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
Its been a few days now, wondering how it's going. I'm sure you have your hands full, so update when you can. Hugs
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Online
I do apologize! Did mean to leave everybody hanging! I just keep "waiting" be I want to post pics and videos and blah, blah, blah!!
Hard-headed-Frankie-do-it-his-way is doing very well, all things considered! I, however, am a COMPLETE failure at managing him as he should be managed during his loooong recovery!! His NEED for speed when "walking" is something I cannot even begin to explainI do have harness help that I'm waiting to show you all pictures. His NEED to break down the baby gate just in time for me to catch him counter surfing on one rear leg....his NEED to jump over fallen branches in the yard rather than letting me guide him around them.....his NEED to do things HIS way without being deterred...drives me nuts!!!!!!! He clearly knows he can outsmart me, out of me, every step of the way!! Dat's my boy!!!❤
Doing any ROM has been IMPOSSIBLE for me. I've even zapped him with Trazodone, which I hated to do and still will NOT let me! And the fear of doing it wrong is definitely holding me back too! If I'm doing the beginning exercises , he shouldn't be howling! Then again, Frankie gives off anticipatory howls anytime he thinks I'm going to do anything he doesn't like!
Oh, and off topic, but a reminder to self: Don't put out a lit candle, even if it's way out of reach of da' blind dog. Da' blind dog can still bump into rhe tavle and knock lit candle down on her. (She's okay!) And don't put very old crystal snowmen handed down through the generations out when you have a blind dog who, when bumped jnto rhe tavle woth rhe candle, got spooked and ran into the table with the snowmen! Shattered crystal takes furever to clean up!! Dat's my blind RockStar Merry Myrtle!!❤
I REALLY do laugh at my two "special needs" pups with all their shenanigans!!😁😁 They are so very SPECIAL to me indeed!!! And again, I am sooooooo lucky to be deal with these issues compared to some of the things that happen on this site. And equally as important, I/we are soooo lucky to have the support and love of each of youz❤❤❤
With love to all
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!
Thanks for the update....I think you need to stick to all things rubber from now on - no more pretty glass things in your house 
Sorry about the generations old snowmen, just glad no one got hurt. I do indeed know how hard is to pick up broken things like that - a glass ornament fell and broke on my tile floor and I was picking up pieces for almost a week. Maybe Frankie needs a "weed" to mellow out and not be so rambunctious. Good luck, remember to keep up your strength with chocolate, followed by some wine.
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Thanks for the update. You may have to keep giving that Trazadone for awhile. Just to keep him settled down a little bit. Frankie you need to settle your jets down.
I am so sorry to hear about the Snowmen and Myrtle. Glad she didn't get hurt. I am glad you didn't get hurt picking up all that glass.
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I vote for bubble wrapping the inside of your home! That will at least keep Myrtle and Frankie occupied with popping the bubbles while you're away. I'm glad the pups are OK!
Geez I'm sorry for the broken heirlooms and the, um, chaos in your home right now. I know it can't be easy and it sounds stressful. But what I do know is that you are doing MUCH better than you think. Frankie is messing with you, you know that. Don't be so hard on yourself Sally, you CAN do this! It may not seem like you're helping him in the textbook way right now with the exercises prescribed, but your Florence Nightengale touch is medicinal in sooo many other Amy's. other ways. PT will happen, you WILL get there and with Mister Super Stubborn, it will happen before you know it.
Dig deep for that confidence I know is within your heart. YOU CAN DO THIS. Once you find it, Frankie's attitude will follow.
Hang in there and keep us posted. We all have you in our hearts and thoughts for calmer, less breakable days ahead 😉
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
PAULA!! Rubber tables, rubber lamps, rubber knick-knacks, good idea!
MICEHLLE! Yeah, Mr Frankie Frankie might have to go to a different kind of REHAB....one for Trazodone overdose addiction if he doesn't behave himself!!
RENE: LMAO! Bubble wrap solution....brilliant! And he REALLY IS MESSING WITH ME...so true! He ABSOLUTELY knows what he can get away with! Rotten little control freak!! Hmmm....the Florence Nittengale touch... I like that! You're right, it's not textbook, but it's still medicinal!!
I do my little empowering visualization thing of how I want it to go.......the strong, confident pack leader thing...before I do any Frankie "stuff". I swear, I think that dawg is doing his own empowering visualization thing of how HE wants it go to counter act mine!! Back to meditation school for me!!
