Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Just brought my GSD home Yesterday from having his Rear leg amputated.
The vet stated on the paperwork he sent home with us for strict containment and exercise restriction.
He is to big to crate so he is in a room off our Kitchen which is gated so he can see us and be near.
I have been taking him out to do his thing about 4-5 times a day under his own power.
He is to big to carry so it is the only way to let him out.
They also were walking him at the vet to go out the day of surgery.
I am wondering if I should be letting him move around like that even though I can not see any other way to restrict his movement more.
Just wondering how you guys on here dealt with that with your big dogs in the first weeks after the surgery.
I do not want to have any complication or tear something up inside there.
Am I being to cautious?
Thanks,
Tim
Thank you for joining Tim, welcome to Tripawds! Don't be too concerned about letting your pup roam around, and definitely let him get up and out to do his doody. If he is anything like our wild Shepherd pup Wyatt, if keep him too confined he'll eventually go berserk! You vet just wants to be sure he gets lots of rest and quiet recovery time. Don't let him run around and play rough until his stitches are removed and he's regaining his strength, and all should be well. We found that baby gates throughout the house work well enough.
Thanks again and best wishes for a complete speedy recovery!
PS: What is your dog's name? He is gorgeous.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the reply and the great site.
I don't know how we all lived without the net!
I have found so much info and support the past two weeks since he was diagnosed here and on other sites it is just amazing.
By the way his name is Colonel Klink
We have a small one story home, we had beds for Tasha in the living room, my sons bedroom and one in our bedroom. We let Tasha lay where ever she wanted, during the day she stayed almost always in the living room where I was, in the evening when my son got home she usually then went into his room and when I went to bed she would come in my room and sleep. I closed the door so she couldn't roam and I could hear her. During the first couple weeks she would go outside to do her business but wanted to come back in to sleep. One day she didn't even go out, she waited until the middle of the nite to ask to go out. She wanted to do a lot of resting, her being to active was never a problem. We let Tasha go out and if she wanted to walk around some we would let her, we felt the movement was good, she never wanted to do any playing just sniffing around and usually not very long. This is scarey at first but it won't be long and things will be back to normal, you will be surprised!
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
My dog, Captain Jack (our dogs could start their own military!!!), was hot to trot after his front leg amputation. I let him do his own thing because he didn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort. 3 days later, we were back in the hospital because he had broken capillaries and the compression bandage had pushed all the blood into his abdomen which had turned entirely purple/red. After a day of blood tests to rule out infections, viruses, and blood disorders, we ended up leaving the poor guy at the doctor for 2 days and nights of monitored mandatory bed rest. It was my own fault for thinking he was just doing so well 😛 He sure fooled me! Our surgeon said no stairs for 2 weeks (oops) and no going outside other than to potty and he must be on a short leash (oops). But all is well now, and I haven't been able to keep the guy calm since his surgery. Good luck with the recovery!!!
<3 Laura and tricky Jack
Hi Tim,
Welcome to the Tripawds family!! Did you dog have a cancer or an injury? What is your boy's name and how old is he? I also have a German shepherd (Wolfie, almost 5yrs old)... but it was his older brother Jake (10yr old golden retriever) that had the bone cancer, osteosarcoma.
Regarding restrictions... well, you definitely don't want your dog to do anything that will comprimise the wound and stitches... so no running around and rough playing... You should be able to walk him (well, he'll be hopping now) to go and do his peeps and poops, and nothing else. The first week or two are the most important... lot of soft tissue is healing... Plus, an amputation is a big surgery... He will have to have time to recover from the anesthesia and the surgery. Do you have a sling to help get him around? Baby gates are great to keep him contained in a small area. Which leg was amputated... front or back? He will probably have to wear a T-shirt or E-collar so that he doesn't lick his incision... Is he on pain meds (I hope)? What kind and how much? They will make him 'dopey' and he may loose his balance... that's why it's important that you can help stabilize him with a sling (either purchased or home-made) during this time.
Tell us more about your sweet baby... He looks very handsome in his avatar picture!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I just re-read your post... Sorry, I didn't see that he had a rear-leg amp! 
So a T-shirt might not be able to help cover his incision and prevent licking... so you will have to be more diligent about watching him and making sure he doesn't lick at it!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I just checked out the site on Wyatt.
He has the same leg missing as Klink. Amazing to see.
Some how I hope Klink can run and play like that again.
Our neighbors have a Year old GSD Female who is kinda like Klink's Girlfriend.
They ran and played every day and I can't wait till they can get together and do it again!
Thanks
roadrnnr said: ...his name is Colonel Klink
Too funny, my brother just sid the other day that we should have named Wyatt "Schultzie".
