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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
OK, you are all smart people who must be feeling very smug right now.
It's 2 weeks to the day since I found you all, and you were right. Fern is virtually back to her old self (despite having another operation on Friday)
She's able to go up and down stairs, eats (with the help of some treats) and drinks, plays ball, she even goes out to play in the snow.
I know there's still a way to go, she's still wearing a drain and sporting a neat line of staples but the change is amazing.
Thanks for all your support and if I forget later, I wish you all a great christmas and a happy new year.
Thanks for the update! Keep up the good work there Fern!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
great news Fern! and thanks for the update.
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
Hi all
Sorry we've not been online for a week or so, Christmas was great but very hectic and the dust is just settling.
Fern has come on leaps and bounds (well hops !) she's acting like her old self although she still topples over occasionally when climbing stairs but is fine going down them. She can jump onto our couch and off it again with no problems, she is eating well again now and even managed to unwrap her christmas presents unaided.
The drain and the staples were removed yesterday and I think that has made her feel a lot better. We took her for her first walk outside f the back garden this morning (albeit a shprt walk) and she's just gone out for another right now.
The vet has told us to stop her metacam unless she is in pain (which she isn't so far) and has prescribed Glucosamin (Seraquin) to help her joints (she'll be 10 years old on 24th January).
The next thing we will have to research is what we have to do to make her life more comfortable into the future. There seems to be so many options from Hydrotherapy, Braces, Accupuncture etc... the list seems endless unlike our finances (her claim so far is over £4300 which is over the limit of our pet insurance)
Anyway, thanks again for your support and we wish you all a very happy new year, I'm going to post some updated pics soon, especially as we've had her ears and feet clipped and her fur is growing back nicely over the scar.
Thanks for the great update! Please be careful with all that jumping around.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We try to tell her not to jump but she doesn't listen ! We have re-arranged things so she can't jump on things now, but dogs will be dogs
Over the last 2 or 3 days Fern has been experiencing what seem like suddne pains which make her yelp and jump up. I have read that amputees can experience these types of twinges but was wondering how long they last and if there is anything that can be done for them (she's getting 4 or 5 'rhocks' a day). Fern is currently on no medication other than Glucosamin.
Sounds like Phantom Limb Pain to me. Here's a great article about it and some ideas for coping, and here are some links to other discussions.
The length of time Tripawds experience it depends on a few things but generally, a drug called Gabapentin will really help get rid of the pain. Ask your vet about it. Eventually the pain will subside, hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry we've been away so long, just wanted to provide an update on Fern. It's 3 months since her op and she is cping really well, better than we could have hoped.
She's mobile, active and as eager to please as ever. Now her fur has grown I forget sometimes that she's coping on 3 legs, and when we're out walking passers by often do a double take when they realise.
We still get the occasional yelps when she gets a sharp pain, but they are only 1 or 2 times a day. Her stamina and strength are all building nicely, she can manage 3 20 minute walks a day which is enough for me but she always wants to walk (and run) more.
We need to watch her weight as I fear she's put on 1 or 2 pounds but it is so difficult not to spoil her with treats.
We are all so pleased and proud of her, I promise to post some pictures of her tomorrow (once I have worked out how to upload them again)
Best wishes to you all
Fern and me
Way to go Fern! 
Thanks for the update, here are the instructions for embedding photos in forums posts. Can't wait to see her.
Keeping the weight off is a good thing. Have you tried green beans as treats?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow, 12 months have flown by, Fern's doing great, she gets tired and can't run as fast, but she's still here and she's happy…that's what matters.... Wishing you all a wonderful christmas
Oh! Adorable picture. Fern looks great and happy. You were here before I joined, so welcome back! Have a great Christmas.
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
Oh my gosh it is GREAT to hear from you and Fern! Hoppy Hoppy Ampuversary! She looks so pretty. Please give her a big ol' smooch from us, we're thrilled she is doing great.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh, gorgeous baby! She looks so happy. Merry Christmas to you and Fern!
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!
1 Guest(s)
