Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello Everyone in the Tripawd Community!
On May 22, 2014 my sidekick of 10yrs Millie had her left leg amputated due to a diagnosis of Osteosarcoma. Millie is a German Wirehaired Pointer and loves to hike, run, swim, and probably most of all sleep in between my girlfriend and I. Millie has literally been by my side for through thick and thin and has provided me with one the most rewarding relationship I might ever have with another animal. We have slept next to each other outside, in tents, in cars, on couches, on floors...just about any where a boy and his dog can fit Millie and I have slept there together.
Needless to say I have cried just about everyday since the diagnosis. But I am determined for her last days on earth, however short or long, be filled with love, fun, and wonder at the beautiful world that she currently has the privilege to occupy. I know the road will be anything but smooth but I am ready for a fight and I think Millie is too!
One thing that has already been a source of empowerment has been this site. I would like to say a big advanced thank you to everyone participating and involved with this website. I plan on contributing in every facet I am able to for the rest of my life.
The Story: I am sure it is a story that has been told time and again on this site but I will keep it brief. About 4 months ago at one of Millie's favorite parks she came up limping after she chased one of those brave dog park squirrels. My first thought was injury. It actually got better over the next couple of weeks, and then came back out of nowhere. When it was obvious that it wasn't getting better...off to the vet! Of course it was diagnosed as arthritis and we were sent home with some Rimadyl. First week on it...seemed slightly better but we weren't really sure how much better it was supposed to get. After a week and a half it got worse. Next step x-rays...next news...bad news...next recommendation...awful.
As of today there is a new feeling in the air...hope.
Thank you guys for reading(if you do) and I assure it won't be my last post.
Millie's Dad! A new Tripawd Dad!
P.S. As soon as I know how, I will post pictures!!!
Welcome, and best wishes for Millie's speedy recovery!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to the club no one wants to join, but since you're here, WELCOME! I'm SO glad you found us. Millie is a stunner. She's gorgeous! How is she doing post-amp? Any concerns? Good surgeon? How are her pain meds? Those are some tricky things to work out!
Speedy recovery!!! She's in excellent, loving, caring hands (and heart)...both yours and ours.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Welcome to the tripawd family. You are in a good place. This is a wonderful community of support. May Miss Millie have a super recovery and we look forward to learning more about her.
Karma, Adelaide and the crew, and our forever angel Brendol
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
Thank you for sharing your story on your sweet girl, Millie. Yeah, it is a really tough, sucky thing to get an ugly "c" diagnosis, but there are so many here that fought valiantly, and are still fighting and kicking ugly "c's" butt. So welcome to Tripawds, and there is help in every corner and page here.
Hoping you and Millie will continue to have great days ahead, and many of them.
Bonnie & Angel Polly
P.S. Millie has a beautiful face!
Aww yay, you posted! It's so nice to see you here and posting. You can ask as many questions as you like, share as many memories or just come here for a place to lean on, we're here to support you. This journey isn't easy but the pawesome people in this community make it so much easier to cope with. Millie has such a sweet face, we look forward to seeing more.
OK if you can believe this...in no time at all, she'll be chasing those squirrels once again, just like this!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome!!! I know how hard this is right now... but we are all here for you! Lean on us. We are here to help. Millie is gorgeous! I can't wait to learn more about you and your best friend.
Hugs!
Alison & her Shelby fur-ever in her heart
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Welcome, this site is the best! It has helped me so much since January. There is such support and community here. If you have a question or quandary , you can bet some one here has an answer. Keep posting and we would love to see more pictures of your beautiful girl. Lori and TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Hi Millie's Dad,
She is so cute. She kind of looks like you, I think it's the whiskers. My good friend is a lover of German Shorthair Pointers.
I am a fan of Weimaraners, so both hunting dogs that both love squirrels. You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and are aware of whatever can happen and will help your girl through this whole process thick and thin. If you have read this site, some pups survive for a long time and some don't. But the quality is what it's all about. Good luck, feel free to ask us anything. By the way where do you live?
Penny, Blink, Hank and Spirit Maggie
Hi Millie amd Dad!!
YEP! Nothing better than sleeping with your dog under the covers on a frosty winter night!
Milie has a wonderful advocate innyu! I derstand completely the tears and the feeling of being stuckmin a nightmare!! You jave found your new family here....we understand like no others can! And we understand the depth of bond you have with Millie and, believe it or not, this journey will even take you to a deeper level of love and connectin with or precious Millie!!
Recovery for about two weeks is no picnic. My Happy Hannah, a rather chunky Bull Mastiff, has a slow recocery. But once her sparkle statred coming back and that painful leg was removed, she...and I were ecstatic, over the mon happy!
You have a great attitdue and don't lose sight of how important that positive energy is in her healing! Remember, Millie doesn't care about anyole' stupid diagnosis or statistics. She just wats to continue to soak up all tje loving and spoiling she can get! Don't waste ne single second...not one second worrying about the tomorrows. Do NOT let this stupid piece of crap disease rob you and Millie of ne second of joy and hapiness! She's living in the NOW, in the moment...take her lead and "Be More Dog "!
Just know we are all here for you. You are not alone, okay? We look forward to seeing more photos and suporting you anyway we can!
Now take a deep breath.....B R E A T H E........B R E A T H E.........go hug Milkie and watch her tail wag...everytime that tail wags, that's her way of reminding you to stay in the present and soak in the bliss of being together now!
Sending lots of hugs to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hi Millie's Dad
Welcome to a caring compassionate community!
Millie will very quickly adapt to her new reality and will be surprising you with her return to normal activities. As many have already said.......enjoy each day you have with Millie....it is impossible to know what the future will bring.
Tucker (ten year old front right leg amp) and I are looking forward to next post and pics of the beautiful Millie.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Welcome, Millie's Dad! You've definitely come to the right place. The folks here have been a godsend to us since our cancer journey started officially in mid-March.
Definitely soak up all the knowledge from everyone here and check out the advanced search capabilities, start new posts or bump up older ones as you have questions. There is a ton of wisdom in these forums.
How is Millie's recovery going so far? One key thing to keep in mind for an AARP-age Tripawd with renewed energy is the importance of physical therapy post amp. Hopefully your surgeon or onco vet has discussed this. Jerry's Required Reading List
has great resources, and check out videos of Maggie, too.
One of the things I wish I had done sooner in our journey is gotten Dr. Dressler's book
on fighting canine cancer. A number of people reference it in their posts and having the actual book has been so helpful to me -- the medical part alone is fabulous, and the parts about dealing with emotions of cancer with your dog were an added bonus.
Good luck, and please keep us posted on pretty Millie's journey!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
OMD, Rene -- *love* that pic of Jerry! I only hope Lexie can work her way back to that level of squirrel-chasing!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Welcome Millie and Dad!! Yes it's a club none of us wanted to join but once we all found ourselves in this situation this site is the best place to be! It sounds like you have a great attitude an Millie is doing great so far. The beginning is hard but you get through it and were all here to help and offer hope. My Jill (disclaimer- she's a kitty cat) is now almost 18 months post amputation for osteosarcoma. Please let us know whatever questions you may have and keep us posted!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
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