Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Awww, it sounds like you have been going through it. Myrtle certainly looks happy though.
Living with Cora, I have all sorts of tips for living with blind dogs. It seems to me, if your concerned about increasing loss of vision it might make sense to start now. If she can retain the vision she has, no harm done. If she loses some, she will have already learned coping tricks while she could also use vision.
By the way, hello from Cora, Floyd, myself, the cats and the bunny. It's been a while... I know, I know.. I never call, I never right. Sheesh.
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
Myrtle! That is a bummer. Oh, Sally! I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sure Frankie is up for the guide dog job, but I think you also need to take him aside and tell him that until this gets figured out, he needs to wait to have any injuries or get into trouble. There's only so much you can handle at once. I'll be thinking of you and hoping the eye drops work, and that Myrtle is completely recovered from her UTI so that her body can have a break.
oh my goodness!!! what adventures you have been dealing with lately! (I prefer to call them adventures.. ) Merry Myrtle will certainly make Frankie work for the honor of being her seeing eye dog! And yes.. he is rawking that yellow coat! There was a lady down the street who had a schnauzer who was putting drops in his eyes to prevent the glaucoma in his good eye and it works for him for years!!!! sending many good vibes fom above the border for many years of success!!
I know.. it's been a while.. but I still lurk.. and read.. and laugh and cry....
hugs
Christine.. with Franklin and Maggie in her heart.....
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Oh Sally,
I'm so sorry I totally missed this whole thread. I just found it, I had no idea Nurse Myrtle was not feeling well. I am not surprised at all that Frankie stepped up to the nurses plate! He might be all rough and tumble on the outside but he's a big mushy teddy bear on the inside.
You know that all of your cheerleaders are here for you and will try to support you in any possible way. The Baytril is a great big gun antibiotic, I have seen it work wonders. Can you add some water to her food or will she turn her nose up if you try that? I have managed to add a bit of water to both the cats and Mitchell's canned food and have had good success keeping the bladders flushed pretty well. It's just an idea to try.
Sending you and the pups huge hugs and lots of love.
Jackie 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Sally sweetheart 💓🌺
So sorry to hear Myrtle's eye situation ... luckily she has you and Frankie to cheer her up (puppy lattes and ice cream included 😉) and hopefully the drops will insure her good eye will stay as it is 🙏🏼
As others said, you are such a wonderful person and take every single problem with such grace and resolve ... we can but admire you and follow your footsteps ...
Sending you all my love, sweetie and tons of cuddles to Frankie and Myrtle 😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
Merry Myrtle honey, i am finally catching up!! I am sorry to have missed out on all of the extra issues that you are having to deal with... You are an amazing Nurse... it takes an amazing talent to be challenged in sight and still keep on Nursin’!!! You look super cool in shades though lovey... I think you and Frankie are ready for the fashion runway! I can’t send you any get well teddy’s, but i can send tons of lovin kisses... so here they come...
😘😘
I do hope you are all feeling better. Sally, my wish for you is to have a whole lot of good vibes coming your way!!! I am so hoping for Frankie to be back on 3 in full force soon and for Merry Myrtle to get back to her usual Merry self and Sally, I wish for you to be given a break! You have been through so much already and I am truly wishing for some calm waters to be surrounding you. And with all this snow, that does not mean that i want the floods of Noah’s Arc to be rushing around your home, i just wish for some peace and calm time for you!! That is my wish!!!
Love to you all Sally. Hugs and kisses all around!
Petra, Stewie and his Pride
Remember...“live in the moment!“ 
She had such beautiful golden eyes...gentle and kiind...I could see her gentleness and kindness. Sweet golden eyes.
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!
But nooooo....Merry Myrtle prefers to tock some cool dawg sunglasses-!
NOTE TO SELF: Don't ask a question you don't want to hear the answer!
So Merry Myrtle's follow-was a bit distressing. As I already knew, one ye has no vision at ll. And the one that had a "little bit" of some sort of vision is now worse....which I kinda knew, but wanted to think otherwise!
So, knowing I've had a HORRIBLE time getting drops in a 130 lb Bull Mastiff who is determined to wear sunglasses....well...I asked the wuestion anyway:
"Had I been able to do a better job of getting the drops in, things would not be worse, eight?". Of course, his andwer, "Yes, that's correct".
I "pulled a Clare"!!! 
At which point the tears started flowing and my mouth started blubbering nonsense along the lines of, " So I have a dog who is losing her eyesight and a tripawd who is not getting proper therapy because they both have a single human home and I can't do what needs to be done properly for them n my own!!! So my innocent dogs are being punished because I'm their human!" I think I even through in something like, "They would both be better off if I gave them away to a yiunger, multiple home famil!y!" Can't remember if I threw in "Im old", but didn't want to state the obvious!!!
I had my trusty tavlet with me and offered ro show him the video of my Vet and her TWO assistants trying to put drops into her eyes!
Not even sure what he said, but something along the lines of, I'll get better at this, and he knows it's hard!! Guess he was still trying to make me feel better by saying it is inevitable anyway that she'll.lose her remaining eyesight, we're just trying to prolong it as long as we can with the drops.
Bless his heart! (And no Linda, I didn't realize that was just a "Southern" thang either!) He really is a compassionate and knowledgeable man. Myrtle and I like him a lot.
