Hand hold please. Beloved Labrador hit by car and losing her leg

[SnowSnow]

Hand hold please. Our lovely girl was hit tonight when we were crossing a road and her leg is not salvageable.
It was obvious straight away that the leg would not survive.
The vets are going to operate tomorrow when she is hopefully fully stabilised.

I’ve just come to bed to try and sleep but am just lying here thinking her legs been ripped off over and over in my mind.

I know long term she will manage as long as she recovers well but my poor girl.

Sending love to you and Luna! Give her a hug from me :) x

I am so pleased to read your update, her breathing could also be as a result of stress/fear.
I second the suggestion of hydrotherapy, and being a lab she may love it.

Oh, your poor dog, and poor you! That must have been so traumatic, but it's great news that she's up on her feet already. I hope she adjusts brilliantly.

Sending you lots of love and positive thoughts for beautiful Luna 🐕🐾

Glad she’s home and doing well. I’ve had 7 years of arthritis and torn cruciates (lab).
Rugs and runners everywhere the dog goes, limit steps, stairs, jumping, getting up off slippery floors. Modern flooring is a stinker for dogs with arthritis. Get an orthopaedic or memory foam dog bed- Dunelm do cut offs very cheap and thick that you can cover yourself. Don’t overdo exercise.
Try supplements like Yumove, cod liver oil, green lipped mussel. (Not now, mine can’t take them as he gets IBS and your dog needs to recover completely from her huge op and rest.

Limit moving too much initially and build up exercise very slowly.
Keep her weight down. If she isn’t moving she doesn’t need the usual amount of food. We use cucumber treats and the odd carrot and doggy peanut butter kong plus antlers. (His teeth are very good 🤩). He also gets good quality food/fresh cooked meats/fish/ eggs/bone broth. Probably bone broth is the easiest - you can make your own with a load of chicken feet from the butcher or buy it. It’s good for you too (Goldie Hawn drinks it see her insta lol).

Mine has had galliprant since age 7, laser therapy and conservative management for the arthritis so no climbing mountains and moderate off lead exercise.
From age 12 he has had 3 x human paracetamol per day, 1 Gabapentin at night, Librela every 4 weeks as per vet.
(He will be 14 soon and is now struggling but I know he’s had a good life, I’ll keep him comfortable as long as I can.) Good luck with your girl.

I wanted to mention the dog buggy again. Our boy has lymes disease and it has caused poly arthritis. He is on a cocktail of drugs and does really well on them but last Jan he simply couldn't walk. Long story but anyway, we have another dog and we couldn't leave the poorly one in the house as he has separation anxiety. So e got the buggy. He loved it. And he would walk as far as he could then pop back into the buggy. Some days he could hardly walk at all, other days he would surprise us. Then in Aug he suddenly didn't need it at all! He now does long walks no problem. Bit of a miracle. Here he is in his buggy

Good for Luna xx

@SnowSnow - I can empathise completely - My lab was run over after running out of the garden onto the road aged 5. She was hit and had her back leg amputated. She lived very happily for another 6 years. Being a lovely natured dog, it was worth every moment keeping her going. Of course it reduced her mobility but she managed, and hopped along. Her back end didn't wiggle like it used to, but she still got up to greet strangers and her nature didn't change at all. You must feel distraught - It still upsets me thinking about what happened to mine many years ago. Hand holding for you.

How is she this evening @SnowSnow , she must have been very pleased to see you .

Wishing lovely Luna a speedy recovery
With a get well nuzzle from my Labrador x

your poor girl. so unfortunate but a real accident. i have heard it is important to keep dogs who have lost a leg lean, but she will be ok. i am so sorry.

I’ve read all the lovely messages and stories and tips ad hoc through the day but I feel like I’ve physically been hit by a tonne of bricks so will read them all again properly and reply tomorrow.

We saw her this evening and she stood up and gave some tail wags too. We’ve been shown all her scans and x rays and a video of the original injury. Her wound and lungs should take around two weeks to heal and then 6 weeks before she is allowed to be off lead. I had a brief cry at the vets at having to leave her again I think because I felt guilty at how she might feel being left.

Have you any idea when she may come home ?

Luna sounds like a lovely dog.

We had a black lab, Poppy. She broke her leg when she was 6, and it was amputated about 18 months later. She adapted to it very easily and was nifty on her feet for the rest of her life. She died of old age when she was 14. She was a very stoic old lady.

I wish Luna a quick and easy recovery.

@SnowSnow it must have been an horrific shock for you and your friend , as well as poor Luna . Hopefully she will be able to come home soon , wagging and standing up sounds very positive 💐

Oh your poor dog, I really feel for you. It's really good that she's going to be OK. She will adapt to life on three legs better than you might think. Don't be too upset about leaving her tonight, she will be full of pain meds and will just sleep.

Aww glad Luna seems to have come through her op fairly well. She is beautiful.

I really feel for you….sending lots of love x

@SnowSnow how is luna today? Any news on when she can come home?

She’s home 🥰

Will update properly at some point but it’s a bit hectic as she is needing lots of reassurance and help and we also are having to keep our toddler away from her which feels like a full time job!

But shes home and the vets said she is a miracle to have survived the injury she had 💕

I'm so pleased to see your update! I bet she will recover quickly now she's back home in her safe place with her people.

Is she needing help to go to the toilet or get up? We used a sling to help our boy whilst he recovered from surgery/injury to his back legs (both of them 😭)

Aw I am so pleased !

Great news , onwards and upwards x

So glad she's home 💕 She'll heal much better if she's relaxed.

Good news, all the best to her.