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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That's awesome news.....couldn't hear a much better report from you!!
Suzie and Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
Sorry I am late welcoming you - we've had a bit of a crisis going on the last couple of days. Slim is a beautiful boy (as is Jake). The cancer diagnosis can really leave your head spinning and Lord knows that the recovery can be exhausting, but in the end it really is worth it even for our 'mature' dogs. Zeus was 11 at the time of amp and he took a bit longer recovering than some of the younger pups (didn't help that he strained his back about a week after amp and had to be on the pain meds for longer than normal). Although it was obvious shortly after surgery that he felt better w/out the painful leg, we didn't really see his true personality start to return until about a month and a half after surgery. By two months in he was back to his bouncy self. Hopefully Slim won't be so slow to return to normal, but don't worry if it takes a little while.
Good luck with the recovery!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
How's Slim today? My Dakota had his front leg amputated at CSU due to a massive soft tissue cancer. That was over 15 months ago. We lived in the mountains and he had no choice but to learn to navigate all sorts of hazards (dog door, tree branches, pine cones, rocks, etc.) and he did fine. In January we moved off the hill but got more stairs. He has to hop down 15 stairs to go do his business and then hop back up them to get inside again. He does fine with those, too. He's 10 and has arthritis in his remaining shoulder. Hopefully that will encourage you.
If you want to check in with a local person, send me a message.We're about an hour from Ft. Collins. I don't know if you're in Colorado or maybe even Wyoming (we have a Casper member). I'd be happy to meet sometime or answer questions. For most questions, the answers are: "Two weeks" (how long till he feels better?); "About 3 days but maybe up to 6" (how long till he poops?); "About 4 months" (when does the fur grow back?) and "Lots of throw rugs" (that one you probably can figure out!).
Keep us posted.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
thank you to everyone on this sight for your support! We brought slim home today and he seems to be doing well. the only trouble we are having is getting him to lay down. He is a very cautious dog and if something doesn't feel right or has caused pain he won't do it again. anytips would be greatly appreciated.
Zeus we are thinking about you and hope all is well.
Welcome home Slim!!!
I honestly don't have any advice for getting him to lay down. But I've been through many surgeries with dogs and I can tell you the first night home is always hell. a) they are just so loopy b) they are confused because they don't understand C) they don't want to just sleep
My Comet would cry all night, like a baby crying. And if I turned away, she'd get louder with her mouth wide open. It was hard to take the first time. But I learned something that worked - was just sitting close and talking to her about all of her favorite foods. She knew food words and she loved listening to all of favorite words. I offered treats but she didn't want any but she was calm when I told her about all of the cookies and donuts and treats she would get when she was better. It was the only thing that worked to calm her. And yes, I said "cookie" and "donut" a million times all night long until she she shut her eyes (4am)!
I hope it gets better soon. Healing wishes.
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.
That sounds normal - he's probably so loopy from the meds. I'm afraid I don't have any magic answers. Hopefully he'll get so tired he'll just crash.
Hope he's recovering well.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Thank you for the well-wishes! Glad to hear that surgery went well. Slim is probably a bit freaked out by the balance difference and, possibly feels a bit vulnerable because it's harder/slower to get up at this point. Although Zeus would lay down, he refused to lie on the surgery side for about a month. He finally got the hang of it and, in fact, is lying on that side right now. All these pups are different in their recoveries but eventually things fall into place.
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Slims doing great. no problems getting around, in fact we have to use a leash to keep him under control. we still have to physically help him lay down but the vets say that is pretty normal.
Hi Everyone,
This is Slim's Mom. We are amazed at how well Slim is doing after only 6 days Post Op. He rests comfortably on his futon bed, has a great appetite, is getting around well on 3 legs, and has figured out how to get up and lay down. The folks at Colorado State University Vet Oncology Center and our local vet, PetKare, in Steamboat Springs are amazing at what they do.
It was a very difficult decision to do the surgery and I want to thank this community for helping us get there. It absolutely made ALL the difference. I don't know if we would have gotten to this point without you all. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Slim's Life Time Bucket List:
Swim in the lake
Boat Rides on the Pontoon
Snow Baths
Chasing tennis balls
Keeping up with brother Jake (German Shepherd Monkey Butt)
Chasing birds
Fishing with Dad
Walks with Mom
Cross Country Ski with Mom
Pain free
Glad Slim is on the mend. Look forward to the pictures of Slim as he checks off his list.
Heather & Spirit Shadow
You are so very welcome!
Nice to hear Slim is doing so well! We think that is a marvelous bucket list! (Especially "keeping up with Monkeybutt brother Jake! - Tripawds Rule!)
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.
Sounds like a great update! And what a pawesome bucket list!
We'll look forward to updates as he checks items off the list.
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi Slim's Mom and Dad,
I'm glad Slim is recovering well!!
We are big on celebrations and treats around here, so we need to know as each item gets crossed off the list so we can pawty!!
Also each monthly ampuversary should be posted (treats yea!) as well as any other momentous accomplishment.
We usually celebrate first poop and pee after surgery- did we miss that already? We can have make up treats.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Slim,
Sorry I'm a bit late welcoming you. My mommy doesn't let me on her 'puter much, so I have to get on when she is not looking! I'm a chocolate lab too! I have OS like you and I had my left front leg amputated. No worries though because I can run faster than all my neighbor doggie friends and they have more legs than me!
I just celebrated my 19 Month Ampuversary yesterday, so don't worry about statistics....us doggies can't read anyway! Always remember that Tripawds Rule!!!
Sending lots of pawsitive thoughts and prayers for a super speedy recovery!
Hugs and chocolate labby kissses,
Charley (and my mommy, Ellen)
Charley's Blog: CHOCOLATE KISSES
DOB: 3-29-08, male chocolate lab
Dx: OSA L proximal humerus 10-19-10
Amputation: L front leg & scapula 10-28-10
Chemo: 5 rounds of Carboplatin
Video (12 weeks post amp):Tripaw Charley Playing
♥♥♥ Lots of supplements and love!!! ♥♥♥
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