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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Oh this is such sad news. I Hate cancer so much. It is so evil! It goes and does what it wants. We have no control over it. Let it not take these last days from you and Athla! Live as freely as you are able to loving one another fully and joyously. Make memories that can make you smile someday in the future. Tomorrow will certainly come someday but not today...not today! Praying your tomorrow comes not too soon and allows you and Athla wonderful today's. Holding both you and your beautiful girl in my heart.
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
I am so sorry to hear this news. This is devastating every time it happens in our community, but there is a time when we just cannot put them through more aggressive medical treatments. And clearly your heart knows it is time. So cuddle, love and enjoy your weekend together. She knows already that she is the luckiest dog in the world to be part of 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.
This just sickens me to hear. I'm so very, very sorry. These last couple of months have taken so many of our loved ones. And now we cry today as Arhla's earth journey is coming to an end. Not her Spirit, not her Soul, just her earthly vehicle that carries her Spirit energy.
Athla is with you now and now is all that matters. You WILL have the ability to stay in the moment and let NOTHING rob you of your time together! You WILL be able to do this because, as everyone here knows, your love for her is soooooo strong!! Yeah, we all should be loved as much as we love our dogs! Continue to make every moment count!
You have planned a week end of celebration for a life well loved, a life that has touched and inspired everyone she meets. And she will have a lot of "junk food" to help celebrate her miraculous journey we have had the privilege to travel with her...and with her very special humans.
Does Athla like deer poop? Yeah, I really did ask that! If she does, go out and find her some and give her a scoop! My Happy Hannah's "transition meals" consisted of deer poop, ice cream, steak, liverwurst, M&Ms and more! Just offering more ideas!
Make your time count. You can do this using your love as yiur strength...And using the strength of your Tripawd Family here to help carry you through.
Surrounding you with all our love and wishing you peace
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and 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!
I can't believe it, and yet I can. Cancer is such a nasty bastard. Unfair on every level.
But those hateful feelings are for another time. Now is the time for strong, peaceful and loving thoughts for you and your beautiful girl. Treasure each and every second. Feel the strength and love coming from the Tripawds Nation as you walk this part of the journey.
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
Keeping you and Athla In our hearts. May the serenity of the mountains help to ease your pain as you let Athla go to the next part of her journey.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
You have had such amazing time with Athla, you made sure to spend tons of quality time with her these past few months and nothing can change that. Enjoy these next few days, hold her, love her. Make her foot print. Take a selfie. Sleep with her. Tell her she's beautiful. Give her her favorite food. Watch the sunset or sunrise. Let her say good-bye to her favorite people. You have been great parents to her and even though this has been a tough journey, it has helped you grow.
Donna
salt dough:
1/2 C salt
1/2 C flour
mix well, add enough water to combine into a stiff dough. Add water just a little bit at a time. The dough will be sticky, mix until smooth. If it is too crumbly, add more water. If it is too wet, add more flour.
Roll out to about 1/2". Make your impression. Sometimes it takes a few tries.
Bake at 200 for at least 3 hours, until completely dry.
You can paint with acrylic paints if you want.
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
Wow. I just saw this and am sooooooo sad, and very sorry. You and Athla fought so hard, and are an awesome example of living life to the fullest in the face of a nasty disease. As you spend this time with her, know that her legacy will always inspire others who think large dogs can't do well on three. Please give her lots of smooches from us, you are both in our hearts now and always.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thanks you guys. This is... like, damn. It's intense.
But I know you all know exactly what this is.
xoxo
She's doing well today. Constant drugs, but she's happy and hungry and herself. We've rented our cabin - it will be beautiful. Two of her closest humans are coming to see her up there - I'm excited to cook for her (She LOVES chili and curry!)
Then, we'll see if she's still going, etc. They said if her tumor goes more than 25% more in growth it'll be fatal - so I don't think we have a lot of time - but each moment is a gift.
A guy she's never met is driving down from Denver to meet her today. We're going to have a brunch. I'm making Athla extra bacon. xoxo
Take a moment to give yourself a big hug from all of us right now!! Deep breath....BAM! We all just gave you a big hug!! You are doing a wonderful job of staying strong and focused for your girl!! Strong and focused...one day at a time. Good job!
To be able to have a gift of some more good days, even if it's a little up and down, is a win/win for everybody!
Sounds like she has some good drugs. And who knows? That piece of crap disease may not even grow any more for a long time!
Now, if she gets a tummy ache from chilli and curry and bacon.....welll..what the heck! Sounds like she happily take that "risk"! Be sure and take pictures of her eating her favorite dish! What a hoot!
We're with you, okay? Feel our strength and love! Just let Athla get all your focus and attention a d let NOTHING else enter your mind...just loving and spoiling and savoring the moment!
Ice cream? Did I see ice cream on the menu?
Lots and lots of 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!
<3 Sally
This guy drove two hours to sit with her for another three hours and pet her. Amazing.
Wow! And it looks like she enjoyed every minute of it.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
OMD! She looks completely zoned out in the best way! She is sooooo content and sooooo relaxed!
So what's the story with her visitor? He almost looks as though he's doing some "healing" work through his hands. The way he's so tuned in with her al.ost seems mystical...very calming presence. Okay...maybe I'm reading too much into it!
Let's jist say it's a very special picture of the MAGNIFICENT ATHLA!
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!
So gorgeous! A picture of calm and content. ❤️❤️❤️
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...
I am speechless, just read the last posts and cannot believe it, simply cannot believe it ...
It is amazing how we Moms always know in our hearts despite of what qualified people can assure us is the situation.
I could not be more sorry for you both and beautiful Athla😔
You are doing the right thing and surrounding her with your love and pampering her to oblivia, your sweet sweet girl.
I am really moved at how much Athla touches everybody's hearts, that man that drove for so many hours to be with her is proof that your girl is really special, I mean it.
My heart is with yours and Athla's, give her a tummy rub from auntie Teresa and tell her I love her very, very much 💞💞
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 :-)
My heart is breaking. We just went through nearly the same story line - we thought it was a compressed disc and instead it was STS come back with a vengeance. And we did not make it to the cabin....
I am so glad you are able to treat yourselves and Athla to some special time and other treats. You all deserve it. Wishing her the gentlest journey when it is time. Wishing you continued strength in the face of such loss.
Lisa and Angel Pofi
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.
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