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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Hi. Im new to the group. My 10 yr old dog leah had her back right leg amputated to the hip yesterday after 3 failed chemo treatments (and surgery) to heal a huge mast cell tumor on her knee. The vet kept her an additional night tonight as she is having trouble adapting (walking) to her new condition. Anyone else have issues with their dog walking or having courage to put one foot in front of the other after surgery? Just anxious about her coming home tomorrow
Hello Haley and Leah, welcome. I'm sorry you find yourself here but glad you joined us.
Please don't worry, this is not at all uncommon so soon after surgery. The pain medications can make dogs sooo woozy after surgery that it's no wonder they are thrown off balance. Ironically, that's what you want, for her to be well-medicated so her pain is controlled. And it's a good thing that your vet is being so conscientious about making sure she's stable enough to go home.
Have you seen Jerry's Required Reading List yet? Or the Tripawds e-books library like Three Legs & a Spare? You'll find lots of tips there as well as in our What to Expect series.
I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you'd like to talk. Hope to see you there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Haley. Our girl Sadie had her right hind leg removed yesterday too. We are rooting for you two.
Our Sadie has been home since yesterday afternoon so we have had 36 hours to get stressed watching her. Glad I found this forum to get some perspective.
Welcome Sadie and pack- your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Thanks for chiming in and rooting for Leah!
Please consider starting your own thread so you can introduce Sadie and tell us her story.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Leah and pack, welcome.
I'm sorry you are dealing with mast cell cancer. My Pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT in her knee. You can read about her and her treatment if you are interested, the links are in my signature below.
All pups get their 'sea legs' on their own time. Some are hopping the first day- some take a few days to get the hang of their new gait. We see here that the more mature pups sometimes take a couple days to get moving on their own.
I know it's hard but be patient with Leah. And as Jerry said- those powerful meds can make dogs really woozy. She is in good hands at the vet and it gives you another night to rest up before she comes home.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Online
Ditto all the great advice and links from Karen and Jerry. As noted, your Leah is all drugged up on strong hospital meds and still shaking anesthesia off. Again, as noted, some dogs take several days to start getting their sea legs, so no worries, okay? Just repeating what has already been said just to drive home the point that Leah will get mobile, slowly but surely.
And yes, some dogs stay at the clinic for several nights so, again, not unusual. It's good that the Bet is keep her this extra time to help her ve avle to stand.....and it gives you a little extra time to get some good sleep.
STAY CONNECTED and let us know now we can help during her recovery. We've all been there and it's not a picnic for a week or so!
Also we have the TRIPAWDS HELPLINE 1 844 tripawd to help support you also.
You and Leah will get through this and her sparkle will come back bigger and brighter than before! That bum painful leg is gone!!
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!
Thank you all so much for your advice and kind words. Leahs been home since 10:30am today and seems much happier to be here. She is still having trouble walking. Its almost like she doesn’t want to put weight on her back leg. Hearing stories makes me feel better that she will get it eventually, but obviously she needs to rest, rest, rest. She did lay on a blanket and rolled on her back (her fav activity). She also peed outside, wiggled her tail a little, and I got a kiss! So, so far so good. Thanks everyone.
You are so welcome. That's wonderful that she came home. Yes, things do get better! She's not an old gal but she is definitely a little ahem, mature, so recovery may be a little slower. Plus, it looks like she is a Weim, right? If so, from what I understand about the breed, they are somewhat extra sensitive about a lot of things? If so this may be one of those things.
Fear not though, if she's already showing those little glimmers of her old self, AND she peed already, that's big pawgress for her first day home!
Before you know it you'll be wondering why you were so nervous. Hang in there, keep celebrating those little "ordinary" things she's doing again and keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So happy to say that Leah turned a corner yesterday 4 days post op and started using her back leg much more. She also got her appetite back, is in better spirits, and has pooped 3 times! Yay! I don’t know what I would do without this site and all the encouragement so we thank you! One day at a time!
Wow what a dramatic and WONDERFUL turn of events! Everything you are describing is such a good indicator that she really has turned a corner, and is getting her mojo back.
One day at a time indeed. You are living by example. Good job!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Way to go Leah!
All good signs that she is on her way. Take it slow and easy and you will be at suture removal day before you know it!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
GOOD GIRL LEAH!!! We knew you could do it!!😁😁😁
Higs
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!
Leah keeps doing better and better! Anyone have any tips on pain management with her transition to taking walks? She currently isn’t on anything but seems a bit sore after 10 min walks. Been trying to massage her which seems to help. Any tips on how to massage/heat or cold therapy/swimming therapy greatly appreciated!
Haley said
Anyone have any tips on pain management ...
You will find plenty of pain management
tips by clicking any of the pain management
links that will take you to all the pain management
posts in the Tripawds news blog tagged: pain management
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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