Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We helped quad pug Tani across the bridge this afternoon at the ripe old age of 14 years 8 months. The Pug Girls, Tripug Maggie and Tani, are together again.
Tani has had a series of strokes/vestibular disease episodes over the past year. She bounced back quickly from the first few, then a bit slower from the last ones. She had another episode on Monday morning which at first appeared quite mild. But she was not able to stand or walk again.
Tani was quite a character, an alpha bitch personality who rarely met a dog she liked. She and Maggie were inseparable, but there were probably less than 10 other dogs in her lifetime that she liked. We called her the fun police- her mission at the park was to stop all dogs from playing. She was wild and reckless and did everything at full speed. My vet, Linda, always said that Tani did everything with enthusiasm. She would jump out of your arms or off of tables, her vet visits usually had to be broken into two sessions, she had a low tolerance for being touched or held. She could fight off two vet techs trying to take blood. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at 2, inflammatory bowel disease at 4, arthritis in her back at 6. She developed mast cell cancer at 7 and a collapsing trachea at 10, she went completely deaf when she was 11. She never let on that any of these things bothered her, none of them slowed her down.
She lived every day to the fullest and on her terms, and she almost made it to 15. Not bad for a 15 pound pug who wasn't supposed to make it much past 8 or 9.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Oh, Karen, I am so very sorry. They could live to be 100 and it still wouldn't be long enough. I wish peace and comfort to you in this sad time. Please know that we grieve with you. I say that sincerely - we are all family.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Karen - I am so very very sorry. I have been very fortunate in my life - all my dogs have lived to 14-16 and I know it doesn't make it any easier. But do know you gave her a beautiful, long life. Your pugs live the best lives of any dogs on the planet. They could not ask for a better home.
I am sending tons and tons of warm hugs to you tonight and to your dad - I know he had a great relationship with her.
xoxo always,
Erica
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 I am so sorry for your loss but like you said, they are together again. Your attitude and spirit is so positive!!! Tani definitely lived her life so positively and to the fullest.... she is definitely your girl!
Know that we are all holding you close(r) in our hearts tonight and in the days/weeks to come.
Much love,
alison with the spirit of shelby fur-ever in her heart(and little jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Karen,
I am so sorry to hear about Tani. 
It is never easy as you know and age doesn't matter when they are our babies. Tani lived a great life and she was loved by you & your dad a lot. Run free Tani. I know Maggie was there to greet her
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Karen,
I am so sorry for your loss of Tani....Wow, almost 15 years, but still never enough time. I know without a doubt that your Maggie was waiting for her at the Bridge, and all the other angel pups and kitties were waiting as well......Tani will learn to love all of them.
Keeping you in my thoughts tonight,
Bonnie and Angel Polly
Karen,
I'm so sorry to hear this. Tani sounded like she defied all odds, what a character. Even though she will miss you she will meet up with her best buddy Maggie and they will lay around and shoot the breeze. Very sorry little Tani moved on.
Penny, Blink, Hank and Spirit Maggie
Karen, I am so sorry to hear about Tani. Almost 15 years old! She had a wonderful Mama to take care of her through all of her setbacks ( which she defied all of). She truly was a character. I have this picture of her in my mind of her vet visits. May you find comfort in knowing that she is once again with her best friend Maggie. Hugs from, Lori, Ty and Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Only you Karen, could have me laughing through my tears at our beloved "alpha bitch who never met a dog she liked".
Tani definitely lived life with enthusiasm, guts, determination and always with a mischievous slant to everything she did. What a great way to pay tribute to her by sharing so much of who she is with us. And yes, you allowed her to be Tani right until it was time for her to join Maggie. Of course, she would have it no other way!
No one could have done more for Tani than you have...but I know you know that. You have given extended quality time to Tani and Stubborn Pub Maggie far beyond the medical world thought was ppssible. Your devotion to them...and their devotion to you...is what gave them the edge.
We know how badly this hurts and how it brings up losing Maggie all over again. The void just seems unbearable. PLEASE continue to share more of Tani with us. These Pugs of yours are so very, very xear. Maggie brought you to us. She knew you would carry on her legacy beautifully...and now you will do the same for Tani. You are a wonderful storyteller and I so enjoy hearing about these crazy Pugs of yours....perfect subjects.
Yeah, the Bridge just got a little bit more rowdy! As was already said, I KNOW Maggie was there to grett her..wagging that little Pug tail of hers non~stop. And she can hear Maggie barking for the first time in years!
Sendingnyou love and hugs tonight...and always..
Sally and My Eternal Light Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
RIP, Tani. We know that there is now a new sense of order at the Bridge. Tani has arrived to take charge. Karen, you are in our thoughts at this sad time.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Ohhhh Karen. I've been offline and just now caught up here, I'm soooooo sorry. I know this has probably got to feel like the end of an era but you're right, at least those girls are together now. That is a beautiful thought.
Tani and Wyatt shared so many pawsonality traits. Whenever you shared stories about her being "the fun police" (too funny!) I just couldn't help but crack up and also find reassurance that our bond with Wyatt would only get stronger, despite his "affection police" attitude. Tani's long, beautiful life and badass attitude is something we hold up as an example in this pack.
You are in our thoughts and hearts. May the memories from all those amazing years keep your heart comforted as you cope with a much quieter household. Hold Obie close and know that we are thinking of you.
{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh Karen...
You of all people, who have been such a great support to many of us here, know that our hearts break with you.... yet we laugh and chuckle hearing of her fighting off two vet techs and being the alpha bitch dog...
she was quite the girl... oh my.. wonder what is in store for our guys up there at the Bridge.. Alpha Bitch has arrived!!!! (dah da da da!!!!!) I can see her cape flapping as she stands over the meadow.. making sure nopawdy gets too out of hand... !!!
That is, after Maggie has found her and she has shown her around and introduced her to all those goofballs up there....
Run fast and wild Tani... try to catch those other doggers and kitts playing bone tag, and then take off again! After 14 years and 8 months of life down here.. you deserve the wonders up there!!
Hugs for your pugs...
Christine.. with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Karen I am so sorry. What a life Tani had, all those things happening against her and yet she made it to 15! She couldn't have done that without you. HUGS
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
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