Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thankfully no one here has actually met me, so I can share my question without seeing any of you at the grocery store tomorrow. And it is related to canine amputation, oddly enough.
Dakota is 9 and neutered. We know he has a lot of weird anxiety and OCD behaviors. I'm wondering if this is yet another weirdo manifestation. And I wouldn't have asked this question, but other family members want to get to the bottom of this, so here goes.
Since the amputation, Dakota has taken every blessed oppportunity to share with us all evidence of his masculinity, if you get my drift. He flies the flag, raises a tent, waves his magic wand--it's really too much. Every time someone looks at him, we have this to contend with. Someone asked me if he's trying to compensate for the loss of his leg by growing a new one. My 12-year-old wants to post video on youtube.
I kid you not, this only started after the amputation. It was like someone flipped a switch. A switch I'd like to flip back.
Has anyone else here had this issue? Does it mean anything? Is it more anxious behavior I have to deal with? Am I the first brave soul to bring it up, or just the only one with a weirdo dog doing this? (You can lie to me.)
Shari
(P.S. I am NOT tagging this post, for obvious reasons.)
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Hi Dakota Dawg
Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself these days, even if you are embarassing your mom badly.
I can't remember if my Mum posted anything about this - I think the topic came up, but luckily that was before we assigned tags to tripawd posts.
Certainly she remembers what you describe, to the point where she mentioned it to the vet a couple of times (and felt super stupid doing so - but she feared another tumour might be constricting my blood supply or something. . . yes I was also neutered at a tender age, something like 7 months old). I don't think she ever figured it out, but my flag would fly when people just petted me. So embarassing for my mum.
I did chemo (Adriamycin) but can't say what the trigger was.
Tazzie
(yours does sound a bit more pronounced from your mum's colourful description)
Heck, Wyatt's middle name is Red Rocket! Whether or not he let his excitement be known (and shown) so much prior to his amputation, we have no idea. We just figure he's a freak. Glad to know he's not the only one! 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tazzie, when you spoke to the vet, did you get any info or just a "look" that made you regret asking? Did it stop, or did it go on forever?
admin said:
Heck, Wyatt's middle name is Red Rocket!
Mr. Admin, I thought Wyatt's middle name was "Ray." 
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
We've decided Dante's just doesn't fit. That has to be it, why else would it be out anytime you blink in his direction?!
He's gross, it's gross, and it makes me squeamish. We almost crashed the truck the other day, because he decided to show it. ALL of it, in the back seat. I didn't realize there was that much of it to hang out, and he was attempting to climb on my head with it hanging out. Caused quite the drama fest of trying to just get him to sit down, without touching him or it, haha.
We're hoping for Dante it's just a maturity thing since he's only just over one (but neutered). Hopefully in the next little while he'll stop. Our last male dog didn't hang it all out nearly as often or nearly as happily.
We've considered taking Dante to the vet over it, but I feel better reading this thread!
I am happy to report, I do not fly my flag, pitch my tent, or any of those things.
Ted E Bear
I love the conversations that go on here sometimes!! My tripawd was a girl pug so I can't help with that experience.
Heck, Wyatt's middle name is Red Rocket!
I call quad pug Obie's pocket rocket because it is so small. Yes he is small overall but it still seems, umm, kind of petite. He doesn't fly it too frequently, but then he is still getting to know us....
Karen and the pugapalooza
Correction: Wyatt Ray Red Rocket Dawg 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
LMAO! I have nothing to add. But this is a great comical break from tax work. THANK YOU DAKOTA FOR PROVIDING THE COMEDIC RELIEF.
OK, maybe I will give it a go from a male perspective, it might be a matter of how proud he is of his manhood, since with a leg missing it makes viewing that much easier
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
djbockman said:
with a leg missing it makes viewing that much easier
Dan, my 12-year-old just read this and said "Imagine what he would do if he had both front legs missing." Now I'm the one LMAO!
--Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
the topic title peaked my curiosity! I can tell you (having a boy puppy) that Sammy shows his "motion of the ocean" frequently, to every female he runs into, other than me. Can be any type of female, dogs, cats, people, and sometimes other male dogs, but I have never seen the "red rocket".
The disturbing thing to me is I have never been able to find his rocket. I cut his fur because he is part newfie and it mats easily. I have yet to this day been able to locate said "area". He was neutered at 4 to 5 months old, probably earlier, so I don't think it grew in… 
But, he is a boy none the less, so he shows his joy at meeting females regularly… lol! Maybe I should have Dr. Pam make sure it is there?!
Good luck curtailing that 🙂 you make me laugh!
Elizabeth and Sammy
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.
ohhhhh boy.... I really needed that laugh! Sorry Dakotas mom (not) but it is just too funny. Now I am always one for fun and excitement but I have to say Im glad Cooper hasnt hitched a ride on that train....
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Hmmm, two front legs missing, you would probably call him Flash
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
I noticed that my rear amp pug girl Maggie developed a habit of always wagging her tail when she was standing still- I think it helped her keep her balance.
Maybe the boy dogs are, ummmm, waving their (sounds like well endowed) flag to help with balance 
.
Karen and the not so well endowed pugapalooza
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