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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
I wish it was summer. Otis seems more content outside, but it is so cold and icy that we cannot really spend too much time outside.
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.
otisandtess said
I am worried about his back legs. Arthritis obviously doesn't just go away...
Have you consulted with a certified rehab vet/tech yet? We highly recommend getting new tripawds evaluated by a CCRT or CCRP, especially if encountering orthopedic issues . That's why the Tripawds Foundation is reimbursing a limited number of members for their first rehab visits through the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The exhaustion, the worry, the stress, the intense focus on watching every little thing Otis does and wondering if that's "normal".....all this makes everything seem so much worse than it is. It's hard to cus on the tiny victories, like enjoying being out in the snow! And yes, the cold seems soothing while recovering. Doi g something "nor al" like that is a good healing therapy emotionally for Otis..
Eating, drinking, pooping, peeing?
Managing the pain is tricky. The meds need to be given consistently enough to keep the lain from getting ahead start. Just curious, what schedule is Otis on?
Stay connected! Hang in there! You're doing great!
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!
otisandtess said
No idea why my picture is upside down....
We've fixed that for you. 
If you don't see the new avatar, you may just need to clear your browser cache, or wait for it to refresh.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh, Otis is much more handsome right side up!
I agree with Sally, you are stressed and exhausted. We have all been there, this is really hard. You need to stay positive around Otis and try and focus on the good things and the little improvements. Otis will key off your mood so you need to be a strong pack leader and show him everything is fine. I had a really hard time at this point in recovery too, Maggie was not happy, I was not happy, we feed off each other I think.
Hang in there, you are doing fine. Believe Otis will get there...we do!
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
Oh YAY! As Karen said, Otis DOES look even more handsome right side up! A very handsome boy!
I jus wanted to add ro my previous post, it's not unexpected at all for the remaining legs ro be sore and stiff when first adjusting to three legs, with or without arthritis.
It generally takes about two weeks (sometimes more) to recover from the surgery itself, and about one month for mobility issues to get worked out.
Try some gentle massage and stretching before Otis gets up. Do the same after he returns from each potty trip. Don't just massage his legs, do his neck, shoulders, back, etc.
Keep us posted! His sparkle WILL return...and so will summer!!! Either soon enough, right?
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!
Thank you for fixing my picture!!! Just got home from work, and Otis seems to have had a really good day, he is not in obvious pain, went outdoors more frequently by choice. Just something in his eyes looks brighter.
Right now, he gets Rimadyl at noon and midnight, and 3 Tramadols every 8 hours. My regular vet thinks the squeaking may be surgical pain, not arthritis, and suggested that if it continues I ask the surgeon about adding gabapentin back in. He was on that the two nights at the emergency vet after the fracture. Ex husband is taking my daughter tonight, so it is just Otis, Tess and I and I can sleep in a little tomorrow.
Thanks to to all of you for following this and for your comments. It really means a lot.
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.
Having a good night so far, just got done going outdoors and doing everything that needs to be done out there. Walked/hopped with more strength. But need some advice - my daughter has a violin lesson tonight. Last week, she didn't go because I couldn't leave Otis. The lesson in 30 mins., and it is a 10 minute drive away. Do I dare leave him alone to take her? He does not bother his incision, and basically just rests on a dog bed until a formal outing. I'm thinking it might be ok.
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.
I think it might be okay. Even now (and Susie is one month post-op), I make sure that Susie has been outside shortly before I leave and, if possible, I give her a Gabapentin right before I leave. (She gets one a day, and I give it to her in the evening.) If Otis is resting comfortably, then he may not even realize you're gone.
You might want to ask the vet if Gabapentin could be tried again. I asked the surgeon at her two week post-op appointment, and she agreed to prescribe it. (Susie hadn't had it yet.) I only give it once a day, as every eight hours seemed too sedating for her. It has made a huge difference.
Is Tess someone else? Another pet? I'd thought your name was "Tess." (If not, I'm sorry that I called you "Tess" in my previous post!)
And I know what you mean about wishing Otis were recuperating in springtime instead of in the winter. I've wished that for Susie, too! It would be much more convenient! But at least we know they'll both be feeling better once summer rolls along.
Hang in there! Things will get better.
((((hugs))))xxxx from Nancy & Susie
I am Christine (but no offense taken, I am so thankful for your support you can call me anything!). Tess is Otis' sister - she is a black lab, and had the cruciate repair over the summer. They are both rescues, but are closely bonded to one another. Tess had been abused before we got her - her right front leg was broken in two places and never set by a vet. It is amazing the care each dog has demonstrated for the other during their recuperations. i was able to judge Tess' recovery in part due to Otis' behavior - he really perked up once she started to feel better. When Otis fractured his wrist and had to stay overnight and the emergency vet, it was the first time they had been separated. We also have 3 cats, and even they have been very sensitive to Otis. I frequently see one of the cats rubbing her face against Otis', and he seems ok with that. The compassion and sensitivity that animals have is truly amazing. So anyway, now you know my whole pack (plus a 16 year old daughter).
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.
I just wanted to say that I'm thinking of you and Otis! We are starting day 3 post amputation for my girl, and I agree - this is really hard. I will be watching for your updates, since you are just a few days ahead of us it'll be nice to see the future, sort of.
Anita - mom to two human kids and two dog kids.
Chloe the white boxer - tripawd on 2/16/16 at age 6.
Awe, so glad to hear that Otis is feeling better! The recovery really is the hardest part! A short while after surgery I was worried about Murphy's back legs because it seemed like he was walking really stiffly - I was so worried that now something was wrong! I turned out that it was just him having to adjust to walking/hopping differently. whew! We massage his back & back legs pretty much every day and he arches back and moans & groans, it's funny 
It's really obvious how much he enjoys it.
Your pack sounds similar to ours ... our cats often rub up against the dogs. Max actually nibbles on Daisy and she rolls around meowing, walks away, then comes back & rubs up against him again lol
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
Awww, the sensitivity of animals to each other is so heartwarming. Yoir pack sounds delightful...and a very lucky pack indeed!
Glad Otis is feeling better. And you'll see his sparkle come back more and more. My Happy Hannah never bothered her stitches either ao I jad no issues leaving her alone. Dogs, at this point in recovery, seem to manage their activities very nicely.
Enjoy the violin lesson!
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!
That first time you leave is so hard!
I do think he'll be OK as long as you can confine him to a small part of your home. Odds are he and Tess will just snooze together and say to one another "Isn't it great that crazy human isn't hovering over us?!"
Glad things are going well.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just got home from work. Otis looks great. Still minor squeaking from time to time, but he is rocking his hop/walk - clearly has a rhythm to it. My vet thinks, and I think I agree from watching Otis, that the squeaking is pain from the procedure as he uses muscles that were impacted. Even though we see the surgeon tomorrow, his office called today just to check on pain levels.
Otis got up more than yesterday (2 more outside trips than yesterday), and when I sat down on my mattress, he got up from his bed to come sit next to me. Nice level of alertness. Of course, my ex made him a filet minion for lunch, so his belly is really happy. (I said grain free diet - steak is what my ex heard).
Light at the end of the tunnel?
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.
1 Guest(s)
