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
So, here goes one of my infamous questions again, so beware people!
I took Manni to our regular vet yesterday where we hadn't been in ages because nowadays we usually go straight to the clinic. She was saying how amazing he looks and how healthy and I told her about a) this site and my relief at finding it even if waaaay too late and b) the dog cancer survival guide and how it helped me even if waaaaay too late and how everything that's helpful in the aweful situation that is a cancer diagnosis is only abroad and in English.
She said that with Manni looking so fantastic, having survived that long and me being very informed (her words, I had nothing to do with that! 🙂 ) I should 'spread the word in Germany (and German!) and make myself an ambassador so people here get more information than clinics usually give'.
Now comes the ominous question:
How do I do that so it makes sense??
I cannot lead everybody to this site as most Germans usually speak a more rudimentary English, I cannot hand out flyers at vets -same issue.
Do I start a German blog-and-facebook-page? Does that even make sense? I tend to agree with the vet that people here could definitely use better resources in terms of information for owners (medical care is great) and I am actually up for it (I think) but what do you guys think? I thought I'd pitch this to you amazing people 🙂
So, if you read this, it's your own fault 🙂 🙂 i tried to warn you
love you all
tina &Manni the miracle menace
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Tina your the best❣️
I have no advice, I am just chiming in because I did read😉 I am sure Rene will have some input on this .
I am glad to hear Manni got a glowing report and so did his Mom!
German Tripawd Ambassador Interpreter ❤️
This is so awesome to hear!!! I thought all Germans spoke perfect English like you! 
Really - I forget sometimes that you aren't stateside because of your English.
However ... I will defer to Rene / Jim about the best way to make this more international. First thought would be to a forum for international (aka non-english speakers) so anyone could chime in if it is their native tongue.
So happy also to hear that Manni got a great check-up at the vet!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
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
What a great idea! I wonder if the Facebook ability to toggle between languages could work. I know that one time I touched a spot with my pinkie finger, and all of a sudden everything on the page was in Portugese. I don't have a clue about how accurate the translations are, since (gasp!) I don't read Portugese. Just a quick thought that I'm throwing out.
Kathi
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!
I think this is a great idea, Tina. And you are ABSOLUTELY the woman for the job. I don't know how to advise re the specifics, but I'm certain Renee and Jim will have lots of ideas.
On a slightly separate (though perhaps related?) note, I have wondered whether an 'International' section on this site might be helpful. Obviously, it is an international site and dogs and cats are much the same wherever they happen to live, but there are of course differences in terms of treatment. For example, though I have myself suggested that people consult a 'board certified orthopaedic surgeon' (orthopedic, sorry...), in the UK there is no such thing, there are different systems in place for indicating degrees of specialism. The same is true for rehab vets. And there are medications which are available in the US/North America and not in Europe, and vice versa. In my case, it's not a language issue, (mostly, lol...) but I have wondered whether it would be useful to have somewhere to post information specific to different countries/continents...
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
GRRRRRREAT IDEA TINA AND DITTO EVERYBODY!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Of course have noooo idea how it would work, but I'm sure Jim and Rene can put their heads together with you and figure out something!!!
Teresa (Eurydice) may be helpful too! (Kathi....I think she speaks Portuguese:-) 🙂 :-))
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!
Awwwww! So much love! Right back atcha!! (for those of you coming to VA: you may want to reconsider, I'm a hugger ! 🙂 )
I'm sure admin guy is sitting somewhere with his face in his hands, shaking his head going: why didn't I put the country code=DE ban on here when I had the chance! 🙂
Don't worry admin, I didn't mean to drop this on you!! Really!!
ok, I think a forum on here wouldn't work for a few reasons, mainly because then we would need a Portuguese,Spanish,German, French, British (kidding Clare!) and so on forum AND thinking in German I would not come up with the tripawd.com URL because the name is not something we would asscoiate with 3-legged pets. So it's probably not all that often that people from Germany at least come here. Not that I know. And: they still wouldn't be able to participate in the regular forum discussions, at least. Same goes for the "google translator" thing: I think it very much inhibits you to post something yourself.
Clare: i know exactly what you mean. Rehab vet, teaching hospital, all VERY much different over here, same end result. And meds, oh yeah! So that may be an excellent idea, even if we just compile, say, a list of terminology etc.? Also: I was wondering how the resources are in Britain when it comes to getting information, moral support, that kind of stuff?? I mean, usually you guys are a little ahead of us when it comes to that but then YOU are HERE?
