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 all. I am new to this forum and could use some help or advice. Our yellow lab, Sadie, who will turn 13 in January just had her front left leg amputated due to MCT. Her operation was on Friday and we were supposed to pick her up on Saturday morning. The vet called and asked if we would mind leaving her for the weekend so she could work with her and we were all for it because we figured it was a good idea because she would know what she was doing. We picked Sadie up on Monday morning and the vet went over everything with us about how she has a drainage tube, care, etc. We got home and my son got her out of the car close to the house and she just kind of dropped to the ground. We coaxed her to get up by using towel underneath her and helping lift her back legs. We got her inside and layed her on a blanket and she laid there on her side. The doctor said she hadn't eaten hardly anything so first thing we did was feed her and she gobbled it up, so she is eating fine now. She is on Tramadol 2 x's a day for pain and sorry but don't know the other medicines because they are not with me right now, but one is an anti-inflammatory starting with a "P" and other is an antibiotic starting with a "C". We had to force her to get up twice yesterday to go out and go to the bathroom but she went once she got out there, but when I say force her I mean she would not get up or stand up on her own until we got her to spot she usually goes to the bathroom and she did her business and then one step and laid down. We carried her inside (now understand this was day 3, but 1st day at home). During the middle of the night, I could not sleep so I was on the couch and about 2:00am she tried to stand up but got her back legs under her and fell forward onto her head pretty much. I woke my husband up and again we had to really coax her to get up with both of us helping, got her up and she went right back down, so husband had to carry outside, once outside she did her business and right back down and husband had to carry her in because she won't get up. Now on day 4 I just called home at noon and he said she hasn't moved at all, just sleeping and I don't know whether we should be making her get up. I feel so lost and I just feel like I made such a big mistake with this surgery. On all the posts I have read on here all the dogs to seem to be at least getting up. Sadie was pre-surgery a very active dog. We live on the water and she swims every night after work and just runs, now I can't even get her to move. Please help, any advice would be appreciated!!
Hi there, welcome, your future posts wont require moderation. Sorry on my phone but will return soon with a real welcome & suggestins. Others will chime in soon, stay tuned.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and Welcome...I'm not the best to give advice on this subject, as my tripawd is a kitty, and their recovery is a little different, they don't move around even on four legs as much 
but I have been around to hear others experiences. It may seem from what you're reading that dogs bounce back really fast, but it's not always the case! The meds Sadie is on in combination with her new normal of learning to balance can really take a lot out of her! Many dogs just want to lay around for a while at first. Let her show you what she's ready to do...I know it's hard at first, but she'll come around. For right now, just follow her lead!
I'm sure some of the others will chime in soon! Keep your chin up, we're here to help and you did the right thing for your girl! If you get a chance, hop on over to the chat room , there's usually some of us in there, particularly in the evenings.
xoxo,
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
Oh we near you loid and clear! We u dersta d!
And I'm oneof "those" who can tell you for at least the first two weeks I thought, "What have I done TO my dog?" I am now here to tell you, eight months post amp. (and contnuing on, knockingon wood), I did somethng great FOR my dog!!
As Erica said, meds right now are playing a huge rolein some loopiness, weakness, etc. Plus, add MAJOR surgery on top of that!!
You get a coupleof YAAAAAAAAYs over here because Sadie IS eating! Some dogs take al ost a wee to wa t to eat! Sadie is peeing! Even that can take days for some dogs! It also sounds like sne's ot whimperi g or whining right? Most dogs do that at first too!
Front leg amps take a little while longer to adjust...especially older larger dogs. I'm afraid "face plants" kind oo alng with the territoty at first.
Is she on Gabapentin? If so, how much? Is she on 50 mg of Tramadol twice a day? Did she have a fentynl patch (morphine) on the hospital? Did they say if they had her up and walking at the hospital?
The fact that she does "try" to get up some ks good too! I KNOW this is sooooooo hard t watch!! I thought I would go nuts the first twoo weeks or so and I clung to this site for dear life!! You sta right here withjs, okay? We'll pull you through this! We have a lifeline attached to you already and we won't let you go!! You are NOT alne! It will get better...PROMISE!!
