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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Hi all! I wanted to introduce you to my girl Haley. We adopted her in 2003, when she was a year old. She was at the city pound, and we just fell in love with her instantly. My 4 year old daughter and her are joined at the hip, and we just couldn't ask for a better kid friendly puppy (even though Haley was in the family LONG before my daughter!)...
Haley grew a mast cell tumor on her back leg 3 weeks ago. I literally propped up while we were at work, and was baseball sized by the time we got home. We took her in to have it removed immediately, and the vet told us it was pretty aggressive cancer. While in recovery from surgery, she (with her e-collar on) somehow was able to chew through her cast and into her wound.... We tried for about 2 weeks to heal her damage, but it started to get infected and we had no choice but to amputate her leg. I haven't seen her yet (surgery was yesterday, vet is hoping we can get her this afternoon), but I am so scared for her. I am glad I found this site, it has eased my fears, and I am hoping she can bounce back as quickly as so many before her!
We don't know how long she has with us, but I am hoping every last day is filled with joy! I am excited to teach my daughter how we can love and care for those who need our help, and anyone can overcome any obstacle!!
Erin
Erin, Haley and family, welcome. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your story. We're sorry you're dealing with cancer but you'll see that Haley will cope with it far better than you ever expected. It's a scary journey but its also a great lesson for your human kid too, she'll really see how dogs just don't dwell and keep on loving life despite adversity.
Good luck with Haley's homecoming, please let us know how we can help make it easier.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Erin, Haley & Family welcome to the Tripawds family. Thanks for sharing your story with us. As Jerry said you will be surprised at how well Haley does at a Tripawd. The diagnosis of cancer sucks but as you said enjoy every day that you have with her. If you have any questions don't hesitate to post them. Also the Chat is open 24/7 and a bunch of us hang out in there in the evening come chat if you want
Michelle & 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."
Welcome to you and your Haley! As Michelle mentioned, theres usually at least one of us in the chat room if you have any questions or just need to vent! Haley will do great as a Tripawd, you will be truly amazed!!! Sending you lots of strong thoughts!!
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
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. I will DEFINITELY be in the chat room tonight when we get Haley home... I am a worry wart by nature, and I would be thrilled to be able to talk to some 'been-there-done-that's' and 'am-going-through-the-same-things'!
I have not purchased a harness for Haley yet.... should I try to get that before I pick her up? My vet didn't mention it to me, but I keep seeing them everywhere, and I want to make sure I am prepared... My vet is amazing though, so maybe she is just planning on having one ready for me when I get there! 
One last question.... My house is wall to wall hardwoods (with some rugs in expected places).... Is this going to be a challenge.... I am just now starting down that worry wart path....
Thanks again all!
eejacks said
I have not purchased a harness for Haley yet.... should I try to get that before I pick her up?
One last question.... My house is wall to wall hardwoods (with some rugs in expected places).... Is this going to be a challenge.... I am just now starting down that worry wart path....
If you're thinking of buying a Ruff Wear Webmaster harness we recommend not using it until the stitches are out, generally about 10 days. Depending on where you are in the country it can take 5 days to get to you so if you want to order one you can be prepared by ordering one soon. The harness is great if she frequently travels with you, or you think she'll need a lot of assistance around the house.
See my answer in "Hopping Around" about hardwood floors.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Haley is adorable! I have a soft spot for the scruffy mixes from the pound, particularly the girl ones.
Keep us posted about how she does! And try to stay positive and patient. It has been three weeks and a couple days since amputation for Lili, and I cannot believe the improvement in the past week or so. Weeks 1 and 2 were beyond difficult and I had no idea if she'd bounce back at all. Seems like many others go through the same fears and concerns.
Just to update you all, Haley is home and doing fantastic! She is pretty unstable and wobbly... but is walking and has her amazing personality shining through! I'm sure once all of the hard core drugs wear off, she might show a bit more pain, but for now, she is sleeping peacefully, and I am a happy mommy!
Oh, and for those of you with other dogs in the house, how did they react to the surgery of their friends? My other dog, Ripley, who is older and a bit of a whiner to begin with seems very upset for Haley. He was crying (whining) when he first saw her, and has seemed upset ever since she got home... Is that normal? Anything I can do to help him understand?
Erin
Welcome home Haley! It's good to be back with the pack isn't it?
We've always been a one dog household so I know others with multiple tips will have lots of tips for you. In general most siblings give the patient a lot of space when coming home. If anything the smell of surgery & the vet clinic on a new Tripawd is what freaks them out the most. My only real suggestion is to make sure your other pups are getting enough attention so they don't feel left out. I'm sure others will chime in too.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My other outside dogs did the same thing when we brought JJ home. Particularly our pack leader, Tess, who is the only female outside. She's always been protective of him so she was pretty vocal. They were anxious to be near him but because they are so much bigger we kept them separated for fear they would hurt him.
We did let our tiny Chihuahua/Silkie mix Princess visit with him for a few minutes. He is three times her size so she wasn't going to do any damage!
Just give them a little time to adjust 
We have 2 labs. After Libby's surgery, Sammie didn't treat her much different. I believe it's because Libby has always been the alpha female and Sammie has always been submissive. That probably makes a difference. Libby is back to bossing Sammie around again, so all is normal in our dog house.
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
Welcome Haley! Shooter is also a tripawd due to a mast cell tumor. Have they said if there was any lymph node involvement? That along with the Grade of the tumor really decides how they continue with follow up chemo if necessary. We will hope for a Grade I or II for you.
I'm learning a lot about these as we go along so I'm happy to answer any questions. Spirit Maggie's mom has a lot of experience with MCTs.
Hang in there and look forward to happy updates for Haley.
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.
Welcome, I don't know how I missed your post today. My little pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a mast cell tumor. She had lymph node involvement but beat the odds by living almost 4 years, and she did not pass from mast cell. You can read her story here: http://maggiesj.....ies-story/, and you can read about her amp and treatment here: http://maggiesj.....ll-cancer/.
How big is Haley? Mag was pretty little, only 12" at the shoulder and about 17.5 pounds. I got her a ruff wear harness
but I had trouble fitting her. She never really needed it, and she didn't like it much, but it was handy for getting her in and out of my truck.
Let me know if I can help with anything, feel free to PM me too.
Karen
Morning! Haley had a pretty good first night home. She was up smashing around with her e-collar every 4 hours ready for some pain meds, but besides that, she did pretty well.... As a matter of fact, here she comes into my office now!
Her MCT did have lymph node involvement. They removed two lymph nodes during the original surgery two weeks ago. The said the main point was that the mitotic index was a 7, and that was what scared them the most. But, maybe she can beat it like Maggie for the next 4 years!!!
What worries me the most is not knowing when she is in pain. I mean, heck, she just had a leg removed two days ago, and she seems perfectly fine... She has got to be in pain, right? How am I going to to know when she is in pain from cancer? I just don't want her to suffer....
Thanks everyone for your support!
Erin
Erin,
Its great to hear Haley had a good night home. She will let you know if she is in pain. Body language and the looks in their eyes. Keep going Haley & kick cancer's butt.
Michelle & 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."
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