Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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By the way, I have always thought that the right fur baby shows up when it is supposed to. Not always something we control or decide. Just when the time is right. I know you work, but another short term option might be to be a volunteer dog walker at a local humane society. It is hard for some of them to give the big dogs the amount of exercise they truly need.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
I am so sorry.... I know how hard and painful this ... grief is such a lonely thing... while I had lots of friends, I felt very alone.
I would agree that maybe volunteering might help ... I was going to walk dogs on the weekends and then Jasper plopped into my life! I could still go walk dogs but I got lazy. LOL
Sending you hugs!!!
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
I was also going to suggest maybe trying to foster. There really isn't a lot of cost involved in fostering - just food. Usually the rescue group that you're working with pays for any veterinary services that are needed, you provide love, socialization, food and when it's ready for adoption, take it to the adoption fairs. Maybe a cat would be a good fit. It's a thought.
We fostered a puppy one time - ugh, I thought we were going to be stuck with that darn dog forever! She was rotten lol She wanted to be the dominant dog, but was just 12 weeks old. Cassie (who is definitely our dominant dog!) and Murphy were great at putting her in her place. She chewed up the cord to our carpet cleaner ($50), a hole in the fabric of our recliner, various shoes, etc. We had her about 6 weeks and just about house-trained when she finally got adopted. Sort of bitter-sweet, but she needed to be the only dog.
Hugs!!
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
otisandtess said
By the way, I have always thought that the right fur baby shows up when it is supposed to. Not always something we control or decide. Just when the time is right. I know you work, but another short term option might be to be a volunteer dog walker at a local humane society. It is hard for some of them to give the big dogs the amount of exercise they truly need.
thank you, I agree it comes as it should, I am not there yet, despite the emptiness, emotionally Im not balanced and I feel a responsibility to my future fur-baby to be a bit more balanced 1st.
Yes they do need lots of time, Neka used to get 2hr walks a day even with my work schedule, she was high energy, and then when old enough she went next to me when I rode my horse, so like minimum 2hr like 5days a week of hard hiking; if not longer.
Angel Neka
7/4/2003-4/5/2016
2.5yr 3x cancer warrior survivor
thanks for all the suggestions everyone.
As enticing as it seems, and my nurturing side feels the need to be filled; I am emotionally not there yet. I know I will eventually be. I don't want to make an impulsive decision out of heart ache either. Which a part of me feels borderline I could do.. I need to still wrap my head around things despite how hard and fur-lonely I feel...
All my babies have found me in my life and always at specific times, so I can only think that for this moment as hard as it is, Im suppose to be feeling this emptiness. I don't understand the reasons as it seem torturous, but I am trying to accept.
with due time. with due time.
Steph and my Angel
Angel Neka
7/4/2003-4/5/2016
2.5yr 3x cancer warrior survivor
It's wonderful that Neka had so much joy being outside in nature with you and your horse. Wjat a great life for her.
Yeah, things will unfold as they should as far as a furbaby showing up by your side. Translation: when Neka decides its time!
You've assessed your emotional state very well. To recognize you are not emotionally "balanced" enough right now is yet another testament to the great steward you are.
Sending you love
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!
Hi Stephanie,
I haven't been on for a while because I just went through what you did with your sweet Neka on 4/1. I just read through your posts, and I can tell you that I felt exactly the way that you did-the guilt. I kept thinking that I did it too early and then I realized that I had never asked the vet about a steroid shot to help her get up. Why didn't I do that and then give her more time to recover over the week-end???? I even called the vet and told them how I felt. They told me that they have a very strict protocol that they have to follow when deciding to let a dog go. She told me that they never would have done it if they didn't feel it was more than appropriate. I still needed more time to process that (you can see what I wrote under Coping with Loss- I had to let my warrior princess, Lily, go today. I so understand as do any of us who have lost our furbabies how devastating the loss is. You went above and beyond for your Neka-your love and caring was so evident. It seems like we grab on to the one more thing that we could have done-then the guilt comes. I'm feeling slightly better about the guilt; it still pops up from time to time. I just miss my Lily so, so much, as I know that you miss Neka. Please know that you are not alone, and I totally understand how you feel.
