Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello! My name is Sprite. I was rescued by a very nice older couple along with my brother and sister who appeared on their porch on day. They brought us to Willapa Veterinary Services in Grayland, WA when we were about 9 weeks old. My mommy, Rachael, who is a groomer there fell in love with me at first site. I must say, I loved her too!! A couple weeks went by and everything was great!
Well, one day when we were coming home from work, Mommy stopped by her friend's house. They were about to have a bonfire and Mommy decided to stay for a bit. Well, to make a long story short, one of Mommy's friends decided to move her car so she could back in and we could listen to music. I was busy playing with Bella, the friends medium-sized, very hyper pit bull puppy. We were running around and I kept running under the cars. Mommy was trying to grab me but her friend didn't hear her say WAIT so she could grab me. And I wasn't listening to her. Suddenly, it was too late. My back leg was broken and I was in shock. Mommy knew she had to get to the vet quickly. So she scooped me up, put me in my carrier, and drove like a bat out of hell.
We arrived at the vet (45 minute drive following speed limits) in just 15 minutes. The vet arrived and put me on fluids overnight and gave me some pain meds. I had surgery two days later to set the break. Mommy worked with my leg every day, stretching and exercising and trying to help it work again. But all was lost. My knee and ankle became frozen and it was obvious there was significant nerve damage.
Mommy spoke with the vet and did a lot of research and we all decided the very best thing would be to take the leg. Mommy wants me to be a puppy again and be able to play without dragging this bum leg around. Surgery is set for September 6th.
We are wondering if anyone has any advice for us. Mommy thinks we really need a Ruff Wear Harness so she can help me around when the time comes, but as I am only 4 months old, she knows that I will be growing a lot more. She can't really afford to buy a harness right now and would like to know if anyone has one their dog has grown out of or isn't using at this time that we can borrow and return when I outgrow it.
Any advice and information is welcome. It has been a long and difficult road so far, but I am always happy no matter what. Mommy takes me with her to work everyday and we have a wonderful bond!!
Woofs and kisses,
Super Sprite
supersprite said
We are wondering if anyone has any advice for us.
Welcome Sprite! Thanks for sharing your story. Be sure to check the Tripawds Angel Exchange for a used harness, and you'll find plenty of other recommended gear in the Tripawds Gear shop. Tell your people to consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for the best recovery and care tips and bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
admin said
Welcome Sprite! Thanks for sharing your story. Be sure to check the Tripawds Angel Exchange for a used harness, and you'll find plenty of other recommended gear in the Tripawds Gear shop. Tell your people to consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for the best recovery and care tips and bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links.
Thanks so much! Mommy will check those links out for sure!! Thank you for this wonderful site!
Woofs and Kisses,
Sprite
Sprite, you are ADORABLE! Your mommy will defiitely have to post more pictures of you!
So sorry this happened ut you couldn't have come to a better place for support and informatin..
You'll fnd a ton of info. in tne downloads mentioned above.
Sprite will do just fine with tne amputation......will feel so much better with that problem leg gone! Recovery is tough! But o ce tne recovery s comp,ete, your Sprite will bnce arou d with so much joy you'll have to sllw him down.....at first anyway.
My comuter is gettng ready t crash s apologize for havng to be brief.....will plst again tmlrrow!
You...and Sprite...will do just f e! You are not alo e! we are right by yor side, okay? Okay!!
((((((((hugs)))))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thanks so much Sally and Hannah!! I think Mommy is waaaaay more upset about this than I am!! I'm still bouncing around like nothing ever happened! I like to keep my spirits up because Mommy needs me to be happy. You should see her face when I come running when she calls me! I am a very good puppy. And very smart. Mommy is very impressed at my speed in learning. Just can't stand to watch me drag my bad leg around. It gets stuck on things and that makes me cry or run away afraid of whatever caught me up. And I just want to be able to play again! Mommy says my recovery will be faster than most because I am only 4 months old and it's a rear leg amputation. I am already walking without it for the most part, so I should adapt well.
We cannot be more thankful for this community!!
Woofs and kisses,
Super Sprite
benny55 said
Sprite, you are ADORABLE! Your mommy will defiitely have to post more pictures of you!...
Sally and Happy Hannah
Oh SuperSprite you are too adorable! I'm sorry you are losing your leg but your mommy is right -- you'll never even miss it! It's probably impeding all that fun play time!
