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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Hello, allow me to introduce myself and my 8 year old tripawd doberman girl, Priscilla.
A little bit about her. We rescued her in March 2009 after she was turned into a vet for euthanasia as the owners did not want to pay to have her sewn up after being viciously attacked by another dog. Thankfully, the vet recognized her value and put her into rescue. We had to subsequently have the surgery redone, and she went on to become the most wonderful dobe ever !
In February 2010, she was diagnosed with bone cancer. At first, we didn't want to have amputation surgery, but as time went on, it was clear she was in a lot of pain. On April 13, 2010, Priscilla lost her right front foreleg.
Things seem to be going well, and I am looking forward to doing a lot of reading on here so as to help P get back to the park...
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You're a wonderful pawrent to take on an abandonded older dog. Thank you for caring. I believe we are all chosen to help these special warriors and I believe this forum gives us all the strength we need to keep going. Pricilla has another week or so of recovery from the surgery, but you should begin to see the pain free Prisilla begin to emerge once she is off the pain killers. Don't let her overdo the activity for a while, and make sure she (and you) get plenty of rest.
A big tripawd welcome to you and Pricilla.
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.
Oh welcome welcome Emily and Priscilla.....Like Shanna said...lots of rest and trust us, the recovery is amazing....it takes the skin folks longer to recover than the furkids!!! My kid lost the left front five weeks ago and he is 11.....and I swear he is more active NOW than before. Come here really really often because these are the best folks with the best advice and this site has more darn good information than you would believe. The Ruff Harness is a wonderful aid for both you and her!!
Keep us updated often...and REST whenever you can!!
Hi Emily and Pricilla,
Welcome to our Tripawds family! I'm so sorry about Pricilla's bone cancer diagnosis and amputation... but you have definitely come to the right place for information and tons of support! My Jake also had his front right leg amputated... He was 10 years old... a little more senior than your Pricilla. He recovered well from his surgery and had 8 more wonderful weeks with us... but unfortunately, his cancer spread to his spine and he didn't make. That is definitely not the 'norm' and you will see from reading all the posts here that many other dogs survive many, many more months (a few over a year or so).
As you've probably already read... the first 2 weeks post-amp are the most difficult... but if there are no complications, she should do real well after that.
It is so wonderful that you adopted her... She is a very lucky dog! I hope and pray that Pricilla will be one of our many success stories and get to have many more happy months (or years) with you... Looking forward to reading all about her and her progress. Post some pictures of your baby when you get a chance!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Hi Emily and Pricilla,
Welcome to the world of the amazing tripawds. You will be awestruck at how quickly your pup recovers and adapts. Thank goodness she found such loving adoptive pawrents. It sounds like you are well on track to knowing the ups and downs of the surgery recovery - this site has great information if you need some advice or just some moral support. Tai is also a right front leg amputee and is almost 4 months post surgery. We are keeping our fingers and paws crossed that Pricilla's post op recovery goes smoothly.
Sloppy kisses
Tai Dog and Laura
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
hi, and welcome to the family of tripawds!! i had my surgery two months ago (losing my front right leg), and second all the good ideas/thoughts from all the other posts. this site is a great resource for us tripawds and a great comfort to our human pawrents. priscilla, you are is good hands girl!!!
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
Aw, Priscilla, cancer is so unfair - popping up so soon after you got your wonderful furever home!
Priscilla will no doubt unleash some Dobe power on that nasty bone cancer. My first tripawd, Yoda, was also a front right leg amputee, and definitely a Dobe mix. He had osteosarcoma and passed last October. I now have Gerry, who is a rear-leg tripawd due only to an injury (phew!) and seems like he could have Dobe in him as well, but who knows with these mixes from the shelters!
Take everyone's great advice about getting as much rest as you can. You just gotta get through these first two weeks as best you can. Without any major complications to get in the way, both Yoda and Gerry were able to return to dog parks a month after their surgeries! And they didn't just hop around - they flew!!!
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Welcome and thanks for joining the Tripawds community! Or Family, I should say, by the looks of the responses you have already. 
We are sorry to hear about Priscilla, but glad you found us. Be sure to check out the featured Tripawds blogs for more help, and don't miss Jerry's top ten canine cancer amputation Q&A.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Emily, you are such a cool human for giving Priscilla a chance at a loving furever home. Bless you for being so good to senior dawgs, and thank you for joining us here at Tripawds. We can't wait to hear more about your adventures together.
We're so sorry about the cancer though. Ugh. What was she diagnosed with?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Priscilla!
What a pretty name! What a wonderful family you have! There aren't many out there like them, so you are super lucky! I'm sorry to hear about your cancer. But as luck would have it, you got a special family to help you deal with it!
I hope you find that being a tripawd is not so bad. It has some pluses! You'll get lots of extra love and treats!
Keep us updated!
Comet's mom
P.S. Admin's been out partying all weekend and their eyes are glazed over! I read "bone cancer". I'm no doctor but I assume that means osteo.
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.
cometdog said:
P.S. Admin's been out partying all weekend and their eyes are glazed over! I read "bone cancer". I'm no doctor but I assume that means osteo.
Yer bad!
Silly goose. There are uh, I think six different types of bone cancers. Not all are malignant, some are treatable and go away after amputation, like the kind Maggie the Pug had (the name of which I can't remember because my eyes are glazed over!).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, it is osteosarcoma. We are on day 5, and she has been twitching all day and licking at the missing leg.....she is the least happy today, since we brought her home. She did a horrible face plant while trying to pee, and just gave up.
She is still eating though, and I am waiting to hear back from Dr. Singh regarding any changes to her artemix/artemisinin therapy as a result of the amputation.
Welcome to tripawds. Try not to let Priscilla lick her incision. If it still seems to be bothering her she may be having phantom pain . Ask your vet if gabepentin might help her. Emily was a dobe mix. Aren't they the best?! You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
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