Thinking of you and sending hugs,
Joan and my angel, Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing. No need to reply if you don't want to, but know that you and Neka are still in our thoughts.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
otisandtess said
Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing. No need to reply if you don't want to, but know that you and Neka are still in our thoughts.
hello,
thank you for checking in, really, really means alot.. I am doing ok, Ive been absent for a while, IDK why, just some numbness and going through the motions and then I got some kind of spring virus last week, Im sure possibly from a month of added emotional drainage and stress, my immune system just crashed. Its been like 4-5 years since Ive been sick. It was a very, very hard week, the first time, I had to sit still and stay home due to totally "sicky-exhaustion" in an empty bed with no nosey pup, poking to check on me...so hard week last week, kind of re rubs it in my face all over again. But Im back into the routine (overworking) this week. my surroundings still show as if she lives here, but Im fine with that, I dont feel rushed; Im just existing.. which is fine.
Ive got all these things on my mind, I feel I need to do, I want to send a letter to each vet that helped us out, there are many due to my extreme multi consultations and info..lol.... I need to still post on here about her electrochemotherapy to hopefully help other dogs and owners who more than likely werent given that option yet... I want to get Nekas page going for the tripawds, for the puppy up walk, Ive been telling people so theyre kind of waiting so i need to get that up....
IDK maybe Im filling myself with all these things as a subconscious way of denial... some wierd coping strategy. No doc appointments no running my budget over and over, so maybe I dont know how to do "nothing"...lol
again, thanks for checking in.. I need to get back involved here.. just been exhausted.
Angel Neka
7/4/2003-4/5/2016
2.5yr 3x cancer warrior survivor
Grief takes time. I remember the numbness and the "busy-ness" from when my Mom passed. Take your time to work through the grief (and believe it or not, in my garage I still have the collar and a couple of toys from a dog that passed 10+ years ago. We never let Otis or Tess play with them, because they were Loma's. It's not something I think about a lot, but also doesn't seem right to do anything but keep them). I would love to meet you at PuppyUp, so get that page up!😀
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Take your time ... there is no time limit on grief.... I definitely know that. I am over 2 years since I lost Shelby and I just now feel like really living again. Not that it takes everyone that long but it's personal. There was definitely a period where I felt like I was going through the motions and just existing - even after I got the new little dog! She gave me a reason to get up in the morning but definitely I was just living life to live not for joy.
I still have my moments but I can say I am better. I never let Jasper play with Shelby's stuff. It was huge when I let jasper have one of Shelby's old beds ... I kept her beds that she passed on in my car and finally gave them to Jasper to make her feel more secure in the car and it did help. It was like her angel sister was sending her energy...
Take your time. Be kind to yourself. And know that you are always in our hearts ...
Much love!
Alison With Spirit Shelby 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
I totally understand the "not knowing how to do nothing", though I've not experienced it yet. Sometimes I let my mind wander to the day that Nitro isn't here anymore, what it will feel like to not obsess over every little thing, to not think about bone cancer, meds, vet appointments. I have no idea how that will feel, but probably it will feel like what you're going through.
Was glad to see your update, I think about you a lot, and look forward to meeting you in September. I'm already preparing...bought a GPS for my car, cuz I suck at big city driving! And I had a t-shirt made with Nitro's pic on it that says "DOBEMOM" on the front and "TRIPAWDS ROCK" on the back. I really wish I could bring him to the walk, but he does not play well with other dogs, and I feel it would be too stressful for him. We'll see, maybe if the hub can get the day off it might be doable, as Nitro behaves when his dad is around.
Take care of yourself
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
There are no "weird coping strategies" here. Do whatever you need ro do to.get from.one mome to the next. And don't "rush" anything. If, and when, it feels right, you'll make a post, you'll send.those. notes...or not. Nothing is "required", okay?
Now,that said,Neka does have an incredible legacy of hope and perseverance to be told for anyone starting this.journey. And you're right, electrochemotherapy is not something we hear much about and her story needs ro be told.
Sorry you got sick. You have been through so much emotionally, physically and psychologically. You were exhausted on every level. I hope the "imposed" rest helped to restore your body.
Has Neka given you any signs yet?
You are in our hearts and thoughts
Love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
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