IF she doesn't seem to be experiencing too much pain, you can ask the vet f you can drop the pain med just a tad for a day or so and see if that makes a difference. I'd rather have my dog drugged up a little too much than feeling pain thpugh.!
My Happy Hannahis a rear leg amp. and she just now...eight months out...starting climbing UP stairs! Just now!!
Again, I know these first several days..plus...are just awful! Sadie's drugged...she's not too worried...jist awful on us humans!!
Now, B R E A T H E.......B R E A T H E..........go buy a box of chocolate, no, make that twelve boxes, and eat a box at night ! If you drink alcohol...drink more! If you don't drink...start! Or, if you're like me, just eat all the sweets your mouth can hold at ne time!!
Remember, we've gt you and not lettng go! Did you just feel that little tug?? YES! That was us wrapping your lifelne just a little tighter!
Surronding you with healing energy and a "knowing" that all is well with Sadie!
Love,
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!
How much tramadol and piroxicam (I'm guessing that's what she's on)? The drugs can make them a bit dopey--esp. if they are just fresh from surgery with even MORE dopey drugs, and if they are on high doses.
You may want to talk with your vet. Ask what the standard is, and if he's seen this before, and see if you can lower the amount or adjust it if he thinks that may be playing a role.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Thanks everyone - your posts are reassuring because I just walked in from work, she looked at me and passed right back out and my husband said she hasn't moved all day, he took her out (carried her pretty much) to see if she had to go the bathroom and she hasn't yet today. Yes she was on morphine when we went to see her on Saturday at the vets, but I don't know if it was a patch or not because she was covered up, vet just said she was acting dopey because of the morphine and I didn't see her on Sunday so I don't know if she was still on it. She is now on Tamadol 50mg 2xs a day one pill, the antibiotic is Cephalexin 500mg 2x's a day one pill and the anti-inflammatory is Premicox 227mg 1/2 pill once a day. She only whimpered for about an hour yesterday afternoon and I thought she was in pain and called the vet and she said it usually is they are overwhelmed and frustrated with medicine on top of that. We do have to take her back to the vets in a day or two to hopefully have the tube removed, so I hope they will see if she is too doped up. I really appreciate all your comments because I do feel a little better.
I don't think there is a text book answer that fits every dog.
My dog was very sick after the whole experience and it took 3 weeks before I saw his prior personality returning.
Sadie is a bit older and it may just take her a little longer to perk up or heal.
It may also be quite painful for her, my dog was on tramadol every 4 hours and previcox once a day for anti inflammatory.
When in doubt CALL your vet and ask for advice. That is what they are there for!!
Hi there,
Tucker, my nine year old chocolate lab, had his right front leg amputated on September 18th.
Tuck was very quiet when I first brought him home and needed assistance to go out to do "his business" as well. I remember writing a few posts on this website and going into the chat room to talk to people because he really was not himself at all.
But.....by his 2 week checkup....Tuck was moving around quite well....slowly and differently than he has in the past....and when he got his stitches out and the "cone of shame
" was removed....I felt like I finally had my Tucker back 
The meds really do make a difference but they really do need them to heal properly....you will see a big difference when Sadie no longer needs the pain medication.
Just a few suggestions......elevated food bowls so Sadie doesn't have to bend over to eat and drink....and scatter rugs so that she doesn't slip on the floors. Both of those things will really help!
Good Luck over the next few days....it really does get better....and you will slowly see your lovely girl, Sadie come back and be the happy girl she was before the surgery.
Linda and Tucker
Welcome to Tripawds.
My pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT. She was quite a stubborn pug and was not herself for about 6 weeks- way longer than most pups. And I was sure that I had done the wrong thing by choosing amputation. Maggie survived her amp, and lymph node involvement for almost 4 years. A link to her blog is in my signature box.
