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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We will be thinking of you tomorrow. As has been said, it sounds like you have a great surgeon. You will appreciate having Rusty stay a couple of days more in the hospital, too. Things are so topsy turvy at the beginning, and he will be with people who are used to dealing with those ups and downs.
Once he gets home and starts to just be Rusty again, you will feel an even greater bond than you do now. Best of luck.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
I'm so sorry to hear about Rusty's accident and the subsequent news you got from your vet. It's quite a shock, I know, and the treatment options are a lot to take in as well. The good news is that you've come to the right place! You will get all the support and information you need from everyone in this forum! The first 2 weeks after the surgery is pretty tough on the dogs and their humans but the dogs definitely bounce back. I had a 9 year old yellow Labrador Retriever, Jersey Girl, and she had the same passion for swimming and retrieving balls with 3 legs as she had with 4. Seeing your pup's personality come back is a beautiful thing for sure! I also think this whole experience brings people even closer to their dogs. I know, it's hard to imagine! I should tell you that my pup ended up passing soon after her amputation surgery (5 weeks) but NOT from osteosarcoma. Instead she developed a large tumor in her belly that caused significant pain and other complications. While situations like ours are possible, they are not probable. I firmly believe Jersey Girl had cancer for about a year before she was properly diagnosed.
Here's my 2 cents on other stuff you might want to think about during all this...
- VETS: I was surprised to learn that vets can be drastically different in terms of their attitudes about treating cancer (!!!), their knowledge of cutting edge K9 cancer research (especially at teaching hospitals), and certainly their knowledge of homeopathic / holistic treatment options. If you don't feel GREAT about everything your vet is doing for Rusty, it can't hurt to do a little vet shopping.
- HOMEOPATHIC / HOLISTIC: There are treatments for cancer (Chinese herbs) and the immune system and they can be VERY very effective!!! Do some research on it.
- SURGERY CAUTION: Jersey Girl was taking Deramaxx (an anti-inflammatory drug) every day for 3 months before her osteosarcoma diagnosis because my vet thought her limp / pain was from elbow dysplasia. She did not have a Deramaxx wash out period before her front leg amputation and she had a very hard time recuperating from the surgery because her blood wasn't clotting properly. The vet said the Deramaxx pharmaceutical reps / company INSISTS the drug is not an anti-coagulant but my vet said he's starting to believe it really is because Jersey Girl is not the only dog he's had this problem with. Bear this in mind if Rusty is on Deramaxx for his fracture. I do not know if other anti-inflammatories behave the same.
Good luck tomorrow, I know it will go beautifully!
Claudia and Angel Jersey Girl
Good luck with the surgery tomorrow. I'll be checking for an update.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Good morning,
Just chiming in to add my support for you and your handsome boy, Rusty.
Tucker, my nine year old chocolate lab, had his right front leg amputated six months ago today and he continues to do well!!
Looking forward to your updates after surgery.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Thank you all...my wife laid in bed last night reading through the required reading and this thread. It brought tears to her eyes to know that there were so many people who knew exactly what we are going through and your words of comfort and encouragement were heart felt.
Rusty has his surgery at 3 pm. I am going to be there waiting to get the report when they are finished. I don't know if they will let me see him but I sure hope so. I will update once surgery is completed...I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well and that when he awakens his pain will be gone and he will understand that we did this because we love him. He is such a great dog and a member of our family.
Here was my boy at the Vet yesterday!
He's GORGEOUS!!!! Good luck today!!! I don't have much else to add other than I know how scary this all is.... And all to well about some vet's bedside manners (or lack there of).
My girl Shelby, is 2 1/2 months post-amp and doing great. She has hemangiosarcoma though and is on chemo and is now 6 months post-diagnosis of that and doing great (take that statistics that gave her 3- 5 months). All I can say is that you have to be the biggest advocate for your furry friend and really be firm! And be a strong pack leader around them. It helps with the healing. And lots of snuggles too!
Alison and Shelby
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Awww Rusty! You are so sweeeeeet. We are thinking of you today and sending all the healing wishes and love that we've got. Good luck, we'll be waiting for an update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww Rusty, you are so handsome!!! Sending you lots of love and hugs!!
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”
Here's beautiful and looks so happy too! Hi there handsome boy. I know you're going to feel better after your surgery. No more pain for you, little buddie. Yay!!
Well I just got home from the animal hospital. Rusty is recovering well. They removed his right foreleg and everything went smoothly. They are sending the leg bone biopsies and auxiliary lymph nodes for path reports. I was not able to see himas he was still waking up but I get to go and see him tomorrow.mnthey will get him up walking tomorrow and we are hoping to get him home on Friday. They have recommended that we allow them to rehab him to a certain stage before coming home but hopefully that will be by Friday.
Now that I am the proud friend of a wonderful, sweet tripawd...does anyone have any advice or comments on how children respond to the change in the dog? We have a five and two year old and they are quite concerned for rusty....
I will try to snap a pic tomorrow to post tomorrow....I feel like we have a new lease on life with Rusty and I won't waste a minute
Thanks for the wonderful update on Rusty!
It seems to me that there is actually a children's book about welcoming a tripawd into the family.
However, my best advice is to present Rusty's new look to your children in a rather "matter of fact" way - they will model how you relate to Rusty and will love and accept him just as they always have. My children are all adults but this past Hallowe'en, Tuck helped me give out candies at the door and he was only about six weeks post amp. The children had lots of questions but when they said they "felt sorry for him" I stated that they didn't need to because he was sick before and now he isn't anymore and he is still as happy as ever. Kids are amazing!
Have a good rest tonight....
Linda and Tucker
When our then five year old grandson asked when Murphy's leg would grow back, Grandpa told him that was the way Murphy would always be. But he also told him that Murphy still had more legs than he did. The eight year old was more down to earth. He said, well now he won't have to lift his leg to pee. Kids are pretty adaptable, as you will soon find out.
We are so glad to hear Rusty's good report. You are a great advocate for him.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
trituck said
It seems to me that there is actually a children's book about welcoming a tripawd into the family.
Linda and Tucker
Yup! Many books, like these children's books we reviewed in our Amazon blog. Thanks for the reminder!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for all the recommendations for the kids....I have ordered several books. We read together every night so that will make a very natural way to introduce the topics of why this happened and that rusty is still the same dog....I can't even begin to express the gratitude that I feel for having found this site/forum. I have so many feelings/emotions I am going through and I am glad that I am not alone, thanks for everyone and everything that this site has to offer. I am humbled by the generosity and care that is shown here
Glad to hear that Rusty made it through surgery and is on the road to recovery. It can be a bumpy road, especially the first couple of weeks, so don't get discouraged if Rusty is a bit off when he comes home. Lean on the experience here if you need to, we've been there.
When my 4 year old cousin saw Tri-pug Maggie for the first time she was puzzled and asked where her leg was. I said it was a bad, sick leg that had to go away, but she was fine with three legs. My cousin said 'oh' and never gave it another thought.
Karen
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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