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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Oh, it's not cruel! You are doing the right thing. And Brandy's not going to be mad at you or have any regrets. Dogs don't think that way. The recovery might be hard (we're here if you ahve questions) but once Brandy gets through that, you'll see - it'll be great.
Hang in there. Try to be strong for your pup now!
Sending good thoughts for a successful surgery.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Rang up 2day Brandy is doing good. He on morphine so he is a little out of it. The vet said that he had him out today and he went to the toilet and stood up good. Am so relieved the operation is over.. He had to go up yesterday tuesday he not getting home untill friday me and my other dog are lost without him.. We are getting the house prepared for him and he is getting so spoilt when he gets home gona make him his fav food:) When brandy goes threw operations his diabeties plays up but thank god he eating and his blood sugars are all normal.
My dad coming to collect brandy with me so thank god. thank u all so much x
Awww, great to hear he made it through the surgery. I know it seems like Friday is a long way off but hang in there, it'll be here before you know it.
What did you do to prepare the house? Just curious.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Jerry.. Just got mats covered the floor make sure theres no slippery parts. I have put his bed in his favourite part of the house set up water bowels beside him i bought more water bowels so there can be loads around the house to make it easier for him.
My only worry is my other dog he is quite bigger than Brandy and gets very excited and sometimes knocks Brandy of his feet. I cant realy keep my other dog away from Brandy i will just have to be very cautious of him i was thinking of just letting them outside at different times i will work it..
I cant wait to have Brandy home am making chicken his favourite. I rang the vets tonite again and they said Brandy was outside and went to toilet and was very steady am so happy. I think its the first time i have smiled in a couple of weeks lol. x
Sounds to me like you're well prepared, nice work!
Yes, it will be a challenge to prevent any rough housing with your other pup. In our experience it seems that dogs in the same home instinctively know how to give eachother enough space when they're recuperating.
Glad to know you're smiling!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sounds like Brandy is doing well and you guys are ready for the big home coming!
Hope is recovery is quick and easy.
Jackie
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Got Brandy home yesterday
. Was the moat scareiest thing having to go get him and see him for the first time. I had nyself well prepared i looked threw the pics in the gallery of dogs and there wounds. When i saw Brandy for the first time it was not as bad as i thought it would be. He has staples and stiches alot of brusing which makes it look the worst. When his hair grows over it u will never know it happened.
When i saw him in the vets he couldnt stand up i was so annoyed seeing my baby like that but when we came home it was a complete different story when i got him in the house i lay him down he got up and hopped around i couldnt believe it. I lifted him outside as i dont want him to over do it he went up on the grass and went to the toilet i was so relieve as i just thought that would be so hard for him balance ways when he was finished he came hopping down to the door to me. He seemed very happy to be home thou he seemed a bit anxious i was worried as he just walked alot. I put out his bed lastnite in the living room with my other dag and he slept all nite and is doing even better today. I wont lie the wound is hard to look at but its like anything else i will get use to it. My baby is home and thats all that matters making his favourite dinner as we speak. 
He is eating away i was given pain killers for him one a day.And we are getting use to live on 3 legs. When i figure out how to put photos up i will post some up. Thank u all so much for everything i truely couldnt have done this without all ur kind words and support. I will keep u all updated xxxxxx
Sounds like home was just what he needed to perk up! That's so great to hear. And it also sounds like your other pup is OK with everything?
Here are some tips on adding photos to your forum posts, hope this helps. If not let us know OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello. It has took me a while to get back. My baby Brandy passed away
and my heart is broken he has passed 10 weeks now and am just devestated the pain gets worse each day without him. 
