Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

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

312 replies

SnowSnow · 22/01/2025 23:55

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
0psiedasiy · 27/01/2025 21:01

How about the shoes you can get for dogs would they work? Then luna wouldn’t have to worry about slippy floors. Hopefully with some practice she will adapt, it must be quite painful for her at the moment, has she got painkillers?

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/01/2025 21:02

I expect she wont always scream if / when she falls over, but it is less than one week since she underwent major surgery.
Is she still on any pain relief ?

Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:03

0psiedasiy · 27/01/2025 21:01

How about the shoes you can get for dogs would they work? Then luna wouldn’t have to worry about slippy floors. Hopefully with some practice she will adapt, it must be quite painful for her at the moment, has she got painkillers?

I hadn’t thought about shoes. I will take a look thanks.

Shes got two types of painkillers and two types of antibiotics. Wednesday will be the last day of these except for one antibiotic that carries on longer. I will chat with the vet tomorrow as to the painkiller situation after that.

OP posts:
grassisgreen · 27/01/2025 21:04

@SnowSnow It's so hard to hear about her falling over and crying. I remember after the amputation of my lab's leg I couldn't process looking at the shaved haunch and enormous scar and stitches. I remember I made a really soft bed for her - lots of cushioning, with carpet to walk on, and fed her titbits so she didn't have to get up. Labs are so clever, they understand the tiniest change and you'll all adapt.

Yes - one day you will be the person posting that three legs can be amazing and just as perfect and loved. Big strokes to her and you!

Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:08

It was horrible. She has just been angling to get on the bloody sofa! As if our nerves aren’t shredded enough already 🤣.

DH has laid on the floor with her and we have put baby toys on the other seats. I thought we’d have at least a week or two before she tried anything like that.

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 27/01/2025 21:13

I'm so happy to hear that Luna is back home with you all.

These early days will be tough because of pain, but your love and encouragement will get her through. Be positive with her, cheer her on. Let her find her pace and balance.

She'll do it! Sounds like she has the perfect family on her side.

grassisgreen · 27/01/2025 21:16

Gosh that is tricky if she is trying to jump up. I am trying to remember how we dealt with that. I put her bed right next to the sofa, and she got used to me sitting on the sofa stroking her while she was on her bed. I don't know what the vet has said about her walking around yet, but I think mine had to wait longer - I think I cordoned off an area with baby gates, but it wasn't easy. I presume Luna is in a collar so she can't pull the stitches (which she probably doesn't like). Good luck with the vet tomorrow.

Angrymum22 · 27/01/2025 21:17

You can buy silicone socks ( purple are the right size for lab paws) but ours just removed them.

I would order a sling for the early days. If she falls there is a risk of damaging the remaining leg so better to be cautious until her brain has adjusted to being a tripod.

My lovely lab is quite weak on her left back leg because of the spinal nerve damage she sustained and struggles to know where the leg is. Initially she knuckled all the time so had a boot to protect the top of her foot. Six months on she no longer knuckles but still forgets what her leg is doing.

I suspect that Luna has the opposite problem, she still thinks she has a fourth leg so when it doesn’t work she will wobble or fall.
We used an old towel until the sling arrived. It just stops unnecessary falls in the early days.

She can build up strength without hurting herself. My dog had a few falls recently because she is much bouncier than a few months ago and became a little over confident. She scared herself and wouldn’t walk on any smooth surface indoors. We now have mats in the kitchen but have left the bathroom slippy because she has a habit of drinking out of the loo.

Labs are quick to learn but their enthusiasm gets the better of them.

Stairs were a nightmare at first but she has learned to take them slowly. It’s actually been a good physio/ proprioception exercise for her because she has to find the step with her bad leg before pushing up to the next step. Initially she just ended up in a heap. She is almost back to a gallop but still misjudges it occasionally.

Take regular videos to remind you how much progress she is making.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 27/01/2025 21:28

SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:08

It was horrible. She has just been angling to get on the bloody sofa! As if our nerves aren’t shredded enough already 🤣.

DH has laid on the floor with her and we have put baby toys on the other seats. I thought we’d have at least a week or two before she tried anything like that.

