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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As Sally said- in general rear amps have trouble going up (stairs, ramps, hills into vehicles), front amps have more trouble going down.
My little pug Maggie, a rear amp, never could go up more than 2 or 3 stairs after her amp. She would go down just about anything. Maggie was only about 12" at the shoulder and 7.5 years old at the time of her amp. I also believe that she wiped out at some point trying to go up and she was the type with a long memory! My current rear amp Tripawd Elly is about 14 months old and about the same size as Maggie was. Elly flies up and down the stairs and even managed to climb up a small retaining wall in our backyard.
From my experience here most dogs are able to master the stairs after their surgeries.
Here is the video of Jerry that Sally mentioned:
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
So happy Otis is getting his sparkle back! These are the times that validate that the journey we took was the "right" one. Give that beautiful boy a hug from us!
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
Love the video of Jerry. Gotta get one of those harnesses.
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
Gotta get one of those harnesses.
FYI: We just announced that Ruffwear is now making the Brush Guard attachment for their harnesses in the Gear blog . Together with the Web Master harness Jerry is wearing in the video, we're calling it the Web Master Plus—a vast improvement!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Dang, that video of Jerry is impressive. I love the Les Miz shirt too 🙂 I think we will have to get one of those harnesses for Chloe once her incision heals.
Anita - mom to two human kids and two dog kids.
Chloe the white boxer - tripawd on 2/16/16 at age 6.
Woken up at midnight by very soft whimpering, so now I am left guessing. Is it pain as we reduce the Tramadol dosage? Anxiety, boredom? Or is he not feeling great due to chemo? Most active day yet yesterday, did he overdo it? So far, no obvious chemo issues - still eating well and no diarrhea.
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.
Gave him 1 Tramadol and sat up with him for about an hour until he fell asleep. Then I fell asleep to the sound of his breathing and had 2 hours of the most incredibly relaxing sleep I have had since this started. This morning he was reluctant to get out of bed and seemed a bit stiff, but ate well.
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.
Panting - is it a sign of pain, or could it be unease/discomfort due to chemo (was Friday), or both? I am trying to wean him off the Tramadol - gave 5 pills yesterday, v. 9 per day prior. Only have 9 left, so trying to figure out what this panting means. It happens for about 5 - 10 minutes after he goes outside and then at random times through the day and night. A single Tramadol stops it, but also makes him less alert. So far, eating and drinking normally, and poop is still well formed. Stills sleeps a lot and stays in his beds, but is going outside 7+ times a day.
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.
That's awesome you got some sleep. See, things do gradually get better!
Now, I'm curious, when he reacts with the soft whining, how do you react? What kinds of things do you do?
Here's a video where we asked rehab vets what we can do to help dogs during recovery. The part you'll want to watch starts at 3:21.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The whimpering woke me - his dog bed is about 8 inches from my mattress. Asked him if he wanted to go outside, but no real interest so I gave him some water and sat up with him rubbing his head for about an hour. Ended up giving him 1 Tramadol. Eventually he fell asleep.
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.
Neat video. Fortunately, Otis has been able to get up and go outdoors, go to his food bowl, and move from dog bed to dog bed when he wants since he got home. Tried massage, but other than his neck, he doesn't seem a fan. My only issue at this moment is trying to figure out what he is feeling. Of course, he has no issues at this moment because he is sound asleep, happily snoring away.
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
My only issue at this moment is trying to figure out what he is feeling...
If you haven't seen it yet, this Tripawds News blog post may help.
Is Your Dog or Cat in Pain? Here’s How to Know the Signs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks. The pain chart is helpful. Otis is clearly between 0 and 2. My follow-up call with the oncologist is tomorrow, so I will mention the panting.
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.
Also going to try aromatherapy. I scent my bedroom with peppermint and lavender essential oils applied to a hand towel, so going to move that downstairs.
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.
Christine, is Otis on Gabapentin? Maybe it would help him more than the Tramadol at this point if he's experiencing Phantom Limb Pain? I asked for it for Susie at her two-week post-op checkup. They prescribed it to be taken every 8 hours, but I only give it to her at night, since that's when her symptoms usually were the worst. I believe that it has helped a lot.
One thing I have noticed is that Susie is still stiff and sore (and falling a lot more) the day after she might have "overdone it"--gone to a pet shop, run around in the backyard like a puppy again, etc. She also pants after she's overdone it, and is more reluctant to move around much the next day.
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