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
Met with Dr. Cox at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists.....I was very impressed with the warmth of the entire staff there. What a group of caring people.
Anyway.....Shelby will undergo sx on Friday to remove her right front leg. She will stay at the hospital (staff there 24/7) until Monday. No pressure bandage planned, no drain planned. She was very thorough and did answer my questions as best she could.
I asked what the prognosis might be for a dog with clear chest radiographs and a FNA of the lymph nodes which did not show evidence of metastasis. She explained that when you're dealing with a STS, there are so many variables. I don't think we ever got a definitive answer on whether this might be a fibrosarcoma or another form of STS.
The foster coordinator from Shelby's rescue group took us down to the appointment this morning. She's already ordered all the post-op things we think we'll need, but I'm sure I'll be back here with questions.....just trying to rest up the next few days as I know sleep deprivation might be in the cards in the near future.
Thanks to all of you for answering my questions......stay tuned!
Offline
Sending crossed paws, pawsitive thoughts, good wishes and prayers your way.
Shelby, the P.P.
We will keep Shelby in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy uneventful recovery.   Â
Â
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
I'll be thinking of you and Shelby on Friday... Tampa Bay Vet Specialists are excellent!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Thanks everyone......I'm apprehensive. I have one golden who is a darling but she's a dingbat and her downfall is not picking up on other dogs' leave-me-alone ques. And my oldest golden has mobility issues and tends to stumble quite a bit. I just worry that she'll fall or slam into Shelby. My labbie girl seems to have that beautiful sixth sense and I have no concerns about her at all
Am I being a worry wart?
Pam and Shelby,
You both will be in our thoughts and prayers on Friday. We are hoping for a very successful procedure. Since I have been away for four weeks, I am not sure if someone has sent our usual suggestions to help prepare. If not, you can LINK to a previous posting from Miss Cherry. Either way, keep us informed.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
Â
Â
shelbysmom said:
Thanks everyone......I'm apprehensive. I have one golden who is a darling but she's a dingbat and her downfall is not picking up on other dogs' leave-me-alone ques. And my oldest golden has mobility issues and tends to stumble quite a bit. I just worry that she'll fall or slam into Shelby. My labbie girl seems to have that beautiful sixth sense and I have no concerns about her at all
Am I being a worry wart?
Â
I know what you mean, Pam.
My other two dogs are special need rescues....both homogenous albinos, deaf and blind in one eye (opposite eyes) and they aren't always watching where they're going........and, they too seem to not always receive the 'clue' from Kona to stay away.
However, it seems like they are getting much more attuned to Kona's new situation and they are getting better at 'paying attention'.
I think you'll find that they will clue in......
Yes, get all the sleep you can now. I got really exhausted/drained in the first couple weeks.
hugs to ya,
Holding all good thoughts for Shelby and you.
 Denise
Â
Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010Â Â Â Â Â Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !
***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***
                               We Love you so much Kona….always  Â
  Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)
Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)
Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.
I was surprised by how strange dogs, big, small and medium reacted to meeting Magic…none were overly pushing or tried to play hard…it was amazing, almost as if they knew he needed a little space…but he didn't have a pack member of the same species…just OJ.
My suggestions are as always….the Ruffwear harness is invaluable…ask your vet how soon you can use it (Magic had a bandage so we could use it immediately thank the Lord) and non skid runners for slippery places in the house and look to see how many steps for access out and in…I tried to put up ramps, but Magic actually preferred the stairs to ramps….
Good luck and keep us posted!
I was very impressed with the warmth of the entire staff
Â
Â
Staff!???  How cute!  We are just like you, nothing more! Well, we do have our Mod Pawd Squad but that's just so we can edit topics and mess with your mind! When you are totally sleep deprived, we'll really confuse you!
Â
All kidding aside - we are all worry warts! So, we are in the same boat together. It's going to be very ruff after the surgery. Sleep deprivation will work a number on you also! It will escalate your fears and worry. So, try to rest as best as you can when Shelby comes home.Â
Come here all you want during that time, our friendly "staff" will try to help calm your fears and answer your concerns!
Â
We'll send pawsitive energy your way for a speedy recovery. Keep us updated, okay?
Â
Â
EDITED TO ADD: Cometdog has gone goofy! I thought you called us staff! DUH! Pay me no mind!
Â
Â
Â
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.
You have every reason to worry but I'm betting you'll be surprised at how the dogs do around eachother. They do figure it a lot faster than we think, even better than any human.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You guys are too funny........and Comet, it's hard to mess with someone's brain when they have scant brain cells as it is, you know?
