Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Yesterday was Grady's three-month ampuversary, and I gotta admit...with all the holiday mayhem, and oldest kid home from college, I kinda forgot until I saw Linda's post about Tucker! Since he doesn't notice his leg missing, I'm pretty sure he didn't notice that I forgot 
I was thinking yesterday, though, about the things that have changed (for the better!) these past few weeks:
1) I can actually say, "No" to him occasionally! At first, I let him get away with anything, simply because of the unknown. There was a lot of, "Yeah, I'm freezing, and it's raining, but what if this is the last time he'll want to play fetch??!?!", and not wanting that on my conscience. Now, there's a lot more, "Nope, it'll be nicer out tomorrow, buddy".
2) Keeping SOME food to myself 
He's a master begger, and I *swear* he twitches that stump like he's trying to give me his paw. I stopped feeling bad, and actually sometimes eat more than half of a sandwich all by myself.
3) Stairs!! At first, I banned them entirely, even though he had no issue with them. I've loosened up some, though...he really likes to go out back with his girlfriend and sniff the back yard smells. I still limit them...just paranoid about the beating his remaining limbs will take. He's 11; I probably would need to do that soon anyway!
4) I know a good appetite is a good sign...that doesn't mean he has to eat everything he wants. See above
5) Most importantly: NOT EVERYTHING IS CANCER!!! Routine yeasty ear? Yeah, I was convinced it was "ear cancer". Splinter under his nail? "Toe cancer". Little gag after inhaling his food in record time? "Lung cancer". Yeah, I'm pretty much past that, and remember he's always had normal dog issues, and always will
What a wnderful fun update!! And THREE MONTH AMPUVERSARY TOO!! YAAAAAAAAY GRADY!
You are a very, very handsome boy with an unbelievable sweet face! One look from you and I'd be givingyou everything you wanted too!
Yes, an elevennyr. will have "normal" dog issues! Whew, what a relief!! Only tripawd parents applaud arthritis, pulled muscles,. etc! Almost anythng oher than "that" is good news!!
Happy Hannah is about to celebrate her ten month ampuversary and continuing n (knocking nood over here) and she hasn't heard the word "no" yet!! Well, one exception...when she tries to ear that lovely delicacy, cat poop! She didn't hear it much before, but now? Forget about it! They learn very quickly all the advantages of being a tripawd!
Thanks for updatinb us with such a breat post AND pictures! So glad all is well! Enjoy your holidays!
Let's see, tonight we'll celebrate Brady's ampuversary with.....chocolate chip cookies! I'll eat all the chocolate and give Happy Hannah the rest!
Lots of hugs and love!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Happy Three Months Grady!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love and can so relate to your "Not Everything is Cancer" lesson. It has now been a year since Jill's amputation and I am so guilty not learning this lesson!! Every little movement she makes, sound she makes I think the worst. Now that she had her one year check up and she is not going to be visiting the oncologist for check ups once every three months I am just going to have to learn to take a chill pill! I can't bring her in every time she sneezes! Unfortunately, I think on this journey it is just one of those lessons we need to learn and learn to live with! I'm still working on it
Keep up the great work Grady!!
xoxo,
Erica & Tripawd Kitty Jill
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
Hoppy 3 Month Ampuversary Grady. Keep kicking butt you won't even know you had that awful cancer. That everything is not cancer is a hard lesson to learn. I worried all the time with Sassy. Now I worry about Bosch just never know & the 2 girls I watch them even though they are only 3 months old. Yeah I had a hard time saying no to Sassy but she had her moments where I would. Keep kicking butt.
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
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."
I can totally relate to all of your lessons. I'm just behind you in the ampuversaries! Chance's 3 month is next week! He too is learning the "no" word again. Especially since he's gained 2 lbs after the amputation because he eats his food and his sisters. Yep, we're working on that! Congrats to Grady! What a cute/sweet boy!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
Number 5 was the HARDEST...but once I relaxed into it a bit, numbers 1-4 followed 
It was so easy to forget that he's always gotten an itchy/yeasty ear, or that he'd had some arthritis before becoming a tripawd, or that he's always inhaled his food. I actually let him on the couch, after a bath, while half-wet and smelling like wet dog, and my husband was like, "Um, what is he doing up there?". And I got all defensive, and said, "But he likes it there, and what if he can't get up there tomorrow?". He reminded me that he got up there yesterday, and today, and he'll get himself up there tomorrow. For the *now*, there is nothing in the world wrong with him.
He really, really, really loves that purple dragon!
Oh you have it down! Congratulations Grasshopper, you have graduated from the scary recovery side to Being More Dog. I can see that Grady's wisdom has rubbed off on you.
It's interesting what you said about how you would have eventually had to limit his stairs activity anyways. It's true; many of the things we would do for a senior dog regardless of the number of limbs we end up doing for Tripawds. And many of the precautions we take for Tripawds, we should be doing anyways for quadpawds (i.e., not allowing them to jump out of the back of vehicles, too much explosive activity, etc). There are so many lessons to learn in this journey and they all help our future fur kids.
Lotsa love to you and Grady on Lucky #3!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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