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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Hi Everyone,
My name is Anna and I have a lovey, scrappy, wiggle named Ella. She just turned 2. Last Tuesday, I had her hind leg x-rayed because I thought she had partially torn her ACL. (She is super athletic). Wow, was I shocked when I learned that it was osteosarcoma. She is still a baby! She had been favoring her leg for a week or so. Two days ago (this past tuesday) she had it amputated. The vets and surgeons have been wonderful. I picked her up with a friend of mine today. I was so excited to see her. Now that I have her home though, I am feeling rather overwhelmed and a bit unqualified to take care of her. Within 30 minutes of arriving home, I thought I saw her licking her wound. I called the vet right away (she has a Bite-Not collar) and they told me that it should be fine if I just tighten the collar, which I immediately did. She is sleeping now.
Is everyone as worried and nervous as I seem to be? I am teaching summer school every day and I am so worried that something will happen to her after I leave in the morning; or that she will somehow get out of her Bite-Not and I will come home to a tragic mess. I guess I just need reassurance/support. I suppose that is normal.
Anyway, before the surgery I got a lot of comfort from the posts on this 'site. Thank you all for all of your strength and stories of amazing pooches.
XO Anna
Hi Anna and Ella, it's great to have you here at Tripawds. You have come to the right place for advice. I haven't been thru the amputation process with Chuy, he was tripawd when we adopted him, but I do know that Ella will probably rest frequently during the first week or so. If you can keep her in a crate to keep her quiet and contained while you are away, that would be safest for her. Also, is there a bandage on her incision? If not, can you put a t-shirt on her to cover her up so she doesn't try to lick? You can put it on her backwards and put her tail thru the neck hole. Just a thought. I'm sure she'll be fine, but remember there are side effects from the pain meds like whining, panting, pacing, etc. Don't hesitate to post in the Ask a Vet forum for questions on that stuff.
Keep us posted on how Ella is doing.
Eleanor & Chuy
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
Everyone gets nervous, and they have right to be. Just don't let Ella know how you feel! She needs you to be a strong pack leader, especially now. Dogs are incredibly strong resilient creatures though. Believe it or not, they will cope with recovery better than most of us humans will. Just take things one day at a time.
Be sure to review our post answering the top ten amputation concerns we received in Jerry's blog. Use the forum search for any specific concerns, and update this topic so we can all follow Ella's progress. If you have veterinary questions, post in the Ask A Vet forum. We also try to be in the chat room most evenings.
PS: A t-shirt can help protect the incision area.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow! I am so impressed with the speedy replies and suggestions! Thank you!
Ella is currently snoring in my bed. I moved my mattress onto the floor and she seems content. I will keep you posted and also post a picture of my adorable wiggle when I can.
All my best to everyone and your furry kids.
Anna (and Ella)
ps. is a t-shirt better than, say, cotton boxer-briefs? The vet tech said that putting anything on the incision site would make her more interested in licking/removing it. Have you found that to be true? I have some cotten boxer-briefs that have a fly (which would work for the tail) that I am happy to donate to her if that would help her...
XO
Anna (and Ella)
Hi Anna and Ella!
Cemil (3.5 years old, OS survivor) wore a t-shirt until a few days after his staples were removed--he's a front-leg amputee so the neck worked like it should. It protected the incision and also, he drained a lot so it doubled as a bandage.
Everyone is nervous the first couple weeks, but you'll see as you read the posts, when they get off the pain meds, things start to be more normal. Share your concerns, ask questions; this is the place to be right now. All dogs recover at different rates but the wealth of experience and compassion here is wonderful. And then, there are the Positive Experiences (see that topic under Hopping Around).
Mary and Cemil
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Interesting input from the vet tech about the shirt idea. That very well be the case. Jerry never had an issue with licking. His doc did not bandage him, and we never had to use the cone they gave us.
I'm only basing my comments on the number of suggestions others have had about using a shirt. I suppose anything irritating the wound may cause more interest in licking. But you never know until you try. I mentioned the t-shirt thinking about a front leg amputee. New member ldillon had a great idea that may work and posted a picture and instructions for a homeade recovery shirt.
Regarding the boxers ... I would think the elastic might bother the incision and stitches/staples. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We used a shirt for Wrigley when we went through her recovery. We never had an issue with her trying to lick the incision with the shirt. She certainly perferred the shirt over the E collar. We just had to change it every day because it came soiled with the leaking of the incision and I was worried about keeping it clean.
