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
I felt so prepared, thanks to all of you and to Three Legs and a Spare , but on, it was SO hard to drop her off at the vets today! I was wide awake from 4 am and went swimming at 6:30, making it back in time to take my sweet Maggie. MacKenzie misses her sister, too, but she did eat her breakfast, which was good. She is sticking close by my side today and I need that!
Maggie is scheduled for surgery at 2, but if they can take her earlier, they will. I am supposed to call at 2 and see how it's going.
I am trying to keep busy today. This morning I will take Kenzie to the Assisted Living home for a therapy visit. We will also pass out the Halloween crafts that my Civic Club Crafts Group made (we make 270 for 3 homes, the hospital and a special school!). I will also take her for a nice, long walk.
It will be a difficult day and tonight will be very hard, too. I have confidence in my vet and in the surgeon and I am hoping for great results. I will post again later today, when I know more.
Thank you all again, for your caring, your great ideas and your support. Judi and Maggie
Hi Judi,
I know how hard this day is, I remember it well! Try to keep your mind busy if you can, I know that's easier said than done. We're all here for you! Some advice I got that made me feel a bit better, I wore an old shirt that I didn't care about the night before surgery (too late for that now for you 
) but maybe you can wear it for a few hours now. I brought it with when I dropped Jill off and they put it with her when she was waking up from surgery so she could maybe smell me when she was waking up from anesthesia. I have no idea if it made a difference to her or not, but it sure helped ME feel better
Keep us posted!!
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
Judi, I remember Jackson's drop off, too. I remember how he looked at me in the morning, wondering where is breakfast? Why can't I eat bfast? And having to drive him to have his leg removed. Awful feeling, really. I wondered how he'd be picking him up. I read plenty here telling me he'd be happy, wiggly and excited, but I couldn't fathom that. I mean, if someone brought me somewhere without my understanding and off came my leg...I'd be a little more than pissed on pick up. I just couldn't figure it out. But behold! He was just as excited to see us on pick up as he is after I've done a 5 minute errand out of the house. I bawled my eyes out on drop off and pick up. It's so tough. I understand. But when you pick up Maggie, be prepared for more love, more fight, and more pride in your girl than ever before. It's transformative. She will have lost lost a leg, but gained a life. Today is tough, but also quite great. Congrats.
Keep us posted.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
I remember surgery day. And the days before surgery, and the days after.. I could get nothing accomplished. I couldn't think about anything else and I burst into tears all the time. All I had were the comments and suggestions of those on this site to hang on to.
This journey sucks, frankly, but if I didn't have this site and the ebook I would have been much worse off. We all know exactly how you feel right now, and that kind of camaraderie will get you through it. If you have any questions or just need to vent - we're all ears.
I've come through the other side of the journey a stronger person with more of a purpose in life, and now a great family here at Tripawds that I didn't have before. A bunch of like-minded people that I can count on. I'm sure Maggie will shine even brighter with 3 legs - I know because Barret does! I'm sure others have told you this, but this journey also makes that special bond between you and Maggie 100,000X stronger.
Thinking of Maggie and hoping all goes well today. Keep us updated!
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
Wll, I hadn't yet become a member here s I didn't have all this great advice.
I took her in at nine that morning and just sat and stayed in the stupid waiting room all day ntil surgery was over and I could go see her! At 8:00 o'clock that night they let me go in and see her. I had mh little support vuddy with me (a14 punder very, very senior vuddy to us voth) and we went in to kkss her good night! Of course, sne was totally zonked out but it was the best good ight kiss ever!! I know she knew I was there!
Also, do not pick her up for the drive home by yourself. I had an hour drive and she was sooooooo highon drugs she was literally trying to climb in my lap...out the window...through the roof.....just all over the place!! Screaming and barking in my ear the whole time!BIG mistake on m part (123 lbs. prior to surgery)!!
Also, when you do go pick her up, don't look at the surgery site! All she kows is she has to make adjustments walking and could care less about how she looks! Jist look nto that adorable face with smiles and joy and love! You both will be soooooo happy!! Promise!
Annnnnd, one more thing. I responded to your vlogs and both sayyou are "awaiting moderation". Now, I don't even kow how to do a vlog, so I'm zero help! But I kow you have to remove some sort of "vlocker" on your end...or something like that!
Now, go get lots of chocolate Hershey's bars, some, chocolate covered peanuts, a few Reese Cups, some Americone Ice Cream (Ben & Jerry's), eat half of it this morning......heck, eat it all ow!!
Sending you love and calm today!
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!
I remember that moment as being harder than all the rest put together - that look of panic in Shooter's face as I walked out the door and I saw them literally drag him away. I think I cried the entire two hour drive home. It made picking him up a piece of cake - I really didn't care that he no longer had that leg as long as I had him back with me.
Thinking of you-
Luanne & Spirit Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
I'm late to say good luck, and I see by your blog post that Maggie is doing well so far.
Hoping for an uneventful recovery.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Good luck! I too remember the drop off day. You are braver than me...I couldn't do it. I had to have hubby do it. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Hi Judi,
Thinking about you and sending lots of positivity your way. These next couple of days will be a little rough, but every single day is better than the previous day. And every little hurdle that Maggie crosses will be cause for celebration. As someone who is fairly new to the world of tripawds (Libby's amp was 8/16), I promise it will be worth it. Look your little Maggie in the eyes and tell her she's strong, brave and so special. And, you're brave, too. You guys are a team and can do this.
All the best,
Hallie & Libby
Hi Judy, boy do we remember surgery day! Yep, it's a nervewracking experience but as you'll hear again and again, it's worse for people than it is for animals.
I hope things are good today, please let us know how everything turned out. We are thinking of you both.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Judy,
I'm late joining in but we all remember how tough the day is. But I found for us that was the most difficult a lot of mixed emotions, but when we saw Snoop and he came home we knew we did what we felt was just right. Once we recouped our boy was back happy and pain free from his leg. No regrets just gratitude for each day. Keep us posted.
Good thoughts,
Esther and her Snoop
1 Guest(s)
