Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I wasn't sure where to post this thread :-/
Is it okay for me to feel a little sad when I look at pictures of Brady when he had 4 legs? 
He is doing so wonderfully on 3 and I don't for one second regret the amputation.
I was going through all his pictures from over the years and I got a little sad. Then I felt guilty for feeling sad because if I'm sad, that means I wish he still had 4. But if he still had 4, he would be in pain, and the cancerous tumor would still be there.
I do okay most of the time. The initial shock of the diagnosis and speed of which everything happened has worn off....but I have times when I completely break. :'(
Is this normal??? I've been crying for hours, now
Hugs, hugs and more hugs!!! I feel your pain. My baby Shelby just became a tripawd and she's doing really well and I don't regret my decision. I think what I grieve the most is our 'old life' - the one where we could run together, go on long walks, ride in the car (it isn't fun for her anymore). I haven't looked at a lot of photos of shelby pre-amp or the photos I have of her are head shots.
So I think the overall sadness I feel is the reality that my baby is 13 and she's facing terminal cancer and she's older and it feels like it happened overnight. We've been dealing with this on some level since June.
But I really try and focus on the positive - she's pain-free, she's beating odds right and left, and she knows that I love her and that I have done and will do anything I can for her.
So is it normal? Absolutely! I suspect that it is and I suspect those that have been on this path longer than me will weigh in but I wanted to send you some BIG hugs and love! XO
Alison and Shelby
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Thank you very much. Brady continues to amaze me, the oncologist and his regular vet every day. He is doing so well and I couldn't be more proud of him.
I truly believe that he can beat this, not be a statistic and be a survivor. I guess I'm just having a sad night Brady's sister, Ginger, has been doing well with all this, too. I feel badly because I feel like she feels like he gets more attention.....I don't even know if that last sentence made sense.
Brady has had 2 chemo treatments so far and his bloodwork is excellent.
Any little noise he makes, burps, sneeze, or even a big sigh makes me jump because I'm so scared of the mets showing up. I will do anything to keep the mets away! No matter what it costs.
Nice response Alison! And during all this, I forgot Shelby is thirteen!
Bradyblue is dong well! That' realy good to hear!
As far as your emotions.......they are YOUR feelngs and you don't need to justify, or explain. Just feel them, let them flow through. It may be that if you ask yourself several times over' "What is this REALLY about?", you may find that, after peeling back the layers, this deep sadness may stem from something else...or not
Would love to see more pics of Brady when you can.. He's such a handsome fellas'.
Surrounding you with hugs ((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))! A really, realyl big group (((((((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thank you Sally
I actually started a facebook page for Brady 
http://www.face.....radydog414
I love my boy so much. He's been the love of my life for 8 years and I'll be damned if he succumbs to this terrible disease.
It's hard, too, because I live alone and I just had surgery myself last friday, so we've been shacked up in the house with not much activity and the weather has been terrible! (-40 degree wind chills)
Hoping for a better day tomorrow for this Momma....Brady is sleeping on the couch with his feet in the air. LOL
Oh LOVE THAT!!! Shelby is also known around these parts (Los Angeles) as the "love of my life". People always know whoI am talking about when I say that. It's just me and her here by the beach and it's a really hard place to be! I feel your pain so much! Kindred spirit!!!
And sounds like Brady is doing 'a roach', right Sally?!?
Hang in there ... I know it's hard. My girl has been hanging in the bathroom since her surgery and it breaks my heart. But she feels safe in there but will come out for snuggles but it still makes me sad. 🙁
Stay warm! Snuggle your baby!!! And come here as much as you need to! XO
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Oh good, I jist saw your post that Brady is REALLY doing EXCELLENT,!
Oh yeah, we all get the "livingin the state of fear" thing!! It's a bummer that can rob you of your tme together if you don't kick it to the curb!
And I can tell byyor love and devotion to Brady you avw NO intention of lettng ANYTHING rob youof the joy f being together!!
This is where "BEING MORE DOG" is one of the greatest lessons of this joirney! Watch Brady, he's not worried about a thing and he's certainly no statistic!
As I just saw Jerry post today, "statistic schmotistics"...gosh, I do't think I quoted her right! Anyway, her other quote is nine ot of ten statistics are wrong! How's that for a statistic!!?
Ginger is probably gettng her share of attention because you cleary have so mich love to give! She knows you love her. Maube you can set aside a few inites a daymjist to rub her tummy, or just walk outside with just Ginger.
