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... I am very new to this & eager to talk with others about their pets amputations & progress as I have been feeling so guilty since making the decision to fight her 4th cancer which has been massive as has meant amputation of her front leg.
My 12yr old Rotti x Lab has come home today & although she has done so well already, I am struggling with being as brave as she is & I need to be strong to ensure she continues to thrive.
How do we know if they are pleased we went with the amputation option over euthanasia to allow them to be cancer pain free for however long until it decides to be nasty again & strike elsewhere over being sent to be at peace with others?
I looked in her eyes & there was no sign of giving up or illness, even in the pain she was carrying, but to wake without a limb, what must they be thinking? I know she doesn't hate me as I feared prior to surgery as that wagging tail said it all along with kisses & falling asleep on my lap as I visited in the veterinary hospital. But what thoughts are going through her mind?
I don't want to feel guilt, but I feel awful having lost her leg over cancer eating it & causing it to fracture so although she is not in that pain now, she must be filled with emotions I do not know about.
My emotions are running all over the place currently with this all happening so quickly & I need to build my strength so as she continues with hers as she is doing so well but I am really struggling with not knowing what she is thinking & if she agrees it was the right decision. Seeing her without a leg I have been used to for 12years is so upsetting & having such bad luck with cancers has been indescribable after fighting each, being free then diagnosed with another throughout the years.
Then there's the chemo...how do we know if they want this after all they have already gone through? Does it hurt them? Will they be feeling poorly after this...so many questions yet how will we know if further decisions will be right? & will I feel as guilty as I am feeling now?
Appreciate feedback & support to assist me in feeling more confident about our future ahead with my baby girl 
dawnie said
I looked in her eyes & there was no sign of giving up or illness...
This is exactly how we know!
Welcome to Tripawds. Please keep us posted about Sandy's progress.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Please do NOT feel guilty. Let Sandy continue to be your guide. Live in the moment with her. We have all had feelings of regret at first but MOST say that given the choice we would do it again. Stay strong. You do not need to rush in to any decision about chemo at present. Many have done it, many did not. I am one of the "Did Nots". Treatment options are personal for a variety of reasons. We will support you and guide you as needed.
YES! Ditto Admin!
Right now you are exhausted, frightened, feel like you are stuck j n a nightmare and, up until you losted nere, probavly feeling pretty alone! YOU ARE NOT ALONE ANYMORE! We've all been where you are and understand!
First thing to do.....B R E A T H E.......B R E A T H E.....! The worst is over! Surgery is complete and recovery is starting! I can tell you right now, your pup isn't "thinking" at all about her missing leg!!! She is living in the moment...accepting whatever hurdles are thrown her way...and getting on with living!
You jave made decisions out of love! You jave made decisions so your dog can jave QUALITY! You have made decisions with a "knowing" that your dog jas NOT given up on life! !
Right now, just put all those questions aside...they serve you no pirpose and they prevent you from being fully present forn your dog and from being a strong confident pack leader! And clearly you are very brave and a wonderful advocate for your dog!
Recovery is NO picnic. For most dogs it takes about two weeks for recovery from surgery to take place and their sparkle to come back. Right now Sandy still has hospital pain meds in her system so you may still jave a few tough days and nights ahead as the pain meds get balanced...possible some shining, some restlessness, just kaying around, maybe not eating or drinking very well.. Then again, some dogs only have minor side effects from the surgery.
You jave given Sandy a chance at a pain free life...a chance for more tummy rubs, ear scratches, ice cream cones, steaks, butt scratches! You are doing this FOR Sandy...not to ,,,her! More loving and spoiling for Sandy....heck yeah she likes that idea!!!
I believe almost every human being would make the same decision....if it meant losing a limb in order to be pain free and jave MORE quality time....yeah....t! would be a no brainer,!
Now one thing that helps a lot.....CHOCOLATE......EAT LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!!! It does wonders!!! And stay CONNECTED TO US!!!! Any concerns, questions, want to vent and cry...we're all here for you and Sandy!!
