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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Thinking of you and sending Otis pawsitive vibes and all best wishes for a speedy recovery 
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...
Hopefully my Otis (whose banner popped up when I looked at your thread) will watch over your Otis during his surgery! Let us know when he is in recovery.
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.
Wow what a long wait! Otis is out of surgery and awake from the anesthesia. Surgeon stated it went well. His is on pain management and has a catheter so he does not have to get up and go outside tonight. We cannot wait to see him!! Hubby and daughter work tomorrow so we won't see him until at least Sunday. Surgeon said he could come home on Sunday if he is getting up and around. Hubby told her not to rush him as he can stay a couple extra days as far as we are concerned.
However, now I want him home sunday! Miss him sooo much.
Thanks to everyone!
Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X. Started limping on 12/24/16. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17. Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17. 2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017. 4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17. Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight. Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.
Great news!
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.
Woot, woooooooooooot Otis! Happy, happy, joy, joy! That is a wonderful, fantastic update! CharlieBear is outside wolfing and dancing in the almost here snow ( yes, it may snow here in Georgia tonight in honor of Otis!!!)
Get some rest while Otis is dreaming of pink elephants ( Sally, I LOVE that one!) and know you are through the scariest part of the journey!
And, as far as coming home, you can always decide that on Sunday when you see him and know how he is recovering. Usually dogs feel pretty " high" 3-5 days post-op from the surgery drugs and then there is a bit of a dip so be aware , Otis may be extra, extra goofy when you see him. No doubt he will be soooooooooooo happy to see you!!!!
Otis is incredibly lucky to have such good parents and to be surrounded by such immense love. Best wishes, huge hugs, and happy, happy PyrPaws all around! ( You got this, Otis! You always did:)
Did your vet give you any pain relief for him until you can see surgeon? May help his comfort a bit. I agree, the decisions are yours to make. There are harnesses, wheels and carts for long distance travel. Most do quite well. My first Tripawd Lab used me as a 4 Th leg for while. 😊 He liked to lean on me when going outside. My Daryl is a speed demon. He is smaller, but your guy will amaze you. He was rescued as a Tripawd . I just got to the point of wanting the cancer off my first Lab. I started looking at that leg as the enemy. I really think he was more comfortable shortly after surgery than right before. ( it took us the better part of a year for diagnosis) . I am actually traveling an hour and a half this week for my 13 year old pup. He has a tumor on his toe that has to be removed including his toe. 3 trips, Iknow it can be nerve wracking traveling with them. I will be by myself for my trips. 🙁 Well not really, but Chandler doesn't hold up his end of the conversation very well. Keep us posted on what your week brings. Lori, Ty ! Chandler and gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Boy do I feel stupid!!! As soon as I got done posting , it went to the end. Disregard my post 😳😳 Those who know me know Inapcan be dingy. Glad to hear surgery went well!!! 😊😊😊 Lori, Ty and gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Oh HOORRAAAAY! Really glad to hear this news. Otis ROCKS!
Let us know how the next few days go and bark if you need anything at all.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
LORI!! LMAO!!! That's something I would do!! Us dingys have to stick together!!
AND OTIS IS OUT OF SURGERY AND ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 YAAAAAAAAAY!!!
So if SNOW is a good sign'for Otis, then he is gping to do great! It's getting ready to snow in GEORGIA, it's getting ready to snow in NORTH CAROLINA (both pretty rare), and it's snowing now in Virginia!
Hoping for a Sunday homecoming too! But if he needs to stay for extra recovery rime, that's okay too.
Get some GREAT REST TONIGHT!!!!
Hugs and zzzzz's
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!
This is great news! Thanks for the update. So pleased the surgery went well and that Otis is now on the road to recovery.
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...
Just got off the phone with Tufts. Otis does not need a sling to walk!! They are super surprised as they were sure he was going to be hard to get moving. He takes a few steps and then lays down to rest and gets right back up! They took him outside and he peed, during his rest time -- while laying down. He refuses to eat as he is grain free and chicken free and they believe he does not like their hypo allergenic food, as he puts a few pieces in his mouth and then spits it out. He does the same thing with meds at home so yeah he probably hates it. I should have thought to bring some of his!! He has been eating Fromm Salmon ala Veg for years.
Otis will eat a cosequin, fish oil pills and chewable rimadyl. He knows what they are called too lol. Every other pill he spits out. We have tried everything. Hiding it in food. He just sucks the food off the pills and spits the pill out lol. Hot dogs work now but he is allergic to so much stuff we don't want to give him too many pieces of hot dogs. I should have asked if they have liquid forms of all the meds. I don't want to "pill" him forcefully while he is recovering 🙁
Odie was 121 lbs pre amp and now 114 lbs post amp. They are sending samples to determine what exactly the cancer is so they can decide the chemo treatment going forward.
If it was not for this site, we would have never went this route. I am thankful for everyone here and want to say that you people really are the best group of people I have ever met online. Thank goodness google pulled this site up when I searched for Great Danes with amputated legs. I was hoping to find it was possible and found it is!
While we have to be realistic and expect the unexpected at any time, we are hopeful that we will have lots of quality time with him in the future.
He should be coming home tomorrow.
Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X. Started limping on 12/24/16. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17. Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17. 2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017. 4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17. Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight. Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.
YAAAAAAAAAY!!!! SOOOOO HAPPY!!!!! A few happy tears flowing over here!!!
Otis, you are a ROCK STAR!!!! And quite a smart boy with a lot of character!!! I looove hearing about how you decide which pills you will, and will not take!!!
If he can get up and take a few steps, that boy is soooo ready to be home!!! He shouldn't be doing anymore than that for now anyway!!
Apologies for not remembering which member, but she put pills in marshmallows and that worked beautifully!! I found stinky liverwurst worked. Just make sure you put the Tramadol in the center of a ball of liverwurst (or whatever) without getting any scent on your hands and cover it up thoroughly with the liverwurst. Tramadol is apparently the most bitter pill in the world!
Looking forward to the homecoming and lots of pictures!!!
SOOOOO HAPPY!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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!
WAY TO GO, OTIS!! So happy to hear he is doing well! And Thank YOU for the progress reports! As a fellow Dane mom facing similar choices, I am so appreciative of being able to hear how Otis is doing! Much love from the west coast!
Cheers,
Kat and Astronaut
Great news! Sounds like he will be ready to join Tripawd Great Dane Eurydice on a world tour before you know it!
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.
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