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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Benny—-Yes the wound has definitely been an extra challenge. With that being said it has made the amputation be a piece of cake. I did not take the suggestion to ask about a culture. It was given to me by someone and I meant to do it but at that time he was having daily bandage changes and now once every three days and improvement has been continuing. So in my limited medical knowledge I concluded normal wound and normal healing…but maybe I should follow up with that on Wednesday. We are not really sure where the wound came from. The doctor had said that on the leg where the iv is placed in it can cause wounds/problems not just at the catheter site—and this is not at the catheter site—so he thought that was what it was. When he looked at it he told me that it was not due to that. My opinion is maybe he started licking because the t shirt he had on might have gotten twisted, maybe because his leg was swollen for a few days after he felt he should lick maybe he felt off from the amputation and just felt like licking somewhere. I don’t know and the doctor didn’t really know. Basically said it could be those things. In the three years I have had him he has never created a spot. We have had a ton of mosquitos here lately which we don’t usually have and he was walking really slowly and taking time to potty and would be covered in them…maybe he got bit by a mosquito and it bothered him. I was so angry at the mosquitos and kept trying to get them away from him and he was so vulnerable after his surgery.
Jerry—-That is great suggestions for brain games. I do give him a kong that has different places/crevices to put food and he likes that. That painting looks amazing and I just can’t imagine Roger doing that. Those dogs are amazing and paint better than I do. Unfortunately I live in an apartment on the 4th floor. So Roger and I have to walk to the elevator then out of the elevator and out from the building until we reach grass and bushes for him. Then after the first bush we go across the street to a bush or just down the sidewalk to a lot of grass and bushes. Before his amputation and bandage all that would probably take us 2-3 mins max as we would take the stairs and not the elevator. Now that is what takes us about 10 minutes. Yesterday he really wanted to walk a little further to this big lawn so I let him and that normally would have been at most 30 seconds more of walking. He definitely wants to keep walking more and I have not let him. Sometimes we just stand for a couple of minutes and he feels the breeze and sniffs the air. He is so ready to go on our normal walks. I have a patio that is not for potty breaks but I let him pee out there a couple of times right after the biopsy cast and then the amputation but he isn’t comfortable doing it and he would never go where I put the pee pads. I think he and I will be so happy when we get back to a walking routine. I think I just need to keep being the bad guy and curtailing his walking for now. I do always carry a sling with me in case he needs help but I haven’t used it since about day three. Today is 3 weeks since his amputation.
Thanks for all the suggestions and positive thoughts. If I knew how to upload pictures to would upload some.
Hi Amy!
Ohhh I get it about your walks, that totally explains the 10 minutes. Yes, a return to normal will feel so good. After all that time training our dog, then asking them to go wee in unusual places is not normal for sure! I get it. Just try to imagine the "new normal" which is going to be shorter and a little modified than what he did before. He will try to do what he used to do and go just as far, but his body won't like it over time so go as sloooooowwww as you can. It's a learning curve for us!
Painting is so fun! You might be surprised at what he can learn! We taught our Nellie in our RV! Just use non-toxic kids paint and it won't stain. OK OK I admit I'm really jazzed about teaching dogs to do this as you can tell. Plus we need a Tripawd in next year's auction lol! 
We have instructions for adding images , let me know if you'd like help. I can't wait to see 'em!
Hello All
Bandage change today. Doctor said doesn’t think culture is necessary the wound is healing great. Scheduled Sunday bandage change. Today they gave him a giraffe print bandage so now he has one giraffe leg. He looks adorable.
He charmed everyone in the waiting room and everyone said how great he was getting around. Apparently he has also been an angel during his bandage changes.
He just finished his post bandage change doggy ice cream and is in his comfy crate napping.
the wound is healing great.
SPECTACULAR NEWS!!!👏👏👏
Keep on healing Roger! You are quote the tripawd Warrior.....or more like two legger with a bim third leg Warrior😉
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!
Amy this is GREAT news! He is handling this challenge SO WELL and it really sounds like you are getting there too. YAY! 
Here's to more healing!
Hello,
We had another bandage change yesterday. Now he has leopard print. The vet said that the wound continues to look really good and heal.
