Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sally, we picked him up the day after surgery, so today is day 2 post-surgery. I try to keep reminding myself it was such heavy surgery - and I hope that he perks up when he's off the anti-anxiety meds, which would be tomorrow.
I wondered about the cone / eye connection, because he had to wear his cone last night, and his eyes were puffy this morning. But they haven't really changed, and he hasn't had the cone all day, so maybe not. I am just being hyper-vigilant about it for now and watching for any other potential signs of an allergic reaction.
The Ruffwear web master plus the brush guard is a huge improvement over the sling, so there is that!
For whatever it's worth, I didn't join this site until Day six. I thought I had made a HORRIBLE decision for my Happy Hannah! And even at day two, your Mosby is doing better than she was!! The community pulled me back from the edge and assured me that she would recover!!!! It took me about three weeks before I could finally say I did this FOR her and not TO ner!!!
A reminder. Humans would still be in the hospital with a .morphine drip!!
So glad Mosby is home for Christmas!!! Best present ever!!!
Stay connected! We're here for you!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Hello - just had to dig around to find them, but Pofi did have really pronounced facial and neck puffiness / swelling for a few days after he came home. He came home 26 hours post surgery and I had seen him for an hour that morning and I swear he did not have this mega puffiness, but his face sort of blew up between the time I gave him breakfast and collected him from the hospital that evening. He didn't even use a cone at all. It came down pretty quickly in just a few days. Never was sure why it happened and the vet hospital was only concerned if it got worse.
And a day later just a little less:
Believe me, that was not Pofi's normal, beautiful face...
Hopefully Mosby will improve a bit each day till you don't even remember it.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
I don't remember seeing Pofi's puffiness before. Weird.
But Pofi STILL looked beautiful anyway!!!
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!
Thank you, Lisa - that's helpful to see - it's very similar. I think that Mosby's puffiness is a little better today, but I'm going to continue to watch it. Generally, I think he's doing as well as can be expected. It does seem like every time he goes to stand up, he has to really think through the process and reason though a way to do it. Once he's up and going he just finds a way to go on three ways, but getting up with only one back leg is still something he's working on. We're trying to create a routine where he sits up (for a treat) for us to put his webmaster on him to take him outside, and then also sits (for a treat) while we take it off when we bring him back in. I'm hoping this gets him used to sitting up in bed and using his core, and maybe doing it on his own in anticipation for the treat. But for the most part we are just letting him get his beauty sleep.
benny55 said
I don't remember seeing Pofi's puffiness before. Weird.
But Pofi STILL looked beautiful anyway!!!
Sally, I think I joined a few days after this and never posted these pics. Had really only taken them to monitor and send to the surgeon.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
mosby said
Thank you, Lisa - that's helpful to see - it's very similar. I think that Mosby's puffiness is a little better today, but I'm going to continue to watch it. Generally, I think he's doing as well as can be expected. It does seem like every time he goes to stand up, he has to really think through the process and reason though a way to do it. Once he's up and going he just finds a way to go on three ways, but getting up with only one back leg is still something he's working on. We're trying to create a routine where he sits up (for a treat) for us to put his webmaster on him to take him outside, and then also sits (for a treat) while we take it off when we bring him back in. I'm hoping this gets him used to sitting up in bed and using his core, and maybe doing it on his own in anticipation for the treat. But for the most part we are just letting him get his beauty sleep.
This strategy seems very wise and will help. I can't quite remember what the doctor said when I mentioned the puffiness, but I think she said it could just be a mild reaction to anesthesia and to monitor and make sure he didn't seem to have any difficulty breathing. Never did. It dissipated within a week.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Yeah, I agree, you have a good strategy going.
Mosby will get things figured out. The fact that he can get up, even if he has to sort it out, is really good this early on! He's a very smart boy!
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!
I like how you are "training" him to move in a thoughtful manner. And so glad the harness is working for you!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
We're trying to create a routine where he sits up (for a treat) for us to put his webmaster on him to take him outside, and then also sits (for a treat) while we take it off when we bring him back in.
This is awesome! I do the same thing with my little rear amp Elly, but she came to me post surgery and already healed so it has taken me awhile to get her into the routine. It is much easier for me (and her) to put the harness on while she is sitting.
One of the exercises I do with Elly on a regular basis is down to sit to down etc. so you are also getting Mosby used to a good exercise you can do when he is healed up.
Glad to hear the puffiness is subsiding, sounds like he is doing well overall.
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
It sounds like you are making good headway with getting Mosby into his harness. I sure do wish that the video of Murphy "getting dressed" in his harness wasn't one of those that got lost in the ethernet. He would sit and give us the paw that went through the harness on the side away from the buckle.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
We have had a pretty good day today, but, boy, does Mosby have gas. I will be glad when we get that section of the plumbing working finally. He also has some edema in his lower chest area, today - I'm sure it's just some of the edema that has moved down from his swelling site, pulled by gravity. I'll keep an eye on it.
Mosby is very smart, but also very routine-oriented, and I know it's hard on him that we aren't on his "normal" (pre-amp) routine, so we are working hard to create a schedule and daily routine for him, with everything at a certain time. I know that's going to be comfortable for him.
One of the things I've always admired about Mosby is how he's such a powerful and beautiful runner. He's a lab/hound mix and has a very lab head and tail, but he doesn't have a blocky body, he's got a huge, deep chest and a slim wasp-waist, and he ran like a sight hound. So I've been a little sad that he wouldn't be able to run like that anymore, but I'm also excited to see how he adapts and creates a new running style all his own.
Update! Mosby just went out and pooped. He sat up for the harness (and treat), cruised outside at his fun lope, did a little poop, cruised around some more, peed, and cruised back in. Then sat for the harness to be removed (and treat). What a rock star. I am so amazed by this champ.
I'm going to monitor the edema in his chest and will text a photo to the vet if needed, but in general today was a good day and I'm so full of love for our rock star pup.
Hoorah for poop! 
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
MOSBY IS A ROCK STAR!!! 🙂
Already sitting for his harness like a Champ...WOW!!
And ladies and gentlemen, we have HAPPY POOP DANCE!!!! 🙂 🙂
As far as Mosby running strong a d fast again? You will be absolutely amazed how running like the wi dis will be no problem!!
Lots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
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