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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Our sweet Shiba/Eskimo mix boy, Moto, did so well after surgery. But 4 months later, he had a stroke and lost the use of the other back leg. He was over 13 and we just couldn't put him thru another surgery or do anything heroic. We just knew he'd be with us for a few more years since he was cancer free. This was such a shock.
So sorry for your loss. 
Drop by the live chat or call the toll-fee Tripawds Helpline anytime if you'd like to talk, and feel free to share some photos or more information. Your future forum posts will not required moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry for your loss of Moto. I'm sure he knew you loved him very much.
We'd love to see some pictures of him when you feel up to it.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
I am so sorry for your loss. Run Free Moto.
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."
So sorry for the loss of sweet Moto. You gave him a great 13 years of love and fun. That in and of itself is the best gift a pup can receive. Hugs, Lori, Ty and gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
So sorry to hear Moto had to head to the Rainbow Bridge. It saddew us all when we @ose a family member. We k kw the heartache all too well.
Moto clearly was quite a Warrior and obviously was handling three legs like a Champ...and at thirteen years young! WOW! Talk about an inspawration to other senior dogs starting this journey! We rarely get to celebrate dogs beating this piece of crap disease, but today we get to celebrate Moto on so many levels, but especially for not letting that disease get the upper hand!
Getting the diagnosis, making decisions, going through the amputation AND recovery...it's such an intense journey.
And then when our pups cross over ti the other side of this life, our world stips. We have no routine of caring for our tripawd anymore. We only have emptiness and a silent void.
But you will ALWAYS have Moto in your heart. He is nestled safely in there and you will feelnhis presence everytime you recall a happy memory you shared. And those happy memories will come to the forefront more and more and push the sadness further and further away.
You gave Moto a selfless gift when yiu released him from a body that no longer serves him. He is so grateful for the opportunity to be loved and spoiled by you.
We would be so honored to hear more about Moto and the delightful years you jave shared together. Kf course we need pictures too! Stay connected, we are all right here by yourr side.
Surrounding you with hugs and love
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!
I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet Moto. I would love to hear more about him too. He was clearly so very loved. My heart goes out to you.
Big hug,
Meg and Clare and Elsie Pie and Spirit Billie too xxxc
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
So sorry for your loss. But 13 years is just great! And even 4 months of quality time means so much. I know how hard it is to get over the hole left in your life, especially when the loss was so unexpected. Our thoughts are with your family.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
I am so sorry for your loss ... 13 is amazing for a dog and I am sure Moto knew how loved he was - all the time! I love Shiba's (my tripawd was part shiba).
Hugs and we hope we can see some photos!!!
Sending love!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
We were so sad to hear about Moto. Here is a photo that his pack sent us. What a sweet angel.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am really sorry to hear about your loss 😞
Even if you had 13 wonderful years with him it is never enough, is it?
It just isn't fair they get such short lives compared to ours but it is true that their love is so, so strong it stays with us forever💖
Your boy is watching over you, you can be sure of that and he shines bright in the sky, the brightest star of all 🌟
My heart is with yours 💗💗💗 and Moto's 💗💗💗
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Awww...Moto is a real cutie!! I love his markings on his face and how his beautiful.brown eyes just sparkke with joy! I imagine they sparkled with joy every single moment of everyday Moto was with you!
Moto showed everyone how a senior dog can handle three legs without missing a beat!! He has left us with a victorious legacy of determination and inspiration!
Looking at that picture we can just tell Moto was a snuggle bug who was also full of spunk!!
Thank you for sharing your boy with us. We are privileged.
It will be awhile before the thousands of happy memories push the overwhelming sadness into the background, but it will...slowly but surely. We promise...and Moto promises! Moto will send you a sign he is still with you, just in energy form. Pay attention.
Surrounding you with our love...and Moto's ever ending love
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!
OMG - you all are so sweet! Your kind words of encouragement brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. We lost Moto's sister, Sune, last year but she was 15+ and it was time. She developed a blood disorder and had stopped eating and kept distancing herself from us. We went to bed each night saying our goodbyes, but she held on for about 5 days before we had to go ahead and help her along. Losing Mo was so much harder because we had done everything to rid him of the cancer. And it was literally, one day he was playing and appeared to have fallen at day camp to a full fledged stroke in his good back leg. It was just so sudden and like others said, no vet could have predicted it.
Thanks again everyone! It's been just about 6 weeks and I'm still so heartbroken. Luckily we, do have our 3 year old Tillie (lab mix) who kept us busy while we dealt with our grief. We'll be adopting or fostering another pup soon. She is missing her playmate.
Also - I was hoping to post a few pictures here, but for the life of me I can't figure out how. Would love some help..
Hugs!
Brooke
I'm so sorry to hear Motos journey ended so shockingly for you! No matter how many years we get its never enough! I know your grief is still so raw and I hope for healing for your broken heart. Keeping you and Tillie in my heart today and all the days going forward. Fly free Angel Moto you will be in your Moms heart forever!
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
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