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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Good news -- Indy made it through the surgery ok. She clotted well and didn't have any bleeding problems. Our doc said that the bone had turned to jell-o -- it was malleable and would have never healed. He also said that from a first-hand view of the arthritic hip, he could see that this surgery would be a huge positive as the femural head was in no way to smoothly move with the hip anymore.
X-rays proved negative for any cancer symptoms and results from a bone biopsy are to follow. However, after examining the bone and the arthritis (he even said that he could see signs of the original femural head fracture that most likely caused the arthritis years ago), he said all signs are pointing to the bone just degenerating over time due to gradual lack of movement/pressure/use of the muscles and bone, all stemming from the original arthritis. He believes that this will be the most pain-free she's been since when she originally caused the injury that created the arthritis, so back to her racing days.
She is sleeping comfortably right now, no random howls of phantom pain (it's been five hours since they finished), just a few whimpers. She hasn't tried to stand up yet but our doc says that now that he's seen the bone and how it was impossible to put weight on it for the past year or so, he sees no problem adapting. We saw her right after the surgery to give her a blanket and baby from home, she was sleeping pretty soundly.
The next challenge starts tomorrow when we pick her up. He said she seems much more comfortable than when the repaired the femur break, most likely because they know what drugs work better with her.
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!
Wonderful news! Thanks for the update. Best wishes for a complete quick recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What wonderful news on the results... We are wishing the fastest recovery!!!
Shilo diagnosed with osteosarcoma 9/4/2009, amputation 9/9/2009. ShiloAnne lost her battle 11/23/2009 where she regained her fourth leg and is patiently waiting for her parents to join her. We will always love you baby girl.
Yay I'm glad she's doing so well. I hope it continues to be a clean heal...it'll be a tough couple of weeks but I'm sure she'll be her old speedy self before ya know it.
Hope that Indy has a speedy recovery without any problems, and is back to her old self real soon!!! 
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Things might be hard for the next two weeks but she will soon begin to surprise you as recovers, all the best for a fast recovery. 
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
Just wanted to add our voice to the choir regarding how well Indy came through the surgery. Considering what was found during the surgery, the recovery sould be quick but it may not be a monotonic daily improvement. While we all expect ups and downs, Indy will definately be feeling better and will amaze you with her recoperation.
Bob & Cherry
The aftercare can definitely be a challenge I'm finding out. It's been a week yesterday for Brandy and me and getting the flu for me as a bonus in some ways as I have been home from work all week. With all the H1N1 scare, work doesn't want anybody sick at all to show up. Thank gosh I've got some accumulated sick days.
all the best to you.
Wow Roxie, talk about good timing! Take care of yourself and Brandy OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Amaaaazing news! Here's hoping for a speedy recovery (but Indy, that doesn't mean you need to be speedy...you just take it easy) 🙂
<3 Laura and Jack
I'm glad Indy came through the surgery so well. Good luck with recovery. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Debra & Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
We are home! Over the night, Indy got up by herself, was able to go potty, and adjust and lay down on the vet comfort pad, all of this without help. When we came in, she got up by herself but quickly got tired and laid at our feet while we went over stuff with the vet.
She hasn't any any bleeding lately, just expected slight oozing of stuff I can't remember the name of. She's had no instances of phantom pain in the 30 hours since the surgery finished. Right now she's on codeine, rimadyl, and cephalexin.
I'll admit, the wound looked a bit grosser than I though it would. Probably just the stitches and the oozing, plus the shaved area. But her hair grows back pretty quick after vet visits, I'm sure it'll start looking normal in a week or so.
We brought her in and she'd been resting for a while. After about three hours, she started whining a little bit -- usually her cue for either potty, food, or water. Well, considering she hadn't had anything to eat in close to 40 hours, I bet it was food -- and it was. First, she ate some jerky treats, then a little cheese, then the main course of a rice/eggs/cheese mixture. She wolfed that down, though I think the shock of solid food upset her tummy a little bit as she was obviously uncomfortable for about 20 minutes afterward (I gave her some gas drops).
Our vet said of all the amps he's seen, this is far and away the best recovery he's seen. The vet tech agreed, and she emphasized that she's seen a lot of amps. Our doc thinks she's ahead of schedule for a dog her size and her age, he didn't think she'd be able to get up and totally balance for 3-4 days -- but she did it in 3-4 hours!
Our vet emphasized that considering how destroyed her hip and femural head were, he even thinks that she is more pain-free than she was before the break (with her pain meds for the surgery).
So, she's eating, drinking, taking her meds, resting comfortably, able to get up and balance, can go potty. We just need the wound to heal and the fur to grow back.
Oh you can't ask for a better recovery from the surgery, that's great!
Am I right in assuming the fluid is from a seroma? If so, it should clear up in a few days, but sometimes they can take as long as a week. It'll get kinda nasty with fluid draining out, but as long as it's not a stinky fluid, Indy should be fine.
Isn't it great to see our pups eat after coming home? Ok, now brace yourself, but she might get a little constipated. That's normal. It's the pain meds, clogging up her system. If you can give her some pumpkin pulp, or these other suggestions, that will help get things moving along.
Congratulations on the textbook recovery, it's what we always hope we'll here when a dog comes home from surgery. Give Indy a big smooch from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi to another hound friend! We just joined -- our 11 yr old greyhound boy Whitey is having his surgery a week from today (osteosarcoma). Glad to hear that Indy has recovered so well! Sounds like you are doing great with her. Give her a gentle squeeze for us.
Jen
Jen, with greyhounds Palu, Chester, Tobey, Brad, Apollo, Whitey, Hank, and missing our beloved Tanner, Crisco, Sly, Annie and Abby the Schnauzer
Mngreyhoundmama, if you have any Grey questions, let me know. Also, I recommend a Yahoo Group called Circle of Grey for senior greyhound health questions. I met a vet on there who performed amps on her own greys (she has nine of them) and she was a godsend for info/second opinion.
After Indy ate her egg and cheese mix, we joked that she probably thought "You can take my other legs if it means I'll eat like this all the time!"
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