Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Chaser, our 7 1/2-year-old Golden Retriever, goes under the knife tomorrow morning. She has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, and we have decided to have the right foreleg amputated.
Thanks to the wonderful people on this site (along with our vet and oncologist)! We have received such great advice about preparing for the new chapter in Chaser's life. The RuffWear harness is ordered (plan to use a sterilized firewood sling the first few days to help her), rugs are covering the hardwood floors, baby gates to block the stairs, rags on hand to use for compresses, checking out pics/videos of what the incision will look like, how she'll walk, etc.
All this preparation makes me feel like I'm actually doing something, having felt so helpless since her diagnosis a couple of weeks ago. So far, her lungs are clear. Always a plus!
So now - just a day away - I'm on edge, anxious, ready to get this thing going. Trying not to think in terms of 'this is her last day with four legs' and 'man, is she gonna be MAD at us!' Instead, focusing my energy into making it through the first two weeks post-op.
I just pray she makes it through surgery OK, so we can begin the rehab and make a new beginning. We have chosen not to pursue chemo, due to the aggressive nature of this particular type of cancer and the fact we'd have to drive anywhere from 4 to 6 hours roundtrip each time for treatment (not including time spent in the vet's office). That's a lot of time in a car/vet's office for a golden girl who likes to run and play.
After we explained her upcoming surgery to our 5-year-old son, he immediately asked if her leg would grow back. I had to smile. Oh, to be 5 again. When I answered, no, it won't grow back, she'll just have three legs, making her more special than she already is, he responded, "That'll be cool!"
We have changed her diet and added supplements (felt it best to do it now than throw another change at her after the surgery). All in all, we hope to spend our remaining time with her running, playing fetch, going swimming. Maybe God will grant us 3 months. Maybe he'll bless us with 3 years. In any case, we'll take each new dawn as an added blessing until the sun sets on our time with her.
Also - our regular vet wasn't aware of the Tripawds site until I mentioned it to her. She has since checked it out and given it a huge Thumbs Up!
Aw, Chaser. Sorry to hear of her diagnosis, but welcome to this site. Sounds like you've taken all the necessary steps to ensure a safe, healing environment for her! Our 6 1/2-year-old Golden Catie (same diagnosis - osteosarcoma) had her right foreleg & shoulder amputated in January; she has done remarkably well.
Oh to be five again indeed! 
Best of luck tomorrow. Will be thinking of you and Chaser. It'll be a stressful day while you wait; just remember to breathe.
Keep us updated!
Carmen
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Hey Chaser, we're so sorry about the nasty cancer but glad you joined us here! Your folks sound like they're doing everything right and they've got a GREAT attitude about the surgery. You've done a great job teaching them!
I had OS and didn't do IV chemo either, we had the same situation, where the nearest docs we trusted to do chemo were six hours away. It was a tough decision but in the end I lived almost two years afterward. We all hope that we can beat the odds, but no matter what amount of time we get, as long as it's spent living life to the fullest and enjoying our pack, pain free, that's all that matters.
Tell your folks thanks for ordering the harness and telling your vet about us (if your pawrents remember at some point, check out these flyers and displays you can leave in your vets office).
Tell your pack to hang in there and remember we're here to help. If they feel like chatting while you're in surgery we are usually in the Chat room throughout the day.
Good luck tomorrow!!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am sorry to hear of Chaser's diagnoses. My 8 year old Rottweiler, Tasha was diagnosed almost a year ago with osteosarcoma, she had her left front shoulder and leg amputated in October. After we got through the first two weeks of her recovery things have been good. Today she is this goofy happy loving dog. Have to admit she is so so spoiled now but thats ok. We treasure everyday that we have with her as a gift.
It sounds like you are well prepared for her homecoming, the first two weeks can be a hard time for all of you, but after that Chaser should be once again be swimming, running and just loving life. She will amaze you!
All the best with her surgery, we will be praying for you.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
Here's to the New Chapter! It sounds like you guys have a great attitude, and are quite prepared.
