Join the forum discussion on this topic.

Tripawds canine amputation handbook, “Three Legs & a Spare” is currently being revised for a new edition to be published sometime this year.

If you have purchased and read our first e-book, we would love to hear your suggestions in the comments field below and in this accompanying forum post, about how we can make the second edition even better.

Readers, please tell us:

• what was the most / least useful content in the book?
• what you did / didn’t like about the material
• which book sections need improvement or editing
• did we give enough examples for each type of Tripawd? For example, did we share enough information about senior dogs, puppies, dogs with or without cancer, etc.
• what can we do to improve the book layout

We would also love to hear which forum posts and Tripawds blog content published after October 2010 (the book’s publication date) would be most helpful to include in the new edition.

Since Three Legs & a Spare is essentially a compilation of the best material found throughout the Tripawds community, we want to know which newer Tripawd stories, anecdotes and blog posts you feel would help potential new Tripawds pawrents. Don’t be shy, we’re happy to include your Tripawd’s story too!

And of course, feel free to share anything else about your experience with this canine amputation guide. We want to ensure the next edition of the book is better than ever. Thanks.

Join the forum discussion on this topic.

Calling all Tripawds! Renowned dog behaviorist and trainer Sarah Wilson is holding two February seminars in New York to help pawrents build a stronger connection with their pups through skills-specific, indoor games and exercises.

Now’s your chance to work directly with Sarah; she was the one expert in the world who could help Tripawds Spokesdawg Wyatt Ray overcome his many challenges that resulted from his abusive past. Sarah has worked miracles with our pack, we can’t recommend her enough!

If you’re in New York on February 11, here are short descriptions of her two classes taking place:

Beyond Cabin Fever: Quick and Easy Indoor Activities to Amuse Every Family Member


Games to amuse. Build the connection between you and your dog one laugh at a time. For people tired of being in the house and just not sure what else there is to do with their dog and for people who “just” want to expand their toolkit. Bring your sense of humor and a hungry dog.


60-Second Games: Short-Burst Training for Long-term Results

Short-burst training is a fun, effective way to connect with and educate your dog. Doable even on days when finding time seems impossible, 60-Second Games are rewarding – for both of you. These are skills-specific, indoor exercises that strengthen the foundation behaviors while they challenge you to try the next level with your dog. When the snows melt and life outside begins again in earnest – you’ll be ready! Experience what can happen in a minute!

You can join Sarah’s free community and sign up on Sarah’s website at My Smart Puppy.

Tripawds is hoppy to welcome MySmartPuppy as our most recent commercial supporter; you’ll see Sarah’s banner ad in the “Recommendations” widget throughout the Tripawds News blog. To learn about marketing opportunities with Tripawds, see our advertising page.

Recommended Reading:

PBS NATURE: Why We Love Cats and Dogs. See Sarah discuss canine and human pack behavior in this touching, 1-hour documentary, also featuring Tripawds founder and Chief Fun Officer, Spirit Jerry G. Dawg!

Tripawds Downloads Blog: Training Tips and Tripawd Behavior Podcast with Sarah Wilson

Tripawds Amazon Blog: Recommended Dog Training and Behavior Books by Sarah Wilson

Tripawds Amazon Blog: Tripawd Confidence Starts with You. Watch Sarah show Wyatt Ray Dawg how to keep cool in busy situations.

My Smart Puppy You Tube Channel. Free tips, tricks and helpful information from Sarah to help you strengthen your bond with your Tripawd.

Metronomics has been around for years, but is finally gaining acceptance by veterinarians as groups like Morris Animal Foundation release studies showing how metronomics can help dogs with soft tissue scarcomas. In their 2010 study, Morris researchers:

” . . . studied whether metronomic dosing of the drug cyclophosphamide is safe and effective in treating dogs with soft-tissue sarcomas. Thirteen dogs were enrolled in the study and all but two (which experienced tumor growth and were removed to pursue other treatment options) successfully completed the treatment protocol. They identified the dosage of cyclophosphamide that resulted in a significant decrease in the number of small blood vessels within tumors, which suggests that this approach slows tumor growth by decreasing blood supply to tumors.

Because metronomic chemotherapy is associated with a far smaller incidence of side effects compared with conventional chemotherapy, is easier to administer and is less expensive, it is a very attractive treatment option for owners of dogs with cancer.”      (see Morris Animal Foundation’s report)

Metronnomics Explained

Tripawds favorite veterinarian, Dr. Pam Wiltzius, shared her knowledge about metronomics in this Discussion Forum post:

It is only recently that oncologists have started using it as part of metronomic chemotherapy.  The main side effects are on the GI tract although some dogs can have low white cell counts but this should be unlikely at low doses.

