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.
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Keira sounds like she's doing great. Wonderful news. Don't worry too much if she sort of seems more depressed around day 4 or 5. They tend to kind of hunker down and get to healing for a bit. I had friends come visit to help pep up my girl which really did the trick. Keep up the great work guys!
Karma, Adelaide and the crew, and our special angel Brendol
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
Ob we understand worrisome worry warts all to well! It,s a side effect this crazy journey!
Yeah, some.dogs, including my Happy Hannah, had a very "colorful" swollen and bruised incision area! Some.dogs, for whatever reason, don,t have as much discoloration and swelling. I thjjnk you,ll see the swelling start to.go.down shortly. Aga i n, I,m n k vet but just keep an eye on it. It,s not leak i ng andit,s not smelly...that,s good. I know it shocks you to see this incision and its not.what we,re used to seeing, thats for sure! You,ll adjust to.it...especially as the jair grows back...which can sometimes take time...but it happens,!
You are.handling this j ust great! No picnic right now...but soon!
Sally.and Happy Hannah
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!
Oh gosh, don't think of it as being paranoid, you are being vigilant. If you flip through our photo gallery's "Procedure" pics you'll see that some dogs do have bruising like this. Chances are it could be a seroma , it's not at all uncommon. Keep an eye on it and if in doubt, call your vet.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Her procedure site looks really good!
Don't worry about being too vigilant. I watched Molly like a hawk. She got a big "saggy boob" at her incision site and I was hoping the vet could just drain the seroma , but there was so much extra skin there, they went ahead and trimmed some away. Anything that looks suspect, always check with your vet! There is nothing wrong with being cautious, especially after such a big procedure like an amputation!
Keep us updated!
My buddy Calvert just had his front right leg amputated 12 days ago. Last week I was either at the vet or I called them once a day with concerns. These guys on here really do a great job to help calm your nerves. Hang in there!
PS: chocolate and wine is calming. 
Kiera's incision site looks pretty good. My Leland has some bruising around his hind leg amp site as well. There may be some drainage but as long as there's no odor and it's not excessive things should be ok. We kept Leland's site constantly cleaned with hydrogen peroxide. And our surgeon recommended applying warm moist compresses to the site 2-3 times a day. We just took a dish towel, wet it down, and microwaved if for 50-60 seconds. Then held it on the site till it cooled. I think this helped the skin in healing and keeping it moist so the staples didn't get too itchy.
Keep us posted on how Kiera is progressing!!
Sending positive thoughts Kiera's way for a speedy recovery!!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Here is an update on Keira!
She is getting stronger and stronger every day! She cries a lot, but thats no different from any other day in her life. (she's kind of an attention fiend!) Once we lay with her she stops. She isn't really showing any other signs of pain (ears back, panting, shaking) The only time she really cries out loud is when she has to go to the bathroom!
She's still trying for those stairs! We really have to make sure we have a hand on her harness when we open the door otherwise she'll go right for them! So determined! The bruising on her leg got much darker but the vet said thats all part of the process (just like our bruises turn purple!) I really am impressed at the determination and strength she's shown me. I always knew she was incredible but I'm such a proud mom these days.
On the eating front she will take some wet food if we hand feed it to her. We're stocking up on it because it's all she'll really eat (other than peanut butter!). She's drinking regularly. She seems to get angry if we put the water bowl in front of her, but she'll get up on her own and get it! I've tried with a raised bowl but she knocked one over once and it got her wet and she's been terrified of them ever since!
The only thing I'm slightly worried about is her pooping. She had surgery on friday and still no poop!
Thank you all for your support. I'm a pretty emotional person as it is, and I think I would have cracked if it weren't for your support!
Carolyn you're doing great, and so is Keira!
When it comes to the pooping, adding some metamucil flakes (just a big), olive oil or pumpkin pulp will help move things along. It should be happening soon with all that canned food she's eating. Some dogs take longer than others but if she doesn't poop by tomorrow I'd let your vet know.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She pooped yesterday! Everything is moving along and her personality is really starting to shine through again. She walked over to my boyfriend yesterday sat down and talked to him to pet her. that right there is my dog in a nut shell! I feel like yesterday was a huge turning point for us.
Yaaaay for pooping! That is awesome, it really is a great sign of progress. Keep up your pawsitivity, it goes a long way in this journey. Nice job!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I wanted to share this all with you! We are officially 1 week post surgery and Keira is doing SO WELL! She still has a bit of "saggy boob" however she is really amazing. I took this picture on her way outside (hence the helping harness) because it just looks like so much progress!
I know there is still a long road ahead however I can't believe in one week how much has changed. I'm so proud of her and every day just seems like 10 steps forward!
Yaaaay! You sound terrific and that incision does too. It IS amazing how one week can make such a difference. Keep up the great attitude!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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