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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
As I type this, our new puppy, Tom, is 25,000 feet over the northern US on the first leg of his journey to Oklahoma (my parents are picking him up in Kansas City and he arrives here tomorrow). I should be so happy and excited that our puppy is finally on his way (and I am), but, today, I cannot stop crying over Scout. Saturday will be the 5 month anniversary of Scout's passing, and with the arrival of Tom tomorrow, I feel like the book on Scout has closed once and for all-- and I don't want it to close. Scout was the only dog I've ever had, the only dog I've ever loved.
Is it normal to be so emotional, so torn?
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
This is absolutely normal. Scout was an angel on earth for you, part of you feels like you are betraying Scout with a new puppy, you still miss him. Just like loosing a family- human member there is always a place in your heart for him. This never goes away, just fades over time.
I still greive Maggie every night before we go to bed. The 3 of us, me, Dozer, and Maggie had our little rituals. Most nights it's a little twinge. Some nights it's tears.
Part of being a dog person is you accept the fact that they do not live very long and depending on breed some of the longer than others; without health issues. Another part of being a dog person is being able to allow another dog into your heart. The new dog is not a replacement for the old, but a new chapter and a new place in your heart.
Lots of love and puppy kisses,
Renee7979 and Dozer
Catherine,
Yes, it is completely normal to be emotional and torn. But, let me ask you a question: Do you really think that the book on Scout has closed? If so, you are so wrong. Scout passed before my time on this site, but I have read the story and I have learned from it. Scout is still in our hearts just as he will always be in yours. Please do not think that we forget so easily. Scout really would want you to be happy and would be proud as punch for Tom for being lucky enough to find such a wonderful home!
Peace and hugs to you,
Lisa
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/
So normal - I think we all go through something like this when we bring a new animal into our lives after one has passed and it does feel like you are 'replacing then or something. Just remember you are not replacing Scout his memory will live on forever you are just bringing someone else to love and adore into you life and heart. Scout will forever be a part of you and so will Tom they will just occupy different parts of your heart but they will both be there. Scout wouldn't want you to feel bad about bringing Tom into your lives. But its still easier said than done so don't hesitate to have a rant or rave to us when you need it cause it is hard.
Hugs
Sarah
Yep - that sounds like me. I went through the same thing with getting Abby after we lost our beloved Bailey (a 12 yr old beagle) and then went through it again with Rita after losing Abby.
It's hard I think to not feel a little guilty, but remember that, like Sarah said, Scout wouldn't want you to feel badly. I think Scout (and Abby and all our angels) would be happy to know that another pup is going to experience the love and security that they got to feel.
I definitely get where you are coming from though. I'm still working on that "trying to Be More Dog
" thing... 🙂
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!
Hi Catherine,
I am so glad to hear that Tom is on his way. I know he will be smart, beautiful and sweet — and, as we discussed, perhaps his breeding will make him live a long, healthy life.
I, too, am conflicted. We go to our breeder's Saturday to pick out Wrigley and bring him home April 21. My fear is not that we are closing the chapter on Sammy, but that we will be unfair to Wrigley by comparing him to Sammy too much. Sammy's personality was so big and his quirks so funny that he left big pawprints for the little fluff ball. Rick and I talk about Sammy every day. We mourn him every day. What I would give to bury my face in his silky fur one more time and tell him how much we love him.
Yet, in my heart, I know I will love wiggly Wrigley as soon as I hold his warm little puppy body and feel his sweet puppy breath. He won't be Sammy, but he will be Wrigley. And Sammy's heart was so generous and his nature so loving that I am sure that he would love Wrigley, too.
You know how we say that goldens always find other goldens? Well, I think Sammy and Scout have had a paw in this. In a way, getting another golden is the biggest compliment we can pay our spirit babies. If we hadn't loved them so much we wouldn't do this again — experiencing each pet's death, whether from illness or old age, is more of a probability than a possibility.
At the same time, they taught us that the joy is immeasurable. On the other side of the bridge, Sammy and Scout will be high-fiving each other on a job well done.
Please send photos of your handsome Tom.
Hugs,
Beth and Spirit Smilin' Sammy
Smilin' Sammy, March 16, 2004 – Dec. 5, 2011
Golden retriever, diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2010 — right front leg amputated November 2010. He fought valiantly to stay with us; but a second diagnosis of osteosarcoma, this time in his left front leg, was more than our golden warrior could overcome. He loved his pack — and everyone else he met.
We loved him even more.
Thanks for the pennies, Sammy. They helped.
Having lost 16 furkids in the past 9 years, I feel like a reluctant *expert* on the subject of opening your heart to a new one.
Yes, it is absolutely normal. Your head accepts so much more than your heart when you are grieving. I have finally learned to look at is as evidence that I loved my little one who has recently passed so much, I want to honor him/her by helping another one. It is absolutely, 100% also normal to compare...........it's nearly impossible not to.
But, in time, your new one will work his/her way into that little part of your broken heart, and you'll be surprised how much it helps your heart to heal.
Congrats on your new one 🙂
Of course you are emotionally torn- you are still grieving the loss of Scout, don't feel bad about it, it is part of the process. You wouldn't miss him so much is you didn't give your heart to him- that takes time to heal.
with the arrival of Tom tomorrow, I feel like the book on Scout has closed once and for all
Perhaps it would help to look at it not as a book closing, but as a chapter turning. Scout will always be part of your heart, and your life. The things you learned from Scout will help you as you start your new chapter with Tom.
Scout was the only dog I've ever had, the only dog I've ever loved.
After Tom gets here you will be able to change that sentence to Scout was the FIRST dog I've ever had, and the FIRST dog I've ever loved. You will build your own relationship with Tom and you will love him, and it will be different than with Scout and that will be OK.
I was fortunate in some ways to have Maggie's little sis Tani to take care of after Maggie left. I brought 4 year old Obie home just 5 weeks later because Tani had never been alone and was not doing well without Mag. It took me awhile to really bond with Obie. I've had Tani since she was 10 months old (she is almost 12 now) and I love her for who she is, but it is different than the bond I had with Maggie.
Can't wait to see pictures of Tom in his new home!
Karen and the pugapalooza
1 Guest(s)
