Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Soo... I knew that this time wold come, but it seems to have come much more quickly than I had anticipated. Since coming back from an international meeting (2 weeks ago) ... Jersey has just been in steady decline. I could go into a lot of details about what is happening ... but it's hard to talk about it. But at this point, its so bad that he struggles to reposition himself in his bed.
I took him to the vet yesterday, and his veterinarian examined him and says that there are no outward/overt signs of disease (lungs sound good, eyes look good, color is good etc.) However, he is clearly in a significant amount of pain and has suffered significant wasting (approx. 26lbs since before surgery) despite how hard we've worked to get him to eat. He increased the pain medication, added gabapentin and said that we should watch him for a few days to see how he does and then I should starting thinking of picking a date.....
I came home and told the family... everyone is super sad. I tried the new dose of pain medication before bedtime last night and Jersey STILL cried and panted all of last night. I sat up with him, petting and massaging which calms him down... but he still couldn't seem to relax and fall asleep.
I had in my mind that I wanted to try to hold on and keep him for the weekend.... but the he started having accidents on himself. Like 3 last night. So, this afternoon, I called and scheduled an appointment for 4:45 on friday. I suppose, that if by some unlikely miracle things change ... I can reschedule ... (my mom wanted thursday, tomorrow... i'm not ready..)
I'm still super nervous about whether or not this is the right decision.... In my heart I feel that it's the right decision... but in some ways I feel that i'm giving up on him...
On the bright side, i'm getting him his own rotisserie chicken for dinner... he'll be happy about that part! LOL
anyways... this is where we are... and I just needed to write it down.
I am so sorry. I know this is cliche but it is the hardest part of our journey with them. I don't have any words of wisdom but just know that I am thinking of Jersey and your family.
Hugs,
Marla, Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Sorry to do this screenshot..having computer issues. I wanted ro send love and support as quickly as I could.
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!
I have thought of your Jerseyboy so many times the past few weeks and wondered how he was doing since you got home from vacation. This update breaks my heart. You are in the place no pet parent ever wants to be. Please know this whole community has you in a huge hug and is sending you much love.
Linda & Max
(((hugs)))) I remember that all too well.... "can we wait until Friday"... it's so hard. And painful. And heartwrenching. I wish I could have the right words but I don't... there are no magic words but there is support and love and you've got a TON of it coming you way. No matter what this week brings, we will always ALL be here for you.
Sending you love and hugs!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart
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
Oh Kim, I am so so sorry. I get it. I totally understand those emotions. Give him all the love you can.. Spoil him rotten these last few days. We all go through those 2nd guessing is it really time, should I or shouldn't I. I wish there was an easy decision.
We are here to support you no matter what. I wish the chat was up so we could talk to you about this decision. You said something about you feel like you are giving up. You aren't giving up. JerseyBoy didn't give up he won his fight. It's this crap disease it makes you relax then wham you get hit. Jersey knows you didn't give up on him. I am going to put it this way. The way I had to look at it with Sassy. She would have kept fighting for me. I had to make the selfless decision for her to let her keep her dignity and not fight because I wanted her to and I wanted her to keep going because I knew she would no matter what. No matter what I asked. She would have done it.
You know you wouldn't want him to suffer and quality is better than quantity. You want him to keep his dignity no matter how much we hurt. I am thinking of you during this hard time. As Marla said this is the hardest part of the journey because as much support as we have we all grieve differently and it all takes us different amounts of time to work our way through it.
xoxoxxo
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."
Oh, Kim....I'm so so sorry. You've both been on my mind and in my heart these last few days. Jersey is SO LOVED! You've known the day would come, but you can never really be prepared for it. To be strong enough to say good-bye, and release him from his pain, is the most loving thing you can do. My heart is breaking for you.....
Fate whispers to the Warrior,
"You cannot withstand the storm"
The Warrior whispers back,
"I AM THE STORM"
You are both warriors!
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
I'm very sorry Kim. Sadly this is what we sign up for when we give our hearts.
You are not giving up on Jersey Boy! You are giving him a gift, you are letting him go on ahead because in this world his body is done. You are not letting go of the important part of him, his spirit will live on forever in your heart. JB will walk always by your side.
The next days will be very hard, but you will get through them because you have made all the hard decisions and gotten this far in this journey. And because you love your boy.
We have been there and we understand. Lean on us as much as you need.
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
I'm so sorry Kim. I worried about this as we discussed his issues lately, but I didn't want to think the negative. When Brendol had had enough, I spent about 10 days taking her in to the vets insisting something was wrong. She was tired, she was panting, she wasn't happy. At the end, we did do xrays which showed lung mets, but those weren't causing her symptoms. To this day, I believe she had it in her spine. At the end, she could no longer stand. And it was extremely fast at that point, which I suppose in hind sight I am happy about for her. My heart is with you and Jersey boy during this period. I wish there were ways we could ease the pain of the loss and the doubt of making such a difficult decision. Have faith in yourself, you know your boy.
Karma, Addy and the crew, and always our angel Brendol
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
Kim ~ Like everyone else here, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kisses from Murphy, Cassie & Max
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
With lots of love and hugs coming your way Kim, we want you to know that you and Jersey and your Mom are in our thoughts. We are very, very sad for you and understand how hard this is. This final part of the journey is the most difficult yet the most compassionate act of love we can make yet it's hard to wrap our heads around it at the time, I totally understand. Just remember that you have been an incredible mom to him and he will always, always be by your side.
I'm so sorry.
{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
There isn't anything I can say that hasn't already been said. We all feel your pain.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
spent the day at home today ... he seemed to be doing a bit better this morning... but definitely worse by the afternoon. He's not comfortable, not himself and whining a lot not easy seeing him like this. These are our last 24 hours together.... ugh....
anyways, thanks for all of your messages.. they mean soo much ... i'm just trying to hold it all together over here.
Kim, sending you and Jersey Boy lots of peace and love from the Oaktown Pack. Going through those last days is so hard, you don't want them to end but you want to do the right thing. Everything I would have said has already been said so eloquently by others so just know that you and JB are in our hearts.
xoxo,
Martha, Codie Rae and the OP
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
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