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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Hello..!! As always.. I am so thankful to know that you are all just a click of the keyboard away.!! 😊
Arbi weighs 15lbs. I am probably very sensitive to anything that may look like she's uncomfortable. Oh how I wish she could talk to me!!
One thing that concerns me.. the gabapentin is supposed to be tapered off, and the Dr. did not mention that. I will bring that up to them before she runs out. See..?? Learning more about this every day thanks to your website.!!
I will keep a close eye on her... try to read her body language. Watch some videos. And call them if I think she needs more.
She's off to such a good start with her recovery.. I don't want pain to interfere and set us back at all.
With love, hugs and appreciation.. Jeane and Arbi. ❤️🐾❤️
Arbi IS off to a good start and is on the path for a "good" recovery. At this point it sounds like the Gaba is adequate for her weight and her pain is being managed. As mentoned though, there is room to increase IF...IF... needed and with Vet guidance..
Your Vet can guide you on when it's time to take Arbi off the Gaba and if it needs to go through a tapered process. I think some Vets suggest tapering depending on the length of time a dog has been on it, the dosage, etc. That may have changed, so yes, talk to your Vet.
Try and give yourself a reprieve from researching for awhile. You are far more informed than most and have a really good handle on things. Everything is going smoothly for Arbi's recovery and she'll let you know if she's having a challenge that needs to be addressed.
Arbi is eating, drinking pottying, alert, rests comfortably and seems alert and engaged, right? Considering she just had MAJOR surgery she is maybe even a little ahead of the curve👍
You're doing a great job!! Really, you are!
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 agree with Sally, you are really an expert researcher and doing so well with the research!
Regarding tapering, the pain management experts we've talked to have said it should be tapered. Stopping suddenly can cause a rebound effect, and make pain worse. This is especially the case when dogs have been on it a while (and people), much longer than an amputation recovery timeframe. Many vets still don't specifically say to do it though. We haven't heard of any negative repercussions when tapering wasn't done. But the thing about not tapering is that it makes it harder to tell where pain levels are at if you suddenly stop it. But if you gradually withdraw, and she starts showing discomfort, you know exactly at what point/dosage it is that she needs to be comfortable. So again, talk to your vet like I know you will!
I hope today was good. I'll be offline most of tomorrow but will check in during the evening. And of course the Tripawds Helpline is always there and Sally is on tomorrow so feel free to call 844-TRIPAWD.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello..!! 😊. It has now been 5 days since Arbi had her surgery. She has had a pretty uneventful recovery. She is comfortable.. walks some.. rests a lot.. her balance is getting better when she does her stance for 
. It's still loose... but no blood .. so that's an improvement. I pray that her recovery continues along these lines.. slow and steady.
I know I NEEDED your guidance to stay off the reading material.!! I did just that and I find myself more relaxed.. not worrying about what "might" happen or be the next thing. I tend to go down that rabbit hole and cannot find my way out sometimes.! Thank you both for the reminder.. I don't need to get obsessive with it. It's not good for either one of us.
we will enjoy our evening and look forward to another uneventful day tomorrow. hugs... Jeane and Arbi. ❤️🐾
This. is. PAWESOME!!!
I just got home after a long visit with family and it's good to know that Arbi is doing so well. And so are you! Give yourself a paw pat on the back Jeane, you are rock solid with this! I knew you could do it!
Cheers to more boring recovery days 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Was hooi g to hear from you. Your post sure did make me smiles for so many reasons, 😊 We love "uneventful " around here👍
Arbi is doing so well....and so are you! Yes, just as Arbi is relaxing into the new normal, so are you. The journey up to this point is so intense and scary and uncertain. it's hard to recognize when we've reached a point where we can start to relax and just melt into the joy of the now. Of course, Arvimis still early in recovery, but you will see her sparkle come back more and more and brighter and brighter👏
Have a good evening and give Arbi an extra snuggle from is.
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!
Hey
I'm happy to hear Arbi is doing so well. Olive my bulldog had her surgery today. They removed her right hind leg. I have to say I feel very overwhelmed about it all and I'm not sure I know what I'm doing to care for her correctly hence my need to reach out. She only came home about 6/7 hours ago she was out of it when I picked her up from the vets. She has roused once slightly but when she did she moved and cried in pain but eventually managed to go back to sleep. She still seems pretty out of it. Wont eat or drink. I'm concerned her pain meds from her surgery will wear off before she actually eats something to take the ones I have for her at home. Does anyone have any advice about any of this and what to expect and what maybe I'm over worrying about?
Thanks in advance
Cat
catward said
HeyI'm happy to hear Arbi is doing so well. Olive my bulldog had her surgery today.
Hi Cat! We are so glad you and Olive decided to join us (sorry you had to!).
Of course you're worried! You're not over worrying either. All of your fears are totally normal and we understand completely because we've been there. So here are my thoughts:
1. Please post in an all new topic so we can follow along with Olive's journey better OK? That way nobody will confuse your story with Arbi's.
2. If she has come home the same day of surgery, she will be VERY wonky. Not being too mobile or eager to eat or drink is to be expected. You do want to keep her hydrated though. Entice her to drink with some no salt chicken broth spiked in her water. Or tuna can water put in her water dish. Anything to perk her senses and get her to drink. She'll probably want to eat in a day or two.
