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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This is our first day/night post-amputation (rear) for osteosarcoma. Mia, our 5 year old great dane is very quiet and not moving much. She is on tramadol and meloxicam for the pain. She has been drinking and eating a little bit and we have got her to stand and walk around once but she did not want to urinate despite the water she has had. Do we need to try to get her up? Are their any problems with pressure sores or circulation issues with her constantly sitting on her remaining rear leg? I don't really want to disturb her as she seems calm, but I don't want to do the wrong thing if that is to leave her sitting there. Any advice is appreciated!
Hello and welcome to Tripawds.
Sorry you HAD to find us- but this is the best place to be when dealing with cancer and amputation.
First, you should check out Jerry's Required Reading List. This is a consolidation of a lot of information on what to expect with amputation, recovery and cancer.
Not moving much is pretty typical in the first days after surgery. This is major surgery and Mia is on some pretty powerful meds, not to mention the meds from the surgery probably still in her body. As long as the incision looks OK, she is eating a drinking some, and seems like she just wants to rest, that sounds normal to me. She may need some help to get around the first few days. A sling made with a towel or a cut open reusable shopping bag will work. Rear amps seem to gain their balance a bit sooner than front amps. You might also consider getting a harness for her. Many here use the Ruff Wear harness. There are other options as well.
If you look around the forums look for posts from Alexander, who posts as xanderdane. He is a Great Dane that had his front leg amp just last week.
And I am sure you will hear from Queen Nova's Mom Sue. Nova is a long time cancer survivor Dane who has her own blog.
The first two weeks after amputation can be difficult. So take a deep breath, do lots of reading, and ask lots of questions.
We have all been through this and survived!! We are here to help.
Karen
Hi Dexta and Mia, thanks for joining us here. We're so sorry about the reasons for your joining but we hope that we can ease your fears and make the recovery better for you.
Please know that we aren't vets here so if you are at all concerned, call your vet and let them know what's going on OK? That way they can at least make a note of it in her chart. And you might also want to keep a journal too, just to track her recovery and compare her progress. Don't worry, there will be some.
As you can see, Karen has some pawesome advice for you.
So it sounds like she has only been home for a day? Did she urinate at the vet's? If that's the case, I wouldn't worry too much. As for #2, that may take days: pain meds make dogs really constipated after surgery.
Remember, Mia just had major surgery and especially for a big dog, getting around and moving about isn't something that's really appealing. Many dogs just lay around for the first few days, sometimes a week or two, before they perk up again. She has a ton of pain drugs in her system, and they really do make dogs feel loopy and not very enthusiastic.
You'll hear people say that the first two weeks are pretty rough both emotionally for you and physically for your pup. Do your best to keep a pawsitive attitude and stay strong, and you can both get through this with no problem.
Also, talk to Xander's Mom. Xander is a Dane too and just one week behind you. You'll also see that we've had a lot of Dane's do really well with amputation. In fact, our inspawration for this community was Moose, a Dane who lived with osteosarcoma for nearly two years.
Good luck, and keep us posted oK? We're here to help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your support Karen and Jerry, Mia was just able to get up, go outside and we helped her to the toilet - she did the biggest pee I've ever seen! Very happy!! 🙂 I've just given her some more tramadol and sat with her while she went to sleep. I can see in her eyes that she is not in as much pain any more - that is a great sight to see! Thanks again, this is a great site!
Ohh, welcome to the Potty Dance club! Yeay! Great to hear. Keep us posted OK? Hugs coming atcha.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Mia and Mom!
First, - again, we are sorry that your baby was diagnosed with cancer. But you did the right thing by giving her a chance! We salute you!
The first two weeks are ruff, ruff, ruff! Add to the fact, you get sleep deprived - it's an even ruffer! (your coping skills go down the drain when you don't have enough sleep)
Plan on good days and bad. But it will get better.
Now, go find a pic of that beautiful girl and upload your avatar! We plan on you staying and want to see her beautiful face!
Also, feel free to come by and chat as often as you need or want. We know how hard it is for you right now and we can hopefully help you through.
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.
So sorry about Mia's diagnosis and surgery; so glad you found Tripawds. You've already had some great advice and support; that's the beauty of this site.
The first couple weeks post-amputation are rough. Up days and down days; scary days and take-your-breath-away days; victory dances and potty dances. Catie had her amputation in January of this year and I'm still working hard to overcome my newly acquired obsessive-compulsive disorder over the elimination patterns of Catie and quad-pawd Riley.
Never be afraid of calling your vet if you're particularly concerned about anything. That's what they're there for. The good ones know they're not simply treating our companions who can't speak for themselves.
Look forward to updates and a picture of Mia!
Carmen, Catie and Riley
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Welcome to Tripawds. The first 2 weeks are certainly the hardest. Everyone has given you some great advise. I would strongly suggest that YOU get lots of rest too! Can't wait to see Mia's picture. Please keep us posted!
The Golden Girls
Thanks everybody! I really appreciate the wisdom of you all who have been through this before. I have a great vet who I can call any time but while they can help on the medical side, you guys collectively know more about what happens day by day at home and the tricks to coping with it. I am beginning understand the sleep deprivation part! Thanks for welcoming me to your forum!
Hey there! Welcome to the site, none of us want to have to be here, but it has been invaluble to me. My Dane, Alexander is a whopping 39 inches at the shoulder and was 165 pre-surgery. He had his right front leg amputated last Tuesday. From my experience, peeing and pooping are now landmarks, as well as eating for us. You are going to be REALLY tired, REALLY emotional and extremely critical of eerything they do. My vet(s) are on speed-dial.
Resting comfortably is a very good thing, their bodies need the time to heal. Alexander always lays on his non-surgical side, so every few hours, I get him up and at least moved to another bed, or to potty. This makes me feel like I am getting his circulation going. Also, being a Dane parent, I'm sure you have well cushioned, yet supportive beds...pretty important.
We did buy a sling, but have not had to use it much, Alexander is almost always a step ahead of us when he gets moving... A member, krispikritter (Diane) donated her Magic's ruff wear harness to us, I can't wait to get him in it.
You are going to have some ups and downs, hopefully more ups than downs...we are hoping we are on an up now....Please, if you ever need to talk/vent, PM me. I may not have the answers, but I have the ears and the Dane experience.
Mia is only a year older than Alexander...we can pray together that this makes them stronger and ready to blow our minds!!! Paws crossed for you!
Alexander's mom, Shannon
Alexander The Great Dane
Suspected Osteosarcoma July 12
Diagnosed Officially 7/16/2010
Amputated 7/27/2010
Became Spirit Xander 2/20/2011
Hi Mia's Mom,
Welcome to our Tripawds family... Sorry to hear about Mia's diagnosis... but you have come to the right place for info and awesome support!!
The first week or two is filled with ups and downs... First of all... Mia is exhausted from her big surgery... and she's pumped full of pain meds and anesthesia... Pain meds also make you constipated... I learned that from my own surgeries... the HARD way! 
Be sure that Mia is getting plenty of fluids into her... even add some water or chicken broth to her food... or force feed her if you have to.
Congratulations on her first pee at home!!
Next comes the first poop! You will definitely celebrate that too! You willl definitely become sleep deprived the first two weeks... I think that we all were! 
But after that, things should start to get alot better... You will be amazed at how quickly Mia starts to feel better... By the time she gets her sutures/staples out... she should be feeling alot better!
Looking forward to reading all about Mia's recovery... and hopefully seeing some cool pictures too!!
Sending Mia a big fat hug!!
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!
Shannon, I hope Alexander is having a good day today too and that he's starting to feel better now that he's off all the meds. Paws crossed for you too!
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