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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Tuesday night I came home to find my TJ laying on the porch, motionless. I tried to wake, then revive him but he had already started his way to the Rainbow Bridge.
He appeared fine, happy and doing TJ things all day. No sign of any trouble or distress.
TJ gave me 10 beautiful months of his silliness, love and cuddles since his dignosis.
Every night I would carry TJ up the steps to the master bedroom for the night. Every morning I would carry him down to start the day. My tomorrow will never start.
I've accepted that TJ was on borrowed time with the OS. I'm happy for every second he gave me. I will find you at the bridge, my TJ.
I am so sorry to hear about TJ. How great was it that he could do his normal TJ things right up until he crossed over the bridge. How blessed was he to have you care enough to carry him up to sleep in your room each night when it would have been so much easier to let him sleep downstairs.. Our time with our beloved pets is never long enough. May your wonderful memories of TJ be a comfort to you.
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
My heart breaks with you and we cry with you. You and TJ are family. You've brought joy, support and wisdom to us all.
We also celebrate a dog who was loved and cared for and spoiled every secnd of every day. We celebrate a heroic dog who defied the odds and who did things TJ's way and on TJ's terms. We celebrate the life of a soul who lived a life that mattered.
It's hard to wrap your head around this right now, but TJ decided when it was time to leave and he did it at home, no struggle, no vet grips.....jist at home with his other buddies and surrounded by the comfort of knowing you were always his best friend in the whole world
It's going to be so rough for you for awhile,.....the void...the routines no longer there...the heartache. You will soon, bit by bit, replace some of the heartache with' not only the miracle of these last ren months, but the miracle of an incredible ondmthe two of youhave shared eer snce he came into your life.
Please stay connected withus. We understand like no others can.
TJ...you are the best HOUND ever and you will NEVER be forgotten!!!
Sending you love snd surrounding you with TJ's eternal shining light.
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 just want to add one more thing avout this heroic hound. The two ofnyou got ten glorious months with no chemo...just amputation and a whole lot of love. TJ gave us the gift of hope for so many. He will be an inspiration forus forever.
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 am so sorry. Hugs to you. <3
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Oh what a beautiful boy. I'm so sorry for your loss but so happy you had 10 extra, love filled months with TJ. There are many tripawd heroes waiting for him at the Bridge.
Hugs to you,
Amy & Spirit Libby
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
OH my .... I am so sorry for you loss... .it's never enough time with our babies but you gave TJ an amazing life....
sending you lots of love and healing energy!
Alison and Shelby
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
My heart breaks with you….
I can honestly say that even if you have lost a pet before, and you have experienced the emptyness and heartache… it is not the same. There is something about a Tripawd running for the bridge that just hits home deeper… And it is because they have been fighters.. and they dug a hole deep, deep in our hearts and buried their love for us there, while they lived life to the fullest on three legs.
It just does not seem fair at times… I wish that all doggers and kitts that lose their leg to amputation had many months or years to kick cancer's ass as a tripawd!! I wish… I wanted that to happen for my guy too.. but sometimes we just don't get what we wish for.. and that sucks… big time and it hurts…. big time. My Franklin had his leg amputated on December 4, 2012 and mets took him on May 15th, 2013. 5 1/2 months he was a tripawd. 10 months TJ had with you... how blessed you guys were.. what a lucky pup.. and no chemo!!!! I wish I could wave a wand and give us more time!!! But he went on his own time... on his own porch.. at his own home!! I relive the pain whenever I type these words in a post because.. I feel it again.. and know how you feel.. exactly!
TJ is still with you.. he’s lying right beside you so peacefully and quiet… he’ll follow you where ever you go. He’s leaning against you while you mourn. He’ll always be around you. You see… he is waiting for you to open your heart and feel him.. he’s there… always will be.. and nothing can take that away.. not even that nasty “C” word!!!
You Know What Cancer Cannot Do???
Cancer is so limited
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
and most of all.. it will never, EVER destroy that bond that you had with your yellow fellow!!! NEVER!!! Nothing can take away the bond, the love, the pride and joy that you had with TJ. Nothing. Ever.
Christine…. with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
I'm sorry for your loss. TJ will live on in your heart and will be forever by your side.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I'm so sorry to hear about TJ. You gave him a wonderful life, and he in turn decided on his own that it was time.
Run free, TJ.
Kathi and.Murphy
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!
Oh no! I am so very, very sorry to hear this. It's been a long time since we heard from you and I'm just so sad to read he earned his wings. TJ fought so bravely and had such a great quality of life during his battle. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing that precious time with us.
You are an amazing, dedicated pawrent who gave TJ a great life, the kind of life that all dogs hope for when they find their perfect human. With a bond like the one you shared, TJ's spirit will always be close and never leave your side. Listen closely, he's still around and always will be.
Many, many condolences coming your way....
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So sorry for your loss. TJ was lucky to have someone like you who cared enough to carry him up and down the stairs so he could continue to be with you every night. His fighting spirit will live on in you.
Prayers to you and your family
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
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