Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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it is Wednesday - surgery was last Thursday . Maddie is off the Gabapentin and on 1 1/2 tramadol every 6-8 hours ,metacam and adequan injections 2x a week.
the house is full of non-skid pads and yoga mats - when I open the refriderator maddie gets up and walks to the kitchen-.. she is really figuring things out . I am so encouraged ! she walked over to her chair and looked at it and nudged it with her nose - and looked at it and went and laid down and did it again ..and then she went into my bedroom and climbed up on my bed - (okay its a mattress and box springs , but still ...... !! ) she will figure out the chair soon .
she has an intake with the physical therapist next Thursday . I am still waiting for the biopsy report .
Maddie is tired but willing . she was tired before the surgery . She is a couch-potato anyway -- so when she regains her strength she will be up to her quality of life .. I know this can change - it is early -but I am so hopeful now .Thankyou everyone so much for being there and giving me encouragement . I needed it right away and you were totally there for me ..... hopefully healing will continue ,,,, She is an amazing dog - but I know that cancer is a terrible disease ,,,
I'm so glad to hear that Maddie is doing so great! Sounds like she's got the hang of things! She is going to improve and amaze you every day. These little milestones like getting excited about the fridge, climbing into bed and thinking about getting on the chair may not seem like much but these are huge steps towards recovery!
If she is anything like Lily, she will continue to tire easily for the next few weeks or so. It takes some time to recover from surgery and adjust to the extra work required on all the other legs. And that tripawd pace is a lot faster so that will wear you out too 
You're seeing a physical therapist so it sounds like you're on the right track!
You're doing a great job and it's only 6 days post-op so keep your chin up! Maddie will get better every day. Enjoy how happy you are for her when she figures out how to do something new (like get on that darn chair)! Those are some of my happiest memories from the early days of my tripawd journey with Lily.
Lily the Great Dane (she was actually a lot more than just "Great") joined our family as an ornery puppy on December 20, 2005 and changed our lives forever. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in early May of 2014 and her right rear leg was amputated on May 8, 2014. She sailed through 5 rounds of Carboplatin and 15 weeks of Pallladia. She hopped on 3 legs like she was born to it and continued to fight cancer with grace, valor and an abundant sense of humor...and always a *giant* smile on her face. Lily had two small nodules on her lungs but was brought short by a brain tumor in late December, 2014. Lily earned her wings on December 28, 2014 and we miss her terribly every day. http://lilyt.tripawds.com
Sounds like she is doing great! I slept on the floor with Trouble for a while, and then we graduated to the mattress on the floor. I didn't put my bed back together for 27 1/2 months. We do some strange things for our heart dogs! Also had carpet runners down all the hallways and through the tiled kitchen.
Keep up the good work Miss Maddie. We are looking forward to all your new adventures.
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.
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR MADDIE....AND MOM!!!!! Wevew got some sparkle coming back, slowly but surely!!!!
As already said, enjoy and embrace every single victory! Continue to stay in the moment, in the present! Do not waste one second worrying about the tomorrows! That's how the stupid piece of crap disease tries to take over completely....it tries to rob you of your time together NOW! And you are too strong to let that happen!!! Maddie certainly isn't worried about a thing and could care less about what any ole' report says! She's getting her mojo back and that's alk that matters!
Keep loving, keep spoiling...Maddie loves it when you do that!
Love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
So pleased you are starting to see some light at the end of the dark tunnel...live in those moments & really celebrate them in your heart & your tears of joy! After all those tears of heartbreaks need to be replaced with joyful tears now here forwards!! 
Its such a relief right seeing these moments...a magical spark that makes us realise that it will be all ok!
Keep going Maddie!!
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