How long was Sadie on morphine? She could be dealing with coming off that, as well as the other meds that can make our pups act really differently. Be sure you are talking to your vet, keep them informed of her progress. Was Sadie good with change in her routine? Mag was so un-adaptable that it sort of made sense that she took her time to come around.
Karen
All of you on here are an answer to my prayers!! Your comments are helping so much. Trituck - it was nice hearing about your experience because you have a lab and labs have personalities of there own, so I know you know where I am coming from. And Krun15 your answer helped too because of the MCT involvement. I am not sure if Sadie was on morphine for one or two days because she was at the vets. I only know what I have been giving her. I know for sure she was on it all day Saturday, but don't know about Sunday. The one thing other than her not getting up is that as soon as I ask her if she is hungry she perks right up. Tonight I fed her a steak and she sat right up and ate and seemed so not out of it because of the meds, but as soon as she was done eating, right back down and she is out again. I am going to have to get my husband to try to get her up to get her outside to try to go to the bathroom before bedtime and this seems so scary to me because she just doesn't want to get up. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little better is all I can pray, I just want her to at least try sitting up for a while because she has these tubes in and they were supposed to be out tomorrow or Friday but because she is not moving except laying down it is not draining properly. I guess tomorrow I call the vet. Thanks everybody!!
Okay! Sadie gets another YAAAAAY for sitting up to eat! As small as these "victories" seem, they ARE victories"
Somethingyou can try, since she seems food motivated' perk her up with several small meals a day. Just being able to sit up more and ore is a good thing.
Look forward to your next update and, when you can, pictures of that precious Sadie! We LOVE pictures arou d here!
Try and get sme rest tonight. Sou ds like Sadie's getting plenty!
Hugs to all,
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!
Sadie and Family, I'm back and so happy to see that you've been comforted by the awesome people here at Tripawds!
I know it's SO hard to see your dog in this state but just a few days out of amputation surgery is not a long time. Her pain protocol sounds pretty good. Now, try to put yourself in her paws as if you'd just had a limb removed -- you probably wouldn't want to move around much either. My guess is that she's high as a kite from the pain meds, which is usually good, that means it's working. The fact that she ate? AWESOME! Do you know how many dogs won't eat a thing when they're medicated? Well, most!
Yes, call your vet and let them know your concerns, but based on what you've described it sounds like she just needs time to sleep and heal. She WILL be that active, happy-go-lucky dog again, just take things one day at a time and be amazed at how well she is doing for a dog who just went through major, life changing surgery. She's definitely not the only one who has been slow to get moving, a good majority of dogs take time. Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Sadie and Family-
I'm a little late as everyone has given you great advice, but wanted you to know I'm adding my support and good thoughts to all the others. It does sound to me like drugs have a little to do with this. Also, does she still have a pressure bandage on? Shooter would barely move and I had the same panicked thoughts as you. The day the vet took the bandage off, we came home wih a new dog! It was just so uncomfortable that he refused to try and do anything and right after that he was hopping around like crazy and couldn't get outside fast enough. Just a thought. Shooter was also MCT.
Take care and keep us updated.
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Hmmmm.....Luanne, you may be nto something. I know Sadie has drains in so that could be causing a sensation that makes her not want to move 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!
After the decision you had to make and the surgery itself, you think whew - that's done. But no - now comes the self doubt. I thought for sure we had acted more selfishly and that our pup was paying the price. We had to coax him out and then wrangle him onto a rug to drag him back in. He didn't want to eat anything (even his most favorite treats) and didn't poop for a week. We have a very big dog who also had some issues with his back legs.
It has been over a year and every day is a joy. Now he not only looks forward to his walks (Shorter now, but oh so sweet) but he insists on it.
Even now he will still take a header now and again - he gets excited and forgets. Covering the floors w/non-slip rugs really helps. Making sure that she knows she is still a valued member of the pack will also help. When the fentynol leaves her system you will see much improvement. Pain killers in moderation may be needed for a long time. We still give them before and after walks
Also remember she will pick up cues from you, and since we all know pups care empaths, you need to believe and know that everything will get better - because it does.
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