Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All!
Our 1.7 year old Pitbull/Rottweiler mix went successfull leg amputation surgery (and her first round of chemo!!!) yesterday and is comfortably home today! This will serve as her recovery/update thread.
Diagnosis: Osteosarcoma that has spread to the lungs with at least 8 visible nodules. This went from nothing on the xray to a painful bone tumor and lung mets in 4 weeks time.
Prognosis: 9 months at the most if chemo is effective. At least 3 months if it is not.
Current condition: She dragged us across the parking lot to the car about 24 hours after surgery. She's trying to do young dog things again now that painful leg is gone. We have no idea how we are going to keep her chill for 2 weeks until the stitches come out.
I will post pictures once I figure out how to 🙂
Thank you so much for starting a Molly recovery topic! It's a joy to celebrate her resilience and bounce! 
Whatever the prognosis, Molly doesn't care. She only wants to make the most of right here, right now and it sounds like she's doing just that.
One way you can keep her occupied and calm is with interactive brain games . You can make them with household items like muffin tins, or buy puzzles, but either way, working her brain is as effective (if not more) than physical movement. If she is food motivated even better!
Oh the pics, yes! We can't wait to see them. First you need to post them on your own Tripawds blog (supporters get more data storage space), or a photo sharing site like Imgur.com. Once they're uploaded, copy the image URL then return here and paste it into your forum post. It should automatically appear. As for videos, the best way is to upload them to your YouTube channel, and then return here to paste the "share video" URL.
I hope that makes sense! Let me know if you want more help, I can't wait to see her!
Thanks for the advice Jerry!
Molly has been home with us since Friday afternoon and has been doing really well. Although she hasn't pooped yet and is a bit of a fussy eater (some things never change :)) she has been up and around and eager to get back to doing young dog stuff. Seeing her positive attitude has brought us so much joy despite the circumstances! We are obviously still in disbelief with how quickly this all happened, but we are determined to fill her remaining time with as much fun as possible. We can't wait for her to heal up so we can let her use the stairs to get up to the windows on our second level. Her favorite activities mostly revolve around yelling at things outside.
The imgur imbed doesn't seem to working right now.. but looking forward to sharing some pictures when I can!
I'm so happy things are going great this weekend! Being so young is to her big advantage during recovery and beyond. She is young and strong and can kick cancer's butt like nopawdy's business!
OK just holler if you can't get the pics uploaded, I'm hoppy to help.
Seeing her positive attitude has brought us so much joy despite the circumstances.
Your Molly is such an inspawration with her delightful "Molly wanting to be Molly self". She's showing you, showing us all, the now is all that matters. Even though I know you are still in disbelief about how this as unfolded so quickly (and we are too), you have a very empowering outlook and an ab to focus on making every moment t thebes moment. And that's all Molly wants too.
Thanks so mich for the update. Now, of she has a bit of a crash, don't be surprised, it happens. I have to say though, I don't this this "puppy" is gonna have very much "down time" recovering. She's got a lot of living to do!
(((((((((((Hugs))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
You guys are awesome. Thank you so much.
I tried telling Molly she had a lot of people pulling for her... but she was too busy eating doggie ice cream. I'll try again before she passes out for the night!
Awww sweet girl! You look like you're on the way to feeling better. I'm sorry for the sucky cone but it's not furever.
Hope you are having a good week! Keep us posted. And post pics whenever you want, we love seeing you.
Thanks Jerry!
She's doing great. With the pain gone from the bone tumor she is back to being a happy girl (despite the cone/lack of freedom!). She is moving around pretty well on the 3 legs, but I think it is going to take her some time before she gets the strength in the remaining hind leg that she needs. She'll be getting her stitches out on 12/7, which can't come soon enough! Although, I personally hope that time goes as slowly as possible considering the short amount of time she may have left.
We are all relieved she's getting around well! One great Tripawd recovery gives hope and inspiration to many many more people now and in the future! It's incredible how much better a dog can feel after that bad leg is off. We didn't even know how much pain our Jerry was in until he became a Tripawd.
As time goes on, most new Tripawds will get stronger. It's more about building core strength and endurance than strengthening leg muscles. A visit with a rehab therapist can help speed that up and show you how to help her, so don't forget the Tripawds foundation can pay for your first rehab visit .
Savor every moment and remember, as one member here used to say, dogs don't have an expiration date stamped on their butt. You never know what will happen so you hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and savor every day you have together. Sounds like you are doing just that!
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Molly lost her battle this morning. Earlier this evening she started coughing up blood and we rushed her to the hospital. They took new xrays that showed her nodules had grown very fast and many more had appeared. She had extremely limited time left and we had to make the compassionate decision.
This cancer is horrible extremely aggressive. We are absolutely in shock and completely heartbroken.
Thank you all for everything. Your support means the world to us.
Shocked and devastated! Crying with you and our hearts break with yours. Just so stunned.
This piece of s**t disease had already plotted it's cruel course and could not be stopped.The speed how everything unfolded was not to be expected. Not anticipated at all.You did everything possible for her.....everything possible. I am just so very, very sorry.
There aren't any words of comfort right now...and probably never will be.
Hold all the precious Happy memories you shared with sweet Molly tightly in your heart. Those are what she is carrying with her.
I can only imagine how much ice cream, REAL ice cream, Molly's welcome wagon at the Rainbow Bridge had. It was overflowing with that and steak and lotsofthi gs formally to tell at.
We are surrounding you with our love and with a knowing Molly had the best life ever with you. Know that she wouldn't change a thing just has long as she had you as her furever hoomans.
We love 💖Mollu💖
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Thank you for your kind words, Benny. Yes, we are completely shocked that this ended so quickly. We were optimistic that her age would help her beat this, but our surgeon mentioned that the cancer is often much more aggressive in younger dogs. It's cruel and unfair, but she isn't suffering anymore.
I. Cannot. Believe. This. 
And I am so deeply sorry.
When I read your post, I had to do a double take. It gave me whiplash, because never in a million years would have occurred to me that something like this could happen so quickly, and in such a young dog. There just seem to be no words I can draw out of me to express my condolences appropriately. My heart hurts for you, all of us feel the shock and grief of having to say goodbye so suddenly and so soon after surgery. It's incomprehensible to even imagine what you guys felt while going through this awful situation, and how are feeling right now. Sorry just feels so ... small. But I am sorry, we all are.
Please know that you did everything you could for Molly, and she knew how loved she was right up until she took her last breath. She left this world far too soon, and left a huge hole in the hearts of everyone who knew and adored her. You guys were such good parents to her, never doubt that for a minute.
If there is anything we can do for you, if you just want to talk, please, do. Call the Helpline (844-TRIPAWD), we are here to listen. Post a tribute to her if and when you are ready. We would love to get to know who Molly was, and celebrate the life she had with you.
I'm so truly sorry for your loss. 
We are keeping a candle lit in her memory.
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