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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Yaaay Ozzy! That's pawesome, keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The ebooks were a huge help for me and extremely informative. When we finally brought Leland home (3 wks and 2 days post amp today) I told family members there was to be no crying around him. I just wanted him to feel our happiness that he was home and our support that he was going to figure out how to get around on 3 legs.
Ozzy will get it and you'll be surprised on what he can do.
Sending you and Ozzy well wishes for a speedy recovery!! 
Sahana & Leland
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!
Sending you well wishes for Leland too! Each day gets a little better and I remind myself that we could have lost him totally not just one leg. Feeling very appreciative that there is a place to come like this. There are no better people in the world than animal lovers.
Welcome. My pug Maggie lost a back leg to mast cell cancer. She did fine on three for almost 4 years after the surgery...after she got used to the idea. Maggie was stubborn and didn't like change, she was a slug for weeks after her surgery. But that is unusual, most pups bounce back much faster, and the young ones really seem to recover quickly.
My guess is the biggest problem you will have with Ozzy is the repercussions from being attacked. He may be fearful around other dogs, or become aggressive. I have a dog park friend who has a Yorkie who was attacked at the park and was hurt badly, Max is the pups name. Max is fine with dogs he knows, but is not at all interested in new dogs, and he used to be the park greeter.
You are certainly on the right track with your attitude. One of the mistakes I made with Maggie was missing the things she couldn't do anymore. Turns out she didn't care, and she was very creative in figuring out how to do what she wanted to do. Dogs have a way of just getting on with their lives, taking on what comes as it comes. When we two leggers learn to do that we call it being more dog!
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks for the encouragement Karen. I thought of what will happen when he sees another dog, so many changes for him. It is not my reality yet because he isn't home with me but I am going to spend the next few days until he gets home getting the house ready for him. I washed and fluffed up all his blankets and cried. I need to get all this damn crying out of my system because I know I am lucky that he is here and this wasn't because he was sick. It just is sad.
On a happy note my little Ozzy ran over to one of the girls working at the vet office. I guess he just wants to be like the other dogs. He was tired but he did it. 
You go Ozzy!!!! That is fantastic that you're getting things figured out on how to get around and so quickly. I'm sure he was just loved on by the people at the vet's office when he showed he could run to them.
Keep up the good work Ozzy and you'll be back to your old self in no time!
Sahana & Leland
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!
He will have such a great homecoming!
You're right, get the crying out of the way now. I know it's hard not to drive yourself crazy thinking of all of the "what ifs" that could have prevented such an awful thing, but when you see Ozzy you'll realize that he's not focused on the past, just the present, and what a gift that is right?!
Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well, I don't know where time goes but Ozzy is as fiesty as ever. In fact, we are having a real hard time to get him not to jump off furniture he even carefully went downstairs when the door was accidently left open. His wound was looking really good but he took a little spill a few days ago and skined his stump. I worry so much about infection. He has a little shirt on but we wonder if he should wear a little sling or something. Any suggestions?
Ozzy is sooooo darn CUTE!!!
Good to hear everything is going well and Ozzy is so happy!
Don't have any first hand experience as far how to protect his stump,.other than the little shirt sounds like a great idea. Hopefully others will cime in.
Love hearing about Ozzy and so delighted he's doing well!
Hugs to you and Ozzy!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Sounds like an awesome recovery! Those little, young guys are hard to regulate, though. We've been there! Just do your best to keep him quiet and watch the site. If something develops, you' can catch it early and administer new drugs or bandage changes...but I get ahead of myself! Don't fear - your little man is gonna rock it!!!
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Oh Ozzie is such a little cutie pie! We have a Morkie (Maltese/Yorkie) in addition to our Tripawd girl, Emma. They are so resilient. I think they have all of a big dog's heart concentrated in a little package.
As far as covering the stump - my vet recommended that I not put a bandage on - just keep it clean and let it get air. If you have concerns, I would ask their advice. So glad for that spunk and courage that they all seem to possess. As many have said, the dogs handle this better than we do!
Keep posting! We love to hear updates 
Gamom & Emma
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