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've been hanging around here since before Halloween, dreading the inevitable and trying to prepare myself...and it's finally happened. On November 1st, my Katy officially became a Tripawd. About the first week of September my husband noticed a lump on her left front leg, and that little snowball turned into an avalanche of x-rays, biopsies, vet consults, and emotional loop-de-loops. We ended up with a final diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma, most likely liposarcoma, and it was determined that attempting to surgically remove the tumor itself would cause more harm than good; her entire lower leg, from the elbow to the wrist, was swollen, and she was limping terribly as it was. Amputation was the only good option we had.
And I don't regret it one bit. Only 2 days after surgery and Katy is up and about! Yes she sleeps quite a bit, and her chest and side look like someone dumped grape koolaid all over her, but she's happy and affectionate, eating and drinking and peeing and pooping, it's amazing. Like she's glad to be rid of that pesky leg, it was just slowing her down. 🙂
I'm loving the community here at Tripawds.com! So many knowledgeable and helpful people here, everyone's so nice and supportive. And I love the blog feature, I love reading everyone's stories, and I especially enjoy keeping a blog for Katy, it's very cathartic. Helps me sort my emotions out. I like sharing my experiences in the hope that it will help someone else. I've even apparently coined a new term, "Tripride," you'll have to read the definition of that one on my blog 🙂 I've been told it's T shirt-worthy!
Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and my brand new hopalong. Very happy to be here!
I'm Crystal, but you can call me Katymom. :) I'm Triproud of my Tripawd!
Katy Sue Sarcopski – born approx 2/03, found "the lump" 9/7/11, suspected soft tissue sarcoma (most likely liposarcoma) 10/11, became a Tripawd 11/1/11, official diagnosis of infiltrating lipoma 11/23/11
Follow her "tail" at katydidit.tripawds.com!
Hi Katy's mom...welcome. Boy our fur babies bring us an avalanche of emotions but they are worth it. Glad you have found comfort here and the world of knowledge from all these wonderful people. My Misty never "officially" became a tripawd but these guys welcomed us with open arms and supported us in so many ways. Now that she is gone I'm still coming back to check up on my friends!
Fiona and 4ever Misty♥
Misty's blog: http://misty.tripawds.com
Sister to Millie, 9 yr old choc. lab
Sister to Lola, 6 yr old choc. lab
Sister to Toby, 7 yr old rottie mix (officially my sons dog, but I'm still his mama!)
Sweetness to Fiona and Bill
Welcome Katy! Now I'll have to check out your blog so I can learn what Tripride is 
You'll me lots of great people here. When you visit Tripawds, some days you'll cry, some days you'll laugh...and some days you'll do both at the same time!
Please keep us posted on Katy's recovery, and make sure you get some rest too!
Cathy
Hi again Katy and "Mom" - I commented about 'tripride' on your blog but also wanted to officially welcome you over here to the site that nobody wants to join but everyone is glad they did. I seriously don't think you'll find a better, nicer, more supportive group of folks on the internet!
Congrats on already peeing and pooing. Whoohoo. We get excited about stuff like that around here!
All the best and hope Katy continues to cruise through her recovery. Once she's totally off the meds and has her staples out, she'll really begin to amaze you!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Wow...so nice to meet you here Katy (and Katy's mom)! Charlie and Katy are the same age too! Katy is a beautiful girl! So great to hear she is doing so well so quickly after the surgery!!! The bruising really scared us at first too! You must feel so lucky to be able to take Katy with you everyday! It seems so important to have them close to us right now! We'll keep an eye on you guys. So nice to know Charlie has a friend going through the same thing that we can talk to!
Tripawds is such an incredible place of support! So happy we found all of you!!!
Charlie & Family 
tripride!!! tripride!!!!! (no, not 'trip ride'....it's TRI-PRIDE)...so, say it all together tripride!!! tripride!!! tripride!!!
we need a t-shirt admin guy!!!!!
charon & gayle
oh, and katy and mom, welcome, we're loving your blog and hope you keep posting of katy's progress!!!
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
etgayle said:
we need a t-shirt admin guy!!!!!
Sounds pawesome! Perfect for our Tri Nation collection.
We are open to suggestions for how to best present TriPride on a shirt... or is it TRIPRIDE, and should it include a tagline?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I like TriPride - cuz people might read it as 'trip ride' if it's all in caps! It is kinda a trippy ride, having a tripawd, but I don't think that's the double meaning we wanna have in there. 🙂
Tagline suggestion: "I'm proud of my Tripawd!" Or "Proud to be a Tripawd Pawrent!"
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
LOVE the TriPride! You definitely have the right attitude! Glad that Katy is doing well!
Jenna & Spirit Chili Dawg
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
So glad Katy is doing so great! That's one big milestone out of the way!
I love "TriPride", too. I can't wait to wear my T-shirt to the beach with Tate!
Jan & Tate
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Hi Katy and Mom,
Welcome! I'm new too! Less than ten days ago I didn't even know about about this site, or that I would be needing it! But what a huge need it has filled for so many people. It's amazing how supportive this community is - I don't know where I'd be without it. I'm so glad to hear that Katy is doing well! Keep us updated!
Thanks everyone! Katy had her post-amp checkup today, I posted on my blog but the short version is, everything's fantastic, healing well, and Doc doesn't want to see her again before her sutures come out 🙂
The whole TriPride thing *blush* I'm so glad you guys like it. I had come up with a bit of a slogan, "I'm Triproud of my Tripawd!" thought that would look cute on a T shirt. TriPride by itself would be awesome on a bumpersticker or even just around here in advertising, "Show your TriPride! Get your Tripawd gear in our store!" etc. How about on a doggy T shirt, "Triproud to be a Tripawd"? Lots of room to play around. I'm rather creative with words on occasion, and to come up with something that a community can get behind, I'm honored really 🙂
I'm Crystal, but you can call me Katymom. :) I'm Triproud of my Tripawd!
Katy Sue Sarcopski – born approx 2/03, found "the lump" 9/7/11, suspected soft tissue sarcoma (most likely liposarcoma) 10/11, became a Tripawd 11/1/11, official diagnosis of infiltrating lipoma 11/23/11
Follow her "tail" at katydidit.tripawds.com!
hey welcome to the club. I haven't found your blog yet so I'll track it down. Love the tripride! Going to have to add that tagline to the shirt I have for Kess 🙂
I love your attitude, it is going to help your Katy in amazing ways to stay so positive 🙂 Welcome, and yay that she is doing so well!
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.
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