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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Hello everyone, my name is Angas and I am a 7 year Rough Coat Collie, living in Adelaide Australia. Ten months ago I was on my property chasing a rabbit and snapped my cruciate ligament. My knee was operated on to repair the ligament, but sadly the knee got infected, badly. My pawrents took me to a veterinarian specialist who was lovely and she was great with my pawrents. My knee was reoperated on to remove all implants and i was then on antibiotics for many weeks, but was left with septic arthritis of the knee. My pawrents had a brace made up for me from orthopets so as I could wear to strengthen my muscle in my leg ready for my next operation to reconstruct my knee. When the time came my knee would not of benefited from a reconstruction because it was bone to bone due to the amount of damage done by the infection. So my specialist put to my pawrents a knee replacement. We decided to go ahead with replacement and the work up began. After antibiotic bead implants and cultures showing no infection I was off to Melbourne for my knee replacement. Operation went well, but during my post op recovery my leg still wasnt right. The medial lateral ligament had snapped, and had to be repaired, so back to the specialist surgeon in Melbourne. Back in Adelaide six week post operation, the ligament repair failed and the knee replacement became loose and was no longer stable. There was now no choice for my pawrents but to have my leg amputated. My pawrents were very emotional and stressed, but the specialists vets here in Adelaide looking after me were great and were very nice to my pawrents and explained it all, and the operation went well. It has now been four weeks since my amputation after ten months of trying to save my right hind leg. I am doing well and are very happy, my pawrents are coping, they have there moments, when I know mum is upset. I am getting around allright, and I was up on the property the other weekend so I was walking around in the paddocks. I get tired a little quicker, but I just have to build up my fitness. I saw my specialist last week and she was happy with me and doesnt need to see me again, but I can have a social visit with her, she would like to see me with my full coat once it has grown back. So this is a brief run down of my story, and I would be more than happy to share more details of my story.
Wow Angas, you're one tough pup! Thanks for sharing your story, we look forward to following your progress.
If Mum is having a hard time coping with your amputation, have her read Without Regret. This book has helped many members deal with the decision to amputate, including us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry, All this blogs, forum and chat rooms is new to mum and dad, but they will soon learn.
angas...wow, what a long rough road to becoming a tripawd pup!!! three legs really are plenty, and not having the pain is priceless. fortunately...you don't have to also deal with the 'c' word, so that's great.
hope you keep getting stronger every day..we'd love to see more pictures of you, your avatar picture is very nice. we have a 'little brother' named sam who is an english shepherd...i think he looks like you only 'smooshed' down some. welcome to the site.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Angas, what a pretty dog you are! You have been through so much, now you get to recover and get back to your new life! My name is Cooper and I am only a week post op, but doing well. I get a little puzzled because something has changed, I just don't know what. But my mom and dad and all the siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends seem to think I am great so I think I am too! Good luck and welcome to Tripawds!
WOW! Angas!
I wanna come live with you!! Your pawrents are LOADED!!!! My pawrents are still bemoaning the $700 they spent on me for a toenail amputation!
Bwahahahahhahahahhaaahhhaaaaaaa!
Monkeydogs RULE!
Hi Angas! You are gonna feel a lot better now since that painful leg is gone! Don't let Monkeybutt come live with you!!!! The LAST thing you need is a Monkeydog! They are totally annoying! He's just jealous because his pawrents spent way more money on his sister Angel Comet than they ever did on him (that's including the toenail amputation!) Please keep us posted on your recovery.
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Thanks all for the words of encouragement. I really feel for you all having to be treated and coping with cancer. The worry you must having never knowing what is next. For me other than learning to get around on three legs, and keeping my weight down and a bit of arthiritis, I really dont have any other worries now. Where you guys would continuously have the worry of cancer on your mind. It was a tough ten months, I hear mum say how it was a nightmare and my pawrents were always telling me they loved me and were sorry, but needed to try what they could to save my leg. But there would be no point coming and living with us because from my understanding from what mum and dad said, they arent loaded anymore apparently I cleaned them out, they keep saying it was all worth it to be able to get collie hugs from me each day.
