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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Hi! I’m brand new to the community. I adopted a 2 year old cattle dog/retriever mix tripawd 5 weeks ago. He’s had his amputation for 7 weeks. He tends to be restless at night and also has heavier breathing at times. He doesn’t appear to be in pain. He has an upbeat personality and is walking/doing stairs without difficulty. I’ve noticed some prior posts and it seems this may be common. I’m wondering if it’s still common this far out and if anyone has suggestions for better rest?
Hi Marshall! Welcome! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
Thank you for adopting your pup! What's his name?
Tell us more about his activity level during the day? Does he play with other dogs in the house? How far are his walks, and for how many minutes? How are your floors/ Are they slippery?
What you are describing sounds like pain signals to me. I'm not a vet, but I've seen this situation many times when a new Tripawd overdoes it. Seven weeks isn't a long time, and usually what happens is a new Tripawd parent just isn't familiar with Dogs are so stoic, it's tricky to know when they are in pain but signs like panting and restlessness are two common pain signals . Try giving him a break from the activities he's been doing, and see if that helps. Let your vet know after you've documented his symptoms (when they occur, how long they last, etc) and you might want to ask for a prescription to Rimadyl to ease any pain he's experiencing.
Also, please consider taking advantage of the Tripawds Foundation rehab reimbursement grant, which will pay for your first rehab visit . These experts can evaluate your dog and let you know what kind of activity is helpful or harmful, and show you how to exercise him so that he has a long, healthy, injury-free life.
I hope this helps! Please keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
His name is Marsh! He really enjoys walks which have been about 10-12 blocks long 2x day; about 15-20 minutes depending if he spends time sniffing around. He likes to run some in the backyard when I let him out. He’s the only dog. He spends the majority of his time on the main floor of my home watching out the window, playing with toys, or snoozing. My floors are a mix of carpet, hardwood, and tile. I have runners on the stairs. He’s done really well around the house and hasn’t needed extra runners out down. I have a ramp for him to get into my bed at night.
I contacted a rehab vet this week and plan on getting him evaluated. I learned the importance of having one from visiting your site. Appreciate the information and I’ll follow up on your suggestions. Thanks!
Ah! I'm so happy you reached out to a rehab vet, great job! 
They can really help determine the best kinds of activities for him. Again, I'm not a vet, but based on the length and timeframe of his walks you described, they seem pretty long for a dog only 7 weeks past surgery, so until the vet consult I would scale them way, way back. You can keep him engaged with interactive brain games in the meantime, which will tire his brain and keep him happy just as effectively as physical activity.
Your house sounds perfectly Tripawd-proofed, great job there too!
Got any pics? We would love to see them! Here's how adding images works, holler with any questions.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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