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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Welcome to the site! Sorry to hear about Sammy. His diagnosis and location is identical to my dog Charlie's. Within two weeks of suspicion, then meeting the oncologist and surgeon, we had the amputation. The whirlwind of the event, the emotions, the stress were all overwhelming. Had I not found this site (one of the recommendations on a list of sites and resources given to me by the oncologist), the outcome would have been way different. I totally was unprepared, but having read everything on this site, then having the 'talk' with Charlie, we were able to move forward.
Charlie was 108 pounds at the time of surgery, coming out at a svelt 98 pounds. He was 10 years old, almost 11. I didn't think it was possible for an old, huge man to be able to live through that! Anyway, 11 weeks later, and he is doing awesome! Charlie has been a champ every step of the way. Me? Well, I've been a nervous wreck, hiding my anxiety as best as I can from Charlie. That would be the one thing that I would stress: They warn you about the first two weeks after amputation as being the hardest part. What I didn't realize was that it was hardest on the human! This site is what got me through. Thank you Tripawds!
Again, welcome aboard! Ask anything and everything, or just vent. We are here and have been through it.
Best wishes on the upcoming surgery,
VQ & Charlie
"I don't know where I am."
That is GREAT news for the walk! With Sammy's name it will be number 20 so I will post a picture pretty soon of the updated shirt back!!! Check the forum later to see your pup's name!!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
I just watched Oslo's video, it made me cry. He is the same age as Sammy, with much of the same characteristics. I am going to have to get on youtube to see more.
Vikingmom,
It is all so stressful. You have a big boy too, so you know the stressful feeling about what if he can't do 3 legs? Sammy isn't good with vets and I don't know how he is going to handle going in with 4 legs and coming out with 3. I don't know how to make this easier for him. I swear I am going to read that "Jerry's page" required thing right now before I post more. It might answer some of these questions..
Thanks for the welcome,
Elizabeth
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.
Welcome Sammy's Family!! Echoing all the others, this is a place you don't want to have to be, but the best place if you have to be here!!
My Magic was 11 years old (in feb), diagnosed in March becoming a tripawd at 114 pounds. Unfortunately, his cancer was aggressive and I lost him way too soon...but he did great getting around right up til the end....It was amazing to me how at his age and couch potato status, he actually GAINED energy and we went to the park almost every single day of his tripawd life!!!
Now for my suggestions (I should have this on a memory key somewhere)....get non skid runners for slippery places in your house, check your entrances/exits to the house to see if you will need ramps....Magic HATED the ramps I put up or invented...he preferred the steps but there were only two at the most. the most important suggestion is a Ruffwear Harness to help your rather large guy to get in and out of vehicles and at various other times when it might be necessary. I put Magic's on in the morning when I got dressed and took it off at night. He accepted it from the very first moment and it was a lifesaver.
Check with your vet to see when you can use the harness, some want you to wait til the stitches/staples are out, my vet said go ahead when it gets here but Magic's incision was wrapped so it was protected.
Those first two weeks are a ...um....challenge! This is the place to be for advice, comfort, stories, suggestions and many many hugs.
fightingforsammy said:
How do I sign in? I went back to the e-mail sign up to get in... Is there another way? I hope the picture I posted is showing up as the avatar. That is my charmer, my sweet funny boy, Sammy being a goof ball!
The best way is to log in is here in the right hand side of the page, where it says "Login." If you have a blog you can sign in there. Hope this helps.
Sammy is adorable! With spunk like that he can beat anything!
Please don't let the statistics get you down. Remember, nine out of ten are wrong! While there are many of us who don't make it as long as anyone would like, there are many of us who do. I lived two years past my diagnosis! And I have a friend who is now going on three. So I know it's good to be realistic but it's also so smart to be hopeful. Where the cancer is in Sammy's leg is also a good thing; the lower down on the leg, the better.
Whatever we can do to help let us know OK? And remember, you are most definitely not alone.
Your pal,
Spirit Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok. Just read the required reading stuff. Where can I get non-slip runners? I have hardwood floors and no rugs at all because I have 3 large dogs. I saw the interlocking tile things but they look too expensive.
I am so glad to read Jerry's post about the further down the leg the better. Thanks for throwing me a "bone" 🙂 All offers of hope are much appreciated! His surgery is $3400.00 and the x-rays and exams have already cost $1000.00 this week. I need to get the most bang for my buck on the rugs and harness stuff. Where can I get them as inexpensively as possible?
