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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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New Tripawd Mommy Here And I'm Terrified!
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On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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46
27 October 2014 - 4:04 pm
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Awww she makes my heart go pitter patter! I'm so glad you figured out how to add photos!

No poopy poop yet?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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28 October 2014 - 10:06 am
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WE HAVE POODY-POO!!!! I'm so excited!!!

On the other hand, the fluid build-up in her abdomen is getting worse. Bless her heart. Waiting to hear back from the Doc.

Stay tuned . . .

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

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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28 October 2014 - 10:14 am
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Today is Harmony's one week ampuversary. I would love to tell everyone that she's doing great, but we just haven't turned that corner yet. Lots of issues from lack of energy, effusion, and tummy troubles. It seems her amputation is the least of our problems.

Please keep her in your prayers, and if you're not a praying person, send healing thoughts her way. There are so many more squirrels to chase and turkeys to bark at. I'm sure the deer will take our property over if we don't have her to police the perimeter. Her "job" is not finished by a long shot.

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

Westminster, MD
Member Since:
31 August 2013
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28 October 2014 - 11:47 am
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Yay, for poo !! But so sorry she isn't back to her squirrel-chasing self yet.........I do think about Harmony everyday and say little prayers for her and you....she has had a lot to deal with, so I suspect she is just taking a little more time to heal, she will hopefully get past the worst of this soon and start back to her perimeter policing. Those squirrels and turkeys better beware!!!

Sending healing {{{hugs}}} and healing prayers....continue to keep us posted on sweet Harmony....

Bonnie & Angel Polly

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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28 October 2014 - 12:13 pm
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I'll keep sending prayers and healing energy your way! She did have two major surgeries!!! My girl, Shelby, had three in a matter of 5 months and the last, her amp, was the hardest to bounce back from. We had some rough weeks but it DID get better!!! 

Lots of love to you! 

Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart 

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

Martinsburg, WV
Member Since:
3 June 2014
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28 October 2014 - 12:14 pm
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Congratulations Harmony on your poop!!!  I'm sure that has to provide a little relief to your tummy.  I'm sorry to hear you're still having some troubles though with recovery. 

Hang in there sweet girl...things will start turning around.

HUGS to you Harmony and your dear pack!

Sahana and her Angel Leland

Leland

November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014

May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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28 October 2014 - 1:18 pm
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HOORAAAY FOR THE POODY-POO! clap (I wish we had a dancing poopy emoticon! ;)

I'm sad to hear about the other struggles going on. You definitely have the collective power of the Tripawds Nation headed your way. Give a big old smooch to her, and lotsa hugs to you. The poop is a sign of good things to come!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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53
28 October 2014 - 2:10 pm
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We DO have things to celebrate here so let's get this pawty started!!!!clap

We've got POOP!!!! YAAAAAAAAAY for glprious POOP,!!!!clap

We jave a one week ampuversary and that's another YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!clap

We hav a very positive mom beinging forthall sorts of healing energy from every source of Love available!! YAAAAAAAAAY Mom!!!!clap

Now, I understand Harmony has other "challenges" in addition to "just" amputation recovery and "just" spleen surgery and "just" adjusting to life on three legs and "just" being on m pain meds! HOWEVER, everything you are describing sounds pretty "normal" for JUST one week out from surgery!!! It took THREE WEEKS before I could start seeing Happy Hannah's sparkle come back! And patience was NOT a virtue of mine at the time! I think it was about five weeks before she started gettingnup to n greet me with wiggles and wags when I came home!!

So, to not have "turned the corner yet" is not surprising at all. Just the swelling from the spleen operation itself is not out of the norm. It may be that a drain has to be put in...ugh. I'm sure she's on antibiotics and they certainly can mees with her tummy. Is she eating "some"....and how about drinking? What pain meds is she taking?

You are a very, very strong human for your Harmony and she will feed off of that confident energy of yours!! We are ALL sending healing energy her way in every form there is!!! And that's a lot of good stuff!!clap

Okay, back to the celebration!! I bet a scoop pf ice cream and a couple of bites of steak will cheer her up!!! Try it! Let us know how it works!!!

Sendingn hugs and love...lots of both!!!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

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!

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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54
28 October 2014 - 4:08 pm
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You guys make me smile. It's so very appreciated.

Just got her Monday appointment moved to Thursday to get her started on chemo AND to relieve the fluid buildup in her belly.

I can't thank you enough for all y'all have done. You truly have been our life raft in this terrible storm.

xoxo

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

Member Since:
1 September 2014
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28 October 2014 - 8:15 pm
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Just wanted to add my support. Hoping that Miss Harmony is feeling better soon!

