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.
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Once again it pays to find a post late...crisis averted!
Thankful for a NBD outcome.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
WHOA!! I'm with you Karen, really glad I saw this AFTER the good outcome was determined!!
YAY BROKEN TOENAILS!!!
Hmmm..what do broken toenails call for?? Perhaps pizza?
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!
WOAH! That is GREAT news! I'm so glad that's all it is. Must have been super stressful being in the ER again. Yikes!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Whew! That had to be painful...for both of you. Glad all is OK now.
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!
So they removed the whole nail? Ouch! Will it grow back? Saw your IV bag paw protector post....Nitro had a toe removed when he was a couple years old, and we did the same thing. Worked pretty slick. So glad it was something minor.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Oh gosh, I'm sorry, Christine. That must have been tough, going back to ER. Thank heavens for broken claws!
Will it grow back
My Billie broke a claw scrambling on a mountain in Wales (guess who had to carry her down...). Hers did grow back. The vet told me it depends how far up the claw they break it, which you couldn't tell as everything visible was gone. But either way, it shouldn't cause any problems.
So pleased he's okay x
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 think it is supposed to grow back normally. It was kind of a funny diagonal split. What was scariest for me was that he was clearly favoring the leg or paw with no known injury, and licking it repeatedly, but he wouldn't let me look at it. Guess we don't have quite that much trust built up yet. And, of course, he was terrified that he was being abandoned (and I couldn't help but remember bringing each of Tess and Otis there. Otis was diagnosed, and Tess had to say goodbye.). What a wonderful service, however, to have them right down the street! Took me 15 minutes to get there instead of 10 but only because the roads are pretty bad. I'm not sure I could emotionally handle "wait and see" anymore.
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.
One thing I've worked with Elly on is what one of our trainers calls the 'vet check'. I touch her feet, look in her ears, check her mouth and teeth, check for lumps and bumps all over her body. I had never done this before with the other pugs- none of them would let me look in their mouths. Since Mag was diagnosed with oral melanoma I've made it a point to work with the dogs on all the 'vet check' stuff. Not always successful with Obie, but Elly lets me do a full check up!
Tani broke off one of her nails pretty far up and it came back.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Oh how scary!!! I am so glad it was "just" a broken nail. I know that fear - the first couple of times is really tough with a new dog. Jasper has put me through some heart-stopping moments (when she acts weird or randomly decides to walk on three legs on a walk). Once she did it and I freaked out!!! She had a bur (sp) in her paw. I was so scared. But yes, like Karen said, I do body / feet/ teeth checks all the time.
Shelby was weird about feet - took me years to touch them but Jasper has always been fine with feet but her bushy tail - that is definitely hands off. I wonder if it is because it is so close to her booty and she has glands issues. 🙂 Hugs!!!!
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
I ended up removing the bandage myself. About 14 hours early, but it was slipping and making it very hard for him to walk. The nail looks great - there is still some nail visible, but no fresh bleeding and no sign of infection. Gator has pretty much been sleeping on my bed, which seems to be his reaction to carprofen. Normally, he follows me from room to room. Now, he is content to sleep on the bed all day, as if he knows i will return there eventually. And, he is letting me touch and handle the foot. Trust? Or just less pain? Off to see the regular vet tomorrow for bandage removal (oops) and a progress check.
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.
When Tani tore hers it was Sunday (of course) so it was the emergency vet did the bandage. When they released her they told me to make and appointment to get the bandage removed with my regular vet. I just removed the bandage myself after a few days, never did take her back to the vet (for her toe anyway).
Definitely some trust starting to form. I was really happy when Elly finally stayed put instead following me every second.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I almost cancelled the vet appointment - his toe was looking great. But glad I went. He was terrified - in my lap the entire time. And his toe does look great. But, he has an ear infection. No big deal, Otis had them all the time. But Otis and Tess let me clean theirs. Gator plays hide the dog pretty effectively - he is fast for his size. And his ears are huge, way bigger than Otis' and much harder to clean. This silly boy. (But some stress here - Tess got her first ear infection about the time Otis was diagnosed, and had several ear and lip fold infections thereafter. In retrospect, I can't help but wonder if those were related to her cancer, since she had never ever had one before.)
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.
It's so hard, Christine, and it's not surprising at all that this stresses you out after all you have been through. Elsie recently just started doing a couple of things differently, just really minor behavioural changes, but they worried me because they reminded me of how my Billie's behaviour changed at a similar age and she was then diagnosed with a brain tumour, but this was ten years ago. You've been through so much so recently, that you are bound to be on red alert. It's like post traumatic stress, to be honest. In fact, it probably is post traumatic stress.
I do love the image of ginormous huge-eared Gator sitting on your lap at the vets.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
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...
Gator the big lap dog!! Love it!!! Love that he goes to you to feel safe and secure!! So sweet!!
And no worries aboutthe ear stuff. I've forgotten what yiu call it when dogs get dermatitis stuff on their lips and in their ears. Pymo...pyro....something tjat starts with a "P"!
PICTURES!!! We need a Gator fix!!!!!!
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 was thinking the same thing as Sally. You are now Gator's "safe place". What a great achievement in a short time!
Too bad that he isn't terribly food motivated. All of our dogs look at the vet's office as a great big candy store. Treats from the time they walk in until they leave. Every time they do something or have something done to them...more treats! So far none have been afraid of the vet. Ollie and Gus particularly liked the dermatologist. She woukd come in, say hello, and then get right down on the floor and give them a great rubdown all over. Pure heaven!
And Sally is also right that we need a Gator photo fix.
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!
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