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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Post surgery - struggling to find his hop
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Virginia



Member Since:
22 February 2013
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28 April 2022 - 9:17 pm
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Or the first two weeks he still should jist  be doing short leashed potty breaks and back in for more rest.  It's hard work trying to adapt to three while on pain meds and while recovering  from MAJOR surgery.    He's doing just fine, but still needs to take things slowly.

Here's a video tjat will inspire you and show you what the future looks like.....

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!

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29 April 2022 - 7:05 pm
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Thanks Virginia,  we are doing lots of resting and sling supported bathroom breaks.  It is going well but it is hard to be patient and see him excelling like that video. I received a text that said “it sounds like you made the right decision”.  I didn’t have many supporters of the amputation. It was my Vet team and this site that offered me the support. So glad we are in recovery but if we get to moving like that we will be doing the happy dance.  I am looking forward to the day I can be confident he is good.  Don’t want to baby him but still lend a hand so we do our best to build up for the new way of moving. 

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The Rainbow Bridge



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29 April 2022 - 8:12 pm
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Aww that is nice that someone you know is supporting you now! It's not uncommon for most people who aren't familiar with this situation to think negatively...until the see the dog or cat and how they are doing after surgery!

So he's doing OK with you holding the sling while he toilets?

Learning how to lend enough of a hand without babying him is exactly what you need to be doing for the next few weeks. You've mastered this already. YAY!

Hope you have a great weekend.

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30 April 2022 - 6:13 am
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Good day Jerry, he is good with the sling. Last night was the first time he moved outside without a sling.  He must have known was I had wrote to Virginia and wanted to show their is reason to hope. We still have a long way in recovery..  I do really miss our walks but the stroller should arrive Monday and I just want to ensure we get to the basics safely. We want to avoid any other issues or potential set backs cause we did too much. 

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The Rainbow Bridge



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30 April 2022 - 7:45 am
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Another milestone of moving without the sling is huuuuuge! Wonderful!!

You are wise to take things slow and it's working. Yeah!

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Virginia



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30 April 2022 - 10:10 am
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CONGRATULATIONS GATOR!!!!  You are doing an excellent  job at recovering  in uoir own way and at your own pace.  You've got this!

We do know it's jard to ge patient and we want to speed up the recovery. Gator is a big boy and a "mature" big boy at that.  He really is on track for a successful  recovery and will reclaim his walks before you know it.

FWIW, it took me about three weeks plus before I could relax and say I did this FOR my Hapoy Hannah and not TO her.

And yes, people who haven't  done the research and talk to the professionals  like you have, have no understanding of how this is a good solution  to add pain free quality to our pups. YOU know Gator best and YOU know Gator  wa ts this chance for more loving and spoiling  and treats!

Higs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS. Probably already mentioned this, but it takes a solid two weeks to recover from the surgery itself.  It takes about a mo th to get comfortable  with the new gait, use of muscles in a new way, fluid  motion, balance, etc.  He'll get  rhythm....and you'll get yours 👍

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!

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30 April 2022 - 7:48 pm
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Thank you, we went for our first stroller walk this morning and a nice Saturday drive. He use to go from seat to floor. Floor to seat and back again. Didn’t think it would be so easy so filled the floor with milk crates with two 1x4s to make the backseat into his luxury bed. Turn out perfect, gives him lots of room to move around and a bed that is stable and comfortable. Thankfully I had already invested in Pet Loader stairs.  Thanks again for all the encouragement and hope you are having a good weekend. 

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Virginia



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30 April 2022 - 8:31 pm
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I know that mpstrollwr walk did younp both good👏

Love the way yoi configured your car with crates, etc to turn it into a Royal Chariot for da" King!!

Good day all around👍

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!

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The Rainbow Bridge



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2 May 2022 - 3:29 pm
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YAY! I just got a chance to catch up and am so happy the stroller ride went well. So he adapted pretty good to it? 

Good boy Gator!

I love how you made his backseat up, what a brilliant idea! 

