First time to this site, but saw the link from facebook about senior tripawds and thought I'd share my story.

My tripawd Spike is a lab cross.  I got him from the RSPCA  when he was four months old as a healthy four legged puppy.

At four years old, he developed an intermittent limp in his front left leg, after a few weeks, a swelling appeared in what would be our ankle joint.  An xray was inconclusive, so he had an operation.  The growth was actually in the joint, so couldn't be completely removed, but due to his age, neither me nor the vets were overly concerned.  When the results came back however, we were all shellshocked.  A very aggressive cancer that would regrow and spread to lymph nodes and liver.  He would have six months, but would probably become painful and poorly before that time, so I would likely have to have him put to sleep way before that time.  The only treatment was amputation.

I would have loved to have known about this site or something similar, because I had no where to go for help.  The only dogs I had ever seen with three legs were either Jack Russell or Whippet types, skinny and lightweight.  My boy was a big dog, with a massive head and I just didn't know if he'd manage.

My vet was amazing, asked what she'd do if it was her dog, she said she'd do it in a heartbeat.  She went through everything with me in great detail, and after a heart wrenching weekend we decided to go ahead with the operation.

I asked if when removing the leg she could remove the lymph nodes at the same time to reduce the risk in case it had already spread.  And that's what she did.  He lost a lot of blood and was quite poorly, but still managed to wag his tail at me when I went to see him - reducing me and all the staff at the vets to tears.

He came home the day after and that week was the hardest of my life.  He was poorly, and leaked masses of bloody joint fluid every time he moved.  He was miserable and depressed and I cried and wondered what I'd done to him.

Exactly a week after the op, he got up on his own and followed me out into the garden - I was over the moon!

We've had our ups and downs, but he'll be 11 in April.  The amputation was over six years ago and he's happy, cheeky and still the same superstar he always was.

We don't walk far, but he does what he wants and is always sniffing and interested.  He's on painkillers as he has terrible arthritus in his elbow of his front right leg, but for the most part, he appears happy and pain free.

He can jump into the car, but I've never let him jump out - I lift him.  

He had a flare up of the arthritus in his elbow a couple of years ago, he collapsed and could barely walk for a week.  I broke my heart, and made the decision to let him go, and the little monkey got up on his own the very next morning!  I was recommended a steroid injection into the joint.  He actually had two, the last one over 12 months ago, and he seems great.  He also takes a drug used for humans to treat Parkinson's disease.  It works by blocking the nerve endings to the affected areas.  This was recommended by an orthopedic specialist who researched all sorts that might help my 'very unique' boy.

I always said I'd be happy to get him to 10, but we're nearly at 11, and we've had over six extra happy years together.  It hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't do anything differently if I had my time over.

He's an inspiration....we don't walk so far these days, and when we do we go very slowly, but he's here, and he's happy, and as long as I know that he's happy, and relatively pain free, I'll keep doing everything I can to help make his life as special as he makes mine.

Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not require moderation.

Thanks for sharing Mack's Senior info here.

Karen