Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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There have been numerous times since I found this site a little over two weeks ago that I wanted to share Zack's story, but things have been a bit hectic, and truthfully, I also felt a little superstitious (like if I wrote it down, his good luck might change!)
I've had Zack since he was 5 weeks old, and he is now 13yrs, 9 mos. I always joke that he chose me (versus the other way around) because he literally climbed over his litter mates to get to me - and learning how non-dominant a personality he has, that truly was out of character for him. But, whatever it really was that brought us together, neither of us has ever looked back. He is the epitome of an awesome dog and, in return, has been spoiled pretty heartily. Other than a few flare-ups of arthritis a few years ago, he had always been pretty healthy. Then, around mid-July, I noticed it was sometimes hard for him to get up from the kitchen floor. Thinking it was his arthritis, I started giving him buffered aspirin with his meals.
In mid-August, we got home from a camping trip, and after I helped him down out of our truck, I noticed he was holding his leg really funny. The next day, he fell going up the stairs and was stranded on the landing because he was too afraid to try to go up or down by himself. Luckily, my husband was only out running errands, and found Zack when he got home about an hour later. We took him to the vet that day, and found that he had a hairline fracture right below a tumor in his leg. Administering the pain meds the vet prescribed, he seemed to get better over the next two weeks, putting more and more weight on his leg - to the point that you wouldn't notice a limp unless you knew to look for it.
Then, on the Saturday before Labor Day, Zack was over-excited about getting breakfast after his morning potty break, and fell down the two steps between the house and garage after running into the back of my husband's legs. He yelped in pain, and was holding his leg funny again, although this time it seemed much worse (he never showed any signs of pain the first time, except for not putting weight on it, and this time it seemed to swing side-to-side instead of him just holding it up...) By Tuesday, he still wasn't putting any weight on it at all, and his leg started to swell from the 'knee' down to the paw.
When we took him to the vet this time, they found that the original fracture had practically healed (slight miracle!) but that he had snapped his femur. Our options were to take him home & risk him piercing his femoral artery & bleed to death, put him down, or get the leg amputated. Clearly option 1 was not an option at all, and he was more himself at the vet's office than he had been the entire Labor Day weekend - looking at the door to leave, ears up, on full alert, etc... So, clearly option 2 was not an option, either.
They kept him that Tuesday night to limit his activity to reduce the risk of him piercing his artery, and his amputation was the next day, Wed, 9/8. While my husband & I did not hesitate in making the decision to amputate (the vet left the office for us to discuss what we wanted to do, and we needed all of about 15 seconds to decide), the reality of our decision started to hit once we got home. Would he be able to survive the surgery? Were we making the right decision given his age? If he could make the decision for himself, is this what he'd want?
We had already made some modifications in the house after Zack's first fracture (gates on the stairs, carpet treads for the stairs, beds around the house, etc...), but I figured there would be plenty more to do once he has one less leg. I logged on & put in a search for three-legged dogs, hoping to see pictures (to mentally prepare myself) and possibly links to some companies who sold products for handicapped dogs. The first link that came up was tripawds.com - and words cannot describe how grateful I am for that! I spent the next 3-4 hours reading articles in the required reading section, looking at pictures, and reading through the forums. I learned so much, but most of all, I felt hopeful - so many of you had gone through exactly the same thing (& lived to tell about it!) and had the same questions I had - and others had answers.
Zack's surgery was successful, and we brought him home the following night. That first night was tough (but we were prepared for it after reading through the forums), and it got better ever day. Zack has had few problems walking on three legs - he's a rear-leg amputee, so up more than 2 stairs is still his only real challenge, but he'll continue to get stronger and I have no doubt he'll be doing it completely on his own before we know it. And, I had some worries about him shaking (not knowing if it was his meds or if he was in real pain), but again, the tripawds community helped put me at ease - others had experienced the same thing using Tramadol, so we started to wean him off it, and the shakes went away.
Zack had his staples removed and got the green light for full unrestricted activity this past Thursday (yeah!) - which meant we could stop sleeping on couch cushions on the floor & re-assemble the couch for normal use. Milestone #1! My avatar pic is from Zack laying on the couch that first night - and even though you can't tell from his expression, he was thrilled! He also had his first chemo treatment on Thursday. Again, I consulted the forums to educate myself about what to expect, what to do, etc... Luckily, there have been no problems yet - no loss of appetite, no real change in personality.
