Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
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For those of you thinking that I am making up that Cometdog is 3-legged just so I can be a member of tripawds.com,
I thought I'd share pics of her deformed leg up close!
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And so you'll feel sorry for her even more…here's a pic of her teeth from the ossifying epulis growing in her jaw bone. (the only cure is to remove the entire lower jaw bone) Pic #4
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And so you'll even feel duper duper sorry for her…here's pic of her from last January when she Horner's Syndrome that shows her left side of her face paralyzed and droopy. Pic #5
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Back to her normal beautiful self! Taken just a few days ago. Pic #6 last pic. (can't get the pics to align right)
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
She has a few issues no doubt but she's beautiful, happy, and and I know loved. I've seen videos of her getting around. She does great. 
Thanks for posting the photos. There great, I think comet is a sweet little girl.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I think she is goregous. She's lucky to have a loving family who takes such good care of her. In a different environment, she may never have made it to her golden years.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
That's a wicked pink bow Comet's wearing. Tell her she doesn't need the extra adornment; she's beautiful just as she is.
And she's in exactly the right family.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
I love her pink bow! : ) What a girlie girl! ; )
Her eyes are beautiful!
Hugs Cometdog! We love you!
XOXO : )
Wendy and Spirit Henri~
I think Comet is absolutely beautiful!!! Crooked teeth, droopy face, shrunken leg and ALL!!!! 
Thanks for sharing those up close and beautiful picts of your sweet girl!!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I love all of these up close and personal pictures of Ms. Cometdog! Such a beauty queen with that pink bow around her neck. I just love her cute crooked teeth and smile - such great pictures of such a beautiful Cometdog! 
Kami
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
All of those quirks sure make for one beautiful princess dog! I think she's beaauuuuuuutiful.
And Comet, it's pretty obvious you haven't used that leg in forever, there's no way you could fake the Tripawd look!
You've got the look! You've got the look!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww - you guys are making me tear up!
I guess I didn't need to add that she has "extra" toes on her back paws for you to see her beautiful deformities!
Thanks everyone!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
My favorite picture was the one with the bow! I thought her facial expression was cute, so I felt like a tool when I read that it was because her face was paralyzed...doh! Anyhoo, she's one super girlie! Thanks for the pics 
<3 Laura and the Mighty Abdo-Mass
Comet - you are one unique and beautiful dog ! I'm pretty sure there is nobody else out there quite like you - in looks or wit. And you are most definitely a Tripawd - in spirit and form.
Thank you for sharing those close ups. You may have opened Pandora's box - who knows what close-ups, or whose close ups, we'll get next!! 
Tana and Sophie
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
I am so glad to see these pics. It helps me to understand how Comet's leg looks. As you know, our puppy Gracie was also born with a front leg deformity. I remember you saying at times Comet's leg was in the way, and I wondered if Gracie would have the same problem as she got older, but it looks like Comet has problems with all the joints on that side and Gracie's leg is only deformed after the elbow.
Gracie walks and climbs using her bad front leg. She also holds toys with it, pushes objects with it, digs, waves it, gives us "high 5's" and wrestles her older golden sister with it, but when she runs her bad leg follows the pattern of her other legs, but doesn't touch the ground.
Gracie is now 5 months old. We took her to the orthopedic vet, and he told us our best bet was to wait until she is full grown, and then we can decide what would be best.
The possible options are:
1) Leave her leg the way it is and add a prosthetic or boot so it reaches the ground – we have a friend who makes prosthetics for people and also fitted a horse with an artificial leg. He said she was a good candidate, and he would be willing to donate his services, so we would just have the cost of materials.
2) Straighten her leg surgically – this would make it fixed (straight) at the wrist joint, but she would still have normal function of her shoulder and elbow like she does now.
3) Amputate her leg – the length would depend on whether we were going to add a prosthetic
4) See if we can get her into a study North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine where they are pioneering Osseointegration Prostheses (permanently attached prosthesis) in the hope of making this available to people in the future.
Gracie is being trained as a (part time) assistance dog for our daughter, Ashley, who is 9 years old and has PDD-NOS, a form of autism. We want to minimize wear and tear on her other joints if possible.
Here is a picture of Gracie and another of Ashley and Gracie together.
You can read more about Ashley and Gracie here:
http://www.meil.....esigns.net .
Kim
Awww, look at little Gracie!
I don't know if you read that Comet's leg was to be amputated but the day of the amputation she was coughing and the vet wouldn't do it. It went to pneumonia and took a couple of months to get rid of it. By that time we realized that she liked to use it. She can move the shoulder and it moves the leg up and down. We didn't want to put her thru anything else and decided to not do it.
She grew taller than the leg so it stopped dragging.
If I had do-overs, yes I would have amputated. (it still wouldn't be easy because I love that leg!) Because of what you mentioned, it got in the way. I was/am on guard all the time with it. But with her being 12 years old, it was meant to be, I guess.
Whatever decision you make will be the right one! Keep us posted!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
meilimom said:
4) See if we can get her into a study North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine where they are pioneering Osseointegration Prostheses (permanently attached prosthesis) in the hope of making this available to people in the future.
Oh she is so darn CUTE!
As for the NC State program, I've heard lots of great things about it. If you did decide to go that route, she would be in incredible hands.
Whatever you decide, we're here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I had searched for Comet's pictures because of the option the vet described about straightening Gracie's leg and fusing the wrist joint. I was wondering if Comet's whole leg was fused and if that was the reason his leg got in the way. Do you think fusing Gracie's wrist would be a problem if her elbow and shoulder still work? Her leg would still be shorter because the bones below her elbow are shorter, but if her leg was straight she would have paw pads on the bottom instead of walking on her wrist like she does now. They would still consider some kind of boot so her leg reaches the ground.
It is a hard decision because medically there isn't any danger for her to keep it. I mean for those with dogs who have cancer, even though it is an agonizing decision, and an awful thing for the puppies and their pawrents to go through, you know taking the leg will lesson their pain and improve and extend the dog's life. Since she is still a puppy, tries to use her leg, and she doesn't have cancer, I am trying to figure out which option would give her the best quality of life and preserve her other joints.
Here are a few closeups of her leg from when she was younger so you can see how it bends. Her wrist is fused in a bent position now.
Thank you so much for your help!
Kim
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