Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We are back from our trip to what we call Oslo's Kingdom. Well, I am sorry to admit there is no castle built yet for the princess I wish to be 
But there is a nice river, a lot of trees and small animals to run after so who cares if there is no castle huh? Since Oslo's amputation we had one thing in mind: go back to swim with him. As a Newfie dog, swimming has always been the best exercise to keep him in great shape. That is what he loves the most. So we could not wait till that day where he would be back in the water. That happened on last week and everything went very well. Thank's Tazzie for yout great advice: life jacket is a must! It helped him a lot.
Here is a short video I took last week (while Oslodaddy was trying to figure out how come Oslo does not use his rear right leg…that is what you hear from him on the video)
We intend to go to the hydro pool with him on next week. I will try to record a video there too. I am sooooooo proud of him 
WOW!!! Oslo will give hope to so many pawrents with giant breed Tripawds! This is wonderful, thank you for sharing it with us. We've added it to our Tripawds Swimming Movies playlist on YouTube.
Where is the Kingdom? It's beautiful!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Oslo and Family!
I love the video! And you hop so well on the sand. I am so impressed that a big dog like you can hop like that so soon after your amputation! You are doing great. So you have a hydro pool for dogs in Montreal? Lucky you - but I am jealous. I really really want to find an indoor pool because the temperature is going to drop soon.
I use my tail as a rudder. It looks like a helicopter when I swim now, but it helps keep me going straight. Since chemo, my tail is kind of pathetic looking. It used to be big and full like yours, but now it resembles a rat tail more than a big fluffy dog tail.
Did you get the XL life jacket? The company I ordered from sent me a large (they told me there was no XL, but I know the company does make a XL). The Large is not really big enough around and it is not very long (I have a very long torso - you probably do too). But I have another life jacket that my mum just before my amputation. It is really really long and comes almost all the way down to my tail (that is good). This jacket is a bit large, but does the job. I am doing dog paddle, with a few stylistic adjustments, and not the backstroke.
Sure wish we could swim in the same lake. That would be fun! Oslo's kingdom looks gorgeous!
Tazzie
Oslo! You're doing great. As a fellow frt. left amputee, using the right rear leg will come with time. Just a matter of learning to balance and trust yourself. You do the Tripawd Hop really well and swimmng is grrreat! Isn't it?
Eleanor & Chuy
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
Tazzie said:
Did you get the XL life jacket?
That looks ilke the original K9 Float Coat. The new Portage and Big Eddy Float Coats from Ruff Wear range in size from XXS - XL, and just happren to now be availabble in the new Tripawds Gear blog!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tres bien Oslo!!
He is such a beautiful boy and what a great place for you to take him...Oslo's kingdom. I agree, you should be very proud. Keep up the good work and enjoy.
Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
I love seeing your big dog swim! My girl swims, but still kinda tips to the right front. I am so happy to have the life jacket. I don't worry as much with the jacket on. Can't wait to see more videos!
I have looked for hydro-therapy around me, but haven't found anything too close. I'm sure Oslo will enjoy it!
May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.
Caira-Sue
Based on your picture, I am guessing that you not only swim but you fly, Bat Girl
If we could put two of our tripawds together, like sled dogs, maybe they would swim straight. Sounds as though Caira Sue or Oslo would make a set with Tazzie (he is missing the right front leg).
I had to Laugh aloud at your statement that if we put them together they might swim straight! The visual....oh, the visual! I see something a bit more comedic with one dog going right, one going left and the person being pulled falling into the water!
I was inspired by Oslo and took some videos of Caira Sue swimming today. I don't seem to have the hang of the "click on tree and your pictures shall be set free" mentality of the forums. My videos are on my blog (cairasue.tripawds.com)....if anyone wants to see "batgirl" swimming! She's 9 weeks post-op today.
Mary and Caira Sue
May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.
