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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After months and months of CT scans, vet visits, X-rays, and 2 biopsies our 6-year-old British lab Jack was diagnosed with osteosarcoma last Wednesday. Chest X-ray looks clear, so we have made the difficult decision to amputate his leg this Friday. Any advice that you all have would be much appreciated.
Hi Jack and Family, welcome. We're sorry you had to join this club, but we're glad you're here so we can help you along. You'll learn that to Jack, it's just a matter of getting rid of that bad leg and moving on with life. To you, it's an emotional roller coaster. Humans always take it harder than the dog or cat. So stick around, we'll help you see that there IS life after the diagnosis and amputation!
Have you stopped by Jerry's Required Reading List ? Or the Tripawds Start page ? Those are the first places we recommend visiting to get the best tips on surgery preparation and recovery. A few of my own include:
Tripawd-proof your home. If you have slippery floors, put down as much traction as you can. The more confident Jack is when he returns home, the happier you will all be.
Ask your vet about Jack's pain management routine. Find out what drugs he will be given, what are the potential side effects, and who to contact after hours should it appear that Jack needs more or less medication.
Be More Dog . Remember that all Jack wants is to feel good again. He won't dwell on the past, think about the future, or mourn the loss of his leg. All he wants is to keep on keepin' on and for you to be happy. Your emotions will set the tone of his recovery. The more pawsitive you are, the better off and happier he will be.
Stay tuned for more pawesome advice from our community!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome.
I'm sorry cancer has brought you and Jack here, but this is the best place to be when facing this journey.
Is Jack losing a front or back leg?
My pug Maggie lost her rear leg to mast cell cancer, and yes it was a tough choice to make. But once I went through the options it was really the only path for us to chose. After surgery Maggie's prognosis was poor, 6 to 9 months with chemo. Maggie lived almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell cancer. Not everyone is so lucky of course, but what I learned was to be optimistic when facing tough times. Be realistic, but have hope!
Jerry gave you some great links and information, let us know what specific questions or concerns you have. We have been where you are now and can help get you though!
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
While post amp recovery is not always a straight line or completely smooth path, I believe your Jack will surprise you!
To me, Jerry has hit the top three trifecta - traction , pain management strategy and "Be More Dog ". And lean on the experience and support you can find here - it is invaluable.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Hi Jack and family,
I am sorry you find yourselves here but now that you found us you're part of the Tripawds family and we will all help you and hold your hand and paw all the way.
You've got great advice already, I would add wearing a TShirt to protect the incision and a soft harness over it, if Jack is losing a front leg.
The initial days and sometimes weeks can be challenging but remember recovery doesn't last forever and Jack will surprise you and show you how great life can be on three.
In the meantime keep us updated and ask any questions, big or small, we're right by your side.
Sending you lots of hugs and cuddles to your cutie 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 :-)
Just catching up on your very handsome boy Jack!!
You already have great jnput!! The only thing I would add is, when you gompick Jack up after surgery, just look into his druggy eyes and tell him what a good boy he is!!! Don't even bother to draw attention to his incision, he sure isn't concerned about it!!! He just wants to go home and be with you!!
STAY CONNECTED and update us when you can! Recovery is no picnic and we are here ro help and answer any questions!
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 advice and kind words! I'm so nervous today, but am trying to enjoy the day with him. We live in Little Rock, and his vet is in Memphis so we have an early morning tomorrow to get him there by 7 (about a 3 hour drive). They say he will go home either Saturday evening or Sunday. I think someone asked, he is having a front leg amputation.
I went by Target today and got some extra runners for our house as we have mostly hard woods. We also ordered him one of the web master harnesses that was recommend on this site. I was able to take off work all next week to to take care of him, so I'm thankful for that.
I started making his food after we found out his diagnosis last week because I read that grains feed cancer, does anyone else do this? I wanted something high in protein and superfoods, so my first shot at it was some boiled organic chicken breasts, small amount of brown rice, kale, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, garlic, parsley, tumeric and some coconut oil. He goes nuts for it and I feel like his energy has been better this week.
I'm mostly dreading the drop off tomorrow, but I know this is the best of an impossible decision to make for him. We meet with the oncologist in about two weeks to discuss chemo options. Thank you all for your support, I will keep you posted on his progress.
I, too, am sorry you find yourself here but you are going to get a ton of support from us! My girl lost her leg do a different kind of cancer (and a back leg) but I can tell you the that recovery might be tough.
Since you are three hours from your vet that is doing the surgery and Jack will be coming home soon, is there a more local vet that you can call upon if you have questions or issues? Make sure they give you lots of strong painkillers too. Some dogs only come home w/the equivalent to tylenol (eek).
How nice that you get to spend the week with him too!!! Make sure get your rest while he's in the hospital... you will need it!
That meal sounds delicious!!! What a lucky dog! I also cooked for Shelby ... crock pot meals were our friend and she didn't mind leftovers!
Hugs!!! And keep us posted!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
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
Thank you all so much for your prayers and for thinking of jack yesterday! We dropped him off at 7am and two emergencies bumped him so he didn't go into the OR until around 230 pm. This momma was a wreck. Surgery went great and they had him up walking with assistance around 11 last night. We just talked to the Dr. and they are discharging him at 2 pm today. I can't wait to see him and kiss his face! He's going home with a fentanyl patch, previcox, and gabapentin. He will be back on his tramadol after the patch comes off on Monday. I know we have a long week ahead of us, but I'm so glad that this part is over. I will keep you all updated on his progress this week!
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR JACK!!! GREAT NEWS!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Up and walking YAY!!! 🙂
STAY CONNECTED!!!! This recovery can be a vit scary and unnerving but we'll help you through it!
Sounds likethey have a good pain plan. The latch can make dogs a bit whacky and vocal sometimes, but that's okay!
Update when we can!
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!
Whooohooooooooooooo 🎉🎉🎉
Surgery is done and Jack got up for his first walk 👍🏽
We are SO pleased to hear these news !
You must feel relieved now that your cutie is out of surgery 🦋
Keep the updates coming, we want to hear all about your boy's progress.
Sending you a big bear hug and tons of cuddles 😘😘😘😘
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 :-)
What a relief! That's wonderful news, thanks for letting us know. If you have any questions or anything at all, you know where to find us. Best wishes for a hoppy homecoming!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We picked up our buddy at 2 pm yesterday, and like I said before we had a 3 hour drive from Memphis back to Little Rock. He did ok for the first 20ish minutes and then started crying and yelping uncontrollably. I called the vet and asked if we should turn around, and they said it's likely all the meds he's on. After about 30 minutes of that, we pulled over and got him out. He peed about a gallon and then went right to sleep in the car the rest of the way! I'm thinking he just had to pee really bad and was uncomfortable and didn't know why.
He rested pretty well last night. Went out to potty a few times with assistance with his sling they sent home with us. This morning he ate some tuna in oil and took his medicine. Still hasn't drank any water but we will work on that today. I can definitely tell he is pretty unsteady/confused from all his medicine. I'm hoping this will get better once his fentanyl patch comes off on Tuesday, but I'm thankful it's giving him good pain control for now. I'm so proud of him, he's such a trooper.
Welcoem Home Jack! Take it easy for a while and please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome home, Handsome Jack. Thinking of you and sending all best for a speedy recovery!
Meg, 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...
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