I just finished researching metronomics for Sammy and here is what I found.  Most oncologists prefer meloxicam (Metacam) as the NSAID due to it’s wide safety range but a few still prefer piroxicam. There are 5 different chemo drugs that are being tried but the only one with research behind it (so far) for this use is Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide).

The main side effect is on the bladder with some dogs getting infections and some getting sterile hemorrhagic cystitis (bleeding and pain without infection).  This is rare and usually reversible by stopping the drug. Some oncologists give a low daily dose of a diuretic (Lasix) to try and prevent this but most don’t since diuretics can affect the kidneys. My holistic vet recommends cranberry capsules as a way to prevent a UTI. . .

The other drugs used are Palladia (main limitation is cost), CCNU (possible side effects on liver so not good for your dog), Leukeran (chlorambucil), and Alkeran (melphalan).  The latter two are safe but not much info yet on efficacy but there are oncologists trying these.

Metronomics are so new that no one is sure yet what is the best protocol.  Some dogs might do well on 1 drug and others may not. It is hard to evaluate results since some dogs live a long time with amputation alone and no chemo so are these drugs really doing anything? I think it is worth a try!

When I was on metronomics in 2008, it was still a new practice that many veterinarians hadn’t heard about. We’re glad to see it catching on, thanks to funding from groups like Morris and practitioners like Dr. Wiltzius who are enthusiastically exploring this protocol for their canine bone cancer patients.

Are you on metronomic chemotherapy? Or were you? If so, what was your experience?

Recommended Reading:

Tripawds Discussion Forums: Tips and Resources: Metronomic Therapy for Canine Osteosarcoma Metastasis: Jerry’s Experience

Tripawds News Blog: Dr. Rosenberg’s Thoughts on Metronomics and Supplements

Tripawds Downloads Blog: Metronomic Protocol: A Primer for Pawrents

Dr. Dressler’s Dog Cancer Blog: Low Dose Chemotherapy and Cancer

Join the forum discussion on this topic.

Many future Tripawd pawrents assume Tripawds is only for dogs who lose a leg to cancer.

But as Tripawds Spokesdawg Wyatt Ray can tell you, that’s just not the case.

Beyond Cancer: All Tripawds Welcome

Tripawds began when Spirit Jerry lost his leg to osteosarcoma, but his community is now the world’s biggest resource for animal amputees because of the many different circumstances in which they lose a leg.

While the majority of our members are dogs facing bone cancer, we’ll always be here to provide support for anypawdy facing amputation or life with a malformed limb. Our Beyond Cancer Discussion Forum shares many of their stories.

And yes, all species, even cats(!) are most definitely welcome!

Below are just a few examples of how some members became Tripawds.

If you have a Tripawd for reasons other than cancer, share your story in the comments below or in the Forums.

Our Spokesdawg, Wyatt Ray Dawg lost his leg from abuse and neglect, and so did the rest of the Oaktown Pack (pictured left to right, Travis Ray, Codie Rae and Wyatt Ray.

Gerry had irrepairable damage to his left rear leg.

Nemo the kitty was the first non-canine Tripawd we heard about.

New members Cubbie and Reggie were born without paws.

Comet had a fourth leg but she couldn’t use it. Honorary Tripawds definitely count!

JoJo is a sweet little pup who was hit by a car and adopted as a Tripawd

The Petite Princess Shelby was found overseas and brought to America as a Tripawd.

 Molly the Tripawd Pony is a hero of ours.

And finally, Henry the Tripawd Cat is doing pawesome social work with his book series that helps Tripawds.com!

As you can see, Tripawds is an all-species community for any animal who’s lost a leg.

The Van Andel Institute, a biomedical research facility based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is seeking small blood samples of Great Pyrenees dogs with osteosarcoma for their  Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium.

It’s so easy to make a difference!

Dr. Roe Froman, DVM and Senior Veterinary Research Scientist at Van Andel explains:

“If owners prefer not to take their dog in to have a blood draw (at their vet’s office), we can also send them a salivary DNA collection kit.  The kits are very easy to use, owners can do them at home, and include prepaid return mailers.”

Your Tripawd Can Help Fight Canine Cancer

Known as the CHCC, this team  is utilizing Van Andel’s newest genetic resources and technologies to screen, test, diagnose and treat hereditary canine cancers, which will eventually help them gain insight into the ways that specific cancers affect both dogs and people. Researchers are currently studying five types of cancers that affect both dogs and people:

1. Osteosarcoma
2. Hemangiosarcoma
3. Lymphoma
4. Malignant histiocytosis
5. Melanoma (oral or digital)

Blood samples from other dogs affected by cancer are also wanted. Dr. Froman says “We are requesting samples from owners and veterinarians from affected dogs.  We can use both fresh (NOT formalinized) tumor samples, as well as blood samples.  The tumor cells are grown in the lab, and they are extremely useful for studying the biochemical pathways of the cancers, as well as the underlying DNA of the tumors.

