Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone
I am very happy to see this blog! I am mom to Barkely the best dog on earth. In 2005 Barkely had his left front leg amputated. This was after we had tried to remove his cancer but it came back gangbusters. Barkley was 15 when we had his leg removed.
This was a very difficult decision for me and I still struggle with my choice. I love him dearly but he is not the same dog he once was. I robbed him of the ability to run belly flat to the ground in pure ecstasy , of the ablity to swim, and to catch mice. So I don't know if my decision was self referenced and selfish. He seems to be doing pretty darn good. He hop hop hops around and we go for walks and I carry him and hug him a lot.
Here are some photos of my little man
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Ha ha ha
Robin Kelly and Barkley in Aztec, NM
Dogs rule
Please don't beat yourself up about the decision. You gave barkley a chance at a longer pain free live instead of a shorter pain filled life.
It looks like he is a great example for those wondering if senior dogs can adjust. And it looks like hel's having fun with his little piggy friend in the photos.
Oh my. I think I love Barkley a little bit. And I love his piggy friend!!
I think we all struggle to some degree when we make the decision to amputate. I know my Darcy is a different dog now and I know she can no longer do some of the things she used to do and I miss the old Darcy a lot - but I also love the new Darcy and am grateful that we were even given the choice to amputate. I do sometimes wonder how much of our decision was for us rather than for her, but the same could be said for many of the decisions that we make as dog owners I suppose.
I think the best thing is not to dwell on it and just enjoy our special dogs.
PS I do need to know the full story of how Barkley comes to have a cute piggy friend!
And, if you don't mind me asking, what sort of cancer did Barkley have? And....is he 18 years old now?!
Darcy – tripawd since 16th October 2007.
***Darcy would love to be your friend on Facebook - just search for Darcy Deerhound***
Doesn't look like at all he is 17 years old! You have done a good job keeping him in such great shape! As far as I can tell, you made a good decision.
It is just hilarious seeing the photos. Gotta admire Barkley's patience with the little piggy, and the little guy's determination to keep bugging him just brightened up my day so much.
The little piggy has got to learn to respect the senior!
Thank you for sharing Barkley's story and the pictures!
Robin said:
He seems to be doing pretty darn good.
Pretty Good? Three years post-op? Barkley is doing GREAT!
You didn't rob him of a thing. You saved his life. He's beaten the odds – by far – and he's got a pig for a friend! Life is good indeed.
I still swim, but just recently started taking on water. So, my people are reviewing the Float Coat dog vest from Ruff Wear. We plan to produce a demo video and will probably start selling that soon. But if you're interested now, just contact us.
Swimming is great for us old dogs. And three-legged dogs ccan do it! Just check out my swimming videos. It's a good low-impact form of exercise which is esppecially good for ACL tears and arthritis.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMG I feel so happy about this board, there are other out there as Wacky as me! I thought I was the only one! HA HA. Barkely had nerve sheath cancer. I took him into have some other old man bumps taken off and they thought one looked weird so they sent it to CSU to see what is was and they said cancer. That was a dark dark night for me.
Soooo. the choices was limited I visited the Dog Oncologist in Albuqueruqe and we could try to remove the cancer but we needed to get a 2 cm margin but look at his little tiny leg the only option was to amputate. We started with xray. I had them do his entire body I wanted to make sure that if I was going to cut his leg off that he was healthy every where else!
He was healthy so... I made the appointment first in July, I did not show up, then rescheduled in 2 weeks again a no show then finally the Doc called me and told me that it was time as his lumpy tumor was pendoulus (is that a word?) well it was hanging and on the verge of bursting open. The Doc did not want to fight infection and cancer.
I took him in on July 26. I waited in the waiting room for him. During recovery I sat with him and stroked his brave little head and waited. It was grim he was confused and in pain. Finally I after he woke up a little bit and saw momma I wish I could say he was happy but he was so drugged and scared, but he was alive and would make it though the night.
I went home and waited I went to visit him the next morning with his special diet. The Doc gave in and decided he would be better off with me at home so he came home with me.
That is my story. Barkely is 17 years old. He is a puppy mill rescue dog the first male dog I have ever owned and he is the dearest dog friend I have ever had. I only hope that I can be as good to him as he has been to me.
He has a best doggie firend Zooey they are two peas in a pod. After his leg was amputated my mom taylored all his outfits to cover the loss. Anyway he is a lovely little creature and we love him dearly.
At that moment that choice I did what I thought was the right thing to do and I have taken responsibility for my action. I help Barkley when ever he asks even if it is at 2 AM. 
Also, if he had never had his leg removed I would spoil him just the same and love him just as much.
Robin and Barkley
Can you find Zooey?
Dogs rule
Sorry about the first post today barkely is 17 and he was 13 when we did the surgery so that was 3and 1/2 years ago. Sorry about that.
RK
Dogs rule
That's looks like total determination to me! Barkley is really cool.
Hey I just realized that you went to the Vet Cancer Care center in ABQ, which is the same clinic I went to! Is your doc Dr. Mullins? Isn't she GREAT? We just love her.
We are in Lake City Colorado, and we might be going through Aztec when my Mom and Dad are done working at the ranch this summer. If we do, we'll be sure to let you know, as I think it would be a hoot to pawty with Barkley and the piggy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Barkley's story is soooooo inspring. 3.5 years post surgery and a senior to boot? WOW. I only hope and pray that we gave Radar that much time.
You definitely made the right choice. Hugs to your gang.
Connie & Radar
Lovely inspiraing story
Anne, Butch and Faith... (Gem and Tiny in our Hearts)
You SAVED his life...you made the right choice...he looks pretty darn happy to me! Honestly, I don't think they even notice much.
Zeus can't quite to everything that he could do but he can still go on short walks, have home cooked meals now (a bonus to being a cancer dog), sleep on my bed (oops, his bed that I share with him), nice long brushes of his coat. doggie play dates, and tons and tons of love...all our guys could do so much worse eh?
In other words, if they are not in pain and as long as they are loved, they are blessed - all they want to do is be with us. He looks pretty loved 🙂
17 years old? wow - amazing, he's obviously a happy guy with a wonderful mommy. Try not to doubt yourself...enjoy the time you have together.
Thanks for sharing your story and all the beautiful pictures.
Love
Zeus and Mom
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Okay I am suppose to be working but of course I am posting ekkkk! Yes my Doc was in Alb and it was a woman I can't remember her name. I was a bit of a mess as the news just seemed to be getting worse by the day. But she was kind and helpful and supportive.
Yes Yes Yes come and visit us in Aztec. Here is a link to our farm http://www.ocea.....hfarm.com/ We raise Irish Horses my other love and here are more photos of PIGGY PIE! This is her when we first brought her home well I say we loosely my poor husband Luke was on a rafting trip and I saw her little piggy face and it was all over.
Me and Meho
Meho in her Halloween costume
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Ha Ha ha
Dogs rule
Here is a photo of my office staff
Barkely lookin at piggy
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What's missing?
Dogs are such good people!
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Dogs rule
Oooooooh fun! We TOTALLY want to come visit!
And we totally love the Irish Draught Horses too. Saw them at a county fair for the first time last year, and fell in love with the breed. You are so lucky!
Thanks for the wonderful photos, they're great. Barkeley looks like he's just loving life there. You should make a movie of your office staff sometime and we'll put it in the blog!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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