You probably won't even need that harness with your young age. Mommy is going to be surprised at how well you are going to get around straight out the vet door! I couldn't even get Daisy to use a sling when she came home post amp. Nope. She was gonna do things HER way. The hard part of your recovery is going to be keeping you quiet for 2 weeks.
I bought a webmaster for my Daisy (she's 80 lbs.) but we have never used it. LOL. I put it on her and she would not move. She doesn't particularly care for new things. But now that she is in recovery from knee surgery we're going to try again.
Good luck with the sugery and recovery!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Hi SuperSprite!
It's unfortunate that you have to find us, but I am glad you did.
I also had a young dog who was amputated, Barret was 4 (amp due to cancer). I researched tons of harnesses but never bought one because he bounced back so fast after surgery that one was totally unnecessary. Each dog is different, but I would advise you to wait to buy a harness until you see if he is able to navigate without assistance. Some dogs need help, some don't. It looks like SuperSprite might be a smaller breed (like Barret) and may not need too much help other than getting in and out of cars.
There are 2 things that I purchased out of the hundreds of preparations I made that I now know were totally necessary and we still use them: a raised bowl for Barret's dinner and non-skid rugs for at the tops and bottoms of the stairs (we have hardwood flooring). If not for those rugs, Barret would have fallen down the steps many more times than he has (sometimes he goes too fast and sort of slides down the last few steps..) Tumbles do happen. You will learn not to freak out over every tumble, sometimes you will even let out a giggle.
Good luck with surgery! Keep us updated!
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
Thanks so much!! Mommy and I go to work at the vet every day, so it will be nice to have the vet there and make sure all is well each day. I am a very confident puppy. Mommy is feeling better about all this today as Daddy has decided this is the right thing to do now, as well! (See my most recent blog post!)
If Miss Daisy still hates the harness, you could donate it in the Angel Exchange! 
I have never met a more kind and caring group of pet lovers! Mommy says "Bengal people" can get really snotty and competitive. Sometimes when seeking advice there, all you get is a bunch a mean things said to you or about you. It's sad.
but Mommy said she feels very comfortable here!
daisygirl said
Hello! And thanks for your comments! I am only 4 months old and I weigh 18.4 lbs. I am a girl dog! Mommy thinks I will be between 40 and 60 lbs as an adult. My brother, Kovu, is much larger at about 27 lbs already. He looks a lot like a Husky mix but with short hair. My sister, Nova, is only about 14-16 lbs, I think. It's very neat that Mommy is friends with all the other Pawrents and I get to see my brother almost every day at work!
I think Mommy's going to borrow a harness through Angel Exchange. If it helps, it helps. If I'm just too super for it, we will donate it back to Angel Exchange.
I am sorry to hear about Barret. Mom is definitely going to get some rugs. We have all hard wood floors!! And tile at work. Has anyone tried those super cool boots?? I thought it was kinda funny that they come in a set of 4 and are for Tripawds!!
BarretsMomHeather said
Aww, you're just a baby puppy 
At that age, she'll do great!
Don't feel sorry for Barret - He's still with us and were a few weeks shy of 3 months cancer-free He honestly has no idea he ever had 4 legs. There isn't a single thing he used to do that he can't do now. They're truly the most resilient creatures I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.
As for the boots: I actually had a set for Barret in the snow before his amp. They made him walk really funny but he hates his feet cold, so it worked for us. I guess I have a spare now if I lose one!
SuperSprite will seriously amaze you. I would hold off buying anything other than rugs and higher dish, and maybe a tshirt to keep on during recovery so you don't have to wear that silly cone of shame ... The harness has to wait until the stitches are out anyhow, so you can get a good idea of how SuperSprite handles the amp (you will be sooooo surprised at how well she does and how it doesn't affect her).
Yes, the Tripawds community is the BEST community I have ever been a part of. I don't know what the Bengal people are, but you don't need that kind of negativity! We're a loving, supporting family here, we don't judge.
I'm glad you're feeling a little more comfortable with the whole situation, I had weeks to wait before Barret's surgery and I had days I felt confident and days I felt like I was mutilating my dog. I can say since the day of surgery, I've never had a regret or ever looked back.
When is surgery scheduled?
-Heather & Barret
Barret was diagnosed with Hemangiopericytoma May 16, 2013. Front left leg/scapula/pectoral muscle was amputated on June 11, 2013 and we've never looked back. Follow our story on http://barret.t.....pawds.com/ and read my column on That Pet Blog
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