3. Gassy is totally normal. She may not for a few days so don't panic about that.
Finally, be sure to check out our What to Expect articles for more tips.
And post in that new topic all your own OK? I'll look for it tonight if you'd like to get it started sooner.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello Cat... Olive coming home so quickly has got to be scary.!! Not knowing what to expect.. what to do.. I completely understand.!! This is hard. It is like having a new born baby.. you feel so helpless to know exactly what to do. I felt that exact same way. It is completely and powerfully overwhelming.
Arbi stayed overnight at the hospital. I got her the next morning and she was VERY OUT OF IT. For the next 24 hours. I thought that was a blessing, because she could rest. She did drink some water I had boiled her chicken in. She would eat a bit of that as well. I hand fed her. Not a lot. She did not walk. I did help her stand with the sling on the grass.. she did do her potty. Which I felt was the most wonderful thing on earth! Arbi was gassy as well and now that has subsided a bit. We got some probiotics for her and that seems to have helped with the gas and the runny . I totally understand wanting to make sure you do what's best for your girl.
I put her meds in some hamburger.. make little meatballs that I put the pills in... I cook them right before I give them to her. I cool them down a bit, she gobbles them up. It helped when she didn't want to eat, but needed to take the meds with food.
As for any advice.. I have been sitting with Arbi day and night. We have 3 active times during the day for going outside. She rests and then rests some more.
I know how scary this is. I am a week further down this road.. and I have been amazed at how quickly she has started to adapt .
Please let me know how you and Olive did though the night... you are not alone.!! Knowing that I had others I could reach out to made all the difference in the world. Just take it one moment at a time. And breathe. It's hard to prepare yourself for something when you have no idea what that will be.!! Sending you love and light... Jeane and Arbi ❤️🐾❤️
Hello...
It is exactly one week ago that Arbi went in for her amputation surgery. I have to get used to that word. To take the sting out of it.
Arbi continues to do well. She's managing to walk out in the yard, doing her thing and getting back into the house. Yesterday and today, her incision started to bleed. Bright red. Just a little. I used warm compresses and the spray for her. It has stopped. Perhaps her walking to do what she needs to do is a lot. ?? Maybe I should go back to carrying her to the grass and back in.? She seems happy to be able to walk out on her own and get back inside. Other than that.. this has been an uneventful recovery. 🎉. Which I want to continue... to be so boring.. lol. Her stitches are not scheduled for removal til March 17. I am glad I did not go with 10 days. She seems to need more time.
Cat... I hope you and Olive had a good night.. hoping she rests a lot today and you can just enjoy sitting with her.. ❤️🐾
Hmmm, how about if you say "Ampuversary"? It's kind of like taking the sting out, no?
Congratulations! One week out is a huge milestone and that she is doing so well is even more wonderful!
Regarding her incision bleed. If it was only a little, I wouldn't worry. The skin was wounded, it's sensitive, and maybe the grass just poked her the wrong way. I once had a bad knee wound and it would do that for a long time after the accident. Keep an eye on it but don't obsess if you can avoid it.
Yes boring is GOOD!!!
Keep up the wonderful caregiving. And give Arbi extra smooches from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
HAPPY ONE WEEK AMPUFERSARY ARBI!!! Hope you get to celebrate with a cheeseburger, ice cream and cake!🍨🍔🍰
Sounds like she's handling her potty excursion just fine👍 It's a short trip and she doesn't seem to needs to be carried, so I would just fo.lpw her lead and let her walk on her own for potty break.
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!
Hello and Good Morning.. Ampuversary..!! Yes.. I like that so much better.!! It does take the sting out of it.!! I am still getting used to the fact I now have my own little Tripawed.
Thank you both for a wonderful celebration of her first week.!! You are great cheerleaders..!! 🎉. I was concerned with what looked like bleeding from her incision. It had gotten a bit worse though the night.. I took her in this morning. I was so relieved when the Dr. said she was looking really GOOD.!! They cleaned her wound. She reassured me that what I was seeing was not just blood but fluid that was draining. I said I was really sensitive to all of this and a bit wiggy. Dr. tells me she would rather I be sensitive and a bit wiggy and not wait 4 days and find out there was a problem.!! Nice to make sure and not sit here and worry. Plus, her area looks SO much better cleaned up. lol...
I talked with the vet regarding the gabapentin needing to be tapered off.. they had no problem sending me home with more so we can taper her off. I am feeling pretty good about everything today.
Arbi had her first car ride since surgery (if only to the vet) and she enjoyed every minute .!! I know the hardest part is behind us.!! We can start getting back into our old routine. So for now.. we will just keep doing what we are doing.!! Thank you both so much for your support.!! It means the world to me and Arbi.. Hugs.. Jeane and Arbi.. ❤️🐾
Yay! Happy to help you feel better about things.
I love your vet! They are so accommodating to your needs and actually seem to listen to what you have to say. And that's really good news it was only a seroma .
It's wonderful to hear Arbi is almost completely back to doing what she does best: making you smile! Car rides are a huge step and very therapeutic. Cheers to more of that four wheeled medicine 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, such a good aVet. And you are such a good "Nurse" for Arbi watching over her incision so carefully. Glad you got the reassurance you needed to confirm how well Arvinis doing.
I know the carride ded wonders for both of you. So yes, just keep doing what you're doing. Good job!
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!
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