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
Kasey had her front right leg amputated on Feb 3rd. She has been doing great, adjusting well, and normal behavior. On Monday she had her staples removed and they removed the bandage so she has been bandage free for almost four days now. I've noticed a change in her behavior. She seems a little down and not like her normal self. For the past two nights she lies in my bed while I am up watching TV. She normally lays on the couch with me. My question is has anyone else dealt with a change in their dog once the staples and bandage were removed. I'm wondering if the bandage offered a sense of comfort and made her feel more stable? Any feedback would be great!
Thanks,
Danell and Kasey
Her avatar picture is so darn cute!
Glad to hear that, overall, all is well! YAAAAAAY, Stitches are out!
Is se eating, drinking, pooping, peeing okay? No signs of any real distress other than a little different behavior? Does hse apear to be unomfortable or in any pain? Can you take her temperature?
It could simply be that she has over-dne it just a touch and needs t rest up a little more. It's still very, very early in recovery from a major surgery.
Of course I'm no vet but if everything else apears "normal", I would just chalk it up to possibly doing too much too soon.
Please keep us posted and, if you have any cncerns, have the vet give her a check-over.
Post ictures when you can! Would love t see more of your sweet girl!
Hugs to you and Kasey!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
You're still in the recovery phase, it really hasn't been a long time even though you crossed that milestone. I'm not a vet but I don't think the bandage had anything to do with it, many dogs don't even get a bandage put on them. Sometimes dogs just need time to adapt, as do their humans. Just ask Shelby and her mom Alison!
What type of medication, if any, is she on?
How is your attitude? Are you babying her at all? being overprotective? Here's why that's detrimental.
When does this behavior occur? Is it always or just sometimes? What time of day does it happen?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the shout-out Jerry! 🙂
I am mom to Shelby and yes, Shelby was definitely "off" for several weeks post-amp, even after her stitches were removed. A lot of dogs go to a 'safe' space to heal (like they would in the wild). I felt that Shelby was being very anti-social but then I just learned to let it go and Be More Dog . If she wanted to camp out in my bathroom all day and night, that was her prerogative. Slowly, I started to see Shelby's personality come back and now, fingers crossed , she seems pretty much back to where we were pre-amp; happy, go-lucky and spirited! And feisty! Very feisty.
So I would say yes, it's still early ... as long as everything else seems normal (eating, drinking, etc) then let her roll with it!!! She's got this and the more calm you can be about it will help! Also could be the meds - I had Shelby on pain meds, anti-anxiety meds and of course, her chemo treatment.
Hugs,
Alison and Shelby
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
She is not longer on any meds, she finished those about a week ago.
I don't think I am babying her that much. I make her walk outside to use the bathroom, which she does fine. She stands and eats. I sometimes help her on and off the bed.
This behavior usually happens in the evening. I am gone for the majority of the day so I do not know how she is then. She seems to be her normal self most of the time, she gets excited (some) like she normally does when it's feeding time.
I just really noticed this change in the past week.
Kasey! Quit making your momma worry, okay?
If I recall, Happy Hannah, who had tapered off her meds by the end of the second week, had to be put back on some going into mid third week for about another week. I remeber "most" dogs doing great after their stitches were out and not needing pain meds at that point. Not so with Happy Hannah. I was still second guessing my decision going into the third week. It was actually someone here (Jerry I think) who suggested she might still need some pain meds as every dog's recovery is different. I believe it was a low dose of Gabapentin I put her back on and that DID make a difference.
Another thing that helped perk her up some was having someone come over she liked. Make a big deal about it and have the friend really excited to see Kasey and just be over the top with her greetng..
Anyway, just a couple of things to try. Check with your vet, but I think a low dose of pain meds could possiby do the trick. Hang in there. I KNOW this recovery business is so hard and so scarey! It DOES get better sndher sparke will come back full time! Sounds like yoj are seeing gllmpses of it already.
Look forward to your next update. Please keep us posted, okay?
Sendingyou lots of (((((((((((hugs))))))))))))
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!
That does sound a lot like Shelby's recovery period and all I can say is that it does get better. The meds might still be in her system and those take a while to taper off. If she doesn't seem painful, then maybe she is just being mellow because it was major surgery and she is recovering.
Shelby would be super excited to see me when I would get home from work, go for her walk, dinner and then retreat to my bathroom. She would come out if I wanted snuggles but for the most part, was chilling. I really think this is normal and imagine how we, as humans, would be if we just lost a limb! 🙂
Hang in there ... you'll see that spirit again!
Alison and Shelby
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
Boy that does sound like Shelby's recovery! If you're not noticing any signs of acute pain (have you tried giving her a gentle massage to see if she's sensitive anywhere?), then it's likely just that she misses you, she's tired from the recovery and she just wants to be comforted by your presence. In time she will get strong enough to feel more independent. These are just guesses though, if your gut is saying something else and you have any concerns at all please call your vet OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
