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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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New to the community looking for some basic advice
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Member Since:
11 March 2021
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19 March 2021 - 2:26 pm
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My dog Mason is 24 hrs into the club.  Had his amputation yesterday and is doing well.  Had his Left fore leg removed, had an x-ray last week with bad area on the greater tubercle and we opted to remove it as soon as possible.  Mason limped but was not totally dependent on his right leg, he continued to use his left regularly and could at times be seen shifting weight off it but other than that fairly normal.  

Today he is eating and drinking, but has not gotten up on his legs except for once last night for a very brief time (less than 15 sec.) Is there a technique to help lift him, we have a towel wrapped around him but his legs just don't support him when we do that.   I am thinking in human terms here and wonder if the fact he was still using the left will present a longer learning curve on him being a Tri.  He is able to sit up again for brief period but then goes bak to his right side.  The vet has him pretty loaded on Percosets and Gaba pentin and we are cutting that back tonight.  Any suggestion would be appreciated, he has wagged his tail and barked today so I know he is there and really want to get him to stand so he will pee.

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19 March 2021 - 3:33 pm
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Hi Mason and family, welcome. Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.

At this point try not to expect too much of Mason. Picture where you would be if you went through amputation. Probably not too mobile either. You pretty much nailed it when you wrote:

The vet has him pretty loaded on Percosets and Gaba pentin 

There ya go! He's wonky, seeing pink elephants, and exhausted from the surgery. He shouldn't be doing anything but resting, staying hydrated (eating will probably not be normal for a couple days), and urinating right now. Were you able to get him to pee? A dog shouldn't go more than 12 hours without peeing so if he's having trouble in that department, you should let your vet know. It's not usually a serious thing, but just a sign that the dog needs extra help getting their sea legs.

As for lifting him, you can also try making a DIY dog sling, which is much easier to help a dog get up with than a towel. Just slide it under his belly.

Until stitches come out, he shouldn't do much more than go outside on leash to potty, and getting some extra cuddling in with you. If you sense that he is TOO zonked out, let your vet know. pain management for each dog is a little different and it often takes some fine tuning to dial in the right meds.

Keep us posted on how things are going! Oh and what breed type is Mason? Age? Do tell!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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19 March 2021 - 4:58 pm
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Jerry

Thanks yes we have let the vet know about his lack of urination, he said if he has not gone by tomorrow we will see him then.  We actually have a sling he just doesn't seem to want to use his rear legs to position himself to be able to stand.  I guess things had gone well and just want to see things fall in place but he has his own pace of doing things.  I forgot to mention he is a chocolate lab.

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19 March 2021 - 5:11 pm
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Ok that's good, great work being a recovery nurse!

You are exactly right: all dogs have their own unique recovery timeline. Try to keep your expectations a little low and remember that this is not too unusual. He could be getting too much medication right now but don't change anything without your vet's guidance.

Paws crossed for an easy evening!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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19 March 2021 - 5:33 pm
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Again thanks and thanks for the site very informative and prepped us for this.  He did stand on his own abut 20 min ago and we got him out but no pee, we will see how he goes the rest of the night thanks again

Virginia







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19 March 2021 - 9:23 pm
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Yep, asJerrysaid, not unusual  at all for a dog not mobile yet this early on.  He still have strong  hospital  meds in him, as well as the Gaba and the Percocet (the Percocetscan def add to him be whacked out).  As Jerry said, if you think he may be too heavily  medicated, you can ask about maybe reducing  the Percoset.  

And, on top of that, he has his hooman trying to hold him up with a sling watching  over him while tr to get him to pee!  Mh Happy Ha nah would jist freeze of I tried using  a sling.

We have to remember, he just had MAJOR sur, all while trying  to adjist to three, all while on strong pain meds.  As we often say, a hooman wo still be in  hospital  on a morphine  drip!

Drinking  is important, especially getting him to pee..  

But yeah, as Jerry said, this is all "normal", especially  with the drugs.

Bit you do have a victory to celebrate!  He stood on his own!  Every "little" victory is a HUGE vic6 during recovery-!

Hang in there!  You're doi g freat....and so is Mason!

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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20 March 2021 - 11:14 am
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okay positive update, he peed last night, in the house but he let it go.  This morning we got him out and went again very happy to be over that hill.   He has a small pocket of fluid below the incision site (seroma ?).  It has started to darken his skin red in that area, it that normal.  He has had similar sac after lipoma surgery last summer but was under his fur so didn't notice the bruising/change in skin color.  Seeing the doc Monday am

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20 March 2021 - 1:57 pm
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WHEW!!!! YAY FOR PEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Yes you are over that hill and now on to the rest of recovery.

Yes, bruising is normal and often gets worse looking before it gets better. Sounds like he does have a seroma . Unless you notice he's sliding back with recovery (if so let your vet know), sounds like it will be OK to wait until Monday to have the vet check him out.

That's wonderful he's making progress!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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23 March 2021 - 9:21 pm
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Okay so besides a bruise that runs from his chest to basically his penis, he is eating and drinking, going to the bathroom  (peeing 2x per day max) Mason seems to be pretty good.  Vet saw him Monday and did a PCV test on him and the numbers were normal (concerned with a possible bleed due to bruise).  Has a bit of a food drive so responds well at meal and med times gets up and ambulates on his own with little help from me or his mom.  I have concerns about his mobility.  He had the left foreleg removed.  He seems to be struggling with what to do with his rear right leg.  He is swinging it out to the side when he hops. Is that just part of the adjustment?  Also considering a brace for the foreleg (carpals) as a protective measure does that make sense

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23 March 2021 - 10:02 pm
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Things are progressing really well overall, that’s good!

Sounds like he is adjusting his gait to compensate for the missing limb. What you are describing is typical but it would be an excellent idea to have him evaluated by a canine rehab therapist to 1) ensure his compromised gait is not covering up something (excess pain) that will lead to problems down the road, and 2) to find out if a brace can help (sometimes it can). Remember the Tripawd’s Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so now is the time to book an appointment. Let us know if we can help find a therapist for you. 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







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24 March 2021 - 9:42 am
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YAY for good peeing "episodes"!  And good for you gettin6 his bruising checked out.  Glad it's  not anything other than bad surgery bruising. 

Yeah, as Jerry said, a Rehab consult  can really help asses Mason 's gait.  

So glad he's  doing so well this early o 👍

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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29 March 2021 - 9:04 pm
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Jerry, yes I think the rehab approach makes sense.  He hasn’t fully figured out the hop approach yet but amazingly traverses stairs up quite well.  Any guidance on a rehab specialist would be great, I am in the southern part of NJ close to Atlantic City

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30 March 2021 - 11:03 am
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rawple said
Jerry, yes I think the rehab approach makes sense.  He hasn’t fully figured out the hop approach yet but amazingly traverses stairs up quite well.  Any guidance on a rehab specialist would be great, I am in the southern part of NJ close to Atlantic City

  

Happy to help! I just Private Messaged you.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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