Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm glad Stewie got a chance to show off his tricks! I hope y'alls phantom pain subsides forever. Other than licking his bed(where his other leg would have been) and licking his only front foot he's not expressing pains.
Do all tripawds wear life vests? I'm thinking it might need to be a norm now? He was a strong swimmer. I'll be sadden to see him tire. He would never stop fetching on land or water. Now I have to command him to lay down as I see his front paw get weaker and weaker trying to hold himself up at the worst angle.
Hi Rufus and Mum
Rufus is still pretty early in his recovery. If he is only playing for 10 minutes before string down, he may have gone too far. It is a matter of building up his endurance and yes Stewie was a little weak knee’d for a while, but now he bounces like a kangaroo again! It’s also about Rufus building up his chore muscles too. Others will definitely be able to direct you to the physical therapy links.
Our puppies tend to think that they can still do it all like they did on three, they don’t realize that they need assistance sometimes or that they can’t go as far as they used to. Stewie has scared me a few times...like today for example he went pee in an old favourite spot and instead of going back down the grassy way, he jumped down the rocks! I saw a broken leg coming, but thankfully it didn’t happen!!! Our outside stairs don’t have grip and so we block them off. I had to teach Stewie to go down the stairs slowly and still need to remind him sometimes, or else he is going to do a nose dive if he misses a step!
If Stewie was a swimmer, Okay.... Hrrrrumph..... if Stewie wasn’t a complete scaredy cat of the wet stuff!!! And if he did swim, I would put a life jacket on him. We even have a human one figured out for him for our boat trips, just in case... if Rufus loves to swim, he will still love to swim, but you can be ready to assist him when need be.
Youre doing a fantastic job! We will keep our fingers crossed that Rufus can keep his numbers stable and get through this Chemo like a champion!
Sloppy kisses from Stewie and his adoring Pack
Remember...“live in the moment!“ 
Don't let him overdo it, just like Petra says ...
He needs to build up strength slowly and at his own pace 💪🏽💪🏽
As for swimming, yes, get a life vest on.
This way you're sure if he gets too tired he'll be still floating 🎈🎈🎈
He'll be a dynamo again soon 🐾🐾🐾 💨💨💨💨💨
😘😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
Super Stu, krun15 did post on page 3, post 32 the link for the core exercises. I'll be studying that and getting Rufus going soon.
Right now I'm getting him used to his harness so he'll let me put it on him. Slowly he'll accept it. I'm taking it slow like when I trained him for his muzzle.
I think I have to keep him from himself. He'll go go go. I want to be aware of his signs like yesterday and I'm glad he quit. I think he was still a bit weary from chemo. Today we did about a mile and he did great! He cried once when I threw the ball too far and he hustled after it.
Oh Stewie the water is an amazing place to be. When we first got Rufus he didn't like the water and slowly we worked him in and now he can't get enough.
Eurydice we'll play it safe come swimming time so my baywatch skills don't have to be relied upon. He always wore one on the kayak. We'll see if he'll wear one on the pontoon. I can't wait until he can just go go go! Summer 2018 is going to be epic!
I'm happy to hear you are taking the harness introduction nice and slow. Lots of people don't and they end up with a half-chewed harness. You are right, it's a lot like training for a muzzle. When recovery is over and you're back to the new normal, if you'd ever like to write a guest blog post about how you did it for the harness, we would love to publish your tips. PM me if you're interested.
Here's to Rufus! Good job on everything you're doing, keep it up!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes Jerry, I'll take you up on that. I'm thinking probably in April. I will be pleased to help in hopes even one person can benefit ; )
My Rottie is so textbook. He wasn't abused, but neglected at his previous pack. Who would have known he loves car rides, walking on a lead, and getting out. He's come a long way in our active pack.
Back to the harness, First part was to train my husband. You know it's the humans..... no more free treats! My husband has to hold the harness and click some latches. I have faith my husband can do it... lol. First step getting acquainted. Next, maybe tomorrow, I'll have Rufus lay by it. I think we'll progress just fine. Slow is better. His pucker spots at the ends of his incision still need healing so poor guy is back to the cone and actual harness wearing a week out.
Ooooh thanks that would be fantastic!
Rufus is such a lucky boy. He found his way to the people he was meant to be with.
Haha, have faith, the harness quickly becomes second nature. The trick is to take it slow, and then keep using it. Make it a part of everyday life together and soon Rufus will start to associated it with good times. Your husband will too!
Bummer that the cone is going back on but better to be safe. I hope the healing progresses nicely.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Rufus had friends over today. I'll get on the computer one of these days and figure out how to post pics. Rufus never tired out. In fact, he got into a scuffle with the female. Thank goodness it was easy to break up. Rufus hasn't lost his fight. I never did figure out what the argument was about.
