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Hello friends, it's been awhile....
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Westminster, MD
Member Since:
31 August 2013
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27 February 2018 - 1:39 pm
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Hi everyone,

     I haven't been here for quite awhile to post a new topic, my hectic life sometimes takes over, as I am sure many of you can relate, and I so very much wanted to post last week for my Polly's 4th angelversary. But of course, then I get sick, ugh.....  So finally, I have most of my stuff together today, I think.

     It was 4 years ago February 16, that I lost my heart and soul, Tripawd Polly to ugly hemangiosarcoma, and yep, still miss her and think about her every single day. I do have to admit, that this has absolutely matured into a different phase of joyful remembrance, instead of the terrible, un-ending heavy grief. I am so very grateful to have had her in my life for 9 1/2 years, and will always treasure the memories, as I will with all my Lab girls that have gone over the Bridge.

     My life now with Pearl, that turned 5 years old already on Valentine's Day (who I brought home as a young pup when Polly started her journey with cancer), and my new yellow love Zuzu, has been adventure filled.  Zuzu has a very severe congenital heart valve defect, a grade 4-5 tricuspid valve dyplasia, which I knew about when I adopted her, but I am positive my Polly sent her to me, so I needed to bring her home with me back in January 2015. She was originally given a diagnosis of a possible 6 months to no more than a year to live, but I am very happy to say, she just turned 3 years old on November 4, 2017, and just taking one day at a time as always. Her cardiologists have already deemed her a miracle, and I pray that continues as long as possible. She is also the happiest, most lovable, joy-filled (and fun-filled !) dog I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with, and it's like she knows her time is limited, so what's that saying?? She is grabbing ALL the gusto she can, lol !! I simply adore her.

     There has been tremendous heartache this past year or so as well, unfortunately..... In late September, and early November 2017,  35 days apart to be exact, I lost both my beloved longtime pet sits, Henry, a 14 year old German Shepherd mix, and his housemate brother Rex, a 13 year old huge hunk of Rottweiler love, and we lost them BOTH to awful hemangiosarcoma, I just hate this crappy canine cancer.... But I do have to say, they did live very full lives with their family, my dear friends. They were my part time fur-kids for almost 10 years, and I loved them as much as my own pups. In December, a few weeks before Christmas, their family could no longer take the terrible loneliness and silence, and brought home a new hunk of pup love to help fill the awful void, a Great Pyrenees/Standard Poodle mix puppy named Sully, and oh yeah, he is as gorgeous and lovable as you are thinking !!! We know that Rex and Henry will always be right there with us, and Sully sure does help ease the terrible pain of their loss. 

     I am also keeping busy with my other very handsome pet sit boys, Fritz and Loki, my German Shepherd love bugs. Fritz will be 4 in August, and Loki is a rescue that their owners, my good friends, got as a 5 year old, so he will be 8 at the end of this year already. I realized I may never get the opportunity to have my very own GSD, so I have a total of 4 German Shepherds that I sit for so I think that fills the void where that is concerned, lol. German Shepherds have always been my #2 favorite dog, with Goldens a very close 3rd. All other breeds are a VERY close 4th, lol !!  So much dog joy in my life, and plenty of kitty joy too !!

     One more thing, my kitty Autumn that was my Polly's best buddy, will be 16 years old in April, and I am so thankful to still have her with me. She was quite depressed for awhile when we lost Polly, but she very thankfully recovered, and she has actually latched on to Zuzu for some reason, hmmmm.... We unfortunately lost our silly kitty Goober back in July 2016, after a short illness that shut his kidneys down, he was my sweet late Lab Maggie's best bud, and we miss him so much.

     That's it for now, and I am always remembering to live each day in the moments, enjoy those moments to the very fullest, and mostly ALWAYS try to Be More Dog <3

     Much love to all,

Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu (and Autumn)

   

 
 

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Orrtanna Pa.
Member Since:
25 January 2014
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27 February 2018 - 7:29 pm
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What a wonderful group of fur babies! That Sully, how adorable! Your girls make me smile! I love Labs! I too have not been here much. Life has a way of getting crazy. I still come back once in a while to touch base too. I will have to put something on Ty's blog soon also for his 4 years. I will never forget this site or the support I received. I know there were quite a few of us that had looses so very close together in 2014. ❤️LORI, angel Ty and gang

TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed  and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 February 2018 - 9:00 pm
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Old home week!!  HELLOOOOOOO BONNIE AND POLLY (and HELLOOOOOO LORI AND TY too)heart  Yes, I had the PRIVILEGE AND HONOR of my Happy Hannah and I traveling side vy side with the beautiful Polly, as well as the handsome Ty.

Aorry you've been sick sweet Bonnie, but really glad ro hear you are all better now!

