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
Porthos is doing really great on 3 legs! I have only just put his 'help em up' harness back on him today as he hasnt really needed it much since the amp, I decided to get him used to it though just to try and reduce the wear and tear on his joints.
He gets up and down fine and actualy runs in the garden! I have a small heart attack every time he does it though, so worried about him injuring himself. The only pain meds he is on is Meloxicam and some anti inflammatory herbs.
When he is hopping around he so full of life and energy!!! barking and carrying on! but when he is resting he seems totaly 'out of it' like, reeeealy asleep, and he seems so small, I guess the cancer is still lurking around and making him sleep so deeply.
Saying that, Porthos is already feeling the benefits of having the amputation, I am so grateful for all of the advice we revived before and during Porthos' amp.
Im hoping to get him out and about a little over the next few weeks, the car ride into town is a little bumpy so I want to make sure he is strong enough for the trip, there is a great 'dog friendly' cafre at the harbor, it would be great for him to see some of his doggy buddies! and ofcourse the beach! its such a fine line of wrapping him in cotton wool and letting him enjoy his life.
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
What a great post! I'm so glad to hear Porthos is doing so well!! Can't wait to hear more about Porthos's adventures as a Tripawd!!
Glad to hear Porthos is doing well. I remember it took me a while to stop worrying that Magnum might hurt herself. He won't know himself when he gets to the beach!!!
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Hooray for one month! Treats all around! It sounds like he's doing well. It's a lot of work to move a big ol body around on three legs, and he's still getting used to that, so maybe that's why he seems more tired.
As for the worrying/wrapping in wool - I say (and so does angel Abby), life's short so go for it. I did worry a lot about Abby - but at the same time, we let her run and play and jump like crazy. I was worried she might hurt her remaining leg - but at the same time, she wanted to run and be her old self, so we pretty much let her do whatever she wanted to. Let him be your guide, but I bet he'd love a visit to the cafe and especially to the beach!
Looking forward to hearing more of his adventures!
Jackie
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!
Oh yaaaay! You and Porthos have come such a long way, and we are soooo proud of you both. Thank you for hanging in there and not giving up, you have so many more good times ahead! As for wrapping him in wool....yep, a fine line indeed. One thing that always helped my Mom whenever she gasped everytime I took a stumble, was, she would tell herself, "Let him be a dog." Even if she had to say it 100 times, that really helped her remember that one little spill wasn't going to ruin my day, I was going to have FUN and so should she!
When you go to the cafe be sure to take lots of pics, we'd love to come along for the ride.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Happy Ampuversary Porthos! I panic every time Zeus runs, too, so I know how you feel. Take him to the cafe and let him have some french fries from 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/
I will definitely take some photos of him out and about, he always gets soooo much attention when he is out, the local people here have never seen a big fluffy dog like him before, now that he has three legs Lord knows what they will think he is!
He really is doing so well, I kind of forget he still has cancer sometimes, and then it kind of takes me by surprise each time It comes into my head, but he is still fighting the fight and I am still right beside him every hop of the way.
My boy, I love him so much.
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Happy Belated Ampuversary Porthos!!!! Here's to many many many more years of ampuversaries!!!
Hugs and chocolate Labby kisses,
Ellen & Charley
Charley's Blog: CHOCOLATE KISSES
DOB: 3-29-08, male chocolate lab
Dx: OSA L proximal humerus 10-19-10
Amputation: L front leg & scapula 10-28-10
Chemo: 5 rounds of Carboplatin
Video (12 weeks post amp):Tripaw Charley Playing
♥♥♥ Lots of supplements and love!!! ♥♥♥
Thank you Ellen & Charley!!!!
Porthos is still doing well, it will be 2 months since the amputation next week, things here have gotten into a new 'normal' now.
Im a little more careful when Porthos is off leash in the garden, he starts leaping around wanting to play! but apart from that things are pretty much the same as before he had cancer, we just take shorter walks.
Im still working on getting a ramp for the car so I can get him out and about a bit more, I did look at getting him a cart but I think he may try and leap out of it if he sees another dog!
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Awww we're hoppy to hear he's doing so well! Let's see some photos 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