In the case of the osteosarcoma dogs, a blood sample from a dog whose already undergone amputation (again, with a confirmed histo diagnosis), would be very useful.”

For more information about how your Tripawd can participate in this important project, please visit the Van Andel Institute’s Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium website.

Next Sunday, August 28 at 6:30 pm Eastern, Tripawd Talk Radio is hoppy to host renowned dog behaviorist Sarah Wilson of MySmartPuppy, speaker, instructor and author of numerous books about everything dogs.

Tripawd Talk Radio Chat with Sarah, Sunday 8/28

Join us for a fun discussion about how to maintain postive behavior in dogs after any major surgery.

Learn how to adapt training techniques for recovering dogs, how to handle pack-mate interaction, and much more!

Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Time: 6:30pm Eastern (4:30 MT, 3:30 Pacific)
Duration: 30 min.
Call In Number: (310) 388-9739*

Tune In Here: Behavior Training Tips for Dogs After Surgery

Share Link: bit.ly/ttr082811

*You do not need to call to hear the show. Listen live here and join us in the chat room or call (310) 388-9739 with your questions.

About our Guest:

Sarah Wilson is an experienced professional dog trainer, behaviorist and an expert in the human-animal bond. Since 2000, she has run one of the most active dog training and care communities on the the Internet, MySmartPuppy.com. Sarah loves working with all dog/human teams but has a special place in her heart for the shy/sensitive/deficit dogs.

She appeared alongside Tripawds founder Spirit Jerry, founder of Tripawds, in PBS Nature’s “Why We Love Cats and Dogs,” regularly contributes to New England Cable News “The Secret Life of Animals,” Comcast’s Pets on Demand and Nick Jr.’s “A Pup Grows Up.”

With eight books to her name (including My Smart Puppy; Good Owners, Great Dogs; Childproofing Your Dog, Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals About You) and a ninth on the way, she is a prolific and popular writer.

An engaging speaker, she has taught at Tufts-Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, American Council of the Blind, Pet Sitters International, International Association of Canine Professionals, The Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers, Puppyworks, The ASPCA, Groomers Expo, and many more.

Join us in the Tripawds Live Chat during the show or post your questions in the discussion forums.

Reply to this topic with any brief questions for Sarah. This Topic will be updated with a program podcast after the show.

Recommended Reading:

Sarah Meets Tripawds Spokespup Wyatt Ray: Tripawd Confidence Starts with You

Wyatt isn’t a Tripawd because of cancer, but when the lump appeared last Saturday, we couldn’t help but have flashbacks to when Tripawds Founder Jerry was diagnosed.

Wyatt is only 2.5 years old, but we’ve seen Tripawds as young as 15 months get diagnosed. After his local vet couldn’t diagnose the swelling, we feared that this awful disease was happening to us again.

Old Shoes Hurt

Fortunately we’re only an hour from one of the best veterinary teaching hospitals in the world, Colorado State University. That’s where Wyatt had three of the hospital’s most experienced soft tissue surgeons looking at his stump this week, trying to figure out where the swelling was coming from.

The wait was excruciating and put us right back into the shoes everyone wears when they first join this community. Wearing them again was painful.

Good News: No Cancer

Tests confirmed he didn’t have cancer, so Wyatt went into surgery on Wednesday for 2.5 hours to uncover the cause. After digging and probing, surgeons concluded that Wyatt’s amputation site was infected from “foreign material” that was trying to work its way out of his stump. The material and infected tissue is being sent out to a lab for evaluation and a final diagnosis.

Wyatt is finally home, high as a kite on Tramadol and looking very spacey, nervous and tired. Here we are once again, taking care of a post-op Tripawd.

We’re a little smarter than we were last time, but it’s still nerve wracking. Wyatt’s wearing a surgical drain that been stitched into his side. The drain looks like a hand grenade and we’re supposed to empty the fluid as it accumulates. This is something new to us.

He’s also on pain pills and anti-biotics, has post-surgery bruising and we need to watch him carefully until we take him back to CSU on Monday to have the drain removed.

The Bad News: Hip Displaysia

We’re thrilled Wyatt doesn’t have cancer, but at the same time, we were devastated to hear the surgeon tell us that he definitely has a good case of hip displaysia.

As a rear-leg amputee, hip displaysia is not going to be easy for Wyatt to cope with as he ages. Some day far in the future, the condition will impact all of us in a big way.