Hard as nails, Labradors. I had a beautiful, highly sensitive greyhound and the vet's constant refrain as we turned up at the surgery weekly with massive infections caused by, I don't know, brushing up against a pointy oak leaf, was "A Labrador wouldn't even have noticed this".

I know it's infuriating that you can't make them understand they need to rest but I would say that trying to get on the sofa so soon after that fall demonstrates excellent resilience 🥰

Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:29

grassisgreen · 27/01/2025 21:16

Gosh that is tricky if she is trying to jump up. I am trying to remember how we dealt with that. I put her bed right next to the sofa, and she got used to me sitting on the sofa stroking her while she was on her bed. I don't know what the vet has said about her walking around yet, but I think mine had to wait longer - I think I cordoned off an area with baby gates, but it wasn't easy. I presume Luna is in a collar so she can't pull the stitches (which she probably doesn't like). Good luck with the vet tomorrow.

She hasn’t got as far as trying to jump but she was putting her chin up and fidgeting like she was about to try and jump.

A friend handed on a bed that has quite a nice non slip bottom which we have in front of the sofa and she has been sleeping and lying on it near enough every time she isn’t going out to the garden or to eat and drink.

She is basically on a lead only including in the garden. As she a lot of the time will hold her bladder rather than go in the garden the vet gave the ok for us to take her out the back gate on to the grassy access lane. Not a walk as such but a few metres outside the garden.

She does indeed have a cone to stop chewing. The vet actually swapped it for a longer one the morning before she was discharged because she had managed to bend the cone and lick at the wound. Her turning circle is rather large with the cone and it’s making eating and drinking harder but we are lifting her bowls to her. I feel like once we get to 2 weeks and the cone can come off that will help her lots too. It will be a milestone we celebrate.

OP posts:
Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:35

Angrymum22 · 27/01/2025 21:17

You can buy silicone socks ( purple are the right size for lab paws) but ours just removed them.

I would order a sling for the early days. If she falls there is a risk of damaging the remaining leg so better to be cautious until her brain has adjusted to being a tripod.

My lovely lab is quite weak on her left back leg because of the spinal nerve damage she sustained and struggles to know where the leg is. Initially she knuckled all the time so had a boot to protect the top of her foot. Six months on she no longer knuckles but still forgets what her leg is doing.

I suspect that Luna has the opposite problem, she still thinks she has a fourth leg so when it doesn’t work she will wobble or fall.
We used an old towel until the sling arrived. It just stops unnecessary falls in the early days.

She can build up strength without hurting herself. My dog had a few falls recently because she is much bouncier than a few months ago and became a little over confident. She scared herself and wouldn’t walk on any smooth surface indoors. We now have mats in the kitchen but have left the bathroom slippy because she has a habit of drinking out of the loo.

Labs are quick to learn but their enthusiasm gets the better of them.

Stairs were a nightmare at first but she has learned to take them slowly. It’s actually been a good physio/ proprioception exercise for her because she has to find the step with her bad leg before pushing up to the next step. Initially she just ended up in a heap. She is almost back to a gallop but still misjudges it occasionally.

Take regular videos to remind you how much progress she is making.

I think Luna will be the same and become over confident. Interestingly a couple of years ago she had severe diarrhoea and struggled to stand up so obviously we got her straight in at the vets when we realised she had gotten weak. But after that she developed a fear of slipping on the floor for a while. This fear has remained for the dining room so we have had a runner non slip rug in there ever since then.

Luna is technically not allowed upstairs so obviously most days prior to this she would get up there at least once a day and do a victory lap of our bed 😁.

Videos are a great idea. I have one from the first day she got up and another of her going across the car park to our car when discharged. Perhaps I shall take a video weekly to see where we are.

OP posts:
Moll2020 · 27/01/2025 21:39

I hope you’re ok after your dog’s terrible accident. I would be the same as you. I have a 4 yr old chocolate lab, her entire body sways when she wags her tail, they’re definitely the best dog. Sending you & your lovely Labrador much love and hugs from me and my nutty Labrador xx

tizwozliz · 27/01/2025 21:44

My lab managed to get a free pup cup by showing off her poorly paw at the weekend (in a boot because of a very minor cut). I hope Luna will be able to do her best labrador eyes to get the best treats soon.