Sonya & "Millie"--born Feb 1999, diagnosed with OSA 8/27/14, set free 9/27/14
(RIP baby girl)

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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56
29 October 2014 - 9:29 am
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We had a bit of a mishap last night. Even though I have runners everywhere, Harmony happened to cut a corner and missed the runner with her right back leg. Of course she splayed out. She doesn't appear to be in pain, but the leg is definitely showing fatigue (possible injury). We were up late into the morning.

Bless her heart, I just don't know how much more she can take.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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57
29 October 2014 - 9:54 am
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Doggonenit Harmony! Are you strupying to get more attention and more spoiling????? I'm pretty sure you're getting more loving and spoilingnthan any million dogs get in a lofetime!! Now you settle down young lad y. This recovery is no picnic and you have to take it easy!! Besides, you're about to throw your momma off the edge with worry!!! That's where we come innthough! We have her attached securely to us and we aren't lettingnher go!

Yeah, unfortunately stumbles and face plants happen. She'll get the hang ofnit and her leg will get stronger. There are lots of links on here about building core strength, stretching exercises, massage, etc.

I KNOW this is such a stressful time! You arenot sleeping andnyou are emotionall and physically exhausted! Everything looks gloomy innthat state! Remember, Harmony is NOT worried! She's just staying in the moment and lapping up all the attention! She's not feeling gloomy at all!

If you feel you need to have the vet look at her before tomorrow, go on and take her in. I imagine she just strained it...maybe pulled a muscle..and just needs rest.

How is her overall attitude....CONSIDERING shew dealing with two major surgeries?? Is she eating? Drinking? Any tail wags yet? Not showing any signs of fever? How does her swelling look today? And one more wuestion....just wonderingnifnthe vet would delay the chemo a few days to give her a chance to get further along in recovery. Sometimes....not all the time...but sometimes it can make them lethargic and not wanting to eat for a few days. Not sure if her eating has picked up yet or not.

Hang in there kiddo! You are not alone, okay?! Come here ten times a day if you need to vent and cry!!! We all know that scenario far too well! Harmony is an amazing dog with an amazing human and she is going to be feeling better and better....it just takes a bit of time!!!

Now get out that bag of chocolate and devour it really, really fast!!!

Sending lots of love and hugs!!!!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

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!

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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58
29 October 2014 - 2:35 pm
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Oh Sally, you hit every single note! yes, Yes, YES!!

She still chases rabbits in her sleep, it's just the sweetest thing.

There are still wags. Sometimes she eats, sometimes not. Sometimes she'll take her meds, other times not-so-much. Can't keep pain meds in her because she's so unpredictable.

Originally her chemo was scheduled for Monday, but the vet moved it up because her poor belly looks as tight as a watermelon. And we don't want it to break open her tummy incision. He thinks it's coming from her liver and the only way to get it to stop (or reduce) is to get the mast cells to react to chemo as soon as possible. They also plan on draining her belly tomorrow to help with her discomfort.

Once again, I'm on that part of the roller coaster of being terrified.

When we first heard, "We need to amputate the leg." Both the hub-a-dub and myself were in shock. Never in our wildest dreams could we imagine such horrible words. Later as the shock wore off and reality sunk in, of course we wanted to remove her pain.

But here's the selfish part of me, I know that Harmony is more than the sum of her parts, but there's physically less of her today than there was last month. How cruel a disease that would torment and terrorize as we slowly grieve the demise of our sweet Harmony piece-by-piece. I'M MAD NOW!

GONE TO GET CHOCOLATE!!

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

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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59
29 October 2014 - 3:24 pm
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What kind of chemo are you doing?  Are they putting her on prednisone?  Pred does have it's down side but it does help with inflamation.  Maggie was on pred for almost 7 months as part of her mast cell chemo.

Another thought on the not eating- probably a lot to do with the liver involvement, but is Harmony on a stomach med? With mast cell there can be tummy pain and I always put the pugs on something for the tummy when we are messing with the tumors at all.

And yes, falls will happen.  Luckily for me Maggie was a rear amp and usually fell on her ample pug butt.  My older pug has mobility problems (also mast cell, but its not the cause of her mobility issues) and we have lined the tile floor in the kitchen with rugs.  No matter how many rugs we put down her little paws always seem to find the bare spot and cause a wipe out.

Hang in there, you are doing the best you can for Harmony...you are giving her a chance!

 

Karen and Spirit Maggie

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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29 October 2014 - 4:01 pm
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Don't know what kind of chemo until the appointment.

Yeah, we've got her on Pepcid, but I can't always get her to take it. We think that it's the pressure of the fluid on her tummy that's keeping her from eating.

I'll update as soon as I know something.

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

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