Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Love, Love, Love! lol Jasper Lily looks just fine to me, too! I'm no help when it comes to the whole diet thing, either, lol since we free-feed - 1 bowl of food for all 3 dogs (well, up until Murphy went on grain-free food anyways). Everyone just eats however much they want whenever they're hungry..and none of my dogs have ever been overweight. Murphy does still sneak food from Cassie & Max's bowl once in awhile, but he's not supposed to and he knows it. How did you ever get her to eat spinach? That's pretty much the only thing the dogs don't pick up when it gets dropped on the floor! lol Vitamin D therapy, ahhh...how I've missed you! There is always that ache/worry in your heart, isn't there? We got Murphy about a year after we lost Taz, and part of me felt that way for a long time ... but Murphy's personality is a lot different than Taz's was. There is never a replacement for our babies, but there is always more room in our hearts for another baby.
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
jerry said
This reminds me of....When we were filming the PBS episode with Jerry, there was an off-camera moment when I whined that I didn't have my own still camera available to take a picture of Jerry and the producer who was giving him a smooch. She, the producer, said to me, "You don't need a picture, the memories are here", while pointing to her heart. She was so right. Photos are temporary but memories and love is forever. Shelby knows that too.
THANK YOU!!!! This might be the nudge I need ... and thank you for always loving and supporting us .... it seems so trivial but in my mind it's a HUGE weight on my shoulders.... and there is no rule, I can't change it back! 🙂 I love this ... Shelby indeed lives in my heart ... every single day!
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
midnighter94 said
Love, Love, Love! lol Jasper Lily looks just fine to me, too! I'm no help when it comes to the whole diet thing, either, lol since we free-feed - 1 bowl of food for all 3 dogs (well, up until Murphy went on grain-free food anyways). Everyone just eats however much they want whenever they're hungry..and none of my dogs have ever been overweight. Murphy does still sneak food from Cassie & Max's bowl once in awhile, but he's not supposed to and he knows it. How did you ever get her to eat spinach? That's pretty much the only thing the dogs don't pick up when it gets dropped on the floor! lol Vitamin D therapy, ahhh...how I've missed you! There is always that ache/worry in your heart, isn't there? We got Murphy about a year after we lost Taz, and part of me felt that way for a long time ... but Murphy's personality is a lot different than Taz's was. There is never a replacement for our babies, but there is always more room in our hearts for another baby.Donna
Jasper has loved spinach since before I got her. She is the oddest duck when it comes to food. I've never seen a dog get so excited about veggies ... the first time I dropped a few pieces she dashed in to grab them and it's never stopped. 🙂 She loves her greens.
It has been a real struggle reconciling my love for Jasper with my heartbreak over Shelby. I am so glad I don't have human kids! 🙂 I know people say you love your kids differently but I do sometimes feel like I am 'cheating' on Shelby... ahhhhh... to Be More Dog ! And just love for the sake of loving! XO
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
Give yourself some credit Ms. Alison! You have grown leaps and bounds...really huge leaps and bounds...reconciling your love for Jasper and your heartbreak over Shelby. You had the courage to realize that kind of "divide" was not serving you. It was actually limiting your ability to love, and that was continually chip away at your Soul. Talk about an OWWEEE!
Now that your heart is more open to lpve, and not fearful of it, you have more room to snuggle Shelby in her own little celebration corner!. As Jerry said, she's always in your heart!!
Okay, okay, I'll share one little secret about a "hurdle" of mine...shhhh....secret....shhh.....I had special phrases with special "inflections" just for my Happy Hannah. The way I said, "You are suuuch a goood girl" was meant just for her. I would catch myself saying it to Merry Myrtle and it would give me a little jolt....a little "oops". Now it just flows freely with no thought. After all, Happy Hannah picked her and she IS "suuuch a good virl"....when Frankie isn't teaching her naughty habits!
I love the poctures you have on your facebooker. And the way I read it, you can still keep one in one spot and put Jasper in the other spot. Win/win!! Just do it if, and when, it feels right!! And you know what? On special happy times, you can still plug Shelby into both spots for a day or two!
Love you Alison ! Your posts always become inclusive of so many "topics"! Love it!
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!
benny55 said
Give yourself some credit Ms. Alison! You have grown leaps and bounds...really huge leaps and bounds...reconciling your love for Jasper and your heartbreak over Shelby. You had the courage to realize that kind of "divide" was not serving you. It was actually limiting your ability to love, and that was continually chip away at your Soul. Talk about an OWWEEE!Now that your heart is more open to lpve, and not fearful of it, you have more room to snuggle Shelby in her own little celebration corner!. As Jerry said, she's always in your heart!!
