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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Also, when does this feeling of dread go away?
The answer? When the life lesson Lyla teaches you clicks. And when it does, resonates almost instantly. One of the.most profound and truly life altering lessons your Lyla will teach you on this journey is to LIVE IN THE NOW. Be More Dog . Live in the present.
Dogs have no worries about the tomorrows and no thoughts about the yesterday. They TRULY flow effortlessly from one moment to the next.
Some have said their only "regret" they've experienced on this journey (especially early on) was letting this piece of crap disease interfere with their time together. They spent time worrying and eing fearful about the future as opposed to being fully focused on the present. Do not let that pice of crap disease rob you of your time together now. Lyla is fully present with you soaking up the loving and spoiling. . Step into her energy and focus on being with her in the moment. Watch as she flows effortlessly from one moment to the next. She treats each moment as a gift and becomes fully immersed in it.
Now, all that said, it is perfectly normal to have that feeling of "dread". .We all belong tonthe "Worry Wart Club" at some point on this journey. This early part of recovery causes us to worry about anything and everything. You have been through a very stressful time getting to the point. You've lost sleep, probably haven't eaten very well and are jist pretty exhausted emotionally and physically. You've been surrounded by uncertainty and fear prior to surgery. Lyla IS on the road to recovery now! She is showing you she can handle any hurdle as can you!
Massage sounds like really great idea. And YAY for demolishing her meal! Love that visual of her woofing it down with gusto!
I swear to goodness, once my three cross the bridge, I don’t think I’ll ever have another, I just don’t think my heart can handle it.
Nah, people like you with such huge hearts were made to love as many dogs as possible in this lifetime.♥️ You have too much compassion and kindness to not have dogs in your life. Nope, too much love to share with dogs and too much love to receive from dogs.
Give your6 credit! You really, really are doing a great job and are far stronger than you realize it. We see it- and we applaud you!
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!
Hi All!
As always, your words have soothed my soul. I will take your advice and live for the moment, just like Lyla is doing.
Day 8 Pupdate:
We still don't have a poop since day 4, but that's normal with Lyla. She literally waits until it's falling out of her (TMI).
She is sleeping well, moving well and is eating well. She's licking her remaining legs because I'm pretty sure they're sore from adapting to life on three legs. She's no lightweight.
She gets up on her couch with ease, and gets down pretty easily as well. She's also resumed sleeping at my feet in the morning.
She is proving big dogs can do this. Lyla is a mastiff and is 120lbs. If she can do it, any dog can!!
https://www.ins.....=copy_link
Jamie & Lyla xo
First off, YAAAY LYLA, she is doing outstanding whoo hoo.
Normal and sparkle YES celebrate your girl!
Yes, a BIG ditto Sally and some of the same!
It does take work, retraining the brain, and some time. I have some suggestions, meditating, doing lots of deep breathing to stop the traveling mind. Get some good sleep if you can. Learn to focus on the now. This minute not the next, not tomorrow. This is one powerful lesson we ALL learn on this journey. Every minute your focus on what's not right now is wasted energy and robbing you.
It will get better, but we all have to work on it. Your three are with you now, that's the present, a GIFT! Evil c shows us the reality of how fragile life is your not going nuts. It's normal, and we learn to relive more present and meaningful.
We have to take each day as it comes and each tick of the clock. Live in the moment. We never know what each day brings for any of us. We all have a timestamp on our butts!
You know Lyla is clear right now, so Yes, listen to your logical brain. Kick the C thoughts out the door. TRY anyway!
Lyla is a mastiff and is 120lbs. If she can do it, any dog can!!
YES, she is an inspiration to all facing this journey.
Hugs!
Holly & Purrkins💝💝💝
You've gotten such great input by Sally and Holly, I can only x2 what they say. It comes in time, you will be a lot more comfortable with Lyla's new life on three and whatever the future holds. Practice practice practice. You'll get there!
