TRIPAWDS: Home to 22974 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Poppy's Progress Thread - 4 month old Lab/GSD with front left amputation
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
26 June 2018
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
6 July 2018 - 12:48 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hey all, some of you may have seen my other thread here: http://tripawds.....ab-gsd-mix

Jerry asked that I start a thread here since she has graduated to recovery. Poppy seems to be moving into another stage after her surgery yesterday. She has slowly started becoming more alert, though it seems that she may still be suffering from some dysphoria and/or pain. She is also now laying more upright and partially on her belly, instead of just on her side. She appears to be looking down at her front paw, and I noticed she seemed to be sniffing to the left of it. I don't know if that means she is looking for her missing leg, or if she just smelled something interesting. She is also kind of kicking around with her back legs a little bit, and seems to be a little bit irritated at times. 

The vet gave us Carprofen (twice a day) and Tramadol (3-4) times a day. She will likely start Acepromazine tomorrow (later today) when needed to keep her calm and resting. I'm hoping that this next day she will start going to the bathroom more normally (nothing yet other than a little partial pooped that slipped out) and will start to show some desire to stand and walk.

I will keep you updated, you can also follow her progress on Instagram: http://www.inst.....pyhopsalot

Member Since:
1 October 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
6 July 2018 - 8:14 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Slowly she will come out of the fog. You did a pawsome job!!  I don't know if the Ace will knock her out or not. I used it a lot back in my veterinary days and found that sometimes it put them into a slumber, sometimes it did nothing. If they were already wired for sound and fought it I usually saw less results. I would not worry too much about the pooping right now, but her drinking and urinating are important. 

I saw your Instagram post, she looks great! I even made a post lol. I still have not figured out how to post for me, but I got one over on yours lol. I hope that made you laugh.. I am a techie but not a social media person, hahah laughing

Hugs to all of you,

Jackie and Huck

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
26 June 2018
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
6 July 2018 - 9:17 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

paws120 said
Slowly she will come out of the fog. You did a pawsome job!!  I don't know if the Ace will knock her out or not. I used it a lot back in my veterinary days and found that sometimes it put them into a slumber, sometimes it did nothing. If they were already wired for sound and fought it I usually saw less results. I would not worry too much about the pooping right now, but her drinking and urinating are important. 

I saw your Instagram post, she looks great! I even made a post lol. I still have not figured out how to post for me, but I got one over on yours lol. I hope that made you laugh.. I am a techie but not a social media person, hahah laughing

Hugs to all of you,

Jackie and Huck  

I leave the Instagram to my wife, it confuses me. 🙂

It's been an up and down experience for us. Both of us were up with her all night. She ate a full cup of food this morning and drank water. We took her out at about 6:30 and managed to get a couple assisted steps out of her with a lot of encouragement. Later, she managed to climb up on the couch (with help) and lay in her favorite corner.

Finally we just got her up from the couch, which she was very angry and bitey about and took her outside again. We had her on the leash and a towel under her and got a few steps forward to get treats. Finally, we let go of the towel and just steadied her with the leash and she took right off to her pee spot. It felt like what baby's first steps must be like for parents and we both cried. 

She is resting comfortably now (no Ace yet) and I think we are going to try to trade off between Poppy duty and nap time. Her brother and sister are coming back home in a few hours, so that will be another new challenge

Member Since:
1 October 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
6 July 2018 - 9:29 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Good job both of you! It is really amazing the "little" things that will make her happy, like peeing where she wants to, sitting in her favorite corner of the couch, or on her favorite bed. I have seen many in here have furbabies that were so aggravated and frustrated and nobody could figure out the "why". Then a day or 2 or 3 later that furbaby would make it to favorite ground and all of a sudden were content, tail wagging, etc..  You have a great sense about you for Poppy, don't laugh.. it will take you far winker

I hope you get rest before the rest of the crew come home, you may want to separate them at first and introduce one at a time for just brief visits. See how it goes. She might get grouchy so don't be surprised. Many pups, cats too, get very protective when they have had surgery and go into 'survival' mode. Just go slow so that nopawdy gets hurt.

Hugs heartheart

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
6 July 2018 - 10:23 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thanks for keeping us jn the loop.  You are doing an astounding  job,  ESPECIALLY having  her home right after surgery.   The first 24 -72 hours can be rough!

The fact that she is mobile at all is great!  Drinking,  eating, peeing, a little bit of poop....YAAAAAAAAY  FOR POPPY!!!

Complete rest for now.  Potty breaks aqnd more rest.  

Not a Vet and not giving  Vet advice, vut if you can hold off on the ACE,  I would do so.  As Jackie noted, not always, but sometimes it can have a very  heavy sedation effect.  Poppy may feel rough enough that you won't  need it.

The important  thing right now is to keep the pain managed and not let it get ahead start.  The strong hospital  meds will be out of his system probably  by tk orrow, so be sure and keep the pain meds consistent.   Without having  Gabapentin,  you may want to try the three times a day first  the Vet said with the Tramadol.  It's  major surgery and it hurts!

Dogs and their couch!  I always think that's  such a good sign when a dog insists  on being back on their couch!!!

Nap when   you can!  A few more restless nights and then should start resting  more comfortably.all of you!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
6 July 2018 - 11:36 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yay, thanks for coming over here to start a new topic! You're doing great!

She sounds like she's having a typical recovery and it's GREAT that she's getting around, eating, drinking and eliminating!

You know this already, but we like to say it here a lot. Managing the pain is #1 priority right now so keep close watch. She shouldn't really be showing that she's hurting if her pain is well-managed. Tramadol isn't often enough, it's pretty bare bones relief. If you feel that she is in pain and giving these pain indicators, call your vet and let them know her symptoms. 

