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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Sophie is our cocker spaniel puppy! She is such a good girl and we love love love her soooo much! We brought her home and knew she was special right away! She NEVER cried one night for mommy or brothers or sisters, she just loved all of her toys and people! She knows so many tricks and absolutely loves to please her people! She also loves her 2 legged sister! She has had a rough start right off the bat she had to have surgery for cherry eye! (MY POOR BABY) 🙁 bUT SHE MADE IT THROUGH THAT! A little over a month ago now she has a wire crate that she sleeps in at night (NOT ANYMORE) well she sleeps like a crazy girl flat on her back with legs sticking through the wires between the gap where you slide the tray in and out... I still am not exactly sure what happend to this day, but somehow her feet got cought in the middle of the night and we woke up to her freaking out yelping and crying for help. WE came to find her twisting from side to side and her legs were both stuck in the cage 🙁 WE got her out but she really did a number on herself. She had fractured both legs and also dislocated/fractured her hip 🙁 I broguth her to the vet thinking she only had hurt one leg and to my surprise the vet came out and said she cannot even belive she was walking! I was told i should put her to sleep, but i knew she had a will to live... the srugery needed to fix her was very expensive and I am disabled so I could not afford it. I tried to fund raise and do all that I could. I finally was told it is too late to "fix" the bad leg. I was also told she will do just fine on 3 legs and to me that was a better option than putting her to sleep. The other leg is going to have to be splinted and wrapped. It is all so scary and all happening so fast. I love her so much and am here looking for support! I am excited to meet new people and friends for both me and Sophie as well!
Welcome and good luck, we look forward to following Sophie's progress.
Nice chattin' with ya!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome .
What a awfull story - Sophie must be one tough girl. Good luck with everything She will do fine on three legs and in time she will be back to her old self. If you have any questions just ask we have all been though the recovery process and it can be hard at times. You will find lots of advise and support on this site , the people here are awesome!!!!
I hope everything goes well for Sophie - let us know how she is gettting on.
Sarah
Oh poor Sophie. But don't you worry -it's true that she will do fine on 3 legs. Once she gets through the recovery from the surgery, she'll most likely be her old self again. She'll have to build up some stamina, but you'll see that she'll do all the things 4 legged dogs do. She will amaze and inspire you.
It's an awesome thing to be a tripawd pawrent. Welcome to the club!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Ohhhh Sophie! Wow, that's the first time anypawdy has ever lost their leg like that here. We're so glad you'll be OK and your people will take good care of you as a Tripawd.
Welcome to the community. If you have any questions about life on three legs, just let us know OK? We are here to help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OH! I'm so sorry to hear about Sophie! What an awful thing to happen! We will be sending the best tripawd power to her so she heals quickly!
I'm so sorry you have to join us but welcome! Please keep us posted.
As a side note - I always worried this would happen with my Comet who had a deformed smaller front leg. I was so relieved when companies made soft sided crates.
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.
Your poor little furbaby! Good luck - here's hoping for a smooth recovery.
We'll all send pawsitive thoughts your way.
Hugs and Slobbers
Judy and Baby
OMDog, poor Sophie. Now, this story has made me paranoid about Einstein at night in his crate and when I am gone for work. What if he gets his leg caught and I'm not there to help?? 
When he was a puppy and in his smaller crate, one night we heard him yelp, and I got up and checked him and he was ok. We are thinking he probably stretched out and got his leg caught too temporarily. This dog loves to stretch out and he also lays on his back in the crate with his legs gapped open to the side.I wish they would make those holes smaller in the crates, or maybe they should be solid at the bottom part and then have the wire holes in the upper part.
But in regards to Sophie, whoever told you she will do good on three legs is right. She has a little more to overcome than just the amputation because there is damage to the other leg, but once she heals, she will be hopping around in no time. Let us know what we can do, and welcome!
Cadence's Mom
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
I would just like to say thank you for all of the sweet things everyone has said! It is rough righ tnow for me and for sophie too, although i dont think she even knows (dont tell her) she has anything wrong with her at this point! I am so nervous for tomorrow, but i know soon she will feel better. I am worried for now of how she will do on the good leg. That leg also had a fracture and so we are working on getting that to heal properly too! I am hopeful she will be just fine though and back to her normal self soon! Thank you guys all so much for the love/support/prayers! I am looking forward to making new friends for both me and sophie too!
I am late but I wanted to say welcome.
Sophie has her young age going for her- even thought there are multiple injuries to overcome I bet she will be getting around fine in no time.
Surgery day can be long and nerve wracking for us two leggers so be sure you have lots to keep you busy. The recovery period can be full of ups and downs so don't get discouraged if Sophie has some down time. But we have often seen here that the young pups bounce right back, almost as if nothing had happened.
Good luck tomorrow and let us know how she (any you!) are doing.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Yay!!!!! - More good news. Pleased to hear she is doing well.
Keep us updated!
Sarah
Hooray for surgery being done! Rest up until she gets home. 🙂
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Glad to hear surgery went well!!!
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.
Sophie is home from surgery! She is already hopping around all over! It is really weird... she has a wrap thing on the good leg that she sitill has so that leg is sort of stuck straight, but she is like draggint it behind, and her front muscles have already gotten so strong, she looks like a muscle man LOL and she is just walking around like nothing draggin the good leg so she doesnt bend it! No complaints with the amputated leg yet. She has already came home and peed and pooped YAY HURRAY! She has pink stitches, and a red wrap on her little leg! aww mommy is so happy to have her home it feels good to haveh er home, and it feels even better to have her home and be pretty much asking like her normal spunky self. At the vet they had pigs ears for sale and she was so happy to have that special treat oh my gosh! The vet said, i dont think she will want to eat or do anything today, she was so excited tail (stub) flappin tongh giving me a bath when i grabbed that, she was trying to bite it out of my hand while i was holding her! It definitely feels good just to feel the love and knwo she is back in my arms. I am rambling and I am sorry for that. I thought like some way some how she would be differnt or act different, or seem different to me, or i would feel sorry for her or,,,,, actually, I am not really sure what i felt, but now, i feel a sense of contentment and peace. I am happy she is home, and 100% she is still my SOPHIE GIRL!
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