Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Wrigley is recovering from amputation of her front left leg.
She is doing very well with her recovery. I am concerned after we get
through the two week period and she becomes more active how she
will interact with our other dog. He is a 100 lb Shepherd and
they are used to chasing each other all over, knocking each other down,
wrestling.... etc. Will I always need to be careful of when they
are together. Right now he appears to have no awareness of her being
any different. I am just so worried about him just bumping her now.
Thanks for any advice.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Hi Wrigley - hope everything is going well with your recovery pal. Take it easy for the next few weeks like the doctor ordered!
I have a brother - Buddy - an 80 pound golden retriever and I'm also a golden retriever and for the first 4 days after surgery, mom sent Buddy to her sister's since he didn't seem to realize that anything was different with me either...he still wanted the play the second I stumbled in the door still groggy with anethesia!!! So off he went to Auntie Lisa's to play with her kids for a few days.
Well, now (going on 9 months post amp) we play and still rough house a bit like we used to, but Mom monitors, but obviously she can't monitor all the time since she works and we both have free reign of the house (yippie!!! thank GOD she hasn't installed those cameras yet where she could see what we're up to from work!)...Buddy treats me the same, but knows that there is something a little bit different and it's a little hard to explain, but he's just a bit more careful around me (most of the time)...but since I'm STILL the alpha dog I do let him know when it's too much and I just don't feel like playing. We have our own sort of language and he gets it as I'm sure your brother will get it too.
Now - there ARE going to be times that you'll take some chin dives - whether you just trip over yourself or you're playing with your brother - tell your mom NOT to freak out - we get up and forget about it pretty quickly and if your mom makes a big deal out of it, we will too...Mom just looks at me and says, "c'mon silly boy - let's go" (but I do know she walks behind me a bit to see how I'm walking to make sure I'm ok...she doesn't know I know this, but I ain't no dummy!)
Good luck Wrigley and tell your mom to keep us posted on your progress.
Be good!
Love Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
wrigley1930 said:
Will I always need to be careful of when they are together.
Short answer: Probably not.
All dogs react differently, fellow pack members may even be extra careful with her. The rare stranger may take advantage of her weakness.
But remember, dogs are very resilient. And once Wrigley regains her strength she may be the dominate one! Depends on here position in the pack previously, if she was Alpha before amputation, she may even be more so now to compensate.
Just look at me 3 months post amp ...
You can see I get a bt defensive, but am able to hold my own.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Wrigley!
Calpurnia has many canine pack mates (16 in fact) and her missing limb has never been an issue with her interactions with them. I was very worried when she first had the amputation, but she never missed a beat. The only difference I see is that she is good at avoiding situations where she may be unstable, even to the point of laying down if a fast-approaching dog is coming her way. But she definately kept her place in the pack and none of the other dogs has ever even tried to pick on her because of her physical difference. Dogs are just so much better than people that way!!
Good luck!!
thank you for the advice- Wrigley was definitely the Alpha prior to the amputation- and continues to remind her big brother ( Rookie) of that even 4 days post surgery- in her own good way of course.
I will try not to freak out. Thanks Zeus for the tips on leaving them alone. Fortunately I'm off for 2 weeks so that is perfect for the beginning recovery, but was wondering what I would have to do when I did leave them alone.
Rookie gets very "worried" when he is not with Wrigley. We tried to get him out the other day for a walk and he just couldn't do it with out his little sis.
I will keep you posted on Wrigley's progress and what we find out from the oncologist next week.
Thank you for the support!
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Radar was alpha before his amp also. I introduced the other dogs to him cautiously and in the house where I could gauge their reactions. He also tried even harder to prove his alpha status and this caused a bit of tension with the other males. After talking to a fiend in Rescue who has more experience with special needs dogs it was decided that we would rearange the feeding schedules and the order in which we dole out treats. We feed the pups in a different order each day and now no one feels they are getting the alpha treatment and don't feel the need to prove themselves. It has worked out well and they all race happily about the yard without that tension.
Hugs to Wrigly
connie & radar
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