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
Awwww what a handsome dude. We are big GSD fans in this household, give him a smooch from us.
I'm sorry about the Pred side effects, and that your vet didn't tell you about that. Grr. Nothing like taking away the pride of a GSD when an accident happens. One thing you can do to minimize those incidents is to take his water up early in the evening, at least an hour or two before you go to bed. Our vet advised us to do the same and it helped.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMD! What a HANDSOME boy!!! So glad you were able to share his "wonderfulness" with us!!!
Yeah, that Pred. will definitely increase his water intake...AND urine Out take!! Should increase his appretie too! May make him pant a little too. But it can work wonders in edpanding quality time and that makes it worth a little puddle here and there!
Keep us posted! You are a great Dad!.....and Rowdy knows it!
Love his name! How did you decide to name him.that?
Now go give him a treat and watch his tail wag! And Rowdy! Stay awy from.bees! You don't need bee stings on top of everything else!
Sally and Happy Hannah and My Pal Myrtle
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!
About his name: Rowdy was a rescue. He had been in four homes before finding his forever one with us. He was about eight or 10 months old at the time, and his name was Whistler. I thought that was an interesting name, but I wanted to start training him for search-and-rescue, which I was into as a volunteer with my female GSD Pepper. As a purely practical matter, "Whistler" doesn't have much "pop" to it when you're working with a dog in a wide-area wilderness setting.
By this time, Whistler had chewed the corners off of our mattress and box springs. He had unraveled a wall-to-wall carpet from the very center of the room. A modular chain-link kennel I got for him at Lowe's -- 10 feet by 10 feet by 6 feet high -- contained him for about two seconds. I'm not kidding. This is why he had so many homes in a short period of time -- nobody could handle him. Except for the woman I got him from, and her other dogs wouldn't accept him into the family, so she decided to look for another home.
So when I decided he needed a new name for his SAR job, he had already earned it. He was a rowdy boy.
We haven't been active in SAR for several years. I lost Pepper to a genetic disease that affects the kidneys about five years ago. She lived a good bit longer than the traditional vets predicted. I'm expecting the same from my boy Rowdy, who is snoozing at my feet this very moment.
Rowdy's Dad
FIRSTLY, I love your positive attitude about extending Rowdy's quality time you did Pepper!!
Not only do you now have the whole Tirpawd Universe cheering for you, you also have a veryspecial Guardian Angel named Pepper watching over you and Rowdy!! AND another powerful Guardian Angel...GSD Guardian Angel JERRY!!! I'll let my Happy Hannah Bull Mastiff Guardian Angel know she needs to pitch in too...along with all our Tipawd Hero Guardian Angels.....now, that's a while lot of protection your Rowdy boy has around him...plus your love,!!
ROWDY! You sure did EARN your name!!! You define "Rowdy"! You knew EXACTLY what you were doing by making sure you got this forever home! You have a great advocate!
SAR...what a wonderful gift to offer! Thank you and Pepper and Rowdy too!
Keep us updated and let us know when you come up with a plan that feels "right"for Rowdy...and the "right" vet who supports your approach!
Thanks for sharing some more of who Rowdy is! He just sounds delightful!
Sally and Happy Hannah and My Pal Myrtle
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!
Oh Rowdy! Boy you sure remind me of a number of other German Shepherds (namely one wild Wyatt Ray and his buddies The Oaktown Pack!). It just took a while before you made it to that home you were destined for, the only one with some very special people and doggie who totally understood your essence. What a gift my friend, you scored with Pepper and your humans. Anyone who can laugh about all of your antics now, well that's one very special person!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Rowdy's latest challenge is an infection in his elbow. The leukemia is in remission for now, but the prednisone therapy suppresses the immune system. This infection was a big scare because the swelling made me fear the osteosarcoma was returning in his remaining front leg. With antibiotics and warm compresses, the elbow seems to be healing pretty good, but the infection is in a bad place, so it still could be a nightmare. We'll see what the vet has to say tomorrow.
I made the photo below a little while ago as Rowdy was resting at my feet. Growltiger, one of our two cats, came to lie by him. Both cats bonded with Rowdy as kittens and they are both clearly concerned about him. After I posted this photo on Facebook, Tiger snuggled in closer and gently placed a paw directly on Rowdy's infected elbow. I've never seen anything like it; it brought tears to my eyes.
Rowdy's Dad
Awww, this picture melts my heart.........I have a few pics like this of my precious Polly and kitty Autumn......my Autumn still misses my Polly so much, but nowhere near what I still do.....
I am so glad Rowdy is in remission and I know he will get through this new bump in the road with his infection. He surely is a beautiful GSD, but then, most are! My family had a few when I was growing up, so they are very special to me.....I know it's difficult, but try not to worry too much about this current infection, especially if it is healing well. Easier said than done, for sure, but if he is doing well overall, live in the "Be More Dog " moments and enjoy each day with him.
Please keep us updated on handsome Rowdy, and what the vet says tomorrow.
Keeping you and him in my thoughts,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
And it beings tears to my eyes too! Lovely, lovely bond! I.think Growltiger just may have some healing power in those paws!!!
Actually a pretty darn good update.....remission...infection healing...clearly Rowdy is thoroughly enjoying all the loving and spoiling and is not worried about a single.thing!
Keep on stayingi in the moment just like Rowdy.is! You are a great team!! Growltiger included!!!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Ohhhhhh Rowdy! You and Growltiger melt my heart, this is so sweet.
Sorry to hear about the infection, I would have freaked when that first happened. Sounds like you are staying very strong, which is fabulous. Have you talked to your vet about ways to help boost his immune system? We are big believers in K9 Immunity when coping with cancer and I'm wondering if it can be used with prednisone? You might want to call them and ask then talk to your vet about it.
Give him a smooch from us, let us know what the vet says.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Such a beautiful picture of Rowdy with Growltiger. It's wonderful seeing the bonds that our fur babies have with each other.
I'm sorry to hear that Rowdy is dealing with an infection but I'm sure the vet will get it straightened out and Rowdy will be on the mend. It's wonderful that the leukemia is in remission. Prednisone is a wonderful med for some problems but it does wipe out the immune system to fight off infections. My Leland was on Prednisone for a short time for an autoimmune disorder until we had to put him to sleep because the ACL went out in his other knee (he was a hind leg amp).
Keep getting better Rowdy and sending you healing thoughts, you're one beautiful boy!!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
1 Guest(s)