I'm definitely going to get one home Rehab visit shortly to assess exactly where he is. I'll give more of a "technical" update then with video. He IS putting some pressure on that leg, but still offloading quite a bit on the other resr leg. I DO believe he is recovering at a pace that is reasonable considering his "limitations " and this early in recovery. I am just soooo grateful to all my regular Vet crew for getting him this far!!!
He's on one 300 mg Gaba twice a day, 75 mg Rimadyl twice a day and shows no sign of any real pain at all. I think I'll cut the Gaba dosage back some and maybe if he has a "little" pain, it'll slow his ass down!! KIDDING OF COURSE!!! Just a joke!!😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Lots of love to all💖
PS Flameless candles and rubber snowmen from now on! I think I'll wrap Frankie and Myrtle both in bubble wrap and let them have a popping good time!
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!
You know.... you might have just had the best idea. It would serve for PT, lower stress levels (yours), AND settle the score with Frankie 
Maybe get that BIG bubble wrap.. the kind Amazon uses... Just wrap Frankie in it while he's laying on his side and leave the one paw out! No running, no counter surfing, you can do PT on his leg, and if he gives you a hard time just pop a bubble! (with your spare supply of course)
You might even get in a peaceful bowl of ice cream while you have him in a safe place, lol.
But seriously, you don't give yourself nearly enough credit, and I know you are doing an awesome job 
You have the patience of a saint, and your furbabies have you wrapped right around their paws (but I can think of worse things). Meditation practice … I think that is a very good idea. It has saved many from my .. er.. lack of patience, lol. I have been known on many a morning to take about 10 minutes in the parking lot where I work to have a meditation session to get me ready to face my day.
You are doing a great job, and you know that even though he doesn't like to show it, Frankie is grateful and fortunate to have such a wonderful mama.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Sally, you just gave me the biggest chuckle all day!
What about talking to your vet about boosting the Gabapentin up to 3x daily? Wyatt Ray is on that schedule and although it hasn't sedated him the way it does with most dogs (he says "I'm NOT like most dogs, Mom!"), he really is feeling so much better right now. I'm wondering if Frankie's hesitation to let you work with him is more pain than it appears? And of course it could also help mellow him out a bit, but not knock him out like Traz.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Disclaimer!! As you will see, clearly vanity is not in my wheelwheelhouse what's impprtant! I'm not quite as old and not quite as decrepit as I appear in these videos...nor am I drunk! I am, however, in slippery sandals walking on a slippery ramp in the rain with two bathrobes hurriedly thrown on for warmth.
Had an unexpected opportunity to have someone video Frankie in his NEW CUSTOM MADE BODY SUIT and I wasn't going to miss ot! This is his new fashion accessory I've been waiting to show you!
So first video: Frankie hauling butt down the ramp because he KNOWS I can't do a thing about it!
In the other videos, with his suit on, you'll see he HAS to walk slower and HAS to use his backleg in a step-step motion as opposed to bunny hop.
And now, we have Frankie -doing-it- MY WAY!!! While it doesn't look like it, I'm saving my back, have fairly good control over his pace...it's MY pace, not his.
Me CONTROLLING Frankie!!!
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!
Oh WOW!! Sally, i have thought about you a lot over the last several days, hoping you were doing ok.
Pawsome video footage!! Vanity shmanity🤣🤣 the video is great, and it's really comforting seeing Frankie doing things YOUR way ❤️❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
oh sally! he looks GREAT! (and so do you, my dear). I am so happy to see these videos! Keep up the great work you guys!
Paula
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
This is quite sad 🙁 I hope it's going ok by now.
I don't have any tips for this, so I'll just send love and prayers to you both.
Huge difference with the suit on! Oh Frankie I think Mom has finally outsmarted you 😂 Videos are simply amazing....Frankie truly does not give up does he? He looks like he's doing great! Well done Sally well done! 
Love the videos with the suit on. Outsmarted Frankie. You look great Sally make sure not to wear slippery shoes or he will be pulling you over. I am glad you had someone to video for us. 🙂
Love you my friend
xoxoxox
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
WOW! This is such huge pawgress Sally, how terrific the Pet Support Suit is working so well to help you help him be better at this recovery thing!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