Mary...I am speechless! Caira Sue is sooooooooo fast!! She is amazing! Your third video is very funny...we do not know where she was going but she was having a blast for sure!! Thank you for sharing this! I love it! (and Oslo loves her jacket 
)
Thank's everyone for your positive reaction about Oslo, his swimming style and his kingdom. I want to answer all your questions but my parents are visiting us and...euh...well...I have a lot of dishes to wash. (Ok Oslo helped doing pre-washing but please do not tell my mom
See you later!
Suzanne
First, Chuy, giveej, Cairasue Jerry, Tazzie and admin : thank's a lot for cheering up for us. It is such a motivation to get these enthousiastic feedbacks! 
Jerry: Thank's you for adding Oslo's clip on your playlist. Oslo feels like he is a star now 
By the way, I got this small map showing Oslo's "kingdom". Our families are still living in there. That's part of why we bought this small agricultural land. We wish to become "gentleman farmers" someday 
Tazzie, we are very fortunate to have a hydro pool close from where we live. It will be a great activity for him during winter time. And I am sure it will help his mobility and getting his front leg stronger. (I sometimes worry about all the weight his front leg has to support) Here is where this wonderful place is: http://www.ani-.....o-tion.com I really do hope you couldl find a place like that in Winnipeg. ( I think of clairasue too who can not find a hydro pool either in California) If you ever come to Montreal, Oslo will introduce Tazzie to Sonia the owner and Brigitte the assistant. They will have a blast for sure. 
As for his jacket, we got it at the hydro pool's boutique. And admin is right: it is the original K9 float coat from Ruffwear. They do have the new version though but XL size was not available at the time of buying.
Well. That's it for now. Have a nice afternoon!!
Suzanne and Oslo!
I LOVE that map! Featuring Oslo (where did you find that image?!?)!
Gosh, you are close to Labrador. That looks so far north.
I don't think Caira Sue is going to suffer without a hydro-pool in sunny California! Did you see her beautiful beach? It is not as though it will freeze over any time soon.
I am thinking of making some pitches for hydro-pools to some rich doggy folk in Winnipeg - but I'm not sure there is such a person or if they can get a pool that quickly!
Did the Large life jacket fit Oslo? That is amazing if it did.
Susan
Wouah! Susan! I found this small image on "google images" and thought it looked like Oslo enough to paste it ont the map of Quebec !! It may indeed seem far north but it is not that far you know. Well, look at the pink dot, not at the dog…it is not so close to Labrador , isn't it? OK. It's not that I do not like Labrador…but I am not THAT cold resistant!! haha
You are right about Cairasue: the more I am thinking about it, the more I am jealous of her! Let's all move to California to swim with her lovely fur swimming rocket 
I am not sure if a hydro pool is that expensive. I saw one of these on "The price is right" a few months ago …(you know at that part of the show called Showcase showdown) I just can not remember how much the guy bet on it…but he lost it! grrrrrr. Sorry, I feel like goofing this afternoon …
Yep, the large jacket fits Oslo pretty well. There is still a lot of space in case he ever adds some fat to his body. We tried the large one but it was way too small, especially around his neck. So we bought him the XL one.
Suzanne
Suzanne,
I loved the video of your Oslo swimming!
My husband and I are both originally from Montreal (our family is still there)... but are now living in Florida. Our Jake is only 10 days post-op and we hope he will soon be swimming in our pool with his 'brother' Wolfie.
Nice to see some Canadian (Quebecois) folks here!!!
Salut!
Jake's Mom (Marguerite et Jacques)
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!
My neighbour went to my cold clammy basement last night to see if he could build a cheap doggy pool there! Ha, the basement is around +5 Celsius (that is below 40 deg for the Yanks) during the winter with incredibly steep wooden steps. As far as I could tell, he was serious. Can you imagine?!? The point of a pool would be for Tazzie to have Fun and I don't think that would be much fun!
Anyway, it was very nice of the neighbour. I guess he was motivated by his success building a ramp for Tazzie, which is incredibly useful. I DO have to get around to posting pictures on this website some day
Susan
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