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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Abby is 11 days post-op and not doing as well as last week. She was doing what I thought was just great. She has lost her appetite and seems depressed. She just turned 14 about 7 wks ago. We are worried that she has become depressed. I know it is going to take her longer to adapt due to her age. But she is otherwise a very health dog. No spots on her chest x-ray. And her blood work was perfect. She is a 48 lbs (pre-surgery)Samoyed, rear leg amputee. There are 2 adults in the household and my partner is a worry wart. I also think she is babying her a bit. She has been getting around some on her own but seems to have hit a bit of a backslide. Any advise is welcome. Thanks
Hey there thanks for joining us (your future posts won't need approval). I'm sorry to hear Abby lost her leg, what kind of cancer are you dealing with?
When it comes to recovery times, 11 days is not a long time, especially for a big ol senior gal. If she is eating and eliminating and fairly mobile (i.e., can get up to potty), she's probably OK. I would keep your vet in the loop just to let them know but most times what pawrents see as depression is really just the dog chillin' and relaxing through recovery. It's a lot of work to get back on 3 legs, especially for senior dogs. I can see you've done your homework and that is smart.
Now here's the thing; it sounds to me like your partner may be babying her a bit too much (it's SO hard not to isn't it?). We have a great video with a rehab vet who talks about why it's important not to baby, have him watch this:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey 
Sorry Abby isn't feeling well!
That time between week 1 and 3 seems to be a pretty common time for our furkids to seem "depressed". I personally don't think it's depression as we know it, though. I kinda think it's a combination of pain meds, and the initial "rush" of the surgery and pain relief wearing off. It's when they tend to realize, "Hey, something's different. I'm kinda bored and frustrated and don't feel all that great, and why am I so tired after such a short walk????" As long as she's eating, drinking, doing her "doggie business" and doesn't have an infection, this will pass It will definitely give you piece of mind to check with your vet, but I just wanted to let you know that it's a very common time in recovery
She may have inadvertently hurt herself be being a little to active... and now is either a little hesitant or still sore. Are you still on a good pain med schedule? I'll assume that you are still giving tramidol only two weeks post amp. You may want to up the dose (from what I've read here, vets seem to be NOTORIOUSLY IGNORANT of proper dosage for tramidol). Ask your vet what the max dose is...(its readily available on the net, but ask your vet in case there is another condition they are concerned about) so you can give that amount, or less as needed.
Your Abby is a very beautiful girl! And fourteen? WOW!! And recovering from a major amputatin surgery? DOUBLE WOW - WOW!!! Humans would still be recoering in the hospital, especialy if they were 98 rs. old!! Did I do my "in dog years" equation right?
I would just add one more thing to all of the above, and that is that she IS a senior and you definitely want the vet to check her over to make sure that nothing has "tipped the scales a little". As others have said, make sure there is no infection or fever, sprained/sore muscles, pain meds are balanced, etc.
Your partner would like me---I would defnitely tend to baby her at fourteen!! As long as she's eatng okay, drinking, peeing, pooping, and seems to be hapoy with lots of tail wags and very engaged, then it probavly is just the fact that she is so early in recovery. It was a good three weeks before I felt like my Happy Hannah was startng to really perk up and get her sparkle back.
A couple of things you might try.....extra car rides (IF she enjys them) with a stop through a drive-in for a burger.....have a friend come over who she likes and have them get exaggerated hapy to see her.....maybe go out and knock on the door or ring the door bell and see if that perks her up.....jist anything that might be an extra special "thing" that would make that tail of hers wag!
PLEASE keep us posted and let us kmow how Abby's doing! And we'd love to see more pictures of her.
Wishing you the very best and give Abby a hug for us!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 responses. We knew this would be difficult for all of us. She is an amazing dog. She did stop eating and was just not very mobile at all. It was a backslide. But she never had much drainage from her incision after the surgery. Which we thought was good. But on day 11 post-op a small hole opened up just below the incision and it drained and drained. Pink clear fluid. My partner is a nurse. So we knew it was pretty normal fluid. I called the vet just to check and all was ok. I believe this fluid build up was the problem. She is doing fantastic now. Started eating again. Has been going potty very well all along. And her progress on 3 legs has just been beautiful. She needs very little help and gets around pretty well in the house. She loves roaming around the yard. I only need to guide and support her with the tip of her tail. Once she builds up some more strength she will be keeping the boys in line as usual. She amazes me.
We did not have the tumor tested. But it was a soft tissue tumor that was attached to the muscle and mingled in throughout the entire group of leg muscles. We had it removed 2 yrs ago and it came back. The vet did not believe she could do anything with it and gave us the option of radiation or amputation. We decided against the radiation and waited to see what would happen. Over time it grew and over the past few months really got ridiculously large. Just as we started the process of pre-op blood work and xrays, she started to limp. We scheduled the surgery and 2 days prior, she started to chew on it. She is very healthy otherwise with perfect blood work and no mets on the xrays.
She had not wagged her tail or anything until 2 days ago. She saw the cat ( which she wants to chase) and was barking and wagging her tail. She is acting very normal and alert. She jumped right up twice in response to the cat. Loves to bark at anything and anyone that may pass the house. She is not fond of riding in the car unless it is to the dog park. We are in Indiana. As soon as we get a half way warm day I am taking her to the park.
Thanks so much for the support and Merry Christmas!!
Awww, what a great update, it doesn't get any better than this! Merry Christmas to you too, keep us posted and hang in there, you're doing great.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wonderful Christmas present!
YAAAAY ABBY!
YAAAAY FOR THE MOTIVATING CAT!
Give that kitty extra catnip tonight! And Abby gets steak!!
Thanks for giving us tis delightful update.....keep 'em coming!
Hugs to all!
Saly and Happy Hannah
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!
Yeah Abby!!! Merry Christmas! Gotta love the cat excitement! Strange kitties, that bother our resident cat, Otis, upset Lucy too so it's a madhouse when they lurk around!
So glad everyone was better for Christmas day! 
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!!
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