Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Townes had his surgery on Wednesday. We brought him home yesterday. He's a left rear amputation. He seems to be doing okay, but I of course have some worries.
THe first one is stairs. He's having trouble and won't go up them. I have to give an assist by lifting his rear end. When we get up them, he seems panicked and races around the house if I let go. I'm really afraid that he's going to develop a permanent fear of stairs. He has no trouble going down the 5 or so steps to the backyard, but coming up is the problem. I tried using a towel as a sling but that didn't work.
We sleep upstairs in our house which is about twice the steps to the oustside. Last night I just kept him downstairs and slept on the couch beside him.
I'm thinking that I'll just go slow and hope that he figures it out, but I'm afraid of him developing that permanent fear. He's the kind of dog that does that. He won't dare cross a linoleum floor because he slipped once.
What do you all think?
thanks,
Dan
Glad Townsey is back home and on the road to recovery
I think you'll find almost everyone ere will say NO stairs for awhile if at all possible. You might as well get some comfy pillows and blankets for sleeping downstairs for ow!
I found that every time I used a towel sling for Happy Hannah she sorta freaked too so we did better without. I did have a very long ramp built to go outside as I have stairs too. I had her use it before the amp. So she was used to it. And yeah, I know what you mean----Happy Hannah associated going out my back door with Thu dear and wouldn't use it for months!!!Yep, when she was a puppy it thundered the moment I opened the back door and the rest is history.
For ow, I tink Townes knows it's not a good idea to use the steps and, if like my dogs, the more I try to "intervene" the more they back away. He'll eventually do it on is own
Have to be short--tablet going to. Rash again. Also, hope you get this...for some reason Iit logged out and I can't get back in. Tried writing to tech support but don't think it went through
You'll still maybe have a few sleepless nights due to confusion, pain and pain meds....it will all be soooooo much better soon.
Lots of support to you! Sally and Happy Hannah
Thanks for the update Dan, be sure to log in when visiting the forums and your posts will not require moderation.
Going up stairs will be more challenging for rear leggers, while going down is harder on front leg amputees. Panic will definitely cause fear of future attempts so try putting treats on each step to encourage Townes to go up. If he's small enough and is comfortable with you carrying him, you may also just want to do that until he builds up enough strength in that rear leg to build confidence. But it is still very early in his recovery process. Focus on healing and take things one day at a time.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello!
Well I have a kitty, so it's a little different, but I will tell you our experience as she is a rear leg amputee as well. As you can imagine, as a cat, she should be a great jumper, but as a rear leg amp, going UP is much harder. Down, no problem. She still needs a pillow to jump up on the bed (we are at three months post amp). You are still VERY early in the recovery process. He'll get the hang of it!
Good luck, always feel free to come over to chat if you have questions, theres usually some of us in there!
Erica & Tripawd Kitty Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
We're a month into the process & we have a 16' ramp for Kermit to go down the 4 steps into the yard... For anything more than 2 or 3 steps, I still pick him up & carry him. He's a front amp so up is easier than down, but until I see that he's regained enough balance & coordination to not get enthusiastic & hurt one of the 3 remaining legs he's just gonna have to put up with mom's lifting service... And my arms will stay fit from lugging his 80-lb. butt up & down!
My little pug Maggie was a rear amp, and up was way harder. In fact since she was so little going up more than 3 or 4 stairs was not possible for her anymore. But Townesis bigger than Mag and so eventually will probable do stairs no problem. I would sleep down stairs with him for the recovery period. He sounds like Mag too, once she wiped out or fell somewhere she would almost NEVER try it again. So I would limit the stairs as much as possible for now, let him build confidence as a Tripawd. Mag could eventually do a few stairs with no problem, and she would go down anything!
Karen
Try adding a carpet runner pathway across the linoleum for him. I had a path for Trouble everywhere we have tile. I didn't want her to feel restricted in the house. It gave her confidence and she could be where ever we were.
For those stairs, I think it is perfectly ok for you to be super cautious. Some of them just have no problem at all, others just never get the hang of it. I had to laugh at dharma lugging the 80# butt up and down the stairs. Thank goodness for harnesses to help us with this task!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
We were out of town last weekend & my parents were dogsitting- Kermit was looking for my mom, who was upstairs in the guest room, and he made his way up the FIFTEEN stairs! My dad had to come up from downstairs with Kerm's harness & they both had to help him get back down! Mom stayed downstairs with him after that. 
Welcome home, buddy! It sounds like mostly everything is going great! Keep it up!!!
I'm pretty sure Jackson would have done all the stairs he wanted if we let him right away. We held him back for 2-3 days. Then, he sneaked by us and did them! Well, initially, I was right by his side, hoovering. My husband encouraged (scolded?) me to let go...I did and Jackson did them, slowly and carefully. He went very slowly on his own, pausing many times (esp going UP). We have carpeted stairs, so that helps a lot. I think for your pup, see what he wants to do. If he expresses interest, let him go - but watch. If he stops, that's OK, too! Jackson paused a lot. Maybe just let him on his own and let him figure it out, especially since you're afraid he *could* develop some weird behaviors toward them later... As you can tell, I'm all for: let him do his thing, but watch closely (or from a little distance), then celebrate like crazy with him when he finally does it! YIPPEE!