He looks like he'll be sleeping good tonight, but still alert when I go into the kitchen. He wants to make sure if I need him to clean up anything that he's available. I'll be surprised if he doesn't snore tonight.
Hopefully this will be the last week for the cone.
rochar21 said
Super Stu, krun15 did post on page 3, post 32 the link for the core exercises. I'll be studying that and getting Rufus going soon.
Excellent!!! I am now asking Stewie to sit and shake a Paw thanks to you! Now that I know it’s good for his core muscles, I will enjoy asking him to do it more often!!!
Oh Stewie the water is an amazing place to be. When we first got Rufus he didn't like the water and slowly we worked him in and now he can't get enough.
Hehehe we have tried for the last two years to slowly get Stewie into the water, he is literally terrified. The best that I can do is gently have him sit by the water, and while he is in fear of melting, I pour lake water over him to cool him down in the summer! He gets his feet wet and he loves his boat rides! I’m not sure if he was ever thrown into the water or is just a big baby when it comes to water! I have never seen a dog try to make himself so small in the bath tub and I’ve groomed A LOT of dogs! He would slither down the drain if he could!🛁👹
Eurydice we'll play it safe come swimming time so my baywatch skills don't have to be relied upon. He always wore one on the kayak. We'll see if he'll wear one on the pontoon. I can't wait until he can just go go go! Summer 2018 is going to be epic!
If Rufus had no issues with his life jacket, putting his harness on him shouldn’t be too much more to ask?! He sounds like he is an exceptionallly smart boy!🤓
Have a hoppy day!
rochar21 said
I'll get on the computer one of these days and figure out how to post pics.
Here are detailed instructions for adding photos to forum posts . The method is the same, regardless of device. If you don't already share photos online somewhere, you can start a free Tripawds blog any time and upload them there. Need further help? Post in the Tech Support forum and we'll be happy to help!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
RIFISIS DOI G GREAT!! He wants to argue with a fe ale (dawg) and he's "on call" to pick up any crumbs you drop in the floor! 🙂 🙂 Seeing return to routines during recovery lights ul oir world! 🙂
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!
Stewie is going to build up those core muscles ready to attract the ladies even if he just poses on the boat or by the water.
I thought about the transfer from life vest to harness and the clasps are different. The vest are underneath so I don't feel dominating and there are only two. The harness' clasps are on top and they're many...5 maybe. I'm still waiting on his puckered spots to look more closed before I try the harness so we're taking it slow.
I just caught up on your post. You asked about Bailey. She is 9 1/2. Before surgery she weighed 106 lbs. Came home at 94 lbs and is now 85.5 lbs. We work hard at keeping down her weight. Her remaining leg has old ACL tear ( we learned last week she also has severe osteoarthritis in her hips), so we were told to keep weight down. I guess she is practicing her core strength as she slaps her paw on her food bowl or on my leg when she wants more food.
on Wednesday, July 5th she was running to the SUV to jump in and yelped. Broke her rear left leg! Took to our local vet who saw the X-ray with a tumor attached to the point where she had "hardware" from the ACL that was repaired. Her bones were already brittle from the cancer in that leg. Vet kept her overnight and sent us to Texas A& M Vet School the next day. She had emergency amputation of back leg the next morning. So I guess from break/tumor found to amputation was less than 36 hours. Seemed like an eternity.
I hope Rufus gets to swim again. Stewie doesn't know what he is missing. Bailey was an avid swimmer in our pond. Being a strong Rottweiler, she put out a wake behind her! Hopefully, next summer we will get her a life jacket.
Glad chemo went well? One treatment is in the books!
rochar21 said
Stewie is going to build up those core muscles ready to attract the ladies even if he just poses on the boat or by the water.
Hehehe! It won’t take much to attract the ladies with a face like Stewies! 😂 He could be sitting in an arm chair with a few Empties around him, a belly hanging over his shorts and they’d still love him!🤠
I thought about the transfer from life vest to harness and the clasps are different. The vest are underneath so I don't feel dominating and there are only two. The harness' clasps are on top and they're many...5 maybe. I'm still waiting on his puckered spots to look more closed before I try the harness so we're taking it slow.
I see what you mean about the dominating factor... Slow and steady with the beautiful boy heh?! Just remember your calm, assertive energy, when putting on his harness. He is obviously comfortable with something being close to his body, that is an excellent start. Stewie originally had a really good harness that we modified for him with some extra padding. We also waited until Stewie’s stitches were out. His puckered spots (dog ears), the top one anyway, didn’t bug him so much. The bottom puckered dog ear has been his licky spot since day one, but thankfully, the harness doesn’t bug him there either.
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