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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

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!

Recent Blog Posts

Please consider registering
Guest

Members

Tripawds Three Legged Dog and Cat Forums The Tripawd Rescue Forum Former Tripawd Parent looking to Fo…

Former Tripawd Parent looking to Foster Tripawd!

Add Reply

Add Topic

ebnoles

Member Since:
26 June 2017

Offline

29 July 2017 - 11:31 am

I am looking to help the Tripawd community by helping to be a foster parent. If anyone is able to direct me to the correct resources, etc, I would greatly appreciate it!

I am currently living in the Maryland/DC area.

Below is the shortest version I could come up with about the journey with my Tripawd, Bailey.

Bailey, a 9 year old boxer / hound mix rescue, was my little shadow. Always by my side and the only thing she wanted was just for someone to love her. She was a huge part of my life and any chance I had to take her with me, she went. She did perfectly with my active lifestyle.

Unfortunately, right after her 9th birthday, this past Valentine's Day, we noticed her limping. Fast forward, x-rays showed an abnormality in her front right leg, which the vets were pretty sure was indicative of bone cancer. Amazingly, her MRI was completely clear, so I was a little more optimistic in her lifespan.

Her limp was becoming so painful so quickly, that amputation was necessary for her to be pain free.

Her x-rays showed no spots before the amputation, so again, I was hoping to have my buddy around for at least a few more months and from the vet's perspective there was definitely definitely a good chance for this to happen.

She went was able to chemotherapy 2 weeks after her surgery since her x-rays were only showed 2 very very small spots . She did amazing on chemo. You wouldn't have known she was even on it!

The next chemo treatment was 2 weeks after the first. The day before the treatment, I took her in because I noticed a small cough developing. Doctors took an x-ray and that is when my heart dropped. Within 2 weeks those 2 tiny spots had almost quadrupled in size. I knew this wasn't good, and her time was even more limited.

Despite the heartbreaking results, Bailey was such a champ through her surgery and even more amazing after. I was so proud of her and she was so happy to run around again and get back to her normal active lifestyle, which included coming out to all my frisbee and soccer games and running around! My teammates were amazed at not only how fast she could walk again after surgery, but how she was able to run, jump, etc; she didn't skip a beat!

Bailey was doing great and I've always been proud of her, but once she became a Tripaw, I had never been more proud to be her owner. People were amazed by her and I was so proud to be apart of the Tripaw community.

Things were going great for a couple weeks, then pretty quickly she started to decline. I was slowly seeing the things that made Bailey, Bailey, disappear. I knew she wasn't in pain, which now eases my mind, but I knew it would be cruel to keep her here when she stopped eating and just wanted to lay outside all day, I didn't want that quality of life for her. She was so stubborn, just like her owner, that I knew she would fight for me until her last breath, but I couldn't let her do that.

I knew the time was coming when I would have to make a decision. On Mother's Day, when I was lying next to her, I looked into her eyes and told her that it was ok to pass during the night. I told her I wouldn't be upset and it's ok to go. Again, looking into her eyes she just gave me that look that she was ready and being so stubborn I knew she wouldn't pass peacefully on her own, so aroubd midnight on Mother's Day I picked up and held my little buddy in my arms for the last time.

After she got was prepared for the IV, she jumped out of the bed she was "supposed" to be lying in and walked over to mom. I laughed because this dog was literally on her death bed, but she was still fighting. I said, "Bailey, it's ok buddy, go lie down, you don't have to do anything for me, you've made me so happy." I'll never forget this, the last thing she did, the last movement she made was to come over to me and be with mom and comfort me because I was crying.

Well, I guess that was the shortest version for me!

Tripawds

On The Road

Member Since:
24 September 2009

Offline

29 July 2017 - 3:50 pm

Welcome and thank you for sharing your touching story.

What type of resources are you looking for?

You have posted in the correct forum to announce your desire to foster/adopt a tripawd, if that is your intention. You can search this forum, for any currently available Tripawd Rescues, or use the RSS link at the bottom of the forum to subscribe for notification of any new topics. The Tripawd Rescue Fund is also available if/when you adopt another tripawd.

Please keep us posted, your future forum posts will not require moderation.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

benny55

Virginia

Member Since:
22 February 2013

Offline

29 July 2017 - 10:54 pm

Thank you so much for giving Bailey the most loving home a pup could want! You clearly adored Bailey and, without question, she adored you!

Bailey is at the Rainbow Bridge playing Frisbee and teaching all the other dogs how to play soccer! 🙂 She's also busy watching over you and most likely has a Tripawd already picked out fornyiu! You just don't know it yet!

We'll all keep an eye out for you, so stay connected!

And again, thank you for sharing that lovely tribute to your beautiful Baikey. She's family now...and so are 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!