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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I put it straight back up and spoke to vet on Monday morning, their suggestion was to first increase Gabapentin to 3 per day and then try dropping out a Tramadol. I just want to get her pain settled again now before we go messing with Meds again!
Anyhow we went for stitches out today, yay!! Saw our vet who was much happier with things and is enquiring about hydro therapy for us. I think what has been worrying them is how down and aggressive she has been anytime she has gone into the surgery. Today no muzzle, she didn't grumble at Vet once and even sat up paying attention ears pricked while we chatted about how it was going. Phew! It's the first time through all of this I've seen our vet smile!
Still need more use of her hindlimbs and vet would have liked to see her try a little more but I think she's pleased that there is some progress and as long as we are prepared to keep the nursing up she's happy for us to carry on trying. Such a relief to have our vet onside.
I just wish Jay would tuck into her meals. Eggs are going down OK from a bowl if I hand feed the first bit and she will eat about half a ration of dry food a day if I hand feed it. If I'm struggling to get her interested I resort to digestive biscuits, definitely her food of choice at the moment!
OK, this sounds like good news. And maybe she is one of those dogs who have difficulty with Tramadol - I have heard that it can interfere with appetite and cause anxiety in some dogs. Many dogs perk up a lot when the stitches come out - hopefully Jay will do the same!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
OH YAY! That is really big progress, I'm so happy for you both! Stitches out? No muzzle? Double yay!
Pain medication adjustments are often necessary and part of the equation of getting the pain managed. One happens with the other, so you'll both get there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
DITTO ALL THE YAAAAAAAAAYS!!! :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-) You really, really, really are doing an incredibly attentive and patient job of caring for sweet Jay! And Jay IS showing progress and some real true grit!! I'm really glad the Vets are recognized there IS progress and you and Jay are willr to do whatever it takes to get tnrough this rough recovery!! 🙂 🙂
You know, it may be that some of his discomfort coukd have even been caused by too tight stitches. Itsw a possibility.
Another food to try, FRESH PET. It's in the refrigerator section of pet food. It's quite a ymmy food and seems to be good quality. I would really, really be surprised if he didn't woof it down! Give it a try! I think you'll voth be pleased!
Keep these HUGE victories coming!!!
Hugs!
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!
Had the most awful night with Jay whining and unsettled, she seems happier out on the lawn this morning and I've skipped her morning tramadol to see if that's the cause. Otherwise I'm thinking it might be constipation and or bladder infection or the increase in Gabapentin.....
Waiting for our vet to call back.......
Ugh. Was yesterday the first day on a med change? Is she peeing? When did she poop last? I think there was another dog who had increased pain after staple removal because of all of the handling at the vet.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
So today Jay decided her time with us was up and she passed on quietly in her sleep this afternoon. To say we are all gutted and at a loss is an understatement.
Thank you for all the help and support, I don't think we could have got to where we are without it. xx
Oh no, no, no, this is the most devastating news! I am so terribly sorry for the loss of your sweet Jay. This is unbearably, brutally hard. You did everything anyone possibly could to help Jay and to give her a chance, and were so incredibly sensitive and attentive to her needs. She died peaceful and secure in the knowledge that she was, and always would be, loved. I'm just so, so sorry that you didn't get to spend more time with your precious girl. My heart absolutely goes out to you and your family .
Sending love and strength and a massive hug.
I'm so sorry.
Run Free, sweet Jay.
Meg and 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...
I am so sorry to hear this. It is always so hard to lose a member of our Tripawd family. We are all thinking about you.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
I am so deeply, deeply sorry for this heart wrenching turn. You have to know you did all you could for your dear girl - you gave her the best chance she had and she did know how very loved she was.
Wishing you comfort in the tenderness of memory. And wishing dear Jay the sweetest dreams.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Ohh moooo. Soooo very, very sorry, so sorry.
We are all gutted with you. We are all absolutely devasted and crying with you and for you
This piece of crap disease is brutal and cruel and horrible beyond words. It takes hold in ways we never know are there. All we can do is move forward with the best intentions hoping that we can get ahead of this vicious disease. We HAVE to try. To NOT try would haunt is far more than not, even if the outcome isn't what we hoped.
You tried EVERYTHING possible! You saw a glimmer of hope here and there. Jay tried, and when she was ready to rrelease herself from her earthly body that no longer served her, she transitioned on her own terms...in her own home...a dher not at a hospital. I hope sometime down the road, that will bring you some comfort.
There just aren't any words. It's senseless to even try right now. We all wish we could help take your pain away, but we can't. When you love hard, you grieve hard.
Jerry always reminds us that the last days are just a blink of an eye comlared to the thousands and thousands of happy memories Jay shared wkth you, and you with Jay. Those memories are what Jay wa ts you to remember. She's at the Rainbow Bridge now bragging abput how @oved a dd how spoiled she was and what a great time she has with you as her humans
PLEASE stay connected and share more about the magnificent Soul named Jay when you can. She, and her humans, have a very special place in our hearts. Jay's courage and the bond you shared will NEVER be forgotten here! Her time here with us mattered! Please know that.
We are here for you. We also have a Helpline 1 844 TRIPAWDS. When you have those moments when you feel like you can't get your next breath, don't hesitate to call.
If you have some pictures you would like to post, just email us and we can get them up for you. It would be an honor.
Surrounding you with love and Jay's eternal grace
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
There are no words right now that will take the hurt away. Please know that you are in our thoughts.
Kathi
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!
Jay's passing just blew me away when Clare told me in the chat today. I'm really, really sorry. This terrible shock has got to be so difficult on you. If there is anything at all we can do, please let us know. And also, when you're ready, do consider starting a new topic about her in Coping with Loss so we can be there to celebrate her life with you. It's good therapy for most people and I hope it helps your heart mend too. No rush, just know we're always here.
Our thoughts are with you now and always. May Jay's beautiful spirit shine on all our Tripawd heroes forever.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry that your girl went on ahead, I know how difficult time this is for you and your family.
You did your best for Jay, cancer is relentless.
I hope the memories of good times help sooth the pain in the coming days and weeks.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
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 so sorry your sweet Jay couldn't stay here with you. You guys were the best pawrents to that sweet girl. I've been following this story since the beginning and my heart hurt for you guys. You could have done no more for your sweet girl. Know your girl will be the brightest star in the sky sending her healing light down upon you. Fly free with those new Angel wings sweet girl.
Linda & Spirit Mighty Max
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