Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I am not sure what to do with this dog. I can not hold her down. Last night she jumped into "her" recliner, I caught her before she jumped down, thank goodness. She went flying out the back door, chasing a cat and the other dogs. I was in my PJ's, in the dark, running after a black blur I could hardly see. I am not kidding, I thought I might have a heart attack. While I am so grateful that she is doing great, this dog is killing me. I have tried doing the ex-pen but she sees the others and she barks and screams, she wants out with the other dogs. The others do not hurt the wound, they pretty much ignore it, and so does Pixie, so I let her out and she trucks around the house. She is already back in my sons room with him when she wants to be and I am not sure what to do to calm her down. Or maybe I need a sedative myself.
The other thing is her food. She has really gotten spoiled and literally will stick her nose in the air if I offer her regular food and the longer this goes, and the more i give her what she wants, the harder it will be to get her back on her regular diet. And with six dogs, I need to be able to feed them all the same stuff at the same time. On the other hand, she is only four days out from surgery and part of me says "oh, poor baby, she deserves this special food". What should I do? And how can I quiet her down?
And I am really stressed. Waiting on the patholgy is killing me and I find out this week when and if I have to have major surgery. All that coupled with Pixie is just making me so depressed. Sorry to whine.
Alicia
Alicia,
I get the feeling that you're not laughing about her running around so I must say that I feel just a tad bit guilty that I'm busting a gut here laughing, at least at the first paragraph. As an outsider, it's great to hear that she's doing so well. I just love these little tripawds!! I don't have any experience with pugs, so I can't give any kind of behavior advice. Sorry.
As for food, once Roxy started behaving more normally I started offering her less and less of the special stuff. You're right, they get spoiled. And even though she didn't eat great at first, I just took the stance that she would eat when she got hungry enough. Let me stress, this was once it was evident that her strength was back up and she was acting more normal again. I don't want anyone thinking I was depriving my girl of proper nutrition as she was trying to heal. 
I wish you the best with what you're facing. I hope Pixie sees fit to give you a break soon.
Leslie, Roxy's Mom
Hi Alicia,
Oh my gosh that sounds like a lot of stress, I'm so sorry. I realllly hope you don't need surgery. But, if you do....remember how Pixie recuperated after hers, and envision yourself to be as brave and strong as she is. Her amazing ability to cope and get on with life is definitely something that can help you through your recovery. That could be the greatest lesson out of all of the stress you're going through right now.
We don't have any experience with a multi-dog household, so I can't be much help there unfortunately. But I do think though that if she seems OK and she's not getting a seroma or excessive bruising after all that activity, she could probably make it through recovery just fine. Smaller dogs are just so much more agile than bigger dogs as Tripawds. I would keep an eye on her and see how she does around the other dogs. Some dogs do really, really well after surgery and recuperate quickly, and it sounds like Pixie is definitely one of them. Yeay!
As for the food....well, feeding that many dogs has got to be a challenge. I think Roxy's Mom's advice is spot-on. Slowly cut back on the special stuff and when she's hungry, she will eat.
Good luck this week. And you're not whining, we all felt like that at some point. Whine away, we'll pass aorund some cheese and indulge with you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My dog, Jack, was really active after surgery. He had a compression bandage on, though (front leg amputee) and broke capillaries and got abdominal bruising. The vet suggested he stay in the hospital for a couple days for mandatory observed bed rest. It was the most peaceful 2 days of my life 🙂
<3 Laura and Jackers
GOODNESS!
It's all good but that would wreck my nerves, too! Are the tramadols slowing her down at all? Drugged dogs are quiet dogs.
Good luck on not having to have surgery! And if you do have to have surgery, resist the urge to jump on the recliner while you are recovering!
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.
Glad to hear she's doing great!!! I cannot give you advice on the food - I've been giving Denali special food and found something a little cheaper to give to Loki so he thinks he's getting something special too.
Denali gets 1/4 can wet grain-free dog food. Loki gets one teaspoon cottage cheese.
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
The Tramadol did nothing to slow Ruthie down after her surgery and her first sliding stop chasing the cat nearly gave me a heart attack, so I have no good advice to give. Maybe some mandatory bed rest at the vet isn't such a bad idea. It sounds like you could use the break.
Take care of yourself. And don't feel sorry for whining. We all understand.
Spirit Ruthie's Mom
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