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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My 7 year old yellow Lab, Junior, had to have his right front leg amputated due to a soft tissue sarcoma. His healing is going well but he has not got his spark back. Before surgery and before the lump on his shoulder got so painful Junior was pretty active and playful, he would follow me everywhere and was a joyful pup. Now all Junior wants to do is lay around and has no spark. It is like he is depressed. He is very stressed when I leave and has no ambition. I realize that having a leg amputated is a big ordeal and maybe I am just expecting too much from him.
How do I get him interested in playing again? I have another Lab that is his Mom and they are pretty playful together, chasing each other around the yard. Junior is off all his pain medication and is doing well pain wise. Thanks for your advice and I really love this site. Christine
Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
How long has it been since the surgery? What medications is Junior on, if any? How much and what type of exercise is her currently getting?
Every dog is different, but most people see a vast improvement once their dogs are off all the pain meds. After that it may be a matter of him doing too much too soon. Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List , and consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers about recovery and the amount/type of exercise recommended for new Tripawds.
Please keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well if you read my post it says one month post surgery, Junior is off all medications. He goes outside to do his business and usually once a day we go out and while I am picking up poop the dogs will be running around, Junior is hopping around. I don't know how much excercise Junior should have I guess. I will download those suggestions.
cpurbaugh756 said
Well if you read my post it says one month post surgery...
Sorry about that. Yes, read the post a few times looking for that detail, and just missed it in the title. Oops! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Don't feel ba Admin. Guy...I read it over and over too looking for the one month "reference". Thanks for pointing it out in the title!!
Hi Christine and Junior.....sorry you have to be here but, under the circumstances there's no better place to be. This journey is full of ups and downs, twists and turns and no one needs ro go it alone.
So Junior is eaing, drinking,pooping, peeing okay? And he does play intne hardwith his Mom, right? I know vets indicate that it takes a good two weeks to recover from the surgery itself , and about one month for the dogs ro adjust mobility wise. He's probably doing a good job of regulating himself and doing what he feels most comfortable doing at this point in his recovery. It is still early to be playing full out.
Have you tried different ways to make him feel stimulated? Perhaps a ride through a drive through for a burger. Have someone he likes come over to the house andbe real upbeat and try and engage him in play. Try and come up with some creative ways to put variety in his day. Maybe hide treats around the house and help guide him to finding them.
If you've had him checked out by the vet, I woukd just say he's still recovering and adjusting. Some dogs take longer. One dog here, PUG MAGGIE, , took six weeks before she started gettingnher sparkle back!! How is the energy of the people around him...upbeat, confident?
Please keep us updated AND post pictures when you can. We love pictures!!
Sending lots of hugs to you and all your pack!
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!
Hi Christine and Junior, welcome to Tripawds.
Yes, my pug Maggie took her time getting used to her new normal, she was 7.5 at the time of her rear amputation. It was six weeks before she would play with me again. Mag was always pretty obstinate and not at all adaptable. In hindsight it made sense that she took her time getting used to things. Once she got the hang of things she hopped happily though life for almost 4 years.
How is Junior's appatite? There are lots of games and food puzzles that might tempt him. With Maggie I just tried to stay positive (it was really hard, I thought I had made a big mistake with surgery) and kept trying to get her to play.
Maybe try taking him someplace he really likes, or have some people over that he likes. Having my Dad over really got Maggie to perk up, even during the first weeks.
Keep trying and keep positive, and keep us posted.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Tripawds need a strong core to get around. When stronger the dog/cat can have more fun moving because it will be easier and less tiring. I took my cat Mona for a chiropractic treatment and learned how to massage her and do daily strength building exercises. Mona's sparkle came back when she discovered some new fun things to do like sleep beside the stream and try to catch birds drinking or bathing in the stream (she was never successful because it's hard to stalk on 3 legs).
There are some rehab videos and ideas on this website. You might also find a rehab person in your community.
I really like Sally's idea of going for a burger!
Kerren and Trikitty Mona
Hi ,,,my dog is one month post surgury also,,, and I spoke to a guy at the park today who had an 8 year old that lived 4 years after. Surgery who said that the first month was tough and after that by about 6 months he hardly noticed that his dog only had three
legs !, Maddie at one month has some days when she is more active ,,,, but still she's low energy ,,, she definitely is improved from the first few weeks,,,
good luck with your recovery,,, I just keep remembering that she had major surgery. So it takes time ,,,
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