Tripawds Posts

A Mixed Result

Ted — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:53:16 +0000

Mary and I took Nikki to see Dr. Pyne on Saturday. This was a follow-up visit from the earlier visit this week, plus we needed to hear the results of the lab tests on the “congealed seroma” fluid.

First the great news, NO CANCER DETECTED!!!

Both the lab work from the fluid and the chest X-rays are cancer free!

(Not sure I need to write anything else after that! It’s great to hear that the cells are not cancerous)

However, there is some worrisome activity going on. It’s pretty clear that Nikki’s lymph nodes are working overtime in that area, and we don’t really have an idea as to why. The lab results showed some high values for and some elevated white cell counts. This leads Dr. Pyne to wonder what exactly is going on, and we’re going to be keeping a close eye on the area for the next few weeks. We’ll be taking Nikki back for weekly visits, and hopefully whatever is going on will work it’s way through and be done.

Nikki seems none the worse for wear right now. She’s been pretty happy this week, and pretty much up to her old tricks.

She let me know that she doesn’t like the blanket that I threw in the back of the Tahoe for her to lay on while we ride to/from the Dr. Office… She did this while we were driving to the office…

She was much happier with just the regular carpet on the ride home! (Thank goodness)

Today's New Experience - The Hose

janeothejungle — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:36:38 +0000

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/10163739[/vimeo] You guys will nots believes it! There's this green snakey thing in the yards and it spitted waters at me! At first I thoughts it was trying to gets me so I defended the house from its. Then I seen my brother tryin to bites it, so I followed his lead. I fought it so goods that it went back to sleeps just to get away from me! I showed that monster whos boss! Then I saw my brother doin his 'racoon feet' in the pool so I barked at hims to get his ttention and so he'd chased me. Then moms showed me what we do on warm, sunny days... she calls its 'layin out'. I calls it 'naptime in the suns'.... Silly moms.

Essential Holistic Veterinary Care Books

jerry — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:51:19 +0000

Are you interested in holistic veterinary care and natural remedies but aren't sure where to begin? Take a look at these great books written by respected professional vets that can help increase your understanding of holistic veterinary care and how it can lead to better health for your Tripawd. The Nature of Animal Healing by Dr. Marty Goldstein Long before many of us learned about the horrors of commercial pet foods, or the concept of holistic medicine for animals, Dr. Marty was advocating for home cooked diets, speaking out against over-vaccination, and treating his clients with acupuncture and homeopathic medicine. You might be familiar with “Dr. Marty,” because he's the veterinarian for celebrities like Oprah and Martha Stewart. Dr. Marty's book, “The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat," is filled with practical advice about pet health and wellness. He takes readers through the basics of holistic medicine, and shares basic tips for applying these principles to your pet’s life. This guide should be a part of every pawrents resource library. Dr. Marty is considered the world’s leading expert on holistic veterinary medicine. But he isn’t defined strictly by holistic medicine principles: he believes in the powerful curative effect of combining the best of both conventional and holistic medicine. As a result, he and his staff at Smith Ridge Veterinary Center follow the principles of “integrative medicine” where both types of therapies are combined to maintain health and guard against disease. Since 1984, he and his staff have become well-known for their extraordinary success at treating cancer and other serious illnesses. Read our complete review of Dr. Marty's book in our Tripawds News Blog Archive. Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, Revised Edition: Small Doses for Small Animals After reading Dr. Marty's book, should you decide to look further into homeopathic veterinary care, pick up a copy of "Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, Revised Edition: Small Doses for Small Animals," written by Dr. Don Hamilton, a well-respected homeopathic veterinarian from New Mexico. In a recent Tripawds Nutrition Blog post, "Homeopathy and Pain Relief for Tripawds," correspondent Gina Snow recommends adding this to your library. First published in 1999, the book shares an overview of the history and treatment principles of homeopathy, homeopathic disease theory, and simple methods for using homeopathic remedies. You'll also learn about:

home care and diet
how to obtain the information needed to choose a homeopathic remedy
how to dose remedies
how to choose the potency
when to repeat remedies if necessary

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs lists organ systems by chapter, providing concise descriptions of symptoms, including how to evaluate patients’ illnesses and when to seek veterinary care. Remedy and supplement suggestions follow disease descriptions. This updated edition contains a new chapter on the human-animal relationship and timely information on vaccines. If you read either of these books, be sure to leave us a Comment below. Please be aware that we are not veterinarians. The information presented here is not meant to be construed as medical advice or guidance, nor should it be substituted for professional veterinary assistance. Always discuss any remedies and treatments you wish to pursue with your veterinarian. Purchases made through Tripawds affiliate merchant links help support ongoing efforts to maintain this community.