Sorry for the dissertation, but wanted to introduce Zack to the tripawds community the right way! Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories and experiences (both happy & sad) on the forums - it has been educational, emotional, and a life saver!
Zack, King of Dogs, 1996 to 2010
Zack lived a full 14 years, even to the end.
The joy and memories he provided us will last a lifetime.
Surviving him is his sister, Izzy, a 12-year-old boxer mix quadpawd.
And the latest addition, Zula, an 11-month-old pit bull mix tripawd.
Zack is a beautiful boy! I am glad you decided to share his story. I think more often than most realize the presentation of OSA is almost unremarkable and takes being tuned to the dog to notice there is a problem. Trouble had a slight limp - so slight I wasn't sure she was limping andn could not tell for sure which leg it was. I made an appointment and before the appointment day, it stopped, so I cancelled. About a week later it started again, and I was able to get her in immediately. I went in expecting to get meds for arthritis and instead got the shock of my life.
So glad to hear Zack is doing so well. It is really amazing how quickly the 'old' ones adapt.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
hi zack, sounds like you've had a time of it!! glad to hear your surgery went well, and you are recovering nicely. i'm a front right amputee, so maybe my mobility challenges are reverse of yours. i do remember the chemo, and i'm glad that's behind us. are you remembering to take your medicinal naps??? napping is key to recovery and continued improvement. don't think just 'cause you feel a little better, that you can skip napping...go, right now, and try to take a short one...you can always 'bank' them.
looking forward to hear more about you, and seeing some pictures of your life and family!!
gayle & charon
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
Hi Zack!
Glad to hear your first chemo session went well and that your had a speedy and unevetful amputation recovery!! Great news!! I too like to joke that Chloe chose me (different circumstances).
Chloe is also a rear amputee (no arthritis) and she learned to go up/down 15 stairs multiple times a day. I don't know if the arthritis flares affect Zack differently, but Chloe eventually learned the stairs. Part of her incentive is that she always wants to be near me so she decided that she needed to overcome her fear of stairs in order to be near me. Also, since Chloe is now 2 months post amp, she can run in the soft sand on the beach! Tripawds are pretty amazing and I hope Zack continues to surprise you in what he can do
We hope Zack will go back to doing the things he once loved to do now that he has 'unrestricted activity'!
-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 Zack!
Sounds like you are well on your way to recovery. Good deal.
Our stair experience has been an learning one, for sure. While Lincoln will run, swim, and go DOWN the stairs in a flash, he still will not go up them. He's a big dog, and I wonder it it's just too much weight on his remaining leg to push off to go up. Who knows?
In any event, we just give him a little "assist". He hates both the life vest and the harness, even though we would like the handle. So, we just give him a little support under his stomach, and up he goes.
I agree, tripawds are amazing. I never cease in my delight at how easily they seem to adapt and overcome.
Good luck. We'll be thinking of you.
Lincoln's Mom
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall – Confucius
http://credocan.....pawds.com/
Zack & family welcome. What a tight-knit, loving pack you have, we're glad to hear that your folks have gotten themselves well-versed on what to expect. And that you've made it through surgery recuperation without a hitch, that is just PAWESOME!
My Mom is curious; did the diagnose OS when he saw the tumor and fracture for the first time?
So it looks like you're a Rottie eh? Are you a big boy? If so, remember, keeping weight down is key to getting around successfully. And remember, "unrestricted activity" is all relative when it comes to being a Tripawd. Remember these exercise tips from our friends at California Animal Rehabilitation (Scroll down for the exercise-specific video) and take it easy OK? You'll need to build up some muscles in that rear leg.
If there is anything we can do for you, please, let us know how we can help OK?
Let your family spoil you rotten, you deserve it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It is the 4th day since Zack's chemo, and I think it is kicking in - he is more tired today than other days, so, we're encouraging napping (leading by example, too!) Luckily, his appetite is still ravenous - ha!
Jerry's Mom - yes, the tumor was diagnosed the same day as the original fracture. The vet we saw that day (one of many in a mid-sized practice) did not recommend amputation due to Zack's age and his potential reaction to anesthesia. In retrospect, we should have asked more questions - a learning experience indeed.
Zack is actually a lab mix (I replaced his pic with one that shows his personality more....) He was always a little bit overweight (around 80 lbs), but about two years ago, we got serious about his diet, and he dropped about 10 lbs. That made such a difference in his energy level, and is helping him immeasurably now, too.
