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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It is with great sadness that i let my tripawd friends know that my maggie was put to rest last night in my arms. The cancer grew back on her incision site.
I will love her forever and it was by far, the hardest thing i ever did.
Would i recommend removing a leg from a 12 year old dog? No, i would not. She lived large with four legs. She was not happy with three. She couldn't go into the woods anymore, she couldn't run with me anymore. She couldn't chase the deer. She was just there to make me happy which she did an awesome job of. But, that was for me, not her.
Thank you guys so much, you did help in a trying time. I am writing to you guys because you are the few that understand a love between a dog and a human. Not too many people do. For this you are extremely special in my eyes and i love you for it.
laurie
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I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your beautiful girl. I'm also sorry to hear that she didn't adjust well to Tripawd life. I hope you don't regret your decision though. I know she wouldn't want you to feel badly. I'm sure she knew how much you loved her.
Letting them go ends their pain but starts ours. She will be with you in your heart always.
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!
Well said Jackie.
I am so sorry that your girl is gone. It is harder on some dogs for some reason. I would say though that you did everything you could to fight cancer and give her a chance to finish her natural life, it was cancer that took her, not your choices. You did all that you could for her. I do understand very much loving your dog like you love anyone in your family (sometimes more so with the dogs!).
I will be saying a prayer for you and your family and for Maggie, that she is already back on her four legs and being loved well until you are together again.
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.
Laurie,
I am so saddened to read about Maggie. You did all that you could, to improve her chances for a better life & without pain. Your decision to do the amputation was made out of your deep love for her. Cancer really sucks! She is now at the bridge with many other Tripawd Angels & Monkey Butt siblings...running around..chasing deer...swimming. She will live in your heart always!
Sending you many golden hugs,
Cathy
So, so sorry for the loss of your Maggie. They truly are members of our family and the grief when we lose them is certainly not lessened by the fact that they have four (or in our case, three) legs instead of two.
I read somewhere on this site about a member's vet who explained to them just how hard dogs in the wild will fight to survive because it is instinctual for them. I cannot remember whether it was a post or blog, but it has brought me so much peace of mind to know that I am not fighting this fight only for me, but that I am doing what Zeus would choose to do if he was not under my care. Please do not regret your decision. Hindsight is always 20/20 and if you had not chosen the path that you did, then down the road at some point you would simply be doubting your decision to not amputate.
Hugs, peace and strength 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/
I am so sad to hear of your loss. I am new to this site so I have not seen your earlier posts. I know how it feels...the what ifs make you crazy. But please know we understand how hard this is and that your dog left this world feeling truly loved.
Betsy, Tim and the Bdawg
Laurie we are so sad to hear this, and are very sorry to hear this news. Please take comfort in knowing that Maggie is once again living large as only she knows how, and loving life again. May her spirit stay close to your heart for eternity and comfort you during this sad time.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
we are so sorry to read that maggie has passed. although it may seem that she did not adjust well to being a tripawd, we are sure she always did her best, as did you. what more can we ask. hopefully the memories you made with her will eventually help to ease the sadness you now feel. love never ends.
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
So sorry to hear of the loss of yet another beautiful Tripawd. I can only echo what the others have said, in that you made your decision based on what you believed was right for Maggie, and that's all that we can ever really do. I'm sure she wouldn't want you to feel any regret. She loved you, and that will never change.
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
I'm sorry for your loss Laurie. I thought the same thing, that it was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. My boy was only 5 and it hurts a lot, I can't imagine the pain when you have your dog for such a long time. Time does heal but I'm sorry for the pain you are having now.
Tate wasn't the same after his amp either. He was only 5 so he could still do a lot but it changed him. Not sure how I feel about that yet except that it can't be changed and it was a learning experience.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
I'm so sorry. What a beautiful girl, and what a rotten time for you. I wish I had something more comforting to say.
So sorry to hear this! Sending heart healing wishes until you meet again!
As I read your post of having to let Maggie go, I feel heartbroken for you. I'm just very sorry.
I can only imagine how you must feel because of her age and the hard recovery she had. But please understand this is the utter grief that is speaking to you. It is filling you with doubt.
You both were given some extra time together. It may not have been perfect but it was extra time. You had only one other option before her amputation. I remember you coming here in the beginning and you and her were not ready to part at that time. Would it have been any easier letting her go before her amputation? No. You would have been left with much more doubt had you not given her a chance. Please think back to that day before her amputation and remember how you didn't want to let go of her then. With all your inner being please - do not feel what you did was wrong.
I know your world seems empty without her. I know it's incredibly hard. It's just horrible. Losing your loved furbaby is even harder than losing a family member because they make up so much of your daily life. Please don't burden your grief with this added regret. Maggie loved you more than anything. And she knew you loved her more than anything.
May you find peace during this very terrible time. My heart goes out to you.
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.
Laurie,
I'm so sorry to hear that your Maggie has gone to the bridge. What a pretty girl she is. Keeping you in my thoughts.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
We wish you peace and self-forgiveness. We do all we can, with love and motives pure, we simply can't do any more or any better than that.
Maggie loved you and accepted everything you did for her. She knew you would do what was best, and you did.
I hope it's not to long when thinking of Maggie brings a smile to your face and your heart.
the chauffeur
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