More on Ginger

gingersfolks — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:06:44 +0000

Good afternoon all. Well, it's been 19 days now since surgery. Things seem to have settled down. Ginger still has a bit of an infection that shows in what has been draining out of her for 18 days now! She is on her second round of antibiotics. This round more potent. Today has been our first day without drainage and can I say it's about darn time! Since Ginger has come home she has not been alone at all. Between days off for both Gingers Mom and Dad and our poor son having the disadvantage of having his college break last week, we have been able to have someone home with Ginger 24/7. The main reason for the constant supervision is Gingers total hatred for that darn lampshade she would have had to wear. Put that darn thing on Ginger and she gets the deer in the headlight look and will not move. If I could get her to balance on her one rear leg and then put that lampshade on her, she would stay balanced on that leg indefinitely! She just totally freezes up so the lampshade was not an option. And Ginger is a little lady and likes to keep clean so she would definitely lick if we left her alone. It has been 18 days of sleeping on the air mattress on the floor and spending all our time with her. The things we do for our pets! But she is worth it. It is for certain she is handling this better then we humans are! :) Ginger still amazes me. If I went thru 10% of what she did, I'd be still in bed, whining about my bad luck. Ginger is walking around, living each day to it's fullest. We sure can learn from our pets. I am going to steal Lincoln's line (Lincoln the Golden tripawd) and say that we are gonna make this a Ginger summer. She deserves it. We are still waiting for the results of her leg biopsy and next Tuesday she gets her remaining stitches out, so we still have a long way to go. Like it is said here, we are living one day at a time. Have a great day all.

Dig My Whirling Walk in the Desert

wyattraydawg — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:48:29 +0000

You can't say I don't know how to occupy myself. See, I've been digging these great huge holes out here in the desert, trying to find out what's underneath all this dirt. Mom and Dad don't seem to care too much ever since they heard that digging is good exercise for a Tripawd's wrists. Plus, it's not like there's any grass here to ruin or anything (well, except this fake stuff). So when my pawrents working on whatever it is they do, I'm doing my investigations. Ok, now my Mom wants you to know that she knows that rope on my harness looks bad, but she and Dad keep a close eye on me and don't let me stay on it unsupervised or get tangled up in it. Except of course, when I can't stop them because I'm having a freak out. Little do they know my evil plan . . . whenver I freak out, Mom and Dad have to stop what they're doing, and take me for a WALK! Bwwwwaaaaahhhh ha ha! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGJxNXS1XLg[/youtube]

Sad News

leandramei — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:34:12 +0000

We have to unfortunately share with you the very sad news that Gracey passed away last night. She gave it her all and gave us a great 8 months! She was so great, we are so proud of her she gave it her all! But now it is her time to rest WE love you, you are and always will be my best friend

I.Am.Home.

travisray — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:28:59 +0000

Hey Everypawdy!! It is my 5 month ampuversary and it seems like a really good day to announce that I have become an official member of the Oaktown Pack! I pretty much knew this was my true furever home the moment I stepped in the door but it took my FP's all this time (sheez!) to realize it. I thought they would never come around! I have worn myself out trying to convince them these past few months......being sweet and cute 24/7 is waaaay hard! And how about that obedience stuff? It took everything I had to be on top of my game and show them how fast I could catch on. I definitely got lucky 'cause its soooooo easy to look like a good boy next to Codie Rae! I gotta score that girl a big beefy bone for making me look so good! Mom has me signed up for beginning obedience, not that I really need it, except for being around other dogs and she says it will help us "bond", whatever that is. And she took me to order my very own Paco collar today! The folks at the Paco Collars store loved me! And then we went shopping at another pet store and just about everybody there wanted to meet me and pet me and find out how I lost my leg. I felt like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp or some other cute boydog movie star! Best of all Papa has started feeding me his homemade food! Dawg! That stuff is goood! Thank you everypawdy for being so kind and supportive during these last few months. What a great group of tripups and pawrents you are. And Greta, you gave me hope in my darkest hour! You are the sweetest little sister any tripawd could have. Romeo is soooo lucky and I sure hope I get to meet you someday! I am one happy tripawd gsd boydog! I am home at last......and it feels so good. Here are some pix from our last trip to the mountains in February. It snoooowed! Woohoo! [caption id="attachment_30" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Codie Rae goes nutz in the snow!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_34" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Me 'n CR"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_36" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Gotta snowball?"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_35" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Doesn't get any better than this!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_31" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Ima catch that!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_33" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Mom needs a better camera for those intense action shots"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_32" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I'm almost as fast as Codie Rae now!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="My footprints!"][/caption]

One Paw Forward....Two Paws Back...

