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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Meg has always been a girl with a well-developed sense of her own importance. She's not so bothered in the countryside, but in London, she loves nothing more than to patrol the streets of the neighbourhood, checking the pee-mail and adding her own, just so nobody's in any doubt the Megastar's in town. For years she amused me by cocking her leg as she did so, but ever since her amputation, though she still leaves her pee marks, she hasn't cocked her leg. Well, as of today she's back cocking! We just got back from a hop round the streets and on several occasions, she cocked her leg, balancing on just the two, and looking at me as she did so, like 'Look at me, I'm back!' It's her nine month ampuversary this week. Way to celebrate!
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...
🎉🎉 Happy ampuversary ! Impressive !Way to go Meg! 
😉😉😄😄❤️❤️ Love it!
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!
GRINNING EAR TO EAR OVER HERE!!!! GREAT VISUAL!!!!
Best NINE MONTH AMPUVERSARY present ever!!!
Now Meg, you are going to DEMAND a celebration pawty with the best junk food ever, right? I mean, cocking your leg, nine months, HUGE!!! And Elsie can wear her neon green jumper so you'll be able to see her and give her some goodies too!
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!
Can someone tell me what "cocking is"? And it sounds like a good thing so CONGRATS!
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
Way to go Meg! You have chutzpah and attitude, I love it!
I'm guessing that she's scratching at the dirt to cover up scents? That's my guess, but I know Clare will interpret, maybe with a pic!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm thinking she's lifting her leg like a boy dog! LOL!
After Gus crossed the Bridge, Murphy came home and peed all over Gus' spots and then did the three-legged scratch the dirt dance. Sure wish we had a video of that.
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!
Oh if it's lifting the leg .. Jasper does that. I think it is SO weird!!! She will pee normal once and then when she scent marks, (which the longer I have her, the more she does that - she never used to mark since I think she was insecure), she lifts her leg on trees. No wonder people think she is a boy! LOL
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 ALISON!! I've got a true belly laugh going in kver here!! OMD!!! Too funny!! LMAO
I cannot even imagine the thoughts going through your head as you wete trying to figue out what"cocking" was.....nor would I want to!! LMAO!!
Kathi, I remember you said Murphy did that on all Gus's pee spots. "Yeah Gus, I'm gonna miss you...but this yard is all mine now!"
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!
OMD! LMAO That's hilarious! I'm so sorry, I never realised cocking was a British English thing (Is it?). I love it, I learn so much from this community, and not only about Tripawds... Yes, Kathi, cocking is lifting a leg like a boy dog to pee. (Why should boys have all the fun, lol). Sounds just like Jasper, Meg will squat to pee, but when she marks, which she does a LOT in London, that's when she cocks her leg. And she proper cocks it too, like really ostentatiously high. Since her amputation, she's just been squatting to mark, but as of today the cocking has resumed...
I will try and post a pic, though I always turn the camera away when they pee, as I worry it's a bit intrusive , but in the interests of transatlantic understanding...
Hehe, still chuckling over here...
C 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...
So that would explain why I couldn't find anything when I tried to search the forums for cocking legs...
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...
That is an Alpha girl for sure!!!
Maybe Admin guy can start a new Forum called 'Tripawd Defecation Dance' since we spend so much time talking about it 
Elly has just recently tried to do the 'scratch the dirt dance' as Kathi calls it after she pees. Like Jasper she is gaining confidence and is starting to mark her territory. She hasn't quite got the hang of putting most of her weight on her front paws, but she is getting there.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
So interesting ... the things I learn from these forums!!!
Well Shelby was my ultimate alpha girl - always with the fur-raised when we saw a cat or another dog, master dirt kicker (I called it her "Ferdinand the Bull" imitation).
But when Jasper came to me - she would simply pee and move along ...
Now we have to stop, smell everything, grab a nip of grass and the "cocking"... on trees and fire hydrants. Such a weird little dog. She doesn't strike me as an alpha but I did see her thrown down a puppy this weekend at the dog park - she literally flipped him on his back.
Jasper is less interested or amused by puppies which I think means back to daycare for her since she needs to interact with others since I would hate for her to be a grumpy old girl at age 3 1/2!!!
I will say - she at least knows her place with me - cause when she tossed the puppy this weekend, I was on her instantly and she took her submissive, flat, ears back, frog pose.
And we all know that Shelby was the alpha on me ... always and no matter what! Spirited little Jack Russell mix that she was! 
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
she took her submissive, flat, ears back, frog pose
Awwww! I love the fact she now takes her time on walks, stopping to enjoy a bit of this and that. Definitely a sign of how much she has grown in confidence through her relationship with you.
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...
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