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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Hi, My name is Cody and I'm a 12 1/2 year old chocolate lab who loves to fish and swim and retrieve, retrieve, retrieve. I'll bring anything back to you...toys, sticks, socks, underwear.. yes, I'm not ashamed to say I raid our house guests duffle bags...Underwear and socks are especially fun...it's usually good for a chase or two around the living room! FUN! 3 weeks ago, my parents found out I had osteosarcoma in my left shoulder. They were so worried and sad because they thought I wouldn't be able to handle being a tripod with the nasty arthritis in my hips but thankfully 2 seperate vets gave my parents the green light and I had my surgery on Friday Aug 29th. I came home on Sunday and had a VERY rough first couple of days but I feel a lot better today. I even surprised my Mom by jumping up into my favorite chair by myself when she wasn't watching me. A guys gotta do what a guys gotta do plus it made her smile. Anyway, I know it will take a while to get used to being a tripaw. I get tired really quickly and I'm not so excited about eating very much yet. It's only day 5...I know things will continue to look up and there will be more smiles for my Mom and Dad and me. By the way, I have to wear a t-shirt because I want to scratch my staples plus my right elbow is getting a little raw...any ideas?? Wet kisses from Cody
Hi Cody! So glad to hear you're doing well 🙂 I'm just two weeks out of my amputation and I'm about 11 1/2 years old and a black lab! It took a lot out of mom to make the decision to amputate, but I'm pretty sure I'm glad she did - although I'm getting pretty tired quickly too. My front right leg was removed... I stayed in the hospital a few extra days - I live in an apartment with my mom and it wasn't the best place to recover so my grandparents drove up to Portland and went with my mom to pick me up and then we headed to southern Oregon so I could recover with a yard. The first day home was really tough on my mom as I was still pretty heavily drugged but little by little I felt better each day. I kind of did the same thing, surprising my mom... within the first 20 minutes of getting into the house, she turned her head for a second and before she could turn around, I was hopping towards my water dish.
My recovery has gone pretty well.. I was really hyper yesterday and today. Today we went to my grandparent's vet to have my staples removed. That vet wasn't comfortable taking all of my staples out because the lower part of my incision wasn't quite ready for it. But the top part was! And I now have a new bruise so they put me back on antibiotics. My mom called the surgeon and I could tell she hasn't been very happy with them because they haven't called to check to see how I am... but I know my regular vet has checked in regularly so I'm glad she's helping my mom stay calm.
I was able to jump right in our car today and out and while I was at the vet, my mom and grandma couldn't keep up with me! I was so excited to be at the vet (yes, I'm crazy like that!) that I wanted to run everywhere!
So I heard my mom make an appointment with the surgeon for a checkup. We head back up to Portland on Sunday because my mom has to go back to work. She doesn't think her company will let her continue working remotely although I'm going to be lonely when she's gone! And we see the surgeon on Tuesday and then I'm hoping we're going to stop by to see my vet and everyone there because they love to spoil me and I want to show them how well I'm doing!
I guess I should stop rambling on and on! I haven't been made to wear a t-shirt yet to cover up my incision. The surgeon didn't want it covered at all. But I have to say, it'll be nice once my mom doesn't feel the need to jump up to see what I'm doing every time I jump up! 🙂
Yah Cody! I hope your recovery continues to go better and better...
Cody, and Smokey, you're spunk and spirit is just amazing! And the same for your pawrents too. I know that you and your families have the optimistic, hopeful outlook it takes to have a successful recovery and an easier transition, I just know it.
We really appreciate your joining us here, Cody, thank you. And for sharing your story too.
I have to say that we are all so impressed at your ability to bounce back, at 11.5 and 12.5 years old. Wow! I hope when I'm your age I'm just as much of a go-getter.
You're right Cody, things will continue to get better. For some it's a more gradual process, but as long as you stay optimistic and focus on one paw at a time, thing WILL get easier.
Keep it up, my friends. You are so incredible!
Your pal,
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Cody! You definitely are an inspawration. Keep getting better, stronger and keep impressing your parents. Your attitude and progress give us all hope for our own situations.
Hugs
Connie & Radar
Hi Cody!
My dog Tazzie is a large Mastiff and she had her front leg amputated on Aug 26th. She also had a minor pressure sore on the other elbow so I made a little elbow pad for her to wear for a few days and applied antibiotic cream to the area twice daily. It was healed in a few days. I think the tshirt works well to prevent sctatching at those staples or sutures.
Hang in there, because it really does get better every day!
