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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hello! My name is Andria and I am writing to tell you about my 3 year old Saint Berdoodle, Wallace. We brought Wallace to our home to Virginia Beach when he was just 8 weeks old. Our family fell instantly in love with this goofy giant puppy. Everyone who meets Wallace immediately loves him. We are told that he looks like a man in a dog suit constantly! He has some very soulful eyes! We treat him like one of our children, sending him to daycare and all. He's a big, goofy boy with a sweet and playful personality.
On the evening of December 30th, 2015, I noticed that his right leg looked a little swollen. It looked like maybe it was broken or dislocated. I took him t the emergency vet to just get it checked out. He wasn't limping and didn't seem to be in pain but something was obviously goin on there. After getting examined and having some X-rays, I was STUNNED to learn that he most likely had osteosarcoma. Since that day we have had additional X-rays of his chest, blood work and a biopsy. His lungs seem to be clear, blood work is normal and the biopsy confirmed the cancer.
Tomorrow we have our surgery consult as we have opted to do anything we can to keep our boy happy, healthy and pain free for as long as we can. I came across this site while reading the entire internet during my sleepless nights. I have hope now.
I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences, especially those with giant breed dogs. As we are just beginning this journey with Wallace, we welcome any and all advice you have to offer. If you'd like to see a little more of Wallace, his IG hashtag is #Wallacefuzzballace
i didn't think I wanted to do a blog but the more I type here, I'm thinking it may be kind of thereaputic. 🙂
Andria
Andria, welcome. Thank you for joining and sharing Wallace's story (great name!), your future posts won't require approval so post away. And we agree, the blogs are indeed therapeutic during this journey.
I'm really sorry to hear about the diagnosis but glad you caught it early. It sounds like your vets think Wallace is a good candidate for amputation surgery? That's great! I would hop on over to "Size and Age Matters" so you can see more examples of life on three legs for Giant Breed dogs and even start a new topic of your own there so folks can learn more about how Wallace does.
What kind of questions do you have for us? We are glad this community is giving you the hope you need at this time, we know it's a hard journey at first but if you proceed with surgery you'll see that Wallace just wants to get on with life and have fun again. We learn so much from our furry critters!
Be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library if you haven't already, we have lots of great info there too. {{{hugs}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome! We are sorry we have to meet you under these circumstances. Wallace sounds like an amazing boy!!! I love that breed name. Never heard of that but he's adorable from his photo.
I had a smaller tripawd (22#) so I am sure others will weigh in. We also lost our battle to a different cancer. But I can offer this up - you are making a great decision to do more research to provide the best life for Wallace.
I know others will chime in and encourage you to download the books offered on this site (ebooks). I did get them and they were incredibly helpful. There is so much that goes into surgery, recovery, the life as a tripawd! I used them as a resource time and time again.
Also, we now have a helpline # so feel free to call that anytime to get support.
And as far as the blog .... I did create one for Shelby and while Shelby has passed, I do keep it updated as I find it therapeutic still to keep her life and her story alive even though her journey on earth has ended.
One other thing ... lots of positive energy! Dogs read our emotions so the more positive you can be will be sooooo helpful! Looking forward to hearing more of your story!
Hugs and love,
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
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 and sorry your circumstances brought you here. Wallace is simply beautiful! Such a hunk of love! By joining this community you will have many new friends walking right next to you throughout this whole journey full of love, support and wisdom. You're never alone here. Good luck on your surgery consult and keep us posted. Let us know how we can help. Hugs
Linda & Max
Welcome! So sorry to have to meet under these circumstances.
Murphy is a smaller guy than your Wallace, at only 50#, but I'm sure that someone will chime in here for you that has experience will the bigger guys - especially Sally. Murphy is our miracle boy - it's been 33 months since his surgery for histiocytic sarcoma, which is highly aggressive.
The first 2 weeks or so are the hardest, but after that things get better. The bigger guys seem to have a harder time figuring out how to get going again, so don't lose hope. Wallace will figure it out, but it might take him a little bit. He's going to come home on some pain medications. It's important to keep up on them.
We're here, and we've all been where you are, so please don't hesitate to come to us.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Hi Andrea, Wallace is such a unique looking dog and sooooo handsome!
My cat Mona had her leg amputated 19 months ago so my experience won't be too helpful other than to keep coming back here with any questions or concerns. There's a lot of experience at this site.
Like Alison I would also encourage you to start a blog, at the very least for your therapy, but it's also like a diary in case you want to go back to look something up. Blogs are also helpful for others to read about your experience. The forums (here) are really useful for any pressing questions you may have and they are also searchable.
I saw Wallace's photos. He sure likes to dress up! That could be helpful after surgery. Until you have the photo attaching figured out, I hope you don't mind but I swiped one of your photos so everyone can see this beautiful pup:
Okay, one more to show what a character he is!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Oh my gosh he's adorable, thanks for posting those here Kerren!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
OOOOOOMMMMMMDDDDDD!!! I am on cuteness overload right now....and that what just from the avatar picture!!! THANK YOU KERREN for giving us more cuteness!!! I'm just grinning ear to ear looking at those photos!!!
As you can see, you've co.e ro the right place for support and first hand information. We understand this journey, the emotions, the fear, the uncertainty like no others can.
We also understand the joy of giving our dogs a cha ce at a pain free life full.of. ore spoiling and loving than you ever thought possible
Recovery is no picnic and sometimes bigger dogs have a slower recovery. My beloved Happy Hannah, a 125 lb. "plus size model" took about three weeks before I could finally say I was doing this FOR her and not TO her!! This jiurney is all about QUALITY! No dog has a timeframe stamped on their butts! Take a look at Wally's fuzzy butt. No timeframe stamped anywhere on it!
Stay connected. We are right here by your side. Update us after your consultation. Take some deep breaths, grab some chocolate and remember, Wallace isn't worried about a thing and doesn't give a rip about any ole' Doctor's report!
Love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Ive been on here almost three years and never mastered how to do a blog, or, to state the obvious, how to type!!
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!
OMG ... he's so cute in his costumes!!! LOVE IT!!!!
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
ADORABLE!!!
Love his markings. He looks to be a very gentle giant.
Howdy and welcome!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
1 Guest(s)
