Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Tasha has two little Yorkie sisters. Ruby who will be 11 years old in Sept. She has so many medical problems that started in her neck and now has taken over her whole body. She has had to live on pain medicine for the last 4 years just to survive. Her front legs , her vet called them wind swept are now so arthritic she walks off the sides of her feet, she has no strength in her back legs, she is having a hard time getting up from laying down. I spend a lot of time carrying her. If she gets bumped into she will fall, she is extremely fragile. Way more to Ruby's problems to keep going on with them.
Then we have Susie who is 8 was was diagnosed with epilepsy last winter and one of her rear legs is permanently out of socket. She does fine, she just walks a little stiff on that leg. When I had her at the vet for her seizures the vet asked me what I wanted to do about Susie. Would I have a problem giving her medicine. This was a new vet to us, she didn't no our history with Ruby or Tasha, I had to laugh, giving one small pill once a day a problem, that was funny to me! She told me some people will put their dog down, they just won't deal with a dog with medical problems.
Now there is Tasha, our cancer dog and what a journey this has been.
I wonder sometimes why all three of my dogs have medical problems, but really I know even with the everyday challenges , I am blessed to have them. 
Jo Ann
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
I've always said we are 'chosen' to take care of these animals. You were chosen for more than one at a time. At lease two of them are little.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
You know what struck me reading this, Jo Ann ?
It's that your pups can relate to each other even better, probably, because of their issues.
They can relate to having to take things easier, not have to worry about the others having more energy than the other...etc.
They understand.
We've got Kona 9yrs, our tripawd cancer pup, Bella, our deaf blind in one eye albino 7yrs, who was abandoned in the mts as a puppy and survived for quite some time on her own (still has nightmares 6 1/2yrs later) and Cotton, 3yrs, who was also dumped as a puppy in the mts. and survived for quite a while (still has issues from that time) he's also albino, deaf and blind in one eye (opposite eye). Both from birth.
Ahhh, kids.
Sorry I strayed ..................................
I also wanted to say, yes, too funny that the new vet would think that one pill would be too much of an issue.
A friend of mine used to have a pup with epilepsy. Got along fine with his meds...rarely a seisure.
Keep up the good work!
Denise
Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010 Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !
***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***
We Love you so much Kona….always
Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)
Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)
Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.
Jo Ann,
I have often heard that one is not tested beyond their ability and that things (often not good things) occur in groups. Being one who went from three dogs to none in less than two years, I can relate to all your issue.
I would say that all of you have been blessed. Tasha, Ruby, and Suzie because they have such a caring and giving leader who will always put their best interest first. You because of the love they give you and personal gratification for doing so very much. You are a true GEM!
Spirit Cherry's Dad - Bob
Sometimes I wonder, am I blessed or have I been cursed.
(Sorry, I don't know how to highlight quotes from other posts so I'll put yours in red....)
I would say that you are very blessed as they are very blessed to have you. It's all meant to be. Your pictures and post say it all.....how much love you have for each one and how truly special your family is. They sure are lucky to have you!!!
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
I'll say it this way. i have a friend who has 6 kids, 2 with downs syndrome, they are the best people in the world with those kids, just accepted the kids as gifts from God, never once saying why us. Same with you, had those dogs gone to someone else they may never have been given the chance to live like they have. I am one of those people who feels everything happens for a reason,and the reason you got those guys is what you have given to each other. Hope that makes sense, Paws up, Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
I vote "blessed" for everyone in your family! I ditto Gus and Dan!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I felt that way when OJ was sick and then Magic got diagnosed and I lost both of them....but my word...some of you put my piddly little efforts to shame....all I can do is stand up and clap...good for you and you aren't cursed you are blessed and they are blessed to have you (and all of you who face these challenges)....
(one pill???one pill???? I was rolling on the floor on that one)
rubyaz said:
Would I have a problem giving her medicine. This was a new vet to us, she didn't no our history with Ruby or Tasha, I had to laugh, giving one small pill once a day a problem, that was funny to me!
Once at the vet one of the receptionists who didn't know us picked up Mag's file and said- my, what a big file!!!
Maggie was prone to ear infections all her life- they would go bad fast, so I learned not to wait- get meds started. Not too long ago she started with a new infection and I was out of meds- but I couldn't get into see our regular vet- so we saw someone else. The new vet diagnosed what I knew was there and said you will need to put ointment in her ear 2 X a day. Then she asked me if I was OK doing the meds- and I said, have you seen her file?!?!?
One more story- at one time I was considering adopting another pug. On the rescue application there was this question: What would you do if your pug became a special
needs pug? and I thought- well so far I'm two for two...
Karen and the pug girls
Blessed indeed. It takes a very special and enlightened pawson to cherish dogs regardless of their challenges. Not too many people are cut out for this.
Why you? Perhaps because it's your role in the universe to learn from their lessons and then spread the word that no, one pill a day is NOT too much trouble for the awesome, selfless loving and lessons you get back from a companion animal. It's up to you to get the word out. If not you, who?
Jo Ann, you might enjoy this book we reveiwed a while back, which talks about how dogs pick us, we don't pick them:
Cambium and the Life of Lanigan Murphy
What an incredible pack you have there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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