Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello
We're in the United Kingdom and last week we lost our beloved Polo, a 10 year old greyhound to osteo 
He was a very special boy (as they all are!) and amputation and chemo wasn't an option in his case.
Our other greyhound, Elsa (7) had a limp for a while which we believed was due to pulling a muscle whilst playing in the garden.
However, today it was found that she too had osteo - we are totally in shock and disbelief mode.
She's under the care of the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, which is a centre of excellence here in the UK, so we're certain she'll get
the best care available.
It seems that her lungs are clear, so the oncologist has said that she's a good candidate for amputation and chemo, which we're going with. Her op is booked for Tuesday.
Trying to be strong and positive for her but feel a bit punch drunk at the moment.
Is there anyone out there who has used the AHT for anything similar, please? Would be great to hear your experiences.
And any greyhound owners who have had the misfortune to have a similar experience to us?
Thank you !
Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
So sorry to hear about your pups, but it does sound like Elsa will be in good hands. Here are more than 400 forum topics mentioning Greyhound. You can use the Advanced Search function above to refine the results or to search for Animal Health Trust. And, you can search all blogs here .
We certainly understand how devastated you must be. Our best advice is to Be More Dog .
Best wishes, please keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So very, very sorry to hear about your beloved Polo. I know the void is painful and your grief feels like it will never end. And then to be hit with Elsa's diagnosis...heartbreaking, just heartbreaking.
I can tell you that we've had many Greyhounds here do very well handling three legs. One of our members, Nixon, beat this piece of crap disease for TWO years...and he was a Senior too!
I've not had any experience with AHT, but I can tell you what is done here in the States generally. Every dog is different, every recovery is different. Almost always dogs spend one night at the hospital after surgery,sometimes two nights.
They are sent home with a pain med called Tramadol and often Gabapentin too. And antibiotic is included as well as an anti -inflammatory. Recovery is no picnic and gettingnthe pain meds regulated right can be a little trial and error. Some dogs come home and are pretty zonked out. Some dogs, like my beloved Happy Hannah, cried and whined, could not get comfortable and was very restless for the first three days! Sleep was not in the cards for either of us. My Happy Hannah had four rounds of Carboplatin and sailed through the treatents with no problem.
Once the recovery takes place though...oh my...it is absolutely amazing how well our dogs adapt and how happy they are that painful leg is gone!
Check out Tripawds eBooks as they will literally tell you everything you need to know about living life on three legs.
You are not alone...we are here with you all the way. Elsa has a very special Guardian Angel watching over her.
Holding you in our thoughts and sending all sorts of positive energy to your Elsa!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Oh my gosh that would make me collapse, what a terrible shock! I'm really, really sorry about Polo and Elsa. It's so unfair that Greys are so predispositioned to osteo. To have it happen twice, I can't imagine.
I'm not familiar with that center in the UK but would definitely love to hear about your own experience with it. When you feel like sharing it, we have a Veterinary Referrals Discussion Forum topic where people post their experiences so feel free if you can get to it.
Elsa is a young dog with lots of future ahead of her. Be strong and be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List , it will help prepare you for dealing with osteo. And we are here for you too, so keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so so sorry. I don't have greyhounds, and I'm not in the UK, but I do know what that kick in the gut feels like. I felt like the universe was a bully, wanting to make sure I didn't forget what going through this was like. Just remember, you are much more educated on this piece of crap disease now, you've been there and done it already so you are that much more empowered to make good decisions for Elsa. Cancer can take some things, but it can't touch Elsa's spirit and it can't touch the love between you. I'm glad Elsa is a candidate for surgery and chemo, it's really tough when there isn't much you can do (b/c we WANT to do anything we can). Hang in there, you are in the right place. Hugs to you guys and keep us updated.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Thank you all for your lovely replies - your positivity is really helping me 
I've no doubts that we've made the right decision for Elsa but am still very anxious about her forthcoming journey. I've downloaded the ebooks which are really helpful and i'm sure i'll be referring to them and this wonderful site over the coming weeks/months (and dare I say years?)
I'll keep you posted as to her progress - am dreading Tuesday and wish we could fast forward to this time next week.....
Thanks again, everyone
Howdy and welcome!!! So very sorry to hear about this about your sweet Elsa; what a sweet, sweet name. I'm sure it reflects her demeanor as well.
I can't add anything more than what everyone else has already. I only want to jump in here to let you know I'll be looking for updates and keeping Elsa, you and the rest of your pack on my mind and heart.
Keep us updated!!!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Thank you for downloading our e-books Andrea. Whatever we can do to help please let us know OK? We'll be thinking of you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMD, what a double whammy. So.Not.Fair! Just wanted to add our best wishes and send you and Elsa lots of Tripawd strength. You WILL get through this.
xoxo,
Martha, Codie Rae, and the Oaktown Pack
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
Meant to mention that we know you are still raw with grief for Polo. We want to be here to help you move through that sadness, as well as support you during Elsa's recovery.