I was thinking of doing something in German only, like a blog, or a book (did I just say I was doing a book??), or I don't know. Just a little thought in my head right now. Or: we could make this a group effort and put stories together, give it a national spin for each country with representatives here and... I don't know.
I just remember how utterly lost I was when I had to deal with all this horror and I didn't find my way here until 10 months AFTER Manni's amp. I so, so wish that I'd had you guys' support back then - things would have been A LOT easier for not just me but also Manni. So I would really like to be in a position to help people over here going through the same nightmare with no backup. I am just not sure how.
Ok, very long rant. Sorry. I love you guys and I wish everybody could have such a good support system. So any and all ideas are welcome! Thank you (for bearing with me)!!!
t
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
purrkins said
German Tripawd Ambassador Interpreter ❤️
Oh and just so you know:
this will be my new signature!!!
GTAI
🙂
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Great ideas. I think you are super for attempting a book. You can do it though 🙂
hugs
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."
I mean, usually you guys are a little ahead of us
Light years, Tina, light years... 😛
Seriously, I'm not aware of anything much. There's a Facebook group but it is pretty hopeless. Each individual post has to be approved, even after you've joined, and that can take more than a month. There is certainly nothing remotely like Tripawds...
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
I wonder how much it would cost to have the brochures translated into German? Would have to add text saying that the site is in English so people would be prepared. Perhaps a donation could be arranged to cover translation if that made sense to everyone? French and Spanish might be two other options.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
WOW! We were on the road all day moving locations so just now caught up with all this. I love the energy and ideas generated here, thank you for starting this Tina! And YAY for Manni's great vet visit! 
Yes, Tripawds is indeed international and everyone is welcome here. And we realize there is a language barrier to accessing our information. Translating the vast amount of information we offer into other languages has long been on our To Do list. But with only Admin and I to develop and implement projects like this, it's a matter of too much to do and not enough time in the day to do it. And of course, as Christine referenced, there is a cost involved (usually) when attempting a project of this magnitude.
Knowing which languages to translate into is pretty easy, it's a matter of looking at our Google analytics. These statistics tell us which countries our visitors come from. Germany is in the top 5, I know that much. So our URL does make it onto Germany's radar somehow. How long German-speaking visitors stick around is another issue.
My personal feeling is why reinvent the wheel if we can modify that wheel to meet the needs of international members? We have nearly 10 years of carefully vetted and researched information here that anyone can benefit from. Even though our existing information is in English it can definitely be translated, and amended for each country's needs (such as countries without "board-certified specialists").
We would be absolutely delighted if non-English speaking members wanted to head up a project like this to figure out the logistics. And of course we would work closely with whoever wanted to do it. It would make sense to start with the countries where something other than English is the primary language. Lots of ideas come to mind, such as:
- a special section in the forums for non-English speakers. A Spanish, German and French section maybe?
- interpreting our Tripawds Outreach Brochure into other languages, then figuring out a distribution channel.
- interpreting our e-books Three Legs & a Spare and Loving Life On Three Legs
- and more!
If we can help other animals in different countries get the same chance at living a happy life on three legs, we're all for it. But we need help to do that.
So, who wants to lead the way?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1. Printing translated Tripawds Brochures is easy if someone provides the copy for us, and affordable for anyone wishing to sponsor a print run. The challenge is getting them distributed to vet clinics. We might just recommend adding a note that the site is in English, with details about available translation tools (see #3).
2. Yes, Germany is in the "top 5" countries with users visiting Tripawds...78 of this week's recent 11,229 user sessions originated in Germany. We wonder how many of those came from tinsch. 
3. Duplicating content into other languages does not make sense when translation tools are becoming quite advanced. take a look at the German translation of this topic by Google, for instance. It does tend to chew up the styles a bit, but all the content is there. And we do have sooooo much content. Since other Browser extensions and translation sites also exist, we will not be creating specific forums for various languages.
4. Users from other countries publishing foreign (native) language blogs is a fantastic idea! This would provide a place for us to direct new users from those countries. There is a wealth of content that could be translated and re-published, starting with the links on Jerry's Required Reading List and the various FAQs in the Tripawds News blog .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I was just trying to download a brochure/rack card PDF, as I have never actually seen these, but when I try to do so, it adds $20 each for international shipping. Is that right?
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
1 Guest(s)
