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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YAAAAAAAAAY FOR NO MORE STITCHES!!
No worries! Sounds like Clyde is doing just fine! As the Vet said, the panting coukd br sooooooo many things! Not the least of which is that you are focused on every little hiccup and burp, or pant.........even though he hiccuped and burped and panted BEFORE the surgery too! Yeah, we obsess a lot around here! The other "cause"' is that it takes a lot of energy to get arou d on three legs now. It can be pretty exhausting!
Stitches out means extra treats PLUS a scoop of ice cream! 🙂
Love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too y
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!
Yay for hitting this milestone! While Sadie's incision wasn't totally healed when the staples came out, I know it was a relief to not have to worry about the staples anymore.
Well, today is Clyde's three week anniversary since amputation. He's doing really well getting around and seems really happy! I'm a little worried about his breathing and also he has been licking his remaining front paw a lot, so we are going to the vet tomorrow. Hopefully everything will be okay. Its a sad day though - I had to put my elderly dog Murray to sleep today. He had a really bad night last night and it was just time. Clyde looked to him for comfort (he would go up to Murray and "ask" Murray to wash his face) so he's got another adjustment to make.
I just wish they could stay with us longer. I had Murray for 16 years and it wasn't enough, and knowing I probably won't have Clyde for a real long time just makes it all hurt more. I guess its the price we pay to have their wonderful souls with us for the time they stay.
I'm so sorry to hear about your Murray. And you're absolutely right, it just doesn't seem fair that they can't stay with us longer. But maybe that's because it's our charge to take care of the beast and the children. The labor of love is ours to stay behind and tend the garden until someone comes to replace us.
Holding you close to my heart,
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
Aww hoppy ampuversary Clyde! You have come a long way and you will continue to shine. I'm sorry about Murray, that's so hard. But he's looking down on all of you and is so very proud. Keep on rockin!
P.S. Tell your Momma the breathing sounds could just be that 1) it's warmer now and 2) it's a lot of work getting around on 3! Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awe I'm so sorry for your loss of Murray. I know how hard it is, I had to let my Ollie go in April after almost 17 years. It's like loosing a huge part of your life after so many years. I read once where a little boy said dogs come into this world with their hearts full of love and that's why they get to go to heaven sooner than humans, because it takes us longer to learn unconditional love. Glad Clyde is doing well. For now just focus on each day and love on him and spoil him silly. Let us know how the vet visit goes tomorrow fingers crossed for a great check.
Hugs,
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
I'm so sorry for the loss of Murray.... But I am glad that Clyde is doing so well on three legs! Sounds like he's still in the adjustment phase! Good luck at the vet tomorrow!
HUGS!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
What a happy and sad update. So glad to hear how Clyde is doing and so sorry he and your family had to say farewell to dear Murray. The grief of loss is deep, but I agree, it is the price we pay for all the joy they bring us.
Wishing Murray the sweetest dreams and strength and comfort to all of you and Clyde.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Oh, Murray, 16 years of love! Sweet baby, fly high! I'm so sorry 
Murphy tends to lick his good leg, too, even 3 years later. Not sure if it's really anything, maybe just because it's there lol. Clyde is using a lot more muscles to hop around, so it's not uncommon to be panting more. I got worried at one point because it seemed like Murphy's back legs were really stiff, and that was also from using different muscles. We try to rub & massage his back & hips for him...he lays on his side and we give him a good rub...then he starts stretching backwards and moaning. Get used to over-analyzing everything! We all tend to do it 
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
Oh, I am so sorry for your loss it is really unfair our furry friends have such short lives ... but 16 years is pretty good, I am sure he had a wonderful life with you and your family, there is a moment when we have to accept life is not eternal and do what needs to be done, even if our heart is bleeding for our babies ... but they will be watching over us for ever that's for sure!
Good luck with Clyde's vet visit today, chances are you are panicking and it's nothing much, welcome to our worry club!
Sending you big hug and cuddles to your boy 
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
So sorry for you loss of Murray; it hurts no matter how long we've been blessed to have them in our lives.
Paws crossed the vet visit is uneventful. I've been a little concerned with Nitro's panting lately too, and then I remembered it was almost 90 degrees outside, and he wants to be out there all the time! There really is not one thing out there that doesn't cause us to jump to panic mode anymore, is there? Sometimes I long for those uncomplicated, ignorance-is-bliss days pre-cancer diagnosis.
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Thanks everyone for your kind words about Murray. It was his time, but its sure hard for those of us left behind (including the fur family who is definitely missing him). I have two more dogs besides Clyde (and Murray), and the bearded collie Baxter bolted out the front door today. He's never done that in his 13 years of life - I think he was looking for Murray since he watched Murray leave out the front door yesterday.
As for Mr. Clyde - he's just fine other than having a nervous mom. Vet found nothing wrong with his paw at all. Thinks it may be getting a little more "sore" than Clyde's used to because its doing double duty, and so Clyde is compensating by licking it. I'll just watch to make sure he doesn't give himself a lick granuloma. As for the panting - my vet said panting alone is not a sign of lung tumors. Coughing and rapid, labored breathing are; Clyde's not coughing at all and I don't think what he's been doing at night would be categorized as "rapid" or "labored" or both. He suggested giving him a Rimadyl at night, since his panting may be caused by his being sore from using his body in a different way. I had been using them as needed, but we are going to try a nightly dose for a couple of days to see if it makes a difference. Vet gently (he's the same one who took care of Murray) suggested that there was no need to do lung x-rays and that its unlikely he's developed symptomatic tumors in the three weeks since his last x-ray.
I'm definitely not one to run my guys to the vet for every little thing - but I think I might be changing when it comes to Clyde 
My vet may be able to buy a new car after we are done.
I love your vet's practical approach! I also noticed more panting with Otis - turning the AC down one degree helped a lot. It seems odd, but he just seems less able to handle heat. Although he also loves to sit outside in the sun.
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.
I'm so sorry to hear about your precious Murray. You've really had aa rough couple.of weeks. The void after 26 yrs.....yeah, that'll be tough for awhile. We would love to hear more abput Murray and, of course, pictures. You gave him the gift of releasw when his earthly body was of no use anymore.. He is free fro pain and young a dnd healthy now. I know Baxter and Clyde will miss him. I also know they willl DEFINITELY feel Murray's presence through his energy....and you will too. Right. Kw the grief is too strong, but he'll make his presence known!
I'm glad things are goi g so well with Clyde. You need some good news! I really like your vet too. He sounds like the perfect antidote for the "worry wartitis"'we all develop on this journey! All is well in Clude's world...and it gets better still!''stay in the moment and let nothing interfere with you sstaying in the prese t with Clyde!
Sending you lots of.love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
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