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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I wanted to take a minute and introduce myself. My name is Kristy. I found a small injured doggie 18 days ago on the side of the road in a remote area of a reservation. I think she is a Yorkie/Chinese Crested mix or a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix. I had hoped to get her help and then find a home for her as I already have my Yorkie - Bayley. I have many people that want her, but in the 18 days I have had her she has become an expensive doggie and no one is willing to share in the vet expenses. So Roe {short for rodent because she looks like a little rat} will most likely be joining my family. Due to the extent of her injuries {severely broken ankle and open wounds} her hind leg is being amputated today. I have mixed emotions. Guilt because I chose amputation over a very costly surgery - not that amputation is inexpensive. I found this site and was excited to find such a great resource. So that is me, Bayley and Roe in a nutshell.
Thanks, Kristy {And, Bayley & Roe too!}
Roe on Day 1 and Day 14 of her rescue:
Kristy, Bayley & Roe, welcome!
Well how can you resist such a sweet pup? What a lucky, lucky girl that she found you when she did, you really are a saint for taking her in and giving her a loving home!
Please don't feel guilty about choosing amputation. Money is an issue in everyone's life and we've all had to make veterinary treatments based on our financial situations. Every one of us here gets that. I'll guarantee that Roe (cute name!) isn't mad that she is going to be a Tripawd, she's thrilled to just be alive!
Her small size will make being a Tripawd practically a non-issue. While most dogs do great on three legs, the tinier ones generally have a much easier go of it.
If you need anything at all during her recovery, please don't hesitate to ask. We're so glad you shared her story with us, thank you. Just curious, which part of the world are you in? The Southwest?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Kristy, Bayley and Roe!! What a great person for stopping to help Roe, then deciding to let her join your family! Roe is a very lucky girl to have found you! The photos you posted show a world of difference for her in just 14 days: you can see how scared she was on Day 1, but on Day 14 she looks like she's just hanging out! Please update on her progress! Can't wait to hear more about you, Bayley and little Roe!
Thanks for the welcome!
Jerry - yes, I am from the Southwest. I live in New Mexico near the Four Corners area.
I got an update from the vet yesterday afternoon letting me know that surgery went extremely well. They amputated at mid-femur. Last night I got a picture text of her post surgery {see below}. I pick her up this afternoon.
Welcome to you and Roe! You are her angel! Don't feel guilty - after all, where would she be without you??
Like Jerry said, she should easily adapt to being a tripawd due to her samll size.
Keep us posted on how she's doing. We're here if you have questions during her recovery.
Jackie, Angel 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!
I think my tripug was HUGE by comparison! Maggie was about 17 pounds and 12 inches at the shoulder. She was also a rear amp and did fine for almost 4 years.
You did a good thing saving her and getting her fixed up! Welcome to the family.
Karen and the pugapalooza
She's a cutie! Welcome to the site!
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
Hi! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back online. I changed Roe's name back to Gimper - the name I had originally given her. Roe just did not fit. Gimper did wonderfully through surgery and her recoup stage has been great. She is such a trooper! I know her leg has caused her pain long before I found her. I think she was thankful to get it taken off. You would think she had been born to be a tripawd. She is completely off meds and got her sutures taken out this past Friday. The only strange thing is she went up and down stairs and jumped up on the couch all through her recovery but over the last four days she has decided she cannot do either - but keep in mind that she goes up and down three steps to get in and out of the doggie door with no problem - something she does all day long. Is this normal? I try to ignore her thinking she will give up and do it herself. But she refuses and I end up picking her up. I do not expect her to make big jumps like onto or off of a bed or into or out of the car. Any advice in how to handle it would be great.
Kristy, Bayley (who is still not found of having a sibling) and Gimper (previously Roe)
I'm glad to hear she is doing so well!
Tripug Maggie was very stubborn. She too would do things during recovery- stairs and such, that she stopped doing. I blame my parents! They were always picking her up and she got very used to it. To the point that she stopped going up the two steps to get in the back door at my house, and they were pug sized steps. The way I fixed that was that I left her in the backyard until she decided she would come back in. We had a couple 30 min standoffs before she got the idea that I wasn't going to get her.
Now- be sure there is plenty of traction . Mag would not come up the stairs on my back deck without her rugs- it was slippery. And there was one set of stairs at my parents house that she slipped and fell on. She NEVER tried to do those stairs again in her 4 years as a tripawd. Of course she was one obstinate pug! As Mag got older I tried to limit the amount of jumping off the couch or bed- I was worried about her other joints and arthritis. And Maggie never did do over 3 or 4 steps up after her amp. I didn't have a problem with that, it seemed to just put too much stress on the one back leg.
You might also think about stairs or something to the couch- that is a pretty big leap for a little dog, especially with only one back leg. I put a stool next to my couch for Mag, later I built a set of stairs. I also built stairs that go up to my bed.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hello! It has been forever since I have been here! It has been a little over a year since Gimper {previously Roe} had her leg amputated. She is still doing great and she is such a joy to have in our home. To this day I still have people asking if they can take her off my hands. Little do they know the bond that this sweet little rescue dog and I have with one other; however, my Bayley {Yorkie} has not adjusted to being a big sister. Poor Gimper... she just goes with the flow. I will leave you with a couple of pictures as I catch up with everyone. Oops, not sure how to add pictures via my phone. I will try and add a couple later tonight.
Kristy,
Your avatar is adorable! Hopefully Bayley will adjust to having a little sister. You are an angel for rescuing her.
Penny, Blink and Spirit Maggie
Ohhhh we can't wait to see more pix, it's great to hear from you and know things are good overall. Don't worry, Bayley will get there.
Adding pics with a phone is a challenge. Here's how to add images with a non-mobile.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Gimper you are such a doll (and Bayley, too!) What a long way you have come since that day you were found on the side of the road.
Yes for more pics if they are as cute as your avatar!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
What a journey! What cutie!! Really glad everyoneis dong well! Like everyone, CANNOT WAIT TO SEE MORE PICS!
Loving the joy you guys are gicing to eachother!
Hugs!
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!
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