Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey everyone,
So it's been a while since we last visited with you all although I've been a bit of a stalker since we've decided we need to amputate our GSD's leg due to fibrosarcoma and a contracture that developed from the surgeries. Gives me a lot of comfort to look at the tripod pups running around 
As some of you may know, we had to put the surgery off for a while because of financial reasons (and didn't qualify for assistance) but it looks like we're going to be able to have the surgery done in the next couple months! Now I'm running into another issue.... my boyfriend is getting cold feet. He has read over all the stories on this sight and LOVED seeing the journeys of Wyatt Ray
!! But he really wants to actually meet a successful tripod before we go through with the surgery to "put to rest all his doubts." 
While I understand, kinda, I'm not sure how to go about coordinating this. My vet only knows little dogs and he wants to meet a big dog since our girl is almost 70 lbs.
Ideas anyone?? Are there doggie groups that meet in Colorado that we could visit? I've seen a couple of pictures from the park by our house but wasn't sure if that was a one time event??
You might want to check the Tripawd Parties forum for any upcoming get-togethers, or post there to schedule one. But readers will at least need to know where you are located! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The Oaktown Pack + 1 currently has three tripawd German Shepherds in residence. Having lived with at least one tripawd in the house for over five years, all I can say is it is something we rarely think about anymore. They are just dawgs who happen to be missing their spare legs. If your boyfriend is worried about how well Sasha will get around, I doubt there will be any difference, and she might do better with the damaged leg and the pain removed. You might have him look at the videos of Wyatt and the Oaktown Pack, all rear leg amputees.
If there are any additional questions we could answer for him please pass them along.
Ralph
admin said:
You might want to check the Tripawd Parties forum for any upcoming get-togethers, or post there to schedule one. But readers will at least need to know where you are located!
Awesome!! Thank you! I scoured the site for something that like and must have missed it 
We're in Fort Collins, Colorado but are willing to travel around the state if we need to!! And Ralph, thank you for your reassurance. I have shown him all the pictures but I think he just needs to chat with someone and have a person who's been in our situation tell him that in all likelihood she'll do great. (we know there's always a risk involved in surgery.) It's comforting to know that German Shepherds can do just as well as the smaller, more compact dogs!!
My tripawd was a rear amp pug weighing in at about 17.5 pounds. She did thrive for almost 4 years. but was not quite in your weight class!
I wanted to post a link to your original post from last November, Reoccurring Fibrosarcoma in German Shepherd?, so others could catch up on your story.
Good luck convincing your boyfriend that you made the right decision. I have met at least 25 tripawds, including Wyatt and all of the Oaktown pack+1 in person. With the exception of reduced stamina in some cases they all have been 'successful' tripawds.
Karen and the pugapalooza
sashadog said:
We're in Fort Collins, Colorado...
We spend our summer months at Jerry's Acres up in Red Feather Lakes! It's currently buried in snow, so we're down in Texas. But we've had big Tripawd Parties in Fort Collins and Longmont over the past few years. See ya next summer!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
sashadog said:
He has read over all the stories on this sight and LOVED seeing the journeys of Wyatt Ray !!
Whaaaaaaa? Did I hear someone talking about ME?
Good luck! We hope that things go well and Sasha has many long, hoppy years ahead.
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
Hi! We're in Lafayette. If you want to meet in the middle, someplace like Longmont might work. You can look at a map and see what's in the middle.
I'm not sure seeing my dog would be the answer, though, because he's a front amputee and it really does change things. From what I've seen, rear amputees appear more typical, more like they were before the surgery. In general. My Dakota might at least let you know that life goes on, because it surely does for him. He had a soft tissue sarcoma, not bone cancer, and just celebrated one year as a tripawd. Dakota was about 82 pounds at surgery and now is 74. If you want to see pictures of him (some having fun), my blog link is in my signature box.
Dakota is 10 and no spring chicken. He had a very rough childhood that aged him, so he appears in many ways older than 10. He has a ton of anxiety issues and would not run up to you asking to play. He would most likely try to get back in the car. That being said, I am more than willing to let you witness his sprint to the car! Then you could see he is not hampered by the loss of the leg when it suits him.
Let me know if this is something you want to pursue. If I knew of any rear amputees nearby, I would refer you to them. There is Bud in Casper, but I think I'm probably the closest permanent resident.
Shari and Dakota and Evelyn the Embarrassment
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/
Sasha,
I meant to post this video earlier of the Wyatt Ray , Codie Rae, and Travis Ray, along with Smokey the quad pawd. These four tore up the dog park on this glorious fall day! This might help people understand how well rear leg amputee German Shepherds move around.
Bud does great! He goes sledding on the mtn in the winter and swimming at the lake in the summer. Most days, he spends his time being a companion for me, the kids and our lab Daisy.
He is a large golden currently rockin 78lbs down from a hefty 103lbs. He is considered a senior at 8 1/2 yrs old. He also just had a 1 year ampuversary. We very much wanted to attend a tripawd CO party last summer, but sometimes those unexpected life events get in the way. We are hoping to get to meet up this summer but I would hate for Sasha to wait that long for a needed surgery.
Don't know about you guys but we still have snow in our parks here! That and a blistery WIND!!!
Thank you all for your support!! Now I can't wait for summer to come and hopefully have some parties to attend to meet all these gorgeous pups!! 
I will be passing on all the support and offers to my boyfriend and hopefully he'll be touch soon. The videos alone are very encouraging to me so hopefully those help him as well. I'll keep you updated and hopefully in the near future I'll be posting about how well the surgery went and that she's doing great!!
And yes!! We have had terrible wind the past week or so! Luckily it's been nice and warm so no snow but ugh... I hate this wind!! Summer can't come soon enough!!
great video-- it's the poor monkeydog that's the slow one! Those pups can certainly scoot-- I couldn't tell which legs were missing (although I suppose, neither can they)-- it was such a blur! I cannot imagine your household! Great looking dogs, if that video doesn't convince your boyfriend, I don't know what will.
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
We had someone stop us as we left the vet hospital from a chemo visit once. His dog had just been diagnosed and they were facing amputation and he asked me some questions about tripawdness and how my dog adapted. He said he felt better about having to make a decision after seeing Percy getting around. I don't know if this is kosher, but you might try calling the vet hospital at CSU and see if anyone there (maybe a patient) would be willing to meet with you.
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