Don't forget the breathing thing!!
Follow Sandy's lead....she's not staring at her incision...she's not wondering where her leg is...she just knows something was different...she figured out how to adjust in a matter of moments and she's getting on with living a normal life!
Would LOVE to see pictures of Sandy and hear more about jer journey.
OH....let us know when she jas her first poop! We celebrate anything around here!!!
Se ding HUGS!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
It is so comforting talking with others who have been or are in the same position to guide us newbys forwards with confidence.
I was petrified seeing Sandy which was eating me inside as i knew she was the same loving affectionate pooch who needed her mummy but the unknown & fear of the situation petrified me.
First night at home together this evening...so far so good. Eaten my roast chicken ( she has a better appetite than I have at the moment!) been toilet in garden & managed door steps better without the sore leg than she did before it was removed. Tolerated wrapped ice pack and gentle massages to assist the fluid retention - when will this subside?
She is all tucked up on her bed currently...will see how long it takes her to climb onto my mattress on the floor to get under the duvet heehee.
So glad she is doing well! Actually, incredibly well! Just know you may somenups and downs still...then again, may not!
So she's eating, drinking, and has gone to potty already???? I'd say she's way ahead of many dogs at this point!
You are doing a WONDERFUL job!! You are stronger than you know!
For my Happy Hannah, the bruising and swelling was more prominent several days later than right at first. She actually developed a seroma
(a fluid pocket) mid-way into first week. No biggie...the fluids were eventually reaborbed. Hap o y Hannah was 225 @bs. at time of surgery and, because she was so restless the first several days I think all that attributed to the swelling, etc.
My Happy Hannah (a rear legger) never was able to master going upstairs...going down..no lroblem..I ahd a ramp built for her to go outside. For the first five weeks I slept on the floor beside her on her bed. Eventually I started sleeping upstairs again in my bed because I was exhausted and my bck just couldn't take it anymore! I ended up buying a mattress and going back downstairs to sleep on the floor with her by my side. 'Could not stand not sleeping with her!!
TRY and rest some! I KNOW this is a very intense time...but the hard part is lver and she is home!!! She's still seeing pink elephants...perhaps you could count white fluffy sheep!!
Hugs to all! You're doing great!!
Sally and Alumni Happy and Merry Myrtle 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!
For me the initial recovery phase was the most difficult. My heart was breaking. When I took Mona, my tri-kitty, to a vet who practises Western/Chinese/Chiropractic treatments the vet told me I needed to talk to Mona every day to tell her what happened and why we took her leg (because I love her and wanted to save her life). It got so much easier after that. My heart no longer breaks, it only warms when I see her or hear her. She no longer thumps, she tap dances and life it soooo good!
You'll get there too. Jerry calls it "sparkle".
Kerren and Mona
4 cancers? What a warrior, and now she is a Tripawd Warrior Princess!
My pug Maggie had her left rear leg amputated due to mast cell cancer. Maggie was a stubborn pug who hated any change to her routine. She had always been allowed in the front passenger seat of my truck, but when I bought a small SUV she had to ride in the back...she was mad for a month. She would sit in the back with her back to me! So I was worried when we had to do the amp. And I was right- she was a slug and wouldn't play with me for about 6 weeks after her surgery, a much longer time than most pups. I spent weeks feeling guilty and feeling like I had made a HUGE mistake choosing the surgery. In hindsight Maggie was just being herself. Once she got used to her new normal she hopped happily thought life for almost 4 years.
Another thing that helps sometimes is to remember that what you took away from Sandy was a painful leg, and what you have given her is a chance for more quality time with you.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Well it didn't take Sandy long to steal my mattress I brought down, my pillow & my duvet last night! Soon as I set it out & turned my back for a second...she had snuck into a comfy position...leaving me the floor or sofa options (or her many beds haha). We shared in the end for some cuddles & TLC for us both midway through the night!
