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
Lisa, you know your Pofi soooo well!! Goodness knows, you are doing EVERYTHING POSSIBLE for your precious boy! EVERYTHING!!
Like you did with the Acupuncturist, you can explain to the Vets what you've been seeing with Pofi, along with every little nuance of teeny weeny spark when you saw it, and there still are sparks, as well as the times you aren't seeing them.
Now, let's get you some Pofi kisses right NOW...GUARANTEED!!! Ready? Do you have cheese, or butter, chocolate?? Yeah, bet you know where I'm going with this! Smear one of those...or all of those...all over your face right now!! DO IT!! You will both feel better!!
It goes without saying, everyone of us, with all oir hearts, are sending hope for the best possible outcome. 
With love,
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
PS. Let us know how the "recipe for Pofi kisses" works out, okay?
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 Lisa my heart so hurts for you, Ken and Pofi. All I can say is try and hang in there. You will be taking all of us with you to that U of Mn visit tomorrow and I sure hope you guys can feel our support as we wait right by your sides giving you all our strength. Sweet Pofi you take strength from us too boy. Hopefully the next couple of days can bring some clarity. No one could do more or love more than you two have done and continue to do. Much love and many hugs along with many prayers to all of you.
My heart hurts for you all !!!! But I'll be saying extra prayers, thoughts, energy ... spirits.. whatever you prefer or believe in tomorrow!!!
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
Can't say much more than that I am thinking of you and Pofi.
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.
Hoping with all I have that the visit tomorrow gives some hope for Pofi.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I am holding you and Pofi in my heart today.
Sending love,
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
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...
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.
We are all here with you, hoping and praying and supporting.
Stay strong, and definitely use Sally's recipe 
xxxx
Zuki Wuggafer 30/09/06 - 11/11/16. Right hind tripawd due to Osteosarcoma. He had a strong 5 and half months as a tripawd but unfortunately a secondary issue with his spine ended our battle. He loved life, loved our family and was the best dog I could ever ask for. Truly my first love, forever in my thoughts and heart.
Read our story: http://zuki.tripawds.com/
ditto Christine:
thinking pawsitive thoughts for you and Ken and extra hugs for Pofi.
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
Dear Friends of Pofi - we had a long day at U of MN hospital and are down to two potential causes of our current dilemma. One would be return of cancer in the spinal column at neck. This would be, for us, a case for palliative / hospice care. The second is disc injury in the neck due to the bad landing out of my vehicle. This is likely very curable by surgery. I had said no surgery, but that is when I thought it was in lower back. Knowing the location of the spinal issue now, the surgeon believes if it is disc compression surgical prognosis is excellent. And I cannot let him suffer nor let him go because of something so potentially fixable after what we have all been through to make it this far. And because it is something I could have prevented. Relief is supposed to be pretty immediate - back legs, while they aren't "getting the signal" work well and are strong. The Neurosurgeon was also very pleased with his front leg strength. And we have a brand new custom carpal brace he has yet to wear for that leg....
We did have an xray that at least ruled out an incredibly obvious giant spinal tumor that was pushing vertebrae out of the way or deforming them. This does not eliminate cancer, but if it had been that advanced, would have saved us the MRI route.
So MRI at 3 PM tomorrow to see if they do see cancer or indication of the disc problem. If no sign of cancer and it is indicated, they can move right in to intervertebral procedure.
We are so buoyed by your support and love - hold on to those good thoughts a while more.
Either way, with the MRI we know.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Hoping for the best possible outcome for Pofi!
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.
Thank yiu sooooo much for taking a moment from your very long and very stressful day to update us.
This is VERY encouraging!! I know the weight on yiur shoulders is still there, but it HAS to be a little lighter tonight!! I think we can all breathe a little easier tonight.
How did Pofi handle the vet trip? Is he extra sore as a result of everything? Did he perk up just a bit when heyou was there or too stressed out?
Yiu better believe we are holding I to thise good thoughts!!! 🙂 And don't think for one second we are going tomlet ojr good friend take blame for this accident!! We won't fuss at yiur now, your emotionally wasted, but we will show you no mercy later!! No sirree, nobody around ever EVER gets away with a guilt trip!
It sounds like the neck surgery will take care of that awful pain pretty quickly! Such a HUGE relief!!
Oh, and is the groin still an issue, or is it all about the neck disc?
To think this won't be a long recovery and relief is "relatively" quickly is so encouraging!!
HANG ON!! TEAM POFI HAS YIUR BACK!!
Love and hugs and healing energy to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...Did you get any Pofi kisses last night with the "kiss recipe"?
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!
Saw your update on Facebook but wanted to give extra support here too. We will be holding on to our good thoughts and sending prayers as long as you need us too. As I said yesterday, our strength is your strength use it as needed. You keep the faith Pofi couldn't have anybody better than you two loving and looking out for him. So again I'm sending prayers for a great MRI outcome tomorrow. We'll all be here waiting for your next update. ❤️❤️
Lisa, Ken, and Pofi,
Sending big waves of love and peace for all of you. The stress and uncertainty chews up us humans. So wish we could help.
Peace & Love,
Jenifer & Milo
Thank you for updating ... I"ve been thinking about you guys all day!!! Will hold you close to my heart in my thoughts and send good wishes tomorrow!!!
Much love!!!
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
2 Guest(s)
