Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well, Jake had his amputation surgery (right front leg) on Thurs, Sept 17. Today is day 5 post-op, and he seems to be more tired than he was yesterday. He did perk up when he saw I had bought him a new stuffed toy... a squirrel (his favorite) 
... but after that burst of energy, he pretty much slept for the rest of the day. I've already stopped his pain meds (Tramadol) yesterday... the vet seems to think he doesn't need them anymore... but I wonder. I was in alot of pain for quite a while after each of my surgeries... Animals are much tougher than us humans when it comes to pain, but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel any, right? I think I'll give him some just for the evenings...
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!
I think that Jake is probably doing what he needs to do. Jake needs to rest so he can heal. Also, keep in mind that his remaining front leg has to get used to holding all of his weight. It is probably very exhausting. I don't know why we humans are on pain meds so long after surgery and dogs are only on meds for a few days. Is it because we can complain? If he is crying or whining I would call my vet and ask for more pain meds. Good luck with Jake. I am praying.
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.
That does sound normal. And yeah, he definitely feels pain, but probably not as much as a human in the same situation would. Remember, dogs in the wild do everything they can to hide their pain. Humans on the other hand, like Debra said, cry and complain.
He's probably tired because his legs are getting used to carrying his weight around differently. Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Today (6 days post-op) was a much better day than yesterday!
Jake was sleeping all morning 
, and I decided to take my Wolfie out to swim in the pool. I didn't want to leave Jake alone, but also don't want him to get his bandage wet… So I placed his bed in front of the sliding doors in the livingroom, so he could watch all the action. He immediately perked up and even stood up a couple of times. We only stayed out for about an hour… enough to get Wolfie a good workout (I really can't wait til Jake can finally go swimming again!). When we came back in, Jake got up by himself and hopped over to us. I gave him his favorite cookies and then started to cook their chicken and rice stew for the week. Later that day, when my husband came home from work, Jake got up again and hopped over to the door with Wolfie to greet him, like he used to do. Each day seems like an eternity… and I can't wait for him to be able to hop around everywhere, without me panicking that he looses his balance and falls down.
Friday morning, we have to remove Jake's bandage and examin his incision. I'll take some pictures then, and post to the blog for everyone to see.
I haven't had too much time to cry lately 
… can't even think about the future… just trying to get through from day to day. 
I have to go back to work next week and I'm dreading that. But that's in 4 more days, and I'm hoping Jake is doing a million times better by then.
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!
jakesmom said:
Today (6 days post-op) was a much better day...
Deja vu ... I feel like I've read this before.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so glad to hear that Jake is making steps to recovery... I read your blog to my husband and we can definately relate, even to the point of keeping the kids from walking to closely to her in fear they may step on her other front leg... 
I hated going back to work to and all the worries, I tell you life doesn't stop for anything.. But it will be so great when he will be able to join all for that dip in the pool. It is those moments that are worth everything... 
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.
Today is 10 days since Jake's amputation surgery… and he seems to be doing pretty well. He's still not running around as he did before, but he has been hopping around all by himself. He really, really wanted to go swimming with me and Wolfie today… but that's just not possible till after he gets his stitches removed (later this week) and gets the go-ahead from his wonderful vet. We're pretty tight with money these days (who isn't?!) but we're going to try and purchase the swimming harness as soon as possible… since Jake's going to be needing it real soon.
You can read details about Jake's progress at jakesjourney.tripawd.com. I am so grateful to Jerry's mom and dad, and to all of you, for all the wonderful support. I can't imagine how my husband and I could have gotten through things so far!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you all!!! 
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!
Indeed, Jake sounds as though he has been doing really well. I'd say that he has been on the quick side for recovery.
You should get a life jacket on him before he tries to swim. I let Tazzie swim without it first, and that did rattle his confidence and was a bit scary to watch. The life jacket keeps them level so they can focus on moving forward without rolling over.
Today is day 11 post-op. I had to go back to work today. Jake had to wear his E-collar (in case he wanted to lick and chew his incision while I was away)... and was put in the office all by himself (in case Wolfie wanted to lick at Jake's incision)... only room in the house without a bed, couch or futon... He's not allowed to jump up anywhere for a couple of weeks.
When I got home, he was standing up to greet me.... He did his peeps and poos... ate his dinner... but he seem really tired/sleepy the rest of the evening. More than usual, we think. I hope that nothing bad is going on... His incision looks good (is starting to dry up), he has a great appetite, and I took his temp earlier today, and it was normal... I guess we're just worried... Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. From many of the posts I have read, there are good days, and then some bad days... I hope tomorrow is a better day!
