Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone!
Beau loses his hind leg tomorrow and I am starting to get nervous. The cancer hasn't spread and he is still in great spirits (save some painful moments) but I'm hoping that I made the right call on amputation.
Did you have the same nerves or worries pre-amp? Is there anything I need to be prepared for after tomorrow?
Thanks in advance!
For now, just take a deep breath! Sounds like everything is prepared for tomorrow, and he is a good candidate for amputation. Read some of the other blogs and forums to get up to speed on Tripawd proofing your house and what to expect the first 10 days or so. Take a look at pictures of other dog's incisions, just so you are not shocked (lots of fur shaved!). I would recommend your order a harness - they are incredibly useful with larger dogs and with a rear leg amp, you will be able to use it sooner. Breathe again. In a perfect world, cancer wouldn't exist, but unfortunately, your choices are limited - amputation provides the best hope of a pain free quality of life. An informed decision, based out of love, is never a wrong decision. And you and Beau will have the entire Tripawds community behind you tomorrow. And yes, I bet we were all basket cases the night before surgery!
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 think most of us are nervous wrecks before surgery. I was also worried about how Lily would walk, and how the surgery would look. I did look at pictures beforehand, and that really helped. When we picked her up afterwards, she hopped out to us. It made me feel so much better! I wanted to do it as soon as possible to get rid of the pain and the cancer-glad that you are doing that too! We put rugs and yoga mats around so Lily would have an easier time getting around. I made sure that she had a really comfortable bed, and I stayed with her during recovery-slept on the couch next to her.
Please stay in touch and let us know how he's doing-take care of yourself and try to get some rest.
Sending hugs,
Joan and her angel, Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Nerves?? Are you kidding? How 'bout so nervous and scared that I cancelled my Happy Hannah's scheduled surgery appointment the first time!!
I did eventually proceed. It took me about three weeks of recovery before I could say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her!! And I'm so glad I did that FOR her! We had THE most glorious extended bonus time for more loving and spoiling and tummy rubs and treats and laying in the sun and snuggling on the couch and just savoring the bliss of living in the moment!
I responded to your other post about some ways to "prepare" to add ro the suggestions already!
STAY CONNECTED! You are not alone!
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!
Just wanted to let you know we will be thinking of you today. It will be a tough day and I remember being a jumble of nerves when Daisy had her amputation. I know this is easier said than done but try to stay calm and think positive. And remember you are taking away Beau's pain!
Hugs,
Marla, Tri-Dogs Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
You're definitely not alone, anyone who's been through surgery has these feelings. You'll probably have them afterward too. It's all very normal. Take a deep breath and know that Beau just wants to feel better. My best advice: Be More Dog . Be strong, don't look back and don't look too far forward. Take things one step at a time. Once recovery is over you'll wonder why you were so scared!
Keep us posted in Treatment and Recovery OK? We'll be thinking of you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sending strong, positive thoughts for a successful surgery today.
Keep us posted.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thank you everyone for your support! I have been trying to stay busy and focus today, but I'm sure you all remember how hard it is! I called for an update, and they confirmed that he was in surgery and doing well. I will update once he's out and recovering 🙂
Again, I can't tell each of you how much I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. I am incredibly fortunate to have found a community of such wonderful people (and each of your furry babies are fortunate to have you as parents) 🙂
Amp day is tough and you just have to slog your way through it!
We're all out here thinking of Beau and hoping all goes well.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
sending you lots of positive energy .... I do remember our amp day and it was stressful! Stay close to us and we'll help you get through it!
Looking forward to the post-surgery update!!!
HUGS!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart
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
Thinking about you and Beau. Hope you get some good news soon!
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.
It's been 3 years since Murphy had his surgery, but I still remember how stressed I was that day. I had to work, and luckily it was busy, so that helped, but I was so relieved when they called to tell me that everything went well and he was doing fine. I went in the break room to sit down for a minute and cried with relief.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Hoping with all my heart and soul everything is okay. We are here for you.
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 spoke with the vet today and he sat up, which is evidently a good sign! He is still groggy from all of the meds, but the vet will be sending him home tomorrow provided he is doing well again tomorrow. The mass had basically transcended the muscle and had lots of hemorrhaging, which makes more sense as to why he couldn't use the leg for the past month or so. My vet is even more convinced that it's synovial cell, and I can't tell if that's better or worse than osteo. The vet made an executive decision to have it biopsied even though I'm not doing chemo, so I'm curious to see what exactly had overtaken my poor boy's leg.
Thank you again for all of your concern, and especially for the commiseration! Each of you know the guilt you feel from making a decision on your pup and it's not easy when they can't give you input 🙂
I can't lie; I am completely ok with the vet keeping him overnight for the first two nights post-amp. I was incredibly worried about how he would act and whether I would be able to manage his pain appropriately, or how I would handle his wound care. I'm still really nervous about caring for his wound when he comes home.
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