Hand hold please. Beloved Labrador hit by car and losing her leg
grassisgreen · 27/01/2025 21:48

You're doing the perfect job for her. Every day will she will get a little bit better, and in a few weeks you will realise you have come so far. Yes getting the cone off will make life easier. Her journey sounds so similar - I can promise it will all be fine, albeit different. We love lab girls.

Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:48

Moll2020 · 27/01/2025 21:39

I hope you’re ok after your dog’s terrible accident. I would be the same as you. I have a 4 yr old chocolate lab, her entire body sways when she wags her tail, they’re definitely the best dog. Sending you & your lovely Labrador much love and hugs from me and my nutty Labrador xx

Oh I bet she is lovely 😍

OP posts:
Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:50

Oh now those are some good puppy dog eyes 😍. I’m sure she will be happy to milk it a little bit once her wound is healed and she is a bit more steady

OP posts:
Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:53

grassisgreen · 27/01/2025 21:48

You're doing the perfect job for her. Every day will she will get a little bit better, and in a few weeks you will realise you have come so far. Yes getting the cone off will make life easier. Her journey sounds so similar - I can promise it will all be fine, albeit different. We love lab girls.

Thank you. Labs are the best aren’t they.

In fact I forgot to say the severe bruising on her tummy from today there is now an area of normal looking pale skin between that and her wound whereas before it pretty much met her wound. So we are already seeing that little bit better each day 💕

OP posts:
Moll2020 · 27/01/2025 21:53

SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:48

Oh I bet she is lovely 😍

Show quote history

That’s my lovely Molly, fast asleep.

Hand hold please. Beloved Labrador hit by car and losing her leg
Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 21:59

Moll2020 · 27/01/2025 21:53

That’s my lovely Molly, fast asleep.

Show quote history

Gorgeous!

OP posts:
Original poster
SnowSnow · 27/01/2025 22:01

Here’s our Luney Loo looking goofy last month

Hand hold please. Beloved Labrador hit by car and losing her leg
OP posts:
wandawaves · 27/01/2025 22:35

Awww little baby. She looks like such a sweetheart. I hope her confidence hasn't been knocked too much from falling over. I'm sure once the pain has faded and the cone comes off, she will come along so quickly in her recovery.

Thanks for the updates on your lovely Luna. You guys have really been in my thoughts, it was just such a random, awful thing to have happened, it's really stuck in my head.

Flustration · 28/01/2025 08:10

I know what you mean about processing the trauma of it all and I think it's ok to have a cry about it. Something horrible happened and everyone will be shaken.

However, she will recover from this and it will be just a small footnote in her life story. As someone else said, she lives in the moment. You have been through the worst and are moving quickly back towards normal. Very soon her fur will have grown back and she'll be bounding around like a loon and the heaviness of the situation will have lifted.

Nannyfannybanny · 28/01/2025 09:34

Reading your updates. Trouble with dogs is, they aren't human. When our Luna was spayed,no jumping blah blah, only on the lead to the garden for toileting. She went indoors,jumped straight into the back of the sofa. I've got a picture of ruby the young one,does exactly the same. Course I don't know if they get "phantom limb" like humans do, and don't actually realise that the leg isn't there. Keep us posted.

Clearinguptheclutter · 28/01/2025 09:40

SnowSnow · 22/01/2025 23:55

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.

how unbelievably traumatic for everyone involved. Isee a few three legged dogs round here. They cope amazingly well. Hopefully she will be up and about in no time and I hope the trauma will then ease for all of you. I suspect it could all be worse for you than it is for her.

Original poster
SnowSnow · 28/01/2025 11:13

She’s had a great report at the vets this morning. The receptionists were different to the ones when we took her in and picked her up but were commenting how great it was to see her up and about and how well she looked and a couple of others came out to see her in the waiting room. So she’s obviously become well known to them all and had a lot of cuddles while we were there.

She goes back in a week when hopefully the cone can come off.

OP posts: