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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi, everyone!
We shifted categories now that we belong in one that's a little more "ongoing updates" based. If you want to catch up, here is the link to our Original Post.
First of all, we just want to say thank you again to everyone who has contributed so much help so far. This community has been invaluable.
So, Holden is on day seven post-amp and he is doing pretty well. He's not back to his normal self emotionally yet and he's been really bad about wanting to eat his regular kibble (this is old news), but he does get a spark of excitement when we go outside or when one of us comes home. Little pieces of him are starting to shine through the haze of the medication. Just wonder how long it will take until he's really "back."
When we went into this and had his leg amputated, it was only on the speculation that this was some kind of OSA - an entire host of vets couldn't place a firm diagnosis on the situation. I'm glad we moved ahead with it, though, because with a full leg sample, we got the news this morning that they were able to diagnosis it as Fibroblastic Osteosarcoma.
Information on this is hard to find. Actually, the most information we've been able to find on this at one time has actually come from this site and Wyatt's story. So, thank you more than you know.
Holden gets his staples removed next Thursday, so we'll be scheduling our first chemo conversation with another vet at the same hospital and move forward from there.
We feel extremely lucky to have caught all of this as soon as we think we did. The little boy is only 2.5 - we want him to get as much out of this life as possible! All of our fingers and limbs are crossed as we move forward and we'll keep you updated and ask the questions I'm sure we'll have
Onward!
Holden, Mel, Katie
Oh I guess I didn't realize he was such a baby ... that is so young!
But this sounds like a great update and it sounds like he is progressing normal and healthy!!! I do love his face! 🙂 So sweet!
He will probably feel mucho better once those staples come out!
Hugs!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart
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
Online
Onward indeed handsome Holden!!! Sounds like Holden is having one of the "smoother" recoveries for just seven days into it. I know it seems like it will take forever to get thru this recovery phase. Holden will get his sparkle back slowly but surely! Every dog's recovery phase is different. Many do start to turn the corner "arou d" the two week mark. In my Happy Hannah's case, it took ame good three weeks before I finally could say I did this FOR her and not TO her!
Lpve seeing pictures of this hanadsome youngster! 🙂 He's so unique..but you already know that! 🙂
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Keep notes every time you see a little Sparkle come back. That way, even when you don't think there has been any Improvement, you can check your notes and see that, indeed, the Sparkle is coming back!
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!
Hi everyone,
Thank you again for the positive words and vibes!
We're on day 11 and Holden is doing well physically but is still barely eating. We've been gently switching things up here and there from his normal kibble to some tasty wet food and/or meats we cook for him. Sometimes, he'll gobble up the wet food and then other times he'll barely eat all day. He has been a picky eater for most of his life, but we're concerned about how little he is eating during this recovery process and that it doesn't seem to be improving at all.
We meet with the vet on Thursday to get his sutures removed and speak with the Oncologist, so we'll bring it up then as well, but wanted to see if you guys had any tips or thoughts in the meantime. Anything is helpful
Thanks!
Mel, Katie, and Holden
Okay Holden, you start eating better young man!
Yeah, if Holden is a picky eater to begin with, the recovery and all the meds can make him even pickier for ahwile! Continue to give him whatever he ikes...chicken, steak, scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese, cheeseburgers...whatever it takes. Try some stinky food like liverwurst. Also, Fresh Pet has a refrigerated chicken food that dogs seem to go crazy over.
Try and get enough in him to coat his tummy when he takes his pills. If the Vet thinks it's necessary, he'll give him an appetite stimulant when he takes the stitches out.
Sounds like otherwise Holden is adjusting to the "new normal" just fi e. And it gets sooo much better!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS..I know it was just an oversight (a biiiig one), but you forgot to include a picture of that handsome boy! 🙂
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!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie,
Thank you for the great recommendations - we'll try some of those for sure. I'd love any excuse to feed him burgers, haha! He'll probably never want anything else again after we give him one
But that all makes sense, we'll look into the chicken food as well.
Also SO SORRY for such an oversight! Here you go... we did a little photoshoot outside this weekend (It was 70 degrees in Chicago - he loved it)! His Instagram is @handsome.holden
Love,
Mel, Katie, and Holden
Okay...all better now! Got my smilin' Holden fix!!! Such a handsome boy!
Made my day! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thanks...and you're forgiven! 🙂
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!
How does he do with things around his body? Is he still wearing that compression thing? I'm wondering if the compression thing is making him not want to eat. My pug Maggie HATED anything around her chest- including a loose fitting shirt, it really changed her personality. Just a thought.
He is a stunning pup! Glad to hear he is doing well otherwise.
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
Your dog makes me wish I had an Instagram! SO handsome!!!!
My dog is CRAZY for pumpkin ... the canned kind, plain, not for pie. It's also a great source of fiber, so good for keeping things "regular". Maybe try mixing it in with the kibble? Or low fat cottage cheese? Or some warm chicken broth to entice him? Maybe cook up some lean ground beef/chicken/turkey and mix a bit in with his food. Do you normally feed him once a day? Twice? Leave food down all the time?
I am blessed in that Izzy ALWAYSSSS eats. In fact, after her knee surgery on one of her remaining legs this past fall, I'm pretty sure I brought her back from the brink of pain killer OD with a bowl of food! It's funny but not funny but nonetheless true.
Even though my fatty dog is the Original Chowhound, I used all of the aforementioned "tips" as ways to hide medicine in Izzy's meal. 🙂
Let us know how he's doing!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Holden!! Now we get to follow you here, as well as on IG! (@Laurenb4c)
Welcome buddy. Glad you found this resource. Always good to see your smiling face.
My quad-ped, Sammy has always been a picky eater, as well. I found that even just adding water to her regular food makes her eat right away. We've also been adding boiled chicken to Aspen (the tripawds) food for some extra healthy stuff and that seems to go over VERY well. Good luck and keep us posted!
-Lauren & Aspen (Sammy & Andy, too!)
If Holden is still on any meds, that could be messing with his appetite. And as others have said, once the sutures are removed, he should start to perk up, but my Otis continued tramadol in week 3. And silly as this sounds, my Otis was very happy when we removed the T-shirt. He hadn't seemed to mind it, but really loved being "naked."
By the way, we are in the SW suburbs of Chicago.
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.
lauren4c said
Holden!! Now we get to follow you here, as well as on IG! (@Laurenb4c)
Welcome buddy. Glad you found this resource. Always good to see your smiling face.
My quad-ped, Sammy has always been a picky eater, as well. I found that even just adding water to her regular food makes her eat right away. We've also been adding boiled chicken to Aspen (the tripawds) food for some extra healthy stuff and that seems to go over VERY well. Good luck and keep us posted!-Lauren & Aspen (Sammy & Andy, too!)
Hey, Lauren, Aspen, Sammy, and Andy!
So glad we've now connected on all channels 🙂
These are additional great ideas. We've had some luck with the chicken. He literally pulls it out and scrapes the kibble off his tongue with his teeth and spits it out while still eating the chicken. It's amazing to the point that I'm almost not event mad.
Izzy's tips are fantastic too, thank you!
I think the compression shirt definitely "dulls" him as he's pretty perky when nakie. Hi, Chicago friends!
Thank you all for all of these helpful tips. We will continue trying them as his appetite is still not where we want it, but he is DEFINITELY getting closer to being back to his normal self, which is so excited to see. The other night, we went on our longest post-op walk so far and he had no problems. Just cruising around like he owned the place.
Round one of chemo is also officially done and he's doing great there too! I'll post some more pics when I get them online.
Thank you all again, we'll let you know what food item turns out to be the winner. Right now, it's chicken!
xo
Mel, Katie, Holden!
HOLDEN!!!! He did it agai !!! Your human didnit again!! He had the audacity to post without including a picture of your handsome adorable self!!! Okay, we'll let it slide since it is such a good update and that makes us happy! 🙂 🙂
Keep holding out for chicken Holden! Oh, your humans might try Fresh Pet. It's in the refrigerator section in a lot of stores. Whole Foods carries it too. It has a lot of chicken, as well as other good stuff. My dogs loooove it as a topper.
Hugs to all!
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!
Gosh, he's gorgeous. He really is GORGEOUS! And the blue/green of his top sets off his colouring perfectly. I realise this probably isn't your prime concern just at the moment, but still... some things just need to be said. You know if my Meg wasn't spayed, and on another continent, well...
I have very little useful to contribute, just wanted to pass on our best wishes, and also the paté tip. Liver paté works well for us in getting medication down. Just stick the pill or capsule in the middle of a big blob, and down it goes no questions asked. Hope this might be helpful. Meg never had a problem with eating, but she would spit out her meds, and the paté worked brilliantly. (By the way, you're not mixing tramadol in with his food, are you? I only ask because... we did. And then I wondered why she just spat it straight out. Tramadol is terribly bitter)
Anyway, all best to you and tell that Holden (is that after Holden Caulfield?) to stop playing with with his food. It's bad manners.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
megstamum said
Gosh, he's gorgeous. He really is GORGEOUS! And the blue/green of his top sets off his colouring perfectly. I realise this probably isn't your prime concern just at the moment, but still... some things just need to be said. You know if my Meg wasn't spayed, and on another continent, well...I have very little useful to contribute, just wanted to pass on our best wishes, and also the paté tip. Liver paté works well for us in getting medication down. Just stick the pill or capsule in the middle of a big blob, and down it goes no questions asked. Hope this might be helpful. Meg never had a problem with eating, but she would spit out her meds, and the paté worked brilliantly. (By the way, you're not mixing tramadol in with his food, are you? I only ask because... we did. And then I wondered why she just spat it straight out. Tramadol is terribly bitter)
Anyway, all best to you and tell that Holden (is that after Holden Caulfield?) to stop playing with with his food. It's bad manners.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
You are too sweet! I'll let him know - it goes right to his head. Ah, what could have been!
The paté is a great tip, seriously. We'll definitely be trying that as well. Meds are done for right now, but it will also likely help with him eating his kibble. We were doing the tramadol with food. That wasn't too bad actually when we smothered it in a blob of PB because it was such a tiny pill compared to others.
I'll make sure he knows to tighten up his etiquette (and yes, Holden Caulfield - our angsty teen, who knew he'd fit the moniker so well)!
Thanks for the tips!
Mel, Katie, and Holden
1 Guest(s)
