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 best friend was hit by a car on Friday. Today she had her front leg amputated and came home a few short hours later. She seems to be in so much pain - whimpering and breathing heavily. The sight of her amputation looks so barbaric with the staples and drains and blood stains and swelling. I don't know what to do for her. I just want to get her through this, but don't know how to make the time and healing go by faster.
Did anyone else bring their dog home the same day as surgery? Is her pain normal at this stage? What can I do? I was supposed to be her best friend and keep her safe and healthy, and now I feel like I'm letting her down. For 11 years she has never once let me down.
Digzie,
I'm so sorry about your girl. It sounds like she is a strong, courageous pup who will get through this. You are not letting her down, you're doing all you can do for her. She knows that. Right now though, she is coping as best as she can (which is far better than any human would, I guarantee it).
First off, breathe. We all know how hard it is to cope with amputation recuperation. It's undoubtedly hardest when a dog comes home the same day. Which is rare, but there have been some vets who do it. In my honest, non-medical opinion, I don't like that. But if you live in a small town and there are no 24/7 care facilities in your area, it's best that she's with you anyways.
What pain meds did she come home with? It is routine for a dog to return home with Tramadol and a NSAID like Metacam, but many dogs also come home with extra meds like a Fentanyl Patch (a time-release patch, similar to morphine), or Gabapentin, which can stop phantom limb pain from occurring (when a dog thinks that the leg is still there, they will suddenly cry out and whimper a lot for the first month or so).
If she doesn't have any pain meds, the first thing you need to do is demand that your vet prescribes some. And ask for complete instructions on how to administer them and what side-effects to watch out for.
The second thing, is to ensure that she gets her rest and doesn't overdo it. Keeping her in a confined area for the next day or so is a great idea. If you have other dogs, keep them separate for a bit if you can.
The first couple of weeks will be rough, I won't lie. But you will get through it. And we are here to help.
I could go on but I recommend you read our "Required Reading List" for a rundown on what to expect. This will answer most of your questions. You can also download our "Three Legs and a Spare: A Canine Amputation Handbook" for more detailed information.
Thank you so much for joining us. We are here to help OK? You're not alone. Tell your dog we love her and are cheering her on!
Keep us posted OK? We want to know how she's doing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Please don't feel guilty about the amputation. I imagine that most dogs that get hit by a car die, so it's great that you still have her with you. Also, the best thing you can do is act quickly, which you did. I adopted my dog Ranger from a foster family that worked for the SPCA. He also was hit by a car, but his owner didn't take him to the vet. He waited while Ranger's condition deteriorated (imagine the pain and suffering) to the point where he finally took him to the vet….to be put to sleep! Fortunately, a vet tech put him in touch with a charity that paid for his amputation. Eventually, the owner gave Ranger up to the SPCA (you can read the whole story on his blog.) Although I didn't go through Ranger's recovery, I also had Sadie, who had osteosarcoma at 9yrs old and I went through her amputaion recovery. It's not easy, but I don't think you'll regret it. What kind of dog is she? Sadie didn't come home for about 48 hours, but our vet has someone there 24/7 so I knew she was in good hands. I went to visit her the evening of her surgery, and it was a serious shock! She was under the influence of lots of pain meds, so I don't think she was in pain, but she seemed pretty confused! When I got her home, she did great for the first day, and then she seemed completely miserable! I was starting to think we made a mistake, but everyone here talked about the "2 weeks of hell", and I decided not to be too hard on myself (at least for 2 weeks
) Well, she ended up making a great recovery and lived a very full life on 3 legs. I know I'm going on a bit, but I just want you to know that we've all been through it and we know the emotions that you're experiencing. Please feel free to ask questions as you go through her recovery
Definitely call the vet about pain management . Also, did they suggest hot or cold compresses. Sadie enjoyed hot compresses, I know some others used cold. I wet a dish towel and put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds ( you want hot, but not too hot) I know the staples can get pretty uncomfortable after a week or so.