Ace is no longer the go-to drug of choice for sedation. There are better ones out there. Here's why:

https://www.pet.....n-ace-6937

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
26 June 2018
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
6 July 2018 - 11:56 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Out of the blue this morning she got up out of her bed and went to her kennel, all by herself. That is the first time she had gotten up unassisted. About 10 minutes after that, the rest of the crew came home and they had a wonderful and calm greeting. She was up on her own and was much steadier than before, though she did try to find convenient leaning spots. She is getting the hang of this so quickly.

Everyone is being very good and they are giving her plenty of space. She wants to be close to them though, and close to us. She is currently laying by my feet (in another favorite spot under the desk) as I'm working from home. She did made the mistake one time of laying on the wrong side and cried until she rolled back over to the other side. I think she learned that lesson pretty quickly. She is a pro outside on the leash now, and she is even wanting to go upstairs herself, though we are restricting her from that. 

Still no poop, but I'm sure that will be coming soon too. She seems to be pretty calm and at this point I'm not seeing the need for a sedative...though that may change. When the vet calls today, we will ask about Gabapentin instead of Ace.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
6 July 2018 - 12:07 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Wow she is really doing great! I love that the whole pack is pitching in to make this a good recovery.

Yeah, poop happens eventually! poopicon_png You can always introduce a bit of steamed squash or pumpkin pulp into her food to help move things along. 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
1 October 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
6 July 2018 - 1:58 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yay Poppy! And yay pawrents!! I am so glad the reunion went so well, that is a beautiful thing heart  Her being so young is really going to be in her favor I think. She is bonding so well with all of you and this is going to really help her through recovery. 

I don't think it will always be uncomfortable for her to lay on her amp side, it is probably tender right now though if for no other reason than staples/sutures. 

Speaking with your vet about the gaba is a great idea, and keeping her as quiet as possible is so important to her recovery. I always remember my wisdom teeth ( go ahead, laugh)  When I had them out (all 4) I felt pretty good when I got home. Took my meds on time, the pain stayed away. My son was a baby and I had to stop nursing when I had them out because of the drugs. Well, I felt so good that I stopped taking them so that I could go back to nursing my baby. The pain hit within that day. I started taking the pain meds again and the pain did not go back away. Pain is much easier than to manage than to get under control. All the great hospital meds are making her feel pretty good but if not managed and the pain comes back, it will be a force to be reckoned with. That is just my honest opinion. 

You guys are doing a great job!!  And after last night, I know you needed to see something good heartheart

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
26 June 2018
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
6 July 2018 - 3:20 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Yeah, we have her med schedule firmly set.

  • Tramadol 4x per day (12am, 6am, 12pm, 6pm)
  • Carprofen 2x per day (6am, 6pm)
  • Antibiotic 1x per day (6am)

Other than the tenderness at the surgical site, she doesn't seem to be in pain at all. She is sleeping a lot, so that is good. The bandage comes off tomorrow or Sunday, I'm sure that will be a little traumatic...but we have t-shirts to help keep her covered up.

Member Since:
1 October 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11
6 July 2018 - 3:34 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Good deal, like i said you guys are all over it. Please give your little girl a snuggle for me. She is just beautiful 😉

Hopefully tonight will be a more restful evening for all of you. 

Sending tons of pawsitive energy your way ❤️❤️

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12
6 July 2018 - 3:52 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

When our pups have had their stitches/staples removed, it was more traumatic for us than them. Don't worry, she'll handle it like the rock star that she is. Stay strong and keep on doing a great job!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
26 June 2018
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13
10 July 2018 - 12:42 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Quick update:

Poppy is still doing very well. She is resting a lot, though she has bouts of time where she really wants to move/play/run/jump and her stupid parents swoop in to hold her back and calm her down. When she is active, she does tire pretty easily...which is entirely expected as far as I am concerned. 

She hates the cone of shame ...and the donut of shame. So we just keep her in a couple layers of t-shirts, and resorted to purchasing an Arlo Q camera and pointed it at her kennel so we can keep an eye on her while we are gone (and talk to her/tell her no if that ever becomes necessary). Her incision site is getting kind of itchy I think, but it looks pretty good with only minor swelling. No redness or bruising to speak of, and no drainage. She seems to be completely leaving it alone so far. Stitches are scheduled to come out on the 20th. 

She easily goes up stairs on her own, though we do not let her go down them yet since that is a bit harder for front amputees. I spent $160 for carpeted runners for our kitchen and dining room with wood floors. That little stinker goes out of her way to not walk on them whenever possible. She goes to every other rug in the house when she can...but she will not use the runners unless she forgets herself and is excited for food or something. whatever

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14
10 July 2018 - 2:52 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Oh Poppy! You have me grinning  ear to ear!!😁  Nothing  better than a feisty  tripawd pup full of spunk and mischief!😄

I loce that the you the Arlo camera  to leep a close watch.  Sebastian's  hoomans ised that a lot to keep an eye on him.  

Everything  you've described about his recovery  all sounds very normal.   Actually  maybe even a bit ahead of the curve.  Still slow and easy though.

Giessing she's  had a good poopicon_png by now, so a belated happy poopicon_pngpoopicon_png dance!clap

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
15
10 July 2018 - 4:04 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Poppy's doing great! That's so good to hear.

I hope the camera keeps working out for you, let us know how it goes. We'll keep our fingers crossed she doesn't mess with the incision.

Good job getting traction down. In time she'll totally understand how much easier it is to walk on the carpet than on the rug. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a spill for an exuberant doggie to figure it out. I hope that's not the case with her!

Thanks for letting us know the status of things. Keep up the great recovery.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 208
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17735
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256809
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG