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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Ozifish- so sorry that you and your Tungsten Blue (you must explain the name!) have to go through this, but you found an awesome resource for information. Don't hesitate to ask questions. We are only 2.5 weeks out from surgery, but there are many others here who are farther into recovery than my dog. If I may, I started a daily blog for my dog with the intention of it helping someone else going through amputation. The good and the bad. I blogged daily for 2 weeks and now will just update when I have something to add. There are many pages, but the last one has some highlights if you don't want to read the whole thing.
http://fionnsjo.....pawds.com/
Best wishes for a speedy, uneventful surgery and recovery!!
Nancy and Fionn
Nancy- mom to the FABULOUS Fionn. He rescued me in 2015 when he was 6.
Right front leg amputation at age 7 for osteosarcoma 10/6/16. Taken too soon 6/12/17. Read about our journey here:
http://fionnsjo.....pawds.com/
Hi there Mr Gibbs!
Don't have any advice re chemo, as we are lucky enough not to be facing Cancer, but did just want to say thanks for the update. I'm so pleased to hear how well Mr Gibbs has adapted to life on three and that he is back at the park enjoying life as he should be. I remember how concerned you were (as we all are) before the surgery that this might not be possible for him. It makes me really happy to picture him now, enjoying life again thanks to your courage, love and commitment.
Warmest wishes,
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Reading about Mr. Gibbs has given me strength, courage and hope. My 8-year-old Gabbar, diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, is due for amputation in a little under 48 hours. Reading your story reassures me that he will be fine, and back up on his feet. I hope Mr. Gibbs has a full recovery. I will be following your story closely as I decide on the next steps of treatment for Gabbar.
Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at
Thanks for thanks Jerry and and Meg for the good advice. He did good yesterday and did not eat much this morning. But hoping that will pass. He is a bit tired but that too should pass. I know I am doing all we can for him. He just gets mad at me when I leave him at the vet. But he is always glad to see me and come home to his family. As always it is worse on me than on him and I have to see past that. So we will keep on eye on him and post regularly.
Sorry to hear Gabber is in the same shape. I always feel sorry for him when I see him without the leg but would be way sorrier if I had to put him to sleep. Keep that in the back of your mind and that will help. I also am very protective over him with the other dogs we have. But two days ago he was wrestling and running around with the golden and I started to break up their fun because I Was afraid of him hurting his other front leg. But my wonderful looked at me and said " Why do you want to stop him from having fun, you are the only one that knows he has three legs, he has forgotten.
Again she is right. The hardest day will be when you see Gabber come out the first time. Just like others have told me, he will be out of pain and will adapt to it with your help. My email address is here. Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. I am not an expert, just have a bit of time in the trenches. Also this is a great group of people to be by your side.
wow, I'm late to the game here! So sorry you and Mr. Gibbs and Gabber and Ozfish are going through this. It most truly is a piece of crap disease as Sally says. When Isa had her surgery, I visited her the day after the surgery (vet kept her two nights), just so I could see the incision and wrap my brain around it. Definitely not pretty. Horrific is closer to it.
As for chemo, we just did our fifth round of carboplatin last week. Isa has barely batted an eyelash at the chemo, maybe some extra napping. And it seems she's handled it better/easier with each round. Our vet said four to six rounds and I've decided to hold at five for a number of reasons. all humans are different, all dogs are different. and dog knows, there are no guarantees for anything.
We had a rough recovery from surgery, some complications mostly due to her being an "older gal." but she's back to herself now and happy. I barely hesitated over the decision to amputate. I think I used the word before the vet did - one look at the x-ray told me everything I needed to know (and that x-ray is forever engraved on my brain). None of it is easy but it is way harder on us - we think too much.
Hugs, Teri and Isa
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
mrgibbs said
Thanks for thanks Jerry and and Meg for the good advice. He did good yesterday and did not eat much this morning. But hoping that will pass. He is a bit tired but that too should pass. I know I am doing all we can for him. He just gets mad at me when I leave him at the vet. But he is always glad to see me and come home to his family. As always it is worse on me than on him and I have to see past that. So we will keep on eye on him and post regularly.Sorry to hear Gabber is in the same shape. I always feel sorry for him when I see him without the leg but would be way sorrier if I had to put him to sleep. Keep that in the back of your mind and that will help. I also am very protective over him with the other dogs we have. But two days ago he was wrestling and running around with the golden and I started to break up their fun because I Was afraid of him hurting his other front leg. But my wonderful wife looked at me and said " Why do you want to stop him from having fun, you are the only one that knows he has three legs, he has forgotten.
Again she is right. The hardest day will be when you see Gabber come out the first time. Just like others have told me, he will be out of pain and will adapt to it with your help. My email address is here. Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. I am not an expert, just have a bit of time in the trenches. Also this is a great group of people to be by your side.
Never too late Teri. I hope this will help Gabbers family get through this and know they are making the right decision.
Ozfish please keep us updated on Gabber during this weekend. I know tomorrow is the day and it will make you sad but in two weeks you and Gabber will be glad you made the right decision. Please keep us updated.
After reading about Tungsten Blue I am ashamed I have not posted here in such a long time. Mr Gibbs is doing good and has his fourth chemo after Christmas. He is very active and full of life. Even though I Hurt to see him with only three legs, at least we still have him to be with. He still loves going to the park and even though he always over does it he has fun and a relaxing pill is always good. He seems now to be always very happy to see us if we come back from running errands and you would think we had been gone for years. I think he is as happy to be here as we are. I was so sorry to hear about Tungsten and makes me appriciate every day we have with or boy. Thank you all for all you have done and all the kind thoughts through this journey.
We can ALWAYS use some good news around here, so thank you for updating us on Mr. Gibbs! We celebrate together and we grieve together AND we have reason to hope together!
Hearing how well Mr. Gibbs is doing gives everyone new ro this journey hope!
The important thing is seeing Mr Gibbs (loooove that name and loooove his photo!) being so HAPPY!! That's what this journey is all about! You are doing a splendid job of making everyday count and staying nin the moment...Just like Mr. Gibbs!!
And goodness gracious, don't worry about posting! The important thing is to spend time enjoying Mr Gibbs and spoilng him!!
Bet Santa Claus is going to be really good to him this year! He's been a very, very good boy!! 🙂 🙂
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!
So glad to hear Mr. Gibbs is doing well! We always love the happy updates.
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.
That is fantastic news! Thanks for letting us know because this community always needs a hoppy tale like yours and Mr. Gibbs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Love this happy update! Your Mr Gibbs is a beautiful boy. Keep it up sweet boy!
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