Please keep us posted. I'm sure you have your hands full, just know that we're here if you need us. When things calm down, tell us all about your girl, I'd love to hear about her.
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
welcome digzie - everyone here has said it the way it is. You are doing the very best you can for your pup and I do not believe you will regret it. The commonly talked about two weeks of hell everyone talks about is just about an understatement - the first few days seemed to drag on forever with Cooper - but it soon sped up especially as I saw daily improvements, but be forewarned - there are also days where you see no improvement, and some days might even seem to be going backwards, but with good care and attention that 2 weeks will be gone in no time. I drove everyone here on the group nuts i think the first two weeks with my worry, but now in 16 days Cooper is already going to be celebrating his 3 month ampuversary. Like Jerry said ... take a few deep breatsh and breath.... it will be ok. Keep us posted and I will assure you that this group is absolutely the best if you have questions!
Coopsdad
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
You were lucky to be able to take her in the same day as the accident: We had to wait 5 days after our accident....vet could not schedule us in right away. 5 days we had to deal with the unnatural positioning of the 'Zombie Leg'...it would flop in the strangest angles; it hindered her mobility and got in the way. Heck! 3 days into Zombie-leg stage she was already going up and down the stairs with the leg flopping around (nightmare for me).
my advice for post op is to keep optimistic. She can feel your moods and emotions. Try not to look at the wound too much, look into her eyes.
It is narly, i know...but she needs for you to believe in her. When doggies lose their legs to accidents, its just so sudden and quick: it hits you like an 18 wheeler. no time to prepare...its so shocking. Things happen too quickly...you feel as if you cant make such big decisions so quickly and then after the leg is gone...even with your own eyes to see it is like a bad dream or nightmare.
My baby sure did whimper A LOT after we took her home. She cried for 4-5 hours until she was exhausted and slept. The pain meds make her act strangely, not so much the wound itself.
be brave for her. sending lots of positive thoughts your way Digz!
The quest for world domination continues on three legs. Comply minions!
http://ritables.....ipawds.com
Read about my big sister Shelli who just passed away to the lymphnode sarcoma
http://bellesgo.....press.com/
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. We had a really rough night last night. I had made a bed up for her and me on the floor, but she insisted on getting onto the couch. So that's where we tried to sleep. Every movement she made I was right there to make sure she was ok and every sound she made rang out like an alarm to me. Twice in the night she just bolted up and off the couch, out the doggie door and collapsed on the deck. She went so fast I couldn't catch her and then had to carry her back in. It was so difficult for both of us. And then we finally fell asleep for some time and she fell off the couch with a THUD. I lied down next to her on the floor and cried for an hour while she slept.
She had her checkup this morning and actually walked herself into the vet's office, but was so exhausted that she needed help with the sling to get back to the car. She did so good, but will need to practice when she gets stronger. The heavy breathing and whimpering have stopped and today she just lays on the couch and looks around. She's eating and drinking now and went outside with help once. Every little thing scares me --- is her skin too red? Are her eyes too dilated? is that staple not in right? .... I could go on and on here.
She came home with a Fentanyl patch on her leg, and she gets a liquid NSAID in the mornings along with an antibiotic twice a day. She seems utterly exhausted, but maybe in less acute pain than yesterday. She seems so frail, but just days ago she was so bouncy and happy and healthy. Molly is a beautiful girl that chose me when I was visiting a shelter with my cousin. My cousin was looking for a puppy and I was just taking the bigger dogs for walks. Molly looked up at me with her blue eyes and lifted herself up to me so slowly and delicately, pulled her paws to the side and layed her head on my stomach. It was the most wonderful hug I ever got. I suspect she is an Australian Shephard mix, potentially mixed with Husky given her undercoat and blue eyes. She's been my companion now for 10 1/2 years. The doctor says she has great potential for excellent mobility because she is a lean dog who is otherwise healthy.