keepsmiln1818 — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:03:36 +0000

Sometimes, we can get a little ahead of ourselves in the healing/recovery process! I thought Henri was doing pretty good after his first chemo treatment. The Oncologist called yesterday (Friday) to check on Henri and at that point...he seemed to be doing great. Things can change quickly. Well, I wanted to celebrate last night because Henri came upstairs to sleep. I was so so excited...even though he has not been down the stairs (we have had to carry him)...I did not focus on that...was just thrilled that he had the desire to come upstairs and get back into his routine. Well...I woke up around 2:00 am to check on him and he was sleeping so things were pretty quiet until 4:00 am....I woke to the sound of the infamous Golden Retriever Tail Wag....it is pretty powerful. So, I just figured he wanted to go potty. I put his vest on and I could tell he was going to resist my assistance. Henri likes to be independent...but I could tell he wanted to try...he finally figured he was not going to win the battle so we agreed to walk down the stairs side by side and I kept my had right by his vest handle just in case he needed me. Amazing how alert you can be at 4 am....To my surprise, Henri did amazingly well and it was his first time going down the stairs. : ) I was one proud momma! So he went potty and I tried to get him settled downstairs...I gave him a nice belly rub and then told him I was going to go sleep sleep ...night night...(that is what we call bedtime) and off I went to sleep...I think I slept maybe about 2 hours... When I came downstairs this morning, I saw Henri at the bottom of the stairs snoozing away. I thougt he was doing good until I walked in the family room and saw the nice pile of puke. I felt so bad for him and knew he was not feeling well, especially because he was not interested in his breakfast. I gave him a nausea pill and put some chicken broth in his food ....this enticed him some. He was pretty tired today and just slept mostly. Not that I want to be negative....but not a good sign from only the first chemo treatment. The next thing to be concerned about is that I found a HUGE lick granuloma on Henri's elbow....HUGE! Not sure how I did not see this previously...so the hubby and I rushed to Walgreens to buy a wrap for his elbow. Poor Henri!!! : ( Today has been a "ruff" day but hoping tomorrow is a better day! Just praying we all get some sleep tonight!

First Day of Puppy Class!

janeothejungle — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:47:10 +0000

I gots all my shots finished yesterdays, so today I gots to go to puppy class and hang out with some other dogses my own age. My foster moms took me and I gots lots of treats just for sittin downs! It was pawsome! Moms says I'm a good girl an I lerns quick. I can't wait till next class!

Dasuquin – The Next Generation Cosequin

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:17:51 +0000

There has been a flurry of comments about Dasuquin in the discussion forums over the past few days. So we have done our homework, and provide the following information and links for your review ... Dasuquin is based on the healthy joint supplement blend found in Cosequin from Nutramax labs. Nutramax claims that their Dasuquin for Dogs delivers the most comprehensive, multifaceted joint health management formula available. Try Dasuquin w/ MSM to promote healthy joints in your dog. Healthy joints are vital to the continued mobility of tripawds. Using Dasquin with MSM your dog will get the benefits of Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM in a tasty chewable tablet. Glucosamine promotes the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin promotes water retention and elasticity in cartilage and inhibits enyzymes that break down cartilage and MSM is an anti-inflammatory that eases pain. Active Ingredient(s) for LARGE Breeds: Glucosamine Hydrochloride (900mg), Methylsulfonomethane (MSM) (800mg), Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate (350mg), Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables (90mg). Also contains Microcrystalline cellulose, artificial roast beef flavor, natural and artificial cheese flavor, dried brewer's yeast, gum resin, tea, magnesium stearate, soy protein isolates, mixed tocopherols, soy lecithin, silicon dioxide, natural and artificial flavoring. Active Ingredient(s) for SMALL/MEDIUM Breeds: Glucosamine Hydrochloride (600mg), Methylsulfonomethane (MSM) (400mg), Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate (250mg), Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables (45mg). Also contains Microcrystalline cellulose, artificial roast beef flavor, natural and artificial cheese flavor, dried brewer's yeast, gum resin, tea, magnesium stearate, soy protein isolates, mixed tocopherols, soy lecithin, silicon dioxide, natural and artificial flavoring.

Administration

The tablets may be fed directly or crumbled and mixed with the food according to these directions:

LARGE DOGS: For the initial 4 to 6 week administration period for dogs weighing 60 to 120 lbs give 2 chewable tablets daily. The suggested maintenance level for dogs 60 to 120 lbs is 1 chewable tablet daily.
SMALL DOGS: For the initial 4 to 6 week administration period for dogs weighing less than 10 lbs give chewable tablet daily. For dogs weighing 10 to 29 lbs give 1 chewable tablet daily and for dogs 30-59 lbs give 2 chewable tablets daily. The suggested maintenance level for dogs less than 10 lbs is chewable tablet daily, for dogs 10 to 29 lbs give chewable tablet daily and for dogs 30 to 59 lbs give 1 chewable tablet daily

Availability

Th following online resources for Dasuquin are provided for comparison shopping: Petscriptions.com:

