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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Good luck GiGi, I know you are going to great ‘cause your pawrents are brave and have educated themselves on what to expect. They have made the right choice (just like mine did). I am 5 days post op and doing great! Lisa is right in saying get rest while you can, because if your vet, like mine, cares about post op pain, then you will be up ever few hours with medication duties.
When you want to cry, try not to because it will make GiGi sad. She needs you to be strong for her and remember, she was born with a spare. J
Please keep us posted on her recovery and how she is doing. We are here for you and welcome you.
You are on our minds this morning. Good luck today!
Lisa and Zeus
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/
Thinking of you and GiGi this morning-- please keep us updated on how the surgery went and how your girl is doing.
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
GiGi had her surgery and all went well. I visited her a couple of hours after the surgery and she was still pretty groggy. She knew it was me but couldn't make things work yet.
She will stay the night and I will get her tomorrow afternoon. They hope to have her up and walking some in the morning.
I was surprised that the surgeon used hidden stitches and no drain tube. He prefers no tube to hold down on the risk of infection.
They are doing cold packs to minimize the swelling.
I built her a 8' ramp out the front porch today. This should help her a lot.
I'll post an update tomorrow.
Ron
So glad everything went well with GiGi. It's scary when they are in there. Daisy was sent home with a compression bandage. It really helped with keeping the swelling down and they are supposed to help prevent seromas. We were lucky and didn't have much swelling or bruising. All surgeons do things a little different I guess.
Here's hoping for an uneventful recovery!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Hooray for surgery being done! Now rest up so you'll be ready for her tomorrow. Even if she doesn't need you, those first coupla nights home, you lay there listening to their every move...
Hope she has a quick and easy recovery!
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!
Thanks for the update! Jerry didn't have a tube either, so we had to have his seroma drained, but only once.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yea for getting through surgery!
Maggie came home without a drain as well, she was a rear amp, and we did not have a seroma problem (at least on the amp surgery!).
The ramp sounds great- be sure it is non-skid. I know in Maggie's case if she slipped on something she would not try walking on it again. Of course she was a very obstinate pug.
Let us know when she gets home.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Well done GiGi! You'll be home very soon!
Lylee didn't have a drain tube either as they can be a cause for infection. And she didn't have a seroma . Keeping them quiet helps to heal quickly though seromas can happen anyway.
Sending hugs
Joanne & Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
EXCELLENT NEWS! What a relief!
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.
Its such a relief when the surgery is over and they are ok!
Well Done Gigi
I just got the call from the Vet and I can pick her up.
She is up and walking around this morning.
Can't wait to get her home - sure she can't wait either.
great news. the next two weeks could be tough, but just take it a minute at a time..and remember to breath.
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
Wooo hooo!
Remember when you see her, look in her eyes and tell her how beautiful she is, and how much you love her. A strong pack leader makes all the difference in an uneventful recovery.
Good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so happy she's doing so well. Baby is so shy, she wouldn't get up for the doctor, so they kept her a few extra days. As soon as she saw us, she jumped up and wagged her tail. Then she got to come home. I'm so glad Gigi got up and you get her home right away. Celebrate all the little signs of healing (we all make a huge deal out of the first poop) and try not to get discouraged at the difficult moments. You'll get through this!
Judy and Baby
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