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2 May 2022 - 6:25 pm
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Thanks Jerry, nice pick me up to see a positive post. I have been struggling the last day or so. Just not seeing him progress the last days and when he tries to move on his own he tires so quickly in the back leg that he gets real sloppy.   To top off my feelings my best friend stopped by and made the comment “not something I would have done”.   I do think don’t judge as you don’t know really what you would do if this was your dog having to battle this horrible situation. 

No doubt the recovery is difficult. Gator was always at the door when I came in or he heard the truck arrive. Now he waits on his bed. He has moments when you see him happy but most of the day he is subdued on his bed.   Still praying we can get some normal things.  He usually sleeps on his bed outside the bedroom on his bed. But it is upstairs so I have been staying down on the couch as just not sure we would make it down safely yet. Also my home office is upstairs. Been working from the kitchen table. Not looking to do big walks or hikes but praying hard we can get around the house and out of the house safely and without injury. 

He will see Vet tomorrow for acupuncture and a new Physio on March 9.  We are still not two weeks out from the surgery but looking and praying for the next sign of hope and growth. 

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The Rainbow Bridge



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2 May 2022 - 7:40 pm
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I'm so sorry your friend said something so mean. A lot of people say dumb things during this time. Your thoughts about not judging are spot-on. Nobody ever knows what they would do until they are in it.

This is still very, very early in recovery. That rest he's doing is exactly what's needed right now. It's the best way for the body to heal. There will come a day that he greets you again when you come home. Bigger, older dogs do get there, on their own timelines. Pretty soon he will be at your feet while you work in a more comfy office situation.

Let us know what the vet says. I'm guessing you mean physio on May 9 (where does the time go?!).

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2 May 2022 - 8:46 pm
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Thanks Jerry, it is hard to stick with the patience of recovery. Sorry yes we are in May not March.   We see our Vet team at 1pm.  
It truly is hard to know what you would do if you are in somebody else’s shoes.   Recovery hasn’t been easy for us but listening and believing. Thank you for sending positive vibes our way. 

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Virginia



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2 May 2022 - 8:48 pm
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Ditto Jwrry.  

And Gator will make your friend eat those words once the friend sees how well Gator does!  I hope if your friend saw a loved one just a short time after MAJOR amputation  aurgery, it would not be tha same comment. 

We know it's so hard not to want to rush Gator through recovery and have all his normal ways return.   Roght now it's about celebrating the progress he IS making, knowing that each victory  like that is getting closer to Gator doing all the things Gator loves to do.

I do remember  the first time my Hapoy Hannah started fixing me her Woooo wooooo wooo  greeting, which I hadn't heard when I came home for awhile.  Then the next milestone was when  she greeted me at the door.  That was such a huge milestone!  But no, it did happen eight away.

Higs

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!

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2 May 2022 - 9:13 pm
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Thanks Virginia, quietly I am hoping and praying my Boy amazes all the naysayers of what we are going through. If not mistaken you mentioned in another post to someone that you had a long recovery as well. I believe you even said something about as long as six weeks. We are making our way to the end of week two. It is no doubt hard to stare in his eyes as he questions if he can do this or how he is going to do it. But I encourage him and praise him for the smallest of steps as I have learned from you and Jerry. We are staying positive and pulling together but it sure helps to read comments from you and Jerry. Thank you thank you

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Virginia



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2 May 2022 - 9:33 pm
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We are absolutely here for you 100%! We've all been where you are and know exactly what it was like. This community held me up while I Happy Hannah  was going through recovery and gave me the reassurance that I needed... And believe me, I needed it constantly!

When I joined here my first thread title was something like "Help! Day six after surgery and I fear I have made a horrible decision!"   And I absolutely  felt that way!

I think it was around the five-ish week mark that felt like I could finally say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not to her.  Aldi if I recall I had her on pain meds, although reduced for three weeks.

Tell me again what  meds, dose and frequency  and his weight. 

It's good thatbhez's thinking  things through and figuring  out his nectvstep (literally).  It will all come togeher for him.

You'll also find once his furvstarts filling in and he's mastered  his gait, you won't  even notice he's a tripawd. 

You're  doing great....and so is Gator!

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!

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