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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My yellow lab, Bailey, will turn 10 next week and have her rear leg amputated 2 days later. She has a Synovial Cell Sarcoma on her right back leg. I am a planner and think it would really help me to know what to expect post-op. Anything you can tell me would be helpful!
Welcome, and best wishes for Bailey! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Planning will help ensure a speedy recovery for sure. Bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links, or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for immediate answers to the most common concerns.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
First of all...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAILEY! I hope you're getting a head start on your pawty and already eating cake and ice cream!!
Sorry you have to be here but, under the circumstances there's no better place to be! This is such an intense time and emoionally draining! Stay connected tonus. You are not alone, okay?
Every recovery is different....every dog is different. For my Happy Hannah, a very f"fluffy" semi senior Bull Mastiff had a very rough recovery! Although she was .mobile within 24 hrs,, she was one miserable pup! When I brought her home she cried and whined and was very restless for nonteen hours straight. She would not lay down and would not go to sleep. Idid not join this site until six days later...they threw me a lifeline and I never let go!
I share this because most dogs don't have as difficult recovery....just letting you know not to panic if your dog has a rougher recovery than "most". Most start settling down some after several days. Most lay around and just rest for at least the first week. My Happy Hannah ALWAYS ATE...NEVER MISSED A MEAL...some dogs don't feel like eating for a few days. Happy Hannah did not drink though. I had to swirl a scoop of ice cream in her water to get her to drink...smart girl!!!
Keeping the pain meds balanced and consistent is crucial. It can make some dogs a little whacky but most do fine on them....usually Tramadol and Gabapentin.
If you have stairs for outside, you may want to consider a ramp. Dogs should not go up and down stairs the first couple of weeks, although, again, every dog is different.
My Happy Hannah was a rear leg amp....she could go down stairs but never really mastered going up.....front leggers, the reverse.
I can tell you that once Happy Hannah's recovery took place, her sparkle came back bigger and brighter than ever!!! We had THE most glorious time just enjoying the bliss of being together in the moment! Her painful leg was gone and she was ready to get on with soaking up the loving and spoiling!!
Now, one other important thing.....stock up on chocolate for yourself! It will do wonders keeping you calm and confident!!
The reading material the Admin Guy gave you is invaluable...lretty much covers everything.
Give sweet Bailey and big smooch for us! And take lots ofnpictures and videos! Can't wait to see them!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAILEY!!!
(((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Hi Bailey and family from snowy PEI in Atlantic Canada,
Our younger GSD Serge had his left rear amputated when he was 4 months old. Fortunately, recovery after surgery went well, and the fact that he was young helped a lot. He was hopping around at the vet in the evening after the surgery. Getting him in and out of the car to take him home from the vet was a little traumatic, because he was relatively small, and his body was so short, that we had to be really careful when "hoisting" him in and out of the car, to avoid any pressure on the amp. site...The "cone of shame " was a real hindrance. We very quickly purchased an inflatable collar, that he wore quite happily, as his vision was not impaired at all..He slept happily on his "memory foam" bed, and apart from the very few times when he whined a little, we had a stress and drama free recovery period...
First thing to be ready for, is when they go to poop for the first time. Squatting on one hind leg does not work too well. He fell over, but got right up, and after a couple of attempts, moved one of his front legs backwards and made a tripod.. The vet suggested that because he was so young, to let him figure out on his own, and only intervene, if he became "distressed".. It did not take long for him to figure it out....Amazing how quickly they adapt. As Bailey is a lot older than Serge, so some support might help for the first couple of attempts. We have a Ruffwear body harness that we use when he has to go in and out of the car, but most of the time he is running/hopping freely with our other GSD.
Up and down steps were definitely a support issue for the first week or so. His medication post op was Tramadol for pain and AceVet as a sedative, and a weeks worth of anti-inflamatories....and antibiotics..
We count ourselves to be very fortunate that Serge made a great recovery with no complications. Our older GSD Raven was the "mother hen" (and still is)...
You are, without a doubt at the best place possible for advice and support. A remarkable bunch of "pawrents"...(they make up their own language....sort of a "doggy" version of Freemasonry...LOL) who have all been there, and are only too willing to help, and there are members who are qualified to offer medical opinions...
BTW, Happy Birthday Bailey !!!
Best of luck, and we'll keep you in our thoughts
Have a great weekend
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
Hi, and welcome to Tripawds,
So sorry you are dealing with the "ugly c" with your sweet girl Bailey, but you have definitely found the best place to be....as you can see by my avatar, I am also a Lab lover.
You have been given awesome advice already, so I just will add a few more things. My precious angel Polly was a front amp due to another type of soft tissue cancer, hemangiosarcoma, so with her being a front amp, I can't offer any advice as far as that goes, but I can tell you they all adjust and do very well after amp.
One thing I do want to mention is to make sure once Bailey is home from her surgery, that she gets good and proper traction on your floors....rug runners become one of your best friends as well as Bailey's if you have slippery floor surfaces. Another thing you can do, is look into traction booties if you want to go that route....I had Mutt Luks for my Polly, but that was mostly for outside to keep her from slipping and protect her feet. There are many other types available. Additionally, as Richard mentioned, there are also a really good variety of harnesses designed especially for Tripawds available through this website to help Bailey and you out.
And as Sally already mentioned in her great wisdom of words, chocolate and lots of it is a requirement, we all have a pretty regular diet of it !!
Keeping you and Bailey in my thoughts for her upcoming surgery on Wednesday, and please let us know how everything goes.....we are all here to help you through this difficult time.
{{{Hugs}}}
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Oh, and. P.S. a very Happy Birthday to your girl !!
bcullom said
Hi, and welcome to Tripawds,One thing I do want to mention is to make sure once Bailey is home from her surgery, that she gets good and proper traction on your floors....rug runners become one of your best friends as well as Bailey's if you have slippery floor surfaces. Another thing you can do, is look into traction booties if you want to go that route....I
I completely forgot this most important piece of advice from Bonnie.....Tripawds and wooden floors are most definitely "mutually exclusive !!" the voice of experience talking !!
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
Welcome to Tripawds. I'm sorry cancer has led you hear but as you see from the great responses this is the best place to be when faced with cancer and amputation.
You have gotten some great advice already. My little pug Maggie was also a rear amp due to mast cell cancer. She was a stubborn little pug who did not adapt to change easily at all. Although she did not have any medical complications, she actually was hopping on her own the day of surgery, it was about 6 weeks before she would play with me again. Sort of the opposite of young Serge above.
Bailey will heal and adapt at her own pace. Your job is to stay positive and strong through her recovery. You have the much tougher job by the way! Hopefully she recovers smoothy and her sparkle is back soon, but don't get discouraged if she takes her time.
There is lots of experience and support to be had here so don't be a stranger. Good luck on Wednesday, keep us updated.
Happy Birthday Bailey! It probably seems like a bad birthday- but your pack is giving you the gift of the opportunity to beat cancer!
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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