We would love to hear more about Polo and see pictures. We know you have been through so much recently...dealing with Polo's diagnosis...making agonizing decisions about what's best for him...and then the grief of losing him. And now, while you are still so very, very sad, you are having to put all your energies into helping Elsa.
And we are here to help support you with both. We want to help you celebrate Polo's well lived and well loved lifeand all the wonderful happy memories you shared. And we want to help you celebrate alk of Elsa's victories as she continues to beat the crap out of this stupied disease!
Sending love and hugs...
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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 welcome you and Elsa!
I don't have anything else to add except that I'll send up a prayer that Elsa has has a safe surgery on Tuesday.
Sahana and her Angel Leland and Lucian too
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
We're off to the Animal Health Trust at Newmarket shortly as Elsa is being admitted the day before her surgery. This is because apparently greyhounds are prone to bleeding after surgery so they're administering plasma and a special drug to help negate this problem. Feeling very anxious but trying to keep things as normal as possible for her.
Have spent the weekend looking at different ways that we can help her - have come to the conclusion that the Ruffwear Webmaster harness will be the best for her ( - she's losing her back right leg). We can get those here in the UK - am thinking that being a greyhound she'll need the Large size - does that sound right? Also going to use the K9 Immunity Plus - again we can get those here in the UK. Not sure if we'll encounter any resistance from the oncologist - we've not discussed options yet so we'll have to wait and see...
I don't want to get too far ahead of myself until we get the surgery out of the way - tomorrow's going to be a l-o-n-g day waiting to hear from the AHT so we're going to try and keep ourselves busy. I want to thank you all so much for your messages of support and for the amazing amount of helpful information that's contained here. I feel much more empowered now and not so desperately alone. Thank you!
Hi Andrea, Oh boy do I remember what a nervewracking day this is. Just remember to breathe.
I'm glad the vets are aware of Greyhounds and potential bleeding issues. It was brought to our attention a few years ago by another Greyhound pawrent, we covered that topic here if you want to read about it.
As far as the Webmaster....she's probably a large but you really need a good girth measurement to ensure an accurate fit. Don't worry about getting the harness now, we recommend waiting until the stitches come out to use it, on the off chance the straps could irritate her fresh incision.
Yes, keeping things as normal as possible is the very best you can do. Remember, our pets reflect our emotions. The stronger you are, the stronger she will be. You can do it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
After an anxious morning, we've just heard from the vets - Elsa is out of surgery and all went well There was no excessive bleeding but she will be monitored very carefully over the next 72 hours due to the greyhound delayed bleeding 'peculiarity' We are so relieved - that's the first hurdle out of the way, so to speak!
Met her Oncologist yesterday who was SO lovely and explained everything. It really helped that we kind of understood what she was talking about due to all the wonderful information that we've found on Tripawds - knowledge really is power! They are planning 4 - 6 rounds of Carboplatin, depending on how Elsa reacts to it. I did ask her about the K9 Immune Plus - she'd not heard of it but seemed genuinely interested and said that she would look into it for us. I'm going to order some anyway - have most of you started your dawgs on it straight away? Just don't want it to interfere with her chemo.
Ordinarily, the vet said that they send dogs home a day or two after surgery but due to Elsa being a 'special' greyhound, she'll probably stay in until Friday to be on the safe side. Although we long to have her home, we know it's going to be best for her to stay where they can react quickly to any delayed bleeding that she may have. We asked about visiting her but the vet said it's probably better if we don't 
. The reason he gave for this is that dogs are SO pleased to see their owners, thinking that they've come to take them home. When they leave them again, they often get very upset which can in turn lead to them getting very distressed and not eating - something that we really don't want. We can understand where they're coming from and so will have to put our reunion on hold - going to be hard but think it's probably for the best. Maybe we could ask if there's any way that we can see her without her seeing us - I don't know if that would be more upsetting for us, though
Thank you all so much for your very kind wishes form team Kirk here in the UK!
Yay Elsa! You're on your way to feeling good again!
Ok I really love love love your onco! Her care and insight is wonderful. Her willingness to look into K9 Immunity for you shows that she's open minded enough to consider it, and her care of Elsa is outstanding. We agree that visiting after surgery is usually detrimental. Vets have told us that when parents come to see their dog, the minute they leave the clinic to go home, the dog does into panic mode wondering why they were left behind. It usually takes a while to get the dog to calm down again, so the vets we've talked to don't recommend post-op visits unless the dog is there for a few days and won't eat. That's when having a parent there to coax the dog into eating can be helpful.
As for K9 Immunity , while it can be given during chemo, most oncos don't approve introducing any supplements or new food until after chemo is over. That's just in case the dog has side effects, it's easier to know what might be causing them.
If you remember, do let your onco know that Tripawds Foundation has these great vet/client outreach brochures that we're happy to send to her clinic. If she wants some, just let us know her name & address by filling out the form on the above link. Thanks!
Keep calm and remember she'll be home before you know it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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