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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Hi all, I am a newbie and am really struggling with Maggie. Maggie is a 4 month old Pomeranian. Maggie jumped from my husband's truck at about 40 mph on Saturday (7-7-12) which resulted in a broken femur and had the amputation surgery on Monday afternoon. (Clean break) I can handle her being a tripawd, and the incision, I just don't know what is normal with signs of pain. She will walk around then drop her back end. I know the whining can be related to the pain meds that she is on. We went for a post op check today to have her drain removed. The vet said everything looked good, and gave me some more pain meds. She seems to do ok at night, but the days are exhausting, don't get me wrong, I will take a few weeks of hell to have my baby with me. I just could use a little advice on how to make her more comfortable. Any suggestion would be wonderful.
I look forward to following this site as we travel this road with Maggie. God certainly was looking out for us that day and decided it wasn't Maggie's time to go yet. Thanks in advance for any info.
Nikki
Hi Nikki, welcome. Wow, what a lucky girl Maggie is to survive a fall like that! How scared you all must have been, I can't even imagine.
Three days post op is not a lot of time. This is the timeframe when she should be confined to a small space in your home. If she's walking around all day it's probably too much walking. Remember, she is using her body in all new ways, and muscles she's never used before. Pain meds do funny things to dogs and make us feel like we are invincible. Keep her confined so she can rest and recuperate. Most dogs need at least a couple of weeks until they start to feel better, and some need several to regain some amount of strength to go on walks again.
During this recuperation time, check out our Required Reading List and ebook, "Three Legs & a Spare" to learn lots more tips about recuperation and recovery, and how to gain stamina while having fun!
We're sorry you had to join us but happy to be here to offer our support. Please keep us posted on how she's doing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome! So glad Maggie is going to be ok. She'll get to live her new life as a tripawd soon!
Yes, too much walking right now will equal pain. Keep her confined and very quiet, and no stairs right now.
We bought an "X-Pen" (exercise pen) for our dog to be in during his amputation recovery period. He tolerated it well.
They come in all different sizes and I'm sure since your dog is small the cost will be minimal.
This is pretty much what ours looks like: (by Precision Products)
We set it up in our living room so he was near us all of the time.
Good luck, and keep posting. We are all here for you and will help you through Maggie's journey.
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
Thank you everyone. Maggie rested very well last night. She is doing well today (so far) and I am grateful that I have a place to come with questions and concerns. As many of you here, my dogs are my fur babies. I love them unconditionally, 4 legs, or only 3. I want to do everything right to make this transition as easy as possible for her. The accident is something that could have been prevented, but I have beaten myself up about that long enough. It happened, and that's why they are called accidents. Maggie is my 13 yr old daughters first dog. (We have other dogs, but this was hers.. she wanted something fierce.) She had to earn the money for her and so it hurt me very much seeing my daughter hurt.
With the time constrictions of caring for Maggie, I haven't had the chance to really maneuver around on here, but I am so looking forward to becoming an active member here. I look forward to meeting many new people and raise awareness that even dogs need to be seat belted in while driving. I will get to the whole story when time allows, but Miss Maggie is beckoning me that it is time for lunch! 🙂
Hugs from Maggie's Grandma
Nikki 
Welcome to you and Maggie. Sorry you had to find us here, but you'll find this site is great for info and support.
The first 10-14 days of the recovery are rough, but it gets way better once they are off the pain meds! You'll see - she'll begin to inspire and amaze you.
And although the accident was a bummer, seeing how great Maggie gets around on 3 legs is going to be a huge inspiration to you and your daughter. Being a tripawd pawrent (or grandpawrent) is an awesome thing!
All the best and look forward to hearing more about Maggie,
Jackie, Angel 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!
labsrus said
We bought an "X-Pen" (exercise pen) ...
Be sure to search the Gear blog first for a wide selection of confinement solutions to help keep recovering tripawds safe. Purchases help keep this community online!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bringing our 11 year old home in a couple of hours after rear leg amputation for cancer. W have 3 other labs around the same age. Any suggestions for how they might react to him?
toby123 said
Any suggestions...
There are a couple topics discussing how pack-mates react to new tripawds. Search the forums for "siblings" using the button above or search all the blogs here. We also discuss this a bit in Three Legs and a Spare.
Consider starting a new topic to discuss the subject further. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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