Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sorry if this is answered somewhere. I tried searching for it and wasn’t able to come up with anything.
Sass had her front left leg amputated 5 days ago, and overall she’s doing great.
My question is about her lying down. She likes to lay on the incision side. It looks fine and she seems very comfortable doing it, but it’s a problem when it’s time to get up. Since she’s laying on the side with no leg, she’s got nothing to boost herself up with on that side and she ends up being kind of stuck.
I can help her by rolling her over to her other side, or lifting her up, but she’s going to need to be able to do this herself in the future.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Any tips or advice to help her to learn? She does okay on carpeted surfaces, but if she wanders into tile or hardwood when I’m not looking (which she loves to do) and plops down, I’m not sure what she’s gonna do.
Thank you!
Love her avatar picture! Sass is just precious!!
Actually laying in her incision this early on IS a good sign that it's not too painful. My Happy Hannah took weeks before she did that!
Sass will figure out how to get up eventually . She's still on good drugs (hopefully) and hasn't developed the necessary strength yet to fully adapt to three legs. Some Vets say it takes about thirty days for mobility adjustments to be worked out.
Once she's done with her recovery and her incision his healed, you can start Rehab to help build her core tummy muscles . The Trpawd Foundation will pay $200 for the first visit There are sit-stand exercises uou can do also to help strengthen her core muscles.
In the meantime, you may want to get a Ruffwear Harness, or some others available in our Gear section. They come in VERY handy for lifting, turning, etc.
And Miss Sass, you stay on the carpet for tracrion, Okay? Very important to avoid face plants and falls if at all possible.
You can alsonchexkmout PAWZ....booties for her feet. They're basically like balloons that fit over her paws. You can't leave them on for long periods . They fit tightly at the ankle and they're pretty air tight.
Tell is more avoutnyour Sass when you get a chance ....especially with more pictures of her sweet self!
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!
Hi Sass and family 🌺
You've got great advice and it is a good sign she is laying on her incision side.
Just give Sass a little time to adjust, and adjust she will.
Sending you and your gorgeous girl hugs and cuddles 💗🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
It is a good sign!!! My Shelby had her rear leg amputated and the first weekend she was laying on that side. I freaked out but was assured that if it wasn't bothering her, then no worries! A step above the curve!
Here's too an easy recovery ....
xoxo
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
FWIW, years ago, when I was taking First Aid, I was taught that when you come upon an injured person, they will often lie on their injury, or their injured side. Back then, it was thought this was instinctive behavior to protect the injured spot from further injury.
Thanks everyone! It definitely doesn’t hurt her, and she seems to prefer it pretty often, I just worry about her being able to get up. When I’m watching, at least, it’s a real struggle. I suppose she can figure it out, though.
Tomorrow will be one week, and her incision looks really great.
Those are great news, your baby is moving in the right direction 👍🏽
You just have to give it a bit longer, she will not only figure it out but she will surprise on how well she will do on three 🐾🐾🐾
Sending you a big hug and tons of tummy rubs to your cutie pie 😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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