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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Trac said:
We took Montana out for the day today to a place that she loves in the mountains so that she could go for a swim and enjoy the day. She had a great day!!!!
Keep up those good spirits! Here's to a full speedy recovery and many more great days to come.
Jerry continued to enjoy swimming after his amputation. So I think you'll be happy with your decision. I know Montana will be. All dogs are different so just prepare for the worst and hope for the best, we look forward to your updates.
FYI: We emailed you the link to instructions for adding a profile avatar. Be sure to log in when you visit these forums so your posts will appear immediately without requiring moderation. Thanks again for joining the discussion ...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks
I hope so as she loves her swimming and going to the beach
Tracey,Stuart & Montana - cherishing every day we have together
I just want to add my voice to the others here - we are very happy with our decision to amputate Ember's rear leg. She has now finished her chemotherapy and is fatter and happier than she has been for a long time. We took her on one last hike also the day before her diagnosis and it was so bittersweet - she was painfully thin and obviously in pain, although being a Golden Retriever she had a good time anyway. Now, 5 months later, she is a new dog! She swims and hikes and plays. The only differences are she can't dig giant holes at the beach anymore, and now when she slides into to grab the ball, she adds a sassy rollover manuveur as she grabs it! She still gets to the ball ahead of our other dog. She has a hearty appetite and gained back all the weight she lost and then some. Her petticoat has grown back around her ampuation site and most people don't even notice.
Although one specialist vet Ember saw recommended a biopsy to be sure, our regular vet disagreed so we did not have one. It was obvious that the leg needed to go so why add to her pain and our bill. Her recovery was not easy - she didn't eat for a week and was not herself for a month (cranky and short-tempered), although she had no trouble getting around right from day 1 (She hadn't been using the bad leg for a while anyway).
I haven't posted for a while because I forget that Ember is missing a leg and sometimes I even forget that she has a serious cancer for days on end. She forgot long ago.
Jane and Ember
Sorry to hear that you have the need to join us here...but as you can already tell you are in the right place for the information and support you will need! I think your post said that Montana is heading in for her amputation tomorrow. Just wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and will keep Montana in our thoughts for her big day. You will probably have lots of questions about amputation care when she first comes home and there is alot of information on this site to help you through it...so many of us have been there so we can help! Keep in mind that the first few days may be very tough on both of you, but dogs are amazingly resilient and she will probably be a new dog in just a few days, especially considering how much better they feel when the cancerous bone has been removed. Alot of the posts have reminded you that you have to change your thinking to worrying about quality of life and not quantity of life and although it is a very difficult concept to accept when you are first blindsided by the osteo diagnosis, it is really so true. I feel very fortunate that Maya is close to celebrating her 8 month "ampuversary" but I honestly would not have regretted the decision to amputate if she has only made it 1 month. Within 2 weeks of amputation she was running & playing fetch and loving life and she NEVER would have done that again with the painful tumor. For the last 8 months every single walk we go for, every swim, every trip to the beach, every time we play fetch...I think to myself this is one more time than she could have done without the amputation. You are giving Montana a gift of being painfree by doing the amputation!!! Please keep us posted on how Montana is doing and know that we are pulling for her to have a smooth and quick recovery!
Best Wishes
Kathy & Maya
My thoughts are with you as the surgery date approaches. You will be amazed how peaceful you feel after the recovery period. It's a new life for both of you.
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
Montana had her surgery 2 days ago we didn't get a biopsy done pre to the surgery as we felt that this was unnecessary and too painful to put her through when we knew what the diagnoses was.
We picked our girl up last night and bought her home she is very determined, when we picked her up she walked out to the car and wouldn't let us help her into the car she stood at the door for about 5 minutes until she worked out how to get into the car and then hoped in and got onto the back seat. When we got her home she got out of the car went to the toilet and we have two stairs up to the front door which she waited a couple of minutes then walked up these and inside the house.(We were amazed at how well she was doing).
She has 4 drains in her cut draining out the fluid and blood so it dosn't build up which she is not impressed about at all she is trying to scratch with her back leg when she thinks you are not looking..Dose anyone have any idea's for this????We were going to put a sock on her back leg but didn't want her to try and get up with this and slip over...I am more worried about when we are sleeping and she scratches.We can monitor this during the day.
We have had her on an all organic vegetable diet for the past 10 days as the vet advised to try and lose a little weight which she has lost:
4kgs - 8.8 pounds so this is good.(Now she is 56kgs - 123pounds)
She had a bad night and was very unsettled and upset (which is to be expected). It is very upsetting seeing her in pain like this and last night going to the toilet she fell over which was heart breaking to watch i just want to run and help her but she was up in a flash and continueing her pee.
I know that it will heal in time and she will be able to get around pain free which is the most important thing.
We are so impressed with how well she is doing...I must admit it is upsetting obviously seeing our baby in this pain but knowing that she can get around like she is already and is not carrying around the dead weight of a leg that was just giving her greif is such a huge relief and to think 2 weeks ago we wouldn't have considered this option as we didn't think she would cope..(Lesson learnt - never under estimate your mate)
As we can't give her the Fentanyal patches she is on Tremal. So hopefully this is enough to help with her pain.
So Thankyou to everyone on this site for your comments,Stories and help..
Montana says thanks for making mum and dad see things more clearly and give me a pain free life.
We are now looking at the options for Chemo not sure yet looking into this at the moment.
I will keep you posted with her progress
xx
Tracey,Stuart & Montana - cherishing every day we have together
Thank you for this wonderful update! Sounds like Montana is doing great. She is strong, resilient and determined indeed. Falls are par for the course, and while heart-breaking to watch, she will learn from them and they will end as she regains her strength.
Don't mistake her unsettled behavior for excessive pain. It is probably just reactions to the pain meds, which are much worse with Fentanyl. Jerry was only on Tramadol and that worked great for him. Try putting a T-shirt on Montana to help against the scratching. Some members have suggested just tying the extra sleeve in a knot, or you could cut it off and sew it up.
We are so happy you are happy with your decision. I'm sure Montana is too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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