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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no great words of wisdom here, only supportive thoughts. blessings to you, tshuvah and your family during this awful time. our thoughts are with you and we hope you can find some peace through this journey with your beautiful girl.
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
Beth I am so sorry about Tshuvah. I have no words of wisdom but wanted you to know I'm thinking of you, crying with you, and wishing that you never had to go through this. Actually wishing that none of us ever had to go through this. I keep coming back to the old saying "it is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all". Cancer SUCKS - in people, dogs, everything. Sending you strength to deal with all that life is throwing you.
Laura and Tai
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
I have nothing to add except my heart aches for you. I sometimes think the time before the decision is more stressful than dealing with the loss after the decision. Whenever you make your decision, whatever decision you make, don't look back. Trust that all is as it should be.
I'll be holding you in my thoughts and prayers.
Daisy, 12 years young, had left forelimb amp on 5/19/2010 due to osteosarcoma. She left her body behind and joined the other spirit tripawds on 7/16/2010.
So grateful for each day with her!
Lexi (Daisy's momma)
Hi Beth and Tsuvah......I'm Pam and my foster golden girl Shelby and I are new to the forum. Unfortunately, we're not new though to what you're going through. My golden boy Opie had HSA....and I too worried about the whole internal bleeding aspect of the disease. All I can try to offer is that there has always been, with all my furkids now at the Rainbow Bridge, a defining moment where I just *knew* that they were saying "Okay Mom.......I'm ready to earn my wings." Every single one of them has let me know.
A good friend shared a quote with me that has helped me live in the moment and I hope that it might offer some comfort to you.
"When you start missing what isn't gone....you lose what's left."
Such simple, yet powerful words...you know?
I offer you and Tsuvah my heart and the hope that your days together will be filled with the things that memories are made of.
Oh Beth... My heart goes out to you... Both your sister and Tshuvah are very lucky to have you in their lives... I hope and pray that your sister's treatments are successful... As for Tshuvah... try to enjoy every minute you have with her too! I'm so glad that you're able to bring her to Chicago with you... If something should happen to Tshuvah while you are there... at least you will be together...
My other german shepherd, Timber (he was just 5yrs old), also died from a hemangiosarcoma in his heart. We didn't even know that he was sick... never showed any symptoms until the nite the tumor bled out and he died shortly after. I never time to properly say goodbye...
I wish I had some wonderful words of wisdom to tell you... but I don't. Please keep in touch with us while you're in Chicago... We'll all be here for you!!!
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!
It's been said many a time in these forums before, but please try to look at it this way: Tshuva is living with cancer, not dying from it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I cannot find any words that have not been said and said better .... My heart aches for you having just made the decision a short week ago...but you will know. I worried, even tho everyone said you will know. I wasn't sure. Then came the day when I was.
And to have your sister ill on top of it...oh know that we are thinking of you and saying prayers that you find the strength to deal with these burdens, opportunities and journeys...
A good friend shared a quote with me that has helped me live in the moment and I hope that it might offer some comfort to you.
"When you start missing what isn't gone….you lose what's left."
I love this! Can we use it on new members afraid to amputate?
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.
Beth,
My heart goes out to you. Everyone here has said it so well. You face very difficult decisions - I call it "sophie's choice" - it's heartbreaking no matter which way you go. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope you are able to make peace with whatever you have to do. I think Shelby's mom said it perfectly with the quote from her friend: "When you start missing what isn't gone….you lose what's left."
We are here for you.
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!
So many wise words and kind hearts. Thank you to everyone for reaching out to me at this hard time.
Tshuvah's doing a little better. She's eating better and we have established a new routine. I take my daughter to camp and then Tshuvah to the park for a walk and meet'n'greet. Then we run errands and come home for breakfast...which she is eating now, thank heavens. I work for the afternoon, get my daughter from camp, and we all go to the park for another round of wags and walks. Then Tshuvah eats a decent dinner and gets her artemisinin before bedtime. I always find time for a massage (for Tshuvah, not me!) during a work break.
I decided to have one more kidney flush for Tshuvah, so I'm taking her to Santa Fe tomorrow since she liked the oncology vet and staff so much (thanks Dr. Kelly) and they will do the flush there, where she can be on a soft dogbed and I can sit with her the whole time. Its a very nice atmosphere. I think this will be our last intervention of any sort.
Tshuvah's wearing the ruffwear harness now and its awesome. I can help her into and out of the car with it, and she loves the freedom of not being carried in and out. Since its not a very lady-like harness, my daughter and I are going to decorate it with sparkly stickers this afternoon.
I'll drive to Chicago on Monday(and Tuesday, and Wednesday!) with Tshuvah and our cat Zevi. I'm practicing "bitachon" which is a Hebrew word for "trust" as in "trusting life" or trusting God or trusting goodness; rather than allowing myself to get swamped with fear and worry (which does still happen). We'll figure out how to have a happy summer together with my sister and her family, all of us together.
I'm just so glad that Tshuvah seems to be finding joy in some things and is feeling better now that her kidneys aren't bothering her so much. Her joy is mine; it always has been.
Blessings to all, Beth
Beth with my beloved Tshuvah, 10 year old "TaosDog". Provisional diagnosis osteosarcoma on 6/10/10, amputation of left foreleg same day, firm diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma 6/24/10. Set free on 9/9/10. Treasured forever.
http://labrador.....ipawds.com
Awesome! Thank you for the update.
You are a very strong woman!
Daisy, 12 years young, had left forelimb amp on 5/19/2010 due to osteosarcoma. She left her body behind and joined the other spirit tripawds on 7/16/2010.
So grateful for each day with her!
Lexi (Daisy's momma)
labradorim said:
I'll drive to Chicago on Monday(and Tuesday, and Wednesday!) with Tshuvah and our cat Zevi. I'm practicing "bitachon" which is a Hebrew word for "trust" as in "trusting life" or trusting God or trusting goodness; rather than allowing myself to get swamped with fear and worry (which does still happen). We'll figure out how to have a happy summer together with my sister and her family, all of us together.
That's a truly lovely update, Beth. Trusting goodness. It's how we find some measure of peace isn't it?
Glad Tshuvah's feeling better. Glad you're feeling better.
You are indeed a strong woman.
Carmen
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
It sounds wonderful! I hope you can update us while you are gone. If anything maybe you can talk with Holly's mom while in Chicago.
I love the girly update on the Ruffwear harness ! I actually wrote on Ruffwear's facebook page that they needed girly colors. I'm glad I'm not the only one that wants a girl color! I never thought about bejeweling it! Little children can be so smart!
Best wishes to your whole family!
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.
Beth, you've got it.
Your afternoons sound like a good day, any dog would be happy to be spending such quality time together.
We would LOVE to see the harness all decorated! What a great idea. Send us a pic when you can, we'll pass it along to Ruff Wear.
Good luck tomorrow. Please tell Dr. Kelly we said hello.
P.S. Yes, isn't it funny how their office is just so welcoming? We felt that way instantly when we met the staff there, and they weren't even in that location. It's all about the vibe that Dr. Kelly creates, she really helps take the fear away which allows us to focus on the good.
Or the bitachon.
I love that. Thanks for sharing. Hugs to you both.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry to hear about Tshuvah. I know Skyler may have still been alive today, but what would her quality of life been? We too have always promised our fur-babies that we would let them go with dignity. I'm sure Tshuvah will let you know it is time, as Skyler did. Sending you lots of hugs, not only for Tshuvah, but for your sister as well.
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