Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm devastated to have to write this. but, while i was at work yesterday, bailey somehow broke his remaining front leg. my neighbor found him laying on the carpet by my front door and thought maybe he was just hurting since he was crying. He was in the same place when she came back an hour later, so she called me. I came home and tried to get him to stand by lifting him and while he was able to stand on his back legs, his front left just hung. Rushed him to the vet where xrays showed he had some sort of "spiral" break in his upper leg, and by that time they'd also received biopsy results which showed he did in fact have osteosarcoma. I asked them to give him some pain meds, and spent a little time with him then had to put him down. Despite the obvious pain, he even wagged his tail at the guys who came in to put the final catheter in his leg. He was the best puppy ever and i miss him so so much. thanks to all for helping us get through the last week. I am feeling so guilty about putting him through the amputation at all, and for the pain i put him through in forcing him to get up, and feel like if I'd stayed home with him he'd still be here ... horrible time right now 🙁 I'm trying to tell myself it's better than he only suffered for a week but had some good days than had I put him down when the first leg was so unbearable, and maybe the cancer had weakened his front leg and it would have broken soon anyhow. I just miss him so terribly and wish this past week had been so different ...
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Stephanie, I moved your post here so that others would know what had happened....
This is so, so tragic! All of our love is coming your way, we can't believe this.
We are incredibly sorry that this happened, it's so unusual. The cancer had to have been more advanced than anyone imagined or could have diagnosed. Please, please don't blame yourself. Bailey, in his beautiful dog way, which is so forgiving, would never ever blame you for doing what was best at the time. We all do our best with the information we have at hand, and sadly, sometimes things go wrong that nobody can predict. I know this isn't much comfort now, but what I want to get across is that you didn't hurt him by trying to help him, not at all. Chances are that if the cancer was that far along, his amputated leg would have fractured the same way if you hadn't have proceeded with surgery.
I want to quote something from one of the best pet loss books, "So Easy to Love, So Hard to Lose" by Laurie Kaplan...
"After saying goodbye to your pet, you will, of course, grieve. Grieving hurts, but it's not entirely bad or ugly. Your grief is actually beautiful because it is another expression of your love.
Love and grief are naturally and necessarily linked. Without love, there is no basis for grief.
Pet loss grief is a hard place to be. There's no getting around it, but there is a way through it. Your journey has a destination and your turmoil is not without purpose. You will find your way through it, to the bridge to healing and to peace.
The grief you are feeling is really an alternate version of your love. Your love has turned into grief. It will become love once again. Your pain and sadness will be tempered by the support that you receive from your friends, a support group or a book. The turmoil will be resolved when you find a new way to express your thoughts and feelings of love."
I hope this helps you cope, I can only imagine the pain you are feeling, and I am so, so sorry.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree with Jerry, you did the best you could with the information you had. You gave him instant pain relief when you got rid of his leg. The pain from the bone cancer (from what all doctors have told me) is unbearable, the worst kind of pain. Your Bailey was given relief with all you have done for him. There is no way to see in the future, so you couldn't have known.
I would just about bet it all that he was glad for even just one more minute with you. You gave him that. I am so sorry for your having lost him so soon into the fight! But, I hope there is comfort in knowing you gave him every moment you could. My most heartfelt condolences (that isn't a good enough word for the sadness and empathy I am feeling for you both) and many prayers for Baileys journey to the bridge, and for you.
Elizabeth
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.
Oh my goodness...we are SO Sorry for your loss! Sending you hugs and Dalmatian kisses.
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
I also posted over on the other thread, but just wanted to reiterate to try to not have any regrets. Don't beat yourself up. Bailey wouldn't want that at all.
I mentioned to you before that our last dog was also named Bailey. I'm sure our angel Bailey is there to welcome your angel Bailey. Ours was a girl, and I'm sure she is flirting with him mercilessly and trying to get him to chase her.
I know your pain has just really begun, but remember that his has ended. I hope that some day sooner than you think you'll be able to remember him with more smiles than tears.
We're all here for you!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
This is so sad. Please be kind to yourself. Baily knows how much you love him, and he knows you did all you could possibly do to make his life the best it could be. Sometimes our best just isn't enough, sometimes it is just time for them to go.
