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
We decided to have Levi buried in the pet cemetary near our house. It was much more expensive than cremation but ultimately it was the only thing I felt comfortable with. I still cry every day. Some days I feel Ok about it but as time goes on and I remember all the funny things he did I just miss him so much
. I am very grateful that we have another dog in the house. I honestly don't know what we would do with an empty house. I'm still hoping my relationship with Koa will continue to grow. It's just so hard to not compare him to Levi. It still just doesn't seem real that he is gone forever.
Rough day here...thanks for listening.
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
It sounds like you made the best decision for all of you. There is a lot of comfort in knowing that you have a beautiful place in which to remember Levi, and think about all of the good times.
Your relationship with Koa will become stronger, as the pack roles become redefined. It's human nature to compare, but ultimately you'll experience the joy of having a stronger relationship together.
I know your heart is hurting right now, and I'm so sorry. Always remember Levi's spirit will stay strong as you travel the road of life, he's not going anywhere.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My heart breaks for you today. There is something so final about the burial or picking up the ashes and it is emotionally draining. Please know that we understand completely what you are going through. Many prayers and hugs to you.
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
We are thinking about you today and will keep you in our prayers. Sounds like you found a lovely place for Levi. Koa will never be Levi and he doesn't know you are comparing him to Levi.....so it's all part of your process. Koa sounds like a wonderful dog and I'm so glad he is there for you. Levi will always be in your heart.....take care!
Suzie and Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
I hope the day was sunny with a gentle breeze and you were able to feel some peace afterwards. Having a final resting place for him is really a tribute to Levi. It's natural to make comparisons and I hope you find that while Koa may be very different from Levi, he is special in his own way.
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
Sending you my thoughts and prayers. It is a really difficult time for you and while time will eventually lessen the pain it doesn't really help you much now! Tomorrow is 10 weeks since Magnum left and there has been only 1 day in that 10 weeks where I haven't shed a tear.
Be gentle on yourself and your relationship with Koa. It can never be like it was with Levi but I'm sure it will develop further and you will find a different, but no less significant, bond forming.
Sending you lots of hugs.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
((hugs)) I definitely remember how hard it was at first. It does get easier to remember the good with out getting sad that you won't have him to play around with anymore. I still tear up about Spencer; but it is much less.
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
Thinking of you today-it sounds like you have found a beautiful resting place for Levi. All the adjustments after we have lost our wonderful companions are hard, but gradually things become easier. I'm glad that you are remembering all his funny antics, and that there are some smiles peeking through your tears. May the days get easier for you as time passes. Take care, Joan and Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Oh, what a hard day. Of course you still cry every day; it hasn't been that long and it takes time. A lot of time. It's so hard to accept that they are gone, but it does get easier. And I'm glad you have Koa there to help you get through this.
Thinking of you guys on this difficult day.
Jackie
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!
My heart goes out to you. It is truly wonderful that you found a resting place for Levi that gives you comfort.
Thank goodness you have Koa.... a house without a dog is not a home.
Good thoughts and prayers are coming your way.
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
I'm so sad for you... The decision of what to do once they're gone is a tough one. Almost harder than the decision to let them go. But I'm glad you found a place for him that you feel comfortable with.
The silent house would kill me, too. But some days I honestly resent the fact that the Monkeybutt Girls aren't Rio. Not that I would wish her cancer upon them, or that I would want them gone instead of her, but I'm just angry and sad that she's not with me anymore.
Losing our pups is so very hard, and even nearly six months later, I have a hard time talking about Rio without choking up. I miss her so very much, although I can always find a memory that makes me smile through my tears if I try hard enough. You'll get to this point, too, with Levi. The sadness and loss will never go away, but your memories of the happy times you spent with him will help to ease the pain eventually.
Hugs to you and your family,
Rio's momma, Micki
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
riosmom said
The silent house would kill me, too. But some days I honestly resent the fact that the Monkeybutt Girls aren't Rio. Not that I would wish her cancer upon them, or that I would want them gone instead of her, but I'm just angry and sad that she's not with me anymore.
I know this feeling so well. I think that is is only natural that we end up comparing our dogs who are gone to the ones who are still here.
It seems impossible to wrap the mind around the fact that they are gone forever. It seems like there is just no way that your world now has to exist without them....surely at some point they will come back, you will hear that bark, see that smile, have that head resting in your lap. I'm so sorry you have to go through this....I wish no one ever did.
I hope that the day went ok.
1 Guest(s)
