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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Thank you "Lucy's Mom". We have been together tonight grooming, loving and just being together. All four of us and Dexter is right in the middle. Maggie has fur fluffs in between her toes. Very girl like !!. We clipped them off her right paw and painted her toe nails so there will be no mistake tomorrow.
Thanks to all for your support and prayers. We drop off Mags at 8:00 am for her amputation. I pray for Maggie and her successful surgery and our surgeon for his skills and talet. I hope to keep all of you posted with her status and eventual progress.
Thanks again, Silver
Hi Silver,
Welcome to you and Maggie. My Charley was 2.5 years old when he was diagnosed with OS in his left proximal humerus and we chose amputation and 5 rounds of Carboplatin chemotherapy. Charley can do everything on 3 legs that he did on 4 -- he counter-surfs, jumps and runs like the wind!
There is a link in my signature to a video of Charley playing in the snow at 12 weeks post amputation. It is amazing to watch! Charley will celebrate his 17-Month Ampuversary on 3-28-12 and his 4th Birthday on 3-29-12 and we plan on having a big pawty!
The first 2 weeks after the amp are a bit rough, mostly because you will be low on sleep, emotionally drained and in our case Charley did not tolerate the tramadol well (once we figured that out on day 5 or 6, it was better). Charley got his staples removed on day 13 and he was 95% better immediately (he had his first chemo immediately after). Charley tolerated chemo well, he didn't skip a beat and his labby appetite was not affected.
Even though there is no cure for osteosarcoma, there is no need to just give up hope either. There are pups that live 2, 3, 4+ and even 7 years after diagnosis. Unfortunately there are no guarantees with whatever course of treatment you decide. Vets can’t make accurate predictions on how long a dog will survive. They can only give you a prognosis based on statistics, which are only averages. No one knows exactly how long any of us will survive and I can guarantee that there is no expiration date stamped on the bottom of any paw either.
One thing I have learned from this unwanted OS journey is that our dogs live in the moment. Charley is still the same happy labby boy we knew before, only minus a leg. To be honest, there are days when my hubby and I forget he only has 3 legs. Charley reminds us everyday that he is living with cancer, not dying from cancer. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Today is a gift. That is why we call it the present."
Hugs and chocolate labby kisses,
Ellen & Charley
Charley's Blog: CHOCOLATE KISSES
DOB: 3-29-08, male chocolate lab
Dx: OSA L proximal humerus 10-19-10
Amputation: L front leg & scapula 10-28-10
Chemo: 5 rounds of Carboplatin
Video (12 weeks post amp):Tripaw Charley Playing
♥♥♥ Lots of supplements and love!!! ♥♥♥
Hi Silver,
I just wanted you to know that we will be thinking of you and Maggie today, and sending you lots of good wishes, strength and courage to get through this difficult time.
Soon your girl will be home with you and Dexter, and she'll be looking to you for assurance and confidence -- this is the time to put on your best game face and show her that you truly believe in her her ability to overcome this hurdle. She will draw strength from your optimism, so even if you're not really feeling it, at least try to shine it on...
We will be waiting to hear how well she did today...
Rio's momma, Micki
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Hello Silver and Maggie,
Just wanted to say that we are thinking of you and wishing you the best. This site was invaluable to me the 1st few weeks post amp, please let us know how surgery went.
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
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