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
Wow. It's been a long three months. I can't help but feel that we haven't had the real bounce back that I see most other people and their dogs having. Riot will only eat with Entyce, and is still unable to go up more than one stair by himself. I know part of it is that he didn't reliably eat until recently, and he's also almost 12 1/2. I just miss him. He's been at my parents since his amputation. Which means I've been there almost the whole time as well. I was really hoping he'd be back to sleeping next to my bed again. I'd be fine with helping him up with his webmaster harness , but we're not there. We "hopefully" restart PT next weekend. If his counts are good, he gets his 4th round of chemo tomorrow. I know what matters is that he's happy. He really seems to be. I think he's gained some weight as well, which would be great. So, we'll just keep trucking along as best we can. He has his scans before his 5th round. I'm holding onto hope that he's still sporting clear lungs. Thank you for all of the continued support here. It's been a life saver.
He is such a beautiful doggie! I can see sparkle in his eyes, and they say "HOPPY!" again and again.
It's hard not to compare, we all do it, can't blame you at all. But remember that many of the dogs you see are much younger than he is, they all come from different places health-wise. Also, Riot is on his own timeline and he will heal and get his mojo back. The chemo can also make him super tired too. For a doggie his age he is doing so well! You know this of course. Your boy is super strong and such a rock star! 
I hope you guys can get back to PT, it will make such a difference. Once you return home too, that will help tremendously. Anytime you can normalize a new Tripawd's life back to the way things were, or as close to it as possible, it really boosts morale. You two are getting there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah, he's definitely a senior. Both my boys are rock stars in their own way. We have an appointment for PT on the 14th. As long as he can get chemo tomorrow, and not have to wait another week, I think he'll be ready for it. I'd like to do it this weekend, but he's never up to much for the first several days after chemo. I'm hoping he'll bounce back faster with Entyce on board, as he's actually been eating. The PT office includes a therapy massage in the session, and I think he benefits from that as well.
I feel for you on the food issue! Im so glad the entyce is working! Weve pretty much forgone dog food at this point. Roane literally runs from the dish! I figure with picky eaters anything is better than nothing even if its human food.
I surely know we beat our selves up over there happiness too, but you've done an excellent job with riot ❤
Big hugs for you both and good luck with chemo tomorrow. ❤
Hugs ❤ Bev, nurse Moe cat, Autumn's Angel Roane & Angel dog Gypsy 🐾
My sweet soulmate Roane was diagnosed with osteo in June of 2019. Had a rear leg amp on July 2nd & crossed the rainbow bridge to be with her sister Gypsy on the first day of Autumn Sept 23 2019.
Thank you. I agree, whatever it takes. Human food is at least food. Right now Riot's eating dog food, but we're adding rotisserie chicken, rice, and sometimes beef stew as well. Plus we microwave it. It generally take 3 hours for the Entyce to kick in. A hug for you and Roane as well.
DITTO Jerry and Bev! 100% ditto!!!
As much as we want to see everything back "like it was", the only thing that matters is that Riot is happy with his new normal....and is!! Those pictures show a happy pain free dog enjoying life "Riot's way"!
And yes, he is on chemo, he is getting his stamina back with good food and he is a bit more "mature". Walking on three is tiring for any pupper, especially a mature bigger guy.
Try and focus on the ways he IS showing you he is happy. We can see it😎
And HAPPY HOPPY THREE MONTH AMPIVERSAR3Y HANDSOME!! You've handled those extra hurdles like a champ!!! Wonder if da' "Champ" would consider Pet Fresh now (bag form)?
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. IF Riot is used to being at your home with you, as Jerry said, it's good to have the normal routine to help in overall attitude. Prior to surgery, had he ever spent time studying at your Mom's house? I moved my mattress downstairs and slept on the floor with my Happy Hannah. Is it possible if you can't go home yet, could you move a mattress downstairs so you and Riot could sleep together? Might do you both a work of good.
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!
Thank you very much. I don't know if he'd like Pet Fresh now. He never did eat it in the log form. If he starts getting bored with what we're doing, I'll buy him a bag.
