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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Welcome Laurie and Ronnie!
I know how heavy your heart must be after losing Randi. I'm sure Ronnie's is too.
I'm so glad you were able to get a good doctor to determine what was wrong with Ronnie. That is so darned frustrating and to add insult to injury after losing Randi.
I haven't been through cancer so I can't offer any advice. But I just wanted you to know that we are here to help and support you.
Best of luck for a speedy recovery!
Comet's Mom
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.
Thank you comet's mom. I appreciate your wonderful thoughts and God bless you all and!
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
Jerry, thank you very much. I will get that done and order her new harness tomorrow. Ronnie is loving her new diet too! I just cant say enough how much we love this dog. Some people think we are strange but it is how we feel.
I spoke with my vet today and everything is go for tomorrow morning about 9:30am EST. I will stay at the office until I can see her. She will stay the night there and I will go pick her up Friday morning. I will keep everyone posted on her surgery and recovery. I dont know what I would have done without all of you and your support. Thank you so very much and God bless you all!!
Laurie and Ronnie
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
Hi Laurie,
Just wanted to wish Ronnie good luck for tomorrow's surgery! 
Keep us posted... and try to get some sleep tonite... you may not get much sleep for the next 2 weeks after surgery!
Sending good thoughts your way!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Thank you Jakesmom! I will be glad to get this behind me and her! She has been is such pain that she moans through the night and it kills us to know she is in pain. I think the hardest part will be going in for the first time after her surgery to see her leg missing and her not knowing what the heck is going on...........But I will get through it. Thank you all for your kind words and support, this is a great place to be at tripawds........
Laurie.......Ronnie's mom
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
Ronnie good luck tomorrow ! I was really afraid to see Tasha for the first time I thought I would completely fall apart but I didn't. When she came hopping into us wiggling just seeing my beautiful girl standing there in front of me I felt so grateful. Yes the incision was huge and the first two weeks were very challenging but hopefully you will get through recovery without any complications and Ronnie will soon be a happy pain free girl again.
My thoughts will be with you and Ronnie tomorrow.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
Best of luck to Ronnie tomorrow, I pray all goes well. We will keep our paws crossed for you ... and looking forward to hearing about Ronnnie for a long, long time to come around here!
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
You guys can definitely get through this. Ronnie, we're rootin for ya! Good luck!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Laurie,
I'm just getting up to speed on your post and first of all, wanted to wish you the best tomorrow for Ronnie's surgery. We all know what you're going through and how stressful this can be. In our case, we didn't have the surgery until 2 months after Mackenzie's diagnosis because in the interim, we did radiation, which didn't work and then had no other option but to do the amputation.
You've definitely come to the right place to share your special story. As others have mentioned, the first 2 weeks of recovery are the most difficult. There will be moments when you feel like you made the wrong decision. Whatever you do, don't lose hope. We are all proof that amputation was the best decision we could have made for our tripawds, as rough as the recovery period could be for some of us. The pain meds seem to have a real effect on their recovery so once you're able to take Ronnie off those, you'll see dramatic improvements. But it's real balancing act with these pain meds so something to be aware of.
Mackenzie started her 1st chemo (carboplatin) treatment after 3 weeks - typical is 2 weeks. We've already gone thru 5 chemo treatments (the new protocol being 5 - 6 treatments in total for carboplatin) and now she's going on 5 1/2 months since her surgery and doing great (she just had her 3 month chest x-ray and everything looks good.) So don't worry too much about the start of surgery from the time of diagnosis -Mackenzie's living proof that time doesn't matter sometimes (if that makes sense.)
You are in our thoughts and prayers (I think that's great that you got a statue for your garden!) I bet Randi will be right there with Ronnie so you won't have to worry too much. We will be keeping our paws crossed that everything goes well!
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Hey everyone, update on Ronnie......
I received the call from the vet this evening. Ronnie came through the surgery with flying colors!! Her breathing, blood count, color of her gums and everything was perfect. They removed her leg and joint but left her scapula. Her humorous was what had the tumor and that is being sent out for biopsy, to OSU I am sure for their study. She is resting comfortably now and they are transporting her to the all night clinic and we can pick her up tomorrow evening sometime. I will call the all night clinic here in a while to see how she is doing. I will talk with the vet in the morning to see how she is tomorrow and when we can go get her.
Thanks for all your prayers, I just wanted her out of pain and comfortable and she is now.
Ronnie's momma
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
YEAH RONNI....way to go!!!!! Now get lots of rest so you will be ready for all the treats and lovin' coming your way starting tomorrow.....
and your mamma better be going to bed REALLY early tonight...........
keep us posted
Thank you Ronnie's momma for updating us!
Yip, Yip, Yippy Skippy!!!
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.
Great news. I remember what a relief it was to get that first update from the clinic. Trouble's surgery was the day before Thanksgiving, the vet tech called me at 6PM that evening to tell me everything was well. I was pretty shocked to get an update that late the day before a holiday.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Good for Ronnie. I too remember the day Catie's surgery and forgetting to breathe properly most of the day until the surgeon phoned.
Hang in there. Sending lots of healing wishes!
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Yipee! That's wonderful news! Keep us posted and remember we're cheering you and Ronnie on here.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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