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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kazann
My suggestion - always wear shoes, even to bed.
Kerren
HAHAHAHA!!! 🙂 🙂 BRILLIANT!!!
Yes, I DO remember Miss "Do it her way Mona" escapr thise first 24 hrs. My heart was in my throat when I read that post!
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 have to wait to play the howl video- Elly is asleep and exhausted and I don't want her to get up again. I am dog sitting so she is getting way more activity than she needs, the biggest issue is the missed nap times!
Anyway- on Frankie taking life at 100 mph...I don't really think he is going to damage his repaired knee when he isn't using that leg. Our vet warned us about too much activity and said absolutely no jumping or pushing off with the repaired leg. Since that leg doesn't touch the ground he should be OK!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
The video is playing silent for me? I can see that he is howling but I can't hear anything, although I can fill in Frankie's glorious baritone from memory. Love love love him!
Oh my goodness, the chasing... you tell it so well, I can't help laughing, but it must have been terrifying at the time. NOT cool, Frankie. Not cool at all. Your Mum did say you were planning a deer chasing trip, but you need to chill for a bit and recover.
I'm certain Karen is right about it doing no harm when he isn't using the repaired leg BUT DON'T TELL FRANKIE THAT.
Now Frankie. Video watching and exercises, and that is it. If you're bored of the video, we'll have to make you another. Something you can sing along too....
Love and hugs,
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...
Ah, re the playing silent. Ignore me. I had a headphone lead plugged in. Hearing them loud and clear!
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...
so I finally got to watch the video. Yay Frankie & Myrtle. so have to say this but I think our boy is laying on his surgery leg so he can't be feeling too bad.
Just some advice Mr Frankie no more chasing other coonhounds or deer and especially if your mom has no shoes on. It is winter time and you have a bum leg
xxoxox
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Sally ~
I've been keeping caught-up through Michelle. But the videos, OMD I have to admit that I sort of laughed ...sorry! but it's just adorable watching Frankie just be Frankie! Like Old Blue Eyes, he's doing it his way 
But I can just imagine how scared you must have been. He looks like he's doing amazing, and it's because you love him so much!
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
Thanks. Donna
Frankie has his third In -home Rehab visit today. I am soooooo grateful to everyone who helped make this possible
Today was his second laser AND they REALLY seem to be helping!! You can just tell he feels better! Hard to describe it, but he just seems more engaged, more attentive to what's gorinb in around him. She's come back Saturday for another treatment, ROM, massage, the whole package. He really seems to enjoy it all and wags like crazy when she comes in!
She seems to think that at the four week mark (we're now at the two week mark) I'll see him doing some toe touching on a bit of a constant basis. And by two months mark I shoukd see him putting some pressure on it and actually using it some!
She's pleased with his ROM and is avle to see and "feel" progress!! He drops his leg some more when he escapes her and does his two legged run. Wrong of me to say, but I do chuckle a @ittle whe , even with TWO of us trying to hold him and walk him slowly, he is so strong and so determined to RUN HIS WAY, he just ocerpowers her and does his thing!! You can tell he kinda' frustrates her.
I rely on her greatly , because there is only so much I can do. The progress he has made is due to her three visits and all your tips and support!! 🙂 . He is IMPOSSIBLE when it's just me!! And I love him for being him, but he's still IMPOSSIBLE when it comes to him ALLOWING ME to do ANY of the stuff she wants me to do!! One of his favorite things is to scoot and shift until he can "hide"'the "surgery" leg whenever I try to do ROM, etc. , THANKFULLY, she's coming again Saturday. I'll updat more then.
LOTS OF LOVE!
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!
Mith Thally... I do have to thay that you really are the betht Mum evah!!! 
The betht part of Frankith rehab ith your thenth Of hoomah!!! I’m thur that the rehab lady ith really nithe and all, but shthee (that’s a a tough one!) duthn’t underthtand that Frankie ith thowing off for her! He thayth “I can do it... I’m Thuper Frankie!” “Hurry up! You’re thlowing me down!!!”
Good job Buddy, I am thending you tonth Of Ruv and thloppy kitheth to you... and remember tell Mum to keep her bootth on!
Hehehehe, I’m sorry Sally, I shouldn’t encourage you, but I would be pithing mythelf laughing too, if I were you...! I mean none of us know our dogs like we do right? You do paint a very good picture of said rehab lady and Frankie’s antics! If you were a cartoonist, you could make a mint!
