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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi all.....I am excited and mortified to have had to search for this site.....our beloved little Tre, our rescue that we've had for 8 years, the sweetie who is so clingy he rarely leaves our side and trembles to get his blood pressure taken.... was just diagnosed with OS in his right hind knee. We've spent the past 11 hours crying hysterically, frantically calling doctors, neighbors and friends, debating back and forth over what on earth to do....well, here I am, coming to grips with our decision to amputate. His cancer seems to be contained to his knee at this point. Although we know there could be microscopic cells already hiding in his lungs, 3 xrays showed no mets to the lungs. After all of the soul searching, we are praying that amputation and a round of chemo can give our baby another year of loving. Any support or words of advice are sincerely appreciated. We are overwhelmed, terrified to make the wrong decision and a bit traumatized that this is happening. Thank you so much
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I am very sorry you had to find us- but this is the best place to be when faced with amputation and cancer.
We have all been where you are now: unsure, scared and overwhelmed. We got through it and are here to help you get through it.
First I want to give you links to our Reading List and the list of eBooks available for download. Both have lots of information from this site on what to expect with amputation, recovery and treatment.
Our pups are remarkably resilient, they tend to get through this much better than we do. Dogs just focus on what is right in front of them, we worry about everything! Once we learn to live more like our pups we call it Being More Dog.
The first two or so weeks after surgery can be full of ups and downs so don't get discouraged if Tre has some down time. Keep your focus on why you are doing this....
You are doing this FOR Tre, you are taking way his pain and GIVING him a chance at more quality, pain free time with your pack.
Let us know what you need.
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
I'm in chat right now if you want to hop over. Click on Chat and scroll down and wait for it to load.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Welcome and so sorry your diagnosis has brought you here. Tre is a beauty! One thing I learned throughout this journey is to keep things chunked down. First focus on the amp, then the recovery, then the chemo or whatever route you take at that point. Now it took me about 3 to 4 weeks into this journey to relax and be able to do this. Apparently I'm not a very fast learner 😀. I learned how Max was totally taking my mood and going with it. If I panicked he got scared and panicked if I stayed calm he stayed calm. So I had to learn to be a strong pack leader and go day by day just as Max was doing. Once I did that things got so much easier. I don't worry anymore about the tomorrow's because if I do I rob myself of all our today's. Today's to love on Max and spoil him silly. And for now our today's are good. Max has finished his chemo and is back to being his happy doggy self. He's out of pain and still loves being with his people. Stay connected to us and keep us posted on Tres journey. We will all walk right with you in this journey that none of us wanted. Let us know how we can help you. You're among friends now.
Linda & Max
Hi Tre & Family!
I'll echo what Linda said. Try not to be terrified, especially if Tre is looking to his pack leader (you) for the message that it is all going to be OK. If you're radiating calmness and confidence, he will pick up on that and it will make it easier on him.
I remember how overwhelmed and stunned we felt when we got our OSA diagnosis. Probably like you, we went from thinking 'how can we do this' to 'how can we not do this'? It is a terrible decision to have to make and seems so drastic. We all know that amputation won't cure the cancer but we do it because OSA is so painful. It is a good reason, the best reason of all, so try not to question it.
Now, they'll be some up and downs along the way, especially post-amp. They'll be days when surely you'll think you made the wrong choice. But you'll have days when you're amazed at how well he's doing. The good days will slowly outnumber the bad and you'll be on your way!
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Hey guys, so very sorry to hear about the diagnosis, we get it, totally. You've gotten some great insight here from our amazing members and want you to know that if you have any questions whatsoever, don't hesitate to ask. My biggest piece of advice is: Be More Dog . Know that what you project, Tre will reflect right back at ya. So when you project pawsitivity and optimism, he will too. You can do it!
Let us know what kind of questions you have. It sound like you already selected a surgeon and clinic?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yep! Ditto everyone!!
As you now knkw, you are not alone! We are here with you every step of the way, okay? This is a gut wrenching decision ro have ro make and the emotional stress is through the roof! I had not found this skte when my Happy Hannah was struck with osteo. When am was first mentioned I nearly fell out and said absolutely not. Fortunately I did my research and proceeded. However, I did cancel the first surgery appointment becae I chickened out!
Recovery was rough. It took abojt three weeks before I coukd see her sparkle come back and before I coukd really say I did this FOR Happy Hannah and not TO her! BEST DECISION EVER!! We got the most glorious extended pain free time full of non-stop loving and spoiling, ropped off with some ice cream and steak sometimes!
For most of us, we feel some relief once the decision to amputate.
Yes, it is major surgery and, like all surgeries, it has risk. It sounds like your vets think she is a good candidate and should do very well.