The operation was a sucess he didnt pass untill january. He was taking sezuires reguarly then it got to a stage when he was in tham all the time each time he took one his legs would weaken causeing him to fall over after a sezuire he would be disorientated and walk into everything it was horrible to watch. I knew he was getting worse and when i was told i would have to have him put down words cant describe how i felt i knew my baby was suffering but i didnt want to loose him. After Brandy passed the vet said it sounded like a brain turmour i was so annoyed as i was told the cancer had not spread anywhere if i knew it had spread i would have never have put my baby threw amputation i would have just let him live happy the rest of his time.
I am so delighted i joined this site it got me threw Brandys amputation without it i would never have coped. Thank you all so much from me and Brandy!!! I know i was so lucky to have my time with my baby he was only 9 years old i just wish i had longer. I have my photos my videos and my memories of him.. He is my baby angel now.. xxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm so sorry for your loss. Don't beat yourself up. You made the best decisions for Brandy based on the information you had. There are always so many unknowns and cancer just doesn't play fair.
May Brandy's spirit run forever free.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
I am so sorry to hear this about Brandy. Like Marla said, you cant beat yourself up. Cancer does not play by the rules, and you did the best for Brandy. I know the pain you are feeling because we lost our Cadence on Feb 20th of this year. Some days its very hard, we still miss her so much. Try to remember the good times that you had with Brandy. Im sure there are a lot of them, so hold those close to your heart.
Brandy was very lucky to have you as his mommy. You gave her a great life and took care of her when she needed you the most. Honor Brandy by helping others and sharing her journey with them. There are a lot of people on this site that need guidance and support. Share what you learned with them, and Brandy's legacy will live on.
I'm sure Brandy and Cadence have met up by now and are hanging out and having fun. I also know that they continue to watch over us and want us to be happy and celebrate their life.
Take care and wishing you peaceful days ahead surrounded by all the glorious memories that you made with Brandy.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
So sorry to hear about Brand and I know your pain almost seems unbearable. But I also know you crammed a lot of love and joy in the time you had together after the amputation. Every decision yu made, you made out of love and those decisions can never be second guessed because they are the right decision. Brandy's leg had to cause pain and you removed a pain that only would have gotten worse. Brandy knew how great your love was and that will always be with both of you.
We are all here for you and our heart cries with you.
Think of something right now that Brandy did that made you smile......think....it's there....now, you have that image and hole it in your heart....Brandy wants to see you smile.
With you and here for you, 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!
I'm so sorry to hear this sad news about Brandy. You both went through so much together and had such a great life, I know it's terribly hard to take that last part of the journey together.
Please try to take comfort in knowing that you spared him any more terrible pain, you did right by your boy and gave him the final gift of a pain-free goodbye. Things could have ended up really badly with the way the disease symptoms were going, you are a pawesome pawrent for acting so humanely. I know it's difficult to see this now, but I hope in time you will be able to see how much you honored his spirit. I'm just so sorry he's gone, it can be so hard.
We send our deepest condolences to you, please feel free to share more of Brandy's life with us so we can celebrate your good times together.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry to hear this. Awful news. Cancer is just the worst - it has its own rules that no one knows. Your buddy did his best. So did you! I know it's hard to look back and regret some things, but taking his leg and that super painful tumor out of his body was the second sweetest thing you did for him. The most sweet thing you did was right at his end, his beautiful end. What a lucky pup to have such a caring pawrent as you! I hope as time marches on, you begin to take comfort in all the ways he made your life better. In the meantime: (((HUGS)))
~ Katy
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Hi!
My rottie, Buddy, was dx with cancer in his front leg appx 5 weeks ago and had an amputation appx 4 weeks ago. He is up doing great and in fact, he is back to himself of being happy, wanting to go on walks and even running and barking with the door bell rings.
I had a really hard time making the decision to amputate but my vet gave me this website and the support was tremendous. The information found here really helped me and hubby make the decision and feel good about our decision. Of course once we picked Buddy up, we felt bad for him and wondered if we did the right thing but I can tell you we did. BUddy wasn't ready to give up on life and we weren't ready to give up on him!
Just know you will have some tough days but they do get better. Good luck to you both!
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