Cemil is a left-front amputee going on 17 months without chemo. There are lots of alternative things you can do–Hoxsey and AHCC (and grain-free food) are the core of his treatment. Seems like everybody here has a different combination of supplements because every dog is different.
May God bless you with at least 3 years–I'm looking forward to reading more about Chaser.
Mary and Cemil
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Love Chaser's Avatar! 
Welcome, and thanks for joining. Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Tripawds Required Reading List for lots of links to helpful information from the past few years of Tripawds posts. We too opted not to do IV chemo for Jerry due to his "agressive" osteosarcoma and the 6 hour drive to UC Davis. We chose to focus on quality of life instead, and he ended up Loving Life On Three Legs for nearly two years. We attribute this to the Metronomics and K9 Immunity we started him on When his lung mets appeared.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and a healthy new beginning!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome handsome Chaser and well prepared Mom!
It just terrible these pups have to go through such an awful disease BUT we do have a lot of happy times going through the experience! So, we are so glad you found us! We aren't curing cancer over here but we're pretty good a curing sad hearts and nervous pawrents!
It's going to be ruff for the next couple of weeks and from what everyone says, it's going to ruff on you more so than your Chaser! Please don't hesitate to drop us a note when you need to talk throughout the recovery period. It's going to be mentally exhausting.
So, our best advice in the beginning is - don't get too sleep deprived yourself. Without sleep every little thing is going to be amplified. Be sure to call your vet at any concern or worry - don't think of it as an annoyance to them. You paid for it and they want to help. This is super major surgery!
Last but not least - don't regret what you are doing, not now - tomorrow or in the next few weeks. Chaser is in severe pain now. From a human's perspective - bone cancer is outrageously painful I've been told. Whatever you feel in the few weeks, you have to keep in mind - you have taken away the severe pain Chaser was in. He'll love you even more for getting rid of the pain. Dogs don't care about limbs like we do. We, as humans add superficial thoughts about looking normal with our limbs. Dogs could care less about 'normal'.
Best wishes and super speedy healing thoughts coming your way!
Comet's mom
P.S. Tell Chaser he's close to the record on tennis balls in his mouth here- it might be four? But he looks like he could break the record since 3 looks like an easy thing for him!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
cemil said:
Here's to the New Chapter! It sounds like you guys have a great attitude, and are quite prepared.
Welcome to Tripawds…although we all would rather not be here for the reasons that we are. But this is the BEST place for information and support and I see you've made great use of that!
Keep that wonderful attitude….it'll be tough for a couple weeks – or maybe not – but you're prepared for sure!
We, too, have chosen not to do chemotherapy…it wasn't recommended by my vets for my dog due to the pathologists could never nail down the specific soft tissue sarcoma…and the fact Maggie was so sick after surgery for two weeks, my vet feared the chemo would do the same.
In the end, I'm very happy with that decision. I am treating my dog with a homeopathic vet, Dr. Charles Loops in NC.(does phone consults!)
You're in my thoughts!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
First let me say that we are very sorry to hear of Chaser's diagnosis, and also welcome you to a great community filled with wonderful people who will share their collective experience base, provide very good advice, and be there for support throught tough times. We are presently just outside Yellowstone with intermittent internet so I will be very short.
I have my usual set of suggestions that may you prepare for Chaser’s return from surgery. Stealing from a recent Jerry posting, I would suggest:
What to Expect Part 1: http://tinyurl......tToExpect1
What to Expect Part 2: http://tinyurl......tToExpect2
Also, there are my usual suggestions:
1) Remain as positive as possible around Chaser They will pick up on your feelings and if you are down, it will only make it harder. I often left Cherry, left the house, and then totally lost it before regaining composure and returning with a smile. It will make a difference.