Pam and Tazzie
Hey ya Cody pal...Smokey too...you guys are wonderdogs!!! We love hearing those inspawational stories 🙂 Keep it up and don't get frustrated with bouts of "tiredness"...they get better, but it's something that we learn to adjust to - remember to take it easy when you need to and not push it too much at first...your body needs some time to recover and adjust.
Welcome to our family - we're excited to hear about your progress as time goes on and all the funny stories we love to give our pawrents to tell on this website.
Paws forever!
Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Cody,
Glad to hear you are healing up well. Don't worry, you will be swimming again in no time. My 11.5 year-old Chessie, Molly, had her front leg amputated on August 15th and went for her first swim yesterday in her news Ruffwear doggy life vest. It took her a few minutes to get used to the floatation of the vest and steering with one front leg, but within 5 minutes she was retrieving tennis balls like a champ.
She is also on chemo and prednisone. We were worried that these meds would slow her down and make her sick, but so far the only side effect is thirst and panting. She still has 3 rounds to go though.
Molly wore a t-shirt until her staples were removed also. We also put a sock on her back leg to keep her from scratching her incision with her claws. The sock kept falling off, so we wrapped the top loosely with vet-wrap to make it stay on. I wonder if you could protect her elbow with vet-wrap (wrapped in a non-constricting way of course)?
Take care!
Heidi and Mollydog
Molly was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma (grade 3 with hystiocytic markers) and had her front leg amputated on August 15th 2008. We had a wonderful two years with her until she passed at age 13.5 on August 29th 2010. As far as we could tell, her cancer never returned.
Mollydog said:
Molly, had her front leg amputated on August 15th and went for her first swim yesterday in her news Ruffwear doggy life vest.
That's great Molly! My people recently got me the Ruff Wear life jacket for dogs. We like it so much we're now selling it here. Check out the Float Coat product review and demo video demonstration video we just published in the blog.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow, Thanks for all the great support everyone. My mom says she is going to get me that fabulous float coat (no time to waste since we live in Wisconsin) plus the Webmaster Harness. Is it too much to ask for a tripawds t-shirt too?....maybe if I beg...I find I look pretty cool in t-shirts. Who knew?
Today is day 6 and I met my mom at the door and explored all the great smells and re-marked my yard all by myself. I was having so much fun I curled my ears and wagged my tail almost the whole time! My Mom was standing there with my sling but I was having none of that. I'm healing really well and can't wait for these staples to come out. Next week on Sept. 11th I'll have my first Chemo. Wish me well.
I hope I do as well as some of you have. My Mom is still trying to work out the supplement thing...she says there are some really great ideas on this site. Thank goodness she read the posts about the fish oil...not a fan! I think she is going to try the squirt method..SIGH. She is wondering about the K9 factor and K9 immunity . It looks like many of your pawrents are giving you this. Good stuff???
Thanks again everyone. Its great to be part of such a wonderful group of tripawds and pawrents and all your stories and advise are really inspirational especially to a newby like me! Cody and Cathy
Hi All new Pals, It is great to hear your stories and thanks for putting in the effort to share it with us! Dont you think this is just a wonderful website for our pawrents to connect and share stories?? I am glad that all are doing well and enjoying life to the fullest! Lotsa love and lotsa licks, your Pal, Dee xxx
Cody said:
She is wondering about the K9 factor and K9 immunity . It looks like many of your pawrents are giving you this. Good stuff???
Hi Cody & Cathy,
I use K9 Immunity and Transfer Factor. You can read my blog post about it. While I can't say for sure that it's helped me live this long, I'm guessing it has helped me feel stronger and healthier since I was diagnosed with lung mets, back in March.
So glad you found us here at Tripawds, keep us posted!
Your pal,
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Smokey said:
So I heard my mom make an appointment with the surgeon for a checkup. We head back up to Portland on Sunday because my mom has to go back to work. She doesn’t think her company will let her continue working remotely although I’m going to be lonely when she’s gone! And we see the surgeon on Tuesday and then I’m hoping we’re going to stop by to see my vet and everyone there because they love to spoil me and I want to show them how well I’m doing!
Smokey, tell your mom that I also live in Portland, OR and if she ever needs help since she has to go back to work, that I would be very happy to offer a helping hand.
Also, Cody, it so good to hear you are doing so well! We know it's only been since Aug 29th, but it sounds like you are going to do just great. We are very sorry that you had to go through that surgery, though, just like all the tripawds on this site and hope that everyone does as well as Jerry has.
Love, slurps, slobbers & meow, Blazer, Kimber & Vicki T
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