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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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Hunter begins her journey as a tripawd - New Member Intro
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Member Since:
29 December 2010
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1
30 December 2010 - 11:24 am
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Hello amazing tripawds and pawrents!!  I am so relieved to have stumbled across this site.  What an amazing resource and wonderful way to bring tripawds and their humans together.  I love it.

We join the tripawd community after a crazy week.  In just 10 days it seems like we've gone from not having a care in the world to being devasted again and again with hopes raised, dashed, raised again. 

Our 12 year old Rottie/Lab mix was diagnosed with a fracture in an osteosarcoma (femur in the right hind leg) on 12/23/2010.  Our general vet, who made the diagnosis after an x-ray, counseled us that our only option was euthanasia.  On 12/28/2010 we met with an oncologist and on 12/29/2010 Hunter had her right hind leg amputated.  She is doing remarkably well.

I started to journal the details in a Tripawds blog here:  http://huntergi.....ipawds.com

I have yet to customize the blog so please excuse the template stuff.

Now we begin the journey of recovery and, assuming the biopsy confirms that it is osteosarcoma, cancer treatment.  I look forward to learning from everyone here as we start this new phase of Hunter's life.

~Cathy

Hunter's Journey

Hunter – 12 yo female Rottie/Lab mix

Diagnosed with a fracture in an osteosarcoma on 12/23/10 (right rear leg)

Amputation on 12/29/10

7-Month Ampuversary on 07/29/11 – clean bill of health, great blood work and clear chest x-rays

Hunter gained her wings and flew free on 08/19/11

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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2
30 December 2010 - 11:34 am
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Welcome and thanks for joining! Bless you for doing all you can for Hunter, and best wishes for her speedy recovery.

FYI: You'll find lots of recovery and care tips in Jerry's Required Reading List, and for immediate answers to the most common dog amputation questions consider downloading the new Tripawds e-book Three Legs and A Spare.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

10711
3
30 December 2010 - 11:47 am
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Welcome Cathy and Hunter,

I'm sorry for the reasons that brought you here but happy that you have found our little pup loving family. I bet your girl Hunter is going to do just great as a Tripawd. My boy Fortis had his right rear leg amputated as well. He has done absolutely great and much of this is owed to the loving and caring members of this community. We are sending lots of positive thoughts your way. Wishing for Hunter a fast and uneventful recovery.

I look forward to hearing of Hunter's adventures as a Tripawd smiley

Fortis and Brett

Golden Girls
4
30 December 2010 - 12:01 pm
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Hello Cathy & Hunter! Welcome to our Tripawd family. There is a wealth of information here, and lots of support. We can't wait to see pictures of Hunter, and read more about her. Sending you golden hugs, and will keep you in our prayers. In the meantime, get lots of rest!

Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe

Member Since:
7 December 2010
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30 December 2010 - 12:57 pm
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Hi, Just wanted to send our wishes and let you know you  are in our thoughts. We found the advice and support of the kind members of these forums invaluable when Fern had her surgery. I hope you find the comfort we did.

Best wishes

Atlantic City
Member Since:
16 October 2010
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30 December 2010 - 3:50 pm
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Sounds like Hunter is in good hands and that you have taken the first steps in managing her recovery.  Bless you and Hunter and we are here for any issues that arise…

georgiagirl
7
30 December 2010 - 6:22 pm
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Hi Cathy and Huntergirl, welcome to this warm, helpful, inviting party. Thank God! you got a second opinion!! Personally we were apprehensive about this procedure and this journey despite all of the postive things we were told about the recovery and quality of life. Georgia is just two days away from her one month ampuversary and we have quickly come to accept that we made the right decision. Her recovery was awe-inspiring to us-just three days after her surgery, she was standing in the car with her head out the window on the two hour ride home! All of the negative horror stories, failures, and side-effects that we read on the internet were dashed by her amazing resolve and strength, as well as by the support of this website. So here's to you and your girl having the same positive and satisfying recovery!

Im writing you because I read your blog and saw that you were offered the same OSU study as we were. Ive been waiting to come across someone else in the same study so Im glad I found you. Just like you, we were daunted by the financial hardship and worries, but were dead-set on getting Georgia everything she needed and this study came across like a miracle to us. The price of the tests and meds covered by you dont even scratch the surface of the costs of chemo and metro, so please reconsider your doubts in that respect. Georgia is getting her second carbo injection next wed., and her first set of bloodwork came back excellent. And with every passing day, she learns more and gets stronger and closer to who she was before the procedure-shes been running like crazy through the snow the last few days. Im praying that she gets placed in the group that recieves the Palladia-despite how recent its intro into treatments is, it has already been proven effective and beneficial, with very, very few side-effects. I know the road looks very long and overwhelming, but it looks very promising; one single day at a time. You can read my recent posts in Treatment and Recovery(Reality Setting In) in the forums. I look forward to yours and Hunters progres, and hopefully we can talk as we both go through this thing. Best of Luck! 