Okay, okay, I'll share one little secret about a "hurdle" of mine...shhhh....secret....shhh.....I had special phrases with special "inflections" just for my Happy Hannah. The way I said, "You are suuuch a goood girl" was meant just for her. I would catch myself saying it to Merry Myrtle and it would give me a little jolt....a little "oops". Now it just flows freely with no thought. After all, Happy Hannah picked her and she IS "suuuch a good virl"....when Frankie isn't teaching her naughty habits!
I love the poctures you have on your facebooker. And the way I read it, you can still keep one in one spot and put Jasper in the other spot. Win/win!! Just do it if, and when, it feels right!! And you know what? On special happy times, you can still plug Shelby into both spots for a day or two!
Love you Alison ! Your posts always become inclusive of so many "topics"! Love it!
Sally!!! That is so true! I remember when I first told Jasper I loved her (about 5 months into our relationship), I would only say it in Spanish (and I don't speak Spanish)! And I always used to call Shelby my "boo" .... now I call Jasper "baby boo"... it is the little things like that.
Once still - I called Jasper my bestie and that really shook me but I realized, it's ok to have more than one BFF.
Funny how this thread has turned into "therapy for Alison about changing a Facebook photo"... 🙂
And yes, Sally - reading it correctly ... Shelby will be the backdrop and Jasper can be a profile photo. 🙂 Because I really kind of love that photo in this thread of me and the sidekick!
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
Alison -your FB pictures will be the same way mine are. Murphy is in the background and Ollie in the small photo. It just works right that way. i did change the name to have Ollie first with Murphy as the middle name.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
murphsmom said
Alison -your FB pictures will be the same way mine are. Murphy is in the background and Ollie in the small photo. It just works right that way. i did change the name to have Ollie first with Murphy as the middle name.Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Sounds like i am in the right company with all my amazing friends here ...
and shelby visited last night ... in my dreams ... healthy, running (fast) on her four legs ... but running away from me and I couldn't quite catch her. It was like she was saying, let me run free mommy, for now. Stop holding me so tight (she was on her leash). It was bittersweet - happy and sad at the same time.
I think my long point is that she was saying ... let me go and let the sidekick have her day! 🙂
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
Wow just wow! Talk about signs! It is clear Spirit Shelby is watching over you always, and knows Jasper has helped heal your heart. Which is exactly why she sent her to you. I truly believe our spirit dogs watch over us from the bridge and step in when we need them the most. You just validated that in a big way for me! Thank you!
Hugs,
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
Now THAT is a great way Miss Shelby Lynne connected with you!! Just a little addition to the way you translated meaning from the dream: she was showing you how great she feels, what a great time she is having AND the leash was a reminder you and she are still, and always will be, CONNECTED, without having to hold the leash so tightly anymore so she, and you, can play much more freely.
So yeah, let Jasper have her "day in the sun", because I still am....and I'm still here with you always. Sooooo, you don't have to hold me "tightly" for fear of losing me, but loosen your grasp with confidence and certainty knowing I'm always with you.
Love you sweet 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!
Linda ... you are SO welcome! I like to share my thoughts as they help me process things in my life and that dream was clear as day. It took me a couple hours to realize what it meant but I got there.
And Sally... chills ... chills reading your interpretation with the leash. Connected as two souls always will be but distanced for now. WOW. That is so insightful! Thank you for that and thank you ALL for giving me the support to change that photo. It's so odd. I used to change it all the time but today ... wow... that was tough but now BOTH my girls .... the sidekick and the love of my life... have their public place.
SO much love to all of you!!!
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
hello, butting in here on the practical stuff. One of my dog had issues with weight so... a higher protein lower carb food can help. Feeding more often but less can help if you can manage that and your dog doesn't claim to be dying at the small portion size. Feeding in more than one location can also help get a dog moving around. If your dog is complaining about small portion size you can mix green beans in with the food. Try to go with no salt if possible. And they seem to be really easy on the dogs stomach and they act as "filler" so it can help.
now on veggies, floyd absolutely loves vegetables. In fact it has become A RULE! that if I get broccoli out he must have some. He also wants some of the bunnies veggies every time I feed her (this I disagree with) and he will eat the white, stalky part of romaine and other lettucey type stuff that the bunny is not so thrilled about. I find it odd that the dog is more excited about the veggies than the rabbit, but floyd is insane so I shouldn't be surprised.
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
2 Guest(s)
