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.
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!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Porthos is doing really well (front right leg amputation due to OS), surgery was Thursday, he stood up and ate dinner that night.
We got him home last night, he has eaten, drank lots of water, been out to pee, barked at the nighbours dog!
He slept really well, no panting, or pacing, I gave him a gentle massage (shoulders and hips) he just fell asleep.
He is already on less pain meds than when he had that stinking tumor.
My question is, when I take him outside to pee, he just wants to 'go go go'! how much should I be helping him walk at the moment? we have a 'help em up' brace but cant put it on his front half yet because of the stitches so we just have the rear end part on him for support.
Im worried about his front leg, its so alone! and really its his only good leg left, but I feel when im trying to help him, im getting in his way.
Any sugestions would be greatly apreciated.
Thank you,
Warm wishes
Amanda & Porthos
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Welcome Amanda & Porthos! Cancer sucks, but you have found the best support group around. And it sounds like Pothos is off to a great start. Our Bo came home from surgery ready to roll and sort of "crashed and burned" a couple of days later. We usually refer to the first 2 weeks as hell weeks because it takes a bit of adjusting for pups and their pawrents. We did lots of gentle massage and did 15 min. with ice compresses a couple of times a day. The ice was always calming and relieving. Hang in there and keep us posted!
Meghan & Angel Bo
Glad his home with you! I've just got Penny home, but she was at the hospital for three days, so now she walks good by herself, but the first one, two days they said that one should be ready to held the body up if she was going to fell. If she felled they say it was no catastrophe, but of course better if not. But now she gots good balance. She is a rear amputate, but I know the feeling that it feels it so much weight on that leg. But that leg will be STRONG 
! Wish you all the best! I will write an own topic of Penny's home coming.
That is lovely to hear that Porthos is doing so well! Moby is a front right leg amp too. She has not been out to pee yet. She went out briefly a little while ago but she didn't like it and came straight back in.
Hi, thanks for the reply's,
the one positive thing in all this is the incredible support we have had from complete strangers, people have been so wonderful, even the company I ordered some non slip dog boots from put extra dog cookies in the packgae to give to Porthos during recovery!
Its so scary watching him walk, pluss when he is walking he keeps spinning round to lick his side where the leg was, I dont know if its the stitches bothering him or where he has been shaved (he is a long haired dog) so he kind of throws himself off balance, he hasnt fallen though. Arghhh, roll on two weeks!!!!
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
When I got Chloe home and we started to 'hop' a little around the neighborhood, she too just wanted to 'go go go'! I learned my lesson the first day though. She wanted to walk around the corner from our house, then got extremely tired and plopped down on our neighbors lawn. I couldn't pick her up (at 60lbs) and carry her the 3 houses down back to our house...luckily the neighbors were heading out and offered to drive us the 100ft around the corner and back to our house. I learned that I have to be her advocate and that it is better to do less than to do too much.
They have new bodies and don't know their capabilities, so I would waver on the conservative side when deciding how much activity to do. Increase distance or activities little by little. Trust me, you don't want to end up like me feeling silly for not realizing this sooner and had to deal with that situation. Good luck!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
I feel when im trying to help him, im getting in his way.
Hello Amanda
I had the same experience with Cemil, and at 150#, I couldn't help him much anyway. He was fine. I assume that since it's been a couple days since your post that Porthos is getting around okay, but I wanted to add my experience with another giant dog. Cemil's left front leg was amputated because of osteosarcoma--I was somewhat of a worrier at first but he's pretty self-reliant and managed fine without my help. And he still is.
If Porthos can spin around to check out his incision without falling, he's getting the balance thing pretty well. Go Porthos!!
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Hey everyone!
I have to say its been so helpful to to read everyone elses experiences (though im sorry you have all been there)
Porthos is doing well, walking (just out to pee, hasnt pooped yet though and its day 4! I gave him some metamusil today) eating and drinking well.
I would say the past couple of days he has been a little depressed, very quiet and panting, I cant wait until his wound has healed and he is off the tramol.