We have started walking a little bit further but not much. I am really watching his tiredness levels and still don’t let him go as far as he wants to. However he pretty much does his hoppy running all the time. I am not sure if that is his new way to move or if it is easier because of the front leg bandage. Today is 4 weeks since the amputation.
In the last 4 or 5 days he has really started to be back to himself. Yesterday I turned around and he had gotten up on the couch. He is back to sleeping on the floor next to my bed at night. He has gotten on one of his beds twice but he isn’t back to his donut beds which he used to love. I told the doctor I was a little worried that he doesn’t seem completely back to his usual stuff and if it is because the front leg bandage. He said maybe some of Roger’s not being quite himself could be emotional. With that being said he really is pretty much back to normal.
We have our next bandage change on Sunday. Hoping the bandage comes off but at the same time I don’t want Roger to be able to get at the wound.
As I type this Roger is curled up on his blanket on the floor tucked up against one of his beds that I propped up a little so he can rest his head.
Awww those little signs of normal are all adding up! It takes time but remember most humans would take way longer to get back on their feet and they sure wouldn't be running around right?
He's doing this! He's got it! Glad the bandage changes are going well.
Way to go roger!! I am very glad to hear that you are doing better and better every day!! It may be a slow process but you got this!! I feel positive about the bandages where as other vets like mine got them off quicker than I wanted so there is a lot of risk having him scratching it. So keeping the bandages seems like making both of your daily routine easier Amy. I am smiling as I imagine him running towards you! Keep us posted 🙂
Gioukas the first born -*Ntoris the wise*- Kimi the cat
I told the doctor I was a little worried that he doesn’t seem completely back to his usual stuff and if it is because the front leg bandage. He said maybe some of Roger’s not being quite himself could be emotional.
Keep in mind, Roger has had a double whammy when it has come to recovery.....not just the amputation surgery, but his remaining front leg was another issue that hurt and needs healing. Shhh.... dont tell anyone, but I agree with uou and think that bandage can be a little bit of a hamper to him.
With that being said he really is pretty much back to normal.
Oh my goodness, based on the progress you jave descr it really does sound like he's reclaiming his normal routines lickety-split!!
he pretty much does his hoppy running all the time. I am not sure if that is his new way to move or if it is easier because of the front leg bandage
Probably a little of both. His gait will be at a faster pace simply because a tripawd needs a little more momentum to get his gait fluid and balanced.
So happy to hear how well Roger is doing...love that he was being naughty and jumped up on the couch while you weren't looking🤣.
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!
I am very frustrated and feeling like the amputation was the wrong thing to do. Right when I feel things are getting better then something else happens that I think is going to set back recovery and once again not really having to do with the amputation.
on Sunday when I got the bandage changed within two hours there was an issue with the bandage. The adhesive was not put together well and it stuck to a blanket Roger was sleeping on. I had to trim a little of the adhesive off and restick it myself. I had also noticed that like some of the other bandages there was a little of Roger’s toes or toe nails hanging through. So yesterday morning I notice that one of his toe nails looked like it had been bleeding from the way his paw is stuck in one position and going through the bandage. I immediately took a picture and sent it to the doctor around 9 am and asked if we should come in for a bandage change. I have spent a lot of money on the biopsy and amputation and really do not have the money to pay for urgent care for something like this. Furthermore I feel that Roger’s wound ended up getting as bad as it did based upon the doctor’s unwillingness despite my pictures to want to look at it. It seems like they just want me to spend more and more money on this. We have ended up with this bandage because of the t shirt they put on him and/or how his leg was swollen and it bothered him but they ignored me. That is what caused us to go through this almost three weeks of the bandages with the daily bandage changes and then the twice a week bandage changes.
I received no response from the doctor until 9:53 pm. By the time I received the response Roger and I had gone out for our late night walk and when we came back in there was a bit of blood all over my kitchen floor because now he has really hurt his toe nail. So now we are going back to the doctor for another bandage change and the doctor said free of charge. Shouldn’t it be free of charge? It was their bad bandaging that did this.
I am sorry I am so frustrated and this is just never going to improve.
Oh Amy I cannot imagine how hard it is.. I thought he was doing a lot better and I understand how frustrating it must be for you to cope constantly with a new problem.