National Pet Pharmacy:

Pet Care Rx:

Savings

Save $10 off $85 at the National Pet Pharmacy! Use code SAVE1085. Expires 6/30/10 Save $5 on Orders over $40 at National Pet Pharmacy Coupon Code SAVE540. No Expiration Date Free Shipping on orders over $49 at www.Petscriptions.com

Recommendations

Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Supplemental Chew Tablets for Dogs 150 National Pet Pharmacy Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Supplemental Chew Tablets for Dogs is a nutritional supplement for maintaining healthy joints in dogs. Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Supplemental Chew Tablets for Dogs has the same ingredients as Nutramax Dasuquin Supplemental Chew Tablets for Dogs, but with the addition of Methylsulfonylmethane(MSM). MSM is vital in controlling pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. MSM also helps to nourish the production of collagen and other connective tissues for healthy joints. Dasuquin with MSM goes above and beyond other glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplements. Research has shown that the combination of glucosamine/chondroiton sulfate plus ASU works better to support joints and manage pain than glucosamine/chondroiton sulfate alone; making Dasuquin the most complete joint supplement on the market.

Please be aware that we are not veterinarians. The information presented here is not meant to be construed as medical advice or guidance, nor should it be substituted for professional veterinary assistance. Always discuss any remedies and treatments you wish to pursue with your veterinarian. Purchases made through Tripawds affiliate merchant links help support ongoing efforts to maintain this community!

Ruff Wear Flophouse Dog Bed Demo Video

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:24:49 +0000

The Flophouse Foam Pad from Ruff Wear is a firm, low profile, completely washable dog bed ideal for tripawds on the mend from amputation surgery. Please read our full product review for complete details, and enjoy this demonstration video featuring Tripawds spokespup Wyatt Ray Dawg and his pack putting the Flophouse to the test in the Colorado mountains near Jerry's Acres ...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4iVSFN0e4[/youtube]

Ruff Wear Flophouse™ Foam Pad: Perfect for post-surgery recovery, the Flophouse is a completely washable waterproof bed designed for quick drying. Multiple layers of non-crush foam gives firm support with a low 1.5 inch profile that allows easy maneuvering for new Tripawds. [ product review | return policy ]

Reminder: Tripawds Survey Contest Deadline 3/22

jerry — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:58:15 +0000

Thanks to everyone who's submitted their answers to Part I and Part II of the first ever 2010 Tripawds Treatment and Recovery Survey. We've received 32 surveys so far. The comments have been enlightening, and will serve future Tripawd pawrents well. Some of the heartfelt details pawrents shared included things like:

"I went through "anticipatory grief" where I felt like he was dead even though he was perfectly fine. I think I cried every day for about a month . . . I no longer worry and know he will let me know when he is ready to move forward."
"he did really well, so i did well, for me it was hell making the decision to amputate because it felt like i was meeting my needs not his"
"Day to do I didn't worry but as soon as anything seemed 'different' I worried. A lot."

Remember that by taking the time to answer the survey questions, you will be helping many others hopping along the same Tripawds path. Plus, you get to be entered into a drawing for another $10 Café Cash gift certificate. One lucky winner can use it toward anything from the new Tripawds Gift Shop. To be entered in the drawing, just fill out Part II of the survey (and Part I if you haven’t already done so), no later than Monday, March 22 at 12 midnight, Pacific Time. We’ll continue taking responses indefinitely. Stay tuned for our findings from your answers, here in Jerry’s blog and his three legged dog discussion forums. Thanks for taking time out to help us with this impawtant research.

Pictures are worth...

Carmen (Catie's Mom) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:43:00 +0000

All dressed up and nowhere to go

Baby, it's cold outside

The true meaning of mortification

Smilin' Catie

Noble Riley

5 chemo treatments down

melsmom — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:13:21 +0000

Only 1 to go! Mel has been doing great! He is almost done with his IV chemo and I can't wait. After this 4 months of oral chemo, 5 more months of Prednisone and then his treatment will be complete. His separation anxiety has gotten a little worse in the past few weeks. Probably due to all of the extra attention, so that is my next battle. I can't believe how well he is hoping around. The weather is finally starting to get warmer so we will be at the dog park soon I'm sure!

A Bit of a Scare

Ted — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:27:18 +0000

Things have been going quite well with Nikki’s recovery. I’ve been on the road quite a bit over the last 3 weeks (was home all this week for a change) so I’ve been missing out on the day to day stuff with Nikki, but when I’d come home she would be very happy to see me, and last weekend she was really clinging to me and giving me the worried look until she realized that I wasn’t leaving again.. Funny how dogs really know these things..