Member Since:
14 April 2010
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8
30 December 2010 - 7:06 pm
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Welcome to the family. Gus was a rott-lab mix, and if your Hunter has anywhere close to the same strength Gus had you should be fiine, although Gus was 7, age may play a little into recovery, and he had a left front amp, so I can't say how a rear amp adjust, but I think once you get past those first 2 weeks from hell most of the time they start to show remarkable improvement and in no time will usually be their old self again, maybe a little slower, but with more character!!!!!. Gus had phantom pain which started about 5 days post, started yelping at the top of his lungs, scares the crap out of you when they first do it, lasted about 4 weeks but got milder with time, Gabapentin is the med we used to help with that. You have probably already found out you are going to learn a whole bunch of new things you never existed, but try to relax if you can, us humans usually get way more anxious than the dogs do. Don't be afraid to ask anything, experience gives the best answers, and if you have a question, someone here will probably already have dealt with the same issue. Give her the time she needs to heal, each dog heals in their own way. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan

My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010

Las Vegas, Nevada
Member Since:
14 August 2009
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30 December 2010 - 9:45 pm
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Welcome Hunter and mom!

 

We'll, you've come to the right place!  It's a great club!  (Be warned it's not exclusive to tripawds, there are pesky monkeydogs here that like to irritate the tripawds! Don't engage them!)

 

You'll get lots of great advice here and lots of love.  If you need any advice or have questions, don't hesitate in asking.  We have a lot of collective experience and if we don't have the answers, we'll make some up!

 

The next two weeks may be ruff, so keep us posted!

 

Comet's mom

Her Retired AvatarComet - 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.

RuthieGirl
10
30 December 2010 - 11:54 pm
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Welcome Cathy & Hunter,

It sounds like you're coming into this journey strong!  Keep us posted on Hunter's progress & the biopsy results.  And put up a picture so we can see your beautiful girl.

Angel Ruthie's mom Pat & puppy Tess

Member Since:
29 December 2010
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11
31 December 2010 - 12:04 am
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Thank you for the warm welcome everyone!  Hunter came home this evening and is doing as well as can be expected.  I'll post an update soon.  In the meantime I wanted to say that I do have pictures of her on her blog:  http://huntergi.....ipawds.com

Here is one of her pictures:

Image Enlarger

Hunter's Journey

Hunter – 12 yo female Rottie/Lab mix

Diagnosed with a fracture in an osteosarcoma on 12/23/10 (right rear leg)

Amputation on 12/29/10

7-Month Ampuversary on 07/29/11 – clean bill of health, great blood work and clear chest x-rays

Hunter gained her wings and flew free on 08/19/11

My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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12
31 December 2010 - 7:05 am
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Oh, what a beautiful face!  Welcome to our little piece of paradise in the world of canine cancer and tripawdism.  As you've already seen, the folks here are warm, caring, and welcoming.  You have found a new family to help you through your journey.

Sending lots of good thoughts for a speedy recovery for Hunter.

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.

Greater Western Washington area
Member Since:
25 August 2010
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13
31 December 2010 - 7:19 am
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hello Cathy and Hunter,

I wish to welcome you here too.  Without these wonderful people answering my weirdest questions and supporting me, I don't think my boy and I would have done nearly as well.  So I want to be here for you as others have been here for us!  I had a rottie/sheppard mix for 17 years, we just lost her last November to old age.  I love the mixes, I have 3 others, all mixes.

It sounds like you are off to a great start.  I will read your blog and get caught up on her progress, don't forget though to keep posting here.  For me, I only check the blogs occasionally. Welcome aboardsmiley

Elizabeth and Sammy

Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,

leg fractured 8/27/10,

leg amputated 8/30/10

http://sammyand.....pawds.com/

 

I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us.  Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.

Portage Lake, Maine
Member Since:
8 December 2009
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14
31 December 2010 - 7:23 am
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Welcome Hunter! 

You are one beautiful girl!!  I hope your recovery is speedy and without issues!  You've come to the BEST place for support on your Tripawd Journey....

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09

Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13

http://maggie.t.....t-24-2013/

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15
31 December 2010 - 8:58 am
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Hunter is beautiful! Glad to hear she made it home safely and is resting comfortably. Thanks for the update.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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