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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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Success story for 14-year-old goldendoodle tripawd - I just want to say it's possible! :)
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Member Since:
16 September 2023
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17 January 2024 - 6:51 pm
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Hi all, 

My 14.5-year-old goldendoodle had a very large sebaceous adenocarcinoma on her lower rear leg. We'd been bandaging it for over a year and hoping to "limp it along" for as long as necessary, since the only other option we'd been given was amputation, which we'd decided was too much to ask from her at her age.

In the end, the tumor decided for us, leaving us with a very sudden decision to essentially amputate or euthanize. Suddenly, amputation was, to us, the only reasonable option. It seemed clear to us that she was still having fun down here with us and still had so much life to live. We knew there was a chance her pre-op bloodwork wouldn't be strong enough to recommend the surgery. We also knew there was a chance she wouldn't make it through the surgery itself. And also a chance the surgery wouldn't "take" or that she wouldn't recovery easily or well. 

Well, I know everyone's story is different, but I also know that when I was doing my research, I found it incredibly helpful and reassuring when I was able to find and read stories here about older dogs successfully adjusting to tripawd life. 

So here I am on my amazing dog's 15th birthday to tell you that...here we are! She was 14 1/2 on the day of her surgery and managed it all like such a champ. I don't know what will happen tomorrow or next week or next month. But her joy gives us joy every single day and there hasn't been a moment when we've doubted the decision. 

I know everyone's details are different and I know it's hard and scary. But a good result is possible. Good luck with your difficult decision. 

I hope this video will be viewable: https://www.ins.....FlZA%3D%3D

The Rainbow Bridge



Member Since:
25 April 2007
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17 January 2024 - 7:26 pm
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Molly thank you so much for sharing, she looks AMAZING! Go Huckle Go! She is a super example of what is possible when you're faced with this tough decision. smiley_clap

Yes, senior dog stories are incredibly helpful. I would love to share yours for our Tripawd Tuesday feature. Mind if I swipe a few photos from your Instagram account? You can feel free to email them direct if you'd like.

The Rainbow Bridge



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17 January 2024 - 7:27 pm
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I just saw your previous post and found her name, it's been a while so forgive me. Huckle is a rock star!

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17 January 2024 - 8:06 pm
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Yes, of course, of course! 🙂 Help yourself to anything. I didn't put too many pics up right after the surgery, but if you want anything with more tripawd-centered content, just let me know. This site was so helpful to us early on and continues to be a source of so much community and support. Thank you for creating and sustaining this community. 

The Rainbow Bridge



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18 January 2024 - 6:07 pm
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Aww thank you! I will definitely do that. Can't wait to share with even more Tripawds furmily members.

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18 January 2024 - 8:33 pm
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Happy birthday to your girl! and thanks for posting her inspiring story. Suzanne and Nicholas

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27 January 2024 - 4:14 pm
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What an amazing story and lovely video

Our 10 year old beautiful girl Daisy is due a right front amputation next week and we remain conflicted… like lots of others I’m sure …

Anyone reading had a right front limb removed on their brave girls or boys ?

Interested in any information 

Thank you all

PS Thank you to Jerry too …amazing site x

The Rainbow Bridge



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27 January 2024 - 7:41 pm
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Julie_11 said

Anyone reading had a right front limb removed on their brave girls or boys ?

Interested in any information 

Thank you all

PS Thank you to Jerry too …amazing site x

  

You are so welcome Julie!

Many folks have gone through a front leg amputation for their dog. 

How about making a new post in Hopping Around? What kind of questions do you have about front leg amputees? Ask them in your new post and you'll get more folks seeing your questions. 

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6 February 2024 - 7:07 am
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Thank you so much! We're so proud of her. 🙂 

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6 February 2024 - 7:11 am
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Hi Julie, 

How did things go for Daisy? I know the first weeks can be tough. I hope you guys are hanging in. 

Molly

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19 January 2024
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8 February 2024 - 9:12 pm
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I love this story!  Thank you so much for sharing.  Our 13.5 yo GSD mix just had her right rear leg amputated in mid January due to osteosarcoma and a resulting broken femur.  We've also been utterly amazed at how well she's doing.  As you found, we've also felt incredibly blessed to find this site and be able to draw upon the experience and support of so many others.  Given that Galaxy is 13.5 yo, we are trying not to expect a lot of time left with her, but to enjoy each day and joyful moment.  However, hearing about Huckle's amputation at 14.5 and doing well at 15 for a large breed is so very encouraging.  When we were dealing with the decision, leading up to the surgery, and post-surgery struggles, a post such as this one would have given me so much hope!  Thank you for sharing!!

Wishing you all the best in Huckle's 15th year!  

Ditto for Daisy!  While we haven't undergone fore-limb amputation, I'm amazed by all those on this site have and how well the dogs do. 

Virginia



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8 February 2024 - 9:57 pm
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Molly, just caught up on your inspiring  post about Huckle! It's stories like this that help us decide to do what we do here! Amputation is never an easy decision and there is always an extra level of fear when it comes to a senior dog. Huck has shown that all those worries are a bunch of crap and need to be kicked to the curb!

The video absolutely  delightful 

Hugs

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!

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9 February 2024 - 7:09 am
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❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ !!!! All the biggest hugs to Galaxy. The whole thing is amazing. We love our Huckle fiercely, but had never thought of her as particularly "tough." Boy, were we wrong. 

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9 February 2024 - 7:14 am
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I absolutely scoured these pages for examples of senior dogs who had had an okay time of it. Our own vet actually recommended AGAINST the surgery because she thought it would be too much to ask of our sweet girl - something which I took seriously. In the end, I had to go with my own gut. I know we won't get to keep her forever, so anyone who's gonna do the math on cost-per-month or whatever might come to a different conclusion (!), but I can tell you this: every day when we go for our walk now, I stop at each intersection and let Huckle choose which way we want to go. And most days, she just wants to go, go, go. Yesterday, 2.5 miles, all the way to the duck pond and back. She blows me away. Her "magic leg" is like steel! Now I know that when we do inevitably lose her, we'll have gotten every little bit of joy out of every single day. 

Thank you for your post and hi to you, Hannah, Myrtle, and Frankie. ❤️ 

The Rainbow Bridge



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9 February 2024 - 11:27 am
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WOW that is super cool about Huckle's mobility and energy level! sp_hearticon2sp_hearticon2sp_hearticon2 Your gut feeling paid off, thank you so much for sharing. Cheers to many more happy walks and great times!

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