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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Today our 5 year old Golden Retriever is undergoing an amputation of his right hind leg. Our emotions are all over the place with worry and guilt being the main feelings. He has, as far as we know, a soft tissue sarcoma. Final biopsy isn't back yet so we don't know what the future holds but we couldn't bear to see him keep suffering with that leg. It's been a 5 month journey with our vet, a dermatologist, an oncologist and finally a surgeon.
I started following posts here about a week ago in anticipation of this day and I want to say that it's helped us so much! Knowing that others have been through these same feelings of doubt and hearing the stories of their dogs makes the transition easier. Thanks to all you wonderful pet owners out there!
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you are dealing with cancer!
Since you have been lurking I hope you have found the Reading List- lots of links there on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
Do you have any questions or concerns we can help you with?
Keep us posted on how the surgery goes.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Murphy and family 🐾🌸
Sorry you have to join us but now that you have, you and Murphy are part of our family, you are not alone and we will all help guiding you in your journey as best as we can.
Murphy is very lucky that you take such good care of him!
Please let us know how the surgery went and do not feel guilty, you are giving Murphy a new painfree happy life.
He will show you how wonderful life on three can be, just wait and see!
Sending lots of pawsitive thoughts, hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thanks for your support. I will certainly keep you up to date on Murphy's progress. He'll be going into surgery very shortly. We'll check out the reading list Karen.
Val
Big hug, sweetie 💓💓💓💓
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Sorry about Murphy, sending prayers for a speedy recovery. This is the best place you could be for support and information. We're here for you!
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Agree this is the best place for support and information.
We found that once the amputation decision was made, things got easier--hope for you too.
We'll be watching for updates--
Fallon 8/28/06--9/6/18. My Heart.
Fallon's left front leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on 10/11/17.
Nothing But Love in Her Heart - dawn3g.tripawds.com
Update. Murphy has come out of surgery and all went well. Hopefully he'll be home with us tomorrow
That's wonderful news! Welcome and stay close by, first step is behind you. Get some rest and get your house in order. Recovery can be tricky but we will help get you through it 😊
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Yay! Yes, get all the rest you can tonight, recovery can be ruff. Holler if you need help
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Hi and welcome! I'm sorry I missed you in the chat earlier, my volume was down. I'm SO glad Murphy is out of surgery! You have come to a great community for support, fear not, you can lean on us.
Let us know how tomorrow goes. We hope he can come home!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jist catching up in time to say YAY FOR MURPHY! Surgery is done and he is high as a kite! So now is a good time for you to get some rest. It's exhausting mentally to get to this point. We know your emotions are all over the place...yeah...we know like no others can!
STAY CONNECTED and let us know if you have any questions. AND EAT LOTS OF CHCOLA!! It helps calm the nerves! Recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. Once his sparkle comes back though, it will be bigger and brighter than ever!
Can't wait it see pictures ofmyour handsome boy! Love his avatar photo ❤
Hugs
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!
Wonderful news 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Just wanted to make sure you’ve got traction covered if you’ve got hardwood or slippery floors.
If you do, it is crucial you lay carpets, rubber underlay or yoga mats down to create paths for Murphy to hop safely.
A harness is also helpful to help your boy getting up and hopping to go potty.
Pawrents with rear leggers (not my case) also found having their dogs wearing boxer shorts (tail through the fly) helped protect the incision.
Remember Murphy needs lots and lots of rest in the first stages of recovery and also he needs his pain meds well managed.
Let us know when he’s back home, we’re all here for you both.
Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Murphy is home! He's pretty sleepy from all his pain meds. Took some water but too sleepy for food. We've got the traction covered. Luckily we've always had runners to protect the dogs on the hardwood but we have a few extra down for Murphy now. He has the cone of shame on to protect the incision. And his big brother Molson (our other dog, a 10 yr old Golden) is laying beside him now and very happy that his little bro is home. Thanks for all your good wishes! I'll keep you posted.
Val
Welcome home Murphy!
On to healing and getting on with your new normal!
Stay close here and let us know what questions or concerns you have.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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