Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone,
Here's the facebook page I just created for Gatsby. It has some pics of him 🙂 They help to portray his size lol
https://www.fac.....Wolfhound/
An update for day 5. Gatsby is home and getting him in the car was interesting but not impossible! He's a lot more confident that I thought he would be.
He has gone to the toilet outside - the poo took four days before he felt he was able... we knew he needed to go because it was like a horse with bad gas for a bit there... lol
He seems quite confident on three legs - running around, turning, moving backwards which is very necessary for his size. He literally has to mostly be able to back up in rooms to get out or in a passageway at home. So he's using his legs in a different way - the two back legs are far more independent of each other now.
I bought some non-slip rubber for the tiles and he has decided to follow the path around the house which is great.
He's really into me lying next to him and he is putting his head into my arms and just sighing a lot. I think he is very relieved to be home.
The biopsy will come back at the end of the week but they are thinking osteosarcoma.
Every day now is a gift. This is Gatsby's second life and hopefully a better one that he would have had as an urn.
I'll keep updating. The only niggle I have is just how many people instantly said I should have him put down because a dog weighing in at 180 pounds would NOT be able to walk on three legs.
It wasn't true. If it hadn't been for tripawds and all the comments here and support, I may not have gone ahead with the amputation... my next step will be to get some film of him running around so that other Irish Wolfhound owners can see that they are OKAY on three legs.
love you guys
Juliette xxx
Gatsby is beautiful! It sounds like he is doing really, really well. One little caution - he should only be going for short potty walks (hops) at this point. He's a big boy and you don't want him to overdo it this early in his recovery. I'm so glad you decided to amputate - I am celebrating three years with my boy who lost his leg to osteosarcoma. And plenty of people told me not to spend the money since I was only going to have 3 - 6 months with him (I didn't do chemo). So both our puppers are teaching people things! Yay for you and Gatsby!
That is just wonderful news! I am so glad his recovery is continuing to be smooth! I had to get a new phone (2 actually) over the last couple of days and have been frantically getting the new one back into data updates, etc.
I am going to second lawcat's motion go keep Gatsby quiet... please 
That seems to be real key for the larger breeds that seem to have a tendency to develop a seroma
a bit easier than the smaller pups. Not to say that smaller dogs don't, but all that extra weight and wear on the incision area can fill with fluid if you are not careful and then it can set back the healing process.
Until sutures are out, Gatsby should only be resting, eating, drinking, eliminating, and taking meds. Cuddles with his head close to you are totally allowed 
I know this may be difficult with him seeming to feel better, but I have seen it happen too many times to not warn you about it.
Keep up the good work, and we would LOVE to see some pictures, I am dying to see your beautiful boy
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Ohhhhh!!!! I was able to click on his Facebook link and see him! (I don't Facebook, lol) He is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! OMD what a gentle giant
Thank you!!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
OMD!! THOSE PICTURES ARE SPECTACULAR 😁😁😁 I'm in love!! Smooching the screen trying to kiss that adorable mug!!
Gatsby is showing big dogs lofe kn three is s pieve of cake! Shhh....quite frankly, I'm astounded at how well this gentle giant is doing so very early in recovery!! Good job!!
Hugs
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!
WOOOOHOOOO! Oh my gosh it is wonderful to start my day with this Gatsby update AND photos! Such great news!
Would it be OK if I put a couple of Gatsby's photos in our gallery (which is offline now but will be back up soon)? It's so helpful for others and well, he's just a handsome doggie who should be seen in as many places as possible 😉
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So glad he is doing well❤❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
juliette2019 said
please do and thank you for all of your kind messages!
Pawesome! Thank you so much and please do let us know how he's doing. We don't see Wolfies too often around here, they are such gentle giants!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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