Plan was to put it away through the day but she loves it & is all tucked up after her wrapped ice pack session. She is seemly okay laying on her wound side - is this advisable? I assume if it was painful she'd shift sides but she seems to be comfy, but I do not want problems from laying on it if she shouldn't. did anyones vets advise them not to allow them to?
Everyone is really helping to make me feel a little bit more okay about this tough decision made. I keep telling myself that it is done now so to focus on the times ahead but it is soooo very difficult.
Thank you so much for your kind supportive comments & stories to know that we are not alone with this. Your time taken to be so supportive is massively appreciated as I keep wishing it is all a bad dream. For a second I look & can't see the surgery wound or missing leg & feel relieved, then she rolls over for belly tickles & it's quickly evident it is not a bad dream...I worry that Sandy too wakes to think it's okay...then realises its gone for real.
Did anyone else feel as though they hadn't given their pet the 'quality' time through amputation as it is tough to know if this is fair for them making them adjust to new ways after so many happy years on four paws & was it fair to put her through this when she has come through so much on our journey together already...was this a decision too far for her. All these questions go around & around in my head & make me feel terrible. I do not want to portray this onto Sandy when she is doing so well but I do not know how to shift the emotions I am experiencing either or how to begin to block the questions/thoughts.
How did you manage your guilty feelings when returning to work, leaving Maggie/Mona/Hannah/Laurie at home? This is my next hurdle, I will be worrying all day about her & feeling even more guilty that we chose to do this then I leave her to work. I am hopeful that her wagging tail & noisy paws will greet me more than what she was less able to do with her painful leg for the previous weeks prior to this. However having said that she still wagged her tail but I had to go to her to say 'mummy's home' & fuss where as before she'd come to me with my slippers!
Watching Sandy dream this morning & seeing her teeth chatter & gums shift - what is she dreaming? Hatred at the situation? Aggression about it? Has any others furry family members experienced this? If only we could fully understand their thoughts and dreams...i'm sure it would remove my heart ache or kill me!
Thanks again for listening & offering support! xx
I'm so glad for you that Sandy seems to be doing really well in her recovery right now. She's eating, drinking, and going potty and these are all really good signs. Regarding your question about laying on the incision site...my Leland was a 108lb Dobie boy and a hind leg amp. He'd roll over on his incision site and lay for a bit and then roll back over. I think like people they get tired of laying on one side and have to switch it up. I'd say as long as Sandy is going from one side to the other she should be fine. We also were instructed by Leland's surgeon to apply warm moist compresses as it aided the incision site in healing. So along with applying cold compresses for swelling you may want to also do some rounds of warm compresses. We just wet a dish towel and microwaved it for like 50 seconds and then held it on the site till it cooled.
Regarding your "emotion" questions. I don't think dogs form the thoughts that you think they are. That's our human emotions over the decisions we made to give our furkid a better quality of life that we're portraying onto our furkid. Sandy is just happy to not feel pain in her leg anymore. She's happy to have good food and water. She's happy to have a soft warm place to snuggle in your mattress and duvet. She's happy that her mom is there by her side giving her love, cuddles, and kisses. I do not believe Sandy feels any anger or resentment toward you because she no longer has her leg. Those are your human emotions making you have doubts and guilt and feeling like you DID this to Sandy instead of FOR Sandy.
The ebooks offered through this site (Three Legs and a Spare and Living Life on Three Legs) were very helpful for me and my husband. Especially in learning how to manage our "human emotions" regarding amputation.
I'll be keeping you and Sandy in my thoughts that she continues to have a good recovery!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Hi Dawn and sweet Sandy,
Welcome to Tripawds, the best pet cancer support community in the world! So glad you found us.
Wow, the 4th cancer to deal with, I am so sorry for that, but your girl is definitely a resilient pup for sure. First off, I want to tell you that please do not feel guilty for having amp surgery done on her, this was done with her VERY best interest at heart, and she absolutely does NOT have an emotional attachment to the lost limb. All the emotions regarding this situation sit solely with us humans......dogs and cats, and most other animals could care less if they are without a limb, and in this case, your Sandy will feel so much better without her painful, useless leg. And try not to worry right now about chemo, just get her healed from surgery and enjoy each day with her.