Cooper its great to hear you are doing well post op. I had and still do have the visits from my aunt, grandma, grandpa, friends, mum and dads friends. Its great you get treats, hugs and kisses. Each time they visited I would tell them my story, so I would get more attention. Soon after my operation I tried to scratch my ear, my head was turning towards my leg and my stump was moving but my ear was feeling any better, and I thought the same as you, somethings not right hear. I looked up at mum and her eyes were watering, and then she came over and gave me a big hug and scratched my ear. So all was good and I went back to sleep.
So I am feeling better, I did a short walk tonight, I stop and start, have a sniff. Tomorrow night is my first massage since my amputation, so I am looking forward to that, loosen this back and shoulders.
Hey Angas, we're just glad your nightmare is over. Now it's time to get on with life and having fun!
Believe it or not, cancer has its hidden blessings. I know, weird huh? But when you are living with it you really learn not to take life for granted, it makes every day worth celebrating!
Have a good massage you lucky pup!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Angas,
Monkeybutt's and Angel Comet's mom here!
I truly understand how stressful this has been but now, you are on the road to recovery and life will be great from here on out!
My Comet was born with a deformed front leg. When she was 6 or so, she blew her cruciate ligament and had to have surgery. She had a TPLO with the metal plates and I always worried. I worried myself sick! Being she was a 2 legged dog during the recovery of 8 weeks, my biggest fear was her using the new knee and causing more injury and she'd be a 2 legged dog for life. I was so scared.
Well, it was fine and she healed. Almost two years later, she blew out the other one!!! This time the recovery was 12 weeks. So, all of the emotions started all over again! I think it took me a good 6 months after the healing to actually let her be a dog again! Left up to me, I would have bubble-wrapped her for life!!!
I'm sure Angas is going to be great! I hope you'll keep us updated! We a little family here and grow fond of our furbabies from afar!
I'll tell monkeybutt that you already spent all of your money on Angas, just like his mommy and daddy did on Angel Comet!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi Angas
Sorry you had to go through all this stuff only to have your leg removed. Well now you are a member of a very prestigious club!
I recently joined a few weeks ago and this is a really wonderful family to be with 
My Mum and Dad did the same for me last year in regards to saving my leg. I broke my right humerus, a spiral fracture by just jumpimg out of the car. They thought it could be a pathological break 'cos what I did was so benign. But I had 2 biopsies and they were both negative. I needed 2 surgeries to put in 2 plates, 15 screws, one pin and 3 cerclage wires and then the leg broke down twice after the break - I kept breaksing screws!! What I did I don't know but I was very quiet girlie. Sometime these things happen. Anyway I ended up a temporary tripawd for 6 weeks and my leg got all better.
Then 2 months ago it started hurting a lot and we found out was dratted cancer. Any way I'm now an offical tripawd and I'm just fine! Back to beach walks and loving life.
Huggs to your Mum and Dad and you 'cos they brill. and did the best for you 
Lylee Girl xoxoxo
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Wow, what a story! I'm glad you are on the road to recovery now and have found a wonderful new place with lots of new friends to cheer you and your pawrents on. Welcome to our group.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Thanks for welcoming me into your group, it helps mum and dad alot.
Lylee Girl, I feel for you with those breaks and screws and pins, I remember how it felt. No matter what we did, it went wrong. Im doing okay on three, I guess I was managing on three, but awkwardly for so long, now Im on three its easier. Im not quite up to the beach walks yet, I am still a little unfit from not doing much for 10 months. But today I walked down the street an back, I stopped and started, made out I was sniffing the trees and grass, but just needed some time out. I will slowly increase this over the next couple of weeks. I was very tired once I got home, so I had a good sleep.
Enjoy the beach.
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