Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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January 1 was a beautiful (ok cold) sunny day in Chicago. I got in a great cycling class and met some friends in the afternoon. Got some minor chores done, spent some time with my daughter, and Gator was super cuddly last night. So, objectively a good day. But I feel so sad. I miss Otis and Tess. I am feeling very vulnerable about the future and how fast things can change. I don't really do resolutions, but I find myself unable to think of any positive or inspirational change to make for 2017. Read an Oprah something online about sadness, encouraging people to "Plan for the future without anxiety, fear or dread." Cancer is just so unsettling, and at times, it is hard to share with the community and all of the pain and anxiety others are going through. Perhaps that is why I love hearing about Eurydice's travel, Wyatt's thanksgiving pies, and Meg's bloomers, and our miracle dogs like Murphy and Nitro. Just thought it might help to write this down and put it out there. I'm sure others can relate.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
You aren't alone in feeling this way, C. The holidays have been very empty feeling here. I get through the days, I had a very productive break from work, but I feel so hollow and like there is nothing for me to look forward to. We have some ambiguity going on that means it is hard to plan a vacation, but also we had been planning a bucket list trip for Pofi that was supposed to happen over Thanksgiving and I couldn't do it without him. Everything had been arranged with consideration of him as a Tripawd. I just feel much less enjoyment in life right now...feel hollow. I guess I don't feel purposeless, but I feel like I have less purpose.
I'm not sure what the solution is.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
It is so weird. I haven't even lost my dog yet and I am almost crying reading your posts. I mean, we've cracked the 12-months benchmark and I should be thankful we've made it this far. I am. But I am constantly afraid of getting to where you guys already are. I do enjoy our time more than ever so there is that of course but it is always in the back of my mind, this "how much more time do we have" and I can't seem to free myself of that. I guess that's why I am here, too: to try and share what a well of joy and love Manni is to me and to leave some kind of a legacy of his. So I won't be the only one that remembers him. Is that strange?
I am sorry for you guys and maybe replying to this even though I've not lost my dog yet is uncalled for. I just wanted to say I really sympathize with you and hope you got through the holidays ok.
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
I saw Otis' banner this morning, and it lifted my spirits. Our dogs and their stories live on here, and that is something important to me. And we are able to help others going through this, including you and Manni. Go give him two big hugs for Lisa and I. And perhaps some treats too! Is a cheeseburger going too far?
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Ha! I'll totally do the hugging. and the treats. thanks! But since I started cooking 3 months ago (for the dog, of course, why would I cook for myself??) he had better stay with momma's meals and not tell me he'd prefer the cheeseburger ! 
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
I opened this up and My Sweet Ted was on the banner. I feel the same way... I should be happy. I have a good life, two wonderful kids and husband, a great job, a house in the city and a farm in the country. My JOY is missing. I'm contemplating another dog but I just can't bring myself to do it yet. it will get better, it will get better, it WILL get better. But for now it sucks.
w
Wow, reading all these posts surely takes me back to a place I shared and felt exactly as you all do...... The seemingly endless sadness, what to look forward to after losing that most special pup or pups, and the holidays just seem to add to the heartache.
Yep, sharing stories here good or not so good is always the best way to get through and deal with whatever situation is going on in your life right now regarding a pup or kitty, or any other beloved pet for that matter. But I also want to say that yes, it does get better, and you can live and and love and trust again. It took me well over a year to come to terms with my Tripawd angel Polly's death, and I mean the sorrow and heartbreak was beyond deep, almost suffocating on a daily, endless basis. Looking back, it is just a matter of understanding the pain and grief will always be there to some extent, but you do learn to move on and you will be happy again, what I and many others call the new normal.
I have 2 awesome Lab girls now, that are the lights of my life, one is battling a severe heart valve defect which will cut her life very short. I did go into this with her knowing the situation, and we just celebrated her 2nd birthday in November and being very thankful because there was a strong possibility she wouldn't even make it 6 months. We take one day at a time, keep great care of her with her cardiologists, and treasure everyday. She (Zuzu) is the happiest dog on earth too. I know she was sent to me by my Angel Polly, and it fills my heart with so much love and joy to care for this very special pup. Life is good today 💜💜💜🐾
Sending my love to all, and hang in there.....
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu 🐾❤️😎
I do agree with Bonnie. When we lost Gus and then Murphy shortly after, we were sure that we were not ready to open our hearts up again. We just couldn't imagine letting ourselves get hurt that way again. Three months later we realized that there was room for not only our babies who had crossed the Bridge, but also for Ollie, who surely needed someone who could give him undivided attention.
This week we are approaching the second anniversary of losing Gus. We often see something that Ollie does and say that Gus would have taught him that or not to do that. We know that he and Murphy would likely have been great friends. However, this was not to be. As much as we miss "the guys", we know that we were meant to have Ollie in our lives and he definitely needed us in his.
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under Heaven.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
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!
Reading these posts brings tears to my eyes....I can't imagine how hard it is for you all, and dread that I will one day be in your shoes. I can only hope I face the inevitable pain as gracefully as you all have. Yes, you may not see it, but you are each so strong in your own way; by sharing your grief, and gut-wrenching pain with others, you are giving us the most amazing gift....to know that as impossible as it may seem when the time comes, we too will survive, and even learn to love a new friend again someday. I have very mixed feelings at times with our situation.....of course I'm beyond grateful that Nitro, for some unexplainable reason, is doing so well. And I feel guilty that he is doing so well, when so many others have lost their best friends.