About you returning to work.....I know that will be a bit of worry for you, and possibly guilt as well, but maybe you have a friend that could check on her? If not, if you can keep her somewhat confined so she can't hurt herself, she should be fine.
And she is dreaming happy thoughts, chasing squirrels and bunnies and birds......she is definitely not hating her situation, or having unhappy aggression about it, trust me......she is a wonderful dog that neither has the capability nor desire to harbor these negative feelings, that is another thing left for us humans to deal with.......you are doing great with her, and she is very grateful for all your love and deep caring for her, that is what matters to her everyday.
Keeping you and Sandy in my thoughts, and please continue to keep us all updated on her,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Sahana and Angel Leland & Bonnie & Angel Polly.
These human emotions need to disappear as they're eating into the time I have with Sandy. Whilst Sandy's appetite is really good, mine has faded.
Are these books available in the UK as they are coming up as dollars rather than pounds & would be keen to access them. I think the book Without Regrets will also be a great read when I can source this also...the one store found is out of stock typically.
Sandy does switch about on her sides - she's always been a fidget bottom unless deep in snores 
Which she has kindly again taken herself onto my bed for the second night leaving me with the sofa or a very small part of the mattress cheeky! Just don't want her fluid retention to get worse from laying on it.
Any strategies on assisting her in & out of a car whilst wound is still fresh & sore...the vet trips are vital but i struggle to get her out as can't lift her as she yelped when last tried to support her out & wants to jump out which I cannot risk with her staples. She climbs in ok & gradually. She sits on the passenger side as I do not have back seats or an accessible boot. Usually she's belted down but cannot get her harness on her to do so currently so confined to the footwell when she stays put that is! I thought a towel under her belly but this did't really help as its her front I need to support which is where her wound is! Any suggestions?
You can try a reusable shopping bag cut down the sides- the handles are built in. You can cushion that with a towel if needed. It should distribute the weight so there is not so much pressure on her incision.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
My Happy Hannah went through an open door to her next adventure after this life in April. I just now moved the matress off the floor last month. Nope, n o time frame on how long to leave the mattress on the floor!!!! As long as Sandynis enjoying it, I say let it stay! I've got a feeling it jist became part of n your "decor" for a very long time!
Yeah,Sandy was having great dreams!!!! I agree with Bonnie!
Happy Hannah didnt lay onnher incision site for several weeks because it was painful for her. Sandy would not be laying on n it hurt her. Many dogs lay on it fairly quickly after surgery.
Okay...as far as keeping those endless loop questions in check...the ones you'll never really have an answer to....the ones that zap your energy and keep you from staying in the PRESENT with Sandy....the way stop those questions instantly......Be More Dog ....BE MORE SANDY....NO WORRIES ABOUT TOMORROW...NO THOUGHTS ABOUT YESTERDAY....JJST LIVING IN THE MOMENT...LIVING IN THE NOW!!!! That is EXACTLY how Sandy is living!! She js in total acceptance of her present condition and is perfectly fine with it! Sure, she is still recovering from major surgery and that may not feel great...but she's even accepting withnthat. Whatever is thrown her way, she'll deal with it...wagging her tail the whole time!
Keep it chunked down...one step at a time...one day at a time....all the "what ifs" will all take care of themselves should they ever arise...they always are handled.
You are doing a GREAT job!!! This is not a "fun" time, but you are handling it beautifully Just follow Sandy' lead.....I think you have a rewlly good teacher in her!
Keep doing your deep breathing and eating chocolate!! And try and get some rest and EAT....not just chocolate!!
Sending you lots of supportive hugs!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I'm not sure how the money conversion thing works with regard to the ebooks offered through the Tripawds site.
Perhaps the Admin Guy here on Tripawds could answer your question. He's a miracle worker with everything electronic as I'm sure Sally (Happy Hannah's mom) will attest...
Hang in there...you're doing great!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
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