Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Nellie (10 YO, suspected OSA) had left front amputated 12/1, surgery and recovery at vet hospital went smoothly. Brought her home 12/3 and she's been resting comfortably since. Good appetite, pooped 10PM 12/3, snores a lot. Needs sling to get around without tiring out really quickly but other than that recovery seems to be going ok so far.
She does like to lie out flat on her side though- always had done that in past- and she seems to lie as often on the incision side as the other side, which surprised us. I would have through they'd always keep that side up. Anyone else see the same with there's?
FWIW: 60lb mix (maybe Ridgeback, maybe pit) 200mg Gabapentin every 8-12 and 100mg Tramadol every 6-8. 37.5 mg Deramaxx once per day. No fent patch, sutures not staples, no wrap or bandage- but no discharge at all either so probably no need. Lots of bruising and mild edema at bottom of incision.
My 80lb golden retriever did the same thing! A few days post op he managed to get on the couch and laid on his incision because he always laid that way before. He DID have trouble getting off the couch however. It was very painful for him so we blocked the couch off for a few weeks. Once he could get outside through the dog door by himself (about a week post op) he even laid on his incision in the rocks on one side of my patio. Totally freaked me out. At least he had a t shirt on! Sounds like Nellie is right on track and doing well
. The first week is the hardest, but it gets steadily better after that. You can click on my blog link in my signature to get a daily run down on Fionn's recovery. He is now 2 months post op.
Nancy- mom to the FABULOUS Fionn. He rescued me in 2015 when he was 6.
Right front leg amputation at age 7 for osteosarcoma 10/6/16. Taken too soon 6/12/17. Read about our journey here:
http://fionnsjo.....pawds.com/
Hi there, sounds like Nellie is doing really well! I don't know how usual it is for dogs to lie on the side of the incision, but I do know my Meg (also a front legger) did. She didn't have staples either (just internal stitches), so I don't know if that makes any difference. She wore a t-shirt just to keep the incision area clean, and I let her get on with it and just lie in whatever way she found comfortable. (An orthopaedic dog bed is definitely a worthwhile investment) The most important thing right now is plenty of rest and short, leashed potty breaks – precisely what you are doing.
It's possible Nellie may dip a little in the next few days as the hospital meds leave her system, and if so you may need to adjust her pain meds – just a heads up, as this happens with lots of dogs, though by no means all (Meg was actually fine) – keep a close look out for pain signals , and be ready to talk to your vet if necessary.
But it really does sound as though things are going great. I love the image of her lying there snoring...
Keep posting, and remember, we're here any time you need us.
All best,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Murphy's surgery was 3 1/2 years ago, so I don't remember exactly how long it took before he laid on that side, but I think it took him a little bit longer than that before he did. But if Nellie's doing it on her own, than that's ok. Whatever she's comfortable with is fine.
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
My cat Mona chose to lie on her amputation side on the cool tile. I think it felt good to cool it down. The day she got the stitches out she rolled around in the gravel.
I think our pets are so smart that if it really hurt then they wouldn't do it again.
I'm happy to hear Nellie's recovery is going so well. I'd love to see photos so I could put a face to the name!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Pofi also chose to lie on his incision side fairly quickly after the surgery - definitely within a few days. I took it as a great sign that the incision was far less tender and painful than the leg with a tumor had been. Really, a positive in my mind.
Glad Nellie is doing well!
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Otis did it too. My philosophy was that as long as he seemed comfortable, I was going to leave him alone. I actually wondered if the gentle pressure felt good in some way?
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.
And just to add more examples of EVERY RECOVERY IS DIFFERENT, EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT.....my Happy Hannah took al almost five weeks before she would sleep/lay on her incision side! Ugh!!
So I agree with the others, the sooner the better in that it most likely means the incision line itself is not all that painful. The pressure and laying on a cool floor probably does make it feel better.
You're doing a ree good job of caring for Nellie and she sounds like she's doing a good job of recovering!!
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!
Ditto to what Sally said! Kylie FINALLY laid on her amp side about 5wks after surgery. Before that she would have none of it! Always kept amp side up. Now we find she is almost 50/50 with which said she lays on. I think whatever feels good to them is what they'll be most comfortable with. Healthy & speedy recovery Nellie!
Chris & Kylie xo
My dog Toby had his left hind leg amputated on 11/30. He laid on the amputated side the first day we brought him home. His leg was removed due to a car accident. He is a Dobi/pit mix so he is a large dog. I let my vet know when we went in to get the drain tube removed and she wasn't concerned so I let him lay however he likes.
tobydog99 said
My dog Toby had his left hind leg amputated on 11/30.
Hi Toby and family, thanks for joining and chiming in! Sounds like Toby is doing well. If you'd like, please consider starting a new topic so that we can follow along on your journey and learn all about your amazing pup. Thanks again.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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