Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It's been a long time since I first posted that our older Great Dane Linus (a/k/a His Highness Linus 🙂 had been diagnosed with a spindle cell tumor in his hock. The darn thing had finally gotten to the point where it was just too big and painful for him. We were so extremely fortunate that the cancer does not appear to have spread beyond his one hind leg, but it had started growing up the leg really rapidly over the past month. Linus is in surgery right now at UC Davis to remove the leg. I hope in a few hours to hear that he made it through surgery okay.
We're all going to be so darn proud of our new tripawd. He's been practicing for several months now and we're pretty confident he's going to be an awesome addition to the tripawd family. He's already been chasing the ground squirrels without using his bad leg ! We really hope that without the pain, pain meds and that useless weight, he'll enjoy his senior years all the more.
Please, please send good thoughts and prayers to him at the Veterinary Hospital in Davis, California !
I am so sorry to hear that Linus has had to go through this surgery. He'll do well, and will be pain-free. Sending up lots of good thoughts & prayers for His Highness, pawrents and family.
Keep us posted and post a picture of your sweet boy!
Cathy
UC Davis is a good place to be for this. You are certainly going into this with positive thoughts. Good for you!
I'm sure His Highness will make you proud.
Best of luck,
Prayers & Tail Wags,
Angel Ruthie's Mom
Thanks so much ! I put a few pics of Linus on a newly created Linus blog. His angel Xeauie and sister Silly are on there too. Will post more when I can think straight…and breathe.
Welcome back,
I'm sorry that you got to this point with Linus, but once through the recovery he should do great since he has been practicing. Those first two weeks of recovery can be bumpy- so rest up while you can. This is an awesome place for information and support- so ask any questions and keep us updated on Linus.
You may want to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List, a compilation of good information on what to expect with amputation, recovery and cancer.
Also check out the posts in the forum by Xanderdane. Alexander is a Dane who is just a bit ahead of you, a front leg amp about two weeks ago, he also has a blog. Also Queen Nova is a long time cancer survivor Dane with her own Blog.
Sending good thoughts your way for Linus.
Karen and the pugapalooza
p.s.- once Linus recovers keep an eye on the Tripawd Party forum. There is a group of us in Nor Cal that get together once a month in Mill Valley, we would love to meet you and Linus one day. We usually meet on the second Saturday of the month.
Edited to add: I put a live link to Linus's blog in your post so people can get there easily. Karen
paws crossed for a successful surgery and speedy recovery!!!!!
gayle & charon
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
You all are the BEST.
I really felt like I was going to implode while waiting for the call from the hospital. Not so much now.
Oh Linus we're so sorry that darn cancer grew. Aggh!
But you are in the BEST hands pawsible; I had my surgery at UC Davis too! We love those folks.
We send lotsa love and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Thanks for re-joining us again (sorry you had to though!), and we look forward to following your 3-legged adventures.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sendings lots of pawsitive thoughts your way!
We don't want anyone imploding on us! You won't be able to see your monitor with all the muck from the implosion to type the update!
Hang in there!
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.
Hang in there! what a handsome devil Linus is. We are 3 weeks post-op and doing great - keep all the positive thoughts from this site in mind, that helped me too on surgery day ....
I couldn't stand the waiting any longer so I called the hospital. Linus is still in surgery but someone from the surgical group checked and said it's going fine so far.
So nice to hear all the good things about UC Davis. Linus' oncologist, Carlos Rodriguez, works there and we think he's the BEST (plus he gave Linus his new nickname "Big L" 🙂
Just in case it helps anyone else in need, we got Linus a pet support suit from AST and it allows me to get him up and down the steep stairs that lead to our house (all 18) on my own. Quite the feat considering Linus outweighs me by about 40 pounds. We've been using it for about 7 months now and it's holding up great.
Bestest wishes to everyone else too!
Ugh…I just can't wait til he is home and I can rub his big sweet velvety ears like he likes.
UC Davis is the best! Everyone there was great when Jerry had his amputation. Tell them all Jim and Rene from Tripawds say hi!
Glad to hear the AST harness works well for Linus. Did you get a custom Pet Support Suit made, or are you using a Get A Grip harness?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We'll definitely tell everyone at Davis "Hi" from you all! Silly and I have our paws and fingers (respectively) crossed that I'll get to see Linus tomorrow morning. I was hoping for today, but the doctors told me yesterday that probably wouldn't happen.
I'm still waiting for the call that he's out of surgery, awake and well. I swear I keep checking the clock thinking it MUST be broken...why does it move SO SLOWLY?!?!?!?! Then I check the phone. Yep, dial tone. But it too must be broken. Why doesn't it ring ? I'm tempted to call it from another number to make sure it's working but then am afraid I'll miss their call. Aaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhh.
We had a custom Pet Support suit made for Linus (in the oh-so-slimming color black 🙂 My sincere thanks for the recommendation on that late last year ! Since he's been voluntarily practicing on three legs for several months now, Linus only really needs the assistance with going down the stairs (and just a tiny bit of support for safety's sake going up). Early on in his days of his tripawds practicing, we had a terrifying episode where he lost his balance going down on his own and fell down the entire flight. (I'll NEVER shake that image.) Fortunately he wasn't hurt, but what a terror. His suit lets me help him balance without getting in his way, so he can still do things himself (like he likes) without his risking falling.
Linus' angel sister Xeauie wore a Ruff Wear harness when her lymphoma and the chemo treatments were giving her a hard time. That too is a great harness. She was about 40 pounds lighter than Linus though. Linus needs more midriff support (but don't most of us 🙂
I'm sorry to hear about Linus... but I know that he's in great hands at US Davis! Let us know as soon as you hear back from them... Sending lots of good thoughts your way!!
BTW, I checked out Linus' blog... He is adorable!! So is Silly... Looking forward to reading all about them!
Sending you a big fat hug!!
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!
YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I just got the call from Davis that Linus is out of surgery and did really well. He's not awake yet but there were no complications and they think at this point that I'll be able to pick him up tomorrow morning !
I can't thank you all enough for all the well wishes and good thoughts.
More adventures to come !
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