Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I wanted to check in with an update now that Jersey Girl has been home for 2 full days. Since she was in the hospital 4 days and has been slow to improve, her vet cautioned us not to expect a lot out of her for the next 2 WEEKS! I'm happy to say we think she's doing doing pretty well! She's been eating about 1/3 her normal amount of food although it's mostly home cooked food Papa Bear Gregg has been making her. This morning she devoured 2 Talapia fillets and 1/4 can of wet dog food. She won't even look at kibble. She's also been walking a little bit. Monday she walked a few steps on 3 different occasions, 2 of those were to go potty. We'll take it! Yesterday she didn't walk at all, not one step. We even took her outside twice to potty thinking she MUST have to go. Not so. She pee'd this morning though, 22 hours since the last time. It's amazing how they can hold it! It's only noon today and so far she's walked 5 TIMES!! Once to watch Papa Bear cook her fish, twice in response to a bird hunting video Gregg was playing on his computer (go figure), once to walk towards us on the lawn after we took her outside to potty, and then the last time to pee. Her walk is awkward and she stumbles a lot but she's definitely improving. Watching her pee is the hardest because she falls in it. She hasn't quite figured out how to hold her weight, balance and squat all at the same time. No biggie though, she'll get there.
In terms of ah-ha moments, I've only had a few but maybe they'll be useful to others:
1.) She will NOT move if we try to help her, regardless of whether we use a sling or just our hands.
She's taken us by surprise each time she's walked. We've either been looking the other way, talking to each other or otherwise preoccupied. Sly little devil. She did the same after her knee surgery so I shouldn't be too surprised. I just thought with 1 less leg she'd be looking for assistance.
2.) She pants when she's hungry or when she has to potty, that's it.
We weren't all that surprised to she her pant when she had to potty, but it never occurred to us she's pant if she was hungry. We feed her and the panting stops. Then she goes to sleep. Nice!
3.) She often prefers to lay on the cold tile floor instead of her bed
I think it's just soothing on her belly area which is bruised as a result of the surgery. (It's definitely not because the weather is too warm!)
Sending happy healing thoughts out to everyone in this community. Have a great day!
Claudia
Here's our girl this morning, after breakfast and those 5 little walks. The black lab in the background is Hitch, Jersey's 3 year old canine brother. He's never been further than this from her since she got back from the hospital.
Hi Claudia,
Jersey Girl is doing great! And I love your "ah-ha" moments....a couple of them actually sounded familiar 
I'm glad to hear she is eating well...and sounds like a very healthy diet....and that she is trying to walk a little bit each day. I'm really impressed.
How cute is it that Hitch stays right near her....I'm sure he missed her when she was in the clinic and can surely sense that she needs a little extra TLC from him.
Keep up the good work...and please keep giving us updates...we love them.
Linda and Tucker - the other colour (chocolate) lab
Hi Claudia,
Jersey girl is looking good. Sassy always surprised me too when she did her walking. Sounds like her diet is good and as long as she is eating & drinking that is a good thing. The cool could be from the drugs she has in her system & that she is taking.
She looks great.
hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I've been out of town for several days, so I'm just catching up on the things that have been happening. It sounds like Jersey Girl is coming along great. It is amazing when they start to be themselves again. So, JG, you just take it at your own pace and you will be back in no time.
Hitch is doing is what we call "Labradoring" at our house. When someone feels poorly, a Lab will sit with them and tell them that he hopes they feel better soon. On the other hand, a Golden will say, "As long as you are down at my level you can pay attention to me.". The Chessie says, "Get up and play with me!". Looks like Hitch has the Labradoring thing down pat.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Linda -
Thanks for your response and encouragement! I agree with you about Hitch, what a sweetie for watching over her. As I write this he's laying a foot and a half from her. : )
Michelle -
Thanks for the kind feedback! Interesting thought about why she's on the cool floor. You might be right, maybe the drugs make her warm.
Kathi -
Thanks for catching up on JG and for the kind words! I love love love your interpretation of Lab behavior versus that of Goldens and Chessies!! Hilarious!
Claudia
WHEEEEEEEEEEW! That big tornado you jist felt over your way was a collective sigh of relief from the tripawd community!
Thank uou sooooo much for updating us and posting that heartwarming pivture lf swwet Jersey Girl AND sweet Hitch!!
KATHI, I also LOVE YOUR INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE LAB, THE GOLDEN AND THE CHESSIE SAY! Priceless!! Now, what did the fox say?
Claudia, your "ah ha" moments were spoton! For me, the "dn't help me or I'll freeze" is also how Happy Hannah acted.
22 hours! WOW!! Craaaaaazy!!
So glad you're starting to see little bits of improvement, slowly but surely. This is certainly one for the books and o e we can all learn from and caution future tripawds about.
Papa Bear, you kep cooking fish for Babu Bear and playing that bird huntng vdeo! You've found her motivatin to get up and move.
We're cheering for you Jersey Girl! You've touched my our big time!
And hugs to Hitch too! You're a good boy!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Wow what a great update. I am SO impressed with your great attitude, and those throw rugs (yoga mats?) on the floor. Nice job Tripawd Mom!