This community is all about sharing knowledge and experience to help others in their journeys....as hard as it is, we need to hear that knowledge and experience of the end of the road and beyond. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing the experiences and feelings that have been the hardest for you; thank you for continuing to be here, for the Tripawd community, as you struggle to overcome your grief, and for letting us know the sun will come out again, someday.
Humbly yours,
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Yep, we can totally relate to those waves of sadness that creep up on you. The holidays make grief so much harder.
There is no set time to mourn or magically start feeling better. And the harder we loved, the longer it takes to wake up each day and know that you can smile when thinking of your dog or cat, instead of crying. It took us many years and even today, there is a twinge of sadness when we think of how dang easy our life was with Jerry. He made everything fun and carefree, and we so miss that spirit of his.
I find that when the sadness hits, saying "Thank you" to the Universe as I make mental notes of all that I have around me is a way out of the cloud.
Meanwhile, Wyatt Ray says he's very hoppy to keep you entertained (and us on our toes) with his misadventures 😉
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I very much relate to what you are feeling, Christine and to all the posts above. I do think the ability to share these feelings in a community of people who understand is just inexpressibly valuable. I know when my Billie died, I felt that there was really almost no one who had any idea of the scale of the loss, this gaping emptiness at the heart of everything. I think I mentioned in a post before that my father died a couple of weeks after Billie, and it was the difference in the way people reacted, the fact that nobody even mentioned her, (as though to do so in the wake of my father's death would be somehow offensive) that I found very difficult to handle.
I got Elsie about six months later and even though I cared for her, the relationship just seemed so superficial compared to what I had had with Billie. In time, this changed, of course, and our relationship deepened and strengthened. It will be ten years this Summer since Billie died, and I still miss her and I still love her and I still smile at the things she used to do and sometimes I'm still knocked sideways by a sudden stab of pain at her absence, but that is only occasional now. Elsie and Meg rekindled my joy. Bloomers and all. It took time, but they did.
Sending love,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
You are not alone, Christine. You went through so much loss in such a short time! And Lisa, Pofi recovered so well, then to go so quickly. And Sweet Ted, Wanda, he really was such a sweet boy and he just didn't have enough time.
I sort of feel almost like I'm pulling away a little bit lately. I think that we had so many losses so close together. It hurt to come here. And like Paula, I sometimes feel guilty that Murphy has done so well. I know that I should just be happy, and I really am! I know that we are really blessed that Murphy has done so well for so well. But it's sometimes hard to be happy when my friends are hurting. I truly cry with you. I wish there could be more miracle survivors like Murphy & Nitro.
I worry about everything. Murphy is so happy all the time. But if he over-does it I worry - what if it's not just from over-doing it? What if it's mets? Is he panting? Did he make a funny sound? We're planning a vacation for May - will he be ok? What if something happens while we're gone? It just never stops.
This journey is such a hard one, and it takes such a toll. I can't believe how many friends I've made! I've learned so much. I've cried a lot. I've laughed a lot. I think the bond we form with our tripawd is like no other.
It's ok to be sad. Know that we're here with you.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
"I worry about everything. Murphy is so happy all the time. But if he over-does it I worry - what if it's not just from over-doing it? What if it's mets? Is he panting? Did he make a funny sound? We're planning a vacation for May - will he be ok? What if something happens while we're gone? It just never stops."
Donna, I feel the same way. exactly the same way. It's easy to say 'be happy that you still get to spend time with him' but I am finding it really hard to enjoy without constantly worrying. I was shell-shocked when the x-rays came back clean a month ago. Yes, in a good way obviously, but I was so set on this being the beginning of the end that there wasn't even room in my mind for a better outcome. ok, writing this down actually makes me realize how stupid that is. still true, though.
It is always with a lot of ambiguity that I go about our daily life together. I was exuberant when Manni wanted to play in the woods again and when he went totally nuts for the first time in what felt like ages. At the same time I hear him pant afterwards and go: is this his normal panting or does that sound strange?
I guess it feels like a walk on a tight rope all the time: a huge high with the constant impeding danger of the lowest fall.
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Yes, it's such a safe place for everyone to be able to express their feelings and know they are understood! Everyone did such a heartfelt post. Yep, we get it.
Just as an aside, and for those just starting this journey like Manni,, or more "seasoned" on this journey like Murphy and Paula, THE most important thing you can do is focus on your own journey and continue to celebrate all that's good about it!! And we loooove celebrating with you!!
Many, probably most, DO feel a need to pull away in order to maintain total focus on supporting their furbabies with a positive and uplifting healthy state of mind!!! And that state of mind is a very important "treatment" and should not be ignored! Whatever anyone needs to do to maintain that positive state that your dogs (and cats) find so delightful and so empowering...then do it!! And when you can, popping in to celebrate milestones and victories lifts the spirits of us all! And we all need that!
Just saying whatever works for every individual is EXACTLY what we each support here!
Love to all
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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 know this emotion very well. You are not alone. I can't tell you how many times I've had a "Come to Jesus" meeting with myself to remind me of my blessings. Losing Harmony was one of the worst things I've ever experienced. However, loss is loss no matter the loved one.
Harmony's name tells me to find peace; to relish in the present; to not waste precious time on coulda-shoulda-woulda for anything or anybody.
Harmony says, "Woof! Woof! - Woof! Woof"! Translated: "Peace to you all, and may your heart be filled with love for those who need a little boost in their journey."
xoxo
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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