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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Mia, Josie, and Gully -
Please do not think you made the wrong choice. The first few weeks are indeed hell. My Dane Nova also had a horrible reaction to the Tramadol, and I couldn't get her off of it fast enough. But today she is 16 month post-amp and cancer-free! Danes CAN do this! I am sure things will improve for Josie, especially once the pain meds are out of the picture.
I would love to see more pictures of Josie. In addition to my fawn Dane Nova, I also have a blue Dane named Emmy. Emmy's back left leg just went lame this morning, and I am sitting here on pins and needles waiting for the vet to call. Tripawds is THE place to come when you need support and encouragement. Please, keep your updates on Josie coming... we are all here to support each other in this journey.
Sue and Nova
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
ceholli said:
... I will post a photo when I figure out how and where...
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Check your email for our reply with instructions for adding photos to forum posts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Here is the photo of Rusty going down his stairs from our bed (Thanks Jerry/Jim for your help in posting photos); our bed is 30 inches high, so I added sideboards to ensure that he did not have a fall. It only took him a couple of times to get the hang of using them; now when he has visitors stop by, he takes them into our bedroom to show them how he uses them. Also by making it a side entry it reduced the length of the steps which works much better for my getting in and out of bed during the night. We also added indoor/outdoor carpeting in our hallways, master bath and family room area to prevent slipping & falls; being in the desert the floors in our house are all tile. He has had a couple of falls but overall is really adjusting to his new life very quickly.Â
I understand what you are going through; the first two weeks was 24/7 for us and with the frequency of the meds and food to take with the meds there was very little sleep for either of us. My wife and I are both 71 and it was quite a change to our normal sleep and activities; but seeing Rusty now (check my other photos on the blog "Rusty's Cancer) and the joy that he provides us we would do it again without hesitation!
Rusty's Dad
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Awwwwwwwwww - Rusty! You are seriously one adorable poochie poo!
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.
Nice lookin' ramp! Glad we god that photo thing figured out. Keep 'em coming! 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
hugapitbull said:
Maxidad – I love that ramp! Did you have problems getting Max to use it?Â
 No, he learned within a day or so. But Max would have used it whether he lost a leg or not. He loved discovering things like stairs and ramps and zipping up and down them. Our main problem came after he recovered. We often had to remind him to use the ramp instead of just jumping up and down off the bed like he used to.
Tazzie mentioned the claws vs. mattress issue. And yes, that's a concern. I make no promises that your mattress will survive, but there are some things you can do to minimize the risks.
- Buy a good camping mattress – the kind with the suede coating on top. They're a lot sturdier than those pool float type of air cushions that are made out of flimsy vinyl (which is ironic, since I also use the camping mattress as a pool float).
- Cover it up with a sheet, or even better, buy an inexpensive mattress pad like what you'd put on your actual bed. That should go far towards blunting the effect of sharp dog claws.
- If you buy a large air mattress, lay down on it first and then encourage Josie to join you. Make sure you guide her while she's laying down next to you – she's already wobbly from the amputation, and the mattress's pliable, moving surface will be a challenge as well. But it'll be worth it if you can get Josie to lay down with you, because like you, she'll be a lot more comfortable on the mattress than on the floor.
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