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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Hi guys, my 7 year old golden will be becoming an official member next week. He is looking forward to not being in pain. Mommy and Daddy are just trying to keep it together. The dr said he is an excellent candidate. He was just diagnosed with bone cancer, the dr said currently lungs look good. We have him on a great diet,apocaps
,and are trying to figure out the next part of the plan. So questions...what do I need for the guest couple days to make him comfy? Has anyone been to helping hands in Richmond va? Any positive stories for me to hold on too? Is waiting a week to amputate to long? Help dog fine...guardian crazy 
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Hi! I'm fairly new also with the recent diagnosis of Libby. Her surgery is scheduled for tomorrow (right front leg). I suggest Jerry's Required Reading List , except I don't know how to paste the link here. I can see it at the top of the forum pages. I took one of the suggestions and just finished putting down non skid rugs all over the house to cover our tile and laminate. I have yummy and nutritious people food to help entice her to eat afterwards. Libby was diagnosed 8 days ago so I don't think you have waited too long. It took us a few days for everything to sink in and come to this decision. I feel blessed to have found this site. I'm sure you will too!
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Sorry your baby is having to go through this. We waited 1 1/2 weeks for our amp, so you aren't waiting to long. Just try to keep him from being to rambunctious until the amp. I was so afraid Cadence was going to break her leg, so I acted like a prison guard, watching her every mood.
Libby's owner is right about the non skid rugs. If you have hardwood or laminates in the house the dog will be slipping and sliding as he tries to walk. A lot of people set up a specific room for the dog so they can monitor them and limit their activity for the first few days. If you don't already have a raised feeding/water bowl, that might also help the dog keep his balance when eating and drinking. Our vet gave us a harness to use to assist Cadence with her walking. You should find out if they are going to give you one. If not, you can use a towel and wrap it under the belly and use it as a sling. We already had an inflatable collar for Cadence since she hated the one the vet put on her. I don't think there is a dog out there that likes those darn cone things.
Your dogie is going to do great. This is a great community to be part of and whatever questions you have, please feel free to ask them.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
Welcome to Tripawds Kciardi- please consider registering as a member so your posts will not have to wait for moderation.
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis in your boy- what's his name?
Thanks amya for posting about the reading list, another great resource is to download the e-book Three Legs and a Spare.
There is lots of good information and support to be found here. We have been where you are now and know how scary and overwhelming it can be.
Karen
Thanks guys! I am totally going to register thanks! I need the help! is anyone looking at chemo as well? Max, my baby, has osteoporosis, which is aggressive, it and everything I read sucks in regards to the results of just amputation. I think I need to stop googling bone cancer in dogs.
Kciardi said
is anyone looking at chemo as well?
Search these forums and the blogs and you'll find plenty of discussion about chemotherapy. Check out this popular topic for starters:
Once you register, your posts will not require moderation, after your first.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Hello! I just want to say welcome and you are not crazy We're all on different parts of our "journey" and this is the most wonderful community to find when you find yourself in this terrible position.
My kitty is today 7 weeks post amputation, so I do have some trouble offering large doggy advice but what I can tell you is that we are all here for you, take advantage of the forums and chat rooms. Do not think any question is too dumb or be afraid to ask anything, trust me, we've all been there and have all asked these questions!!
Keeps us posted and let us know what you need!!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Hi and welcome. The tips offered above are great - the non-slip rugs or runners are a must have. A few other thoughts: keep the fur between the toes of the remaining legs trimmed short; have a plan for getting him into/out of the vehicle when you pick him up (most pups are walking by the time you pick them up but may have trouble figuring out how to get into the car with their altered jump); have a sleeping arrangement where you can be close for at least the first few nights (Zeus always slept in bed with us, so we moved our mattress off the frame and onto the floor so he could get up and down without hurting himself). I'm sure others will chime in with more suggestions. Good luck!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
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