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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My sweet, active, otherwise healthy 9 year-old Doberman was diagnosed a week ago with osteosarcoma in his left shoulder. We were sent to WSU School of Veterinary Medicine for more testing, and even though the CT scan showed two small spots of cancer in one lung we went through with the amputation. Surgery was yesterday morning, and I get to bring him home tomorrow -- in 12 hours in fact! I'm practically counting the minutes! 
I've actually had a three-legged dog before and know how agile, amazing and extra adorable they are, but I didn't have my other one immediately post-op. Also, because of the mets they didn't want to wait on the chemo. He got his first chemo treatment today so they can monitor him tonight. He has a wonderful pet acupuncturist, and I will call her next week to update her and see when I can begin taking him for acupuncture and herbal remedies.
Bottom line: I don't know what to expect when I bring Silas home, or how I can best help him learn to adjust to tripawdness.
I'm also VERY interested in cancer fighting nutrition. Currently he eats Nature's Domain salmon and sweet potato kibble enhanced with homemade chicken and vegetables.
Can you point me to already existing articles or threads I can read? I would so appreciate it!
Love,
Silas's mom Carla
Welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for moderation.
I'm sorry, I can't post any links right now, I have a sketchy connection.
But on the main page look for the eBooks, and Jerry's Required Reading List
. And there is tons of information on diet and supplements.
I'll check back later and provide links if I can, hopefully other members will come by with more info for you.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Carla!
Sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. My dog's amputation was done on Monday. I took her home just hours after her surgery was complete. Her vet did not offer over night care. But he said she would be fine at home with me. She was fine! But I think I took it harder than she did. One friend on here told me a true statement: "No matter how prepared we think we are, our hearts never are". When you see your precious Silas tomorrow, give him all your love as you would normally do , because that's really all he wants. It's obvious you are such a good mom to him!
I don't have much experience with osteosarcoma, but most people here do. And their help will be invaluable to you in the next coming days. Keep in touch with us here with any questions at all!
I'll be thinking of you and Silas in the next coming days!
--Hugs to you--
Samantha and Dog Abbee
Hi Silas and Carla!
If one has to be on this journey, there is no better place to be than here!! You are not alne! We are all family here and we get the connection between yo nad Silas like no others can.
And kudos to yoj and yor veeri ary teamfor proceedng with amputation. It wasn't too long ago that manh vets wouldnt operate if there were lung mets. Fortu ately that has changed. They now realize that many' many dogs can get extended time with QUALITY!! And quae is what it's all about!
Silas will now be pain free and he will have more tummy rubs, more ear scratches, more treats, more lovng and more spoilng thatn you ever dreamed possible!
Clearly you are committed to giving Silas the best possible chance to beat the odds like so many dogs here have done! And now he has us as his fan club and cheering sectin!
Search nutrition, holistic, dog cancer diet, etc. here. You will find tons of info. Other comuter savvy people can give you "links".
For now though, let's get Silas home!! When you pick him up, don't even loo, at his incision site...just look into his eyes (smewhat druggy eyes), kiss him and hug him and praise the heck ot of him!!
I can tell you every dog's recovery is different..."ge erally" larger dogs have a little slower recovery...but not always! My Happy Hannah, a 123 lb. Bull Mastiff, had a somewhat rough recovery.....lots of crying and whining' restlessness, etc. She did not sleep for the first nineteen hours and just seemed miserable! I had NOT joined this site yet and was completelu unprepared for what to expect! For the first two weeks' I could not believe what I had done TO my dog! Once I joned this site' six days after the amputation, I was supplrted by evdryone here and learned more from this commity than I evdr could have from the surgeron! They
roised me she would get better.....and she did!
Happy Hannah and I just celebrated her NEW YEAR AMPUVERSARY and movng forward (knock on wood) It was THE BEST DECISION EVER!!! It took about two weeks or so before I realized I did this FOR my Happh Hannah...not to her!! Our tkme together ks sacred...a true gift and we treasure every blissful moment!!
You'l be amazed at how well Silas will get around on three legs. Yo already have nsight nto that..... and good for you for adoptng a tripawd!! They are sooooo remarkable and resilient!!
If you jave jardwoods, you'll want to get non-slip scatter rugs for traction and raised fod and water bowls...If younjave a lot of stairs Silas has t go up and down, you may wat to build a ramp.
"m sorry, I know I'm rambling, I'm kinda' tired and, on top of that, my typing is atrocious.! At least this wil give you a touchof fo. u til others chime in!
I will advise this......B R E A T H E.....and stock up on'lots of chocolate!!
You are a WONDERFUL advocate for Silas!