Anyway.. Tuesday night Nikki was very restless. She just couldn’t get comfortable at all. We weren’t really sure what to make of it, and when she didn’t seem to get better by Wednesday, we called Dr. Pyne and got her in for a look-see. We had to drop Nikki off, and when we arrived back to pick her up, Dr. Pyne had “that look” about her. She was really worried about a couple of lumps that she found near the amputation area. She told us that it looked like lymph nodes being aggravated, and we needed to do a biopsy to determine what it is… You can probably imagine the thoughts that were going through our heads at this point, because we’d just gotten finished talking about how Nikki’s recovery has been progressing quite well.

Dr. Pyne went ahead and did the needle biopsy, and then came back in the room with a smile on her face…As it turned out, the lumps that she had noticed were simply some left over seroma fluid that had congealed a bit. We had figured that the seroma was completely healed, but apparently not.. We’re sending the fluid out to the lab anyway as a precaution, but for now we’ve breathed a HUGE sigh of relief..

Nikki slept much better Wednesday and Thursday nights, and we have to drop her off with Dr. Pyne again tomorrow for a follow-up exam…

Meanwhile, Nikki is back to her old self playing with her toys and just being a dog…

Let’s continue to hope for more “normal” days….

This is ME!!!!!

GoldenMomma — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:39:28 +0000

HI everybody!!! My momma and dadda came to visit me today they took lots of pictures of me and they even introduced me to my new big brother Tank and my big sister Nilla!!! they didn't seem bad at all... actually they gave me lots of kisses... I think once I'm big, I'm gonna have lots of fun with them!!! and it won't be very long till I'm big... I'm growing like a bad weed! someone said that my eyes are gonna be open in a few days! I can't wait to see the world!!!

More Snow (and its meltin)

janeothejungle — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:11:10 +0000

We gots to go back to the snow todays! and it's gettin all wet an mushy!! I'm gettin real strongs now and can runs for a long time! I hikd all the way in bys myself today, almost 2 miles! Pup -pup pup pupppppppyyyyy power!! [gallery link="file" columns="2"] PS: I like carrots..... [vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/10114697[/vimeo]

Has it already been 3 Weeks? Wow!

keepsmiln1818 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:47:51 +0000

It is so hard to believe that 3 weeks has already gone by ( and very quickly ) since Henri had his amputation surgery. I can not tell a lie, I am beyond EXHAUSTED! We have been so very fortunate that Henri has done so well with his recovery and he continues to amaze me every day! What a strong boy he is! Henri did not get sick one bit from the surgery and I only kept him on Tramadol for about 5 days after. It is exciting that he is no longer on the pain meds...they made him so tired and a little silly anyway! : ) He never had accidents in the house but the first week did take lots of encouraging to get him to go potty outside...otherwise, he would just hold it. I think it was just too much work during that first week and he was so sleepy! After sleeping in our living room for 19 nights, I finally decided it was time to move back upstairs. I have not slept through the night since he had surgery. Even though Henri is better, I always find myself waking up to check on him and see if he needs anything. I have to say that my surgeon rocked! She did a fantastic job on Henri and luckily, he had internal stitches ( WHICH IS THE WAY TO GO IF POSSIBLE ).... his wound healed so quickly! It was nice not having to worry about him picking/scratching at the stitches/staples and he never once had bleeding, bruising, oozing or anything of the sort! Just a clean wound that continues to look better every day! He did wear a T-shirt in the beginning just so I could protect Henri from scratching the wound with his foot...he loves to scratch! SIGH We started chemo this past Tuesday ( March 9th ) and so far, things are going well! Keeping our fingers and paws crossed! There is nothing I would do to change the decisions I have made for Henri. I realize that I have so much fight in myself for him because I lost my own mother so suddenly to cancer back in October of 2007. She never had a chance to fight because she passed so quickly after diagnosis. I realized that I want this for Henri, the chance to fight and have more great times/quality times. We do not know what tomorrow brings because we are not promised tomorrow...but Henri and I will continue fighting and continue enjoying our love for each other every moment we can! In the end, I will always be confident that I gave him life, courage, and the WILL to continue on as long as our journey can continue. Henri knows I love him, and that makes me feel so good!!! : )

The Only Love Money Can Buy

josiethebluegreatdane — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:08:32 +0000

