Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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tomorrow, marks six months since we lost our gayle. many of our new friends here, never got the chance to know her. she was my hero, my sister, my partner as we both battled cancer. although she lost her leg to a STS, she lost her life to a different cancer. when she passed, i posted the following on the forums:
"we lost our gayle yesterday. although she was able to battle back against her soft tissue sarcoma, she was taken from us by a different cancer, oral melanoma. these terrible tumors are often seen in black dogs, or dogs with black tongues, but it can strike any pup at any age.
to honor gayle and her brave fight against this vicious and aggressive disease, we ask you to take five minutes. take five minutes, and check your pup's mouth: look at the tongue – go as far back as you can, check the gums, check the inside of their cheeks, check the roof of their mouth. melanoma might look like a little button, like a sprouting mushroom, like an abnormal taste bud. it might be dark, almost black, but it can have very little pigment at all. if you find ANYTHING that seems abnormal, have your vet check it out. if they scoff at your concern, find another vet. do this exam every couple of months, be pro-active. there are ways to address oral melanoma, but the best possible scenario is finding it very early.
so, take five minutes, do it for gayle. please post back here to tell us that you did it and you are committed to keeping your pups safe from this terrible disease. do it for gayle.
charon & spirit gayle"
so, as i deal with the emptiness that remains in my heart, i ask again, if you would do this for gayle.
and, i'd like to attach a video i made of her, celebrating our one year ampuversary. as my friend dede wyland so beautifully sings - my gayle, i am devoted to you.
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
I remember back when you initially posted this, Charon, and the first thing I did was look in my girls' mouths for signs of melanoma. You are right, it's a vicious and aggressive disease, and one we don't even think to look for in our pups. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to check out your pups.
And Charon, I wanted to let you know how much of an inspiration you and Gayle have been to me. When you posted those beautiful photos of you two together way back when I swore that I would make sure that was something I did similar with Nova before she was gone. Things got busy and I put it off, but I finally got around to doing it (I know you've seen the pictures). What a precious treasure they will be. And for that I thank you and Gayle, because YOU two were my inspiration.
Bless your sweet Spirit Gayle and bless you, for all you contribute to this forum.
Dane Mom Sue
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
I will continue to be vigilant on checking our dog's mouths. I've also passed this on to family and friends. I love the video you made for Gayle. I bet she and Chili Dawg are laying out n the grass. He always loved the ladies 
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
I checked my Molly's mouth...all pink. And Mr. Piper just had his checked a couple weeks ago.
Thinking of you and your Gayle.
Charon, that was so beautiful, I love the song. It is perfect, as are the photos of Gayle.
Gayle was unlucky to get two cancers but so very lucky to have you. That is wonderful advice that you give. Oral melanoma isn't something I had ever considered until now.
Thinking of you.
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/
Charon,
I just checked all three of my girls and besides some stinky-ass breath, things look good in there! Thank you for reminding me....My Dad's cat was a black cat and had it and it is so aggressive.
That video made me cry....Gayle was such a beautiful dog and I love the song.....it fits perfectly. What a sweet heart she was. You can just see it in the pictures. Thanks for sharing her with us newbies who weren't around when all this was happening.
All our Best
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
Thank you Charon and Angel Gayle for reminding us all to check places we rarely do on our pups. Chloe has a clean (but stinky) mouth and I will be sure to continue doing mouth check on a regular basis.
Beautiful video for the warrior princess we all miss dearly.
Thank you for being an integral part of this community from greeting new members, keeping up with bloggers and giving us wise advice along the way. Chloe is definitely channeling the napping advice as I type 🙂
-Nicole and Chloe
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
Sweet, beautiful Gayle. We miss her so. You two were always such an inspiration for me and Abby. And you continue to inspire and help everyone here, reminding us to do this is a great service. I checked Abby's mouth the last time you posted this. 🙁 Today I check Rita's.
Beautiful video. Love the pics of her with the dusting of snow. Looks like she is saying "Are you done? Can we go back inside now?"
xoxo
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita
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!
Charon,
What a beautiful tribute to Gayle.
So unfair these damned diseases taking our kids, but not the love for them (or their love for us).
Kona was pretty black, but our surviving Bella and Cotton are both homgenous albinos.
We're a 1yr 6mos since Kona's passing and we miss that girl of ours.
Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010 Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !
***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***
We Love you so much Kona….always
Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)
Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)
Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.
Miss our Miss Gayle Noir. 6 months. WOW.
She was so beautiful and so brave. I think she worked some magic and brought me a wonderful adopted sister Charon knowing in advance that we were meant to be sisters. I am forever grateful to her.
I check, Mr. "Don't Mess with My Mouth" and he's clean and now thanks to Piper's mom, I've checked pad and paws too.
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.
What a beautiful girl! She had such an amazing, expressive face. It's so hard sometimes to capture black dogs in pics, but you have tons of great ones of her!
My pack will resist, but mouth checks for all!
What a beautiful tribute to your girl and a great way to honor her memory. Will be thinking of you and Miss Gayle today. As a newbie here, your support, knowledge and ET juju is amazing and helpful.
-Kori & Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
Around here we call it the ETG check and do it around the first of the month with the heart worm meds. I can't say the pugs are too excited about it, but treats make up for it.
We wiill do a mid-month check to honor Gayle, I'm sure the pugs won't object to an extra snack or two.
Charon- I know how hard the loss is, and sometimes how hard it is to stay here. I am really glad you are still here- and a moderator sister!
Our girls are smiling down on us today- between naps that is.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Charon...you are such a big part of our Tripawd life!! I am so grateful for this reminder!!! I happened to notice a weird patch of pink skin on Miss Pegz's mouth last week. Turns out it is just those wrinkly old hound lips that don't quite close up real tight, but I am so glad I did the check!! Thank you.
My Spirit Jake had a nasty melanoma early in his life. It was a different cancer that took him from me, but every little bump, lump and knob gets my attention. A month ago, I found a mushroomy looking thing on Chaz's (who could be Gayle's twin brother) ankle. Black dogs are also apparently susceptible to inflamed or infected hair follicles. But don't take any chances!!!! Please see your Vet!
We hold beautiful Gayle (and you) close to our hearts always!
You know I love you Cousin Charon.......butt..........................
I don't like my mouth messed with nor my pads, paws, ears, eyes, nose, tail, beautiful hair........or......my delicate wee wee! (close your eyes Miss Bunny Rita doll face - it had to be said...but I don't want to hurt your sensitivities, so close your eyes)
Mommy fusses with me too much already! She clips my eyebrows and my nose hairs! And she had the vet tech clip my wee wee hair once!!!!!! (don't read this Bunny Rita sweet pea!)
But if big, brave cousin Sam Squirrel Boy will let you do it, then I'll be big and brave and let mommy do it too. Once a month, no more. And just for a second. But if she starts checking my wee wee - I draw the line!!! (so sorry Bunny Rita baby.)
-MBBVP
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