Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All!
Sorry I haven't been around much. I've been dealing with my own health issues. Cora has been doing great. She is FULL of energy and has become very loving to me. A new daily routine is she leans against me, I say "hug" and I wrap my arms around her and she just leans into it. Can you believe it? The girl who was so reactive to touch now wants hugs. Every time it happens I feel so so blessed.
For those who are new and don't know about Cora, she is a very special pup. While she was in the womb or at birth she suffered some major trauma. It caused brain damage which so she is blind, somewhat uncoordianted and super sensitive. Her right front leg was deformed and was amputated. When I got her at about 2 months she could barely walk. She had troubles with basic things like eating and was super reactive. She through "temper tantrums" constantly and it turns out she was in a lot of pain.
I haven't been doing much PT with her due to my own issues but she's been her usual self and pushing her boundaries and trying new things. The more she pushes the more I realize how much weaker the back left leg is. Her balance is great. Her stride starts out normal when walking but then that back leg fatigues. After I get her settled into her cart I am going to schedule another PT session.
Her cart comes Monday!!!!! As Cora is a cranky and sensitive girl, I expect it will take some time to get her to accept it. She wants to be out and exploring so badly though, that I think we will get there. The cart has front wheels (of course). It also has tip wheels so the won't bang into things and go nose over hiney. The folks at Eddie's wheels thought that was important since she is blind. Depending on how she does, I can take them off as she figures things out. It also is built so we can add "training wheels", which are wheels in the back. Given that Cora's left side (which is the side with two legs) is impacted by the brain damage there may come a day when she needs that. I hope it's a long, long ways away. My friend sent me a comic strip that shows a dog in a cart that takes on a rattlesnake and wins. He said that could be Cora and that Cora will be hell on wheels since she's such a determined and feisty pup. I love it!
I tried taking her morning does of gabapentin away and she was absolutely miserable. Maye the brain damage causes her some nerve pain? We still struggle with allergies but right now, she's not on allergy medicine and doing ok. If she were a different dog with allergies this bad I would take her in and get her allergy tested but for Cora that would be miserable.
Here is Cora being a goof ball. Floyd and Cinnamon (his girlfriend) were playing. Cora was attacking the grass. She always does that. It doesn't run away and she can bite the crud out of it. She tries to get Floyd and Cinnamon. lol.
Chris & Cora,
You both have made such great strides in this journey. As she improves I just can't believe what she was like at the beginning. Not even the same puppy. Keep up the great work girls.
xoxxoox
Hugs
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."
She is such a CUUUTE girl. Love it. Her having a ball makes me smile. You two are doing great Chris (and Flloyd and the crew too).
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
So pawesome! Sounds like a great set up for her. Best of luck--I am sure it will be quite a process getting her used to the cart. But once she does, LOOK OUT WORLD!!!!
Hey Chris it's really great to hear from you. I'm sorry you have your own health challenges but I hope that Cora's recovery is giving you the strength you need to feel better.
She is just truly an amazing pup. Between your love and dedication and her courage, you really are a team that will go very, very far on this journey. It's so neat to be a part of this.
I can't wait to hear all about her cart training experience. Please feel free to update us here and let us know how things are going. We would love to hear about everything.
Feel better and know that the Tripawds Nation is cheering you both on!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Chris-
I just love hearing about Cora's successes. She is an inspiration as are you. I hope you are well on your way to feeling better and I am sending healing thoughts your way.
I can't wait to see Cartin' Cora - better watch out for your toes!!
Take care and keep us updated.
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Oh Chris! Your updates just make my heart sing! Well, not the part about you have health issues, but all the rest of it!
This is THE most inredible journet between a dog and a human ever! This is a miracle og and you are a miracle worker! The fact that she wants to be hugged...the fact that she is happy...the fact that she enjoys her life... OMD what a miracle!
love that you recognize she likes to plah with the grass because it can't run away from her...she always knows where her target it! Bless her heart! And to here her "talking joyfully" is so uplifting. Your updates and unbelievable progress realh dles just make mh spirit soar! And sne realy has grown into a beautiful pup. She's just beautiful inside and oit!
Now p.ease Chris, please take care of yourself! We al care about BOTH of you deeply, okay? So please do what you need to do to heal yourself! Cora needs you and so do we!
Lots of grinning ear to ear over here
Saly and Hapy 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!
You make a beautiful family. What a perfect pack! She's getting so sweet, so smart. She'll ace that cart!!! It'll take her time, like always, but with patience and perseverance (you EXCEL at that!), she'll also excel! Keep it up, Cora. Oh, and you missed a blade of grass... get that grass!
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
The cart comes tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!! So exciting. I will be at work, but I am taking off early on Tuesday so we can try the cart out. I am hoping I can make a friend come help but we will see. There's a big field and the parking lot near the field is usually empty so that's our destination. I plan to bring LOTS of peanutbutter. With Cora you just never know. She could throw a huge tantrum and become demon dog or she could make the connection that this gives her mobility and take off in crazy circles and sprints. Life with a brain damaged dog is never boring. They have such interesting quirks.
In another update, Saturday we hung out at the dog park for an hour. The dogs that were there were really good. They'd come up to sniff and then move on. There was only one high energy dog and his person is great and he's met Cora before. This time he slowed a bit before greeting Cora and Cora didn't freak out. She didn't exactly play with the other dogs but she smelled, barked and let them smell her. She also got way playful and started lunging around the field like the goofball she is.
And thanks for the healing thoughts.
That is awesome news Chris. Make sure if you can get someone to come with you to try to get some video for us. But good luck. I can't wait to hear the update
Hugs
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."
Paws-up for the chariot's arrival and Tuesday's adventure! You've worked magic with Cora and it's great to see her loving life! I can't even imagine all the hard work and devotion that's brought her this far, but I'll bet she knows it.
Take good care of yourself and best wishes for a successful start down this new road with Cora; just watch your toes once she gets going!
-Liz and Angel Roxie
It makes me so happy to hear that she's doing things like going to the dog park and just being a dog. That's so awesome!
How exciting about the cart. Did you check out all of the Eddie's Wheels videos about introducing them? Their YouTube channel is very helpful and inspirational.
OK I just saw this pic of Cora in our FB feed. I'll paste what you said because it's too cute. Yay Cora the Veggie Girl!
"It finally happened. Cora snagged a dropped piece of food before Floyd. Floyd was distracted by the larger piece in my hand. And yes, the excitement was over broccoli. Cora really liked it."
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I can't tell you how big I smile when I read these updates on Cora.. and you too Chris!! The bond that is happening between you guys is just fan freaking tastic!!
I can't wait to see how she adjusts to her cart.. I hope she doesn't throw a tantrum.. I hope she adjusts quickly where she can have a bit of freedom!!
Love the grass killing video!!! such a special pup!
Christine..... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
YOU GO GIRL!! I never knew watching a dog go for a piece oh broccoli could have me grinning ear to ear!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YET ANOTHER VICTORY!!!
Still grinning over here!
Love and 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!
Ok, here is the video blitz I put on Cora's facebook page. Over all I am pleased. We have a lot to work out but given Cora's issues including her temperament, it went super will. I will be checking in with Eddie's wheels on a few things. I planned to say more but I came home to a sick Floyd. He's throwing up and wouldn't eat his dinner and was grumpy as heck so I'm dealing with that. He's still feeling miserable but has calmed down a lot since I've been cuddling with him.
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