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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Almost a year after her diagnosis, Quila went through a quick decline. When I took her to the very for loss of appetite and a night of vomiting, they didn't think a chest xray was needed until I insisted on going home with Cerenia. She looked so healthy, they said... She probably just ate something bad. I insisted on Cerenia, so the vet insisted on and xrays to make sure she hadn't eaten something metal. The x rays showed fluid in her lungs and a tumor the size of a small orange. Three days later, she could barely walk and was turning her noise up at chicken broth. Last night, we put her to sleep under a huge flowering apple tree surrounded by people who love her. Beautiful and sad. I an so afraid of breaking her paw print. I miss her so much.
It was a long year. The only decision I regret is not insisting on physical therapy to prevent joint injury right after amputation. She tore both acls after her amputation, and while bracing and physical therapy helped, she never quite got back to her old self. I keep hearing her and expecting her to be in her regular spots. Hard to think. At least the last decline was quick.
Oh, "m so very, very sorry. So sorry. This hurts badly right now and I kow the sadness is suffocatng. And that won't go away any time soon. Yor heart is broken and ours breaks with you.
I know one thing, Little Bear jad more loving and spoiling and pampering this past ear than most dogs do on twelve years! I remember readingyour posts about all the researchyou didmon braces and how you rode her around in a stroller. You talked abouthowindependemt she is and would not let you help her pee. She should those vets wrong and showed them she could pee just fine!
Maybe she didn't get "back 100℅ as far as running a marathon, but she enjoyed her numerous short walks and she enjoyed being withnyou. That was enoigh "quality" as far as Quila was concerned!!.
A lot jas been posted jere recentlu about grief. Please check them out as you will find some realy helpful and comforting posts. There jave been a lotof losses recently and the commjnity has rallied arond everyone with love and supprt. We are ow doi g the same foryou. Please stay connected to us and let us help.
I know you will find comfort in knowing that Quila lived her life fuly and was happy rightnup to the end. Yeah, she was exhausted and weak, but that's not pain...maybe a little uncomfortable but still enjoying your love and companionsip. Little Bear crossed over to the other side of life surrounded bymyour love and out in nature. I know he was a peace and Inhope that brings you comfort.
Thankyou for sharing Quila withnus. It's been a privilege to be on this journey with such a courageous dog and devoted mom!
When you can., please share more avout Quila. We would like that and it mayhelp heal younin some small way. For ow, we all know there's nothing to help. All we can do is let you know how mich we care. Little Bear will NEVER be forgotten here! He's been an inspiration to us all!
Surroundingnyou with Quila's grace and eternal love,
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 am so very sorry for your loss. Sending you healing thoughts and memories to cherish and live forever in your hearts.
-Liz and Angel Roxie
My heart goes out to you, I'm so sorry to hear Quila is an angel now.You both fought so courageously and you lived life to the fullest, try not to let let any regrets overshadow so many great moments you had together. You did the best you could for her, she knew that.
You're right, she did not suffer, and with her weary body at rest, her spirit can fly free and just like when she was a puppy, romp and play and run alongside our Tripawd heroes everywhere.
If you would like to share some photos and you're having any issues posting let me know. PM them to me, I'm happy to post them for you so we can help you celebrate her life.
Lots of hugs coming your way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry. Yes, there is some comfort in not watching her suffer. She made it a whole year after amputation, which is wonderful. Her spirit is still with you and lives on in your heart and memories. She's running free of pain and injury now.
Hugs,
Amy & Spirit Libby
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
Run free, Little Bear.
Kathi 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!
I am so sorry for your loss. RIP Quila. No regrets you did the best you could do.
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I am so sorry for your loss. I didn't know your story but love is love and she fought a noble fight! May the memories comfort you in the days to come ... I know how hard this ...
Hugs!
Alison and her Shelby fur-ever in her heart
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
I am so sorry! It is hard! Come to the forum for support. We all understand. We are here for you! I planted a small memorial garden for Ty. Seemed to be therapeutic. I love the image that I see when you describe taking her for walks in the stroller. Quite a loved puppy! Love from, Lori and TY GUY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Ooooh, I'm so sorry. Her quick end can sometimes be comforting. No prolonged suffering. No second guessing. You did right by her! I know. She had the best life ever. And to go with her friends and family around her? Beautiful. That's love right to the end...and beyond.
HUGS
~ Katy & Jackson
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!
Thank you everyone. When the end came, it was too soon, but it was time. I will write more about her journey when I can. The only thing I really wish we had done differently was immediate physical therapy right after amp to try to prevent joint troubles. Otherwise, we had a last year full of joy in each other. Thank you for all the support.
Yeah, right nowyou just get through each minute, one breath at a time. Whenyou can though, I know writing about Little Bear will help bring all those treasured moments of happiness you shared back intoyour heart.
Just want to add as far as the PT thing goes.....trust me, every single one of us on this part of the journey find "something" we wish we'd done differently. It's just part of the grief process of being human.
I just want you to know that many who tried PT in the beginning had to stop because it actuall caused "set backs' in some dogs, for wjatever reason. And some STILL jave joint issues. I will also add that many, probably most, do not do PT and most dogs do ot jave those types of joint issues without it. It wasn't anything you could have done differently, really. In fact, the PT may have exacerbated the problem that was probavly going to rear it's ugly head whether or not he was a tripawd.
And it's easier said than done, but try not to give those kinds of useless thoughts any energy. That's just thise piece of crap disease trying to cause more harm because it couldn't touch Little Bear's spirit or break the loving bond you two have......and NEVER will!
Sending so mich love.
Sally and Happy Hannan
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!
Don't second guess yourself, it will just drive you crazy. I have been wanting to share something and this seems to be the right place. When we got a negative finally on the M RSA, the vet said that she was afraid that the fevers were caused by a Neoplastic syndrome. She suggested restarting the chemo. I had already decided that after all he had been through, that we were not doing any more chemo. I was afraid that was what lowered his immune system in the first place to allow the. Mrsa to take over his body. Anyhow, when he took the sudden turn for the worse, I was feeling so guilty, what if I had let them restart the chemo the week before, would the outcome have been different? I truly do not think so. His fever was back up and he could not stand. He had pain in his stomach and I had found more lumps. I think that the cancer was all through him. I think tha weeks that we fought the infection weakened him so much that he could not fight this monster. I think that if I WOULD have restarted the chemo, the same thing would have happened. Guess what? I would have felt like I caused it by agreeing to restart the chemo. I would have had a guilt trip either way. So no matter what we do, we have to know that we did what we did out of our Great love for our best friend. We made the decisions that we made based on our heart and our individual circumstances. Our pets knew that they were loved, fed, warm, cuddled and just plain spoiled, that is what makes a pet truly happy. Love from, Lori and Ty Guy
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Sitting under the tree where she died. Writing to her in my journal. It has been almost exactly 48 hours, and I can lay right her and let my heart beat in the place where hers stopped with flower petals floating down on me. I'm going to do that, and not worry about her poor knees. My sweet beautiful string girl.
Well said Lori. And I don't think there's a on off us who, after all Ty had been through, would even consider chemo for one split second! No way! Ty wouldn't jave even had the good days he did get to have at home with you!
And her heart bewt flowed ntomyours. You and Little Bear are truly one. You, and all the nature that surronded you that day, the tree, the grass, the flower petals...all absorbed part of Little Bear's energy and she will always be present in nature.
I'm just so sorry. We understand the heart break.
Sending love,
Sally and Happy Hanna h
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!
1 Guest(s)
