Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Elizabeth, I can't improve on the suggestions of everyone else. However, I can tell you that you are not alone. I know a lot of people who are out of work. Times are tough. All of that being said, I know you are doing the best you can for your babies - and they instinctively know that and love you for it. One thing I will say is that when I was in college and dead broke would have been an improvement, I found out how to be creative. Free entertainment - parks are a great idea. It is amazing how I learned to spice up Ramen Noodles. Car pooling and coupons were my best friends. I guess what I'm trying to say is hang in there. You will find a creative way to provide for your family and things will get better. They have to, right?
Ginger's Dad
P.S. You are a better person than me with the idiots at your work. They definitely would have received a tongue lashing from me.
Oh Elizabeth,
I feel for you. Rene is right, you are not alone. The economy issue is so universal and I am at the epicenter of it all here in Vegas. Things got bad here too for us but (as I knock on wood), it's seems to be getting better each day. My only nugget of encouragement is that the economy does seem to be getting better nationwide (I sell clothing nationwide not very much local).
I find myself appreciating the things I didn't have when things were fanatastic. I didn't have that many friends because I was a work-aholic. Now I have friends for a lifetime and all the love I never knew. I only got through the worst time in my life when I lost Comet because of all of your friendships.
Plus, no one has a crystal ball on this economy. You think you did everything right by putting money on the stock market, buying opposed to renting, living within your means and then BOOM! Now, whatever is up is down, whatever is down up. It makes no sense, so you can't feel you are alone. A trip to scary depressed Vega$ would make you feel better! I heard 186,000 more homes are going to go into foreclosure this year in Vegas!
It will get better my friend. Just love each day and try not to let the small stuff get to you. (and don't talk to people who aren't dog friendly!)
I don't have any supplements but I know that my vet said I could give people ones which are cheaper. Ask Pam. But I do have tramadol and some other misc. meds like antibiotics and some other stuff. When you need something just post it and maybe someone might have it.
Good luck with your husband finding a job in the oilfields. I grew up in the oilfields of OKLA, it's noble work!
Ge'Lena
OH! AND Stopping smoking...well that is a GOOD Thing! Although, I'm sure you could use a cigarette right about now! Hang in there!
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.
my heart breaks for you. but like everyone else has said, don't be so hard on yourself. your babies know they are loved and you do everything in your power to do for them.
all of my babies where cast aways that i rescued or they found me. and they give more joy and companionship that most humans i know. as the saying goes the more people i meet, the more i like my dog (s).
Dozer and Maggie send big slobbery saint bernard kisses your way.
There is so much wisdom here, I hope you are benefiting from it all as much as I have! Because our household has been hit hard by the economy as well and we'll soon be making some hard decisions about supplements and such. But with cancer, it's less evident (at least in the short term) than with dementia. Dementia is so right in your face, you can't escape the decline and it just plain breaks your heart.
And then to not get the job you've been gunning for, well no wonder you feel like crap!
Please try to remember, you can't be sure what the course of Shy's disease would be even with supplements. As the vet told us, "the disease didn't read the textbook and doesn't know how to act." So don't beat yourself up. You're doing the best you can, and the fabulous love your have for your furry kids more than makes up for anything you might think is a deficiency. Even when Shy's not "with it", she can still feel your love for her...and that's got to feel pretty darn good.
I wish I was there so I could let them out during the day for you.
Hugs to all,
Jan
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Like everyone else, my heart aches for you, Elizabeth.
And, like everyone else, have dealt with all those costs. After we lost our Kona Kai, we thought, "ok, we can start to recover financially". I pretty much didn't work for 7mos. to care for Kona. Then, Bella, one of two of our surviving pups, both of which are albino/deaf/blind in one eye pups......well, our Bella is now the one with expensive med bills...her limited seeing eye has had some issues and she's been totally blind for the last couple/few weeks. Lots of meds and eye specialist bills...ugh, but we're hoping for the best that she'll regain some vision. Right now, totally blind to go along with her total deafness...
