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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I almost couldn't capture these photos! Let alone a video but she plays! Never did I think I would be so glad to have a room full of 'fluff'. And Sally will know that I was sad and wondered if we would ever play 'toss the toy' again and we did. Tonight. I got home from working out and was checking email and I heard a squeak and I turned around and BOOM! She wanted to play and play we did. For about 10 - 15 min but it was perfect. It made us both so happy. She played tug (impressed w/only one rear leg), grabbed the toy out of my hand (missed and chomped down on my thumb) and then took apart the toy. It was the OLD Shelby and something I desperately needed to see as she goes in tomorrow for her Xrays and I am nervous because of the lung mets that I know are there. And I have read enough on this site now to be concerned every time she hacks or gags ... whether it's from the mets or pulling on her leash or getting overly excited. It is hard to tell since she's done the dry hack for as long as I can remember and her lungs were 100% clean up until 3 weeks ago so the hacking was years before that with no issue. My dog is such a fighter (#shelbystrong) and this brought tears of joy to my eyes tonight. Proud, proud, proud mama!
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
Great job, Shelby! It is so much fun when they start to get back to their old selves. I've convinced myself that the tugging just has to be helping to strengthen the core, too. So good for you, girl!
Kahi and Murphy
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!
Way to go Shelby!!!!!! You look great girl!!!
Xoxo,
Erica & Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
STANDING OVATION GOING ON OVER HERE!! And a few tears of joy too!
SHELBYSTRONG feels great and that's ALL that matters! Whether she's had an amputation or not, the fact that she's thirteen and feels like playing like a young pup is delightful!!
And yo've got a mighty nice stuffy to play with too! You are just so ctue Shelby!
HUGS!!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 think you need to get MORE STUFFIES!!!!!!
grinning here too!!!
Christine... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Wheeeeee! More stuffies! More stuffies!
Yes, the x-rays are nervewracking but also remember to Be More Dog . All anyone can do is treasure these fun moments now and not worry about the future. You're doing a good job at that, keep it up!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I still remember that feeling when Libby picked her ball up for the first time after her amp. It's a breakthrough and you're filled with joy. Way to go Shelby. We cling to these happy times. 🙂
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Way to go Miss Shelby!! You've made your mom so happy, as well as the rest of us!! It almost feels like a miracle, when they want to play for the first time after going through this very stressful and painful ordeal. Just enjoy everyday, as we do here. Love good, and happy days !!
Bonnie & Polly
P.S. Thinking about you today while having X-rays done.......thinking super positive thoughts.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and support. I had so HOPED we would get this play-time back and we did!!!
Yup - we have a vet appt today but I think since I already know there are lung mets, I can handle whatever they throw at me. I got my list of questions for the vet now that we are done with our normal chemo stuff (i.e., best diet for Shelby with her cancer - even though they don't really answer me on that) and about the 'magic mushrooms'. I hate that Shelby will shake like a leaf in the car but once we are at the vet, she will get so much love and attention, I bet she forgets she was scared in the first place.
Shelby is such a social dog that she really needs to be around people (other than me) for her healing. Yesterday, on our walk. she saw two little dogs getting a ton of attention from the car repair shop - Shelby tried to pick up her pace and was whining. So I picked her up, brought her over and asked for some extra scratches for Shelby and all was right in Shelby's world.
I have no doubt that Shelby (and my) positive thinking will serve us well today!
Oh, one of the funny story about Shelby - so when this first happened, I asked how she would scratch behind her left ear without her leg. Hadn't thought much about it again until today when I was getting in the shower and I saw her doing what looked like an attempt at scratching (with no leg) - kind of going through the motions. So I hopped out, a bit wet and tried to call her to me and she freaked out - thought I was going to put HER in the shower! She ran... so I ran after her and it was a comedy of errors as I was just trying to help her scratch. Wanna bet she stays out of my bathroom now?!? Actually - she has spent a lot less time in there and prefers to spend her days/nights in the living room.
I love you all so much for humoring me, supporting me, and lifting me back up. I know that no matter what I learn/hear today, Shelby is a fighter and our story is not over and I feel secure knowing I have the tripawd nation supporting us!
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
amya said
I still remember that feeling when Libby picked her ball up for the first time after her amp. It's a breakthrough and you're filled with joy. Way to go Shelby. We cling to these happy times. 🙂
We had the same feeling when the rubber chicken dance happened once again, a few weeks after amputation:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
♥♥♥ Jerry and the chicken!!! So cute how he plays independent so you can video it. What a handsome boy... Thank you for sharing with us!
Alison and Shelby
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
Maggie made me wait 6 weeks before she started playing again, but when she picked up a toy I finally knew she would be alright! And it just got better from there.
I hope the news today was better than you expected.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
You call that "p.aying" with the chicken? Jerry's trying to kill that poor chicken!
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!
No no it's called DANCING with the chicken!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Shelby looks very sweet! I am glad to hear she's being playful and like her old self. My pup is about to lose her leg it seems. It has been over a year since she used her back left and we have been to several different doctors. No one can say exactly what it is, nor can any diagnostic test there is. She just had her 2nd MRI (the culmination of so many procedures you wouldn't believe it!) and the only thing left to do seems to be to take it off and I'm a little scared. Finding this site and reading these stories has really helped me. Thank you
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