Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello all,
I started volunteering at a local dog shelter here in Spain this summer. There was one dog there who really touched me; an older Podenco cross with a horrible limp on her front leg. I was told that she had injured it between three and five years ago but there was no money for treatment, so she had just had to get on with it. I knew I couldn't leave her there to live out her life in pain and eventually die in her concrete cell, so I fundraised for surgery, not even knowing what that surgery would be, but assuming amputation would be a strong option. Despite it being completely impractical for me, I decided I had no option but to legally adopt her to get her treatment started, and I would then find her a forever home afterwards. I have three dogs already and can't manage a fourth. But it was obvious no-one would adopt her in her damaged state, so I stepped up and did just that to get her on the road to a pain-free life.
After lots of tests, cancer was thankfully ruled out, but the damage to her elbow, caused by a nasty fracture, was too much to repair so the decision to amputate was made. She had the surgery last Thursday and was back home with us the next day.
She has been functioning essentially as a tripawd for all these years and she's already bounced back from surgery. My problem is she wants to do too much, and has already sneakily followed me upstairs, causing me to freak out about her staples. Luckily, no damage done, but I have to be really careful not to repeat it.
She obviously doesn't have much in the way of fitness as she was confined to a kennel for so many years, but I had started building this as much as possible in the weeks before surgery so hopefully this has stood her in good stead. She is just the most amazing little dog, such character for someone who has been locked away for most of her life with very little human contact and no enrichment.
The best news is that my parents have offered to take her, so once her recovery is complete, I will be taking her to the UK where she will live the rest of her life in the lap of luxury.
This is a video I made of her progress up to just before the surgery. I'm looking forward to reading more success stories and getting some advice on how much or little she should be doing until she has her staples out.
Ohhhhh what a beauty! Thank you so very very much for all your hard work and all those good people who are giving her a chance at the life she deserves. 
What a beauty, I love that white on her face, she's so regal looking. And SO lucky to find her way to you and your parents! You can tell she was relieved to leave the shelter and be with people and dogs who love her. WOW!
I'm so glad you joined us. Where in Spain are you? It's a pretty country, we've been there once to visit the town my family originates from, Agreda. We toured all over on rented motorcycles and found the country stunning. Can't wait to go back some day.
So it sounds like she is doing pretty well just a few days out of surgery. You're doing right by trying to keep her calm and mellow until those stitches/staples are out. And yep, clearly she was already a Tripawd from long before you met so she is probably going to do great. I encourage you to visit our Tripawds Gear blog and Tripawds Downloads blog , which have tons of exercise tips and ideas as also found in our e-book Loving Life On Three Legs . Basically the number one thing you can do for her is work on core/abdominal exercises that strengthen her mid section and rear, and try as much as you can to build up slowly with walks and activity. I know it's hard with the other dogs around and she may or may not tire out easily. She may not though considering she wasn't using that leg at all. I watched the video and could see that she was clearly a Tripawd already. So you may not have too much of a recovery road, other than managing the incision.
We hope your parents are online so we can follow along with Conchita's new life! And if you'd like to add photos, here's a post about adding images to the Forums. Let us know if you'd like assistance.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
A beautiful, heart-warming story. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving Senorita Conchita a happy pain-free life.
I just wanted to say welcome to the Tripawd International family. I don't have any advice as I have a tripawd cat who chose to flop around the floor to escaping her room and racing around the house and then escaping the house for over 24 hours. That's one thing I'd emphasize is to ensure no lounging around in soil or grass while the stitches are still in.
Jerry gave you lots of great advice. Looks like you have lots of reading to do.
Hugs and scratches to the pack,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Oh wow I LOVE happy endings She looks like such a sweet girl, and knowing that your parents will have you is just such a BONUS!! That video was just fantastic, I had tears and a smile at the same time. I also have a tripawd cat, and he is ... I think officially semi-domestic now 
He was a stray feral. I commend you for having the heart and the drive to help this little girl even though you have 3 of your own. She looks very adoptable, and she looks like she just adores you for saving her from living in a concrete cage for the rest of her painful life
Now she will be pain free and have a wonderful life, you are just pawsome!! Like they have said, keep it clean, and try to keep her low key for a while. She is probably just beside herself to be in such a wonderful place right now like she never knew existed. Good luck with her and I hope you are all able to keep in touch so we can follow her progress!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Okay, I'm toast! I'm a pile of mush! Your song choice and the exquisitely edited video say it all!!! OMD!!!
I can't even think in terms of advice and suggestions right now because Im just sooooo touched by Conchita and the love and compassion you are showing her Thankfully Jerry, Axkie and Kerren could ut forth some tips!.
I am so in love with Conchit! Everything about her..her dsiny "scalloped" ears...her beauw frosty mug...thise sseet, so sweet,,beautiful rown eyes.....HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE!!
