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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Thanks Pam for reassuring me that is okay to be ditsy! Actually, I'm on a race to out post 'hugapittbull' (the other Mod Pawder) and reading every word in a post will slow me down! 
(If she'll just go on vacation, I got her beat!)
Here's another nugget to add to your reading list. You may already know much of it but it's very, very helpful.
Rene (Jerry) wrote this great article on how to care for your dog after amputation surgery. How to Care for your Dog after Amputatation Surgery. Take a look!
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,
Pyoderma is hideous. My neighbor's dog had it - (we think). My Comet came from a similar situation (22 dogs stuffed in a house of neglect). But we actually think she was taken care of better than the others because most of them had to be put down. It could have been that she was born with a leg/shoulder defect. Child Protective Services found the horrid situation since their children were out running the streets in the middle of the night! The people who did this actually tried to come back and adopt Comet! The shelter workers kicked them out of the shelter and gave a serious tongue lashing (so I was told). Crazy people.
So needless to say, Comet has always only had 3-legs to walk on. She's almost 12 now and I've had her since she was a puppy.
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Oh Geeze! I can't believe I left this post open in a window! I started smelling a chemical smell while typing this and went to the garage and saw a haze! Had to call 9-1-1! 3 Fire Trucks! Scared the bejeebies out of me! Thought the whole house was going to blow! Luckily the firemen found the problem - it was a can of spray paint in the garage that had a pin hole!
I'm embarrassed but safe!
I think I'll post this post now and call it good.
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.
cometdog said:
Oh Geeze! ... saw a haze! ... it was a can of spray paint ...
Now, now Comet. No more huffing! The Mod Pawd needs to set a good example around here. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yikes! Glad all is okay. Had a similar situation at a pet sitting job but it was an actual fire that I got out pretty quickly with a fire extinguisher. Fire Marshall Pam to the rescue............ta da. It's my years of flight attendant emergency training that kicked in....guess you never forget it.
I can't believe how this tumor has literally exploded in the past few days on Shelby's elbow......it's almost as if The Beast knows it's not going to win but it's doing it's best to put up a hell of a fight. Friday cannot come soon enough.......
Shelby: 1
The Beast: 0
I think you guys are double-teaming that beasty tumor so maybe Shelby gets a 2 ???
Fire Marshall Pam to the rescue…………ta da.
Hahahahahahaha! You should cite me! When I knew the fire dept. was coming I crated both Comet and Rocket instead of putting them the back yard! I was more worried about the 105 degree heat than the house exploding with them in a crate!
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.
Comet, I think you're right:
Shelby - 2
The Beast - Zip, zero, nada, nuttin'
Let's see.....should I write you a citation? Yes, there will be a fine of hugging yourself for thinking of the dogs first. My greatest fear in my own home is a fire. I have a house that is over 60 years old and has old wiring and sadly, updating it is not financially possible right now. I am overly cautious...no fans, no TV, nothing on when I'm not here. And 3 of the 4 dogs are crated. I've been told by friends who are firefrighters that it is easier for them to find pets who are crated in a house and get them out and on O2 than ones who have tried to hide.
Now as far as the house exploding.....yi yi yi.
We're just glad EVERYONE is okay.
Oh, and by the way, I believe you asked if you could use the quote below in my signature line? Absolutely.....it has always helped to keep me on track. It's not easy to live by those words, but just seeing them in print has helped.
"When you start missing what isn't gone….you lose what's left."
I love this tag line! I keep thinking about it every time I start to have a melt down over the loss of Skyler. I have Chloe, and God is really wonderful to have blessed us with Skyler for 10 years. I can't imagine not ever having had her in our lives.
Thanks for the inspiration! Best wishes for you & Shelby tomorrow! Paws are crossed!!! 
you asked if you could use the quote below in my signature line?
That was just a formality, I was going to anyway!
My greatest fear in my own home is a fire.
MINE TOO! But my house is only 12 years old!! I found that taking meds really helps with the worry of the fire-starting gremlins that live upstairs!
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.
Tomorrow is the big day and I had hoped that today could be relatively relaxing but it's turning into anything but 🙁
We're having terrible t-storms and my own 2 goldens are storm phobic, especially my 11 year old who stumbles often and doesn't have the greatest mobility in the world to start with (terrible neglect in her prior life). And sure enough, she tripped and fell right on Shelby and her toenail snagged part of the tumor........sweet Shelby, thank God, didn't bite her head off. Poor Frankie is so consumed with fear I don't think she even knew what she did.
On top of that, I've been pet sitting my friend's golden for 2 weeks...friend was supposed to come pick her up today but she's down in Tampa sick so we'll have to take an extra dog with us. She is a nervous car rider and pants constantly and whines........sigh.
I'm going to take a picture of this awful tumor and everytime during the next 2 weeks that I auestion having made the right decision, I will look at that photo and remind myself why we did this.
Is it happy hour yet? Paging Dr. Shiraz...Paging Drs. Pinot & Grigio.....STAT!
I, too, was amazed at how quickly the tumor grew on Charlie. Helped with making the decision as it was a big 'middle finger' staring at me and Charlie.
Regarding storms, I always wonder how dogs and cats in the wild handle the storms. Charlie doesn't care for loud noises, which is awesome when it comes to a hunting lab. Doesn't care for loud bangs, water scares him (unless it's on "his" terms i.e. right after a bath and it's a nasty looking swamp or river water, otherwise, forget it!), afraid of the cats, etc...
Good luck and best wishes tomorrow!
You and the crew will be in our thoughts,
VQ & Charlie
"I don't know where I am."
You'll all be fine. It's so normal to be nervous - but make sure you sleep tonight!
We'll all be thinking about you tomorrow!
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.
Hi Shelby's Mom,
I'm just reading through all of your posts...first of all I wanted to add...paging Dr. Chardonnay and can't forget Drs Merlot and Cabernet - that will ensure that you get a call from at least one of these doctors anyway 
. I just wanted to tell you that I'm very impressed by how well-prepared you are for this big day. I was traumatized and a complete basket case so all of your training will help during these next couple of weeks. You probably will 2nd guess your decision at times during this recovery but in the end you'll find that this was the best decision you could have ever made for Shelby (I speak from experience 
) Mackenzie is now going on her 8 month ampuvesary and I didn't thing she'd make it through her recovery.
There are so many things I want to comment on...I'll start with your concern about your other dogs - no worries, I had a Golden puppy that I was really worried about. He was so gentle when we brought Mackenzie home from her surgery - somehow he knew that he needed to leave her alone. I'm sure your dogs will do the same thing.
I also wanted to comment about the fire comments - Comet, first of all, I can't believe that you had to call the fire dept! OMD! I'm glad everything is ok. I did have a fire in my home several years ago when my other dog was diagnosed with lymphoma. We took her to the vet that day for a chemo treatment and came back to our house almost burned down to the ground. It's freaky - I still think about what if my dog had been in the house that day? It's almost like it was fate that we had to bring her to the vet. I still have fears about leaving my dogs at home alone - sends chills through me. So all of your fears are totallly valid!
Ok so getting back to your surgery tomorrow - I really hope and pray that everything goes well and Shelby has a very speedy and smooth recovery. Please let us know how she's doing. We'll be thinking of you .
Kami (Mackenzie & Kobe's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
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