Josie.... I bought Josie 6 years ago. She was a birthday present to myself. She turned 6 on February 24th. Next to my daughter Brittany she is the love of my life! I had always wanted a dog....we always had a dog when we grew up, but never one of my very own! A lady told me once...."they are the only love money can buy". She hit the nail right on the head.... Sunday March 7th 2010....a day like every other. I took my two danes Josie and Gully for their daily walk. We usually go to a local 68 acre park with trails, hills, river frontage, mud, clay and lots of other dogs. Today the girls ran and played off-leash like they always do. We met up with other people and dogs along the trails and the girls romped and chased for about an hour. We headed back to the truck and loaded up. Wisconsin winter is coming to an end and their feet, legs and bellies display the melting snow mixed with the underlying dirt, yes, they are a mess. Once we arrive home they hop out of the truck and I wipe them down with a towel. As I am wiping down Josie, I noticed she has a small lump on the wrist area of her front left leg. I feel immediate panic due to the fact that not too long ago her sister died from leg cancer. Being Sunday I decide to wait until morning to go to the vet. It doesnt seem to be an emergency..... Josie is starts limping later that evening...I wonder....did she get stung by something? tear her ACL? She didnt cry during the walk....what could it be? Monday March 8th 2010 We wake up and drive to the vets office arriving at 8am jsut as they open. Josie is still limping. I explain my concern and Josie is looked at within a half hour. I have been a wreck all morning and cry sitting in the waiting room. As soon as the vet looks at her wrist she expresses her desire to take Xrays. She explains that due to her breed she could have "osteo....something.....". I dont know what it is, but I know it is cancer. They take my baby girl for Xrays and an aspiration. When I come back to get her she is drowsy from being sedated but happy to see me and Gully. The vet puts the films up and expresses her educated opinion...."Osteosarcoma" is the word. Bone cancer. She refers me to Madison to the teaching hospital for either amputation or a limb-saving surgery. She suggests that we call and schedule an appointment for next week when the test results come back, she says "You can always cancel it" . We leave....with that...an anti-inflammatory, pain meds and a brochure. We know nothing else..... I call the hospital and tell them that I was to make the appointment for "next week". They offer me a few different dates but I opt to take the very first one. Monday at 10am. I drag the mattress from the spare bedroom onto the floor of the living room. I want to sleep with her, snuggle her, hold her and I dont want her to put any undo pain on her leg. She loves the convenience of walking into the bed and snuggles with me....I wonder if she knows...I talk to her and softly stroke her lump....telling her that it is okay, that I will take care of her. Later that night I talk to the owner of Bella (Josie's sister who passed away recently from bone cancer). It is our first conversation. We dont know one another but we talk for over an hour. I cry, she consoles me. She expresses the deep hole in her heart from losing Bella. She tells me that what ever choices I make, I will second guess them, but that I will do what is best for my Josie. I ask her one last question....something that has been bothering me all day..."Would you wait until Monday to go to Madison or would you call and get in sooner?" Bella's Mom advises me to call tomorrow, exactly what I thought....she tells me to do what "I" think is right. Josie is sleepy from the pain meds. She slept all day, she is drowsy and not herself. Tuesday March 9th 2010 I wake up and speed dial the teaching hospital. The answering service has the phones until 8am. Finally I get through. The next available appointment with Oncology is tomorrow at 11am. I take it. I decide not to give her the pain meds today. She is not limping and it is nice to see her up and about. She is almost her old self again. We take two short leash walks and just enjoy being together. I cry constantly....I dont want her to die.....I love her so much. I dont get much sleep tonight. I am so worried about her and what we will find out. We will have a 2 1/2 hour drive to Madison. Wednesday March 10th 2010 Today is my 44th birthday. It is not a happy birthday and I dont want anyone to even say it to me. 6 years ago I got the best present ever....today, it could be the worse birthday of my life. How ironic is it that today is "that" day? I pack some dog food for the girls and an overnight bag for myself just incase we need to stay over. My daughter lives in Madison, so we will get to see her and can stay at her apartment if needed. We arrive early and the girls are excited to smell all the smells around the vet hospital. Josie is doing great today, barely limping but still has the lump. A student assesses her and then we meet the oncologist. She expresses what they will do, sedate her again.....they need more Xrays to rule out lung mets and take some blood. This could be bad.... We wait for the results of the Xrays and find out that they are negative!!!! I cry over and over with each consult....from student, to oncologist to the surgeon. I tell them something they probably hear every day..."She is my baby". They suggest amputation. They do not do the limb saving procedure my vet told me about. I express my concern about her being a great dane without a front leg....is that even possible? They refer me to this website.... Tripawds.com. Four hours after walking in the door of the vet hospital I am driving to meet up with my daughter. We cry, we laugh, we discuss all the options. We nap, snuggle, kiss, spoil and love Josie together, I can not decide anything without her input. Together we decide through many many tears that amputation is the best option. Thursday March 11th 2010 Separation day is scheduled for March 16th 2010 at 11am. After spending the night at Brittany's apartment we drive home. All three of us nap in the living room on our mattress that afternoon. Josie wakes up and is limping a bit more. She licks her leg a few times so I decide to give her another pain pill. She is sleeping now. Resting....I tell her not to worry, I will make sure she is comfortable. I will always do what is best for her, not me. Josie....I love you! You are the greatest dane!