Continue to step into your "dog clotjes" and become more like Gnger and Brady! Stay in the now! They are!
B R E A T H E and don't forget the chocoate, lots snd lots of chocolate!
Sendingyou love and serenity and a kowing that all is well!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
HA! You girls are jst way too fast with this typing stuff!
Yes Shelby! I see Bradybuemis doing a roach tonight too!! I'll let Alisn explain that one tonya'!
It sounds li,e all three of us are i the "doing it alone" bucket- But remember, we've got the power of the whole tripawd community by our side and that's a lot of power girls!!
Yeah, this cold weather reall sucks for us AND the dogs!!
You've got topost Brady's picture on the "roach" thread under "Anything Goes"...you'll findit!
He's an ezquisitey handsome man!! Quite charming!
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!
You're doing great, really and it's fine to post that here. The emotions you are feeling are totally normal, especially at this point in your journey. I recall looking back many, many times in the early days of amputation recovery and seeing all the overnight hikes that our pack went on and feeling really sad that those days were over. But one look at all that we DID have together after losing that bad leg eventually helped me to not feel sad anymore, and instead be happy that we were all still together.
I almost guarantee you that in time you will think he looks odd with those four legs! The gratitude you feel over the extra time you have with him now will outweigh any sense of sadness or regret. It takes time, but you'll get there.
I'm sorry you had to have surgery too. Yuk! But if there's anything good that can come out of it at least you can watch Brady's instruction on how to be a great recovering patient! We really learn about adversity from watching our Tripawds don't we?
{{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm late (lost internet last night) but I wanted to share.
My pug Maggie was fortunate enough to live almost 4 years after her rear amp for mast cell cancer. At the beginning I mourned for the stuff she couldn't do anymore. She was little but had always been able to jump as high as my knees and I would catch her- that's how she liked to be picked up. And I used to take the pug girls to a local reservoir and go on a couple mile hike along the shore and she and her sis Tani would be in and out of the water and running around all over the place.
At some point though I realized that Maggie didn’t really seem to miss that stuff- it was me. Of course I had to let myself work through it, but it was easier to take when I knew that Mag was just as happy as she ever was. And I really began to appreciate how she dealt with her new normal, and all the new things that she did.
I will say that there were times throughout her life as a tri-pug that it would hit me sometimes- geeze, she is a three legged dog! And once in a while I would miss the old days. But when you think about it, changes happen all throughout life, and the things you once could do you can’t anymore. Going though that with Maggie helped prepare me for life with Tani, Mag’s younger sis. Tani is now 13.5 and by far the oldest dog I have ever been blessed to have. She has too many medical challenges to list, but she is happy with her current situation and my experiences with Mag make it easier for me accept Tani’s abilities and not focus on what she can’t do anymore.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hijack alert! KAREN I shall NEVER EVER tire of reading yor posts about Pug Maggie...and Obie and Tani too...they are ALWAYS iformative and very antidotal..... and it's just plain fun readng about this crew of yours! I dn't kow if you've ever heard f a ovie with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor (and some are saying, "Did they play with Led Zeplin?")...I think it was called "Butterfield 8" ?? Anyway, a line of Elizabeth Taylor's..."And Maggie the cat is alive!" Well, through your posts....."Maggie is alive!".......sovery, very alive!
Jerry's word was....."prognosis SCMOGNOSIS".... ...YAY! Like that!
How are you and Brady doing today? It's still brutally cold in Virginia with no let up in sight. Trying to recover your own self, as well as helping Brady AND being stuck i doors......yeah, that's enough to make anyone cry!! You hang in there kiddo! We're right by your side! Look over to your left.....jist a few feet away.....do you see us?? YOU DO!! OMD! Call a doctor quick!
Extra ugs to you, Brady and Ginger!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thank you all for your kind words
I'm doing better today. Brady is well and I keep reminding myself of that. I'm thankful for every day I have with him and I can tell you, the three of us have become much closer...I didn't know that was possible as Brady and Ginger are my whole world to begin with, I didn't know we could be any closer, but we are.
Brady seems to be able to everything that he could before, but it's the dead of winter so long walks haven't been taken for either dog I'm sure his walks won't be as long, but everything else he does and does well He's such a good boy and I'm just happy to have his smelly feet in my face as I type this and Ginger with her poop breath on the other side of me
Awwww. Here's to those Fritos feet and poop breath! Haha we think a dog's feet smell like Fritos or corn chips!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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