I worried all the time. We care so much about our critters. When we left Wrigley alone we just made sure she was confined to a small space so she could not get herself into any "situations" that could harm her.
You will find this 2 week recovery is one big roller coaster ride. But hang in there and you will see that being a tripawd is a piece of cake.
We will send good thoughts your way and keep you and Ella in our prayers for a speedy and uneventful recovery. We know this is difficult but you can do it. Hang in there.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Hi Anna and Ella,
Our Toffee is 3 weeks into this and we've been struggling from almost day 1 with licking at the sutures. We tried the t-shirts and she even licked through those until she had the wound irritated. We have three Greyhounds and they are used to wearing muzzles when we are not at home (it's a Greyhound thing.) We made her wear her muzzle, and she still managed to get at it. Our resolution was duct-taping the bottom part of the muzzle. She's not happy, but she can't lick and she's finally healing. *To anyone concerned....she can still get a drink with no problem....she just makes a mess.
Not sure how Ella would handle a muzzle, but it might be an option.
Best of luck to the two of you,
Laura and Toffee
Laura said:
Our resolution was duct-taping the bottom part of the muzzle.
Wow. Thanks for the Greyt Tip! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to our little group. The folks here are great, you'll get lots of helpful suggestions. We never had an issue with Trouble licking her incision either, but I did put a t-shirt on her because she wanted to go outside and lay on the incision and I didn't want it to be infected.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi everyone!
Thanks again for all your support and suggestions. Ella is doing so well, I think. Her scar seems to be healing rapidly and her energy is increasing daily. Because I was nervous on Friday (it was the first day she was home and I had to be at work for several hours), my primary vet told me she could hang out with them for the day. She ate up all the attention - bouncing around to all the techs and vets for attention, following the cat around. When I picked her up she was nothing but a wiggly happy puppy again and apparently all the vets, techs, and staff had fallen in love with Ella (I was SO proud).
I do have a question though. For the most part she is sleeping during the day when we are home. However today, I have found her several times in various places just standing and staring. I am not giving her full house privileges (she only has my bedroom and the hallway for moving when I am home), but for instance, I just got up from my desk in my room to get something from the bathroom and I found her standing and staring (and panting) at the bathroom door. It is a little cooler in the hallway (It isn't too hot yet so I am waiting to turn the AC on), and I know she is still loopy from the meds...but, is this normal? Perhaps just amuzing? On the day of her surgery, the surgeon told me that also she has hip dysplasia (stupid puppy mills!) in the remaining leg/hip (I know, bummer, right?) so maybe it is just more comfortable for her to stand sometimes? Or perhaps it is an alternative to laying on her non-scar side? I suspect I am just spending too much time hyper-analyzing her every move (or lack thereof).
Anyway, thanks so much for everyone's support. I can't tell you how nice it is to have a group of people like you around and available.
XO
Anna and Ella
annajacobsen said:
... I have found her several times in various places just standing and staring.
Ella is most likely just trippin' out from being medicated. That, and she's coming to terms with her new state of being. The panting is common for dogs on tramadol.
You may notice a number of amuzing new traits and pitfalls as Ella learns to love life on three legs. It's OK to laugh.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
All sounds good to me. They really are zoned out until they are off all medications. Quite common to experience the panting and also to seem to overheat easily. As a matter of fact, Trouble still prefers to lay on the tile floor in the hallway quite a bit more than she ever did before. That's where it is cooler for her.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Oh, it is so great to hear that the panting is normal! When I asked the vet tech how I could tell if Ella was experiencing pain (i.e. if I need to give her more Tramadol - they said I could give her 1-2 tablets every 12 hours depending on the pain) she told me to look for lots of panting and restlessness. I wish she had told me that it is also a side effect of the meds! And thanks also for validating my giggles. Ella has actually made me laugh out loud (by myself) a couple times with her staring and swaying, particularly depending on what she is staring at!
Also, I have a question for those of you who have rear-leg amputees: Do you think it is worth it/valuable to buy one of those ruff-wear harnesses? The infomercial was interesting and made me think it would be good for her (though I must admit to being at least a little seduced by how adorable and "rugged" the pooch looked with his gear), but I don't have a whole lot of extra cash these days so I don't necessarily want to spend money on something that is superfluous. That said, if it bring her even a little bit more comfort and ease I won't hesitate. (I realize I wouldn't want to start using it until after the sutures and staples come out.) What do you think?
XO Anna and Ella
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