Keep an eye on the leg licking, maybe check the bottom of her feet to see if anything is bothering her. Oftentimes the point of pain originates somewhere other than the body part that hurts. Kind of like how when our back hurts we limp sometimes, but it's not our leg that hurts, it's coming from back muscles. Tripawds are the same way, often the pain is in the neck, shoulders, and back area. Keep those massages coming, sounds like she's really loving all the attention.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
That video...OMD! Love this dog!!! I2atched it several times and could not stop smiling. Now that is a perfect example of a dog just lumbering from one moment to the next (.or to her spot on the couch). This is almost mediating to watch. No stress, No worries. Jist focused on reclaiming her comfortable spot on the couch. You ought to play it in slow motion with some type of backg meditation music.😎
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!
https://www.cal.....eep-breath
I use this app multiple times a day it helps me. Hopefully, it will help you! These are all free give it a try to see if it helps when you get stressed or overly worried to give your mind a break.
((Hugs))
Once again - thank you all for your supportive, encouraging words.
Lyla is surpassing my expectations, she is literally blowing me out of the water with her progress and her will to be Lyla.
She is getting on and off the couch with ease and jumps up with her brother and sister to protect us from the wind at the dining room window. My husband brought her out the back way and down into the yard with Lacey and Looch and he said she was SO happy. She is eating like a champ. She is just really back to living her normal life. She is a happy loving girl and her mama is spending so much time with her loving her up.
She is my true warrior and has so much to teach me. Live for now mom, because every moment is a gift.
We go on December 2 for her first chemo and to get her stitches out. I am wondering how she is going to feel going back to the vet where she had her surgery.
Jamie & Lyla xo
She's such a strong, pawesome doggie. And you know what? That is because you are a strong, pawesome dog mom and dad team! She's picking up on your pawsitivity, it really works!
There's a big week coming up for all of you. I'm not sure if she will be reluctant to go back or not, but if you try to set the tone and make it a really fun visit (hamburgers anyone? 😉 then she might not even mind.
YAY for more good days of couch surfing and window watching!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Jamie. I’m still following your progress and getting inspiration. I do have an appointment for the amputation (12/16, and I wish it were sooner) and I am feeling that is the right way forward. I’m just hoping that I can rise to the occasion and be strong through the tough times ahead, like you have.
I have been having the same thoughts as you, that once all of my current family (3 dogs, 5 cats) is gone I’m not sure I can adopt more because it seems that I am getting weaker with age. It gets harder and harder to see my kids in pain. But then, Sally makes a good point.
Hang in there. Lyla is very lucky to have you as her mom. Cheryl
Me again. I wanted to ask you too about your experience with CBD Oil. I see you mentioned it as part of her meds. Do you think it helps and is there a brand you recommend? I feel like the pain meds Katie is on are not cutting it, so thought that CBD might help her to be more comfortable. Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
We are in Quebec and have a government dispensary. The brand I use is Solei CBD. It doesn't contain THC.
Lyla has no real pain since her amputation unless one of the other doggos bumps into her. Pre Amp she was on 2400mg of Gabapentin, 150mg of Tramadol and 2ml of CBD. She still limped but would run with her sister (and then pay for it by limping so badly). I do think CBD helps with the pain. I still have her on it.
I truly believe you are making the right decision with amputation. Katie will no longer be in pain. The recovery is hard, but trust me when I tell you that you will get through it because you love her. You will do whatever you need to for her. It's what we do.
Today, 10 days post Amputation, I ran upstairs to grab something and didn't put the gate up. Well Ms. Lyla was half way up the stairs when I went to come back down. I had a heart attack, but she was un-phased and turned around and went back down.
What I've learned through this entire process is that dogs live for the now, not the yesterday's or tomorrows. We don't know how long the universe allows us to have them, but I will cherish every second the universe allows her to be my dog.
Please keep us posted on Katie's progress.
Jamie & Lyla xo
Day 11 PUPDATE!
Lyla brought me her toy when I got home today!!! Enough said!!
Two week follow up is on Thursday. Stitches come out and we get the pathology results from her leg.
Wish me luck!
Jamie & Lyla
WOW! She is making such awesome progress, we are totally smitten by her and this recovery she's rocking. Bringing her toy is such a fantastic signal. Enough said indeed!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My screen is all slobbery smooches that picture of those two adorable mugs! Just love, love, love these two♥️♥️
YAAAAAY further return of the toy routine!!! She really is recl her normal faster than most, especially for a big gal😎
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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