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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It's been a tough day, but thanks to tripawds, I have hope for our girl. Our female rott just turned 7 on Sept. 1st. She was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia when she was 3 and always had trouble with her front right leg. Lots of glucosamine has done her wonders for years. We knew something was wrong the last week or so with the severity of her limp and was going in to get her teeth cleaned this week. What was supposed to be a easy fix to bad breath, turned into one of the hardest decisions we've ever had to make.
We had an xray done and there are very evident tumors in the right front leg. Osteosarcoma was diagnosed. We're going to have the amputation tomorrow to relieve her pain. If she can have a good quality of life, wiggling her butt and giving endless kisses and growls, It's just to soon to let her go. Her lungs look clear, but we're going to have that looked into further. I just wanted to introduce myself to the tripawds because I'm so grateful to have found such a great source of comfort and hope, and I will really need a place to go with questions since this isn't something people go through everyday.
Wish Asia luck and we'll keep posting as the days go by.
Welcome to Tripawds- your future posts will not require moderation.
I'm sorry to hear about Asia- it is a shocking and heartbreaking diagnosis. Hopefully you have seen here that tripawds lead a pretty normal life- and pups do beat the odds!! My little pug Maggie was given 6 to 9 months, with chemo, after her amp for mast cell cancer. Maggie lived almost 4 years and did not die from mast cell. No false promises here- but there is always hope.
Have you checked out Jerry's Required Reading List or downloaded the e book Three Legs and a Spare? Good information in both from this site on what to expect with amputation, recovery and treatment.
Most of us experienced a rough couple weeks after amputation. I managed to convince myself that I had made the wrong decision- Mag seemed so unhappy. And Tripawds wasn't here yet to help me. Hopefully Asia will bounce right back and be one of the lucky ones to sail through recovery. But if not, and she has some down time don't get discouraged!
Good luck tomorrow- keep us posted. Let us know what questions you have, lots of us here have been where you are now and are here to help.
Karen and the pugapalooza
krun15 said
No false promises here- but there is always hope.
Hi Asia and family. I, too, am sorry for your diagnosis - it is a hard thing to absorb. Karen is right - there certainly is hope. Our Zeus did have a lung and liver met at the time of diagnosis so his prognosis was poor. Best guess was that he would live six weeks. He ended up making it for ten months after diagnosis - and the one lung met did not multiply and really didn't ever grow. This certainly is not typical, but shows that the odds can be beaten. Good luck with surgery and recovery!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Hi Asia & family. I am sorry to hear of her diagnosis. Sassy is a 6 year old female who had her right rear leg amputated due to Osteo. She has done great adjusting and is 35 days out from her amputation. Has had one chemo treatment and scheduled for 4 more. Her lungs were clear at diagnosis and 2 months later still clear. So there is hope 
good luck with the surgery and this is a great community for support.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
baileyb, thank you so much for the kind words about the Tripawds community. Giving people hope during dark times is exactly why the community was founded. I'm so sorry you had to seek us out, but we're glad your here. Every story makes a pawsitive impact, and helps others to know that they aren't crazy for considering going on the Tripawds journey.
You are in great company as far as Rottie members, and there are some great Tripawds dog blogs out there so be sure to sift through them and check out all of the amazing stories. Don't let the depressing statistics get you down, many dogs beat the odds and prove that nine out of ten statistics are wrong!
Keep us posted on how things go, share pics, come here to vent, whatever....we are here for you every hop of the way. And thank you so much for your bandanna gift, we'll get that in the mail asap.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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