Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm going to try to cut and paste Murphy's story from the Tripawds Facebook Page where I posted a video earlier today.
Murphy was hit by a car in October, which was what started this whole experience. His left knee was completely torn up to the point that after three weeks in the hospital, the doctor decided that it was best for his recovery if the leg was amputated. The femoral nerve was damaged so badly that he had no retraction response and the leg just dragged along when he tried to walk. In addition to the damage to the left leg, his right hip was dislocated. He has very shallow hip joints, and consequently became a chronic dislocater. This is what led to the THR.
We were very fortunate to have an outstanding orthopedic surgeon less than four hours from us (not terribly far by Idaho standards). He refused to give up on Murphy even when I was almost at the end of my rope. The THR was the eighth surgical procedure since October, and I just wasn't sure how much more we could put Murphy through. He was a great patient and so very resiliant. Nothing much ever seemed to get him down. The last time the hip went out, he was almost walking on his front legs like a circus dog. In all, he spent more than a month in the hospital since his accident.
He is now almost four months post amputation and five weeks post total hip replacement. The doctor feels that the muscles in his leg are now strong enough that there isn't as much worry about another dislocation. The KYON replacement that he has needs about four months' healing time for the bone to grow into the implant. Our biggest problem is keeping him slowed down. We can't wait for the day when he can go out into the yard without a leash.
We are planning a trip to the coast this summer. Murphy loves the beach!
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!
MurphsMom, thanks so much for joining our community and sharing his story here. Can I ask, what kinds of things did you do for his recovery? How much did it wear on you and what was it like? It sounds like an incredible amount of work. Did your onco have any hesitations because Murphy is a Tripawd?
One of the reasons we are very curious about his story is because our own Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray is a rear-leg amputee with hip displaysia in his one remaining hip. He is still young so it's not posing a problem, and hopefully it never will, but if it does now we know there is hope. Thank you for that!
You are an amazing pawrent, thanks for not giving up on your boy. What a great pack you have there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What an amazing story! Gee whizz! Murphy and his people sure are tough fighters. He's a handsome guy and I, too, await a leash-free romp on the beach. PLEASE post that video! Keep up the excellent, measured rehab! 
Did you say Murphy also has cancer?
~ Katy
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
No, Murphy doesn't have cancer. He is a perfectly healthy three year old Lab/Chessie cross, who unfortunately has Chessie mentality and wouldn't stop when he chased the fox across the highway. The only car to pass by in about a half an hour clipped him and threw him into the ditch. To answer your next question...no, they did not stop.
He has been on "house arrest" since he first came home after three weeks in the hospital. The day after they took his leg, he was so much better that it was unbelievable. He has a small pen set up in our living room, and spends his house time in that. We have a second one that he uses when the weather is good and we are outside with him. He is on a leash whenever he's out of the pen. We also have him in the Ruffwear harness this time. Wish we'd known about them before.
After the first surgeries, he managed to get far enough along in his recuperation that he could have the run of the living room area, but since the THR, he is still in the pen when inside. The doctor feels that soon we will be letting him loose in the house, but after dealing with four hip dislocations, I'm tending to err on the side of caution. He can now go for the short walks that you see in his video on Facebook. Before the last dislocation, he was up to almost a half mile a day. This time the recuperation is necessarily slower, due to the fact that the bone needs to regenerate into the implant. He will start water therapy in about three weeks.
His doctor's biggest piece of advice..."JUST SLOW HIM DOWN!"
Our surgeon teaches the hip replacement to other vets and is a nationally renowned orthopedist. Murphy is his fourth tripod, and all of them have done well. Here is a link to the hip replacement that he had, if anyone is interested. http://svanimal.....placement/
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!
Oooh you're in the Sun Valley area? We love it there!
Well this is just an incredible story. I'm so glad Murphy survived the terrible ordeal.
What about things like going potty? How are you handling that aspect? (as you can see we're not afraid to talk about poop issues here!).
It was only three years ago that a vet at Colorado State told us there was no way a rear-leg Tripawd could have a hip replacement surgery. Murphy's story gives us hope that Wyatt Ray can have the surgery if he needs it some day (sure hope not!). Thanks for the link to your vet's website.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Murphy had the whole potty thing figured out pretty much by himself. He sets his left front foot back far enough to sort of use it like it is another back leg. For the first three weeks or so, we gave him extra pressure on the harness, but now he has great balance and does his business without added help from us.
And as our eight year old grandson observed, "Well, he doesn't have to lift his leg to pee any more,"
If you go to our vet clinic's Facebook page, there is a picture of a tripod who had his THR four years ago.
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!
It's been a while since I posted a Murphy update, so I wanted to let you know how he is doing. We are now at ten weeks past THR and he acts like he has never had anything wrong with him. We still have six weeks to go before he can get the all clear to go outside on his own, although he is allowed the run of the downstairs inside the house. He is so strong that it's becoming a real task to keep him slowed down.
He is going to physical therapy twice a week, and we are working with him at home on some of the core strengthening exercises that they have given us. He loves going to the therapist and just about jumps out of his skin when we unload him from the car. Of course, the part about swimming is probably what does it. Imagine telling a retriever that he has to go swimming!
We are all looking forward to making a video of him running on the beach this summer. Can't wait!
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!
Murphy you are amazing! To think of what you've overcome just blows my mind. A pup like you is unstoppable!
Kathi, we would love to see those exercises at some point if you have time and are able to film them. I know you've got a lot to deal with so I understand if you can't do it. It's just great to know the exercises are working!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good grief what a story!!! You didn't make any of this up, right?? You aren't taking any funny mushrooms that aren't for "medicinal use only"?? Right?
This is a glorious story and regardless of what happens here on out MURPHY HAS WON!!!
You have to be some of the best paw parents I. The world!! So happy for you. That Murphy is the epitome of dog being dog. Just deal with whatever co es your way, figure out the solution and get o. With it!!
YAY for not having to lift your leg to pee!!
Thank you for making everyone smile today:-) 
!
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!
Not only is this story unbelievable, but I didn't even go into the part about being In the Idaho mountains, 60 miles from the vet's office in the middle of the night. Oh yes, I also didn't mention that we hit a deer on the way there, came in on a wing and a prayer, with steam pouring out of the front of the Jeep, and ended up borrowing a car from the vet to transport Murphy to the surgeon the next morning. After that night, we figured we could make it through anything.
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!
WOW!!! What an amazing and inspiring story!!! We look forward to more of Murphy's journey 
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
I have some videos taken of Murphy at his rehab session today, but I'm not sure how to go about posting them.
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!
Oooo can't wait!
Easy peasy on the video sharing; I think you use YouTube right? If so you can just paste the "Share" link here in your forum post. The video won't appear when you're typing the post but it will after you click save. This tech support topic can help explain other methods for other videos:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I've never done YouTube, as it seems entirely too public for me. Is there a way to download from Facebook?
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!
murphsmom said
Is there a way to download from Facebook?
Facebook only provides iframe code for embedding which is not allowed here for security reasons.
You can always just share the link to any video on Facebook, like this:
Of course, the video needs to be public and users must have a Facebook account.
Hope this helps!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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