Free Podcast: Q and A with the Canine Cancer Foundation

jerry — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:38:30 +0000

We just spotted this free podcast radio show, The Dog Doctor on Blog Talk Radio. In this podcast from 9/29/09, Dog Doctor Robert Forto, PhD, interviews Gary Knife, Founder and CEO of the National Canine Cancer Foundation. Tune in to hear about canine cancer basics, expenses, new research and Q&As from call in guests. The Dog Doctor is hosted by canine behaviorist Dr. Robert Forto and is presented by Denver Dog Works in Colorado. Dr. Forto has 19 years experience in helping dogs with behavior problems and their human families and his work with service dogs and as a professional dog musher.

Tripawds Unite with Tri Nation Apparel and Gifts!

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:29:09 +0000

The unity of the Tripawd Nation is exemplified by the outpouring of support Tripawds members continually provide in the discussion forums, and the amazing stories they share in their three legged dog blogs. Jerry's little community, which has grown to become the Tri Nation is comprised of strong, loving spirits – incredible three legged dogs and their people who defy the odds, and quite often gravity... This is the inspiration behind our new Tri Nation t-shirts, cards, stickers and gifts. Specifically, Jerry's three legged GSD design represents how all Tripawds stand proud in the face of adversity. And our new flying three legged dog design inspired by canine cancer hero and tennis ball connoisseur Caira Sue sums up the strength and perseverance of amputee dogs. With a handle of different Tri Nation designs and plenty of new items to choose from in the new and improved Tripawds Gift Shop, you are certain to find something to help show your Tripawd Pride, while knowing that you are supporting continuing efforts to maintain the Tripawds community. Here are just a few selections to consider ...

Stay tuned for discussion about all our other new t-shirt and gift item designs including Tripawds Have More Fun, Tripawd Humor, and much more!

A Cart Has Been Ordered

randi — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:38:13 +0000

We were back at the vet this AM. Third time this week. The remaining rear leg is now essentially useless. Vet indicates probably arthritis in the hip. After some feedback from people in the chat room, we checked out three sources: (1) Walkin' Wheels by handicappedpets.com; (2) Eddy's Wheels; and (3) Doggon Wheels, I think this was at dogwheelchairs.com. I also looked on line for reviews of these products and decided on Walkin' Wheels. It is anticipated that we will receive the equipment on Monday. Meantime, our girl is very dependent on my husband and a sling. Her attitude remains very good. My husband gets a little frustrated with himself in lifting/guiding her. We're in our early 60s. Next time I think we will have to choose a smaller dog. Thanks to those in the chat room who gave us some input.

My Tribute to Tehya

Tehya's Mom — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:13:42 +0000

It is a week today since we lost our beautiful Tehya and I wanted to post a tribute to her so you could all see what an amazing girl she was. Until now I wasn't able to gather the strength to do this as you can all imagine it has been one tough week. Around 11.5 years ago we suddenly lost our German Shepherd Shelby to a twisted stomach and for a few months we went pet free which was extremely longely. My husband was adament that we would not get another dog, I however had other plans and thought that if I brought a puppy home he would love her to bits and there would not be a problem. So off I went looking for a puppy. A friend put me in touch with a well known Golden Breeder and the process began. I passed filled in the application, passed the interview and then she said well now that you have passed I just need to meet your spouse. Oh boy I thought there goes the puppy. After a lot of pleading from me and my sister and family off we went luckily for me her fell in love with Tehya's Mom and we were on the list for the puppy. We were told that her name had to begin with a "T" so I researched and found the name Tehya which is Native American for Precious. It could not have been more perfect! Her registered name is Orianna's Talanabay (Talanabay being a beautiful spot where we spend our summers). It was off to puppy school to try and teach her some manners she passed I failed. The teacher said you can tell who gives the hugs and who gives the discipline in your house. See if you can tell from these pictures who might be giving the hugs? . Everyone that met her loved her and she was soon to be the babysitter of the Shuswap. We have a summer condo and there are a lot of children in the neighboring units. Everyday Tehya would swim with them for hours on end. Not only would she swim she would swim circles around them so they couldn't go out to the deep water. We were forever getting knocks on our door with some little voice saying can Tehya come out and play. Her 2nd favorite summertime thing to do was to go for a boat ride. As you can see from the next picture she had the backseat all to herself. . I could write for hours on how she has made our life so special but won't bore everyone with my rambling. I just want to share one more story that shows just how much she meant to the husband who had to be nagged and tricked into getting her. About 5 yrs ago my husband was very seriously ill and was in the hospital for three months. The nurses of course had heard all about Tehya and kept telling me to bring her up. Finally with my neighbors help off we went to visit. She stayed downstairs with my neighbor and off I went to get my husband. When I got him to the lobby he spotted her right away and his face lit up like a neon sign. He was hooked up to tons of wires and by gosh our girl found a way to get her head on his lap without touching one of them. She spent a good couple of hours just letting him patting her and not moving. We took her back a few more times after that and each time you could see my husband getting stronger and stronger. I swear just having her by his side helped him to heal even faster. My final favorite picture is of Tehya and her best friend Kaydee I know they are both running together in heaven once again. I hope that you have enjoyed reading a little about our precious Tehya! It has been healing to look at the old pictures and remember the good times! Darlene

Stapaws are out!

