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
Hi my 11 year old boxer/pit mix had her front right leg amputated on Wednesday for suspected osteosarcoma. They told me yesterday we could bring her home as long as we were ok with helping her to get up. We brought her home last night and can’t even get her to stand up, much less walk/hop. We try to put a towel under her to help pull her up, but she kind of bows and won’t really stand up or straighten her legs. It’s like she’s afraid to put weight on her front leg kind of. Is this normal? She also just started whining, not sure how to tell if she’s anxious or in pain 🙁
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Sorry you are dealing with amputation in your girl- what is her name?
First off- it's not uncommon around here to see that the more 'mature' pups take a bit longer to get their sea legs. Instead of a towel you might try a DIY sling made from a shopping bag.
What meds is she on? I'm asking because pain meds can certainly make a dog woozy or lethargic and as far as the whining- that can be a sign of pain but also a side effect of pain meds. The surgery meds might not yet be out of her system yet either and they can make a dog very wonky.
Has she gone pee since she has been home? Will she eat or drink?
One other thing- don't ever be afraid to 'bother' the vet if you are concerned! Usually there is nothing to worry about but if they can make you feel better than you can be more positive for your girl.
Sorry- lots of questions from me but we can help better with more information. Don't get down- stay positive around her- things will get better!
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
Hi Karen, thanks! My girl’s name is Sadie. She is on gabapentin and codeine. She has been on codeine for a few weeks before the surgery too. She has peed a few times and pooped this morning, but we’ve had to carry her outside every time.
She is eating pretty well although she eats laying down. She did try to stand one time on her own this morning when my husband had a bagel, but she immediately laid back down. So there was a glimpse of my food motivated girl there which was good. It seems kind of like she doesn’t trust her remaining front leg. I’m just not sure how hard to push her either. I’ll try the shopping bag sling tomorrow, thanks!
Online
Actually Sadie is a little ahead of the curve in that she's drinking, eating, peeing and pooping! All good signs! And she at least tried to get up...another good sign! Clearly she's motivated by bagels!
As Karen said, she's just now gett the hospital meds out of her system, plus she's on Gaba and Codeine. Aometi es around day three or four the pain meds need to be adjusted. Most dogs come home with Gabapentin, Tramadol, Rimadyl and an antibiotic. Is she in Rimadyl (or something similar) and an antibiotic?
It may be that the Codeine (which is a strong pain med) needs ro be traded out for the Tramadol. Anyway, as Karen said, keep your Vet in the loop. They may need to be reduced....or increased. I know, crazy, right?
Patience is so hard, but that's what you need right now. Keep in mind, Sadie just had MAJOR SIRGERY, is on pain meds and trying to adjust to three. Human s would still be in the hospital on a morphine drip! Let Sadie recover at her own pace. She only needs potty breaks (even of you have to carry her) and lots and lots of rest.
Stay confident and calm. Lots of praise for every little thing. And give her lots of bagels!
And YAY FOR 
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!
If she is eating, drinking and peeing and pooping she is doing pretty well. I know it's hard to watch her like this but she is headed in the right direction.
Our surgeon said only short, leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks so rest, rest and more rest is a good thing.
One other thought- does she have good traction where she is? Traction is important for Tripawds and really important for new Tripawds. She needs to feel confident that her feet are not going to slip.
Keep track of those little glimpses of your girl- they will start adding up as she gets back to herself.
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
Thank you both so much for the reassurance. She actually stood up briefly by herself twice last night to adjust herself and took a few steps with assistance this morning! I’m pretty sure the whining is the pain meds because it happened twice about an hour after we gave them so I will call the vet today to ask.
Just catching up on Sadie's story, I'm so glad that she's doing better. Everyone gave you great insight. It does get better!
Let us know what the vet says.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
YAAAAAAY FOR IMPROVEMENT!!! Celebrate that!!! Now that you k ow improvement DOES happen sloooowly but surely..you can maybe relax a little bit...maybe!1...
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!
Omgosh you guys, Sadie successfully stood up on her own (to beg haha), took a few steps, and stood to eat tonight! It’s like her courage is back. I’m so relieved! I know she’s going to be ok eventually. Thank you for the support!
YAY!!!!We knew she could do it! Her courage never left...you just couldn't see it😉
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!
That's so wonderful! I love the happy tone in your message 🙂 Keep up the pawsitivity, you and Sadie ARE getting there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