But it will get better even if now you don’t believe it. When things are going worse they can only get better. If you think that this vet is not someone you should trust maybe you can talk to another one. But I find it difficult in the state of mind you must be in. Or else talk to him and make him understand that roger has to be done with this process. Maybe I cannot advise you well enough, I am sorry.
Maybe you can try and see his wound as I told you before. To see the redness, swelling, if there are fluids, if a scab is created. You may sent some photos. We are not doctors but I don’t know maybe we will advise you to be better prepared next time you ll see the vet. Maybe his wound is healed and he doesn’t need any more bandages. Remember none of it is your fault! You have to be strong and advocate for roger because he can’t.
oh I really want to read good news when you update us.
lots of hoppy kisses from Gioukas who cannot be detained anymore !!!
Gioukas the first born -*Ntoris the wise*- Kimi the cat
Thank you. I really needed to hear that. I feel like I have been advocating the best I can for Roger but the doctor doesn’t want to do anything until it gets too bad just like wound in the first place.
I am sitting here now at the doctors office. They gave me a 9 am appointment and I rushed to get her at 8:47. I told the vet tech I am not happy with his treatment. That even with the three pictures and emails and calls I sent they waited until Roger’s wound got as bad as it did. And now he has hurt his toe nail that is causing it to bleed everywhere. We are now walking around with one less leg one bandaged leg and the bandaged leg in a zip lock baggy so his toe can’t touch the ground and scrape. The vet tech came out and said that the doctor would like to talk to me and see Roger’s bandages leg but he is going into a meeting with the other doctors. She said I should grab a bite to eat and I said okay how long she said she can’t really say could be 30 minutes could be an hour. So how am I suooosed to go anywhere because he will come out to talk to me when I gone. So I am sitting here waiting and didn’t bring work to do because it wasn’t supposed to take an hour and a half and it is hard not to think it is merely punishment for my not being happy with the treatment.
Sorry I am in a really bad mood.
I hope they are not that stupid ! Of course you are not happy with how things turned up. And if they treated him right they should be able to support their decisions until now. The dog underwent a major surgery and he didn’t need another wound on his other leg.
Don’t be sorry 🙂 I am here to listen to you so you can feel better!! It’s understandable that you are in a bad mood. I would be devastated from this set back.
I feel that you should talk to them and understand what they want to achieve, why are they keeping the bandages if his leg is better, why didn’t they treated him more delicate and now his nail is hurt… don’t act mad just try to understand what’s going on and what the timeline of healing is. I know it’s difficult I am very moody myself and many times I wonder if I sound too anxious to the vet. But our cats and dogs cannot talk so we do. And we will keep talking until they get the best treatment. Hang in there! Roger loves you!
Gioukas the first born -*Ntoris the wise*- Kimi the cat
Ok. Somewhat good news. Doctor met with me and said he thinks it’s been long enough with the bandage. He is going to add some sutures later this afternoon and I can pick him up tomorrow morning. They will sedate him only. Then he will have the bandage off and only an adhesive bandage with a cone so he doesn’t lick.
waiting to sign the paperwork now. I will miss him tonight but he doesn’t pretty well here and they love him and treat him well.
Anma——thank you again for your support.
Amy, I'm sorry for all the ups and downs. This phase is what we call the Roller Coaster Ride and it's no fun at all.
Wound care is one of the toughest parts of veterinary care. Dogs and cats are masters at messing with the area, and also when you're talking about a Tripawd, you're changing the gait of the dog so that other paws take up the heavy lifting. When you add a situation like Roger's, the way a dog's feet hit the ground changes, and can cause pressure sores, scraped toenails, and other biomechanical issues sometimes. Unfortunately sometimes you just have to do a trial-and-error to see what will work. Roger's situation is taking time, but you will find that happy place soon, I promise! Lots of folks feel the way you do when things don't go 100% as expected.
I'm glad the vet met with you and you can get your guy back tomorrow.
P.S. I know you're frustrated and mad at the expensive and updsetting situation, but please try to go easy on your vet team. Even the biggest and best clinics are under sooo much pressure these days with staffing shortages, and people who are struggling to pay for care (my neighbor is a vet tech, so I hear all the latest). I promise you they aren't in it for the money. Honestly I'm impressed your vet got back to you so late at night, it's clear that they really love your guy. The team really do love and care for your sweet Roger, and want to see him better as soon as possible like you do, and us!
Please keep us posted.
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