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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good luck with the decision... I knew it was best for truman, but it was still hard.
though...
the day he came home, he was wiggly and smiling as always. now it's been 2 weeks and he surprises us everyday with his abilities. I guess we are or were treating him as if he was handicapped, and he's refusing to live up to that!
He had a fast growing cancerous tumour on his inner front right elbow, quickly leading to a constant limp, which started out as a pea sized lump with no symptoms.
good luck with your decision, recovery, and re-learning why you love your pet!
Roscoe and Rosie
So sorry for your situation- as you know we all understand what you are dealing with. I just want to address your concern being the owner of a 3 legged dog, will it change his personality, can he still run, will he hold a grudge. I hope you have seen Calamity's post on What a Tripawd can do , and seen my Wrigley catching snowballs at our trip to the snow yesterday. Her pesonality has not changed one bit- she is the same exact dog she was prior to amputation. She can still do her favorite thing of swimming in the river, she can still run- in fact the other night when I took her out to potty she took off toward the back of the property at a dead run- I am sure after the skunk that I believe is living back there. My husband laughed and said - that would be a good story- Tripawds can still get skunked- thankfully she responded to me and stopped. Yesterday we went to the snow- she ran up the road, jumped in the snowpack- sunk a few times, but got herself back up- made me throw snowballs to her till I was tired, not her. As far as the care of a tripawd, the recovery care was a bit hard, but not impossible- and after that I don't really think I do that much different now. The only changes are we take shorter walks if Wrigley gets tired, I am careful to lift her out of the car or off high places since I don't want her to fall, I have to drive her to the river instead of walking like we used to because the walk would be too far... but nothing major has changed in her lifestyle. As far as holding a grudge- I believe Wrigley is extremely grateful to us for getting rid of the pain she was in from the cancer. If she could talk I am sure she would say Thank you very much- not why did you do that? I don't think she even knows her leg is gone.
I know I have rambled, but I want to share a story - Yesterday when we were at that snow, we were hiking down the road and a little girl about 5 or 6 was hiking up. When she saw Wrigley, she asked me "where's her leg" I told her, she has cancer so we had to cut it off to get rid of the cancer. She replied- She's OK now though, right, she looks OK. " I said yes, she's ok, she's just great. Then she stood there very proud next to Wrigley and gave her a big hug. As her family came to join her, she announced to all - " Wrigley has cancer,so they had to cut off her leg, but she's fine now" then she had her mom take her picture with Wrigley , and Wrigley enjoyed the attention as the girl played with Wrigley and petted her. As we watched Wrigely with this littel girl- and Wrigley wagging her tail and licking this poor girls face as she giggled- we remembered- Wrigley is exactly the same dog she always was- she is just fine. For that moment we forgot all about the cancer.
As long as you still love them like you always do, I think they always understand we are just doing what is best for them.
Follow your heart and I am sure you will make the best decision.
Seanne and Wrigley
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
RoscoeandRosie said:
but I am afraid that Roscoe will not be able to enjoy his favorite activity: running. I am also afraid that a part of his personality might be changed because of the amputation. It is comforting to know that some one else has been faced with this decision, and I would also like any advice that the owners of three legged dogs could give. What I am the most of afraid of is that I will fail as a three legged dog owner… can I give him the care he needs? Will he understand that I am doing what's best for him, or will he hold a grudge (which he seems to do sometimes)?
Roscoe and Rosie
Nick and Lucy - I, as others as said, would not do anything differently. Zeus is going to be 11 next month and we are coming up on 11 months post amputation. He has done really, really well. I have no regrets whatsoever. Listen to your heart, you will know what to do.
Rosie and Roscoe - I had many people tell me not to "do this to my baby", just to let him go when the pain got too much...that he wouldn't adjust...that he has a sensitive personality and he would get depressed. Well, we showed them!!! Zeus, like all the others on here, was so happy to free of the pain that he was back to his old self. The ONLY thing we do differently is that we cannot take hour long walks anymore. Some of that probably also has to do with the fact that he is turning 11 next month. But when we walk now, I let him off leash and he prances, runs, chases Buddy (my other Golden who is 8)...he is just full of life. As for taking care of a three legged dog...whelp, I don't think it's all that much different actually. I've adjusted by just "listening" to Zeus. When he's tired, we just hang out and I don't push him. We get check ups...(bloodwork and xrays) and we did chemo, so there was the driving back and forth to those appointments...but seriously, these guys adjust so quickly and just manage it. Now, the first couple weeks after surgery is difficult, but once you get past that, it's just living.
I hope this helps you guys. Please keep us psoted!
Love Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
hey everyone, i just got the good news, all of the staging is done and Lucy's cancer is local to her paw and has shown up no ware else. so all I'm waiting for is the operation on Thursday. i know its the right decision but i am very nervous in anticipation. so wish Lucy luck and ill let you know how things go, and ill get a post op glamor photo for you all. thanks again for the help.
