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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Leslie - wonderful post. You addressed so much that a new tripawd mom would be interested in reading. And don't worry about being long winded - several of us are. After all these many months, for the most part I keep mine reasonably short, but many times the longer posts are the ones that just hit home for someone and answers all those questions that keep running through your head.
Alicia - it is more than normal for you to be apprehensive and to cry. This is a huge decision and something that is life altering for you and for Pixie. I cried all the way to work the morning I dropped Trouble off for her surgery and then again every time someone asked about her. I wasn't sure I had made the right decision until the day we picked her up following surgery. Seeing her be ok made all the difference in the world.
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.
Alicia:
Having a dog's arm or leg amputated is a heartwrenching experience to go through - for us humans. Our dogs just need a couple of weeks to recover - and usually, only a day or two to get up on their 3 legs and start getting back to enjoying life. It takes us a lot longer than that to recover.
People on this site will tell you that the first 2 weeks are very difficult - and you won't get much sleep. It's true. It's like having a new-born baby all over again. You hear every movement, you hear their breathing, every whine, everything. We worry for them. Isn't that the "deal" in the human/dog relationship? They give us unconditional love - we do all the worrying?
It is also true that you will have to put on a brave face - and be strong for Pixie. While you will very likely want to melt down when you pick her up and see her in her new form - she will need you to be strong. She is facing a significant adjustment - and will need her strength to recover. If she is worried about you, too, it will be much more difficult for her. My 12 year old son taught me that. 
Sophie is a 12 year old (soon to be 13 year old) Golden retriever, who went Tripawd on February 25th, 2009. She has adjusted well, and she plays and runs with her "pack" of step-brothers/sister quite happily. She is able to do almost everything she did before - but she does take advantage of her 3-leggedness from time-to-time - I think to get our attention. For example, I know that she is fully capable - because she has done it !! - of leaping over the sofa - but she will stand with her one front foot on the sofa and wait for someone to lift her back end up so she can lounge. Just plain cheeky. 
I am sending you "golden" hugs and prayers for a very successful and speedy surgery and recovery.
Come back and talk often - I don't think there is anything that SOMEONE here has NOT gone through !
Tana and Sophie
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
She is out of surgery, and waking up. He said she did fine with the anesthesia and someone is with her because these flat faced breeds tend to stop breathing as they are recovering sometimes. He did find an enlarged lymph node (please tell me, someone, that that is ok) and sent it to pathology. So here I sit, glad it is over and worried something more is going to happen. It is always something.
Alicia,
Good to hear Pixie is over the first hurdle. Yea, we always get that little bit of extra anaesthetic/recovery worry with our breeds.
Don't worry (if possible) about the lymph node until you know for sure you have a reason to. Did the vet say when the pathology would be back?
Focus now on getting Pixie through her recovery from the surgery. If the lymph node comes back as a problem then you can address it. Don't speculate on all the possible issues, it will drive you crazy...and I should know, I am a pro at that 
.
Karen
With the weekend and all, I think is should be back Monday or Tuesday. Thanks, Karen.
WONDERFUL! She's out of surgery and doing well! YAY!
Alicia,
It's going to be okay. I know it doesn't feel like it right now. But it's going to be fine. From our experience of being here, your emotions are perfectly normal. We see amputations here weekly and sometimes daily. We totally understand. But every dog does just fine on 3-legs. She may be in distress from pain or the phantom pain in the next couple of weeks but it's the healing process. So, don't mistaken that for depression.
Roxy gave you some great info into the emotional part. Dogs just don't care about how they look or how they walk. They just want unconditional love. That's it.
Like Karen said, don't worry about what you don't know on the node.
TRY TO GET SOME REST when you can. If you get sleep deprived, your brain will play tricks on you and you'll get overly-emotional.
Take care and lots of hugs to you and your family.
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.
We are home with Pixie. She is still pretty groggy but is glad to be in the recliner in my son's arms. She sighed when I gave him to her. Our vet seems to think that there is a high chance of malignancy. We should know Tuesday. If it is, he says there is a protocol they can do there of weekly vincristine that he has seen some good luck with. He says it is pretty well-tolorated in dogs.
So, I am going to be glad she is here, for now everything is OK and we have our girl back. Tuesday will come soon enough, for today I am just grateful.
Glad to hear she is home and doing OK.
Vinblastine was one of the chemo drugs Mag took, is that what he said? I just put her treatment protocol up in her blog.
Cancer cells in the lymph system is were we were after her amp. Mag tolerated her chemo treatments well and had a long run after.
But I agree with you, be grateful now that Pixie is home with your son. You guys have made it over the first hurdle. Deal with Tuesday when it gets here.
One of the things I always tell myself is to stay positive until there is a real reason not to be.
Karen and the pug girls
Alicia - your posts have really hit home and my heart goes out to you- you've gotten such great advice and support from everyone here (and it's great that you get the advice from Karen and the pug girls too!) I just wanted to add that what you are feeling is so normal - I was completely traumatized when my Mackenzie had her surgery and even 2nd guessed our decision during her recovery because it was so tough. But now I'm proud to say that Mackenzie has just celebrated her 8 month ampuversary and she's still going strong. I can only imagine how this must impact your son - bless him - and I'm sure that once he sees how well your Pixie is doing, he will feel good about this. One thing that I can say is no regrets as much as I fought this. I know that most of us here have no regrets and I'm sure that will be the case for you too.
I wish you all the best and am so glad that you have your girl back - that's comfort in itself to know that she's right there with you so you can watch over her. Keeping you, your son and Pixie in our thoughts and prayers. 
Kami (Mackenzie'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!
alicia said:
... a protocol they can do there of weekly vincristine that he has seen some good luck with. He says it is pretty well-tolorated in dogs.
Haven't heard of that one, please let us know more after you meet with the vet. Sure it wasn't Vinblastine he mentioned?
Welcome home Pixie! we're glad she is doing well. But you can forget that "for today" business and just be grateful every day! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Pixie is sleeping off the anesthesia, snoring like a train. She can't quite get comfortable. In her ex-pen she kpet trying to get up and move and falling down, so we have spent the evning holding her. I was eating and holding her and thought she was asleep – until she lurched forward and took part of my tortilla. Some things never change. She seems pretty pain-free, she is just trying to find the right way to lay. I tried to potty her but she was not ready for it, so I will try again before bed. I decided to crate her next to me in the bedroom, the other dogs have seen her, smelled her and kissed on her, so there will not be a problem there.
I am pretty sure it is vincristine. That is a common chemo drug used in humans, and sometimes in conjunction with other agents. I do not have the links handy, but if you Google it, it is there. But I am crossing my fingers and toes and everything I can and I am going to hope that come Tuesday, there will not be a need to know anything about it. 
Alicia
Well if she wants the tortilla, she must be feeling good!
The restlessness is pretty normal. She'll probably wake you up a few times, but try to get your rest, it's so impawtant. Glad your other pups have approved.
Everything is gonna be OK, hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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