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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You're right, Sally is an angel and always says what we need to hear.
When my vet recommended my cat Mona have her leg amputated because he suspected she had a tumour caused by a vaccine injection I said yes because I wanted the cancer gone. I knew nothing about this type of cancer and the prognosis and didn't even know what the lump was for sure. It turns out the vet was right on his suspicion. It was then that I read about the statistics on fibrosarcomas and even with amputations it didn't look great so I started talking to Mona, explained what happened and asked her to give me at least two more years. Yeah, a little cooky, but here it is 2.5 years later and I've asked her for two more years, so what does she do? She has suddenly turned into a laser-light fiend and wants to play with it 3 or 4 times every night (she has a rest in between the chase sessions).
I don't know if the osteosarcoma left with Tucker's leg but let's just hang on to that vision. That cancer got incinerated. Lungs look good. Lymph nodes look good. Tucker is happy. Many reason to celebrate
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Sounds like Tucker is doing great right now, and that is what matters most. And really, when you look at individual dogs, the osteo statistics are all over the place. You really can't read anything into it. Just decide on the treatment plan that works for your family, and enjoy every second you have with Tucker. And hopefully you will be posting many many ampuversaries to come!
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.
SO glad to hear Tucker is doing well! It's all very stressful but He is happy & pain free that's all that matters right now. In my house we celebrate every bonus day we have with Kylie.I agree the osteosarcoma diagnosis sucks. We were devastated too. And of course doctors have to give us the worst statistics so we're prepared, BUT every case is so different & there's just no sense wasting your bonus days worrying and crying. Tucker is happy when you're happy 😊 Be happy!
You've made a difficult decision with the amp surgery & at the time it's hard to wrap your head around the logic of cutting off a dogs leg will give him/her a better quality of life?!? But I honestly can say I have not seen my girl happier, energetic and full of life as I have the last month, since recovery & starting chemo.
She literally is running lol It is night & day from when she limped in pain from cancer to now as she rocks her new tripawd hop on 3 legs! We have our old girl back!
Rejoice in every new day that Tucker does well! Please Keep us posted! I will be following you!
Chris & Kylie xo
Totally agree. Our boy Tungsten had his amp surgery the day after Tucker....he is already ready to go out and play, probably wishes he could go swimming (stitches come out tomorrow)....I can see the light and life back in his eyes that wasnt there when he was dragging around an oversized painful leg. I dont regret having the amp surgery for him, only regret that we didnt do it before the leg got as bad as it did. I'm sure Tucker is happy to have the pain gone and will be out living life to the fullest here soon
Tungsten Blue, diagnosed with osteosarcoma August 2016, rear leg removed 28 October 2016, left us on 12/13/16, he will be greatly missed.
YAY for Tucker!!!! Sounds like he's doing great. I'm sorry about the diagnosis and of course it must have felt like a kick in the guts. I know how lucky we are not to be facing cancer and I feel like it would be crass of me to tell you to try not to focus on that and to grab every minute and make the most of it. But Superkylie and OtisandTess and everyone else speaks such sense. Be happy now. There is no way of knowing what the future holds. What you have is now.
Sending love,
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
It's been about a month or so now since Tucker's surgery, how is he doing? Hope he is getting along well and has made a full recovery. Let us know
Cheers,
Barb and Tungsten
Tungsten Blue, diagnosed with osteosarcoma August 2016, rear leg removed 28 October 2016, left us on 12/13/16, he will be greatly missed.
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