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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Tungsten Blue's OSA journey
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Member Since:
14 February 2016
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27 November 2016 - 3:34 pm
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Great news!  Glad to hear he is doing so well.  And I've always heard that sitting for treats is overrated. . .

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.

Livermore, CA




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27 November 2016 - 8:36 pm
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Your boy had a great recovery!  It's really wonderful when they get back to themselves.

Do you think he doesn't sit because his leg is weak or because he is uncomfortable in a sit? Does he have any stump left or is the femur entirely gone?  My first rear amp pug Maggie had a little stump left, you couldn't see it but you could feel it.  She had a stable base for sitting and would sit anywhere. She actually developed a move where she would fall into a sit to change directions on slippery surfaces.  My current rear amp Elly has no femur left and her hip joint is prominent.  Elly doesn't seem to be comfortable sitting on hard surfaces so I don't ask her to.  I've always trained my dogs to sit when we wait at a corner to cross a street but I just have Elly wait in a stand.

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 November 2016 - 8:56 pm
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Always good to have great news arpund here! Thanks for the great update!

Yeah, being a tripawd who likes to play full out can be very tiring and can make a dog want to set the snooze alarm for a few more minutes!

Yeah, I was wondering if there was a "reason" Tungsten Blue didn't want to sit down too. Karen brought up some good possibilities.

So glad to hear how happy Tungsten Blue is. Made my day!! 🙂

Hugs!

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!

Member Since:
24 October 2016
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27 November 2016 - 9:28 pm
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Not sure why he doesnt sit much, he usually just folds his leg underneath himself and lies down.  He only has a bit of hip bone that I can feel but doesnt really bulge out or anything.  He can sit, but I dont force it, I guess when he is ready it will become a natural thing again, it has only been a month.  All our dogs have to sit for their food bowls and wait for my signal...they are usually very patient as long as I dont wait too long to give the sign.  So for now I am just grateful he is lining up for meals, and still on the move.  I am afraid he overdid some playing as this evening he was quite a bit more sluggish and really didnt want to get up to go outside before bed.  He may have tweeked his good leg or over exerted some muscles in his back.  He got an anti inflamatory and will have to take it easy for a few days till he is feeling better.

Tungsten Blue, diagnosed with osteosarcoma August 2016, rear leg removed 28 October 2016, left us on 12/13/16, he will be greatly missed.

Copperas Cove, TX
Member Since:
12 May 2016
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1 December 2016 - 6:49 pm
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So good to hear how well he is doing. Keep up the good work!  Pawsome progress. Deb and Angel Bandit 





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16 October 2012
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2 December 2016 - 2:12 pm
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Glad to hear he is diong well..  Yeah over doing it can set them back a little.  Even a month out they are still getting used to those muscles that they have never really had to use.

Michelle & Angel Sassy

sassymichelle-sm.jpg

Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013

05/04/2006 -  Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19  fought cancer for 4 months.

"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."

Member Since:
24 October 2016
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2 December 2016 - 8:28 pm
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I figured he has been over-doing it a bit lately.  Today for the most part he just laid around...but when he did get up I noticed he gets up very slowly and walks very gingerly on his one back leg.  I hope he didnt pull a muscle or something.  The last time he was this sluggish we gave him a few days of rest and he bounced back a bit...he will get a few days rest again....as much as we dont want to have him over work himself, we dont want to have him just lay around and not get any exercise either...guess there is a fine line.

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.

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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3 December 2016 - 12:07 am
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So glad to hear how well Tungsten has recovered and is loving life on 3!  Rosie is also doing great!  Have you started chemo yet?  We have.  She has her 2nd round next week.  She is doing so well.  We have much to be thankful for.  

Kellye, Braden and Rosie the Wonder Tripawd.  

❤️❤️🐕🐕

Member Since:
24 October 2016
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3 December 2016 - 6:24 am
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We have opted not to do chemo.  We are giving daily doses of essiac and k9 immunity.  I hope his lethargy is not associated with lung issues.  He is not having any trouble breathing or coughing or anything like that.

Tungsten Blue, diagnosed with osteosarcoma August 2016, rear leg removed 28 October 2016, left us on 12/13/16, he will be greatly missed.

London, UK


Member Since:
15 December 2015
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3 December 2016 - 6:44 am
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as much as we dont want to have him over work himself, we dont want to have him just lay around and not get any exercise either...guess there is a fine line.

Are you doing core strength exercises with him? These will tire him physically and mentally without putting strain on his leg and also help to protect his back etc. from injury. If he has tweaked something, you may need to wait until his leg has recovered. Are you giving him anti-inflammatories? My Meg, a front legger, pulled a muscle in her shoulder, and needed metacam and strict rest to fully recover. Otherwise, there is a danger they will keep re-aggravating the injury. Hydrotherapy can also be very useful in building up strength in the remaining legs.

Hope Tungsten feels better soon.

Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 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 Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

Member Since:
24 October 2016
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3 December 2016 - 5:44 pm
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Tungsten is getting deramax an anti-inflammatory (1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening).  Hope that is helping a bit.  We have not done much in the way of core exercises,but probably should.  I dont think we have anybody in our area who works as a dog physical therapist.  Does anybody know if there are videos I can watch to see how to work him?  He probably pulled something or stretched the wrong way while playing a bit of ball with his dad.  We would love to get him out swimming but with winter setting in the pond is a bit cold for swimming.  Otherwise he is great!

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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14 February 2016
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3 December 2016 - 10:29 pm
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You might also see if he enjoys a gentle massage of his remaining leg, hips, back.

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.

London, UK


Member Since:
15 December 2015
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3 December 2016 - 11:02 pm
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There's some information on building core strength here

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 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 Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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3 December 2016 - 11:13 pm
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Does anybody know if there are videos I can watch to see how to work him? 

Sure! Our Tripawds Gear Blog and Downloads blog both have videos like these:

http://download.....m/?s=rehab

Just search for terms like "rehab" and "core strength", there are many tips. We have the Tripawds e-books library book, Loving Life On Three Legs which also has many core strengthening tips.

To search for canine rehab therapists, see:

Free Rehab for New Tripawds: Get details about reimbursement for your consultation from the Tripawds Foundation through the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab.

Learn about canine rehabilitation certification from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute.

Find a certified canine rehab tech (CCRP or CCRT ) near you with the CRI Find a Therapist Directory.

Learn about the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV).
Find a Rehabilitation Veterinarian (CCRT, CCRP, CERP, and VMRT).

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
24 October 2016
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5 December 2016 - 8:42 am
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Tungsten is going to pay a visit to the vet again this morning to check out his leg/hip/back.  This morning he was even worse after spending all day yesterday relaxing.  This morning he did not want to put any weight on it and almost seemed to drag it.  Carried him out to pee, and he didnt even get up to poop (just did it while laying down).  My biggest worry is that he may have contracted OSA in the other leg...does anybody know how often this happens?  Have noticed that his "knee" joint is a bit stiff.  Hopefully he just twisted his leg, pulled a muscle or something.  I hope he didnt injure his ACL.  Guess we will find out. 

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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