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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Congrats Holly and Susan and Zuzu for the 8 month ampuversary! I guess for us pawrents we work through these rough times differently then our fuzzy kids do. I will try and learn for and from Sammy. I too have been looking for the magic formula!
Hugs back to you and the girls,
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Elizabeth and Sammy,
I understand mentally where you are at right now. I think we all feel like our world has fallen apart when we get the diagnosis. We stress with our decision to amputate, do chemo, what supplements should we use, ect. it just goes on and on.
We are nearing Tasha's one ampuversary and I still worry about her but I to have found a calmness, I have done everything I feel has been the right thing for Tasha, she is a happy girl and lives each day with joy and I have learned from her many life lessons. One day the time will come for us to make the last loving decision for her but until that day we will appreciate each and every day with love, laughter and make everyday special.
I no there is no magic formula, I looked for it to, there is only today for sure and we make the most of it and feel very blessed to have this day to share together.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
There is no magic formula, and you never know when it will hit you. One evening I was sitting outside with Trouble, enjoying a spring evening and it occurred to me I was no longer afraid she would die (up until that point, I had been terrified). It was the first time since our journey started that I felt free. I'm no longer afraid, I know one day she will leave me, and it may or may not be because of the cancer. Trouble is 12 years old and has had a life most dogs dream of. We truly have No Regrets! I was a hard student , but she finally got through 🙂
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Oh my God. You guys are making me cry. I am so glad you are in this peaceful place. Myself, I can't bear the thought. I know going into this relationship with my dog that most likely he would go first. I just have never thought about it. I have plans, he is going to be at my 50th birthday. He is going to be white faced but still here. Still my friend, we still have a lifetime of stuff to do. I can't bear the thought of losing the closest relationship I have ever had with a furry faced friend. He is like my child, or my young boy. Just so sweet and funny, always the softest place to land. Always so happy to be around me. Looking up osterosarcoma I found mostly sites that have to do with children. I couldn't imagine that pain if this is so surreal. I can't begin to explain how wonderful he is to me. I know time will probably calm this pain at the thought, I just hope we have enough time.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
The supportive environment everyone has built here is amazing, isn't it? Wow. Thanks all for sharing your experiences, I know that if we had that kind of perspective from the get-go it would have saved us a lot of tears.
What you have to remember is there is never enough time to spend with these incredible dogs who live far too short lives. We just have to make the best of the time we do have, and not mourn for a future that hasn't arrived, or one that we can't control. That is the greatest gift that cancer brings. Live, now!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh Jerry's pack, it is a beautiful place. A sad but beautiful place. I am addicted. A friend at work actually handed me a newspaper on Thursday that had an add for puppies. he said "look, free to good home". He said why spend any more on yours when you can get one for free that doesn't cost you anything? I wanted to be angry because that was such an insensitive comment, but it just made me feel allienated.
I am addicted to this place because people understand what loving, really loving a furry friend means. I spend my free time here because I am learning so much. It hurts here, but it heals too. I hope to hear what I am supposed to be hearing, learn what I am supposed to be learning. Mostly though, I am just trying to save my friend. I like the blogs, it is almost cathartic.
Thanks so much for starting this place,
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
A friend at work actually handed me a newspaper on Thursday that had an add for puppies. he said "look, free to good home". He said why spend any more on yours when you can get one for free that doesn't cost you anything? I wanted to be angry because that was such an insensitive comment, but it just made me feel alienated.
In response to who ever said that: It doesn't matter if they are a puppy or if they are X years old, they ALL cost money!!! But of course it is money well spent! 
Even if you adopt a new "free" puppy, they need to be "fixed", they need a series of booster shots, they teeth and chew everything (or at least Chloe did, my shoes were her favorite and she learned to open my sliding closet door to reach them).
In my current situation in life, I can't afford a puppy!!! They require so much time with training so who ever said they are "free" doesn't realize that nothing in life doesn't come at some sort of cost. Time, money etc... I feel that spending the money we did on Chloe for her amputation was worth it because I know that it has extended her years. Plus she is potty, chew, and leash trained. Need I say more?!!?
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Oh yeah, I so get that too! I love puppies but I wouldn't want another. When we first found Sammy, our "free" puppy, he was about 5 months old. After all the vet bills because of the injuries he had and getting him updated on shots and whatnot, he ate my friends SNOWMOBILE that was parked at our house. Mine was parked right next to it, but did he eat mine? No, He ate all of the parts he could off of our friends ride. Hmmmm, puppies, nope, definately not free!
Thanks for that, it is a good memory believe it or not, it makes me laugh now...
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
fightingforsammy said:
...He said why spend any more on yours when you can get one for free that doesn't cost you anything?
Some people just don't get it, never will, and live a much less inspired life because of it.
One such Cruella once told us how her daughter could have bought a lot of dalmations for the money she'd spent on hers.
Anger only fuels the fire. Laugh at these people, prefarrably outloud, in the presence of other animal lovers. be grateful for the love you share with Sammy and move on.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
One such Cruella once told us how her daughter could have bought a lot of dalmations for the money she'd spent on hers.
Kind of getting off topic here, but I wanted to share with you a funny joke my dad came up with based on what my faculty advisor said.
So we were driving back from a class field trip (generous term, only 2 of us went) and we were discussing dogs as pets. My faculty advisor said that both of his cost like $500/leg (as a joke) because they were purebreds of some sort. I was retelling the story to my dad and my dad said in response, "Well you can tell your faculty advisor that one leg on Chloe cost $2500!".
Even though Chloe is not a purebred anything (I have officially determined she is a husky/hound/goofball mix), she nearly costs as much as one! Or maybe I should say I have a purebred tripawd?
FYI: Just a reminder that I totally think the amputation was worth every penny, I just wanted to share a light-hearted joke. Hard to read humor sometimes….
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Jerry's pack, I thought the same thing. I wanted to be angry but there are so few animal "people" around my work that it just wouldn't have worked it my favor. I didn't get angry because he actually thought he was doing me a favor. He sooo doesn't get it! My hope is that he one day actually gets an animal friend of his own. He would soon learn that they are so wonderful that they are worth everything you can afford to give them.
Chloe's mom, I am really coming to like you. I get it, it translated well
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
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