Sooooo....that's where we are. And ya' know what??? Where we are is still a very good place to be compared to what everyone is going through here- And I mean that!! Doesn't mean this is a good scenario at all. Doesn't mean I'm jumping up and down with joy! But it DOES mean I'm so glad she's not facing a far worse "diagnosis. She's four and should have a happy long life ahead.....knocking on wood!!!
I have a new technique now. I'm going to wrap Merry Myrtle in duct tape and tape her to the floor. Then I'll duct tape her eyes open! I'll.post a video! A YouTube sensation in the making!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IN YOUR CIRCLE OF COMPASSION AND FRIENDSHIP!!
Lots and lots of love to all!
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!
Oh Sally,
You have me laughing and crying at the same time. Damn it you need a break!!! I will email you, I have ideas.. a few that you may find helpful. This is NOT your fault!!!! You are the kind of human that furbabies would FIGHT OVER to have as theirs.
I only have a moment here, trying to pack up my work toys so I can go HOME. I will get in touch with you, if I can give you tips that will work for you I would be such a happy auntie to beautiful Myrtle..
Sending you ginormous hugs and love, please hug the pups for me.
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Sally,
I am sorry Merry Myrtle's appointment didn't go well. Listen we had a Tripawd Great Dane on here, Queen Nova who went blind due to glaucoma. She did awesome. MM will get around. I know it's hard and not easy. We do not wish this on you or her that is for sure. I am so sorry my friend that your sweet girl is going through this.
NO they are not being punished because you are their human. Sometimes I think we are given the special ones because he knows we can deal. (Many times I feel like I can't though and I know you feel like that too). Sally we are all here for you.
I love you my friend
xoxoxox
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Um OK no duck tape got it? 😉
I can't blame you for feeling so down about this but it is NOT your fault my dear. You are doing the best you can and there's no way those dogs would be better off in any other home but yours. For whatever reason you are being faced with this latest challenge and I know it totally sucks, but I have no doubt that you will come through for MM and create an awesome quality of life that she wouldn't have had otherwise.
Did the vet give any kind of timeframe about the vision loss? How quickly or hopefully slowly that it can progress? Just curious. Remember that like amputation, dogs handle vision loss a zillion times better than humans. You will once again be so amazed by an animal's resilience.
All of us are here for you Sally. We love you to the moon and back and you are definitely not alone in this.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok Sally you're entitled to that little breakdown.....so HUGE HUGS! But Jackie's right you're the queen of super moms! So nix those thoughts right now! Everything you do in life is centered around your furkids. The umbrella of love and caring they live under well let's just say I can feel it from here way in the North country! When I was a child the collie who lived next door to us was blind. Most people never even knew it he did so well. He lived to 13 and lived a glorious life playing with all the neighborhood kids. We all knew to speak his name first so he knew we were there but nothing held him back. Myrtles sight is going but she will learn to use her other senses more acutely and will adapt. And I know you and I know you will find a way to get those drops in that suit you both come hell or high water. It WILL get easier....and perhaps you can save her remaining sight for a while here. Hell she doesn't need to see a pupachino she can smell it. And yes you are only one person and of course that is somewhat limiting in and of itself..but don't think for one minute any of this reflects back to you. Because we all know that trying to find fault and blame in ourselves fixes nothing and it's way better to move forward with what we can do. Heck there's no guarantees in life even if we do everything perfectly 😉. You've got each and everyone of us walking right beside you so when you need our strength reach out to any of us via phone or emails or here, cause we rally around like Indians to Custer! Love you my friend....give Myrttle a kiss on each eye for strength from Auntie Linda and a kiss to Frankie's leg too for Auntie healing power!!
Sally, You are not to blame and all that talk about being with someone else? What is that and what would you say to us if we did that? JUST SAYING!
I am very sorry to hear Myrtle will lose her sight how does she do now getting around the house and such? She is still the same Merry Myrtle it is just fuzzy for her to see?
Does that mean she isn’t happy NO it might mean you cant move furniture in the house anymore as Karen said earlier?
You love them both and provide for them more then a younger family would! Myrtle and Frankie picked YOU enough of all that gibberish!
It is a not a great scenario No, but she can live a long happy life with no sight. She has you and Frankie to lead the way!
I wondered how Frankie was doing as well?
Sending lots of love your way & please feel hugged!
Oh Sally .... by no means are you a bad human! Quite the opposite! Like Michelle said... those babies are SO lucky YOU are their mom and not someone else who would give up on them when things got tough!!! No ma'am ... you are the best mom a dog could ask for! Ice-cream, deer poop, no rules?!? Heck.. .Jasper wants to come live with you (but we're scared of ticks and huge a$$ snakes!! ha ha).
I am so sorry you are going through all this my friend! I so wish I could help in some way ... but know that I am thinking of you!
I have no experience w/blind dogs but from what I have heard and read ... they get along fine. Dogs are amazing at adapting and that sense of smell.. unlike any other ... imagine how heightened it will be now! I know since I am basically blind without glasses / contacts, I can hear everything ... the other senses do compensate ... and besides, I think a dog's greatest joy in the world is their tastebuds and their sense of smell.
Sending you SO much love and hugs and comfort!!!
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
So sorry to hear this Sally...but you are right, things can always be worse. And God never gives us more than we can handle. Remember "The Secret"? Now is the time to bring all the positiveness the universe has to offer. Allow yourself a little pitty party, and move forward. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for! You've got this and all of us to lean on. Hugs my friend!
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
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