Tre's avatar licture ks adorabE! Can't wat to see more!
Update when you can. We have rons of first-hand experience here ro help you through this.
Love ro all!
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!
Oh no! I just typed a whole huge response and then deleted it by mistake 🙁 Let me see if this saves and I'll write more!!
Okay so that worked!! Well I will try to repeat everything I had written before. To start off, Tre is at the vet, on IV pain meds awaiting surgery later this afternoon. We are blessed that the surgeon is getting him in there on a fully booked day. He will have surgery tonite, chemo tomorrow and then apparently home tomorrow (freaking out). We can't thank you all enough for all of the responses and support. It has literally saved our sanity and definitely boosted our confidence regarding our decision. We have put down 4 animals so far, have gone thru a hip replacement, a knee replacement and a back surgery. And this was by far the hardest decision to make!!
So since my baby will be coming home tomorrow, is there anything I need to have ready other than rugs everywhere (which are already in place following our other guy's back surgery 6 weeks ago).....I have to think we need a harness of some sort? How will he poop?? So many questions....but I am so grateful to have found you all. I have a sense of peace knowing we have a plan...and the surgeon and oncologist were both very realistic with us about his prognosis.
Just so you'll know, we are having ,"computer issues" with atting kicked off right when you go to "submiyt" a replay. So for now, we are all trying to remember to copy our posts before we hit submit. Just telling you this as a heads up. Look u der the "Technical Support" thread and you'll see all the j nfo.
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!
Hi - I strongly recommend the Ruffwear harness by webmaster; you can find it hear under gear. We used it with our front amp dobe and it saved our lives. Good luck, think positive.
Paula and 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
Same thing just happened to me. Grr. I'll make this short. Ruff wear harness by webmaster bought at this site. Invaluable. Confined area with his bed. First week or so ear, drink, rest and short potty breaks. They figure out quickly how to potty. Max didn't want us to help him so we'd let him go and just stay close so we could grab his harness if we needed to. You'll come home with a lot of pain meds and antibiotic. Stay on top of pain management . Playing catch up doesn't work so well. If you have any questions just ask. We're here for you. Gonna hit submit before I lose this post
Linda & Max
He is out of surgery!! The doctor said he is doing ok. He has some diarrhea that they are giving him something for (probably from his nerves, poor sweet baby). Well here's the scary part, he said he looked around in the limb after amputation and he said his leg probably would have broken in the next day or so. 🙁 My gosh, deep breath. We were at his regular vet last Friday and cancer was 'on the bottom of her list of concerns'....so we came home with some pain meds and assumed it was a torn tendon. I'm so sad he had to suffer these past few days. But I'm relieved that the dr said he will absolutely feel better tonite than he did earlier, just from removing the leg. I'm terrified of what tomorrow holds. I'm so nervous to bring him home. How will we get him in the car?? But I am trying to turn my fear into positive thoughts and know that we did the best thing for him. Phew. I'm exhausted and can't wait for a month from now. 🙂
Good news! And a close call. I'm so glad that leg didn't fracture! See things are getting better already! Our Max was not like a lot of others here and hop right out happy to see us. For the first 3 days I swore he thought we took both his back legs. But then he got his "sea legs" and he's been hopping happily ever since. The vets office should have a sling to help you get him in the car. If you can take someone with you it will really help. Some dogs just happily hop out and not much help is needed. It just depends on the individual dog. It's ok to be nervous. But don't project that to Tre. Be calm and keep things as much to normal as you can. I'm not going to tell you those first few days are easy because they aren't. But you've got all of us to fall back on when you need to. We'll get you through all of it and you're right a month from now you'll look back and say it wasn't so bad. Good luck let us know how it goes and let us help you when you need it.
Linda & Max
Good news, surgery done and successful!
One very important thing to remember- Tre will be looking to you as the pack leader to show him everything is OK. It's hard sometimes with the stress and lack of sleep but you have to be positive around him. I did not do that well with my pug Maggie, I was grumpy, she was grumpy.
If the vet doesn't send a sling with you then you can make one out of a reusable cloth shopping bag. Slit the side seams open and the handles are built in! You can add a towel for padding if needed.
Are his food dishes raised? That helps some tripawds to balance when they eat. You can use a stool or a box or even a stack of books to see if Tre will go for it. My pug Maggie refused to eat out of her raised dish!
I've now been through 2 knee surgeries with my quad pug Obie. I will say that his rehab took waaaaaay longer than Maggie's rehab from her rear amp. The decision to amputate was tougher, but if you have been through all those rehabs you can handle this.
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
2 Guest(s)
