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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Callie had her hind leg amputated on Thursday and came home yesterday. She is doing great so far and maybe even doing a little too much! We are trying to keep her as calm and rested as possible. The vet did not cover her surgery site with anything and did not give any specific instructions for it, other than not to let her lick it. She hasn't actually been doing too bad, but every now and then we'll catch her licking it and of course we'll make her stop. We have one of the "lampshade" collars, which she HATES. We've tried putting it on her, but she is very restless and will not lie down with it on. We also tried putting a tshirt over her belly and back-end, but she didn't like that either and tried to get it off.
Any other suggestions of how to keep her from licking her incision site? We mainly just want to cover it at night so we can get some sleep without worrying about her trying to lick it and for when we have to leave her during the day. I'm very fortunate that I get to work from home, so it won't be that often she is left alone, but I will have to run a few errands everyday.
There have been more than one pair of men's (or boy's depending on the size of the dog) boxers sported by a new rear tripawd here 😉
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.
Thanks for asking, consider these cone of shame alternatives. And as Shanna suggested, boxer shorts can work for some dogs with the tail through the flap.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Cooper was licking his also, and hated the boxers! (our friends who were visiting even brought us ones with the American Flag so he could be duded up for 4th of July!) Our vet did not want us using the cone, because they felt it would interfer with his balance. The vet gave us LickGuard by Van Beek. You can only get it through your vet, but it works! Or it did for Cooper. Coop wants to warn Callie, "this stuff tastes and smells horrible!! Stop your licking now before your peeps get it!" It doesn't last long, but did give us a few hours of relief when we had to go out.
Have you tried some crushed ice in a baggie (or frozen peas or you can purchase soft ice bags at the pharmacy) If you can leave it on for 20 minutes, no more or no less (I just read that on a human website for nerve pain) it will help deaden the pain. Less than 20 minutes doesn't do the trick and more than 20 minutes hurts with the circulation of blood to area).
You can repeat it every 4 to 8 hours. Ice is really good at eliminating nerve pain.
Dogs love to lick what hurts!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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