She is so sweet, I love that photo. You've got one fantastic pack.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sally and Happy Hannah -
WHOA, I felt that tornado! Thanks for all your encouragement and support, you have no idea how much it helps. I look forward to reading your posts every day and Papa Bear is always asking me, "what does the community say today?" He gets a chuckle out of the comments about him. I share all the kudos because it makes him feel good and he keeps doing all the sweet stuff. Although it's not like I need to encourage him, he'd do anything for his pups and they completely LOVE him! I'm really lucky because it was just Jersey Girl and me for 3 years before I met Gregg (got my fur ball at 8 weeks old). He made friends with her in order to get to me and in the process fell in love TWICE. Like I said, I'm a lucky lucky girl!
Jerry -
Thanks so much for your encouragement and kudos. I love reading your posts as well because you're the originator, the leader of the tripaw pack! Your vision has enhanced the lives of all tripawd parents. Thank you for that!
Yes, yoga mats. That's what the vet recommended. I have to say though, I ones I actually use for yoga are perfect but the cheapy ones I bought at Big Lots for Jersey's recovery stink! I didn't know there was a difference but the cheap ones don't grip the floor. They're stinky, stinky, stinky! I had to use sticky dots to keep them from moving around. You know what they say, you get what you pay for. Lesson learned.
Glad you like our pack, thank you! This is night 3 with all of us sleeping in the living room to be near Jersey Girl. Lol. We don't want to be too far from the door if we need to carry her out. She weighs 85 pounds! We call that service "Jersey's taxi". Lol.
Claudia
Hi! Wonderful to hear she's doing great! And good you are so positive! I smiled when I read that you all are sleeping in the living room 
, and "Jersey's taxi" I have also always slept very near my dogs when they have been operated. I remember when my first bullmastiff, Olga, got her uterus operated. We were sleeping on the floor in the living room. Olga on a madrass and me on just a sheep fell. I felt like a homo sapiens from stone age or something, ha ha! But you do everything for your loved dogs, right ? But I have always had my dogs in the bed until me and my husband moved together. Now they still sleep in our bedroom, but on the floor. So the pack is always together . I wish you all the best with your cute Jersey Girl! As said before, the first two weeks may be tough, but then most dogs are doing amazingly well. Good luck and sending hugs to you and to Hitch too!
Gunilla, Wilbur, Bellis and angel Penny
She sounds like she's doing really well!
I hear you on the pee thing...the first time Sam went out to pee, he tried to lift his leg and fell over (he was a front amp). But, astoundingly enough, he DID learn to lift his leg to pee. And it really took him not very long. They are super adaptable.
Sam also wanted nothing to do with his bed. The first day or few, he'd half lay on it (his able-bodied, bitchy sister usually took advantage of it, though), but really...for the most part, he preferred the floor, just like he always did. (He also always laid on his stump, too...even when it was poufy and angry looking. Weird.)
Instead of the yoga mats, if they aren't working, have you tried some of those inexpensive rubber-backed throw rugs? We got a TON of them from Fleet Farm, and they were each like $5. I mean, okay, the color selection is somewhat limited...but they worked. 
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
ALRIGHTY THEN...it sounds like things are settling in! YAAAAAAY!
Have to do one quick "post hijack"......GUNILLAS!!! What? The husband is in the bed and the dog is on the floor?? No, no, no! The dog needs to be back in the bed!! Yes, and the husband on the floor!
Claudia, love what you said about Papa Bear falling in love twice!! I'm giving him "The Good Egg Award! Yep, he's a really good egg......and so are you!
Jersey Girl's sparkle will continue to come back...I know it seems like forever, but stayed focised on the little victories everyday! In tne world of "tripawd recovery", little victories are HUGE, HUGE VICTORIES!
More pictures please...love pictures!
Hugs and love to all!
Saly and Happy Hannah
PS HITCH! You're a good boy too...Good Egg Award to you 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!
Glad to know about the cheapie yoga mats! I never wouldda guessed there's a difference.
That's a nice little slumber pawty you have going on there
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Gunillas -
Thanks for your kind words and support. YES, anything for our fur babies! And you were all so right about the ups and downs of the first 2 weeks. I start to think YES she's improving, and then I can't get her to move for a day. Huh. I'm glad I have all of you to reinforce that this is normal. I think my vet is probably glad too, although he doesn't know it. Lol. He gets far fewer calls because I have this forum! Love that your pack all sleeps together too!
Megan -
Doggie yoga is what comes to mind when I picture Sam lifting his back leg to pee in spite of the fact that he only has 1 front leg! Go Sam, that's incredible. And I'm SO GLAD to hear you say he sleeps on his stump and even did that when it was poufy and angry looking. I've worried about Jersey putting too much pressure on her amputation site and I've even tried to get her to shift her weight off that side but she won't really do it. Just once, that's it. I've asked the vet about it twice and he always says that's ok. I guess it's counterintuitive and that's why it keeps bugging me.
As for the mats, the red one in the picture is one of those rubber backed throw rugs. That one is mostly working but I have a different one covering the hardwoods in the hall and it's a disaster. Every time Jersey walks on it it bunches up. Ugh. I bought those at Big Lots too. Maybe Target has some that would be better. Someone somewhere on this forum described their home as looking like a clown threw up because they have so many different colored rugs all over the house. I think of that and laugh every time I look at one of the yoga mats or rugs.
Sally and Happy Hannah -
You crack me up. I'm passing on news of your 'good egg award' (my Nana used to use that expression) to both Papa Bear and Hitch. I know they'll be honored, lol!
Claudia
We bought runners at the Walmart store. They were pretty cheap and a heavier gauge than the rubber backed throw rugs. We have several of those, plus some matching ones up to a 5x7 in the kitchen/dining area. We also bought a set to have in the travel trailer or to take along when we go somewhere with slick floors.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
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