Kona, eh? Kona is the name of my beautiful rescued labbie girl. She's technically a yellow lab but is pure white and while so many folks say I rescued her....she rescued me. I lost my first cream labbie boy, Carson, last year on St. Carson's Day (formerly known as St. Patrick's Day to the rest of the world) to OSA. His was in his pelvis and inoperable. But he beat the odds...they gave him less than 4 weeks. He told me he was ready to earn his wings 4 MONTHS later.
Regardless, I don't think that chunk of my heart that Carson took with him started to heal until I learned of Kona's plight.....she was confiscated by Animal Services and the owner arrested and charged with cruelty/neglect. She suffered (and is recovering 7 months later) from deep pyoderma....when I saw the pictures from the day she was confiscated, I cried. Now she's my beautiful *Dirty White Girl* (a variation of the song *Dirty White Boy* by Foreigner) who has soothed a shattered heart and helped me to smile again.
Okay back to the Shelbers.......I have done all the assigned reading (wink) and I'm ready. I hope. Again, I'm not new to the world of special needs or cancer but Shelby and I will take this new journey together.
I have 3 steps that she'll need to navigate.....I've already put no-skid strips on them...working on more rubber mats.
I've read about the little sticky things that go on their pads. I guess the downside is that they don't last that long. Someone had posted about some little dog socks (Woodrow something) and I'm thinking that might work for my silly willy girl. What are your opinions?
I'm thinking of packing her little bags of her own food so that we can attempt to minimize any tummy distress. She'll be there 3 days and I assumed she probably wouldn't eat until the day after surgery, since her surgery will be in the afternoon. Having worked in animal hospitals, nothing worse than a half zonked dog that is taken home and fed and ends up back with us because he/she was so nauseated.
So much to prepare for........regardless, I have a pretty warped sense of humor. Combine that with sleep deprivation and I apologize in advance for what I might post! I'll just blame it on what I always blame it on: I'm proudly channeling my inner Betty White 🙂
Â
Â
shelbysmom said:
So much to prepare for……..regardless, I have a pretty warped sense of humor. Combine that with sleep deprivation and I apologize in advance for what I might post! I'll just blame it on what I always blame it on: I'm proudly channeling my inner Betty White 🙂
Â
Excellent!! you will fit right in here- at least with Cometdog and me!!
My tripawd was a pug and a rear amp. She did fine traction wise until she got a little older, then for some reason she started slipping a lot. Here are two things that really helped her- I trimmed the fur around her toes and pads. You know how hair starts growing long in odd places when you get to be an older lady (she was 10 at the time). I also started using Musher's Secret on her pads. It kept them from getting dry and cracked, which I think was causing some of the slipping problem.
Good luck on Friday. Someone is always here to answer questions and offer support.
Â
Karen and the pug girls
shelbysmom said:
I've read about the little sticky things that go on their pads. I guess the downside is that they don't last that long. Someone had posted about some little dog socks (Woodrow something) and I'm thinking that might work for my silly willy girl. What are your opinions?
Â
Pam, you've got it together, sounds like you and Shelby will be just fine.
He really looks thrilled wearing them, dontcha think?
If Shelby likes boots, and mobility isn't an issue, we recommend Ruff
Wear's Bark N Boots, which are a great all-weather, rugged solution.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Pam,
My dog, Maggie, has a lot of fear of slipping & falling on some surfaces. As a result, my house looks pretty horrific as a fashion statement for throw rugs!!! 
I also use those same pretty purple booties on Maggie that Wyatt has on, when I am somewhere besides home and can't throw down yet another throw rug!
Funny thing is, if someone had told me prior to ampuation Maggie would be so fearful of slipping, I wouldn't of believed them 'cause she'd been an agility dog for 8 years and was used to all sorts of varied wooden surfaces!(slippery at times).
But take off a leg, I guess and that changed her perspectives.
Good luck on Friday with Shelby's amputation.
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Â
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
"Channeling my inner Betty White"--that cracks me up! And I can totally relate.
I will be sending healing energy to Shelby and calming energy to you. Oh, and great idea about sending Shelby's food along!
I'll be watching for updates. Good luck!
Daisy, 12 years young, had left forelimb amp on 5/19/2010 due to osteosarcoma. She left her body behind and joined the other spirit tripawds on 7/16/2010.
So grateful for each day with her!
Lexi (Daisy's momma)
1 Guest(s)
