Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone. My 14.5 year old Ginger is in surgery now. She went for a soft tissue sarcoma removal in her front leg, but the tumor is wrapped around the tendon and is impossible to remove, so the vet and a local specialist who happened to be in town both agree that amputation is the best option. Now I'm trying to research as much as possible before we pick her up tonight.
Hi and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you are suddenly faced with amputation. You are bringing her home the same day? It's tough but can be done, if the vet doesn't have 24 hour staffing its a good idea.
Ginger will have the surgery meds in her system- many dogs are very vocal and restless the day of surgery so be prepared for that. Make sure you have the pain med schedule clear. It would be good to have the number of the vet or an emergency vet you can contact with questions. You probably won't need it but it will provide peace of mind.
You can use a cloth shopping bag split down the seams as a sling to help Ginger get around. Traction is also critical so cover any slippery floors with rugs or yoga mats.
You can look though The Required Reading List for tips on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
Karen and The Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Sorry to hear about Ginger's surgery. You've found a wonderful community to help you through what is a very trying time. I am also new here and so thankful for everyone who supported me. My labradoodle, Tucker, is just 8 days post amputation. I also brought my dog home the night of surgery. As Karen said above, it's tough but can be done. Tucker was carried out to our car since he was still too medicated to walk on his own. We were warned that the meds would make him quite vocal and they were correct. He cried and whined and was extremely restless most of the night. However, by the next morning things had settled down. Just know that it gets better quickly. You'll be amazed at the progress from one day to the next. Take it one day at a time and take comfort in the fact that there is a large community of people here who know what you're going through and will be here to help. Ask questions and look through other posts - there's a wealth of information on this site.
We're keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!
Nancy and Tucker
Thank you for the well wishes! we just picked up ginger a couple hours ago and she's home and settled now. The surgery went really well. She's still super drugged and groggy. The vet carried her out to the car and my husband carried her in. She tried to stand a little in the vet's office, and got herself sitting up in the back of the car, so she's trying, at least. She had no interest in a snack or water yet, but it's 10pm, so we'll try again if she wakes up.
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR GINGER!!! SURGERY IS OVER AND SHE IS HOME!! 🙂
Sorry you've had to go through so much today. And as already mentioned, tonight and I to tomorrow may be rough as she shskes off the anesthesia and heavy hospital meds.
Did the Vet send you home with Tramadol, Rymadyl (or Metacam), an antibiotic and maybe Gabapentin? Getting the pain meds balanced can be a bit tricky at first. STAY CONNECTED and let us know how we can help you identify pain signs, etc.
Ginger may not feel like eating for a couple of days. She'll need food with her meds though. Drinking is important a d peeing is important. Poop may take a few days because of all the meds.
For now, complete and total rest and just up for potty breaks a d then back to bed. If you have hardwood floors, you'll want non slip scatter rugs for traction .
Tell us more about this YOUNGSTER!! 14 1/2 yrs young!! WOW!!
TRY and get some rest! Let us know how we can help! Keep us updated as you can.
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!
3am update: She's UP!! She woke up and got herself to a sitting position, so I offered a bit of food of stovetop stuffing mixed with a lot of water since she's not been interested in drinking water yet. She woofed that down and then stood up! She hobbled around in her area for a few minutes. She tried to walk on the laminate floors but no luck and face planted. My husband carried her out and she actually went pee! She did awesome! She got carried back to her bed and is sitting there like WHAT HAPPENED??
We were given tramadol, rimadyl, and antibiotics, and she was given a nerve blocker before surgery that should last for another hour or 2.
Ginger's had an interesting year. We're military and were stationed in Puerto Rico for the past 3 years, and just moved to Alaska in June! She traveled 5k miles with her brother and sister (rescue street pups from PR) to make it here and has been loving it! She's always been a lazy girl but has been enjoying it here. I am a little more concerned now about the snow we'll be getting soon and how she'll handle it. But so far she's doing really well!
YOU ROCK GINGER!!! YOU ARE ONE STRONG DUDESS!!
Stove top stuffing, yum!!
Sounds like the pain is managed a d you know her mobility adjustments seem to be going full speed ahead.
So glad she seemed to have an easy night right after surgery! Amazing! She may start feeling a bit of "owweee" after that pain blocker wears off.........or not!
GINGER! YOUR AVATAR PICTURE IS ADORABLE!! Such a sweeeet face.....but clearly a Warrior heart!!
Lots of 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!
She's still doing really well! It's been around 18 hours since she woke up from surgery and she hasn't had any major pain. She she's standing up and maneuvering around in her pen now. We're going to take her outside in just a few minutes and see how she does. It's snowing a bit now so that'll be interesting!
Try not to let her overdo it. She still has hospital meds in her system. Many of us see a bit of a crash around day 3 to 5 when they wear off. And right now she is adjusting to getting around on three and using new muscles. Lots of rest and short leashed potty breaks are best.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
And snow - my Otis lost his leg in February in Chicago. He did just fine, as long as I kept a small area by the door (about 10 feet square) well shoveled. Yes, I was shoveling grass. The things we do for love.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
She's definitely getting tons of downtime. She gets carried outside since our laminate is too slippery for her and we were completely unprepared to bring home a tripawd, so we have no rugs. She did really well holding herself up to pee and is now back asleep. I'm amazed by her progress so far and that she's able to sleep comfortably and isn't whining or crying.
Sounds good so far!
I had a nerve block when my shoulder was rebuilt a few years ago and I came home feeling really good, but when the block wore off yikes!!!
I'm glad she is so comfortable. Are you guys into yoga at all? Yoga mats also work well for traction , in fact they worked better for my quad pug who had mobility problems.
And 14.5 years old! Wow, I've only been lucky enough to have one dog get to that age. We will definitely need to see more pictures of your girl.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
You can also get industrial floor mats fairly cheap at stores like Home Depot. I liked them because you can vacuum right over them. And hose them down outside if there are accidents or spills. I still have them in my hardwood halls and kitchen even though my new dog is a quad.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
We have poop! 
Ginge has been eating really well. Not surprising; this girl NEVER misses a meal if she can help it! She's been a little shaky today, and I'm not sure if that's from the good meds wearing off (she is on her tramadol and rimadyl) or from the cold snow outside. She's better once she's in bed, and she's only been out for 5-10 min, just long enough to go and then get carried back in. But she's doing really well overall!
YAY for poop!
It's great that she's eating and doing so well. The shaking could be related to the hospital meds now leaving her system. You might want to try staggering when you give her her meds to ensure she has 24 hour cover. A lot of us have done that.
Sending all good wishes for her continued recovery.
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
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