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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Sometimes I'm afraid that when we post about health concerns and set backs it is so discouraging to all of you who are making the decision to amputate or not.
Yes, Miss Emily is having severe problems with hip dysplasia but we have had five and a half months with her since her amputation. (Not that I am giving up on her.) Had we not decided on amputation she would be gone by now and it would have been a painful death as the cancer ate at her bone and the rest of her body.
It isn't like an osteosarcoma would just lay dormat and then three or four months later our little one would go to sleep and just not wake it. Cancers a bitch. It would have been a horrible, painful way to die as her bones fractured time and time again until it was too painful for her to go on.
So please try not to be discouraged. The only reason we can even be on this rollar coaster is because we choose amputation and we have our babies with us still. Check out the forum on No Regrets.
Instead notice how much this tripawds family cares about each other. I guarantee that if you post we will care.
Debra
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Emilysmom said: ...So please try not to be discouraged.
Thank you very much for sharing this insight. We created these forums as a platform for discussion of the ups and downs, to help those facing amputation for their pups prepare for the worst and see there is hope for the best.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You're so right... I'm here, even though others have had sad/bad situations lately... because of the possibility that my baby might be one of the lucky ones... It gives us all hope. And when things start going downhill... we are all here to support each other.... I am so grateful to have found you all!!!
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Great post Debra -
I have said this over and over and over and over again...I HAVE NO REGRETS. I had 17 wonderful and life changing months with Zeus post diagnosis. AND it wasn't even the cancer that took him from me in the end...it was kidney failure.
I have met people on this website who have now become dear friends of mine...I have seen and been a part of love, support, understanding and compassion...reaching out with the hand of friendship amongst complete strangers because of the common love for our dogs. The angry people in the world should learn from this...
Nothing worth having comes easy and though the battle of cancer is difficult at times and emotional, it made me a stronger and more compassionate person and the greatest gift I received was more time with Zeus...those priceless moments that I will always treasure in my heart.
Heather and Spirit Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
I know there are many heartbreaking discouraging stories, but there are also many inspirational ones. The first thing you see when you find this website is Jerry's story. He lead an adventurous, active, happy tripawd life for well over a year. Other tripawd heroes who recently passed Tazzie and Zeus, had extended happy lives as tripawds for over a year. There are many more, I think Cherry is almost at her year ampuversary, Paris etc. There are many stories to give us hope too.
Debra and Emily,
You are right on once again. Perhaps we can get Jerry to copy the forum on No Regrets then post and pin that discussion in another forum like he has on the What to Expect. We need to keep this particular discussion topic right up front. This is also why the Ampuversaries are so very important. We have many who not only survive the nasty diagnosis, but have returned to the quality of life they deserve. We need look no further than Jerry, Zeus, and Tazzie to see how full these lives can become once more. There too is the group Nova, Cherry, Max, Trouble, and Tika all approaching the one year ampuversary and while there have been complications, each is a success story. If I start to list all the inspirational stories that have followed Cherry's diagnosis, this reply will be so long that no one will ever read it, but these too are very important. I will tell you clearly, that every story helps Cherry and I continue - one foot in front of the other - one step at a time.
Shortly after Cherry's diagonsis, two others were diagnosis with similar conditions at my local vet. Because of reasons I was never told (nor do I want to know), their owners did not choose amputation, chemotherapy or radiation. All were gone in less than a month. On the other hand, there is one at our local vet who proceeded Cherry and is doing well, as well as Cemil who also lives in the same town but a different vet. This is a fight worth waging.
Bob & Cherry
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