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!
I am sure Jake will regain more and more momentum. Shilo is 19 days and she still sleeps and rests a lot more then she did pre-op. I do see her gain strength and I am sure you will see in Jake as well. At least he is eating good that is great!! The no temp is great too. I am glad to hear he is doing well.
Shilo & Alisa
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.
How old is Shilo again? I'm wondering if this has to do with age... Jake is 10... maybe if he was younger, he'd be recovering his energy much quicker?
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!
Jake
Your mum has such high expectations for you. I am only 8 yrs old and acted like 1 yr entering this whole amputation thing. Then I lay around like a lump of cement, heavy cement at that, for over two weeks. I just lay there for 23.75 hr of each 24 hr day. I'd get up for a few minutes to eat. And I'd get up around 2 or 3 in the afternoon to either pee or poo. My mum tried to cajole me into getting up earlier in the day, but forget it. How would she feel if she woke up without her right leg? She even took to driving the car right up to me, to "motivate" me to get up. It worked!
You set far too high of a standard early on, Jake. Now your mum expects you to be 100% or more! I trained my mother. She was so pleased to see me gaining strength the last few weeks, weeks 5-8. That is when she finally realized that I was as happy as I ever was.
Well, at least until she took me back to the vet to get another lump removed. At least they didn't take another leg.
We aren't young pups, even if we acted like it. There are dogs like Jackers who were up and running. But give me a break. They are 4 yrs old, not 8 or 10.
Tazzie
Today is day 12 post-op... Jake seemed full of life when I got home... Hopping around the kitchen, watching what we were making for supper, eating his own dinner, etc. What a difference just one day made.
But I am noticing something that's kind of worrying me (well, everything is worrying me! 
) I'm noticing that Jake's other front leg, his pastern (wrist area) seems to be bending alot more than usual, almost starting to look a bit like his hind legs... probably due to all the extra weight it's supporting now. Has anyone else noticed this in their over 80 pound senior dogs, so soon after their surgery? I'm wondering if anyone has tried to use some sort of splint or support, to help stabilize this area, while their muscles develop and adjust? If so, what did you use and where did you get it? I ordered some supplements but they're only arriving on Friday... My biggest fear is that he breaks or injures his good leg... and then how will he get around??
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!
Shilo is just turned 6 years old, still a pup in my mind at least... I did notice that Shilo's leg bends a lot more and I am sure that it has to do with the extra weight. She gets more and more agility and strength each day. I know that has been our biggest fear as well and so the kids get lots of parents getting on to them if they get to close to her legs.. Same fear she can't afford to loose another leg.
I think that Jake is going to do just fine, he will adjust it just takes time to build all those muscles back up.
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.
Today is 14 days post op. I had a little scare (worry) this morning before leaving for work. I tried to make Jake get up from his comforter/bed in the kitchen, to do his final peeps and poops before I left for work… and I noticed that he was soaking wet all underneath. His sling was still one (he lied down before we had a chance to remove it earlier, so we just left it), but it was soaking wet, so was the comforter… I couldn't tell if he was wet because his sling had maybe slipped over his wee-wee (I'm being polite) when my hubby had taken him out earlier to pee, or if he had just lost control of his bladder and peed all over himself while lying there. Of course I was thinking the latter… Jake was also feeling miserable… and he's never ever peed in the house before.
So I made him stand while I tried to shampoo and rinse off all the pee on his fur with some washcloths. I didn't want to give him a complete bath yet, as he's only going to have his stiches removed tomorrow, and I just didn't want to get his incision wet yet. After I dried him… I gave him a new clean comforter to lie on, and then threw his wet comfortor and pillows into the washing machine. I called work and told them I wasn't coming in today… I didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone, and I wanted to see if he was really loosing control of his bladder, or if it was just an accident because of the sling positioning earlier… It's been 6 hours and so far, no more 'leaks'. I just took him outside and he peed like normal.
One other thing I also noticed… He really peed alot outside this morning… I mean, alot more than normal. Two very long pees… and I don't remember him drinking any more than usual last nite. I also started him on his new Senior vitamins last nite, and was wondering if that could have contributed to his extra peeing…
I know that I'm probably sounding like a paranoid mom… but with all the problems several others in our forum been having lately, I'm just worried about every single little thing with Jake…
Well, tomorrow morning is Jake's vet appointment, so hopefully he'll get a clean bill of health (as clean as possible with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma!)… and that he'll be allowed to start swimming in the pool this weekend. I know that will definitely perk him up, since he loves it so!
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!
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