But for now, we are going to take things one day at a time, and enjoy every minute of our young, wild and vibrant Tripawd’s life.

Thank you everypawdy for your concern about this crazy kid. We’ll keep you posted when we have the lab results next week.

Join the forum discussion on this topic.

Summer’s the time to pawty in the Tripawds Nation! We’re hoppy to announce two Tripawds pawties this month in Washington and Colorado.

Washington Tripawds Meet on Sunday, July 10

Come one, come all! It’s a three legged affair this Sunday when Pacific Northwest Tripawds gather at Lincoln’s place in Snohomish at 1pm. The pawty promises to be an elegant affair with dogs of all sizes and ages!

Please see this Tripawds Parties Discussion Forum topic for details and to RSVP, or visit our Facebook Events Announcement.

Colorado Tripawds Meet on Saturday, July 16

Not to be outdone, the Colorado Rockies Tripawds are pawtying the following week in Fort Collins on Saturday, July 16 at 9am.

The ruckus gets started early because it gets hot here. But there’s a nifty dog pool at the Spring Canyon Dog Park where Tripawds can cool off.

See this Discussion Forum Topic and Facebook Events Announcement for details!

All who attend will get a free pawdograph from the famous Codie Rae, whose appearance in rock star Patrick Stump’s video, “Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia!) has raised worldwide awareness and appreciation for the magic of Tripawds everywhere!

And remember, it’s not too late to order Tripawds merchandise from our Gift Store to show your Tripawd Pride!

From last November’s 2 Million Dogs event in Washington to the Fort Collins Doggie Olympics, if there’s an affordable dog event in our path, we do our best to be there.

Last week we put Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray to work at the Larimer County Humane Society 21st annual Fire Hydrant 5k Fundraiser and Pet Expo (which raised over $55,000 for dogs in need!).

Our Tripawds display included Tripawds Gear and canine fitness equipment, books, fliers,  Tripawds handmade jewelry and lots of doggie snacks.

The event was extra special because our Tripawd Pal Dakota, his sister Evelyn, Mom Shari and little brother Aidan came to help.

Who could resist sweet Dakota?

We were so hoppy to see that one of our exhibit neighbors was Doug Koktavy, author of The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer.

Doug’s book is one of the best tools for helping pawrents cope with their dog’s serious illness. Read it if you haven’t already, it’s a keeper!

Later the afternoon turned into a Tripawds reunion when Spirit Peyton’s people and little brothers Dillon and Rhys stopped by to say hello.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting Kara Pappas, Development Manager at the Larimer County Humane Society, along with her three legged rescue dog, another rear legger named Wyatt!

Kara was so happy to meet us in person, because Tripawds had been such a great resource for her when recently, a sweet, three legged lab came into the shelter.

Kara wanted to adopt him but she wasn’t sure if a tripod dog would require lots of care. She looked online, and Tripawds.com alleviated all of her concerns. Our discussion forums, blog stories, tips and resources all helped cinch her decision to give Wyatt a furever home.

Hearing stories like Kara and Wyatt’s are why we exist…

To show the world that canine amputees can have a good life and really aren’t any different from quadpawds.

And it’s because of the pawrents like you who contribute your time and financial support that we can do it; from taking the time to share your Tripawd experiences and offer support to new members, to shopping through our blogs and our Etsy store.

Every click, every dollar you spend on or through here makes the world a better place for three legged dogs.

Thank you so much!

As part of our ongoing commitment to show you where your financial support goes, here’s what this event cost Tripawds:

Exhibit Space: $75
Tent Canopy: Borrowed
Sales Tax Permit: $8
Total: $83

Date: Saturday, May 28 2011

Time: 6:30pm EDT (3:30 Pacific)

Duration: 30 min.

Call In Number: (310) 388-9739

Tune In Here: Tripawd Rehab Therapy with CARE

Share Link: bit.ly/tritalk052811

Post any questions for Dr. Waldman before the show, by replying to this topic or join us in the Chat during the show. We will update the  topic with a podcast of this show, after the program airs.

Related Blog Posts & Forum Topics

See All Tripawds CARE Video Interviews

About Our Guest:

Dr. Waldman is co-founder of California Animal Rehabilitation Center, one of the only rehab centers in the country with both a doctor and a physical therapist on staff, both of whom are certified canine rehabilitation practitioners. Dr. Waldman speaks at veterinary meetings on the subject of Canine Rehabilitation and she has a special interest in neurological rehabilitation and in nutrition for all life stages. She loves to see her patients’ quality of life improve, and she counsels in nutrition utilizing a combination of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine for the best possible outcome.

Dr. Waldman completed a certificate program from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. She is also a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the Chi Institute. She is one of the founding members of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians.