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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Thanks for the good update!!
It is so amazing to see our tripawds come back to themselves. Sometimes it seems like it might not happen!
Karen and the pugapalooza
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Hooray for Lucy! Sounds like she is doing well.
Hope you have an amazing 2012 with her!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Excellent news!! Way to show 'em Lucy!!!
Here's a Super Happy New Year!
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.
Yay Lucy! You're kickin' butt! Those three weeks will be over before you know it. Keep it up!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks everyone! We're ready to see what 2012 holds. Happy New Year!! 
Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
All-
Lucy seems to be doing very well. I'm just a little concerned because she is still sleepy. She's on 1/2 a tramadol 3x/day and just 1/2 a rimadyl 1x/day. Its just been 15 days since surgery so I'm hoping this is still "normal". She enjoys the backyard and walks it when we go out and is barking without incident at passers by. For my "hyper" dog this is somewhat unusual. The vet required 3 weeks of rest so this is good, right?!
Thanks,
Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Hi Mary,
Sounds like an overall good update, but I'm betting she's sleepy because of the tramadol. All dogs are different in how they react to it (it makes our Wyatt Ray
crazier than usual) I would ask the vet about weaning her off of it to see if that helps. She will still need to take it easy but may not need the pain killers anymore. Do ask, though.
Keep up the great work, you're doing fine.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Mary,
Assuming everything else is OK then I would agree with Jerry that it could be the tramadol. Its funny how differently dogs respond to it. Tri-pug Maggie was very agitated on tram while quad pug Obie took the same dose with no obvious effects- not agitated, not tired.
I weened Mag off the tram by the end of the second week I think. But if you are concerned about Lucy getting too hyper during her vet mandated rest period you might keep her on it- and start weening her toward the end of the three weeks. Of course check with your vet before changing anything. I have had to keep quad pug Tani on pain meds a little longer than needed in the past to keep her from hurting herself- she isn't as much hyper as reckless.
If she is walking around, eating, peeing and pooping, and now barking without shrieking (yea!) sounds like she is doing great! I bet when all the pain meds are out of her system your hyper girl will re-emerge.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Yes, this is good!
I will sound like a broken record, but maybe plan something Lucy really, really likes to do after week 3, after she's pretty much back to herself. Then you'll see her really snap out of it when she has a real reason to snap out of it. Not like they have a choice, but it's just a lot for them and it's nice to see them lose their heads and go crazy-happy.
Tate was pretty good after 3 weeks and at about week 6, we took him to our cabin and it wasn't until then that we really saw the old Tater-Tot back.
(Okay everyone else, sorry if you're getting tired of the story! I just think it's helpful when you're in the depths of it. Something to look forward to.)
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Thanks Jerry, Karen and Tate!!! I think it could be the tramadol too. Before surgery she was limping and we were giving her 1/2 a tram 3x/day too. It certainly did calm her down, I think maybe a little more so right now. And you're right, when there's something going on that she's interested in, she perks up. Yes, I think we'll head to a quiet side of one of the parks this weekend and I'm sure she'll liven up!
Tonight I think I found 1 staple still in there!!! Very hard to see but looks like we're going to have to go back. Urgh... She perks up for that too but not necessarily in a happy way.
Thanks again!
Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Sounds like Lucy's moving in the right direction!
Don't get discouraged. Sheldon's 19 days post-amp and he still gets tired easily. I think the more active they were before surgery, the more difficult it is for US to adjust to thier new habits.
Try little things here and there that Lucy likes. Take it slow and increase with time. I think you said that she played with a toy today, right? That's a step in the right direction! Or should I say, paw?
It's hard at times, but stay pawsitive!
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