Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well it has been 18 days since Louies front leg amputation. It has been a learning experience for both of us. For the most part he is eating (some days more then others) he is pooping and peeing (no longer in the yoga downward dog position) 🙂 and he is getting around better and faster but he still gets so tired so fast and lays down about every 10-20 steps to rest. He is trying to get back into his pre op routines (following me to the barn in the back yard to help with horse chores) and has shown some interest in things like his rawhide bone which he finally was able to chew with only one paw holding it. No interest in playing or toys or his ball yet.
My biggest problem now is that we couldn't get him into the car for his suture removal. We tried everything (food, a ramp, me inside coaxing, my husband behind trying to urge him in) Nothing and I mean nothing worked, he acts as if he is petrified of the car (which he never was) and runs backwards away from it. And believe me, when a dog of Louies size doesn't want to do something there is no making him do it 🙂
My vet lent me a pair of suture removal scissors and I managed to get most of the sutures out but he has 3 sutures that are imbedded in a small flap of skin that he just won't let me get to. The area must be sensitive yet. So I need to figure out how to get him in the car. Also my vet would like to start chemo within the next 10 days and he needs to get in the car for the treatments. I am almost at my wits end. I would hate to have to give up on chemo because my dog refuses to travel anymore 🙁 But I don't want to keep stressing him out either. Any ideas from anyone here?
Sue and Louie (the 172 pound Neapolitan Mastiff who refuses to travel)
Wow Sue you really do have your hands full (literally). I know nothing to help you question wise but do have a suggestion to possibly try. Do you know anybody who has a van that you might borrow to try. Maybe it's just the confines of the car he's now got a problem with? Maybe a van with a large place to lay flat would help him out. Just a thought. Other than that problem sounds like Louis is doing great though and I'm so happy for you!!
Hi Sue and Louie!!
Soooooo glad to get such a good update in Louie. I know you are so close to the situation it's hard for you to see the progress. Sue, there is GREAT progress for such a huge boy!!
Mastering the art of holding his rawhide bone....helping you do your chores at the barn...peeing without practicing yoga at the same time....all such good progress!
I started to see more of my Happy Hannah's "routines" between the three and five week mark. It was five weeks before she slept in her amp. side. Getting up to greet me at the door...welcoming me with a Woo Woooooo andher food bowl in her mouth...all started showing up just like before the surgery. Happy Hannah always stayed right with me when I went outside and liked resting a lot on her outseide excursions. She just wanted to be with me and outside so we had many sacred times just sitting in the grass being lart of nature. So as yiu head down to the barn with Louie, slpw down and enjoy the little breaks just sitting with zLouie enjoying just being together.
Nkw, as far as the "You can't make me get in the car" Louie! Wow! That's a rough one! As Li da said, perhals a van would not bother him as much. A@so, do you have a frie d he really likes? They could come over. Have them get in the back seat with door open and call Louie over to see them in the car. Have them act all exxited and have a cheeseburger in their hands. Make sure your energy is calm, playful and confident. Visualize him getting in the car easily.
Maybe others can offer more help.
Again, it was just wonderful hearing from you!
@ots of love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Okay, this may seem a bit kookie but it may help to have a talk with Louie.
My cat Mona was never afraid of the car or the vet's office but after I took her in to the clinic she yowled on the way home. Never a peep from her before. A month after that I took her to the chiro vet and she yowled on the way. She initially hid during the appointment then came out when the vet started talking to her. The vet talked to her the whole time during the treatment and Mona fell asleep. The vet told me I need to talk to her on a regular basis to tell her why is leg is gone (to save her life), how things are better now, etc. Initially when I talked to Mona I cried but it got better. Perhaps this was more for me than her? So I did it on a regular basis and would take her to the vet just for a weigh-in or for my other cat's appointment and she hasn't cried since. In fact she comforts my other cat, Eli, at the clinic!
Mona is on top. At home she usually hits Eli and not kind to him at all.
Sally gives great advice that you need to remain calm because pets pick up on our energy and anxiety. It's easier said than done. I'm sure you can do it!
Good luck and let us know.
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
testing
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
When you tried the ramp, did you practice with it on the flat floor before trying to load Louie into the car? When we first got Murphy's ramp, it took a bit of practice to get him used to the idea of walking on it. We set it on the living room floor close to the wall and then had him heel next to us while walking on the flat ramp. He was pretty leery of it at first, but came around pretty quickly. Once he got used to it, he would go up into the Jeep with no problem. He did not, however, like to go up into the back seat of the pickup which required a steeper angle.
Just a thought.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
thanks everyone for all the great ideas. 🙂 Today Louie picked up one of his squeaky toys and wanted to play tug with me 🙂 every day I see a little more of my sweet friend coming back. Also he ran up the ramp to the house this morning after his morning potty break and I had all I could do to grab his collar and hang onto him so he wouldn't fall off!!
He still won't let me at those last few stitches so tomorrow I will try again to coax him into the car. Wish me luck!
Sue and Big Dog Louie
So happy to hear he's loving his squeaky again! It's just magical ro seem them be hap p y doing things that give them such joy!!
And a ]HUGE GOOOOOD LUCK TOORROW!! Update when you get a chance.
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Love love love this update! Go Louie!!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
GREAT UPDATE!
Our Meesha doesn't like cars either, but Melody is a great role model. So Mel gets real excited and we use her to get into the car first. Meesha just follows suit. If Mel's not there, it's a much harder task.
Do you have another pooch in the pack? Can you borrow someone else's?
Just a thought.
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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