2) Remember to treat the spirit as well as the body. Find something that Chaser loves and can still do during recovery. Then exploit that love to give them purpose. For Cherry, it was her trips in the truck/car. It was the first and for a long time, the only place that she would willingly take food when offered. As the time when she thinks that she is going for a ride approaches, you could see the excitement grow. Jake's mom would probably tell you that for Jake it was the swimming pool. Once Jake saw the pool and was allowed back in, the improvement appears to have been remarkable. View the Fun! Doug and Heidi will tell you that for Molly it continues to be canoe trips. Watch her celebrate her one year anpuversary! Finally there is Calpurnia who loves the life filled with the outdoors and sledding and has survived the amputation for more than two years. View the fun! Help them find a purpose to fight.
3) Consider keeping a journal. I kept a journal and posted much it on-line. It allowed me to go back days/weeks/months and make a good comparison. The detail that you keep in this journal is more than I would ever put into a blog, which is also a great idea. This very detailed journal really helped to make honest assessments of Cherry's progress during the ups and downs of recovery. Our oncologist actually used these journal postings to keep up to speed on Cherry's condition. I have refered back to this journal as little as a month ago to make sure that I had the details correct when replying to another posting. I have a page of thumbnail photos (with links to larger versions) covering from just after the diagnosis, first days home, chemotherapy treatment, through recent days. View Cherry’s TriPawd photos.
Even though we will be watching geysers, we will also be thinking of Chaser and sending all the positive thoughts possible for a speedy recovery.
Spirit Cherry's Dad - Bob
welcome!! paws crossed for successful surgery and quick recovery. we second what cherry's dad said - remember to treat the spirit as well as the body. love on that baby every second of every day!!! she sure is a cutie pie (i'm not sure a diet of tennis balls is the best idea, but then you know best...). keep us in the loop, you're in our thoughts!!!
gayle & charon
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Thanks to all for positive thoughts and great ideas!
As a writer (I'm a communications director and also write a syndicated humor column)...keeping a journal is a simple but oh so great idea.
We've kept Chaser on a short leash since her diagnosis. The leg is very fragile and prone to fracture. However, I figured today was a good day to play a little fetch. She had an awesome time and isn't limping too badly.
And, yes, she's a tennis ball lover. I already have a few packed to take to the vet's with us to use for her recovery. They're kinda her wubby.
goldenluv said:
...keeping a journal is a simple but oh so great idea.
Exactly why we started the Tripawds Blogs!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You are probably the most 'prepared' soon to be tripawd pawrent I've seen. Even though I stay positive 99% of the time, even though I said each day given us with Trouble is a blessing, I'm not sure I truly believed it. We were well past the 1 year mark before I came to the realization the one day she would die, and it didn't scare the pejebers out of me. For you to believe prior to surgery that if you get 3 month or 3 years it is a blessing is a huge accomplishment.
Wishing you and Chaser (who is adorable, by the way) a speedy recovery and many happy days ahead.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Wow, how lucky Chaser is (except for the C) to have such a loving, prepared and may I say mature pack! Your 5 year old has it more together than I did. 
Sending prayers for a speedy recovery and a great beginning to the next chapter in Chaser's life.
I am so sorry for Chaser's diagnosis. Brandy (our Rottweiler) had the left front leg removed due to Osteosarcoma on May 18th. We were so worried that since she was 120 lbs and a pretty clumsy girl, she could not handle the surgery and may never be able to get around well. I am happy to report that she got thru the surgury and is back to swimming, laying out in the sun and running. Yes, I did say RUNNING! She is now pain free and loving life. She is back to her old self again, the self we had not seen since April before the pain took hold.
Chaser will be so much happier once the pain is gone and he has healed up from the surgery, you will be amazed!
When you pick him up from the vet after surgury make sure to have your vehicle prepared. Cover the seat and bring a T-shirt to cover him up. We used an old comforter to pad the back seats for Brandy. The comforter also protects your seat if they use drainage tubes and he is leaking a bit after surgery. Be mentally ready for the new and improved Chaser. It was a bit of a surprise seeing Brandy when she walked out of the vet.
I wish you and Chaser a speedy recovery so he can get back to playing catch!
We will be thinking about you tomorrow,
Brandy and Family
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