Sendngyou lots of hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 Carla,
Sally has already said everything that I would have.....carpets on hardwood, raised food and water dishes.....and he may need help in and out of the house for a day or so when he has to "do his business" so a sling (towel or modified bag) may be useful.
The first two weeks may be a bit of a roller coaster while Silas adjusts to being a tripawd and the meds that he will need while he recovers but, as you know, after that he will amaze you with his ability to adapt to his new reality.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
I don't have any more to add, but wanted to let you know I was thinking about you guys today! Just remember each day gets a little bit better 🙂
{{Hugs}}
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Hi there and welcome, I hope you have a great reunion with Silas today. Sorry about the diagnosis but rest assured many dogs make those prognosis odds look so silly, and they go on to really make the predictions look foolish!
Everyone here has given you terrific advice, I'll just add that I encourage you to check out the Tripawds e-books Library for great information about recovery and staying strong and fit on 3 legs. And Jerry's Required Reading List is another great resource too.
We have quite a few members in your part of the country, be sure to put a call-out in Tripawd Parties to arrange a springtime get-together!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you sooooooooo much, guys! I'm finally on the computer after a long, full and wonderful day with my boy. He's sleeping soundly on the couch on a fuzzy fleece blankey, and I'm just so grateful to have him HOME! I'll update more tomorrow. This mama needs to rest too.
Hugs,
Carla and Silas
SILAS IS HOME! YAAAAAAY!
Let us know when he has his first pee and first poop! We celebrate anything around here!!
HUGS!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Awww yay! Glad he's home, hope you had a good night and a lazy day together.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi there! So glad your boy is home! Stay connected here, this site was a lifesaver for the first two weeks we had Cody home. It's such a roller coaster and everyone here will celebrate your victories with you! Before we brought Cody home I wish I would have known how little sleep we would be getting for two weeks... but it was worth all those sleepless nights to finally have our sweet boy back without pain! This site has tons of nutritional info... also dogcancerdiet.com has alot of good stuff!
Good luck!
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
Thank you SO MUCH, you guys!
Silas had a great night, lots of good deep sleep on the little couch which he seems to prefer now. I slept on the floor next to him and gotta admit, this mattress-in-the-living-room configuration is fantastic! He's getting around the house (first floor only) better and better, and figuring out he prefers to take the stairs two at a time. He still likes his usual loop + area in the yard -- no shortcuts will do. He's drinking plenty of water and pottying just fine -- had his first little poop this morning since before surgery! It happened accidentally (oopsie) while he was laying down but I don't even care -- just happy to see even a little poopy!
The best news of all is . . . HE ATE! I pulled out all the stops this morning and told him he wouldn't enjoy Mama's IV as much as the hospital's so he'd better eat something. Tender bite by tender bite he ate a whole hamburger patty! I'm sure the chemo is making him nauseous and from what I've read not eating is normal but of course it worries me. I have some fish in the freezer that I'm going to fix for him this afternoon. He loooooves fish.
Will his appetite return in between chemo treatments?
He's back on the little couch, resting and watching me. Baby sister Ramona is away at an all-day playdate, so it's just me and my boy and a quiet house. The sun is out and I have lots of research to do into anti-cancer diets. Feeling immense + overwhelming gratitude for the constant stream of support, prayers and love. We need it all!
Hugs,
Carla & Silas
Yay for accidental poopies and eating some food! Wooohooo!!!! Sounds like the best kinda weekend possible at this stage in the game.
His appetite will come back in full force, especially with yummy foods like hamburger. Try not to worry. I hope he enjoyed the fish.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Is he taking anything for nausea? My vet gave me Cerinia. Also when his appetite was still off, she prescribed Mirtzapine for appetite enhancement. I also found , like you have , that they seem to eat better hand fed.. His appetite should come back. Another thing that was suggested to me that seemed to work was, put a couple of pieces of whatever in front of him and walk away. I think that sometimes, I was getting so upset by his not eating, that I just made it worse. Finally , my vet sent me home with a canine recovery food. Looks and smells like cat food, but he liked it. Hang in there! Lori & Ty
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Good job Silas!! Hey,poopmg amd peeing....that calls for a YAAAAAAAY! And eating and driking too? Yeah, another YAAAAAAAY!!
Yu'll have someups and downs the next week or two. Just stay connected tomus and we'll helpyou through it.
His avatar ictureis adorale!! How 'bout posting some more pics??
Get some rest ifpossible! Yeah, I have a mattress on the floor too! Hapoy Hannah just can't make it up the stairs...no problem...I can sleep downstairs with her. My little "sitting area" co sists mosty of a mattress, two extra lare Big Barker Dog Beds, a chair snd a few other things. But the "decor" is 95% DOG!
Great update! Keeep 'em coming!
Hugs and love!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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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