Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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As Paula said...baby steps! The gator toy is just one in a long line of them. All of a sudden one day, he will look at you and you will realize that he knows he is home.
Kathi
PS. I was wondering the same thing as Sally. Do you suppose the vet can give you any more insight?
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 adopted Obie when he was 4, the oldest pup I've ever aquired. His original owners were not nice to him and he had lots of issues due to that, but he had really bonded with his foster dad, he was with his foster family for about 6 months. When I took him home he was understandably uncertain but he settled in pretty quickly and seemed comfortable and at ease.
But whenever I took him to the park he spent most of the time looking at whatever men were walking around and if I had let him he would have followed them. I guessed that he was looking for his foster dad, he did that for a couple of months after I adopted him. It was hard to think that he wasn't as settled as I thought he was, but eventually he figured out that he was home.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I hadn't thought about his age. Tess was 2 when we got her, and was the "oldest" rescue I have ever had. She settled in almost immediately when she realized no one was going to hurt her, but I did notice that she seemed to be looking for children at parks and places for the first year or so. Prior family must have had kids, and I was always a little worried we might actually run across them somewhere.
I'm not sure whether it is a testament to Gator's adaptability or his intellect, but he has clearly developed the ability to quickly "bond" with any human who shows him affection when he loses the prior human. Very sad in its own way, but it has kept him alive and cared for.
He seems back to normal now. Lots of cuddling and full body contact when sleeping, and spent a lot of time sniffing Enzo, just like he did my hair in the car. Note to self: do not change shampoo or ever wash cat. Enzo agrees - never wash cat.
We'll do daycare again on Monday. It's useful to have on days when I can't get home for lunch, especially as the weather turns and we get fewer walks. And I have to admit that I really enjoy working with new rescues, and figuring out how to break through whatever traumas they have suffered.
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.
Christine, this is all really quite positive to my mind. You and Gator both have been through rapid and significant life changes, so you both have somewhat cautious, though open hearts.
Taking him a few more times to day care will establish that pattern - that routine. Soon enough Enzo and your hair will only receive a cursory sniff for confirmation and then, not at all. He won't be wondering.
Pofi, who was an abandoned puppy in the most dramatic fashion, did not adjust to day care. I had bought a 5 day punch card. We made it to 2.5. He seemed okay the first day, but the workers were more in maintenance mode and really would just walk through the space, cleaning up and tossing an occasional ball. Not the human interaction my boy was used to. The second day is when he really seemed to stop following the human workers hoping for some contact with them and noticing the door pet parents came back to pick up their dogs through. By the third visit (these were not in a row). They were calling me and asking if it was okay if he be given another peanut butter kong in a kennel to see if he could settle down. An hour later they said he was just standing at the gate nearest that walk in door, shrieking every time it opened and it wasn't me..........
Love that the alligator is his special toy. Love that he brings it to bed. And love that he loves his jingles...
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Awww Lisa....love hearing about all the "Specialness of Pofi"
And yeah Christine, don't wash any dog slobber out of your hair on the days you pick him up! He'll definitely recognize you then!
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!
How on earth did I lose track of this thread? Can't take me anywhere...
oh my goodness, videoing a puppy to check respiration rate definitely wins the helicopter mom award. I am afraid we all lost causes in that regard. Christine, believe me I have checked your respiration rate post during an extreme worry-wart period of my own.
Isa was a stray, picked up off the street although she obviously had a family at some point. She was trained in the basics although I needed a great deal of training. The shelter said she was 2 but she was likely 3, possibly 4 due to her muzzle starting to gray at an unlikely age by the shelter's reckoning. I tried to convince the vet it was "blonde" but he just laughed at me. For the first I don't know how long, she had the same stressed look Gator has whenever I'd leave her somewhere. And every time I left her, I told her "I'll always come back for you. Always." I want to believe it helped her - I know it helped me. I still tell her that, not so much at daycare - as often as not that earns me a "don't let the door hit you on your way out, mom." But if I have to leave her overnight for whatever reason, up to and including the vet. You could try that with Gator - they understand us, particularly with things like that.
That breaks my heart that Pofi shrieked for you at daycare. Isa is quite convinced it's the best thing EVER. She's there today as a matter of fact.
Slightly off topic, my sister posted this picture on FB today - a rescue that's 30 to 34 inches at the shoulder. I of course immediately thought of Gator. (how does that compare to Gator?) So if anyone is looking for a gorgeous yellow lab and willing to go to Idaho, let me know. Sis says he's a complete sweetheart. I tried talking her into it but it's a no-go she's blaming on her cat. It's killing me to see him behind bars, sad and patient.
Can't wait to hear the results of the DNA test! I love that he loves his alligator toy best of all. As Kathi said, one day he will look at you and you will both know he's home. My bet is it will be sooner rather than later.
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
OK...I'll bite. Where in Idaho? Although the last time I mentioned getting another dog, dear old Dad was not as enthusiastic as I was. He is convinced that Ollie prefers being an only dog.
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!
My first thought when I saw that picture was how you got a picture of Gator?
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.
otisandtess said
My first thought when I saw that picture was how you got a picture of Gator?
Too funny. That big lad DOES look like Gator.
So my post came off being a bit more about Pofi than I intended it to be. My point about lovely Gator is that, yes, his history is probably at play here, but the fact he adjusted to being there is really a positive in the long run. And yes, there may have been some confusion on the lines of, "Here I am in a new place with new people again," but the routine of you picking him up again WILL get set and he will come to expect and believe you will be back for him.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Ohhhh my! I think we may have a possibility of a home somewhere in Idaho!! 🙂 just sayin'.....
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!
I did check around to see if I could figure out which shelter he was in. I think I found the right picture last night at the Idaho Humane Society in Boise. They were having a huge Black Friday adoption event today, and when I checked the site this afternoon, his picture was gone. That doesn't surprise me at all. He looked like someone was going to end up with a great dog. It just wasn't Ollie who got a friend.
Kathi
PS. Their website says there were 58 adoptions during the event.
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!
.........It just wasn't Ollie who got a friend."
Not yet anyway!
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!
Somehow, I now own the only lab in the world who does not care about food. I bought a treat dispenser brain toy - it is a ball the treats go inside, as the dog knocks it around, treats come out of a small window. Gator sniffed it and licked it, but never moved it. At 3:00 a.m., I am wakened by the sound of this toy being moved around. Gator is asleep in bed. It was Enzo, the cat.
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.
Dogs in my family get nicknames. But it has to be the right nickname for the dog's personality, and cannot be a nickname which belonged to another dog. My ex put us on the right path last night - labzilla, labosaurus, dogzilla, dogosaurus, and my personal favorite, Gatorzilla.
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.
Labzilla fits into the Blue Oyster Cult song very, very well....
"Oh, no! There goes Tokyo; go, go Labzilla!"
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
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