Let us know!
~ Katy
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
A short update. Just spent the 3rd night post-amp. Things are going okay. THe angry bruising I referenced in another post is subisding a little. I emailed a copy of the pic to the on-call vet at my clinic and she said it was more than they like to see, but was probably okay. Watch for signs of clotting (the redness in other parts of the body, like inside the ears) and oozing from the wound. Thankfully, we have none of that.
Stairs- He has gone up the front steps into the house with me at this side, but anything more than 2 is too scary, so we're holding off on that. I carried him upstairs to the bedroom to sleep with is last night, but he was clearly incomfortable. We have a plastic cone on him at night to stop the licking of the incision. Our vet wants it uncovered. The place for him next to our bed is smaller than if we sleep downstairs and the cone kept whacking the wall when he moved. So we went downstairs to finish out the night, and that went okay.
Panting- at times he goes into almost violent panting episodes. I think it's pain, but then he'll calm right down. I'm wondering if he just gets really scared at times. Sometime petting him and laying down beside him will stop it. But it is a little worrisome. I just don't know if he's really in pain as the vets say. You know, they say that panting can be a sign of pain.
his appetite is great, and he seems to be figuring out how to poop okay. He sometime leans against the fence, or does it at a slow hop so he doesn't lose his balance. Of course peeing is no problem.
Anyway, overall I think it's going okay. There have been times when my boy looks almost graceful with his new gait, a kind of smooth lope as he goes across the yard. I've had moments laying beside him, or just sitting watching him, where I'm overcome with gratitude that I get to spend another moment with my cherished Collie.
Happy Easter,
Dan
Hoppy Easter to you and the pack too!
It does sound like a really typical recovery. Good idea to keep him away from the stairs. There's no rush, he'll figure it out in time. You also want to keep him from doing strenuous activity like that so he doesn't tear his stitches or get a seroma (fluid buildup). I'm glad you're keeping your vet in the loop!
Take it easy, Townsey's got lots of good times ahead.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Townes, you really are doing well this early in the recovery!
So many things mirror some of Happy Hannah's recovery. She definitely had the panting going on for awhile in a "testing" position. It would come and God to several weeks with her. My 2¢ is it is pain related, along with a few drugs chiming in. She does, of course, pant now.but o lay when it's exertion related....and it doesn't have to be heavy duty exertion either.
Love the sleeping downstairs part.....and that's as it should be--jut ask Townes!
One of my "less happy" things is she's unable to climb all the stirs to sleep up with me now--she'll go maybe two steps and get stuck/scared. Because I don't weigh much more than she do, I don't encourage her as I m of no help should sh get stuck half way up or have a tumble. But after rlmost three weeks of sleeping down on floor next to her, I had to go upstairs! I get her all tucked in and hug her to sleep nd she seems fine now.
Love how he uses the fence o lean on. He's nobody's fool!
Eating and drinking--poopi g and peeing---recovery will continue to get better....maybe in giant leaps---maybe two paws forward, one paw backwards....he will get there!
You are doing such a great job. Give yourself a kiss on your hand and hug yourself!! way to go
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!
I can totally relate to the damn cone knocking everything, keeping everyone awake! You could try a different kind of cone. We had a friend loan us a Comfy Cone. It still banged things, but at least it seemed more comfortable for Jackson to sleep in than hard plastic. We had to basically clear a 12 ft, squared space for him to sleep in, or else the cone was majorly problematic. Do you know for certain that hie'll go after his incision w/o the cone? Jackson was too tired and drugged to care, so after a few nights, he went coneless....and the house slept! Then, as he progressed and expressed interest in his wound, the cone came back....and the house didn't sleep too well.
Remind us: what's the pain med program? The panting could be a side effect, esp with tramadol or the patch. The patch seems to do some crazy things.
You'll get there! Promise! Take it 1 moment at a time. He'll learn to pee and poo better - which may be easier without a boat-load of drugs on board! Get some rest and feel better - both of you. Thanks for the update. Keep 'em coming!
~ Katy
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
My 14 year old had her front left leg amputated in November. We sleep upstairs as well and she can go up very easily, but I'm so afraid to let her go down them. We bought her a Ruffwear backpack at REI - you can see it on her here in the photo. Now, we walk her down the stairs easily - even my 10 year old can assist her! Highly recommend!!
1st of all, from one collie lover to another, you have a beautiful boy.
My Suki was a rear leg amputee and we had to use a sling for the stairs in all cases (she also had slight arthritis in her back hip).
At first she was reluctant, but, you know how smart collies are, and how, at least for my girl, everything is better if it's fun and a game. So, I would count, outloud in my "dog voice" (come on, we all have one!) every step and then give her a treat at the top and generally make a fuss that she was a good dog.
She got to the point where she would wait at the bottom of every set of stairs for me to patiently slip her sling under her tummy.
The thing to think about right now is it might be a bit painful with the incision being toched by the sling, but eventually that will lessen.
Everything else sounds like it's going pretty normal. Best of luck to you.
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