I had a 'moment' yesterday where I had a little regret. I had been ok with the amputation so far, I think ive buried any negative thoughts deep down to try and keep Porthos positive. I do believe it will give him more pain free quality time, but yesterday when I went and sat down in front of him he tried to 'paw' me with his phantom leg. I saw the muscle twitch and and his body move, I almost put my hand out as (before the cancer) it was such a natural thing to do. We kind of looked at each other like 'wow, that was weird'
He would always do this before, just hand me his paw, especially more so when the tumor was causing him pain, it was as if to say "do something!" but before the cancer it was always in an affectionate way, I thought to myself he will never be able to do that again, something that was so natural and instinctive to do. It broke my heart a little.
I hope everyone else pups are healing well and getting on with the new "normal"
Amanda
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Hi Amanda,
My little pug Maggie didn't poop until day 5 or 6.
Conventional wisdom says that was due to the pain meds, but I think something else played a part. Maggie has always spun before pooping, always clockwise, always done it. She was a rear amp, left leg. The first couple days post surgery she would try and spin and fall down. She would stare at me- it was just one of the reasons I was sure I had done the wrong thing. But a funny thing happened- day 5 or 6 she figured out her balance- started spinning without falling down, and pooped!
She also did what I called an air scratch- she would stick her chin out on her left side, you could see her little stump twitch, and she would look really confused. I can't remember when she stopped doing it, maybe a couple months after surgery. But it would really tear at me when she first did it.
Maggie got over all that stuff way faster than I did. Maggie was not very adaptable, but she sure got used to her tripawdness faster than I did!
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hi Karen,
I just think I hadnt prepared myself for those small things, I had been concentrating so much on wether he would be able to get up and walk, that I didnt think about the small affectionate things like handing me his paw.
Im having a tough time with it today, maybe because Porthos seems a little down.
His drain comes out today, so thats something positive.
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
I think you'll have more than a few moments like this, and that's OK; it does really hit home when you see how even the small things like this are different now. But once you see how he will adapt to his "new normal" a few times, your amazement at his resiliency will overshadow any sadness you feel. Tripawds are soooo inspawrational!
I hope tomorrow is better for you both. Getting that drain out will really help, you won't feel like he is so vulnerable once that device is removed. Good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The "little things" can be hard. More so for us usually than the pups. And you'll see, there will be new "little things" that develop.
I remember I was said thinking Abby wouldn't be able to do her "shake" trick anymore, missing her right front leg like she was. About 2 months after her amp, I said to a friend, "I guess it was a waste of time teaching her to shake." And when Abby heard me say shake she sat up and balanced on her back legs/bum and offered her sole remaining front paw for a shake. So cute! I was so impressed with her!
You'll see - you'll have new little special moments like that too!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I hope Porthos is feeling brighter today. Porthos sounds very much like Moby, she was quiet, down and panting a lot yesterday too. We're cutting down the Tramadol today....I'm sure that is going to help.
I'd really like to know what is going on in their minds! I wonder what Porthos thought when he realised his paw wasn't there. I'm sure in some way they know we've done it to make them better. Moby's lump didn't give her any pain, but she was aware of it.
Curly.
Curly- I cant wait unitll we can cut down on the Tramol as well, I think it will make a big difference.
Porthos seems more interested in the drain (which we took out today thank goodness) hopfully the driping will stop and he can start to heal properly.
I wonder as well what he makes of his leg not being there, is he sad, or just spaced out from the tramol.
Jackie- your story about Abby doing her "shake" trick brought a lump to my throat! how amazing are our pups! they just adapt and get on with life.
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Porthos said
I just think I hadnt prepared myself for those small things, I had been concentrating so much on wether he would be able to get up and walk, that I didnt think about the small affectionate things like handing me his paw.
Maggie had her amp 2 months before our founding pup Jerry, so there was not Tripawds. All my vet said was that most dogs do fine on 3 legs. Maggie was walking fine, from the day of surgery, but she sure seemed unhappy. So I though sure- MOST dogs do fine, just not mine!!!
As much as we all tell you that it will get better, there are some parts of this process that you just have to move though on your own. I think that it is important, because each part of this journey brings you strength you didn't know you had, and an even stronger bond with your pup (if that is possible!).
Karen and the pugapalooza
1 Guest(s)
