Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Hi! I'm Loki! My mom adopted me in January 2012, and we've been best friends ever since (Dad doesn't mind). She tells me that I was really sick with Lyme disease when we first met, and I guess that's why I always feel a little sore. In 2016, though, my right paw started to hurt really bad, and even though I thought licking it might help, I just felt worse and worse. Mom and Dad brought me to the vet four times, and finally in January 2017, one of the vet techs pushed right on the spot I'd been trying to lick... owww!

Soon enough, Mom brought me back to the vet for a long nap, and when I woke up, my paw felt tingly but not as painful. The vet said I had a big tumor that was wrapped around a nerve, and that even though I'd probably feel a little weird, cancers like mine (grade 2 hemangiopericytoma) are often cured with resection. We all hoped I'd feel better soon, and despite negative met-checks, I kept licking and limping.

On July 1, 2017, my paw was feeling worse than ever. When Mom sat down next to me that night, I reached out to her and held my paw up so she would understand... and she did! She started telling Dad that she noticed a lump under my carpal pad. She sounded really scared, and Dad got upset, too. On Monday, July 3rd, we all went back to the vet to see what was happening. The vet confirmed that my cancer had returned. Mom and Dad talked with him and an oncologist for awhile, and then they asked me if I wanted to get rid of the stupid foot... of course I agreed!

Mom and Dad said my foot would finally stop hurting on July 10th! We all agreed that it was getting in the way, plus the oncologist said becoming a tripawd would be a 95% cure for my cancer. He even said I wouldn't need radiation or chemotherapy! Mom and Dad were really worried, but they were glad I found this community so that we wouldn't be alone.

Now that I've been living the tripawd life, I can say that all the promises were true! I still get sore every so often, but I get massages and sometimes a peanut butter-covered treat that makes it all better, and really the soreness is nothin' like that stupid paw! All in all, I've been living the good life. Hopping on three, demanding wrestling and play time with Daddy, and even going out hiking. What's better than that?!