Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone,
We got him home, and the way he is hopping around, it is difficult to believe that he had surgery yesterday. It was difficult to get him to settle down, but he is now in a happy drug induced sleep.. He DOES NOT like the "satellite dish", or being caged/enclosed, and unless anybody has any suggestions, it will be on until he goes to get the sutures out in 10 to 14 days...
He is occasionally a little wobbly, but as he was basically hopping around one one leg, dragging the other on the floor for the last 3 months, he is obviously used to having the weight on the good leg.. He peed and popped (One outside and the unfortunately inside !!!!!).. It surprised him, more than it surprised us, as he hasn't had an accident indoors for the longest time... Only thing we didn't have time to do, is get some carpet runners.. A job for tomorow.... I am just a little sceptical when it comes to believing that the rest of the recovery will be this smooth...
Photos of him, with grandson Ricky, who came to the vet to help out with the lifting and journey home..
The amputation site
Looking down on him.. It was impossible to keep him still at first.....
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
Ohhhhhhh what a hoppy reunion! Now THAT is a clean looking amputation site, they did a fantastic job.
As for the dish, well, that's just a tough one. Our vet had this big floppy disc that we were able to take home with us but they are very hard to find. It does work GREAT though and Wyatt didn't mind so much. Maybe you can construct one with some foam from a craft supply store?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
He looks great. Don't be surprised if there isn't a little bruising that is normal. Sassy's didn't appear for a couple of days. He looks very very happy. Puppies are very hard to keep quiet. In the next couple of months my puppies will be spayed so if you have any hints on how you kept him quiet please share (there are 2 ) Accidents might happen because of the drugs just to let you know. He still has a lot on board
Keep going Serge 🙂
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
jerry said
Ohhhhhhh what a hoppy reunion! Now THAT is a clean looking amputation site, they did a fantastic job.As for the dish, well, that's just a tough one. Our vet had this big floppy disc that we were able to take home with us but they are very hard to find. It does work GREAT though and Wyatt didn't mind so much. Maybe you can construct one with some foam from a craft supply store?
What a great looking device..We will certainly try to make one.. Serge will drive us nuts, struggling to get the cone off.. Is it usual for them to act so normally after such major surgery ??? We are with him all the time, but he will do more damage to himself struggling to get out of the enclosure, than he will quietly hopping around, trying to shake the collar off.... He stays close to us most of the time......A 4 1/2 month old puppy, even with 3 legs, is not going to sit still for very long, and he is looking around for our other GSD Raven.. There is no way however, that he is going to be playing "catch me" until the stitches are out.. Also, when the anaesthetic, and the hydromorphone is out of his system, he will probably begin to feel some discomfort..He is certainly not feeling any now...
Good thing is, he is tiring himself out very quickly.
I'll keep you updated
Regards
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
He looks great!!! We used a soft cone that we got at Petco (or I also discovered that one of those airplane round pillows works well too).
Keep us posted!
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
Serge looks fantastic!
Tucker wore his cone of shame until his sutures came out on day 13 post amp but he was nine years not 4.5 months.
That is great that you will be with his most of the time - being with you will probably ease some of his frustration/tension.
I have read on this site about games and toys that keep the minds of recently amputated pups busy so that they will remain at least slightly calm 
while expending energy in a less physical manner.
Serge will continue to amaze you....looking forward to hearing about all his firsts.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Serge looks great! What a cutie. Yeah, Wyatt looks thrilled, but I'll bet that did the job. We got a Comfy Cone for Angel Roxie. It was on the floor at the other end of the room the next morning. If she could have thrown it in the trash she would have. She was at the other end of the age spectrum, and really didn't bother the site much. We used a baby gate to limit her movement at first, but she was also only weight-bearing on 3 legs for awhile before the amp, so that part was a lot easier for her than it was for us!
Those rugs/runners will really help, as will games and chews and energy drinks for the humans! Wishing you all a speedy recovery.
-Liz and Angel Roxie
Yeah, ditto on tje carpet runners.....a real mecessity. Any slip could hurt is "good rear leg"
Yeah, while yu're home maybe you can go on and take that cone off. My Happy Hannah never wore one and never bothered her stitches.
My guess is, once the hospital meds are out of his system and he's just on Tramadol and/or Gabapentin, je may show more signs of pain and a need to rest. And as hard as it is, slowing down is exactly what he needs right now!
YAAAAAAAY for first poop and pee.....even ifone was inside...that still counts as a reason to celebrate!!
He's so cute! Keep the updates coming! And yeah, the site really looks good! As Michelle said though, that may change over the next several days.
GOOD JOB EVERYBODY!! Grandson included!
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!
Well it's pretty hard to slow down a GSD, especially a puppy! Our Wyatt has had surgeries 4 times since he joined our pack, and in all cases he was pretty unstoppable once the meds wore off. It's good to keep him close if you can, sounds like he's quite a velcro dog. But yes, you can keep him busy with interactive games like this!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What great pictures! I hope the "cone of shame " goes away soon. They really seem to stress out some dogs. I love the pictures and how happy he is!
HUGS,
Tracy and Bailey
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