Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our girl Shawna just had her right hind leg amputated yesterday. She is doing as well as can be expected while recovering at the vet's for a few days. She has eaten and drank a little, but won't go potty for the vet. We get to bring her home on Monday, and I'm so worried about how she'll do. It's been very helpful reading everyone's postings here as I want to know what to expect when we bring Shawna home.
We're still in shock that she has lost her leg, but we're extremely happy that she is doing well otherwise. We want to make sure to take the very best care of her during and after recovery so she will have many more happy & healthy years.
If you have any pointers on what we should do to make her the most comfortable, and to make her recovery go well; please let us know.
Thank you so much!
Shawna & family
Shawna & family,
We are very sorry to hear of you situation with Shawna and want to wish you all the best for a full recovery which includes a return to an excellent quality of life. Most of us here on this site are dealing with Osteosarcoma but since you did not mention the reason for the amputation I will confine my comments to the broader topic of recovery from amputation. We have been on this site for nine months and quickly realized that each of our companions respond differently but all show a remarkable resilience. Cherry came home the day after her amputation and definitely tried to show the world that nothing had changed. Our surgeon provided us with a sling much like those used for broken arms. I was able to put the sling around Cherry's chest (she is a left fore-leg amputee), put the two handles around my neck, and then could use both arms to lift her while going outside. By the time the stiches came out, the surgeon made it clear that the sling was no longer needed but it did come in handy. Depending on how they respond to the chemicals (pain killers, chemotherapy, anti-nausea, appetite stimulants, etc.) they could either be spaced out or overly active. Just provide a quiet place for them near the family and try to keep them quiet for the first few days. Cherry and I slept in the guest bed for the nearly two months (duration of the chemotherapy) so that I could keep a close eye on her at night. Many make a bed on the floor and sleep alongside for the same reason. Sooner than you might expect, Shawna will be getting around close to her old self. Two things that Cherry had to relearn were how to lay down and how to sit. Yes, even sitting is different when you only have the single leg to balance. It is a much different posture. The RuffWare harness that you can purchase from this site has also proven to be very useful for getting into and out of the truck or 5th wheel and for navigating steps.
I often remind that we have to treat the spirit as well as the body. Find something that Shawna loves and exploit that love to help her have purpose to her life. For Cherry, it was rides in the car/truck. To this day, you can see the excitement build as the time for our rides approaches. Also, trust your instincts. You know Shawna better than anyone and your decisions and actions will be the best for Shawna.
Paws Crossed, and Sending Nothing But Pawsitive Thoughts,
Bob & Cherry
Welcome to the Tripawds community! Thanks for joining. Believe it or not, the less you worry, the better Shawna will do. What she needs most right now is rest, time to recover, and for you to remain calm and strong.
If you have not already done so, you may want to read our answers to top dog cancer amputation questions. Many more questions have already been answered throughout these forums. Searching for specific concerns will usually return some popular topics with great advice.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This is going to sound silly, but expect a dog with three legs. She may look to you to see if it is 'OK', to determine if you still love her even though she is 'different'. Give her the love she has always had and she (and you) will be just fine. Prepare for what the amputation site will look like, it isn't just horrible, but it still has that shock factor. Don't allow Shawna to see shock or fear. She needs you to be the leader and to be strong for her.
I was one of the ones who slept on the floor beside Trouble. There is NOTHING wrong with this if it makes you feel better. I wanted to be close in case she needed something. The first few days I didn't want her to have to come looking for me, we made sure one of us was close 24/7.
Relax as much as you can. Rest when she rests, and rely on this group for all the support you can possibly handle. Best of luck from me and Troub.
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.
I love the answer expect to see a dog with three legs! Shawna will still be Shawna. There will just be a space where the leg is missing. When her hair grows back and you see her from the rear you will probably think that it sure looks weird but other than that she will still be your same sweet baby.
This web site is fun of great information. Check out old posts to educate yourself on the whole process. There are as many recovery stories as there are dogs who have had amputations. I think rear leg amputees recover easier but that might just be my opinion based on Emily's easy recovery. On the other hand, if you read my posts, I didn't do as well! Dogs dont care that they have three legs. As others mentioned they look to us to make sure everything is okay.
Good luck with Shawna. You are in my prayers.
Debra
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.
Thank you all so much for all of the information & well wishes. I'm so happy to know there is support out there for us. We are preparing for her return home, and we'll keep you posted as to her recovery. She is such a sweet, loving dog; we'll just be glad once she's home.
A couple things I didn't expect after Yoda's amputation was that he wanted to get in the car again (even though he stopped wanting to long before he started limping, and I was told it was behavioral), and his tennis ball catching skills improved dramatically. He used to have trouble catching it in the air and now it's his favorite thing!
This is post-recovery, of course, and I know you're focused on what to expect for recovery, but for every scary or worrisome surprise you encounter during this time, there will be as many wonderful unanticipated acheivements by your tripawd in time.
Best of luck, Shawna and family!
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
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