I'm only guessing there, but it's just one situation we've seen around here and not all that often either. How is he doing today? Did you hear back from the vet?
Jynx is hangin in there! He keeps resting and eating and drinking water and just being the best boy as usual even with everything going on. My brother just helped me take him to pee and the blood started to trickle a little bit again with the motions.
The vet called me back this morning and said it may have opened a little bit and may need another staple or something to help close that middle spot where the three incisions meet, but said it should be okay to wait until my normal vet opens tomorrow. They said to dab it with a clean paper towel to see if I see separation, but I just don’t want to accidentally make it bleed more or worse in any way. They also suggested a cold compress 2-3x a day. They said depending on how I feel I am always welcome to bring him in to them today if I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.
I think I’m leaning towards trying to get him over there today while my brother is at least available to help get Jynx in my car even though he can’t go with me. Then they can help me get him inside once I arrive. I think it might help with my peace of mind.
I spoke with the vet last night and was able to get Violet's gabapentin increased to every 8hrs and was also prescribed trazodone to help with anxiety.
She's been doing really well and has had some more poops! They are quite runny though, so I'm waiting to hear from the vet if this is normal.
It was definitely a shock to see how much they shaved off!
I've noticed that there is redness around the incision- no puss or hot to the touch. I'm wondering if it's a bit of a rash from the sling.
My Violet hates being in the car, and dislikes being in unfamiliar places..especially the vet. It's a big decision, but it's good to know it doesn't take long.
That's the sad thing about cancer, you just never know. I've just got to do what I can to help Violet.
How long should you use a sling to help them move around? The vet never explained that.
I spoke with the vet last night and was able to get Violet's gabapentin increased to every 8hrs and was also prescribed trazodone to help with anxiety.
Megan, can you do us a huge favor and start a new topic here? I got confused answering your post, not realizing that Summer had originally started this one about Jynx.
What I do want to say is that I do love your vet though! Glad the modified pain control is working. The runny poop might not be related but it's good to ask your vet about it. As for the rash, it could be razor burn, which we see a lot. If the redness gets worse definitely take a photo and let your vet know.
As for the sling, use it less and less as the days go on. Chances are that by mid-week Violet probably won't need or want the help. You just kind of have to play it by ear.
Summer_1 said
Jynx is hangin in there! He keeps resting and eating and drinking water and just being the best boy as usual even with everything going on. My brother just helped me take him to pee and the blood started to trickle a little bit again with the motions.The vet called me back this morning and said it may have opened a little bit and may need another staple or something to help close that middle spot where the three incisions meet, but said it should be okay to wait until my normal vet opens tomorrow. They said to dab it with a clean paper towel to see if I see separation, but I just don’t want to accidentally make it bleed more or worse in any way. They also suggested a cold compress 2-3x a day. They said depending on how I feel I am always welcome to bring him in to them today if I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.
I think I’m leaning towards trying to get him over there today while my brother is at least available to help get Jynx in my car even though he can’t go with me. Then they can help me get him inside once I arrive. I think it might help with my peace of mind.
YAY! He is such an awesome patient. I'm really glad the vet got back to you, and yes if it does bring you peace of mind then you should take him today, only you can make that call. Please keep us posted OK?
1 Guest(s)
