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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My thoughts will be with you and Belle this week - please reach out to me with ANY questions. I will be anxious to hear how she has done.
I am curious where you and Belle are located and where surgery will be done? Will she stay overnight? Or come home?
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.
Pofi’s Mom said it and she is so right: it is all about quality of life, not quantity.
Pofi was and stil is a massive inspiration to all of us!
That dog went up and down stairs as if he had been fed jet fuel powered kibble by his Mom for breakfast each day 🚀
Eurydice had osteosarcoma which is incurable and I always said “the war is lost but this is all about wining battles”
AND enjoying each day, making something out of nothing, cuddle and pet our babies until they are blue in their cute little faces 💕
Your baby has a huge fan club here and all our pawsitive energy can only help, right?
Love and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
eurydice said
Pofi was and stil is a massive inspiration to all of us!
That dog went up and down stairs as if he had been fed jet fuel powered kibble by his Mom for breakfast each day 🚀
AND enjoying each day, making something out of nothing, cuddle and pet our babies until they are blue in their cute little faces 💕
Your baby has a huge fan club here and all our pawsitive energy can only help, right?
DITTO!
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 appreciate so much everyones words of support. We are located Montreal, Quebec "Canada". The surgery is scheduled for Thursday or Friday. The doctors are going to do the pre surgery exam Wednesday. The surgery will happen at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine near Montreal. We hope we are making the right decision for her. We don't want to put her through this if she will not be happy, or have any complications.
Okay, you have a plan and you are moving forward!!!
That bum arm has to go! Has to!!. You are NOT doing anything TO her. That stupod piece of crap is "trying" to do bas things do her, but you're doing your best to kick that nasty piece of. 
to the curb!!Remember that. You are doing this FOR her!! You are making a decision out of love and a decision that gives her a chance!!!
Clearly Belle would want that chance! No one knows which dog or cat will beat the odds. All we do know is, that without this surgery, she has zero chance of beating the odds.
We're with you the whole way! Looking forward to moving past recovery and hearing all about her upcoming victories!
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!
Ditto all the above. We are with you all the way. You are giving Belle a chance. A chance for more spoiling and belly rubs, a chance to eat loads of the tastiest treats, and a chance to amaze and astonish you with just how well she does on three legs and how much she relishes every precious day. This is a brave and loving decision, and we are all of us here to support you and Belle.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie ❤️
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...
So we went this morning for her physical examination. Doctors say she looks healthy and still believe its the right thing to do. They kept her to do blood test and abdomen ultrasound to confirm everything is good and if so, amputation is occurring tomorrow mid morning. They also said they will keep her +48 hours or 62 for pain management after the procedure. My heart is broken seeing her expression when she knew she was not coming back home with us. I cannot stop crying although i think this is our only choice for preserving her life.
We will be thinking of you both. Stay strong, and know that when the pain is gone she will be so grateful to feel good again. She has a great team on her side and all the right steps in place for a normal recovery.
Hang in there and keep us posted. We are keeping in our hearts!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww, I know this is so hard. As Jerry said, Belle will be so happy to feel good again, so stay focused on that good outcome.
It really does sound like she has a great team looking after her.
Sending lots of,pawsitive energy to sweet Belle. Update as soon as you can.
Grab the chocolate and eat a lot of it! Does wonders for the nerves!
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!
I am so glad they are getting ready to clear her (possibly already have) for the surgery and very glad they will keep her a few nights as they can monitor her closely and make sure the incision is draining well before she comes home. Unlike the osteo pets, where it is really the bone they need to remove, with an STS nerve sheath tumor like Belles, they are removing more soft tissue between the joint of the limb and the chest wall to remove the tumor and try to get that good margin. My surgeon explained that left more of a cavity for fluids to accumulate - at least in Pofi's case.
That nerve sheath tumor reverberates like a disturbed spider web when it is jarred which is why they don't want to put weight on it (plus the muscle atrophy) - the pain is no longer centralized. Surgery will remove that and she should feel so much better.
My thoughts will be with you both tomorrow and until she is home.
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.
hester said
Unlike the osteo pets, where it is really the bone they need to remove, with an STS nerve sheath tumor like Belles, they are removing more soft tissue between the joint of the limb and the chest wall to remove the tumor and try to get that good margin. My surgeon explained that left more of a cavity for fluids to accumulate - at least in Pofi's case.That nerve sheath tumor reverberates like a disturbed spider web when it is jarred which is why they don't want to put weight on it (plus the muscle atrophy) - the pain is no longer centralized.
Lisa this is so educational for all of us, thank you for taking time to explain. Totally makes sense!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Vet called that they are proceeding with the surgery in 30'. Praying for Belle and asking all those brave angels to help her through this
Thanks again so much for all your support and love, it makes a difference!
All the angels at the bridge are watching over Belle, and that's a very powerful group of angels!
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!
Sending all the love in our heart to you two, keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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