He thankfully loves my parents' house. My Dad is actually his favorite person. I'm at least second. My Dad is mostly retired, so works from home. My Mom is a natural night owl, so she's up with him most of the night. They have a master bedroom downstairs, so he never sleeps alone. Their house is small, so no room for a mattress anywhere, unfortunately. His sleep schedule isn't the greatest with people awake most of the time, but I can't change that until he's back with me. He's getting better at sleeping with people awake. Since it's been just me most of his life, he's used to my schedule. My other dog is much more go with the flow.
Ugh. WBC wasn't quite good enough for chemo. I hate having to bring him in again in a week, but we're hoping it's worth it. He was a gentleman, as always. This will be dose 4, and his vet said we're only doing one more after. We're also waiting a month between doses next time. So, a month to wait for scans.
On a better note, he put on 10 pounds in 3 weeks! So we'll be doing slightly smaller meals from here. We'll reevaluate next week.
For whatever it's worth, there are some "theories" out there that low WBC invetween chemo means the chemo is "working". I don't think anything's been proven one another.
You can also ask the Onco about the necessity of a fifth. The Onco for Happy Hannah suggested four. Others on the site have had four as a recommendation. Then again, some have five as a recommendation snd sone have six. Go figure!
Riot really does seem to have the perfect set up at your parents' house. Loads and loads of attention and spoiling! And he does get to sleep with someone, even if it does get a bit noisy sometimes. Your love qnd devotion, your parents' love and devotiin to Riot, are a spectacular addition to his medical treat,ent plan!!
YAAAAAAAAAAY FOR GAINING 10 LBS!!!! THAT IS TRULY WONDE4FUL NEWS!!! REALLY GOOD NEWS!!! UOI, AND RIOT PERSEVERED!!😁😀
Extra hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Thank you, Sally. I sure hope it's working. Their protocol is five doses, so I'm going to see it through to the end. Thankfully they take really good care of him there. We just hung out in the waiting room, until the blood work came back. He's a trooper.
Yes, my parents have been such a great help. They love him almost as much as I do.
I'm bummed we need to push PT back again, but it's setting him up for success.
Such a polite boy to wait so patiently. And Oh my godness 10 pounds thats huge! Go riot you've got this buddy! Big hugs for you!
Hugs ❤ Bev, nurse Moe cat, Autumn's Angel Roane & Angel dog Gypsy 🐾
My sweet soulmate Roane was diagnosed with osteo in June of 2019. Had a rear leg amp on July 2nd & crossed the rainbow bridge to be with her sister Gypsy on the first day of Autumn Sept 23 2019.
riotfromma said
.......... but it's setting him up for success.
That is a great way to sum up everything you are doing for Riot!! And Riot is already showing you what success looks like...and shall continue to do so!!!
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!
Good boy Riot! That's very cool to know you are getting back to a good weight.
As for the WBC, well, look at it like this: sure, it's an extra vet visit here and there because of his low counts, but it's one way that Riot gets to go on extra car rides and share his charming pawsonality with the world. If he doesn't seem to mind the visits then try not to fret, cause he's not 🙂
About PT....I've been meaning to put this in our Tripawds Gear blog so thanks for the reminder...but the PT self-study course that was developed for our community a few years ago ("Conditioning and Concerns for the Tripod Dog") is now being made available as a download. It's not free but it's worth the $50. You will find some good ideas in there about helping to prepare Riot for more extensive work.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I sure hope Riot can keep showing the world how well he's doing
Thankfully he takes the vet trips pretty well. He's developed a fan club. He's never much liked the car. It's how he got his name. He wouldn't stop puking on our way home. I looked back and said "You're a riot, aren't you?". Couldn't think of a better name after that. I'll get the download if his lungs are clear next month.
LOVE that story! Oh wow, I wondered about how he got his name. So no more barfing in the car?
As for the next radiographs, I love what Grover's mom said in his blog about the wait:
We have a met check coming in two weeks and initially I found myself “wishing it would hurry up and get here” so that I would know. So that I would know if we will qualify for the clinical trial we are hoping to get in. So that I would know if chemo was working. So that I would “know” if I could predict more time. And then, Grover reminded me to “Be More Dog ”.
Why waste these blissful 3 weeks — 21 days — 504 hours — 30,240 minutes — “hurrying up” to find out some information. Enjoy these moments. The sunsets and sunrises. The wind in his ears. His grass rolling temper tantrums. Car rides to get ice cream. Simply being together.
That moment — the met check — will come regardless and we have no control over the results. But, we can control taking advantage of the our time together now.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
