Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Shadow is not our tripawd but was an amazing member of our pack. Last Wednesday he was scheduled for a vet appointment. He was not eating and didn't have much energy so we wanted to have him checked out. I was sitting on the floor brushing him - he loved to be brushed - and he just stopped moving. One minute he was lifting his head to checkout what I was doing and the next he was gone.
I had mentally prepared myself for Radar's passing - knowing that the cancer could and would come for him but this was unexpected. I think I am still in shock. My husband was at work and I had to call him hysterical to get him to come home (we only have one car at the moment). thankfully all of the other dogs were outside when it happened and I didn't need to worry about their worries or investigations. It was a long hour sitting there petting him, crying and waiting for Dan to get there. Large amounts of blood were coming from his nose and for some reason I am still unable to get the stain out of the carpet.
Dan got there and broke down. He lovingly wrapped Shadow in a blanket with a pillow for his head and we took him to the vet. Dr. Fouty felt the large amount of blood coming from his nose was unusual and we decided to have a necropsy done. Shadow had a very large heart defect and thinning heart wall. the heart wall burst leaving a hole large enough for Dr. fouty to put her finger through. The large amounts of blood were due to the hole pumping all his blood into Shadow's lungs when it burst. She said he would have died nearly instantly and even if we had brought him in days earlier they would not have known of the heart defect without an ultrasound and with no murmurs or anything to prompt and ultrasound .. well we could not have forseen it.
I am grateful that he did not suffer but Dan and I are both lost. Randomly crying and unable to accomplish much. I have to stop myself every day from calling him to go outside or get his dinner (he always wanted a personal invitation). This was sudden, unexpected.. he was a young dog (7 years). There is an empty spot in the house and in our hearts.
What a truly awful and sad story ... I pictured you as I read it and I am so sorry. Any loss is hard, but what you went through tonight is incredibly rough. I just wanted to say I'm sorry as I was on line and your post just came up.
Oh, how tragic. Please accept our deepest condolences and give Radar a good belly rub for us. Peace.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What a shock! I'm so sorry!
The unexpected can be so hard to deal with.
Take care,
Oh what a horrible shock for you.
I am sooo sorry for your loss.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
I'm so so sorry for your unexpected loss of Shadow. My heart goes out to you and I can only imagine how so devastating this must be. Give yourself some time and I hope with time your hearts will begin to heal. Just take comfort in knowing that Shadow loved you very much and he's looking down at you now letting you know that he's ok.
My deepest condolences.
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Oh Connie!
I'm so very sorry about Shadow! How upsetting and devastating. A similar situation happened to my supposed healthy 8 year old dog last year - he had a cancerous tumor on the heart without anyone knowing - no symptoms and he just collapsed and died a couple hours later at the vets.
You are right, we keep such a close eye on our tripawds that we don't even think about the healthy ones dying on us! The sad part is the healthy ones are the ones that keep us stable and when they leave us in such a sudden manner, we can't get it out our heads. It shocks our soul to the core and leaves us completely rattled! So, I totally understand your pain. I just wished you didn't have to go through this.
Again, I'm so sorry. It's very tragic and yes, Shadow didn't suffer but that doesn't make his loss easy. I hope your heart can find a way to mend.
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.
I'm so sorry to hear about Shadow...
I can just imagine your shock and sorrow... At least you were with him in his last moments, doing his favorite thing... brushing.
I lost my last german shepherd, Timber, to a hemangiosarcoma in his heart that suddenly bled out. He died within 24hrs... It was so unexpected as there were no symptoms before. He was also young... only 5 years old.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers... Sending you a big loving hug!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a sad story. My heart goes out to you and your family.
My Thoughts and Prayers,
Fortis'Dad Brett
I am deeply saddened by this, and am so very sorry for your loss. Shadow will always be there in spirit for you. Your love for him will live with you forever.
Sending you a big hug!
Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe
I am very sorry to hear about Shadow. What a traumatic story, but really there is nothing you could have done differently. Sending lots of healing thoughts your way as you learn to live a different life without Shadow. May the happy memories soon replace the sadness you feel today.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
we are so sorry to hear of shadow's passing. it must have been doubly tough being there one second, and passing the next so un-expectedly. hopefully you can eventually find comfort in the many wonderful memories you shared. love never ends.
charon & 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
Thank you all. I go through phases in this:
- extreme sadness
- need to spend time with the other pups who are confused as to why mom is hugging them so tight
- a need to talk about it which is sometimes counter productive
- and just plain numbness.
I wish I could find a way to "not" think about it at all - to remember the life and not the death. I know it will take time
Connie...I'm so sorry about Shadow. Shock takes awhile to get through. But keep talking. The more you put out there, the more other people can share your burden, making it slightly lighter for you. That's what we're here for.
Hugs and peace prayers
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Thank you Mary, I did try out a pet loss chat room today and it seemed to help a bit. Will keep working on it.
Just got off the phone with the vet. Blade's biopsy came in - "undifferentiated carcinoma" so it is cancer but we don't know what kind or how it will act. Not the news I need right now.
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