I am scared to think about phantom pain , loss of appetite, and being strong. I will be strong for him when I pick him up, I guess I just have to start practicing now. The yellow lab in the picture right after amp surgery had such a sad look on her face it made my heart squeeze a little thinking about what Sammy faces. I am glad to hear though that if I stay strong and be calm it will help him. I just want to do the best for him.
How much is chemo? I am planning on that for him too, once they get the results back after the surgery. I read unless you do four treatments it doesn't help as much. Is there a teaching hospital in Washington State?
Soooo many questions...
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.
Ask away, we'll try to help.
We have been told that non-slip runners can be had at Home Cheapo pretty inexpensively. They come on a roll and you cut to length. You can also just purchase throw rugs with a good sticky back and those help too. Just put them in the most traveled areas that Sammy goes to. You'll be amazed at how he knows where to step and where not to.
You're in a GREAT state for canine cancer care. What city are you in? How is your relationship with your vet now? Have they referred you to an oncologist?
The current standard for osteosarcoma chemo is six rounds of carboplatin but it just depends on the dog and how they tolerate it. Not everyone does six. See these blog posts with Dr. Mona Rosenberg, one of the nation's leading oncologists.
Washington State University has a vet teaching school.
Here is a forum discussion to see what others have paid for amputation and chemo.
Hope this helps! don't be afraid to ask, that's what we're here for.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I live in Maple Valley and work in Bellevue. The specialist is in Kirkland at Pudget sound Animal Hospital for surgery. They said they don't do chemo there but will refer me. I will check out the other posts for costs and see about the UW. THANKS for the home cheapo info, I will go there this morning!
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.
Oh yes, my vet has seen Sammy since we found him as a pup. She is very caring but can't do any of the things that Sammy needs, chemo, amputation, any of it so we are in unchartered waters..
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.
Are you talking about Charlie (referring to the yellow lab that looks sad)? Nope, not sad, although now I need to change the avatar to a happier picture. 
Regarding the rugs: A week before the diagnosis I threw out a great rug and then kicked myself! Stupid hindsight! Anyway, I actually have picked them up at garage sales. Yeah, it ain't pretty, but they work.
Regarding the chemo, Charlie will have his 4th round of Carboplatin tomorrow. We are looking at doing 6 rounds. So far, so good. Although I could have done the chemo at the U of M (about 25 miles away, a short jaunt for us) I decided to have the local vet do it. They go to the human hospital here in town and pick up the Carboplatin and administer it at their vet clinic. It is a tad cheaper (about $400 a round versus $500 at the U). You might want to see if the local vet would be willing to do the same.
We did the amputation at the U, and I would recommend the surgery at a hospital (the anxiety in me demands it!) but the chemo seems like a relatively easy process, but go with your gut and what your vet recommends.
Off to change my avatar...
"I don't know where I am."
Last question before I go get the rugs, what are NSAID's ?
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.
I don't know who he/she was. It was under the recommended reading list, it said to look at recent amp pic's to know what to expect. The pic was of a beautiful yellow lab, maybe Charlie, who looked so sad. Sam's surgery is Monday so time is of the esssence. I need rugs now so he can see them and walk on them before he goes in. I don't want anything at home that isn't familiar after the surgery.
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.
Something like non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs.
They are pretty common. We use Rimadyl. Throughout his years here, we've given it to him when he would limp due to over-playing/working or weather changes.
"I don't know where I am."
Here is a picture of my pup Chloe' two days post amp. She has a happy face!!! (sorry the lighting is a bit dark)
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Hello again Elizabeth and Sammy,
I did not realize you were in Washington State when I first posted my welcome to you.
Our Vet is Dr. Pam. in Puyallup, WA. River Road Animal Hospital (253) 845 7525. She is a member here at Tripawds.com, shares her medical expertise with us and she and her family have gone through what all of the rest of us are here for.
Read the story of her mastif Tazziedog here on Tripawds, moving and inspiring.
I can tell you that she suspected JD's osteosarcoma instantly and has been a tremendous support. Not many people find a Vet with the real life experience and compassion of Dr. Pam.
JD's mom
JD
One Tough Girl
(1999-2010)
-Diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left front leg –
-Amputation July 23 2010 –
-The cancer didn't get her, but she is gone-
-She fought the cancer and loved life till bloat brought her down August 29th, 2010-
Now she watches over her mom and two new sisters, the Quad-Paws Serena and Maya
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