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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Hi Everyone..I am new here, but I wanted to share with you the Story of our dog Powder...
Here is Powders Facebook page telling her whole story and her video..Pictures and video are graphic.
http://www.face.....wderswhite
Writing it here would be to long..But I really hope you will take the time visit her page and read her story..
It is a story about an amazing dog with great strength and courage;
and the many strangers with love in their heart who came along to help her...
We still took Powder into our home after a really bad accident. The owner wanted to have her put down. But we said no, bring her to us. We cared for her over night. But when we went to change the bandage on her leg the next night I knew the damage was to severe for even me to care for. So we took her to our vet the next morning. It was a few days later that our Vet called and we learned that she would lose her back leg. Much to my husband and my surprise someone wrote about Powder and what happened to her on their facebook page.. And the next thing we knew it was like someone threw a stone in the water and a bunch of ripples started going out. An auction was set up for Powder to pay for her medical bills, people started sending money to the Veterinary office for Powders bill, A St. Francis Protection for animals metal arrived at our door to put on Powders collar, and I've been told to expect some toys for her..LOL I am so overwhelmed by the total act of unselfishness of people I don't even know and the kindness they have show to us and to Powder during this time. Especially during these hard times that everyone is going through financially...
The first 2 facebook pages I set up for Powder got deleted. I didn't know why. Then one day I got a call telling me to take down Powders page, her pictures and her videos. Then it hit me as who complained about Powders page. So I went private. I have set it to public for a day or so, so if anyone here who would like and go read about her they may do so. If you go to her page and can't read it, just ask to be her friend and you will be accepted and you can read about her accident and all her updates and all the wonderful things that people have done for her...
This is my beautiful Powders Story and the new adventure she is going to be heading on...
And I just wanted to share it with everyone here...
Thank you.. 
Hi Powder & Family, welcome to Tripawds. I'm so sorry you had such terrible things happen to you, but now you have a good life and good people forever and ever.
Your Facebook page looks fine to me, I wonder why the old ones got taken down? I dunno, but you might want to consider starting your own Tripawds Dog blog to help others who might need hope and inspawration. Unfortunately we've got other members here who lost a leg in a similar way. But as you can see, things DO get better and you'll do just fine.
We're glad you joined us. Keep us posted on your adventures (your future posts won't need approval).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
WOW, what a story!!! Congrats on your new furkid, she's a real beauty! 
You will see very quickly how fast she will adapt to being a tripawd...it's quite remarkable to watch! 
You will find lots of great advice on here...from nutrition, core exercises to keep her girlish figure, and suggestions for alternative medicine like Animal Chiropractic to keep her spine and other limbs strong and moving freely.
Best of luck and we look forward to hearing how her recovery is going and seeing photos or videos
Roxy…Border Collie cross born on approximately October 27th, 2011;
Rescued in January 2012 by Oops a Dazy Rescue & Sanctuary;
Right hind leg amputated on January 20th, 2012 due to a severe spiral fracture;
Adopted on February 21st, 2012 by Teena, a devoted human & Charlee, a purebred BC.
Hugs, tail wags & sloppy kisses
Powder - you are one beautiful girl. So sorry you've had to go through all these tough time, but now you and your family have found each other and it all sounds perfect. By the way, you are a perfect dog, just a different kind of perfect 
. Sending the best thoughts ever your way!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
I started a blog for Powder on here but kinda got blocked as to where to start and what to write... At the moment I'd probably be gripping at bit..( see below) LOL
We're not far enough along to post things like what we've done for exercise etc..Since she is still healing..She still has this one area that is seeping...I'm going to give it one more week and if hasn't stopped then I'm taking her back to the Vet for the 2nd time..I'm a little irked that I've not been given much information about her post care from this Vet..When did Vets stop giving free Post Care Treatment ??..I thought they at least looked at them a week or 2 later to make sure they were healing ok without charging you...Not on my end...The first week it split open 1 inch and she had to go back into surgery and get restitched, so I was recharged there...Everything looks fine to me, but I'm no vet, so I don't know if this seeping is normal or not..It doesn't smell bad or anything, there is no redness or swelling, but I would at least have liked her Dr. to look at it without charging me $100.00...Is that wrong ???..I feel like that Info commercial, Set it and forget it...LOL
She had major surgery here, her leg was just cut off, geezzz ...It's not like she just had her nails clipped...
Ok I'm done venting...thank you for listening ( reading)..:)
If it's any comfort you aren't alone, many vets dont' give any real detail about post-amputation care and lifestyle. That's one of the reasons we started Tripawds, so everyone could share tips and ideas and we could get answers from experts like rehab docs.
When it comes to charging for post-op surgery care, it's a real fine line and done on a case-by-case basis. Since Powder needed surgery to get restitched, it seems like a fair enough thing for a vet to charge for that since materials were involved, as well as a skilled hand (as much as it hurts the wallet!). As for the seeping it sounds like a seroma , which is harmless fluid leakage. See Jerry's Required Reading List for details. But for peace of mind, call your vet and describe it to them, they can tell you if she should b brought in. If she needs to be, have a talk with your vet and be upfront and honest about your financial situation and ask if they can do something about waiving the office visit fee. You might be surprised at their generosity in doing so.
Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We must be very lucky here and maybe it's because of living in a small community, but my vet has not charged a dime for any of Shooter's after care. This is really amazing because she did not do the original surgery as she had referred me to another specialist so Shooter would have better surgical technology available. She removed the compression bandage, treated a seroma , had to redo and clean up part of the incision (twice!) due to a poor job which caused bad healing and removed the staples all at no cost. I definitely appreciate her! She also takes the time to listen to all my concerns and get me answers. I will say there was not a lot of information given out about the after care and what to expect so I am making sure she has some of the flyers Tripawds.com provided to print out so future patients can come here to get help and support.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
I feel blessed for the after care instructions I received from the vet where JJ was referred by the emergency hospital. Two pages printed out that included medications listed (how much, how often), what he should eat, what his activity level should be, how to ease pain with a warm compress, what I should bring him back in for... Even with that I had a notebook with a page full of questions for the surgeon. She was amazing and answered EVERY question that I asked. Even the staffer who handed JJ to me gave me good advice (he could tell I was nervous LOL).
We have been lucky to have a wonderful primary vet as well. When our Basset Hound went into renal failure I had taken her to our primary vet who after an examination referred us immediately to a specialist. Immediately as in you drive there now and I will fax the paperwork to them while you are on your way. Our primary didn't charge us for the visit/examination when they found out that she had passed that night. I even received a condolence card signed by all the staff. One of our other dogs also has seizures. They charged us for the visit the first time it happened. I had to take him back once after it happened again a year later and the vet didn't charge us for the exam the second time.
I'm very glad to hear that Powder has found loving pawrents!
I'm with you Powder, your surgeon and mine must have gone to the same "school of don't give 'em any information". I want Scooter and JJ's surgeon!
Really sorry to hear about poor Powder's struggles but thank goodness you are in his life! You are a good soul with tos of compassion and I know this dog will feel more love than he's ever experienced before. Powder has had a lot of surgery challenges and that , unfortunately happens. You are diligent though and will speak out loudly on Powder's behalf. The very bet to you and please keep s posted.
Take care , 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!
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