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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Well Max is out of surgery. The Dr. called before he started with the results of hip and "elbow" x-rays. He has no hip dysplasia but he does have some arthritis in his elbow. He believes this is from an earlier event and not necessarily an ongoing event. He conferred with the other two surgeons and they all recommended going ahead with the amp. So now we can only hope his remaining back leg can take the extra stress. As he said he doesn't have a crystal ball but if and when something would happen we could deal with it. I wished everything could've been perfect but we'll take what we get. On a great note Max sailed through the surgery very little blood loss and everything went perfectly. Yaaay!! He was resting comfortably with IV meds and they will call later with an update when they try to get him up tonight. So all in all not a perfect report but not as bad as it could've gone either. Any tips or advice from this point on are welcomed. Hopefully we can pick him up some time tomorrow and I'm going to do what Sally advised and not focus at all on the incision but on Max and what a good boy he is. Expect to get really really sick of me in the next two weeks. I'm going into this with a purely positive attitude and know there will be bumps in the road but whatever they may be I know we will conquer this. We will be doing follow-up chemo but I'm pretty sure our Mighty Max is going to be in that 10% group with the cancer not spreading. Because that's what a Mighty Max does. 
Great update and GREAT attitude! Keep looking forward and know you did the best thing you could for Max's comfort and quality of life. If the next weeks are bumpy just remind yourself that Mighty Max will conquer!
I really believe in the positive attitude- partly because I didn't have it when Maggie had her amputation. She was not happy (no complications, just a stubborn pug who hated change) so I was not happy. I think we fed off each others moods and I was sure I had done the wrong thing by choosing amputation.
Keep us posted on Mighty Max's progress.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I think it sounds great! Getting through the surgery w/ no complications is a great first step. I'm sure Max will be happier than you expect when you go pick him up!
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
Positive thinking is the way to go!!!! So glad to hear Max sailed through surgery and is on to his recovery. He will do great - especially with you by his side! Keep us posted!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
So glad to hear this
we were so relieved when our boy was OK and yes we gave him great big smiles and told him we loved him, have to say the scar wasn't as horrid as we anticipated, more the amount and colour of bruising was a shock
YAAAAAAAAAY MIGHTY. MAX!!! MIGHTY. MAX. is blissfully drugged right now and enjoying flying high with lots of.pink elephants!!
Your vet is already practicing "Being More Dog"! He's staying in the .moment and not worrying about the tomorrows because he, just like .Mighty Max, will deal with whatever comes his way just fine! Lots and lots of helpful slings, injections, etc. are available should Max need a little help at first because of his arthritis.
Mighty Max is going to sail through this just fine because, after all, that's what Mighty Max does!!!
Sleep well tonight...you have to be emotionally exhausted. And, you may, or may not, have a few nights when Max first comes home where you don't get much sleep.
Cheering for Max and his humans! Great job everybody!!
Love and 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!
Thanks for the great update. Best wishes for Max's speedy recovery!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good job Max!
keep us posted!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Glad to hear that Max made it through surgery fine. Here's to more good news on Max 🙂
Hi Linda, Bob and Max.....yay for sailing through surgery, the beginning of your incredible journey! Now your pawsitivity must come into play. I was terrified when we went to pick Nitro up the night after his surgery; I was afraid to see the incision, I had no idea how he would handle life as a Tripawd. I made the staff put a t-shirt on him before they brought him to us...I just needed to concentrate on looking into his beautiful eyes and ignore the wound for a bit. He came hopping into the room, big as life, and I fell to my knees, tears in my eyes and told him how handsome he was and that I loved him so much! The most important thing in that moment was that my boy was back with us, and together we could handle anything.
I won't lie, the first night was one of the most stressful nights of my life...but we got through it and have never looked back. I surprised myself on how strong I became, FOR HIM. You guys can do this, together. We will all help you in anyway we can....maybe someday in the not too distant future John and I can take a trip to Wausau and you can introduce us to the fabulous Max!
