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 friends,
We are picking up our dog Mandy after hind leg removal due to osteosarcoma today and are very nervous. Any advice for her homecoming? We know to bring the harness (she's a BIG girl). From what I'm reading, I suspect i may be posting again later with concerns.
Thanks!
Brenda
Hi Brenda and Mandy, welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so please ask as many questions as you'd like.
Lots of us here have been in your situation and totally get your concerns. It's a scary thing bringing home a dog who is hopped up on meds and looking so wounded. But you will see in no time that Mandy is getting her sparkle back. It may take time, especially since she's bigger (how old/young is she?). Don't compare her recovery against others, she's on her own timeline and she will heal on her own clock. But she will!
I think the best thing I can suggest is to make sure your floors have traction , that you have a comfy safe space for her to recuperate in, and that you project lots of pawsitivity and encouragement to her. It's good medicine and makes recovery so much easier when the hooman can see the big picture. You may find it hard, we all did, but with practice you'll start to recognize the little signs that she's bouncing back, and cherish every one.
Check out our What to Expect articles , and Jerry's Required Reading List . Also, the Tripawds e-books are super helpful 🙂
Please let us know how her homecoming goes OK? And if you're freaking out or whatever you can always stop by the Tripawds Chat to see if someone is there, or call the Tripawds Helpline .
P.S. forgot to say, pain management is critical for a smoother recovery. She should come home with at least an anti-inflammatory, Gabapentin (nerve pain reducer), possibly an opioid, and hopefully something like a Nocita 3-day pain reliever that she got during surgery.
Keep us posted!
Hi Jerry and the Pack,
Thanks for the reply and info. She is home. And Yikes!! What a wound. But it looks clean. She is getting around a little on her own, clumsily. We use the sling for going out. She's in a cozy spot caged in so she's only out supervised. She seems sad, we read that some amputees can be depressed for a couple weeks. But its early and was a sick a big surgery so may just tired and dopey, I'm sure she'll perk up when she can get around freely. she has carprofen taken regularly and trazodone and tylenol if needed. and a long-lasting pain injection at the site.
thanks,
brenda and mandy
Yay! Welcome home Mandy!
Yeah, it's a big incision but it heals. Lucky for dogs, they have fur that will cover it up eventually, unlike us furless humans!
So glad it sounds like she has good pain control. When the Nocita wears off, she may show pain signals . Keep an eye on her behavior and watch for things like anxiety and restlessness, both pain indicators.
Pain meds can sure make dogs look sad and depressed. We wrote an article about that kind of thing here:
My Tripawd is Depressed, Now What?
Let us know how she's doing. hope you're having a restful healing day together!
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