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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Tragic story of Scamper with happy ending.
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Member Since:
5 July 2008
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15 July 2008 - 5:06 pm
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Hello, my name is Scamper. I am a very handsome yellow labrador retriever and extremely lovable to say the least.

My Dad (Ken) rescued me from his son's home where I was very mistreated and lonesome. Since then, my Dad has given me a very beautiful home on a farm with cows, chickens and Mary Jo who is now my mother (Ken's wife). My Dad asked his son if he had provided me with all of my shots and if they were up to date and his son stated that all were up to date. Please allow me to give you a brief history of my life prior to being with my new Dad. I was run over by a car when I was puppy and had a steel plate put somewhere. I accidentally got under my owners truck and was drug down a very long hill while under the truck and I have been seriously injured many times by Saint Bernards - life was hard to say the least.

Shortly on arrival to my new home, my dad noticed me limping on my left foot. He also noted a swelling. The first vet he took me to told my dad that it was not a cancer because cancer only develops in old dogs (I am five). That particular vet put me on some pills and after a month, I continued to limp and I also continued to have a swelling to my ankle joint. My dad wanted the best for me so he took me to a vetenarian surgeon and was told that it could in deed be cancer and that I needed a biopsy. My dad agreed to the biopsy. The bone biopsy was $780.00. I had the biopsy and my foot was wrapped and my dad took me home.

When it was time to take the wrapping off, my foot was swollen like a watermelon and blood gushed out of the biopsy site. Dad rushed me to emergency vet where I suffered immensely and was on a morpine drip for 72 hours due to a reperfusion injury or plainly stated THE DRESSING WAS TOO TIGHT. Dad did not know what to do. He came to emergency vet to see me with intentions to euthanize me but could not do it.

The pain was finally controlled and my new family prayed and prayed that my foot would survive. After antibiotics, pain meds, and debridement, the battle was lost. Gangrene set in. My dad was faced with another choice - amputation or euthanasia. He could not euthanize me. He felt that he could provide me with many more years of happiness.

The left leg and shoulder were amputated. My aunt Kelley has been visiting me daily and she is the author of my story. She came to see me today and brought over my friend (CJ - her dog). For the first time, I tried to greet aunt kelley by attempting to jump on her and for the first time since my amputation 10 days ago, I barked when I saw CJ. I also ran and my balance is getting much better. My sutures were removed and everything looks well.

I am so thankful for my Dad (Ken) for giving me another chance at life and am so thankful for all the love and care that my mom (Mary Joe) has given me (she can't fool me by saying that she is not really an animal lover - I know she loves me with all her heart).

I have a few questions:

  1. I use to love to take polar bear plunges in the river - will this come natural to me and will I need a life vest?
  2. I am a pretty big guy and have to loose 19 pounds to have the best outcomes - any advice?

By the way, my bone biopsy for cancer was negative. The emergency vet did blood work which showed lymes disease. The surgeon that wrapped my leg too tight never did any blood work and we learned that my former master had not provided me with any vaccines since 2003.

Again, I am so thankful that I am now in good hands and will be taken care of for the rest of my life. My Aunt Kelley is very thankful for finding the tripawds site - she was able to share stories and information with her father (my dad) regarding my care and other success stories. Thank all of you who have read my story. Love Scamper.

Member Since:
28 May 2008
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15 July 2008 - 9:12 pm
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Hi Scamper...welcome to the tripawd family, we are SO happy that you are here and thankful to your pawrents for giving you all the love, support and medical attention that you've missed out on. Your story is amazing - thank you for sharing it with us.

My name is Zeus (and I'm a 10 year old golden retriever) and I had my front right leg and shoulder amputated 3 months ago. I can pretty much do everything I could do before except take long walks...mom takes me in 15 minute intervals about 3-4 times a day. I can chase the ball, I can jump in and out of the car and the stairs are no problem! My diagnosis was bone cancer, but our physical issues are obviously quite similar. The one thing mom noticed most was that my pain was gone and I was happier and had more energy once I recovered from surgery (it took me about 2-4 weeks I think to fully recover).