SWEET POLLY.....HAPPY FOURTH HEALTHY AND WHOLE ANGELVERSARY GENTLE SOUL!superstar

Dear sweet Bonnie, it's absolutely wonderful to hear from you, even though some sadnesses are entwined in your wonderful update.  Your post is so full of love, and life lessons, and Soul's growth, topped off with grace and wisdom.way-cool  I'm sorry Goober and Rex and Henry had to head to the Bridge.  I know Maggie and Polly were there to welcome them home.

I remember when Polly sent you Zuzu and what a  courageous and compassionate act of @ove it was when you took her I to your heart.  I think we all held our collective breath that she would at least have some wonderfull quality months with you before her heart issues overcame her. 

  HA!!!!  Polly and Zuzu had other plans!! 🙂   Seeing pictures of her today absolutely lit up my world 🙂 🙂  And Autumn is still jere snuggling with because Pearl and Zuzu...AMAZING!! 🙂 

I thoroughly enjoyed looking at all these great pictures of all dogs loved by you!  Whether it it's through pet sitting, or having them in your home as family members, they are all very lucky to have you as their partner.

I want to also acknowledge your Mom who you laid tribute to on facebooger.  You have to be one of her greatest joys.  And she has to be one of your greatest joys.   Its takes a beautiful Soul to raise another beautiful Soul......'nuff said.

Thank you sooooo much for checking in Bonnie.  I think of you and John often (and Merry Myrtle still asks when she can see John again) and know we'll all get together again.   And it still gives me warm fuzzies when I see beautiful Polly's banner....And how breathtakingly beautiful she is ....such a gentle Soul.

Love and light always

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!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 February 2018 - 9:10 pm
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PS...Please tell Sully's hoomans we are so sorry for the loss of their beloved puls so close together.  So sad.  Sully certainly will bring them much needed smiles 🙂

I alao wanted to highlight something you said.  It may help others who are going through some losses now.

bcullom said
Hi everyone,

    

     It was 4 years ago February 16, that I lost my heart and soul, Tripawd Polly to ugly hemangiosarcoma, and yep, still miss her and think about her every single day. I do have to admit, that this has absolutely matured into a different phase of joyful remembrance, instead of the terrible, un-ending heavy grief. I am so very grateful to have had her in my life for 9 1/2 years, and will always treasure the memories, as I will with all my Lab girls that have gone over the Bridge.

    

    

    

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEARL!!

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!

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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27 February 2018 - 10:09 pm
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I remember your video from last winter when you had tons of snow - you cleared a path for the dogs to run through!   I watched that video several times and just laughed at Pearl & Zuzu's antics.  I remember you saying that it would probably be Zuzu's last winter, but it's good to hear that it wasn't!  Murphy & Cassie both loved to run through the snow.  Sometimes I think the deeper the snow, the happier it made Murphy laughing

Sully looks like a dog we had growing up - Bozo was a mutt ...his mother was half old English shepherd & his father was some sort of terrier, but he was tall.  The pups were all white with black spots like that & longish wavy hair.

I feel the same as you about that stupid hemangiosarcoma!  It also took our warrior Murphy last June - over 4 years as a Tripawd, only to lose his life because of a different cancer.  It's just not fair.  His best friend Cassie joined him just 7 months later ...she had arthritis in her back & some bulging discs.  Walking was getting more & more difficult for her, we had gotten her a wheelchair , and one night she was just gone when I came home from work, about 20 minutes after going outside.

heartHappy Angelversary Sweet Pollyheart

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Los Angeles, CA
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13 June 2013
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28 February 2018 - 9:14 am
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Bonnie !!!! So nice to see you here and hear your update! I know ... like Lori and Sally, we are coming up on our 4 years this April. UGH! 

And like you ... my grief has morphed from the heart-wrenching, soul-crushing, how can I get up in the morning, to a reminder of the joy that Shelby brought into my life and the gift that she sent me in the form of the 'sidekick' - aka Jasper Lily. That ugly cancer - hemangiosarcoma has taken too many of our friends in recent years for sure. I hate, hate, hate that cancer with all my soul!  But I do believe the gift and blessing to have come out of this journey is the friends I have made along the way !!!

So we will always remember sweet Polly!!! 

Lots of love!

Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little jasper too) heart

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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28 February 2018 - 9:40 am
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mom2shelby said
Bonnie !!!! So nice to see you here and hear your update! I know ... like Lori and Sally, we are coming up on our 4 years this April. UGH! 

And like you ... my grief has morphed from the heart-wrenching, soul-crushing, how can I get up in the morning, to a reminder of the joy that Shelby brought into my life and the gift that she sent me in the form of the 'sidekick' - aka Jasper Lily.  But I do believe the gift and blessing to have come out of this journey is the friends I have made along the way !!!

Always well said Alison.  And such a "ray of hope" for so many of our family experience "lgrief" that it does, as you said, " morph" into the joyous memories of all the gifts our furfriends gave us.......and eventually more furfriends to lpveheart

Okay Bonnie HIJACK ALERT!   This seems to be a fitting "place" (where xeveral of us shared the journey of victories and transition together) to say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISON!!!!  ( Yeah, I see where all you facevooger people post stuff!!  We miss you guys over here!!)!   HAPPY HAPPY. IRTHDAY ALISON

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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28 February 2018 - 10:36 am
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Bonnnnnnieeeeee! It's so good to hear from you, this made my morning. I'm glad you are feeling better!