I'm sorry ... I know I'm going on and on and on. I could talk about Molly and how much I love her and rely on her all day. Every morning when my alarm goes off she stretches and crawls out from under my bed and I count my blessings for another day with her. This whole thing just seems so barbaric.
You are not going on and on! You are caring and compassionate and love your Molly like we all love our best friends. I promise you will soon see how your actions are anything but barbaric. Watch the videos of the tripawds here and you will see Molly's potential. I know it's hard right now, but I have a feeling that your girl will have an excellent recovery. Hang in there, and keep us posted ( and maybe try to keep Miss Molly off the couch for a few days )
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
I'm so sorry about the accident. But she is alive and that's what's most important! YAY for Molly!
Try not to worry (easier said than done). The first 2 weeks but especially the first few days are terrifying. It's natural and normal and we all experience it.
Just try to remember, you are in shock from everything that has gone on. It's going to take time for you to adjust to the fact she lost her leg. She's probably already adjusted mentally. But dogs aren't like us humans who think in cosmetic terms. She just knows she has to hop to get around and that's "okay" by dog's standards.
Come over here as often as you need. We'll try to help you through this. It's tough at first, but I can promise you - in a few weeks, you'll be back to happy again with Molly!
Comet's mom
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi Digzie,
I'm so sorry that your baby has had to go through all this... but I'm so glad that she's alive after her accident!!!
I was able to bring my Jake home the same day of surgery because I'm also a vet tech and my vet thought he'd be OK to come home with me so soon. Jake was pretty zonked out from the surgery and all the meds... and slept most of the time... But we did have to take him out to go pee a few times. We used a large towel wrapped around his torso to help him navigate while he was super stoned and very unbalanced. Our sling from Foster and Smith arrived shortly after, and we used that until our Ruffware harness came 2 weeks later. I was a trained vet tech and was pretty overwhelmed... I can't imagine the regular family member having to deal with everything the same day of surgery... But you will both get through this. Just remember... Your baby is recovering from a big surgery... is on heavy pain meds.... so very unstable on her feet... My Jake was able to poop the following day... other Tripawds can take a few days longer.
Good luck with everything and post whenever you have any questions or concerns! We've all been through this... so hopefully we can share with you some good advice!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Hi again. I can't thank you all enough for your sharing your advice and experiences with me. I'm lucky to have found this wonderful place!
Today Molly just laid still all day. She seems to be having some bad dreams sometimes. She eats and drinks everything I bring to her, and occasionally turns herself over, but mostly is just really still and sleepy. I hope this is normal. She was shivering a little bit, which was startling. She's NEVER cold - in fact I have to get her hair shaved even in the winter so she isn't panting in the house. So I put a light blanket on her. She didn't seem to mind and quit shivering, so I hope that was the right thing. I know if she was healthy she would NEVER allow herself to be under a blanket.
We slept a lot better last night than the first night. She started the night on the couch, but I padded the floor in front of the couch with all the cushions from the chaise and so I wasn't so afraid she'd fall off this time! Around 2am she got up and went outside on her own. She's not very stable, but still she got through the doggie door and down the 3 steps off the deck into the yard to pee. She came back in and laid down on the bed on the floor and that's where she's been ever since.
I don't know if I should put the towel around her and get her back outside again or not. I guess if she can go on her own, maybe I should just let her rest until she's ready?
The Fentanyl patch comes off soon. How bad is the pain going to be after that?
The Drs Foster and Smith harness with handles will be here tomorrow along with a ramp which I think will help her get into the yard for now, and then into my bed (it's a REALLY high bed) after she learns how to go upstairs again.
Two days down. We're going to make it through this challenge.
It sounds to me like everything is completely normal. The resting is very, very good. Don't let her over-do it. Going outside (and negotiating a doggie door and 3 steps) is wonderful! When the patch comes off, she might need some oral pain meds, but the post-surgical pain should be getting better anyway. The staples can be pretty annoying though, and some dogs experience phantom pain . Keep a close eye on the wound for redness and oozing and if she'll let you, maybe take her temp if the shivering continues. I know when one of my dogs had a fever, her ears got really hot. Anyway, keep us posted!
