Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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I haven't been great keeping up with the site, and I apologize. You all have been so kind with my questions and concerns. After Gus's amputation on 1/26, he did great. He seemed to get along just fine, but since he was an old guy, arthritis was setting in. He had a hard time pottying without falling over. Part of it is that he got pretty spoiled, and quite honestly, we were happy to spoil our guy. Over the weeks, he seemed to eat less and less. We took him to the vet and they gave us some soft food that he wasn't interested in. He got extremely bloated and could hardly breathe. Last week they gave him an antibiotic in case he had a bug, but we didn't want to do any more testing on him. We also took him back in to the vet for a random oozing sore he had on his back. Over the weekend, he developed several more sores, and his breathing was labored. Last night he fell trying to come into the house after pottying. Blood everywhere from scraping his leg. It was at that moment that we decided we weren't being fair to him. He has no life. He can't do anything that he loved anymore. He lived for his treats, and he didn't even enjoy those anymore. He looked at me like "help me mom". We made the call this morning and we were with him, loving on him, until his last breath. He was such a loyal dog, our best friend. My heart is aching like it never has before, and the tears just won't seem to subside. I know we did the best thing for him. He's now running wild and free.
Again, thank you so much for your kindness. I know each one of you understand the hurt I am feeling at this time. Give your pups an extra hug tonight! 
I'm so very, v ery, very sprry. That feisty little Gus jumped into our hearts with your first post. Know that we all cry with you. Whether you
ppst one time or a million times, Gus beca.e our family instantly.
I know, we all knlw, how hard this was for you to write today as you tried to type through your overflow of tears. We understand.
I'm going to co e back in a bit when I can get my tears to subside. I can't type very well without tears, and it's almost unintelligible with tears....and the same go for my thoughts.
Just KNOW, with every fiber of your being, just KNOW that you did everything possible for your Gus...EVERYTHING!!! And you @oved him enough to release him when he was ready to go back home to the Bridge. Gus k ew he could count on you for that and that gave him such peace.
I'm coming back, but I just want to send you love and hugs and more love and more hugs. Oh, and trust me, he had a wheelbarrow fuel of treats waiting for him at the Bridge!!
With so much love
Sally and My Eternal Light Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
We are so sorry about sweet Gus...
you are a wonderful mom and so In sync with what he was asking you to do. It's not easy or even fathomable that has Tripawd moms/dads we have to figure out when/how but I'm sure we'd all agree it was right and dignified. To get me through Zeus' passing I often put myself in a painful no more quality situation and I'd never want to be alive, ever, in those circumstances. I know God is good and I know we will all be together again! I will ask my sweet Angel boy to go get Gus and show him where the treats are! Zeus will love him I'm sure...XO
with love and prayers for you,
Deb, Belle and Angel Zeus
Loving them enough to let them go is by far the hardest part of this journey with our furfaces. It is the last and greatest gift we have left to give them but oh how it breaks our hearts. Gus knew he was so loved and he counted on you to give him the last gift when it was time. All our warriors and princess warriors that went before the beautiful Gus greeted him upon arrival where he was young healthy and whole once again. I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope when your grief lessens you will remember the glorious times you had with Gus throughout his life and they will bring a smile to your face. Fly like the wind Angel Gus you have so earned those wings. Much love & many hugs at this hardest of times.
Linda & Spirit Mighty Max
I am so sorry to hear about Gus. This is the hardest part of our journey. Our grief is our own even though we have support. There will be good days and there will be bad days. No one can tell you when or how long it will hurt. Just that it hurts. It takes time shorter for others and longer for some others.
I still have moments that I miss my girl so bad it hurts and it is going on 3 years. It took a while before I could even look at her pictures on my computer. Now I look at them and smile. The memories of her smile and never fail attitude kept me going.
Watch for signs from Gus. He will let you know that he is ok. Sometimes it takes awhile for us to see them and sometimes it takes our babies to smack us on the head to see those signs. He is 100% healthy & happy and will greet you at the Bridge when its time.
Run Free Gus til you meet your mom at the Bridge.
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."
I am so sorry to hear about Gus. You can rest assured that our own Gentleman Gus was waiting there for him. I can just hear them introducing themselves.."Hello Gus. I'm Gus. Let me show you where all the best spots are. But first we have to stop by Hannah's welcome booth. She has the very best deer poop you ever tasted!"
Your heart and home will seem empty for a while, but soon the good memories will make their way to the surface and fill up all those empty spaces.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel, Gentleman Gus, and the Labradork
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!
My heart and condolences go out to you, I am so very very sorry. Please, no need to apologize for not being around, you were out making the most of every precious minute you had with your sweet pup, that's what counts and it's what gave him the best life he could ever hope for with his favorite people on the planet. What a lucky, lucky boy.
Setting our beloved animal's spirit free is the hardest thing we as pet parents will ever do. But moving forward with it when we know there is no getting better, is the bravest act of love and compassion we could ever make. You done your boy right, you were there for him throughout his life up until his last breath on this earth. Be proud that you were able to say goodbye without undue suffering, you gave him the kindest, most loving farewell (for now).
We would love to hear more about Gus so if it helps your heart to heal, please, come back and share stories and photos with us OK?
Sending lots and lots of hugs your way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi mom2gussy, I am so sorry for your losing sweet older Gus ..... Being there for him in his final hours of life, is the best gift you could give to him.
We all really do understand your sense of immense loss and heartbreak, it is a grief that can be so deep, the black hole it leaves is un-ending. I know it is so very hard right now, but hopefully in time, happy memories of the joyful life you shared with Gus, will eventually ease the terrible pain in your heart.... The important thing now is to take the time to grieve, and know you have many friends here to help you through. My own girl has been gone for 2years, and not a day goes by that I don't think of her and miss her like crazy, and like the others have said, our angels are all there welcoming Gus over the Bridge.... 💜
I am keeping you in my thoughts..... 🐾
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu
I'm so very sorry for your loss
Fly High Sweet Gus!
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
I am so sorry for your loss.... it is the heartbreaking end to this journey and we all grieve with you.
Hugs and love,
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
I'm so sorry for your loss of your beloved Gus...
This is truly one of the hardest journeys to go on and we all understand the hurt in your heart. Just know that Gus was welcomed to the Bridge by all his Tripawd brothers and sisters that have gone before him and he'll be waiting there for you when it's your time to leave this earth.
Keeping you in my thoughts
Sahana and her Angel Leland and Lucian too
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Bless your heart. Very sorry to read about your loss. Remember, time doesn't exist at the Bridge. You'll be with him in a blink of an eye.
xoxo
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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