Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone,
Our Lucky boy is at Day 6 post-op, and has had a cone since Day 2. I've seen in a lot of posts the mention of a t-shirt to keep the wound clean and to stop the licking. I think I would prefer this to the cone - it's starting to irritate him, though I don't trust he wouldn't try and scratch his wound without the cone. A silly question, but is it a specialty dog t-shirt, and where would I get one? I'm in Australia, and we don't seem to have the same aids, etc, as to what is available in the US.
Thanks.
Michelle
We have a cone, but with cats I have read that people sew up one sleeve/leg opening of a baby onesie (which I don't think is what my Australian friends call them). Some photos here: http://www.inst.....pliance.-/
Our Ollie wears a t shirt due to allergies, not surgery, but I thought I would chime in. He is a large dog (85 pound Lab) and the smallest shirt he can comfortably wear is an adult large size. This still binds a bit around the shoulders, and we have to knot the back up in a rubber band to keep it snug. I have ordered him some dog t shirts from Target department store online. They should be here this week. I am hoping that a dog shirt with the arm holes located more toward the front will help with the binding problem. It does seem that having a snug shirt on helps keep him from itching. We are just starting allergy treatments, so we hope the shirts will be temporary.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Hey Michelle and Lucky!
I was lucky in that Happy Hannah never bothered her incision so I didn't have to deal with the cone. You'll get great advice from others though, as you've already seen.
On a different topic, I'm going tompost a link from Jerry whare she is looking for members from Australia who jave tripawds.
Looking forward ro hearing more from Lucky AND poctures!
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!
Oops...here's the link.........http://tripawds.....-to-speak/
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!
Turns out I have a related question! Our cat just got his bandage removed, and now he is trying to scratch his incision area (front leg) with a rear leg. When we put a t-shirt on him, he did it more, and tried to chew the shirt. How do I protect his stitches from that rear leg scratching? The cone won't stop that, will it? We had the cone off to put the shirt on him, so I haven't observed him long now that the cone is back on, but I'm worried.
benny55 said
Oops...here's the link.........http://tripawds.....-to-speak/
Fantastic Sally! Thanks so much for the link 
neuromancer said
Turns out I have a related question! Our cat just got his bandage removed, and now he is trying to scratch his incision area (front leg) with a rear leg. When we put a t-shirt on him, he did it more, and tried to chew the shirt. How do I protect his stitches from that rear leg scratching? The cone won't stop that, will it? We had the cone off to put the shirt on him, so I haven't observed him long now that the cone is back on, but I'm worried.
I was a bit worried about that as well. My Lucky boy hasn't tried to do that - mind you he was scratching at the cone around his neck. Maybe the t-shirt is irritating him - maybe speak to the vet to see what you can do?
Ok, was at Kmart this morning bright and early (6am) to buy a kiddie sized T-shirt for Lucky. Went to the pet section to buy him some treats and what do I see, a rack full of doggie T-Shirts! Of course I bought a couple! He looks fantastic in his T-shirt, (I'd post a pic, but I haven't worked out how to), and is so much more comfortable without that horrid rigid cone. He's getting around even easier.
I have noticed though that he is licking the wound through the T-shirt. Will this cause problems? At least he can't pull the stitches out. I'm hesitant to put the cone back on. He was chafing a bit where the cone was.
Michelle
neuromancer said
We have a cone, but with cats I have read that people sew up one sleeve/leg opening of a baby onesie (which I don't think is what my Australian friends call them). Some photos here: http://www.inst.....pliance.-/
LOL! We've now taken on the term "Onesie" - becoming common now. We used to call them jumpsuits or body suits!
Yep, licking the wound through the t-shirt is pretty common and can do damage. Cones are no fun, but they're the best solution for recovery. It's funny how they can put a man on the moon but not invent something better that actually works. We have a few alternative cone collars in our Tripawds Amazon blog posts like these:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Recently Charlie the cat, a front leg amputee, would not stop scratching the stitches and had to replace them more than once I believe. The vet would bandage them but the little Houdini was still causing havoc. Finally Charlie's mama had to board him out at the vet's clinic. Here's the photo of him there. Pretty impressive cover isn't it?
I hope you have more luck with Lucky. I hope Charlie makes it home soon.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
I know I'm jumping in here a little late, but I wanted to add regarding the "licking through the shirt" issue. Just throwing it out there, but could you take some wide first aid tape (linen or cloth tape) and stick it to the underside of the shirt over the incision so that when he licks it doesn't get through?
Just thinking out loud.
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
luckyshumanmum said
Maybe I need to find a "soft" collar....
Don't miss all the cone of shame alternatives in the Tripawds Gear blog .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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