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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FINALLY!!! We are 36 days post op and Charlie really started showing his true self around the end of last week! We never thought we'd see him again. How scary and guilt-ridden and angry and confused we were! Very emotional!
He had his right front leg amputated on 10/31 - soft tissue sarcoma.
He is begging at our table...who knew we'd hate to see that day end. He is sleeping upstairs with us again and I think that has really lifted his spirits. We just had our stairs carpeted yesterday which is helpful. We've been going upstairs for about a week and using the RuffWear Harness...I cannot sing that enough praises. Very helpful and stays clear of his scar. His hair is coming in nicely. He jumped into my car the other day. He gets his toys out at night and wants to play! He runs around the yard....fast!!!
WHAT A RELIEF!!! For anyone that is going through a post-surgical period...keep your chins up and know that better days are yet to come!!! We had our doubts but, remember what a major surgery this is and that every dog is different in their recoveries. We also met a 4 year old golden retriever on the day of Charlie's surgery that was one month out and was doing things two weeks post-op so, kept comparing Charlie to him. He is 4 years his junior and again...every dog is different!
Only problem we're having is still with the pads being a little raw on his left back foot. They are healing and we are wrapping them 2x a day and putting lamb's wool in between his toes.
So great to see our Charlie again!
Oh hooray! I'm so glad you have your boy back! It's so hard to see folks going through an even tougher recovery than the usual 2 weeks of ups and downs.
Hooray for Charlie! Hope he continues to do great!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
That's fantastic! And he likely will continue to improve - my recollection is that every time I thought my pup was "back" things got even a little better and even a little more "back" in the next couple of weeks. So glad you've been able to have some relief from worrying - now enjoy!
OH!!!!! How wonderful!!!!
Being back to begging for table fare is always a wonderful sign! It's the little things that make it all worth while!
Keep it up Charlie baby!
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.
Yaaaay! Fantastic news. Can I say one thing...what great pawrents you are to get your stairs carpeted for him. Wow! Do you know how many people out there won't go that extra mile? Too many. You rock!
We're so glad you updated, not just because it's fantastic to hear he's doing well again but because Charlie's story will give hope to so many others whose dogs are taking longer than average to recuperate. Thank you for helping to make this community such a hopeful place!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yea for Charlie!!!
As one who's pup took longer than 'normal' to come around I can really relate.
It is a wonderful place to be when you say 'oh good' to behaviors you used to discourage, but are now acceptable (and sometimes encouraged) in our tripawds 
.
Carpeting your stairs is awesome. I used to tell people I had my kitchen floors re-done because of Maggie's amp just to see their expressions, but it was really planned before the surgery.
Keep up the good work- looking forward to more uplifting updates.
Karen and the pugapalooza
yeah for charlie!!! so happy for all of you guys, sometimes it seems like the stumbling blocks won't end, glad charlie is feeling more himself and is back to enjoying his 'table' food. don't forget the medicinal naps!!
charon & gayle
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
Yay, Charlie! So glad that you're back! Here's to lots more good days!
Jenna & Spirit Chili Dawg
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
Three paws up for Charlie So glad he is getting back to normal.
Getting to sleep upstairs with him pawrents is the best 🙂
I just read your post and it sounds very familiar, Gaby also had her right front leg amputated on 10/25/11 so we are one week ahead of your Charlie. Today is her 6 week ampuversary
. We were feeling the same thoughts and had the same recovery period before she started acting like her normal crazy self. I never thought I would see those days but going through those tough weeks were so worth it knowing that we got our dog back. I'm glad to see that Charlie is back to being more like himself, also.
Thanks for all the love! We just received Charlie's special-ordered boots today. He does so well with them and they stay on really well!!! I ordered them through Tammy & Teddy's...found on Tripawds (gear?). They took a couple weeks to get here but, well worth the wait! We were using one of my husband's winter gloves when Charlie went outside...it never stayed on.
His new boots are fleece lines, velcro, and have a non-schaffing top that goes up pretty high (approx. 7 inches). WE LOVE THEM!!! The pads of the boot and leather and dipped in something to provide further traction . We live in Maine and the cold weather is here! We have always battled with snow balls between his toes so, are anxious to have them for the winter. I wish I had my video camera out when he zipped around with them on this afternoon...what a riot!
He had been having issues with the pads on his back left leg (right front amp.) These will really do the trick. We ordered 3 boots as the snow is on it's way! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
Oh, yes, we wish you'd had your video camera too! We are going to need to see at least pics and hopefully some video of Charlie sporting his new boots!
Hooray for new boots for the winter!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Oh so glad to hear the boots are working! We would love to see more pics and if you want to do a review for the Gear blog , we would love it. PM me if you're interested. Can't wait to see him in action!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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