It's very important to keep us healthy and trim - it will take extra weight off our other muscles that need to work a little harder to compensate for the lost leg. Mom would obviously recommend asking your vet for a diet, but if you don't have a vet that you trust yet, there is a wealth of information on the web if you do a search. I used to be a 73 pound guy and now mom keeps me at 63 and my oncologist said no more than 65 pounds for me. I get one cup of food in the morning and one cup in the evening. Mom supplements my food with green beans, carrotts, brocolli and celery...my doctor said as many vegetables as I want and I LOVE THEM.

Mom is not a doctor, but to start with until you can get a good plan in place, she would recommend cutting back on the food and adding vegetables and fish oil (I get 6,000 MG a day, but that's also because I have cancer) and taking several short walks a day. Your stamina will build up as time goes on. Swimming is also supposed to be wonderful therapy for us and great exercise, but despite the fact that I'm a golden retriever, I don't care for the water too much, so I don't have any experience with that. It sounds like you love the water, so I would say to go for it with caution.

We hope this helps some...please keep us posted!

Love,

Zeus and Mom

 

Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together

Member Since:
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15 July 2008 - 11:05 pm
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Thank you so much Zeus and Mom.  I will share this information with my pawrents.  My mom gave me some watermelon today and oh boy was it good - is fruit a free food also?  My aunt Kelley has recommended the carrots but will also recommend the other vegetables.  So far, I like everything and have a very hearty appetite.  I am really looking forward to my polar bear plunge and will tell dad to "lets get with it".  The only problem I can foresee is my getting to the site where I take my polar bear plunge.  Dad lives on a 28 acre farm and it is quite a hike to the river - any suggestions?  Maybe short walk, rest, short walk, rest - it might take a while to get there but I know it will be worth the effort.  Please keep in touch Zeus - it was great to hear from you - I know I have a new friend in you.  Love Scamp!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 July 2008 - 11:10 pm
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Thanks for registering Scamper! We too are grateful for your wonderful people. Sounds like you're in good hands.

1. Check out my three legged dog movies page to see how well I can still swim! Just give it some time. Wait until your surgery wounds completely heal. Then wait until you've built up your strength again. Then take it easy at first. My people use the Ruffwear harness to help me out of the water when I stumble. They also make a life vest which we'll be writing about soon.

2. Keeping the weight down is a good thing for us three-legged dogs. Search these forums or my blog for "large breed dogs" or "overweight" and you will find lots of discussion about how big dogs do just fine on three legs. You can also learn about my canine cancer diet to see how my people keep me fit.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
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15 July 2008 - 11:23 pm
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Thank you Jerry.  Your videos are inspirational.  How long have you been a tripaw?  Also, what state do you live in (just asking because the water is pretty).  I will inform you of my progress - my leg was amputated on July 5th.  I will take weight loss advice of which I am sure will assist me with my mobility.  Friends, Scamper. 

P.S.  My aunt kelley giggles and says "I wonder why math is required"?

Keep in touch. 

 

On The Road


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15 July 2008 - 11:25 pm
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scamper said:

Dad lives on a 28 acre farm...


Woof! Surprised Aren't you a lucky dog!?!? Hopefully dad has an ATV with a big flat rack on the back for you. That is a very long walk, even with lots of rest stops.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

On The Road


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15 July 2008 - 11:31 pm
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scamper said:

How long have you been a tripaw?  Also, what state do you live in...


Thanks for asking, I've been a tripawd since November, 2006.

After my amputation, my people sold their house and business to travel the country with me in an RV. We are currently spending the summer in Lake City, CO where we made the most recent swimming movies.