Thanks for the kind comments, it makes all our efforts worthwhile when people find the support they need here. Don't miss Jerry's top ten canine cancer and amputation concerns in the News Blog .
What was the cause of the Colonel's amputation?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Here's more info sorry,
He was diagnosed on 11/25/09
I noticed the large bump on his leg two days earlier. He has OS
His lungs were clear as of two days ago when he had the amp.
Finances will not let me pursue Chemo but I had the amp done so he can be pain free for the time he has left.
He has no symptoms of being ill and I guess at this point he is not.
He is alert, loving and healthy.
He is on Tramadol, Ampicillin, and Rimadyl
We have a sling to get him up his Handicap Ramp to our deck, other than that he has no stairs to climb as of now.
Actually today he has not even needed the sling to get up the ramp, he went right up it.
He was licking the area a little every now and then but not much.
I am going to pick up some bitter orange from the vet later today to put on it.
He is almost 6 years old in a month or so.
Other than that we are just taking it day by day and hope he will be around for a long time to come.
Tim
We hope so too! Thanks for sharing Colonel Klink's details.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Tim & Col. Klink!
You have come to the right place myself and Supai are in the same boat. Supai was diagnosed with OS on 11/23. she had her Right hind leg Amputated on 12/3, she came home on 12/4. We have restricted Supai's movement only in term of no rough housing with are other lab barley. When I take her out I always have a leash & sling handy but I let her follow her nose. She seems to do better walking at her own pace instead of making her walk at my pace. We now are doing (2) 1/2 mi. walks per day. Supai minds very well so I am not overly concerned but I anticipate problems and get her attention before she get's focused on something. This will be the routine until Tues when the staples come out.
We too decided not to do Chemo. We are trying the Holistic approach and we just had our first visit with the holistic vet toady. It was a very positive experience and she has given me a lot of hope. I strongly recommend you at least do one visit and get the Col. on a good diet and antioxidents. This will promote a strong imune system that attacks cancer cells before they turn into tumors.
The best thing, stay positive. Make the Col feel safe and love. Jakesmom told me a great line which is our mantra now, "Your dog is living with cancer, not dieing from cancer!" Forget about the "time bomb". Live everyday and enjoy Col. Klink every chance you get, but don't make him feel like there is something wrong. Col. Klink feels no pitty towards himself so don't feel it yourself and things will fall into plaqce.
Good luck and let us know how things are going.
Shaun & Suapi
I want to join the others in welcomng you to tripawds. My dog Emily was a right rear leg amputee. We have a bi-level house so Emily had to do steps right away. She did fine with them. Our deck steps are steep so until she had her stitches out we took her out the front steps and walked her around to the back yard. We did not restrict her to one room but since we also have two other dogs we did keep the puppy crated while we were gone and kept a baby gate up blocking the steps. Emily was a doberman mix so keeping her from running while outside was impossible so we just didn't take her out often. After her staples came out all bets were off. She ran like the wind and jumped on the trampoline just ike when she had four legs.
Emily did have chemo, by the way. Even if chemo was an option it is not a guarantee.
We only had her about six months after her amputation but they were good pain free months. Until the cancer spread to her spine she remained active and unaffected by the loss of one leg.
My only suggestion is to start Col. Klink on a good joint supplement like glucosomine chondroitin.
Good luck with everything. You will be in my prayers.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Welcome to our little community Tim & Colonel Klink,
I love his name and he is beautiful!! I am sorry for what he has gone through! Those of us living with the Osteosarcoma focus on enjoying our pups every day. It sounds like Klink has a good Dad.
Take care, Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Sorry to be a little late to the discussion but want to welcome you also and express that we are sorry to hear of Colonel Klink's diagnosis. Cherry is a front amputee so there are some differences. We were very cautious regarding activity when we brought her home, but the drugs soon took over and she was very quiet. Our surgen also cautioned us, but once the staples came out we were told that we needed to let her do more. So, take your cue from them, use the sling until you really feel that they have their balance, and the Colonel's recovery will probably amaze you. Also, it is not uncommon to have a set back a day or two after comming home. (sorry about the double negative.) Once they get settled and the drugs begin to kick in, they sometimes will slow down a little. Just be prepared that there may be some downs as well as ups on the roller coaster ride. A significant portion of the dogs have trouble with one or more of the pain killers. Both Emily and Cherry could not take the Tramadol.
Cherry's first chemotherapy treatment was adminstered just hours after the amputation. For her, the chemotheapy was worse than the amputation, but even that was not too bad – no nausea, no vomiting, no drop in blood count, only a loss in appetite. That was more than 12½ months ago and she is doing very well for a 12 year old girl.
Paws Crossed and Sending Pawsitive Thoughts,
Bob & Cherry
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