Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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A couple of weeks ago my 8 year old golden, Lola was diagnosed with cancer in her scalpula. The tumor was quite big and Lola was having a difficult time putting any weight on her right leg. After several tests, X-rays, ultrasounds and heart wrenching discussions with our vet (who has be great through out this whole ordeal) my wife and I decided to have Lola's right leg amputated. The surgery happenned on Wednesday, June 24th. I went to the vet's office and saw her yesterday and she is doing wonderfully. She has really adapted well and seems to be in good spirits. I am going to take her home today, June 26th to continue her recovery.
Any recovery advise would be greatly appreciated. 
Welcome to the family! I know it's overwhelming now, but things will get better. It's good to hear she is doing well, but it's not unusual to have ruff times in the 1st 2-3 weeks after surgery. Check out the top 10 questions in the forums. (Sorry I don't know how to link it here.) Get her a space with a comfortable, firm bed and maybe a crate. Get canned dog food or cook some good people food for her. You may want to have some kind of fiber on hand for constipation (pumpkin, high-fiber cereal). And you'll probably want to make a sling to put under her belly for when she needs to potty. A towel or grocery bag with handles cut down the sides works.
Remember to get rest when she's resting b/c it's stressful being a full time caregiver.
This site gives so much advice. It is so hard at first, but it will get easier! 
Hi Jim and Lola! My little cuddle bear is a little over 3 weeks out of surgery. My advice would be DO NOT let her be too active. Jack, also a right front amputee, recovered so well and was walking up the stairs 3 days after surgery. Well, that led to broken capillaries and pooling blood in his abdomen so we had to take him back to the vet for a couple days so he could be on complete bed rest. I wish I could offer more advice, but my experience was pretty easy. I hope Lola's recovery goes smoothly, and welcome!
Thank you so much for the replies jgerman and Idillon8. I will do my best to keep her low key. My current plan is to begin immune supplements (all natural of course). I will discuss with my vet today. I am nervous about the ride home. Never had to help a dog recover from something like this. This is my first golden.
Take it slow and easy. Thats the key. Lola will let you know how much she can and cant do.
Keep in mind that she may act a little strange from the meds she is on (might not be hungry, or poop for a few days) and that you may see panting or hear her whining (sometimes they have phantom pain ). A sling and a comfy place to lay and if you are like me...a comfy place for you to lay too! I slept with Max on the floor the entire first week.
If you have any questions about anything, we can all give you our advice and support but over and above that...call her vet. I got to know mine on a first name basis and she always told me that she was glad to have me call and ask instead of worrying and passing that worry on to Max.
Some dogs have a ruff time the first couple of weeks and some do really well. Just depends on the dog. Hopefully Lola will come through with flying colors. My experience was 2 weeks of constant care, but by week 3 Max was hopping around and pretty much back to normal.
Best of luck to both of you...and like jgerman said...take care of YOU too!
Paula and Spirit Max
Give Lola lots of love, and support and she will do just fine. Try not to worry, and ask lots of questions. We're all here to support you as you begin that journey into the unknown. Don't expect too much too soon, and be greatful for all the small achievements. You will both be fine.
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.
Wow, we were out today and returned to see our Tripawds family offer all of this great advice! Thanks so much everyone.
Jim, welcome, and thanks for registering. We're so sorry you are going through this, but as you can see, everyone here will generously offer their great advice to help you though the recovery. Yes, the first two weeks are hardest, and while there can be a complication like Jack said, most dogs will get through this a lot better than their humans.
As jgerman said, check out our Top Questions about amputationand recovery, here and here.
Our biggest piece of advice is to keep hope in your heart and stay pawsitive. Dogs pick up on the emotions of their humans, and if Lola thinks you're losing faith in her recuperation, she will too.
Good luck this weekend. Please let us know how she does OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad to hear that Lola is doing good. It is hard to keep them as calm as they should be! Good luck with it. We had only supervised visits with Emily's doggie siblings until we knew she had the balance to be jostled a bit! My advice is to remember that the amputation is a blessing for Lola. People have problems with it. Dogs do not. Emily did better coming out of the hospital post op than she did going in. She may hop but she doesn't limp!
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.
It has been 3 days since Lolas surgery. she seems to be recovering well. We have encouraged her everyday, telling her what a good girl she is! We weren't prepared for the post surgery discharge from her incision though. It started the night we brought her home.It starts when she goes to get up to go outside, and during walking. We always bring a towel along to catch it and I bought disposable pads to put in her bed. The vet said it is ok, just natures way of healing. I have her confined to the family room and I am sleeping on the couch. I am encouraged knowing that everyday will get a little better.I want to thank everyone for their support!
Good to hear that Lola is doing well. It will only get better and better. Wish her have a speedy recovery!
Cheers.
We had quite a bit of post surgery discharge from the incision site with Wrigley. We kept sheets and waterproof mattress pads all over the floor of the room we had her in. I had to take her back to the vet a few times to and have them "drain" it a little bit more. Once we even ended up in emergency it was draining so much. But she recovered just fine and after those 2 weeks she was back to normal. She bounced right back as I am sure you will see Lola do each day. We wish you continued success on your recovery. Take each day one day at a time. It really does get better and better. These tripawd pups are amazing.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Hi Jim,
We had a lot of drainage as well and pretty much had the whole house covered in old sheets. About a week after the amp it was so bad I thought it was infection, but doc said it was normal, some have more than others. We did a lot of warm compresses to help it along. Don't know that it really made a difference, but it was "hands on bonding time" which at least made me feel better. We are five weeks post amp and Toffee still has one little place that is "crusty." Hang in there, it does get easier.
Laura and Toffee
The drainage is normal. The cut ends of the muscle are trying to heal so they produce serum which tends to find its way between the sutures. The motion of the dog walking will increase flow. I usually try to wrap these guys using diapers and gauze to catch the discharge and cover with a tshirt. You might need your vet to show you how to do this so the bandage is not put on too tight.
Pam and Tazzie
Jim and Lola,
Sounds like things are going rather well. While drainage is normal and Pam & Tazzie have given good adive (as usual), you are right to be cautious. Cherry had very little discharge while others have had significantly more and recovered quickly and completely. As far as any advice per your original posting, one thing that I constantly post - treat the spirit as well as the body. In Cherry's case it was her love to go. Prior to the amputation, we would go for long walks. Now we go on nearly daily trips in the truck/car. It was during her first such trip after the chemotherapy took hold, that she actually ate a biscuit that was offered. For nearly two months, I had to "stuff" nearly every morsal of food but the daily trips were the exception. Point here, find something Lola loves and exploit that love to help give purpose to her life and return the quality of life.
Good Luck and keep us posted. We all will be pulling for you.
Bob & Cherry
Someone else mentioned constipation, which was a good thing to do. Our Brody would cry out when he first came home and got up. He also seemed to keep his rear end down. Although I tried to keep track of his bowel movements, after a few days went by I realized I had been letting him out in the back to "do his stuff" and not checking up on him and he was also not going for his usual long walks. When I realized that he had gone two days without a bowel movement, I figured out that the pain medications were making him constipated and thus causing his pain. A "little" mineral oil on his food and more veggies helped immensely. In fact, he got off the pain meds a few days later, which also helped.
You have probably done some sleeping on the floor yourself by now. Take good care of your baby and yourself. Each day will get better. 
Pat
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