And, he sounds much like Lincoln - he does not like the harness (we've tried two different types) - it seems to mess up his rhythm. We've been assisting him by putting our hands under his butt a little, but, he doesn't do anything halfway & wants to rush up the stairs instead of just taking it slow. Together, we'll learn, though.
Thanks for the exercise tips...Zack's dad is a physical therapist for humans, so he'll need to develop a regimen we can use on the old boy.
Zack, King of Dogs, 1996 to 2010
Zack lived a full 14 years, even to the end.
The joy and memories he provided us will last a lifetime.
Surviving him is his sister, Izzy, a 12-year-old boxer mix quadpawd.
And the latest addition, Zula, an 11-month-old pit bull mix tripawd.
Well, I thought I updated the avatar, but the pic didn't change....oh, well, here it is....
.
Zack, King of Dogs, 1996 to 2010
Zack lived a full 14 years, even to the end.
The joy and memories he provided us will last a lifetime.
Surviving him is his sister, Izzy, a 12-year-old boxer mix quadpawd.
And the latest addition, Zula, an 11-month-old pit bull mix tripawd.
Hi Zack! You are one handsome boy! The girls here are swooning (but don't worry, Fortis - they still love you, too!). Holly is also a rear amp. One of her favorite things in the world is her daily walk around the neighborhood... it took her probably about a month or 6 weeks post amp to get back to the full length walk, and there are days we keep it much shorter (especially in hot weather). But she amazes us with how much she still loves to take that walk! We hope Zack continues to amaze you, too - he sounds like a very special boy.
Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Welcome Zack!
First, we see your avatar - so no worries! If you don't, you will in a bit (hit refresh a few times).
Welcome, you handsome boy! What a wonderful ending to your story. You sound like you are doing fantastic!
We are very excited that you came in and told us all about you! Don't be a stranger (or just a lurker), okay?
Comet's mom
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
grpescp said:
Jerry's Mom – yes, the tumor was diagnosed the same day as the original fracture. The vet we saw that day (one of many in a mid-sized practice) did not recommend amputation due to Zack's age and his potential reaction to anesthesia. In retrospect, we should have asked more questions – a learning experience indeed.
Zack is actually a lab mix (I replaced his pic with one that shows his personality more….) He was always a little bit overweight (around 80 lbs), but about two years ago, we got serious about his diet, and he dropped about 10 lbs.
Thanks for the exercise tips…Zack's dad is a physical therapist for humans, so he'll need to develop a regimen we can use on the old boy.
Ahhh, OK. Well, he is exceptionally amazing then for doing so well! Woooooeeeeeee! What a pawesome dude. It didn't occur to me until after I wrote my last post that he is indeed thirteen. Thirteen???? Nearly 14? OMG that is amazing! What a boy!
Glad to hear he's dropping weight. If you ever feel like posting about his diet, please do so in our "Eating Healthy" forum, we're always learning new diet tips there.
As for his PT regimen, we'd also love to hear more about that when you get a chance.
Give him a smooch from us. He's just amazing!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to our Tripawd family! You are a very cute pup indeed! Happy to read that you are on the mend.
Skyler was a rear amputee, so going up stairs was very diificult for her. She was able to do everything else just fine, and had no side effects from chemo.
Get lots of rest, and don't overdo anything.
Our tails are wagging for you!
Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe
Golden Girls said:
Our tails are wagging for you!
This made me spew coffee on the keybord. I could just picture the tripawd family (dog & human) out there lined up with their tails wagging!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Welcome to the family. This is a great place to be when you have to go down this road and the best thing is you don't have to deal with any road rage, we all have or have had slowpokes!!!! Don't be afraid to ask ANYTHING, experience gives the best answers. We haven't visited to much since Gus died and I hope to be able to start getting back into the groove in the near future, it is so much fun to be part of this family, but this is such a great place fo support, and I'm sure you will have more times when you will need it. Hang on for the ride, it definetly has its bumps, but it is all worth it once they heal. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Welcome Zack and family! Not that you really want to be here, as we all say, but this is a GREAT place to be when faced with amputation! It's THE place to be, in fact
All in all, he sounds like he's doing fantastic. You sure got a good education before you had his amputation done...so there's a head start for you! AND your hubby is a human PT person! Way cool!!!
Good luck in your recovery and your chemo.
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
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