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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Welcome home! I'm going to bet that he's now finally able to relax because the pack is together again. All that watchdog business is hard work!
If he's eating, peeing and poopin, those are all good signs. If you're still concerned, let your vet know. Otherwise though, remember that this is still really early in recovery. Hang in there, you'll get your Gibbs back to 100 pawcent in no time!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes Morning to all. To answer a few questions, I think Friday was just a bad day for him. He was not very active and getting him to eat has been a challenge. Saturday we took the other two dogs to the park. Gibbs gets upset when he knows they go and he can not. So once they were heading that way I loaded him in the van and we drove to the park. No running but a lot of excercise and all the familiar smells. He slept most of the rest of the day but I swear he was smiling in his sleep. He ate good this morning, Sunday, and has been motoring around all morning. He is now pilled up and resting. So all is good today. And as was stated I have to remember I did not do this to him, I did it for him.
Good Sunday to all...
Awwwww yay for fresh air and a little of the "normal" stuf that he loves. What great medicine! Sounds like it did wonders for both of you. Have a great Sunday yourself!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Now this is how to have a good Sunday...getting a good update on Mr. Gibbs! 🙂
There IS improvement!! And every "little" improvement is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT during recovery! And having that little break out in nature and being able to do something "normal" is a great way to perk up his appetite! Cheeseburgers are good appetite stimulants too!! 🙂
And as Mr Gibbs gets further and further along in his recovery....and becomes more spoiled than you, or he, ever imagined possible.....you will be more at peace that you did this for him!
Thanks for giving us a reason to smile this Sunday!
Hugs!
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!
He might have had a bit of a crash once his surgical meds left his system - my guy did. At about day five he became depressed, didn't want to move much and didn't really want to eat. After a couple of days, he started to improve. I saw a huge improvement after he got his staples out. Now, he's really active, eats well, and is as happy as can be. It sounds like your guy is doing really well and having a normal recovery so far.
Clyde gives him three paws up 
Kristin & Clyde
Just sitting around outdoors can be a real boost for our dogs. They love the smells, the sights, and I think it makes them feel normal again. Things will just continue to get better. Lawcat is right that once the staples come out, most dogs really perk 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.
Good Sunday all.
I have also joined the face book version of this and will be posting on both.
Another good week for Mr Gibbs. He has good days and some not so good days but all in all he is doing well.
Two trips to the park this week and even walked part of the way back to the house. I gave him a ride the rest of the way and I think that makes him mad. But I do not want him hurting himself because he forgot he only has three legs and had major surgery two weeks ago.
He is eating well and we have changed his food to a new kind that is supposed to be good for dogs with cancer. So am asking if anyone has tried it or is using it. It is called Canine Caviar.
mrgibbs said
I have also joined the face book version of this...
FYI: The Tripaws Facebook Group is not affiliated with Tripawds, but we're glad you are finding more support and feedback wherever you can!
We're happy to hear Mr Gibbs is doing well. It is still early in his recovery. Be sure to work in lots of core strengthening, balance work and stretching during his rehab.
Remember: Walking does not build strength, only endurance. For lots of helpful tips about the amount and type of exercise recommended for new Tripawds, see all our orthopedic posts, search all blogs here or download Loving Life On Three Legs .
Thanks for the update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Did a little googling on Cannine Caviar. This sounded kind of informative, plus it had links within to check out alkaline...which
http://dogfood......ne-caviar/
Also check out Dog Food Advisor. and the Whole Dog Journal.some interesting stuff there to.
Ad..one more thing to check out, The Dog Cancer Survival Guide for some more good suggestions on nutrition. Only problem is, after reading this stuff your head will probably be spinning like crazy!!
