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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ok so my brave little lady had her leg off 8 days ago after an unfortunate break. The vets tried to cast it, splint it and finally pinned it but the break was that clean it just wouldnt heal. She is now her normal self again and is going for walks everyday. I must say she is a lot happier since she had the leg off and loves going for a run. I couldnt believe how quick she recovered but when she is lay about at night.... I see the top of her leg where is was amputated on sort of shaking and sometimes twitching. She seems fine in herself but just wanted to know has anyone else had this with there little ones??
Any advice would be fab! Like I say... She is happy... It just concerns me a little.
Char
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not require moderation.
What is your pup's name? What kind of dog? Which leg?
See, we are a little nosy 
.
My pug Maggie lost her left rear leg. I don't remember how long it lasted but her little stump would twitch sometimes. It didn't seem to bother her at all, it went on for weeks after surgery though. I think the body is still trying to figure out nerve pathways and the way the muscles around the amp site now work. In Mag's case they wrapped her thigh muscle around her stump to cushion it- so in my lay terms it had to get used to how it was now configured.
And on the nosy theme- we always like to see pictures!
Karen
Hi and welcome! My Jill is now 9.5 months post amputation and STILL twitches sometimes, not often, but sometimes. For about a month or two after her surgery she twitched a lot! They told me it was nerves regenerating.......I don't think it's too worrisome! And yes, please share some pics!!!
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
Yeah, ditto to all of the above! Ao glad Charley is doing well! Wonderful! Now try not and let him overdo for several weeks as thisis the time when sprains andstrains can happen as the other three legs are adjusring to more "useage"! Sounds like he was pretty much using three legs anyway bedore the surgery so it may not be an issue!
And ditto on all the "twitching" info. I would try and massage a little when I saw it happen. Also, sometimes Charley may be trying tomuse "that leg" to scratch! It hadn't even occurred to me to be aware that I had to do some scratching for her now.....her ear, that side of her body...wherever the missing leg could no longer reach! I saw someone posted that infor. on here one time so I really watch if she's trying to "move" that "stump". A vig DUH on my part!!
We'll be watching for updates and pictures!
Hugs!
Sallly 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'd actually been planning to ask this same question when I had time to get back to Tripawds. This is very helpful, I figured it was the nerves doing their post-op thing, whatever that may be - it is good to know that it seems to be very common. Sometimes if I just touch Boomer's amp site when he starts twitching it will stop, sometimes not. When he is laying down, Boomer has taken to planting his snout (not his chin but the end of his nose "face down") on the bed or rug and then lifting both of his front legs up behind his ears to rub his head and face. It looks like some pretty advanced Doga. I can't let him practice his new moves too much yet because in addition to his amputation, he also had a small skin tag removed from his eye lid and it's been slow to heal so he isn't really supposed to be rubbing or scratching his face much yet.
FYI: Dog+Yoga=Doga
Twitching is a common symptom of nerves mending together after amputation surgery. Severe twitching and sudden yelps may indicate phantom pain. Watch Dr. Pam's video discussing phantom pain and other common complications for more information.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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That's an adoravle visualof Boomer! You've got to get videoor picture! Keepon keepingon"Doga Boomer"!
Hugs!
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!
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