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Molly had a traumatic injury prior to her amputation. She may have generalized pain from soft tissue injury, unrelated to the usual post-op discomfort. Pain from that type of injury usually gets a little worse before it starts to diminish. Inactivity can make it worse. (think about being in even a minor motor vehicle collision...you're a little sore, worse in the morning after being in bed all night....). The NSAIDs will probably help this the most. If she isn't moving, she's not generating any body heat & will be cold. Some gentle, forced activity, getting up to eat & drink (even if you have to help) or just a bit of movement around the house might be beneficial. You can try some range of motion on her other limbs. Of course, you always want to monitor for infection or other post-op complications...fever, purulent wound drainage, excessive swelling, etc (did Molly have an open wound from her injuries?) and contact your vet.
Best of luck
Sounds normal to me too! The shivering may not be because she's cold... but because of the surgery recovery and pain meds. My Jake was on his oral pain meds (tramadol) for almost 2 weeks... Some dogs (like people) don't tolerate their pain meds well... so in Digzie's case it may be a shorter time. Not sure if you've ever had a big surgery yourself... but in my case... I've definitely needed pain meds to help me while I healed alot longer than some other folks. Dog (just like humans) are all different... so you and your vet need to determine what's best for Digzie!
Sending you and Digzie a big fat hug!! Heal quickly!!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
We are in a similar situation having just hit seven days after our amputation. I have seen the ups and downs in the seven days and can't emphasize enough what everyone has said here and to me as well. The hardest part for us has been to stay positive for Sierra while she negotiates the road to recovery. We tried to keep her penned up the first several days so she would not over do it. I thought it was really good advice that some one gave me to spread her feedings out throughout the day for a little while so there might be a little less shock on her stomach after such an invasive procedure. We also put it out for her and she comes and gets it to help her figure things out.
The warm compresses have been helpful for us but we are using dry compresses because you don't want any moisture on the incision, you need to keep it dry. We are using dry, uncooked rice that we heat up in the microwave and put in a ziploc bag. It will not only help with any swelling but the vet told me if there is any fluid, it should stimulate blood flow which should help with reabsorbtion of the fluids. You can also try cooking up a pot of oatmeal and put it in a ziploc bag for a warm compress. Either way, you do not want it too hot. You can re-heat the rice or the oatmeal.
If you do get drainage after a couple of days in the incision, our vet said to use a warm cloth and just dab it making sure the cloth was rung out so you keep the incision dry. Moisture will delay the healing of the incision.
We have been sorting out the pain meds and trying to figure out if all the panting is because of pain and uncomfortableness or a side effect of the tramadol so we have stopped the tramadol after seeing the vet to try and figure it out. Just having them still with us is a high so we try and focus on that. You are doing a great job so keep it up.
We are worried constantly as well but try and make sure we convey it to Sierra in the play voice. They are feeding off our emotions so do the best you can. I find screaming into cushions and smacking pillows to get it out helps! You have to find a release for yourself.
Stay pawsitive. Sending happy healing thoughts your way
digzie said:
She seems to be having some bad dreams sometimes.
I guess if she can go on her own, maybe I should just let her rest until she's ready?How bad is the pain going to be after that?
Tremors are common as the nerves mend, but serious quivers and sudden yelps may indicate phantom pain . Be sure to review these tips for managing phantom limb pain in dogs.
By all means, allow, in fact, encourage your pup to do whatever she can on her own. Always bringing her food/water and helping her get up can make her dependent upon your assistance, only prolonging recovery. A little tough love can go a long way, just ask Dr. Waldman.
Dogs are incredibly resilient creatures, most handle pain beter than they do the side effects of medication.
For a safe heating pad / ice pack that stays put, check out the Bella's Hot/Cold Pain Relief Pack designed specifically for dogs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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