Thank yiu and your parents a million times over for showing this sweet girl what love and joy feel like 🙂
Love and 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!
Thank you all for your kind words.
Conchita is doing really well, and her mischievous character is returning after a couple of quiet days post-surgery. She's bouncing around like a loony, apparently oblivious to the fact she's had major surgery.
STOP IT!!! SROP IT!!! I DON'T THINK MY HEART CAN HANDLE ALL THIS CUTENESS AT ONCE!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I ABSOLUTELY ADORE SENORITA CONCHITA 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
And this is still very eaely on and it gets better and better! Evn through recovering from MAJOR SURGERY, she has to feel so much better with thst bum leg gone! 🙂
I'm sooooo glad she has her furever home eithnyiu and your precious pack
Keep these great updates AND ADORABLE pictures coming!
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!
Look at that little angel!!! I am so glad things have gone smoothly for you. I bet laying out in the sun for her felt like heaven Thank you for the post and pictures, they are beautiful! You family must be getting anxious for their new girl to come home You have made her a very happy puppy, way to go on doing such an awesome job
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Here's a little update; day nine post op and we've started going out for very short walks. She's loving it 🙂
MADE MY DAY!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAY FOR SENORITA CONCHITA!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 Cannot get enough of this sweet girl!! I just adore her!! I adore all your pack! And applause to the vlack dog in the video who sat so patiently waiting for his turn while the Senorita was getting her treats! 🙂 🙂 Merry Myrtle would jave snatched them right out of her mouth if she didn't get hers first!
Soooop happy to see how well she's doing. Still take it sloooow and easy Senorita Conchita. Your miscles are still adjusting and fro t leggers take quite a pounding at first.
And look at you sitting all pretty!!! Such a smart girl!! 🙂 You can see how happy she is in her eyes....she's actually smikr with her eyes! Soooo sweet!
Thanks for the video! She's just doing wonderfully well!! 🙂 She's a great inspiration for newcomers!
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!
Awwww she looks so relieved and thrilled to get some fresh air. I love her sweater! She really defies her age, what a sweetie.
At 9 days out she's still pretty early, so the shorter the better for her off-leash walks. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Tripawds Gear blog , Tripawds Amazon blog and our e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs , for lots of tips about fun low-impact games you can play and managing fitness needs for older Tripawds.
Thanks for the lovely update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh boy, you made my day ☀️
What a sweet girl 💓 and clever too ☝🏼
She is a total darling and so are you 💗
Senorita Conchita could not have found a better family 💕
Keep up the good work 💫😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
Look at how happy she is! You have done a wonderful thing here, look at your girl!! I love her sweater, she just looks so happy and content. Keep up the wonderful work, she is just glowing!
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Her ears absolutely KILL ME!!!!
She is so clearly feeling better after surgery, that leg must have been terribly painful for her. And you can certainly see how happy she is to have a pack of her own.
She looks great in the video- but I wanted to second what Jerry said about keeping the walks short. Our surgeon said only short, leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks after surgery.
Can't wait to see more videos!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks all! This was literally a wander about 50m from the house and back again, if that. Hopefully that's not over the top? It's on our land, and she's never been on a leash, so I've not properly introduced that yet, while she's still recovering. When I have had her on it pre-surgery, she froze, so I have a bit of work to do there to get her happy with it.
The jacket is actually a towelling drying jacket from my puppy, but it's so much nicer than having to wear a cone of shame !
The other three stars of the show are Shadow (yellow), Willow (black) and Luna (aka Squidge, chocolate). I initially said I had to find her an immediate foster home because there's no way I could take her; Shadow and Willow are both anxious and can be reactive towards other dogs. When I brought Squidge home at 8 weeks of age, she had to be kept away from the other two for two months because they hated her. So, obviously it couldn't work bringing in an adult stranger into a small house. So, I had a few options available, but the day we brought her out of the shelter, we had to have her with us; I didn't want her in there another day. We put her behind a baby gate
in a bedroom off the living room, all nice and comfortable. We brought the dogs into the living room one at a time to "meet" her, and they were all pretty ambivalent, so we gave her a bit of space while we went outside. A few minutes later, she appeared through the door, having somehow got through or over the baby gate
! I squeaked and ran to intercept the other dogs, but was too slow. By the time I got there, they'd all had a sniff and were absolutely fine. I was gobsmacked. The older two do not treat other dogs like that, especially in their own home! After that, she stayed in the sun with us until it went down - that's the picture on the preview of the first video, just a short while after she came home. I am so proud of my trio of Labs at how they have been with her. 
Since I've been told it's not permitted to post without photos (), here are some really bad quality ones I took last night. We'd lifted her jacket up to give her tummy rubs, and she was falling asleep while we did. She just couldn't keep her eyes open, and her tongue fell out the side of her mouth and stayed there for ages. Bless her!
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