Xander Tank — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:21:00 +0000

Morning everyone! Mum said I should give everyone an update on how I'm doin since I got my stapaws out! I think she just wants me to tell everyone about my new friends in the field beside our house! I never really paid attention to them before, but something sparked my interest this time! Tuesday was the day I was going with mum after she got home to get my stapaws out. That morning I wanted to show her just how good I'm doin! Mum's friend took me outside for my morning romp in the yard and way at the back of the yard, the closest they have ever been, were 3 deers! I sat there watching them for a sec (and I think mums friend said "no" but I wassnt payin attention).. then their big white tails flipped up! I think they were sayin "Comeon!" cause when they started to run I did too!! I ran and I ran, and I was runnin so fast! They wern't runnin so fast, they just trotted down the field out of my reach.. I didn't slow down though! Mums friend was runnin behind me to saying "something" - I think she was tryin to catch them too! She must have poked her head in the house too cause mum was runnin behind her. I ran all the way down to the other end of the big field.. the deers went in the woods so I thought I should go back home. I turned around and ran and ran back towards the house. Mum and her friend were calling me too, I think they wanted to play but they looked all tired. I was so excited that I was nipping at mum's sleeve a bit and I keep forgetting she doesn't like that. She had me by my scruff and sent her friend runnin towards the house - I was ok with her getting a head start cause I'm so fast! When mum let me go I sprinted after her.. she swqueeled and then was laughing cause I almost caught her! Mum wanted to go inside when we got back but I still wanted to play. I finally decided to go inside though, I was getting a bit tired. I relaxed for the day (from all the morning exercise!) and then when mum came home we went to see the vet lady - I love the vet ladies! She looked at my stub some and took those itchy things out.. then I got a treat for sitting still on the black pad that tells them how big I am! Did I mention I love the vet!? *The way mum sees it* Xander loves deer. There is a 10 acre field beside the house where they like to hang out that continues into hills and valleys of woods. He used to sit, sometimes laying, for long periods at a time just watching them. This particular morning the deer were closer to the house than Xander has ever seen them - maybe the temptation to play was just too much! The part where I came in was when the door flew open and I heard "Xander took off down the field after the deer!". I flew outside with boots in hand and by the time they were on my feet he was half way down the field with my friend in hot pursuit! I started running too (as well as I could in snow boots). He didn't turn to come back until he reached the treeline at the OTHER end of the field. When he reached me and became a little to "grabby" in his excitement I held him and sent my friend running for the house - when I "thought" she had a good head start I let him go and he took off like a shot! I hollered "he's coming" and somehow she ran faster! It took another 15 min to get him in the house - so much for making good time that morning :). I'm certain he slept well that day, and he was an angel at the vet's as usual. Will post new video soon!

March 11, My 1 year ampuversary!

jack crowder — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:26:18 +0000

It was a year ago that the doctor in Elverta, (Sacramento) removed what was left of my right front leg. I had part of my leg removed in Taiwan but the folks at Homeward Bound finished the job. I don't remember a whole lot about that day but I remember meeting some really special people, my foster mom and dad, Kathleen and Jim. I've talked about them before. They took me to their home in Auburn, Ca. and took really great care of me. They told the chauffeur and the maid I wasn't any trouble at all. As a matter of fact, they took a picture of me on the couch wrapped up in my favorite blue blanket and my hot pink t-shirt sitting next to Kathleen. Mom and dad got that picture not to long ago. My, I was so cute! Dad's eyes water when he looks at it. I look really happy in the picture and why not, I got rid of my bum leg, got a terrific foster home and was starting down the road to rest of my life. I didn't have cancer like so many of my tripawd friends do, but losing that leg was a pretty big deal and I would like all of you to celebrate with me! You know when I left that leg in doctors office, I left all the bad stuff that happened to me in Taiwan wrapped up in that leg. I hope they buried my leg really, really deep, like, backhoe deep. It's think it's a good thing to bury bad memories. I talked to everyone's mom and dad's and on Thursday, march 11th, 2010, all my tripawd friends will get an extra treat! And to all of my friends that have crossed the bridge, I miss you... and tomorrow night, I'll look up to the stars, wag my Farrah Fawcett tail and run like the wind with a big 'ol grin on my face! Shelby, the P.P.