Sorry to ramble......I guess I can relate to what you're going through too. Also, I see that you're in Washington too. And by your description of the snow and rain, I know western Wa....me too! I'm in Lake Stevens, you? Hang in there. Yeah, the economy sucks for sure...but somehow we shall all get through...somehow, some way.
hugs,
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.
Everyone,
Everyone… I want to respond to each of you, because each of your posts touched me so much. I know I haven't met some of you in person but I feel very blessed to count you as a friend.
Thank you for the understanding and for your words of comfort and relating to me. In a good way it helps me very much. The wisdom here is amazing and just what I need right now.
I guess I will be letting myself off of the grinder. I will also be giving each of my kids a hug from everyone of you. I am going to follow up with the info provided in some pm's, and I just want to say that thank you seems unworthy of the bolstering you have given. But it is all that I can do, so thank you for letting me see that I am not alone.
Hugs from us,
Elizabeth
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Oh, and for Konas mom Denise,
I live in Maple Valley, but work in Bellevue. I think our last get together was in the dog park there off of 520... can't remember the name of it right now. I think it was Marymoore...
I like the journal idea, Renee, and definately the cigarette idea Cometdog 🙂
Pam, I am going to call you.
Elizabeth
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
fightingforsammy said:
...it is all that I can do...
Thank you is more than enough. Thank you! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi,
Trust me... I completely understand. I owe my vets more money than I can think about right now... and 2 days ago my little girl dog Lady started limping... of course, I immediately think "cancer"... we have a vet visit tomorrow.
Like you I do without for my fur kids. And I have also given up trying to talk to most people at work about it. There is one person like me so we talk. Others look at me and have no sympathy.
There is a website called "Canine Cancer Awareness" that has a supplement exchange. Maybe you can get your supplements cheaper through them.
The link is http://canineca.....exchange
They also offer financial grants which you should look into.
Best of luck and I understand completely.
Joy & Champ
I'm sorry that you've had to go through this. I'm also so glad that everyone here has helped you feel a little better. It's one of the many reasons I love this place! What supplements are you looking for? Like Ge'Lena said, there may be human versions that can be substituted. The most important thing is that Shy and Sammy have no expectations that you provide expensive medications or supplements. They just want food in their tummies and love in their hearts and I know you're providing that for sure! I saw a man outside Walmart today with a sign that said "Living in car" and laying at his feet was a young reddish-brown pup (kinda looked like a pittie mix.) My first thought was to feel sorry for the dog. However, the dog seemed happy and looked healthy (not thin or dirty.) My guess is the dog got fed before the owner. Then I found myself hoping that no one would try to take the dog away from him just because of his circumstance. I guess my point is just that as long as we do our best with the resources we have, then we deserve the love we receive from our furkids.
Lisa and Ranger
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Sorry I got here late. To me the support here is what makes this such a great place to be when times are tough. I'm just going to say I think everyone here has said it so well and would try to help in any way. Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
joyhh said:
The link is http://canineca.....t-exchange
They also offer financial grants which you should look into.
And of course there's the Tripawds Angel Exchange too! 🙂
Also, we have a list of Financial Resources for Tripawd Pawrents you might want to check out. A few of them offer help for cancer therapies.
Good luck with Lady's visit at the vet, Joy, please keep us posted. Paws crossed that it's nothing serious.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
the cost of treating our beloved dogs is overwhelming and everywhere you turn there is another supplement that we are sure will work. It is a struggle knowing just what to treat them with in conjunction with the chemo, etc. Even giving my dog better food (home cooked) is extra money. It would be great if we had some more specific guidance about supplements but it seems to be the wild west out there. Also, I am sure we all have drugs that our dogs cannot take or won't take and they can't be returned. Nice if we could figure out how to help each other in that respect. for example, I have a whole bottle of Rimadyll that my dog cannot take. I would be happy to send them to someone.
dellarose said:
Nice if we could figure out how to help each other ... I have a whole bottle of Rimadyll that my dog cannot take. I would be happy to send them to someone.
This is exactly why we created the Tripawds Angel Exchange. We do ask that proof of prescription be provided before sending anyone medication, but the forum is for requesting and donating any helpful items.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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