Can it really be four years since Polly got her pretty angel wings? Wow that seems like just yesterday. I'm glad your heart has healed from the deepest grief and just love what you said here:

a different phase of joyful remembrance, instead of the terrible, un-ending heavy grief.

Thank you for sharing that insight, it's so hopeful and helpful for members who are in the midst of the worst parts of losing a beloved animal.

And speaking of animals...wow! All that love wrapped up in fur is amazing, I'm so envious of how many beautiful creatures surround you on any given day! Your life with all of them sounds like paradise and so much fun. They are all so very lucky to have you looking out for them. 

Thank you for letting us know how things are going and sharing all the lovely photos, it's so much fun seeing all the kids.

P.S. Wyatt Ray says if you ever want a German Shepherd dog-sit fix, he's your guy!

P.P.S. YEAH Alison, Happy Birthday!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Westminster, MD
Member Since:
31 August 2013
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6 March 2018 - 3:29 pm
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Sorry it has taken so long to get back to everyone that responded, and all that took the time to read my life update and hopefully enjoy all my pics that we posted, I am glad I have John to help with all that techy stuff. This past weekend we lost power for the entire weekend starting 7am Friday morning, through 9pm Sunday night, due to the powerful wind storm that swept the mid-Atlantic and northeast coast..... 2 generators broke down on us, and my very elderly dad-in-law that lives with us, fell and broke a few ribs in the middle of all this, ugh. But we got through, and now just trying to play catch up with everything, as well as John coming down sick again, this winter has been really difficult for a lot of people for sure.

Sally, it was so good to read your posts, you have been my and so many others biggest cheerleader since I/we joined Tripawds. Thank you for all the kind words as always, remembering Polly, and positive thoughts on all my other fur kids and pet sit fur kids. And thank you for your lovely words regarding the memory of my mom, that meant so much. John and Pearl, and myself do hope that we can get together again as well, so sorry we had to miss this last get together last May, it surely sounded like wonderful fun for all that was there. Tell MM and Frankie that we would love to see them too. 😊

Lori, thanks for your kind words on all my fur kids too, my life would be so darn boring and meaningless without them, lol. And you are so right, so many of us had losses so close together.... Elizabeth, Claudia, me, you, Sally, Alison, so many, it pains me that I can’t remember all of them. I know Deb and Esther were in there somewhere as well..... 😔

Donna, it was so good to see your post, I do hope all is well with you. Thank you for remembering my Polly, that means so much, and I am so happy that you enjoyed that snow video of Zuzu and Pearl, that was SOOOO much fun for all of us, and I WAS worried that that would be Zuzu’s last winter, her defect was a bit bad and uncontrolled at that point with hypertention in her heart chambers, so it was scary. Thankfully her cardiologists were able to get it under control. And as always, I always love seeing your sweet Murphy in your avatar picture, he was a gorgeous Golden, and will never be forgotten 👍

Alison, always great to hear from you as well, although we do chat on facebook too, so it is so nice to have so many social connections. Yep, like I was saying to Lori, so many of us hitting that 4 year mark already, but our journey together was just so remarkably connected with time frame, and that ugly hemangiosarcoma, and I so very much agree with you, it certainly has taken so many fur loves in the last several years. It is bad enough to just be fighting that crappy canine cancer, but it hurts extra hard when you see a pup beating another type of cancer, just to be taken by sneak-attack with awful hemangiosarcoma. And I will always carry Shelby in my heart as I will so many other beloved Tripawd pups and kitties, but I can always picture Shelby in one of those adorable costumes you put on her, she could really rock those outfits, lol .... I am also glad we both have been able to move forward with similar sentiments as far as leaving that never-ending heartbreak and grief behind, to getting to the point that we can live, love, and be happy again with another fur love/loves, speaking of which, give side-kick JL a hug for me, I love reading about all her antics on FB 💞 

Rene, thank you for your kind words of support as always too, I am glad I could make your morning 😁 And yep, I try to fill my life as much as possible with any and all fur kids at some capacity, as Rex’s and Henry’s mom has told me (which made my heart ever so happy to the point of tears), she said to “never doubt my purpose in life, that there couldn’t possibly be a better pet sitter than me”.... Yep, tears of joy that someone could think so highly of my ability to love and care for any and all pets at such an incredible level ❤️ So you can tell Wyatt, I would be more than overjoyed to be an honorary pet sitter for him, and get my GSD fix as well 🐾

Much love to everyone, and hoping for warm, sunny, happy days in your lives, and in your hearts, and guessing I better get back to my laundry and other chores I am behind on, lol ❤️😘👍🐾😎

Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, Zuzu, and Autumn 🐾💞

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