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... Arbi continues to do well. ! I cannot believe how she is adapting to her new life with 3 legs.!! She's navigating the house and yard like a rock star.! It is amazing to watch.. each day a little better than the last. She got a little bit of ice cream today. She deserves it.!! She has decided she wants back on the couch and in her favorite spot. It's wonderful to watch her maneuver and get comfortable.. just like before.. minus a leg.
We had that little seroma incident. I didn't even think that was what it would be. I honestly thought she would have had swelling. She just had leaking. It is still leaking a bit. A little messy in bed, but sheets and comforters can be washed... lol. I still do the warm compresses and that helps keep her clean. Just knowing she didn't bust a stitch was a relief.!!
I am very pleased with my animal hospital. There are 7 vets who work there. Arbi has seen them all. Each and every one of them have been wonderful. The Dr. who helped me with the seroma has a tripawd too. In fact, she did the amputation surgery.! He was a rescue who showed up needing surgery and she took him home. He never left.. so she completely understands everything I am experiencing.
I can only thank both of you and all the knowledge I had gained from this website and from the books.!! Getting the info from the books all in one place has been invaluable and I KNOW having that at my fingertips has made Arbi's recovery so much better.!!
So here is to another pretty boring day with Arbi and her recovery.!! With much love and appreciation.. Jeane and Arbi ❤️🐾
Awww go Arbi! Way to kick off another rock star recovery week!
Yes seroma 's are really concerning when you don't know what's happening. We totally flipped out when Jerry had one, and rushed him to the vet too. It got drained right there in the office (eeew). There was a LOT of fluid.
Your vet sounds wonderful! I love that she understands your situation so well. It's surprising how many vets have 3-leggers of their own, we've met a lot.
You are so welcome. We are just glad that you found us in time to prepare, and of course that everything is going so well. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Another "boring" day. YAY!!! Also known as a peaceful day that can be used for restoring your Spirit and recharging your energy that has been used up recently with all the worry and lack of sleep.
((((((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..
Another Arbi update. She continues to do well. The seroma is still leaking.!! I know now it is nothing to be overly concerned about. I still do her treatments with the warm compress. Her stitches come out tomorrow.
She's doing a bit more every day. She seems to know what her limits are. We went to the park.. not for a walk.. but a piddle. She was ready to go back to the car and have a nice ride. She seems happy to have her head out the window for a ride these days.
It is me still having a bit of a sad feeling of what has happened. I look at her .. see the incision.. realize what had to happen. Always wishing life was a little different sometimes.
I have to learn from her.. don't look at the past and don't think about the future.. just be in the moment. A lesson I am still working on.
I am very thankful that her recovery has been as uneventful as it has been... With lots of love.. Jeane and Arbi.. ❤️🐾
A piddle walks a good wall!! And it is soooo truewhen it comes to dogs liking carrides...it's all about putting their heads out the window and catching the scent of a gazzillion smells and the story each whiff tells
I k ow looking at the incision, espec still treating the incision, can be sad sometimes. For me though, and hopefully for you, once the fur grew back, I never even noticed where the incision anymore. I just got on with watching my Happy Hannah embrace life, just like you are already doing with sweet Arbi!!! AMD the more her sparkle comes back, the easier it will be!
Glad you're getting the stitches out tomorrow. And of course let the Vet know it's still leaking. He ,may have another option up his sleeve.
We'll look for your update. And stitch removal day calls for a drive thru cheeseburger for Arbi!!!
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!
Piddle park time, I love it! 
Those kinds of short but sweet visits are what will get both of you to a place where you won't be looking back, and only looking forward.
How is it getting her in and out of the car? Just curious how you're doing it.
It's totally normal to grieve the loss of what you had, it's a human thing. In fact, there's a great Forum topic about it:
https://tripawd.....r-surgery/
Day by day you and Arbi are making terrific progress. Keep it up! More Piddle Park Fun!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello. .. Arbi continues to do well...
We had the stitches removed yesterday and I was concerned because she still had some seroma leakage. Lo and behold.. today.. looks like there is nothing coming out.!! Her surgical area still has some scabs and bruising.. but it looks 100 % better. I can tell it feels better to her as well... she feels more like venturing out into the park more now. Not a walk yet.. but time to explore and sniff around. Of course car rides are happening as well. Its good for both of us.!
You asked about how she gets into the car.. I pick her up and place her on the passenger seat... she then climbs into my lap.. head out the window and we are ready to roll.!
I appreciate the link for the forum when someone spoke of the sadness they feel after this. It helps so much to know that my feelings are exactly the same as so many others who have had this experience before me. I still have my moments.. but I know in time they will pass.
Tomorrow I will start to taper her off the Gabapentin... I think she is ready... I accidentally forgot her evening pill a day or so ago.. and she was fine.
She didn't get a drive thru cheeseburger.. lol.. but I did share an Angus patty with her from Costco. lol... she was just as happy.!!
I am so thankful for you both.. 🐾❤️. jeane and Arbi
YAAAAY!!! Stitches are out!! So glad the incision has healed and the the bleeding stopped. As you said, both of you feel better.👍
Yeah, Angus patty from Costco counts as a stitch removal celebration!😎
Thanks for the pupdate and so glad progress is continuing to be made.....and it even gets better!!