Keep on keeping on adorable Mr Gibbs
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Just thought I would catch you all up. Mr Gibbs is doing very well and has adapted to his tri paws life. He goes to the park and plays with his brother and really enjoys it. We bought him a dog floaty and he still loves to swim. So far so good. We have talked to an oncologist (sp) and they have recommended chemo. So many decisions and as I read about it here I am having mixed feelings as to if this is truly the right way to go. Seems to be different on ever dog and human. Any feed back would be appriciate. All in all he is good and no longer in pain. I am still very protective of him as I do not want him to hurt himself. Although he seems to know best and still jumps off the bed which always has been his favorite sleeping spot.
Thanks to all for staying with us during this trying time.
Hi Mr Gibbs and family 💗🐶
So lovely to hear from you and how marvellous your cutie is doing well and enjoying life on 3 👍🏼
Chemo is generally no sweat for a lot of dogs here, such as my girl who sailed through 6 sessions of carboplatin with zero side effects.
She took 1 Cerenia pill (for nausea) the morning of chemo and then 1 pill a day for 3 days after.
Even when dogs don't react as well as Eurydice did, the chemo effects are not remotely what they are for humans, including keeping their fur in place ✊🏼
Others will share their experience with you soon so stay tuned.
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to your sweetie pie ❤️❤️😘🐶
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thank you for sharing your experience. Gibbs will start tomorrow and I can only pray that he does as well as your pup. I will keep you all updated as we progress along in the hopes that this will help anyone else that is making this decision.
Thanks to all.
My Otis also did reasonably well on chemo. He usually slept much of the day of and day after each treatment. He had explosive diarrhea (outside) after round 1 - we were given a pill (metro something) which cleared it up right away. He did have mild nausea (evidenced by excessive drooling and lip licking) after rounds 2 - 4, which were handled with Cerenia and Pepcid A/C. I found that it helped to start him on boiled chicken and white rice the day of his chemo, and for three to four days after, gradually mixing kibble back in. Overall, none of these side effects were so bad as to make me question whether to continue, but I was also glad when he was done.
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.
We have talked to an oncologist (sp) and they have recommended chemo. So many decisions and as I read about it here I am having mixed feelings as to if this is truly the right way to go. Seems to be different on ever dog and human. Any feed back would be appriciate.
That is wonderful news! Yay! Sure sounds like you're both living life to the fullest. Of course we're here with you always, wouldn't miss your updates for anything.
As for chemo, you're right. It's different for everyone and there are no right answers. We opted out because of many circumstances that told us it wasn't right for Jerry and our pack. But others here opt in because it's right for them. It really depends on your situation, how much Mr. Gibbs tolerates going to the vet, and whether or not you can live with the decision to do it, or not.
Will you regret not doing it no matter what the outcome? That's the big question, because even chemo won't guarantee longevity, nothing can. So you have to feel comfortable with your choice in the end. Mr. Gibbs will never be mad at you no matter what you decide. Were there times we felt regret at not doing it? Sure, when mets were discovered we beat ourselves up a bit, and then after he passed. Could he have had more time if we did chemo? Maybe. But nobody knows for sure. What made us feel better was letting go of trying to control so much that is uncontrollable. I hope that makes sense.
The thing about chemo is if you decide to do it, and it doesn't work out, you can always stop. Quality overrides quantity in this situation and even oncologists agree that quality of life is #1. Most dogs do fine on it, however.
Have a heart to heart with Mr. Gibbs. I know it sounds nutty but if you sit quietly with him for a while, and ask him what he wants, odds are he'll let you know.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just read the last page or two of this post as we are getting ready for my Tungsten Blue to undergo his surgery this Friday. He has been hopping around on 3 legs already with one of his back legs inflicted with OSA, diagnosed about 2 months ago. He is still very active even though he is lugging around dead weight...I'm sure he will be happy to have it removed as he will be able to move more freely, and be pain free. I'm sure I will have heaps of questions on the day he comes home from surgery.
Tungsten Blue, diagnosed with osteosarcoma August 2016, rear leg removed 28 October 2016, left us on 12/13/16, he will be greatly missed.
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