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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Thanks again everyone! I've got two hours until the home visit and my checklist includes getting a non-skid mat for the tub (for his baths), throw rugs for the kitchen floor, maybe a boot for his back foot, joint supplements, and an elevated food bowl. Did I forget anything?
I'd really like to thank the Tripawd cancer survivors for allowing Tripawd trauma survivors to join in. Cancer itself is a whole different circumstance and I applaud you and your canine friends for your bravery. I understand how devastating it can be -- last month I lost my 8 year old Rottweiler to an inoperable tumor on her jaw. I also lost my 9 year old Vizsla to spleen cancer 5 years ago. It's such an ugly disease and I feel for those of you who have to make those tough decisions on what to do next. My heart & prayers go out to you all. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your group.
Paws and fingers crossed for your home visit. You are awesome for wanting to adopt a tripawd. Good luck!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Sounds like you have a great list prepared. I am sure that the home visit will go great. Good luck and let us know what happens!!
As for the cancer/trauma issue, I think I can speak for most of us on the site in saying that, yes, we got here under different circumstances, and yes, at times we will post about different issues that may not apply to the other group, but we are all bound together by the love of our three-legged dogs and our desire to research and share any information that will help them in recovery and in living this "new" life. This is SUCH a wonderful community of people who have provided me enormous support and encouragement through a very difficult time, and they will also be able to help you navigate this new territory! We are glad you are here, regardless of the circumstances that brought you!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Well our home is approved! But we still have a few more steps to go through. My Boxer/Lab mix, Buddy, wanted Trapper to play with him but Trapper didn't really care for Buddy's high energy enthusiasm and growled at him repeatedly. We have another meeting set up at Trapper's foster home for Tuesday to see if he'll be more confident on his own turf. I'll keep you all posted.
Hooray for passing the home test! Hope they have a good play date! Sounds like Buddy is keen to have a little brother.
Keep us posted.
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!
Did you catch the recent Tripawds Radio show on introducing new dogs to your pack?? http://www.blog.....-your-pack
Eh?
Might be tricky to have the chat with Trapper without the rescue people raising an eyebrow at you, haha, but maybe a word or two with Buddy beforehand about toning down his exuberance? What could it hurt? 
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Maybe wear Buddy out with an extended playtime before the next visit. I've found that my own pack always seems to be a little more accepting of a new dog if they meet outside and get all the sniffs out of the way before heading inside. Maybe the confined space/new turf just makes them a little more nervous than they would be in an outdoor space.
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
so exciting you passed the 'home test'... it's new for everyone, hopefully the next visit will be a little calmer, and then the sky's the limit!!
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Hello! Happy to hear that your home visit went well and your home was approved!! Hoping that Trapper will become better acclimated to Buddy when you visit his home. I know how much you want to adopt Trapper. I am in the waiting stage of being approved to become a foster Mom to a Great Dane. So I know the waiting can be hard. I have butterflies all day long. I had my phone interview and next I have to send in a completed application and have a home visit. It is so wonderful that you have decided to adopt a rescue Dog and a Tripawd!! You will just love being a member of this site. I recently lost my 8 year old Great Dane Valentina and this site helped me every step of the way through Valentina's amputation recovery, Tripawdhood and her passing. You will need all the support and information that you will get from this site. We are sincerely hoping that Trapper can become a part of your family. Good luck and Welcome to Tripawds!!!
Yay great news - hope the next meeting goes well and Trapper soon becomes a member of your family.
Good Luck
Sarah, Sarge and Kayla
I wanted to make sure to post proper info on here so after having a conversation with someone I trust highly in pet nutrition and supplementing, I just wanted to make a change to my earlier post regarding my recommendation for hip and joint care supplementing.
I was talking to her about her thoughts on supplementing when on a high quality dry kibble and not only was she saying no to supplementing but she was totally against adding kelp on a kibble because most high end foods already have kelp added in the formula...adding more can have adverse effects on pets thyroid function. She was, however, okay with adding kelp when feeding a RAW diet.
Congrats on the home approval and good luck on Tuesday 
Roxy…Border Collie cross born on approximately October 27th, 2011;
Rescued in January 2012 by Oops a Dazy Rescue & Sanctuary;
Right hind leg amputated on January 20th, 2012 due to a severe spiral fracture;
Adopted on February 21st, 2012 by Teena, a devoted human & Charlee, a purebred BC.
Hugs, tail wags & sloppy kisses
I think before we head out to Trapper's foster mom's house, we're going to the dog park so Buddy can run off a bit of his exuberance. He wanted Trapper to play with him so badly but Trapper wanted no part of him. 
Maybe her two other GSP's will like Buddy and Trapper will see he's an okay guy. I also have a Golden Retriever named Marley and he got along with Trapper just fine.
Oh can I relate to the butterflies in the stomach! Luckily, I was able to keep that nervousness out of me when the dogs were meeting. I wonder if someone else was feeling it and Trapper tapped into that?
Sometimes it helps to have the dogs meet on neutral territory. That's what I did when I adopted Matti. That way the existing dogs don't feel like the newbie is invading their territory. I don't know if that would work in your instance or if the foster home would be willing to meet somewhere like the dog park.
Good luck!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
Today is the big day! We have changed the meeting place to Trapper's vet as they have a large fenced in area. Still going to take my two to the dog park first to get Buddy worn out a bit.
Thanks again everyone for all your advice & support. Trapper's foster mom was so impressed and happy that I met up with you all. Now if we can just keep Trapper from growling at Buddy...
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