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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Lots of info here on diets & supplements - http://tripawds.....thy-1-1-1/
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.
Mom & Auggie,
Wow, who's your doctor? Tell them we love them! That is so sweet they recommended you come here.
By the way you are doing great when it comes to posting here and talking to us!
As for Science Diet….uh, well….our general opinion (and please take this with a grain of salt, as we are not vets or certified nutriotionists), is that a home made diet with natural ingredients is better than any prepared meals out of a bag. Here's a great, spot-on review of Hillis n/d from our friends at the Dog Food Advisor that might help you decide.
Now, there will be lots of people who willl tell you that you are deciding to amptutate for your own selfish reasons. We've all heard that. But the truth is, until you have been through this with your pup and have desperately searched for videos and anecdotes about what dogs are truly capable of, you have no clue whatsoever. Only if you've walked this path do you have any idea of what is the best decision for your dog and you. So ignore those other voices, and focus on what feels intstinctively right for the two of you OK? good luck!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for the link to the food review site. Great information. I'm going to pass it on to my vet and friends. It looks like I'll be chopping veggies and cooking chicken from now on, although the EVO canned product looks promising in a pinch.
Auggie's orthopedic surgeon (the one that referred us to Tripawds) is wonderful. I think we've gotten really lucky this time. I don't know if you have a spot on the site for vet recommendations but if you do I'd wholeheartedly endorse our vet.
Auggie spent the morning searching the woods for the perfect stick. It's going to be a long day and night of wondering if I'm doing the right thing. Deep down I know the answer is yes but I should probably watch a few more videos for moral support. Thanks again.
Trust you gut feeling, only you know Auggie best.
Please do share your experience with the vets here! Many others will benefit from the info. Thank you!
Hugs to Auggie!
Nobody can know they would react when hearing the word cancer. My family mostly said they wouldn't be able to afford it and blah, blah, blah insunuating that I shouldn't spend the money on Emily. We, like a lot of people, pretty much live paycheck to paycheck and it was not easy to come up with the money. Both of my sisters, however, took vacations this summer. I think it a matter of priority and for us Emily was priority. So she started as our vacation and then the laptop I wanted to buy, and then this and that. You get the point. When Emily died and we got less than six months with her people questioned if what we spent was worth it. Without a doubt is was worth it! I said a vacation would last a week, we had Em for 5 1/2 months. My other reply was I wanted a laptop but got my lapdog! Don't let other people tell you what you are doing is wrong. The alternative is watching Auggie have fracture after frature until you have to watch her suffer painfully until you let her go. You are giving her the only chance for a pain free life, no matter how long that may be.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
What's a vacation?
Even with the ability to vacation over the years - I couldn't do it with Comet since no one could touch her and she was so distraught without me. (hoarder home syndrome)
My current total expenditure on Comet over the years: about $26,000 (and growing!) Ya' think my family thinks I'm nuts for tailoring my life for a dog that I'm with 24/7? A dog that is snippy and scared of strangers no less? You bet! They actually tell me that Comet hopped into a gold mine. (I can read between the lines)
Auggie's mom - have you seen Comet's video of going up the stairs? It's like she has jets that shoot her up! She's over 11 years old, two knee surgeries, and neck disc infection and she still flies up the stairs! The only thing she can't do anymore with age is jump on the bed and in the car. But periodically she jumps on the couch when I'm not looking. I don't let her jump down anymore because I'm just cautious of her remaining front leg since she's older. She only blew out her knees because she would practically walk on her hind legs. She danced on them.
P.S. I'm letting your son name my future dogs - he can come up some great ones!
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.
cometdog said:
Auggie's mom - have you seen Comet's video of going up the stairs?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
blakeley85 said:
Auggie's orthopedic surgeon (the one that referred us to Tripawds) is wonderful. I think we've gotten really lucky this time. I don't know if you have a spot on the site for vet recommendations but if you do I'd wholeheartedly endorse our vet.
Sure do! Be sure to add your pawesome surgeon's info there when you can.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
blakeley85 said: I should probably watch a few more videos for moral support. Thanks again.
Definitely!
Also, you can prepare yourself for the recovery period by watching Tripawd Movies, Just Before and After Surgery
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Auggie and Mom-
Glad you are finding some strength and resources here with the Tripawd family. You are also more than welcome to email me directly if you have specific questions about Cali and our experience. We are anxious to hear how Auggie girl is doing!
Very practical question. Auggie weighs 75lbs, I usually have no trouble lifting her in and out of the car (she's never been able to jump up or down because of her hips). I just watched some of the post-op videos and I'm wondering if I'll be able to handle picking her up at the hospital on Friday by myself. I hadn't wanted to bring anyone because I wanted her to have to deal only with me and my reaction. Am I crazy?
I would ask the vet how she is doing before picking her up. Emily literally ran down some steps to the car. My husband had to give her a little boost to get in the car but other than that she was okay, The vet should be able to tell you if you might need assistance.
Debra
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
With Calpurnia, I was told she would have to spend the first night in the hospital. Then got called 2 hrs post op to say - OK, come get her, she wants to go HOME!! She walked out on her own just fine (with a little assistance on the slippery floors) and hopped right up into the car.
Larger dogs might take more time adjusting (Cali is 33 lbs). But if she has been limping already, she is already adjusting to not having that leg.
My dog tends to be crazy in the car, so it was good for one of us to sit in the backseat and try to hold him still (impossible) while the other person drove home. He was very lively leaving the vet clinic, although he reverted to a state of cement the next morning that remained for a few weeks. Never really figured that one out. But he came out okay in the end, well, at the end of his recovery from surgery.
Our mistake picking Trouble up was not anticipating she had to hop fast to keep her balance. I was trying to walk too slow and she was having problems keeping up without losing her balance. Take your cues from Auggie and you will be fine. Lots of good thoughts for Auggie as the recovery stage begins.
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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