Looking forward to the next “howlingly funny episode!”
Lots Of love and hugs coming your way Sally, Frankie and very Merry Myrtle! ❤️❤️❤️
Remember...“live in the moment!“ 
Good morning Sally Frankie and Nurse Myrtle!! It's so wonderful to see Frankie getting back to feeling better! I just love hearing them sing to you, Myrtle is right there with her bud joining in on the fun, they look wonderful! Those doggles on Frankie are priceless, I can envision him on the sidecar of a motorcycle with his ears flapping in the wind
Sally, if you're going to hang out in your socks (I hang out in bare feet lol) maybe you should get those grippy socks so when you bolt out the door you don't go sliding and break your @$$ 😂😎 You know Mr. Man is enjoying this new game!
It is wonderful that these people can come to you, what a huge load of worry off your shoulders, and he is responding so well! I can't wait to see the next pictures and videos 🐶🐶🐶
Big hugs,
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
So glad things are going in the right direction, despite Frankie's stubbornness. I actually think it's great that he acts up with her there, so she sees what you're up against when you're alone. Sometimes professionals can get a bit "uppity" thinking us mere mortals should be doing things better. Not saying she's uppity, she's a godsend for you right now, but you know what I mean. I haven't turned the sound on yet for the howls...it would set these 2 crazies off for an hour. Nitro used to "sing" every morning when he went outside, and Kodi would join in. There is no singing at our house anymore, and it makes me sad. Guess I will have to turn the sound on!
You're doing great, keep a stiff upper lip, like my dad would say. By summer this will be just a memory.
Paula and Warrior Angel 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
YEAH PAULA! I think Frankie is adding a new layer of understanding of what it's like to work on TRIPAWDS! It's funny (not funny of course.....shhhh.....more like a silent belly laugh!) when she'll say under her breath, "No Frankie, you are NOT going to pull....or you are NOT going to shift to the surgery side....or no, you are NOT going to try and roll so you can get the harness off....." She acknowledged he is "quite a stubborn dog, isn't he?" That's my boy!
Paula, time to start the howl again. I bet Kodi would like that. Watch what you wish for though! 🙂
Jackie and Michelle.......I'm gping to start sleeping with Pawz and Musher's secret glued to my feet! 🙂
Thewie! Yeth, I'm getting my thenth of hoomr back! Seeing Frankie be Frankie with the Rehab ith thoo funny!! And ley me tell ya, shth really good too! Thloppy kitheth right back to you!!!
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!
Each time I come back here to see how he's doing I get a giant grin across my face! 
Having had the pleasure of meeting you, Frankie and being at your adorable home I can totally picture each scene you're describing. He's a handful for sure but he's all love and in the long run it's that stubbornness of his that's the key ingredient for a complete recovery. Well, that and the rehab therapist's involvement for sure. It's so good to hear things are on track!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sugar bun 🌷
So glad to hear Frankie is recovering like a champ and boy, oh boy he should be doing musicals 🎼🎤🎼
Totally lovely video 💗💗💗
You are doing a fantastic job Sally you are definitely the number one example to follow here!
Sending you a huge avalanche of kisses and a tornado of hugs to Frankie and nurse Myrtle 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
When Frankie 'hides' his surgery leg from you then do the exercises on his good leg. If he doesn't turn himself back over to get away from the exercises at least his good leg will get some stretching and when the PT lady asks if you have been doing the exercises you can honestly answer yes!
Good to hear he seems to be more himself- although that doesn't bode well for getting rehab done!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
YET AGAIN ,ANOTHER EXCELLENT IDEA KAREN!!! STUBBORN PUG MAGGIE CERTAINLY TAUGHT YOU HOW TO BE CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO STRONG-WILLED DAWGS!! :-)I ahall definitely try that!. And now when I tell the Rehab Vet Saturday (her next visit) I've been able to do very little, it won't be as big a "fib"! I was starting to make Pinocchio look hones!
Because there is noooo way I can safely get Frankie in the car to go to the Vet for staple removal on two legs (two week mark this past Tuesday)and Vet was closed some over the holiday anyway), it won't be until the THREE WEEK mark that I can get them oit! Ugh!!! But my Vet is sending a Tech out to do it Tuesday (again, holiday) and I am soooooo grateful for that!!! It's almost an hour and fifty minute eound trip for them, so that's very. nice.
I'll update tomorrow after visit!
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!
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