Paula (Dobemom) and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Max is home but I'm not sure he should be. He can't get up himself and isn't able to keep that leg straight to use it. We use a sling to help him but we are doing all the work for his back leg. He screamed and cried the whole way home for 1 1/2 hours. He is on 150 mg tramaadol every 8 hours with gabapentin and rymadyl every 12 hours along with the antibiotic. He has always been a nervous Nelly but he's never been like this. He has urinated and took a huge poop when he got home. It takes two people to get him outside. On a good note he is drinking and eating well. At the rate we are going I can't see him not ripping those stitches. He's really quite alert and his eyes don't look drugged. He's so nervous. I wonder if Valium would help his anxiety. I guess he's going to be one that has to relearn to stand before he walks. He just got all his 6:00 pills which was all of them. Whoever mentioned the salmon flavored cream cheese to give pills is my hero 😀😀. That works like a charm. I will be sleeping on the floor with him. I just keep telling him he's such a good boy and loving on him. And I do know it's so very early in his recovery. I guess I just need Sally to tell me breath and eat chocolate. I sure pray in the next few days he'll be able to figure out he's still got a leg back there we didn't take both of them. One day at a time one day at a time. Live in dog time.
Can u go to the chat room
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Alrightynthen, we'll start with DEEP BREATHS.....seriously....DEEP BREATHS....B R E A T H E....B R E A T H E.....exhale S L O W L Y.... we'll get back ro the chocolate in a minute.
Ill share my experw bringing Happy Hannah home and it may put your mind at ease a little bit.
The ride home was over an hour snd just myself and my four legged 14 lb. pal Body helping me with Hannah. Happy Hannah SCREAMED....and YELPED...and SCREAMED some more the entire ride home!!
Whether he "looks" drugged or not...he IS very drugged right now! Max has all the hospital meds in him and they don't get out of his system for another day or two.
As far as standing up and using his other leg, right now he probably doesn't even realize what's foing on! It is NOT unusual at all for dogs to not be able to stand on their own yet or take even a few steps.
My Happy Hannah was 125 lbs. at the rime of surgery and her maximum dose of Tramadol was 150 mg, plus the Gaba and the Rimadyl. Check with your vet of course, but you may...MAY be able to cut the Tram back a little bit. How much does Max weigh? The important thing right now is to try and manage his pain.
Even though you need the sling to help Max, it can also make them kind of freeze sometimes too. But right now the most important thing is to try and keep him from falling..
You. DO have a few rhings that get some YAAAAAAAAAYS FOR MAX!!! POOPING! PEEING! EATING!! DRINKING!! Good job Max!!
Not sure that valium would be the answer as much as lowering the Tram just a touch. I only say this because he still has some hospital meds in him to help tide him over.
Again, for reassurance ...my Happy Hannah was whining, panting, restless, anxious for twenty hours straight when I first fot her home. I hadn't joined this site untile after the amputation. It was six days after her surgery and my first post was that I feared I had made a h orrible decision!! I can tell you, although recovery was no picnic, it was the best decision ever!!! It just took me about three weeks to realize it!! I stayed glued to this community for reassurance and support.
You stay glued to us, okay? We understand the emotional toll recovery has on us at first, not to mention the agony of getting to this point!
Now, avout that CHOCOLATE!!! Stuff your cheeks so full that you look like a chipmunk! When you think you can't hold anymore, then add two more pieces!
Hang in there!!! Day one doesn't even count as the "recovery process" yet!! You're doing great! And Max WILL get things sorted out! Remember, humans would still be in the hospital on a morphine drip and not even attempting to walk yet!
Sending hugs and 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!
Sally where are you? I need your pep talk now. Your words of wisdom always make me feel better!! Come out come out wherever you are. On a good note Max is finally crashed and is sleeping for now. The problem with his leg is he isn't bringing it forward enough to get stability from it. He's panicking and lurching. And the sling tends to go right by his wee wee and incision. He did stand for a few seconds by himself until he tried to move forward so....it's a start. Has anyone else had a dog that couldn't wouldn't get up and walk right away?
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