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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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Bandit is Being Amputated as I Type
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Copperas Cove, TX
Member Since:
12 May 2016
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12 May 2016 - 2:46 pm
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Bandit is being amputated as I type.  I am scared to death.  I want to be a good doggie Momma, but have no idea as to how to take care of him afterwards. 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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12 May 2016 - 4:34 pm
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Hi Bandit and family, welcome. I hope you don't mind I moved your post here, but you deserve a discussion that's all your own.

I'm sorry you are here. But you are in the right place. And that shows you ARE a good doggie Momma! You came here looking for support and help, no doggie could ask for more.

Tell us more about Bandit. What's he like? Age? Breed? Personality?

Begin your Tripawds journey with the Tripawds Start page and you can't go wrong. Jerry's Required Reading List is also a huge help. And others will chime in too so stay tuned OK?

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

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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12 May 2016 - 5:25 pm
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You will be fine!  And we are all looking forward to the post surgery update!  It is really hard until about when the staples come out, but this community is a great place for support and questions.

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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12 May 2016 - 7:00 pm
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Ok, first of all, take a breath.

Then, have some chocolate (or wine, whichever you prefer).

As far as taking care of Bandit when he comes home - Make sure you give him his medications spaced out around the clock.  Murphy came home on Tramadol, Rimadyl & Gabapentin for pain.  Some also come home with a Fentanyl patch or antibiotics.  Murphy also didn't really want to eat very well.  So I cooked up some rice and poured chicken broth over it, then added some chunks of chicken to it - whatever it takes to make him eat.  Plan of spending time with him, try to keep him quiet and isolated - no jumping on the furniture.  Just short trips outside for potty breaks.  He may not seem himself for about 2 weeks - that's not uncommon.  He might want to sleep a lot.  Some do better than others, some do worse. 

Feel free to post on here if you have any questions, concerns or just to give us updates.  We've all been where you are! 

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Copperas Cove, TX
Member Since:
12 May 2016
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13 May 2016 - 8:01 am
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Bandit is a 10 and a half year old Australian Shepard/border collie mix.  He has had 2 tplo surgeries.  He loves to play Frisbee.  We have to spell it or he goes nuts and he almost always has a ball in his mouth or right beside him.  We call him our equal opportunity puppy because he takes turns with who he gives the ball or whose lap he is in.  yes, he is a 66 pound lapdog!  He has bone cancer but it has not spread to the lungs or abdomen.  I am praying we caught it early enough that he may still have a long life.  He is my "empty nest" baby.  When our only son left home I was a wreck until Bandit.  I love him so much.  And I lean on him emotionally.  My Mom is 88 and I take care of her; she lives down the street from us and I have my Dad's dog (Scooby) who is 14.  I am afraid I might lose them all at one time.  We lost our Sheltie last year...Rocky was 14. 

What is the opinion of Chemo?  We are not sure what we want to do. 

His momma is feeling really old right now...I have never been part of a chat/blog, etc.  It is a little confusing to me but I am determined to learn!!

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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13 May 2016 - 8:27 am
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We did chemo with 8 year old Otis - 4 rounds of carboplatin, 3 weeks apart.   The oncologist will give you meds for nausea (which we had rounds 2 - 4, although no vomiting) and diarrhea (1 episode of explosive diarrhea, outdoors, on round 1; squishy poo on rounds 2 and 4).   Otis slept the entire day after a treatment, and you could tell that he was feeling a bit off for about 2 weeks, AND I AM GLAD WE ARE DONE, but the side effects were not so bad that I felt we should stop.   Remember that you always have the option to stop if your Bandit doesn't tolerate it well.   Obviously, it is not without risk, but I wanted to do everything I could to give Otis the best chance possible.   A lot of owners, however, decide for various reasons not to do chemo at all.   There are no guarantees either way, and you just have to make the decision that feels right for your family.

Welcome to our community - a lot of us are not big social media users, but for me, this community has been invaluable.

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.



Member Since:
27 July 2014
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13 May 2016 - 8:59 am
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A pet's amputation is usually harder on the human than the dog or cat. Since Bandit is an athlete he'll likely be fit enough to still be active. He'll have to go easy initially and then adapt to having the 3 legs. You'll have to be careful that he doesn't put too much stress on the remaining front/rear leg.

On this site I've seen videos of many tripawd dogs still play fetch, frisbee and go in athletic competitions. If I find the videos or their blogs I'll post them (or Jerry may know where they are). They are inspiring.

All dogs are different in their recovery and response to treatment but overall they are resilient and want to continue to enjoy life and the love of their family.

To bring some lightness to your day, here is a video of the style of two dogs in rehab:

https://www.fac.....2/?fref=nf

Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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13 May 2016 - 9:26 am
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dwalker said
What is the opinion of Chemo?  We are not sure what we want to do. 