Sending good thoughts your way, and hoping you soon will have only happiness when you think of Bailey.
RIP sweet Bailey. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
thank you everyone.
Jackie, your point about my pain beginning while his ended was good for me to hear. As much as I love him and as much as my heart is broken right now, I will gladly take on all of this pain knowing that he doesn't have to now.
He was "my monkey" and I'll miss him so, so much. But will also cherish all the good things he brought to my life, like becoming a part of this family, for one. Even though our time with you all was short, the love and appreciation for what you guys have done will last a long time ...
Stephanie, my heart is breaking for you. I am so, so sorry for your loss and for the difficult circumstances.
Bailey is running free, and you are a permanent member of the Tripawds family. If you feel like posting pics and telling us more about your sweet boy, we're here to enjoy the memories with you. Whenever you are ready.
Be gentle with yourself.
Jan & Tate
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Oh, poor Bailey. That is so very sad. But, as others have already said, you did the best you could with the information you had -- and that's all you can ever expect of yourself. I know you are feeling guilty and second-guessing yourself right now, but try not to. You didn't have a crystal ball, and you couldn't have known this was how things would turn out. You loved him, and you always acted with his best interests at heart. He would want you to celebrate his life, his smiles, his energy, rather than beat yourself up over something you couldn't fix.
And as Jan said, once a Tripawd family member, always a Tripawd family member. We are here for you, and hoping that soon you will be able to remember your boy with a smile rather than tears.
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
I understand that feeling guilty is sometimes part of the grieving process but you loved your boy and you did what you could!
Sorry that things ended this way! Be kind to yourself, Bailey would want you to be! Sending heart healing wishes until you meet again!
I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending you hugs and sweet Labby kisses. I haven't been a Tripawd pawrent for very long, but this community has been amazing and I'm sure they will provide whatever support you need.
I'm Crystal, but you can call me Katymom. :) I'm Triproud of my Tripawd!
Katy Sue Sarcopski – born approx 2/03, found "the lump" 9/7/11, suspected soft tissue sarcoma (most likely liposarcoma) 10/11, became a Tripawd 11/1/11, official diagnosis of infiltrating lipoma 11/23/11
Follow her "tail" at katydidit.tripawds.com!
Stephanie, tears are falling for you and Bailey. I wish I had more words of comfort for you, but please know that we are thinking of you. Bailey knows that you love him and everything you did for him was out of love. Run free at the bridge, sweet boy.
Stephanie, so sorry to read about Bailey.. I'm sorry I wasn't around to add to your other post and help with support earlier. I can't add much to what has already been said. Yes, this is a wonderful family in times like this and hopefully you can feel a sense of comfort from everyone here, but for those of us who have lost our buddies, there never seems to be the right something to take the pain away. I've always said the majic of time works better than just about anything else, and the whole journey of this crap makes losing them that much harder, but your story adds an unfortunate twist, so lean on all of us here to help ease your pain. Don't feel you have to get back to " normal" in a certain time frame, we all heal different, and with time you will be able to think of Bailey and smile, but for now, let the tears flow, it's a great relief valve. Our thoughts are with you, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Oh Stephanie!
This is just utterly heartbreaking! I am so incredibly sorry about Bailey.
Aside from the emptiness in your heart, I can only imagine how you feel right now wondering if you did the right thing. We all know in our hearts that you did make all the right decisions for Bailey because you made them out of pure love. Please never question your decisions. Look at the other leg surgeries he went through with flying colors that made him pain free! It was you that did that for him. And this surgery too was to get him out of pain. But cancer is so unpredictable that it leaves us powerless.
I lost two of my dogs to cancer and had no idea they had it until it was too late. I only tell you this so that you know how vicious cancer is and how it can take them without warning.
Once you've cried until you can't cry anymore, please come back and let us help you through this terrible tragedy. There is so much about Bailey we didn't get hear. I know this won't take away the sadness but we still would love to hear about your life with Bailey.
In the meantime, take care of yourself while you grieve.
HUGS.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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