And we require math to scare away any stupid spam bots since they can't add.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
7 July 2008
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16 July 2008 - 9:01 am
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Hey Scamper,

  Welcome to our family. I am a 7 yr old lab with bone cancer. My but you are a very lucky boy to have such wonderful pawrents!!

   When it comes to the water just take  your time at first don't overdo it.Water is less stressful on the body but you do use more energy to swim and walk in water then out of water.  I would also suggest a life jacket or at least stay on a leash for your first experience back so it is  a great one.So enjoy and we hope you have a great swim!!

      Definately talk to the doc or surf the web like Jerry said. But we're gonna warn ya there is a ton of information. Good luck and keep us up dated

                      Gator

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16 July 2008 - 8:20 pm
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Hey Jerry, I think it would be great to get an ATV - thanks for suggestion.  I will recommend to my people. Colorado is a great place!  Your lucky you get to travel the country.  Have you seen the grand canyon yet?  You would be a handsome sight in a picture at the grand canyon.  I have never seen it but my Aunt Kelley talks to me about her travels.  She told me that one time she was in a huge snow blizzard on the highest mountain in Colorado and slid right into San Francisco (she has got to be joking with me).  Anyway, where are you headed next?  It sounds to me as if your people just treasure you.  I was wondering, how did you come to have your amputation.  I am learning that many amputees are due to cancer and many are also due to being hit by silly drivers.  I just thought of an idea.  It has probably been thought of before but here it goes - we should all think about gathering pictures of our beautiful selves and create a tripawds calendar and then we can market it and sell it and take all the earnings and donate it to unfortunate animals that are in shelters and without homes.  Just something to think about.  Can't wait to here about your next destination.  Bye Jerry.  Keep in touch.

Scamper

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16 July 2008 - 8:27 pm
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Gator said:

Hey Scamper,

Welcome to our family...


Hey Gator. How did you get your name? It is a cute name. Thanks for reading my story. My walking/running is improving with every day and so are my spirits. I am looking forward to my first polar bear plunge but I think it would take me forever to get where I need to get and so I will be sharing Jerrys ATV idea with my Dad. My dad and I call it the polar bear plunge because I look like a big ole polar bear. Another idea that my mom has is to take me to a pool up the road where they offer swimming for pets - she plans to look into this soon. Take care Gator and keep in touch. It is great to have new friends!

Scamper.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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16 July 2008 - 10:47 pm
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scamper said:

It sounds to me as if your people just treasure you...


That's for sure! Must be why they sold they're house and hit the road with me to travel the U.S. after I had my amputation from osteosarcoma.

We haven't been to the Grand Canyon, but we got close enough to discover I don't care for the heat there. We did get to the black Canyon of the Gunnison though. And that was pretty amazing. Especially after it dumped 5" of snow.

A calendar is indeed an idea we've been thinking of for some time now. The custom tripawds books were our first publishing endeavor. My people put a lot of work into those but don't make any money. So far, they've donated proceeds to the Morris Animal Foundation and 2 Dogs 2,000 miles.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
13 May 2008
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17 July 2008 - 5:33 am
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Hi Scamper, my name is Dee, a 9 year old Osteosarcoma survivor. I am glad your pawrents found this website to share your story with us... I am very jealous of your huge playground - wow, 28 acres!! HOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLL....  My mommy has also been very close to Grand Canyon last year December - but it wasnt too hot to go, it was SNOWING too much!  You see, in South Africa we only see snow up in the mountains and it was the first time ever that mommy actually touched snow - she was in Flagstaff. She was a bit too scared to drive in the snow, so she skipped it. Although I wasn't with them on holiday, I am sure that I would have had a BALL OF A TIME in the snow.. darn!! 

Keep us posted on your progress!

Losta love and lotsa licks, Dee xx

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28 July 2008 - 10:16 pm
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Hi Scamper...Zeus here...mom and I are wondering how you are doing? Have you done the polar bear plunge yet?

We're thinking of you -

Lots of love,

Zeus

Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together

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