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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Aspen Matthews: A Siberian Saga
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Southern California
Member Since:
22 April 2020
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21 May 2020 - 11:29 pm
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Hi Sarah,

Thanks for checking in with us. I'm very happy with the team that's come together to help my girl too! Everyone has been really patient and understanding with my questions and concerns. I feel really lucky.

Southern California
Member Since:
22 April 2020
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21 May 2020 - 11:44 pm
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Hi Casey,

I know what you mean about struggling to not beat yourself up over things in hindsight. My girlfriend went through a long, traumatizing experience with her cat's health for years and he eventually succumbed to leukemia last year. It was heart wrenching and she still struggles with the "what ifs" on a somewhat regular basis. 

As hard as that was to go through, she has been there to help me deal with this every step of the way and she keeps me from falling down that rabbit hole. I tried my best to pull her out of it and she tries her best to keep me from going there in the first place. 

And with everyone here on the forum, and the vet team, we all make a great support system that I never saw coming. 

I hope all is well with Finn. I loved the video of him running in his dreams! And I'm glad you're laughing at Aspen's pic as much as I do 😆

Member Since:
1 April 2020
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24 May 2020 - 5:20 pm
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Hi Shane

I love the picture of Aspen haha. Those eyes 🙂 

I am really happy for you this sounds like very good news. And as you said you can always revisit your decision about palladia if the situation changes. 

Just out of curiosity, did Aspen's skin darkened? I tried to protect Arktik from the sun but even then with a little sun his skin turned blackish (I guess given that under its thick fur the skin has never seen the light, it was to be expected!). The vet said this is not a cause for concern but to still protect it to avoid sunburns. Also, his fur has really grown in patches some areas is really getting back to normal and on other area there are no fur. I have read this is to be expected with double coats like huskies have, but I was just wondering about other people's experience. 

Keep up the good work Aspen 🙂

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1 April 2020
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24 May 2020 - 5:43 pm
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Shane, I think this is funny. I was not on the site for few days, and I just saw your post on my forum about growing fur back (after I just wrote to you about the same thing hahaha).

New York, NY
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24 March 2020
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24 May 2020 - 8:13 pm
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Hi Shane! I'm so glad that Aspen continues to recover so well!  I know exactly what you mean about the pandemic having a silver lining of allowing us to spend so much time with our pups as they recover.  I have treasured being with Griffin 24/7 and not having to worry about missing work to make it to appointments.  Makes you wonder if work life will go back to the way it was before.  Hugs to you and Aspen! ~ Stacy & Griffin

Hi Patricia! Just the other day I noticed dark spots, like liver spots on humans, on Griffin's back where his hair was shaved for the surgery and an overall darker hue to his skin in that area.  His hair has mostly grown back but it is still a bit shorter than usual, so he has less protection in that area for sure.  I've noticed more dark spots down the length of his nose, too.  I'm going to look into sunscreen for pups just to be on the safe side!  ~ Stacy

Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com

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25 May 2020 - 12:29 pm
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Thanks Stacy for sharing your experience with fur growing back. I saw the photos of Griffin it looks great (even if its shorter). 

I know for huskies it can be a lot longer. Apparently they don't do well with shaving. The vet told me it can take up to 6 months :/ . It is kind of funny on Arktik because it is really patchy, I will post a photo of this. When he is spending time outside with a lot of sun I try to protect it with a shirt. 

New York, NY
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24 March 2020
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25 May 2020 - 1:05 pm
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I'm not sure if it matters, but Griffin has hair which continually grows and needs to be cut every 6-8 weeks.  I wonder if dog hair grows back faster than fur?

Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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25 May 2020 - 1:35 pm
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arktik said
...your experience with fur growing back.

For more feedback from others, don't miss the comments on this old Tripawds News blog post from 2008:

Are You Furry Again?

This post was inspired by one of our first Husky members, and true Tripawd Hero (Now Angel) Calpurnia.

You will find a link to the related Are You Furry Again forum topic for even more responses from others over the years.

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

Member Since:
1 April 2020
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25 May 2020 - 6:28 pm
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Thank you so much Jerry! I will look into it. Apparently huskies are not great at growing their fur back haha. 

Southern California
Member Since:
22 April 2020
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26 May 2020 - 1:16 pm
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Hi Patricia,

Yes! Aspen has the dark spots now. I noticed just a few of them about a day after surgery and they just kind of spread out from there. She has them across her shoulder and neck. More every day, really. But I do keep her covered with a t-shirt the best I can and she's not out in the sun very much. I asked her vet about them and she said it wasn't anything to worry about.

As for her fur, she's still pretty bald. There is fuzz growing in, but not a lot. And patchy, as you've seen with Arktik. She feels almost like petting a lamb right now. Kind of a short wool feel.

I'm glad to see Arktik doing  so well! Our pups will have their coats back one day 🙂

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26 May 2020 - 9:04 pm
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Hahah so true about the wool feel where there is fur back!

So spots that were not growing at all are slowly starting to grow back but I believe it will be long before getting the whole fur back. For the dark spots, same thing it kept getting darker. I have been protecting him with a shirt as well whenever he would be more exposed to the sun. If you take a look at the latest videos I posted you will probably be able to see his fur 'status'.

How is Aspen?

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