YIPPIE!!!! That is WONDERFUL news. We are just thrilled. 
It is difficult to wait for the surgery and then during the surgery and then until you can bring Lucy home, but it will all be worth it. We are here with you every step (hop) of the way...just remember that. Please, please keep us posted on everything. We will say tons of doggie prayers!
Lots of love to you both
Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
nickv said:
Lucy's cancer is local to her paw and has shown up no ware else.
YES! That is excellent news, we are so glad to hear it. Good luck this week. Like Heather said, we are here for you if you need anything. Paws are crossed for a speedy recovery...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Nick, that is good news! I will be praying for Lucy on Thursday and will be wishing her a speedy recovery. Keep everyone posted!
Thanks everyone for all of the stories and advice. I talked to the vet again today and I'm going to try to get brave and schedule Roscoe's surgery soon. I just want to be sure I pick a time where I can be home with him for a few days after surgery.
Seanne and Wrigley, thank you so much for sharing those stories! It is such a comfort to hear that Wrigley's personality and spirit was not changed by the amputation and that she is able to run and chase skunks (hope it doesn't get her!). I want to protect Roscoe and make sure he is as healthy as he can be, but I also want to make sure that Roscoe will always be Roscoe. I'm beginning to see that I will be able to do both.
Heather and Zeus, I have also had people tell me not to put Roscoe through the surgery...not to cause him that pain. It's so easy to listen to them and it makes the decision so much harder! But I know that he will be in more pain the longer I wait. Thank you for your advice and story.
Thanks again everyone and I will be checking back on Lucy!
Roscoe and Rosie
Very good news- that's wonderful Nick- we will be thinking good thoughts for you- hang in there and everything will be just fine. We wish you and lucy a speedy recovery. Can't wait to see her post op glamour shot.
Roscoe and Rosie- follow your heart and you will make the right decision- you know what is best for you both.
Keep us posted.
Seanne and Wrigley
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
RoscoeandRosie said:
I want to protect Roscoe and make sure he is as healthy as he can be, but I also want to make sure that Roscoe will always be Roscoe. I'm beginning to see that I will be able to do both.
Absolutely! As you can see, the only thing about a dog's personality that usually changes after surgery is they are much happier because they're out of pain.
As far as running goes, yes Tripawds can still run, although you do need to use caution, especially the weeks after surgery. Some allowances will need to be made, and you'll find that your walks will take longer than before. I was a big time runner in my day, and amputation did slow me down somewhat. I couldn't go quite as far, and I needed some breaks during playtime, but overall I still did great. These little adjustments were a very small price to pay though, in order to have a longer happier life with my pawrents.
Good luck to you! Keep us posted. Just a suggestion, but you might want to start a new thread somewhere in the forums so we can keep track of your own unique story. Take care.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
to nickv~ What type of cancer does Lucy have? I also have a girl that has cancer of her paw. She has hemageopericytoma.
rookerboys2 said:
to nickv~ What type of cancer does Lucy have? I also have a girl that has cancer of her paw. She has hemageopericytoma.
she has a mass cell tumor just under the skin on the top of her paw.
Nick- Lucy is adorable!!!!! We're rooting for her!
Rosie and Roscoe- Regarding running- I'll post a link to my dog Sophie playing (posted once earlier, hope nobody minds the repeat…) This was taken about 10 weeks post surgery…
We are wishing all of you all the post- please keep us posted!
Christine & Sophie
sophiesmom said:
(posted once earlier, hope nobody minds the repeat…)
Not at all ... we can never get enough of happy tripawds Loving Life On Three Legs !
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
hello everyone,
i have an update, Lucy did not have her operation on Thursday, the vet did not want to go threw with it because the lab has not received the blood sample from the FNA. the vet says they are 90% sure that they were looking at a mast cell tumor but they wanted the lab to be positive, also they would like to get a look at how fast the cells are growing. sense the lab has not received the sample and it has been about eight days they doubt it will arrive, in the mean time the vet would like to take the tumor off knowing that they will have bad margins, and have the tumor looked at to be graded. then they would like to remove the limb if the tumor is more aggressive or leave the limb and keep a close eye on it if the tumor is a grade 1, and hope that it would take a couple years to grow back, at that time we would either remove the tumor again or amputate.
so im not sure what to do, it doesnt seem like a bad plan but at the same time the only reason i would like to try to save the limb for a year or two more is because she is about 13lbs over weight and it would be nice to slim her down for three leg life.
as far as i can see the leg is going to come off, i doubt the results from tumor will come back showing that it is the weakest cancer ever. and that is the only way i would risk letting it come back and spread. so im kind of torn between taking the leg off and being done with this. but i would like to be sure that it is necessary to remove her leg.
anyways one way or the other the operation is scheduled for this tuesday. wish Lucy luck.
Wishing you and Lucy lots of luck. A friend of mine's dog is going through a tumor removal on the front leg, just up from the paw. After the wound heals, he will need 18 radiation treatments. Will Lucy have radiation?
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.
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