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!
That milestone of the stitches coming out is HUGE! Congrats!!!! I'm guessing your vet didn't see anything concerning? That's the goal we all can't wait to get to and YOU DID IT!
Pretty soon, Arbi's going to take those car keys and try to drive herself lol! She sounds like such a great co-pilot, right at home and ready to roll at a moment's notice.
Yeah taper off the Gabapentin and see how it goes. I would say she's ready for that too. Keep us posted and have a terrific weekend.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello..
Yesterday was Arbi's ampuversary. Two weeks since she came home after surgery. She continues to do a little more each day. She is getting her excitement back now. Just yesterday, she is finally following me when I go into the kitchen.!! She had stopped being interested when the fridge opened. She is back to loving her snack of baby carrots.
When her stitches came out.. the vet did not see too much of a problem. Just keep her area dry and no bath yet. She goes in for a check up on March 31.
I did not give her the nightly gabapentin. She seemed just fine without it. Slept perfect though the night. She got up this morning and walked outside to do her thing without any problem at all. I did give her one this morning with her meal. So far.. its all good. Weaning her off of it doesn't look like it will present much of a problem so far.
I am getting used to seeing her with 3 legs. I am getting used to her new walk. And realizing that if this did not happen, my Arbi would not be with me right now.! She's done so well and I know she will continue to do well as she continues to heal.
I am so grateful for this website and the love and support I have received. I could not have done this without you.!!! ❤️🐾❤️
WHEEEE! Another ampuversary for Arbi! Congratulations! Look at you both just knocking them out and rolling right on. LOVE IT!!!!
That's awesome the vet gave her the A ! It's such a huge relief when you get to that point isn't it? Everyone sleeps better!
VERY cool that the pain meds withdrawal is working without any issue. Your instinct about her needs is spot on and it's paying off. As for getting used to her new body and gait, yep, pretty soon you'll forget that she even had four legs. She is strong and beautiful and YES, still with you and rockin' the world!!!
We are grateful for you too Jeane. You always had it in you to get through this, just needed some nudging to bring it out 🙂
Give Arbi extra smooches from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
HAPPY TWO WEEK AMPUVERSARY SWEET ARBI!!
Your care for Arbi is so beautiful to observe. We delight every time we hear about all the ways her sparkle is coming back and all the milestones she is reaching.
We also delight in all the ways YOU .are embracing the new normal and recognizing how this amputation truly is about giving her a pain free quaility life so Arbi can br Arbi. You are a Warrior jiust like Arbi!!
Co tinue to cele all the beautiful ways Arbi is reclaiming her life and relishing in the Joy's of her normal routines. Love that she follows you into the kitchen now and gets excited for her carrot treats.
Tha ks for keeping these updates com. It thrills us to see BOTH of you mastering this journey like Champs!
Hugd
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..
I love doing her little updates. It helps me remember the timeline too.!! ⏳ We have been so very fortunate with a really good recovery. She has steadily improved in small increments every day.
Today... I was a little concerned. Arbi was acting a little off last night. She was restless going to bed. I had started to taper off the gabapentin the night before. I thought maybe she was feeling something and not comfortable. She settled down after I gave her a capsule. When we woke up.. she went out as usual, but was moving very slow. Not her usual "new walk". She ate her breakfast, but afterwards was really not herself. She sat around just mopey. I talked to her and this is again when you wish they could talk to you. !! She walked a little, but the first thing that came to mind is maybe she hurt her leg... the last one on the side. I left her alone for a few hours yesterday... for the first time.. maybe something happened. I didn't think to confine her.
The good news.. she perked up later in the afternoon and seems to be getting back to her old self. I did not give her gabapentin tonight and she seems fine. She still is favoring that leg a bit.. so I am not having her walk quite so much on it. Like when she first came home.. I carry her to the lawn area.
She's still eating and excited for her carrots and whatever little treats are handed to her.
I can hardly complain that we had one little setback... It let me know that she needs to take it a little more slow.. she's an older gal.. lol...
With much love and appreciation for you all.. Jeane and Arbi.. ❤️🐾
Hello..
Arbi woke up to do her thing in the yard.. she is unable to walk. She cannot put any weight on her remaining rear leg. I sent an email to the vet .. and will be there when they open. I am just sick over this new injury. She was uncomfortable so I gave her some pain meds.. just in case and she's resting comfortably now. I am a wreck...😪
Jeane I'm so sorry I just saw this. Oh my gosh you hardly slept!
Have you heard back from the vet?
Don't panic. Breathe. Setbacks are not uncommon at all. Usually it's not so much a leg injury as muscle strain from her moving around in new and different ways. Other seldom used muscles tire quickly (often in the low back, neck, and shoulders), and sometimes there's a pinched nerve or strain happening. Have you tried gentle massage? Does she react at all when you touch her in certain areas? Even a glance back at your hand is how she is telling you she hurts somewhere in particular.
Stay strong, this is not unusual and hopefully very very temporary.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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