Please review these popular Tripawds News blog post and discussion forum topics for lots of feedback from members.

The Chemotherapy Decision: Joys and Regrets

Tripawds News: Chemotherapy Posts

/treatment-and-recovery/regrets-about-chemotherapy

/tips-and-resources/costs-of-amputation-and-chemotherapy-what-did-you-pay

Use the Advanced Search above to refine more results here in the forums or search all blogs here .

Hope this helps!

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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13 May 2016 - 9:46 am
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Bandit! I love learning more.about you! You clearly have a delightful personality AND are clearly very loved! And you know what? You think you are loved and spoiled now, you just wait! Loving and spoiling a tripawd is 24 hr non-stop fun!!

You have plenty on your plate right now. So how 'bout putting the decision about chemo on the back burner for now. You have a couple of weeks to decide about that, okay?

You've gotten good input on recovery. I'll just add that, when you pick Bandit up, don't even bother to look at the incision site. He's not, so why should you? You may notice that they shave a lot.of fur though! Just look into his druggy eyes and tell him what a good boy he is and applaud him!!

Put down non slip scatter rugs for traction if you have any hardwood floors. Raised food bowls are helpful to prevent strain.

You are obviously a strong woman. Stay strong and confident for Bandit as he will.pick up on your enery. He doesn't know he's "sick" and doesn't care about any ole' diagnosis.

Now is the time to learn to Be More Dog .........BE MORE BANDIT! Bandit is living in the moment! He is living in the now!! He is not worried about tomorrow. He is not worried about days on a calendar. All he cares about is being by your side soaking up all your loving and spoiling and treats and playing frisbee and carrying his ball around. Worrying about the tomorrows robs you of your time together right now. Let NOTHING interfere with your time together!!

And good for you for having senior dogs.with.you! There's just something so calming.about.being.in.the presence of senior dogs.

Oh, and don't worry about not being a techie! Yes, WE are in the minority around here but we are growing in numbers! I think with you joining the ranks we are.now up to three!

STAY CONNECTED!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS. I know Rocky is watching over you. I bet he's a really good Guardian Angel!

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!

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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13 May 2016 - 10:09 am
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Hi and welcome,

I hope the surgery went well, did he lose a front or rear leg?

My Tri-pug Maggie had a different kind of cancer, mast cell, so our chemo regimine was different than for OSA.  Her chemo took about 6 months and was 14 doses alternating between two drugs.  The OSA protocol is much shorter and a different drug.  Maggie did pretty well the whole time, a little nausea and some fatigue.  The nausea was taken care of with meds and backing off the chemo drug dose.

What you need now is to focus on Bandit's recovery.  Stay positive and don't get discouraged if he isn't himself.  He is learning a new normal and dealing with a lot of meds.  Most of us when through the 'what have I done?!' phase at some point during recovery, so don't feel like you are the only one.

Keep us posted on his progress and how you are doing.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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13 May 2016 - 11:15 am
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Howdy and welcome!!!

Scared? Well heck yeah! You're in great company! When Harmony had her amputation I was on this site every waking minute. The support here is invaluable, but not just for you and your Bandit (love the name), but for all the other things you're going through too!

I lost my dad just a few months after losing Harmony. I can tell you I was one tick away from bat-$hit crazy. If it weren't for the support here, my friends and family would be bringing me crayons and clean underwear for visitation.

On a serious note, you will get through this. Time will fly and before you know it, Bandit will be wanting to sit in your lap again.

My Melody is also a 60 lb., shepherd mix, lap dog.

Update when you can and stay close my friend!

pam

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey


Member Since:
11 May 2016
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13 May 2016 - 12:00 pm
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I just found this site and want to say i'm going through the same thing -  my 9 year old Boston Terrier Turbo is going through surgery right now, too.  He has a myxosarcoma tumor in his front leg bicep/shoulder area.  

Feel free to email me anytime.  I'm scared, too, but reading the positive messages helps. 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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13 May 2016 - 1:07 pm
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mardeebo said
I just found this site...   

Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.

Please consider starting your own topic or a free Tripawds blog to share your story, and start here for lots of helpful links to get the mst benefit from this community.

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

Copperas Cove, TX
Member Since:
12 May 2016
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13 May 2016 - 3:01 pm
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OMG I am soooo glad I found this site. You all are so amazing! Great support!  Bandit is home. We have pottied and now resting. He still has his smile. I did not look at the incision. Just told him I sure did miss having him around last night!

Copperas Cove, TX
Member Since:
12 May 2016
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13 May 2016 - 3:28 pm
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Harmony. How do I add a photo?

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