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 am so sorry that you had to say goodbye to Chessie. You all were so blessed to have had so many extra months to share together all though I no that whatever time we are given it is never enough. Your pictures are beautiful, what a great life you all shared. I hope soon your memories of your life together will bring happiness to your heart and smiles to your face.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
I am sorry to hear about Molly's passing. She had an awesome life and a loving family- can't get better than that.
I know what you mean about feeling the emptiness- and the loss of routine. My pug Maggie developed several medical issues which made her last 3 months a challenge. I was fortunate to have Mag's little sis Tani at home to take care of, it did help a bit. But the morning after I let Mag go I got Tani's meds in her, fed her and was done in 10 min. I didn't know what to do with myself. Mag's routine had become 30 min or more morning and night. And lots of laundry because of incontinence. But I wouldn't trade any of it- it just cemented the almost indescribable bond we had formed over the course of her cancer battles. We invest so much it seems to make the parting all the more difficult.
The night I got home without Mag I immediatly put all of the 'bad' stuff away- the meds, all the special food, the fluids. But I left her leash and harness in the closet, and even now, almost 3 months later, her blanket is still on my bed.
The lessons I learned from Maggie have really helped me through the last three months- appreciating every day, living in the moment, not looking too far ahead. I hope that what Molly taught you will bring you some peace.
And know too that she is never far from your side- she is just in a different form now.
Karen
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Molly was a beautiful girl and an inspiration for sure! We just never have enough time. I think 2 more years with Sadie would be the best gift ever, but I know I would grieve just as much if I lost her 2 years from now as if I lost her tonight.
Warm hugs to your family,
Lisa (Sadie's mom)
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Thanks for you comforting thoughts everyone. Today I had to go back to work after taking a few days off to grieve. It was good to be working again-- it helped get my mind off of this for at least a little while. However, this was also the first day I had to come home to an empty house after work. It was awful and made me miss her so much. I know moving on and letting go is important, but at the same time it scares me. Every day that goes by gets me closer to healing, but it also makes me feel like I am getting farther away from Molly... farther away from the last time I saw and held her. Already some of the memories are fading and it makes me so sad. I can still remember most things of course, but the more sensory-related feelings I knew of holding her in my arms, petting her soft fur, smelling my favorite spot behind her big floppy ears (and her yummy smelling paws), or having her lick my face are starting to fade and it has only been four days. It is just so hard to move on without her.
Karen- I can totally relate to your routines comment. This morning I got up at my normal time of 5 a.m. When the alarm rang the first thing my mind jumped to was "time to feed Molly". It took me a second to remember that she was gone. Then I was ready for work far too early because usually it took me over 30 minutes to go through Molly's morning routine.
-Heidi
Molly was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma (grade 3 with hystiocytic markers) and had her front leg amputated on August 15th 2008. We had a wonderful two years with her until she passed at age 13.5 on August 29th 2010. As far as we could tell, her cancer never returned.
Heidi, I found this article today, hope it helps somewhat:
"Ten Tips on Coping with Pet Loss."
Keep talking about your feelings, and know that we can all relate. Yes, it is really sad that those sensory feelings start to fade. As soon as I passed on, my Mom took one of my sweaters and put it in a ziploc. To this day, nearly two years later, she will occasionally open it up just to get a whiff of my doggy smell. Silly humans!
Try to remember, we as living breathing beings are so much more than the fur on our bodies and the voices we speak with. We are loving, pure energy that never, ever goes away. Look into your heart and go beyond all of the material things that Molly was; really try to feel the emotions, the happy times, not just what she smelled or sounded like. It's those feelings and experiences that make our pack what it was, and always will be.
I really like this poem on that page, I think it nicely sums up how I feel about the transition from a life on earth to a Spirit Tripawd.
A POEM FOR THE GRIEVING…
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die…
-Anonymous
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I read your post about Molly's things lying around and how you don't know what to do with them... For graduation, I made a shadow box of memorabilia (hat, tassel, event invitation, stole of gratitude with poems to each parent etc...) for each of my parents as a way to preserve the memory of that day. You can get them at most any craft store and I provided a link to Michaels Arts& Crafts as an example. If you go to a store (Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michaels, or whatever is near you), they usually have more options for larger sizes.
Basically you can put some of her things in a shadow box (on your own to figure out how to arrange them) with some pictures of her or some notes you personally write about good memories, funny habits, etc of Molly. The harness you could probably mount by itself, but some toys of hers I am sure you can sure fit inside (depending on the size/depth box you buy)!!!
This way you can still look at her things, but have the added "chic" factor by having them nicely mounted as your custom wall art!! I don't have a picture of my college graduation one, but I am sure if you google "shadow boxes" you can find examples from other people.
http://www.mich.....hadowboxes
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Here's some other neat ones we wrote about in the Tripawds Gift Store:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Heidi,
I am so sorry for your loss. Molly had a wonderful life and a family so full of love and compassion. The photos are a beautiful portrayal of this.
RIP sweet Molly
Fortis'Dad
Heide, so sorry about Molly. Isn't it funny how we scheduled around our buddies. I Know the feeling of not wanting to move anything, I had set a block by a waterer for Gus to stand on when he got a drink out of it, and I still haven't moved it, and I still look for him when I drive in the drive, another habit that willl be hard to break. I think we feel like we are still getting to do our things and our buddies aren't, makes us feel a little guilty I think, but when you know you did everything for them and gave them a good life, it helps. I hope time helps you, let the memories help you, paws up, 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
Heidi,
I'm so sorry to hear about Molly... 
I know how sad and empty you are feeling... It's almost 10 months since I lost my sweet Jake... and I still miss him so much.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers... Rest in peace sweet angel Molly!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
We picked up Molly's ashes today. Very sad. It is hard to believe that last week at this time, we were sharing our last night with Moll before putting her to sleep. This has been the hardest week of my life.
Dan- I can totally relate to your guilt comment about "getting to do our things and our buddies aren't". My husband and I have a chance to go on a backpacking trip in a couple weeks, and the thought of doing something without her is killing me. I just don't know how to move on without her.
Thanks again for all the support everyone. It means so much. I don't know what I would do without the Tripawds forum.
-Heidi
Molly was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma (grade 3 with hystiocytic markers) and had her front leg amputated on August 15th 2008. We had a wonderful two years with her until she passed at age 13.5 on August 29th 2010. As far as we could tell, her cancer never returned.
Heidi, you will make it, one step at a time.
You might be able to relate to this post my pawrents wrote right after I earned my wings. "Our Hike Shall Go On . . ."
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Dear Heidi and Dan,
I am thinking of you both today, as we share the same heartbreaking one week milestone without our special ones Molly and JD.
Angel JD's mom
JD
One Tough Girl
(1999-2010)
-Diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left front leg –
-Amputation July 23 2010 –
-The cancer didn't get her, but she is gone-
-She fought the cancer and loved life till bloat brought her down August 29th, 2010-
Now she watches over her mom and two new sisters, the Quad-Paws Serena and Maya
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