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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Awww! Aspen and Sammy are both adorable! Glad to hear you got his meds dialed in and that he's doing well!
Cheers,
Kat and Astro
Lookin' good Mr. Wigglebutt! Sammy, you too gorgeous.
And yep, from here it looks like a seroma .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your eagle-eyes with the seroma !
FINALLY got the results of Aspen's amputated leg: Osteosarcoma for sure (as expected). They said the lymph node was "activated" but not cancerous, so that's as good as can be expected, I suppose. We've decided against chemo, so we're just going to keep Mr. Aspen as happy and comfortable for as long as we can. Vet has said 3-4 months for a life expectancy, but it's been really heart-warming to hear that so many of the dogs have made it a lot longer than that. It's a crap shoot and we know that. Planning for the worst, hoping for the best!
Happy Wednesday, all.
-Lauren & Aspen
Yep, they gave us the same prognosis too. Jerry enjoyed two years and many have gone much further. You have a GREAT attitude that will take you and Aspen very, very far!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Statistics don't mean squat around here! Yeah, just ask Jerry! Geez....can't remember the name for sure, but I think it's Reno who just celebrated two years, and with no chemo!!
Looking forward to celebrating lots of ampuversaries with the MAGNIFICENT ASPEN!! And he is so MAGNIFICENT!! 🙂
Stay in the moment and make every moment count! Aspen sure is!
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!
Well folks, we had a good trip to the vet: Stitches came out, they said not to worry about those lumps and bumps, we are cleared for walks and anything else Aspen feels up to! Yay!! Everybody at the office came to see and pet him - he's got lots of folks rooting for him, which is so nice to see.
There is one bit of "gray" area in all of this, though I'd love some feedback on: When we took him in for his limp, the vet noticed that he has a slab-fracture in on of his molars. We scheduled to have it removed, but after we found out the limp was actually cancer and we were going to amputate, they told us not to worry about the tooth. But I am. It seemed to be bugging him last night (possibly because the abx are all out of his system now, and we're cutting back on pain meds, etc) But what the heck... do we put him through another surgery to pull the tooth? Is it worth it? Who knows how long he'll be around.... Has anybody else been through something else like this? I do think the tooth has been fractured for "a while" but it hasn't curbed his eating or anything else. We have no idea how or when it happened.
My husband and I are struggling with what to do about it. The vet said it was totally up to us. He did do well under anesthesia for his amp, so that's a positive. If you've got any thoughts, we are all ears. Thanks.
I'm going to end this post on a positive note and tell you how Aspen JOGGED up the stairs to the house - I had to work to keep up with him. 🙂
-Lauren
Aspen,no holding you back speedo!! 🙂 So glad to hear stitches are out a dway you are continuing to rock this recovery! 🙂
And this is just my unprofessional 1¢ worth. I'd put that on the back burner for now a d let him get further along in recovery.
He's eating fine and havr no trouble chewing, right? And that's with him eating kibble and not having ro have any specific soft food het?
Now, when you said you coukd tell it was hurting him, what did thst look like and what made you think it was tooth oriented? So unless it became apparent it was really causing him mahor issues, I'd put it on hold for awhile.
And YAY FOR STITCH REMOVAL!!! 🙂 🙂
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!
I have to agree (too bad they couldn't have removed the tooth when they did his amp!). If the tooth is not causing him a lot of pain, and your vet feels that it should wait, I would let it wait. Many of us delayed (ok, didn't do at all) dentals for that same reason - time is just too precious and our babies have just been through enough. And if you are lucky enough to have to deal with it some day because he beats the statistics and lives so long that it becomes a problem, then that is almost a celebration!
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.
lauren4c said
...we are cleared for walks and anything else Aspen feels up to!
Pawesome! Just be careful about "anything" — Aspen may think he is up to much more than he can handle right now. Think about consulting with a certified canine rehab vet/tech (CCRT or CCRP ) for a professional evaluation and exercises you can do at home to regain strength and stay fit. This is why the Tripawds Foundation created the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab!
Or, consider downloading Loving Life On Three Legs for lots of professional tips and how-to videos about recommended exercises, stretching, weight management, and much more to keep new tripawds fit and strong.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi All!
I've been a bit MIA from the forums, but that's mostly been because Aspen has been doing great. I've posted a ton of updates and videos of him and "sister" Sammy on my Instagram account: https://www.ins.....laurenb4c/
Give us a follow if you're on IG!
Yesterday we had two friends pop by, greet the dogs, chat with us for a bit before saying "Hey... your pup is missing a leg?? Was he always?" Aspen is certainly back to his goofy, playful self. 🙂
We're off all of the meds, and just doing Rimadyl as needed and we've got him on the CBD/THCa drops, as well. I have seen him flexing muscles around his incisions, but I can't say that it's phantom "pain" - just sensations. Not sure if it's worth going back on the gabapentin or not.
Just short walks so far with Aspen - and he prefers walking on the snow rather than the roads right now (softer landings for his hops, I assume). I wish we had some nice grass to let him romp on, but that is under 3+ feet of snow right now, unfortunately. I think we've all got a bit of spring fever. 🙂
All for now!
-Lauren & Aspen
Yaaaay Aspen! That's soooo great! Don't worry, the snow won't be there furver and can you imagine when spring hits? WOW! Look out world, here comes Aspen!
P.S. I think that unless he's showing pain indicators like yelping or restlessness, you're right, hold off on the gaba. Our Wyatt Ray is eight years past amputation and almost every day his stump flexes or twitches at least once. He never even notices unless he's trying to scratch himself!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Everyone!
So Aspen's been doing great... until I noticed yesterday that he's limping on another leg. The rear leg on the same side of amp. We're off to the vet this afternoon and I am not expecting good news. Ugh. 
I've also noticed some clicking in his joints in that same side. At least I think that's what I'm hearing. Poor big guy. He's still happy and bouncing around. This sucks.
-Lauren & Aspen
Perhaps he has some muscle strain... I wouldn't expect bad news just quite yet!!! Using those muscles differently can make a difference!
Keep us posted!
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
lauren4c said
I've also noticed some clicking in his joints...
PROM* exercises, gentle stretching, massage and hydrotherapy can all help. Check out Loving Life On Three Legs for lots of helpful tips, demonstrations, and how-to videos. Search the Tripawds Blogs for many posts and videos, or consider consulting with a certified rehab vet/tech. Cosult with a CCRT or CCRP and you may even get reimbursed from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab!
*Passive Range of Motion stretches
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry he's got a tweak in his other leg, but really glad to hear he's doing so well overall!!
He could certainly have a bit of arthritis, or a tweaked muscle, tweaked disc, etc....all which are treatable!
Update us when you can.
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Go na hop over to his photos now!
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!
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