Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Just wanted to let everyone know that our 5 year old Bullmastiff Maddie is doing great! She is at University of Penn for her third chemo treatment today. Her blood work has been good and she has only gotten sick once. She is just over two months post-op from having her right front leg amputated. She had a little setback from an incisional infection, but healed up great. Last weekend we drove Maddie & her sister to see the ocean. She hopped right to the waters edge and plopped down in the wet sand, no water for her though! She loves to go for little walks, lay out back and soak up the sun and lives for her rides in the car! Everyone at University of Penn has fallen in love with her and discovered what we already knew, that she is a very special girl. We have given them pictures and video of her and they are actually taking more video of her today to reassure other pawrents of giant breed dogs that giant breed dogs can do well with amputation. We even told them they could give out our number and/or email address in case anyone has any questions. Maddie is such a happy, loving girl, we love her so much and just pray that she continues to do well.
kathymauger said:
We have given them pictures and video of her and they are actually taking more video of her today to reassure other pawrents of giant breed dogs that giant breed dogs can do well with amputation.
Thanks for the photo, we've added Maddie to our Giant Breeds Tripawds gallery. We'd love to see some of those videos too! And thank you for being such wonderful Tripawd ambassadors. Together we teach the world that it's better to hop on three legs than to limp on four. Here's a link to some Tripawds cards and an awareness flier that you can use to help you spread the word.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She's beautiful. Hopefully the chemo side effects will be minimal for her all the way through.
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.
Dear Shanna & Trouble, Thanks so much! We will continue to give updates over the next 5 weeks while she continues her chemo. 3 treatments down, 3 to go. 
So glad to hear Maddie is doing well. Titan my bullmastiff also had a front leg amputated. People underestimate these big breeds but they can do it.....
Hope to hear more updates
Heidi and Angel Titan
What a beautiful dog. Glad to hear so far so good. 3 down, 3 to go- we send you best wishes for continued success.
You go Maddie!
Keep us posted.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Dear Heidi & Angel Titan,
You are so right, bullmastiffs and other giant breed dogs are definitely underestimated! Maddie is still doing great, she has completed her 4th round of chemotherapy and only has 2 to go - May 29th & June 12th. We are so glad that we didn't listen to the orthopedic vet that we were referred to before we took her to U of P, he said she'd be gone within 3 months and there was nothing we could do for her. She showed him!
How long has it been since Titan's surgery? How does he do getting around? We discovered over the weekend that Maddie does better when we take her to a park then when we just walk her in our neighborhood (although she does love to visit with all the neighbors!) I guess the grass is better for her and she can stop and rest awhile and then continue on with her walk. Not to mention she probably loves all the new sights and smells!
We'll continue to post updates on Maddie, let us know how Titan does as well:)
Brad, Kathy & Maddie
Dear Seanne & Wrigley,
Thanks for your well wishes for our Maddie girl. We will continue to keep everyone posted. Her next chemo is on May 29th, that will be treatment #5.
How long has it been since Wrigley's surgery? How is he making out?
Brad, Kathy & Maddie
Unfortunately Wrlgely's developed lung mets after chemo round # 2 . We tried some chinese herbs after that, but the cancer was just too aggressive and we had to put Wrigley down at the end of March. It had spread to the base of her spine/brain and she could not support herself at all anymore. All of these things that were not normal.
Her surgery was Dec. 22- she was 4 years old- and the tumor was located on her shoulder- both her young age and the location of the tumor were against her favor from the get go. She put up a very good fight and taught us so much in her brave battle. I have absolutley no regrets with the journey we took. Every day was an extra blessing.
It was a very hard thing to let her go, and I still miss her terribly, but I know she runs pain free with all the other tripawd angels.
I love to hear about the tripawds that beat the odds, that give cancer the big boot- a win for the tripawd team always makes me smile and say YES!
So please givce Maddie a big hug from us and we wish you continued success.
Take care.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Dear Seanne,
I’m so sorry, to hear about Wrigley. At least now she is free from pain and running and playing with all the other angel doggies. I always take comfort in the loss of my other dogs when I read the Rainbow Bridge. I lost my lab 2 years ago and my white shepherd samoyed last June (both were from old age and other complications, but not cancer) I also lost a boxer I was in the process of adopting last July, she got sick before we could bring her home and it wound up being very advanced lymphoma and the vet couldn’t bring her out of the anesthesia. I also lost my brother the next day, July 8th. So I have really been praying for God to give me a lot more time with Maddie (she just turned 5 in March), I love her so much and just couldn’t bear to lose someone else I love right now.
I will keep you posted on Maddies progress and please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kathy
Kathy,
Good news for Maddie! Our English Mastiff Tazzie is almost 9 months out from surgery and chemo. She is having chest rads tomorrow to make sure that all is still well. We tried the Metronomic oral chemotherapy after standard IV chemo but had to stop after 6 weeks due to side effects (bladder infection). She is taking Artemisinin every other day and lots of antioxidants.
I'll bet that Maddie will do just fine. The only issues Tazzie has is lack of endurance and a little stiffness in her remaining shoulder. We are planning on starting acupuncture soon and chiropractic. We have given up going to the park since it is so hard for her to get around and it seems to just stress her out so she enjoys herself in our backyard. Tazzie is very big at 185# so hopefully Maddie won't have these issues!
Pam and Tazzie
Kathy
Titan had his amputation August 4th and we went through 5 chemos. We found out at his chemo didn't work around Thanksgiving. The cancer went to his lungs. 
The one blessing was January 5th late in the afternoon he was having trouble breathing and his gums were very pale so we said goodbye to him January 6th. He did great getting around. I trained him on a dog ramp to get in my Tahoe and still came to work with me as much as I could bring him.
I know Maddie will do well. I am glad to hear a happy update. I love the name Maddie we met another bullmastiff named Maddie years ago. She had a wonderful personality
Heidi and Angel Titan
Dear Pam and Tazzie,
We will be thinking of both of you tomorrow when Tazzie has her chest rads and praying everything comes out good. Tazzis is beautiful:) I love mastiffs, they are the most loving gentle giants:) Maddie was overweight and we put her on a diet last fall she started out weighing 140, by the time we found out she had cancer the end of January she weighted 128, probably lost a good 6 pounds from the amputation and is down to 118 now. Her regular vet doesn't want her to lose more than another 3 pounds. The oncologist suggested she lose more but I told her she was already down 22 pounds and that I wasn't comfortable having her lose any more weight until chemo is finished. She does have some endurance issues. To be honest, no one has really told me exactly how much activity she should have. She loves to go out for walks, we only let her go to the corner which is 4 houses down from us. She always stops for a rest on the way home and I just stand or sit with her and let her get back up at her own pace. She is still really strong!
Please keep me posted on Tazzie's progress!
Kathy & Maddie
Dear Heidi,
I'm so sorry to hear about Angel, my heart goes out to you, I have a big lump in my throat thinking about your loss. Take comfort that she is out of pain and running free on the other side of the rainbow bridge.
I will keep you posted on Maddie's progress. She does have a wonderful, loving personality. She is just a big bundle of love, always happy, the tail is always wagging and she always has lots of hugs and kisses for everyone! She truly is our child!
Thanks so much for your kindness!
Kathy & Maddie
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