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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I should have given you the link with my demand for pictures 
The pictures have to be hosted on line somewhere- I use my free Tripawds blog to hold pics for me.
Here are the instructions for adding photos to your posts.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Good morning everyone!
Well, can't believe it's been 10 days post surgery! Gus will go in Monday for his staple removal.
I have a confession to make....I let Gus on the couch today. (very supervised!! i'm sitting right here)
Let me explain....
He was totally impossible the past 2 days! He's a great dog. Normally very quiet and docile. He's been just downright MAD at me...I've got all "HIS" couches barricaded off..he just sits and looks at them. Then he's started to be bad! He refused to go back into the area that I've made for him post surgery...it's quite large...about 8x8 area, very cushy, with firm bedding on the floor andpillows all around. Well, Gus is NOT a floor dog. He put up with this "area" for about a week. Now he literally throws himself on the ground if I try to make him go back in there....and you can't move him when he does this!! He's been restless....I think he's tired of sleeping 24 hours a day! I, on the other hand, have only gotten about 4 hours sleep per night, on average...worrying about Gus. I keep waking up and checking on him. I'm sleeping on a blow up bed on the floor.
So, anyway...I let him on the couch this morning. He's happy as a clam. He's sound asleep, snoring! I will be super careful....but I gave in as I couldn't take it anymore...!!
Gus is doing well....got the peeing and pooping thing down pat. Getting around well. Still gets really tired going out, especiallly when it's poop time. I put a t shirt on him to keep from scratching shaved area. Seems to be prettu mich working. He still trys to scratch sometimes when he thinks I don't see!
We have vet appt monday for staple removal. then another appt on thursday with the oncologist to discuss chemo. As Gus is a diabetc(don't know if you've ever had experience with a diabetic with amputation and chemo)I need to make sure he is a good canadate for chemo.
Thanks for everything everyone. Have a great wknd. I'll keep everyone posted.
Alice and Gus
Happy Couch Day Gus!
I love, love, love the attitude!
Oops, I mean bad dog.
OK, no I don't
Reminds me a little of my pug Maggie. She always let me know when she was displeased!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Ha Ha, just wait till it is time to take walks again! I bet Gus will be like Ellie---if she didn't think the walk was long enough (we tried to make them very short post-amp), she'd simply stop and stand. Somehow her 90lbs would turn into 190lbs at those times.
And I slept next to her crate on a air mattress too, until we took the staples out. So if you're crazy, I am too.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
LOL Well I guess we know who's boss!
When we took Murphy for a walk and he got tired, he just laid down right on the sidewalk! I guess he was done!
Nope, our babies are not spoiled 
donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Hi everyone!
GREAT to read your feedback!! Yes, I have one spoiled and stubborn pup!!!
He's getting a lot faster now on his 3 legs....when I take him out he wants to keep going...at a rather fast rate of speed.
I have to disappoint him, and bring him back in! He gets his sutures out tomorrow....so, hopefully, we can start increasing our walk times and lengths!! How long did everybody keep them on pain meds? He doesn't seem to hurt(never really did). He lays on the incision side now.
He's just on Tramadol and Metacam.
Looking forward to our meeting with the Oncologists on Thursday. Just hoping I can get Gus in the car tomorrow and Thursday! I had help last week...on our own this week!
Everyone have a great weekend!
Alice & Gus
Hi everyone!
Today was suture (staple) removal day!! Everything looks GREAT!!
Gus is now wearing a new t-shirt! They seem to get trashed pretty quickly!!
Now, just to keep him from scratching!!!
Have appt on Thursday with oncologist....I will listen & ask lots of questions... Not totally convinced that I'm going to do the chemo. It's more complicated as he is a diabetic that requires twice daily insulin.
Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!
Alice & Gus
Meet with the oncologist today, and for many reasons, decided not to do chemo with Gus.
Not an easy decision. One big factor, unfortunately, was the cost. Each chemo treatment was a little over $500, plus potential other costs for meds for anti nausea, etc....
It's ok. Gus is a happy boy right now. Hopefully he will beat his current odds of 4 months.
Alice & Gus
Alice, please don't feel badly, you did your homework and are doing all you can to help him, there is nothing wrong with opting out, we did too. All that matters is giving him the best quality of life, which really is the ultimate medicine. Give him a smooch from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This whole cancer journey is one big crapshoot. I'm sure you took all of Gus' other challenges into consideration when making your decision. For now Gus is happy, out of pain, and able to happily live his life. Don't worry about tomorrow just live today each today to the fullest and spoil Gus silly. None of us knows what lies in the future and to worry about it robs us of all the glorious today's. You've done a remarkable job with Gus and all out of love. Hugs to both of you!
Linda & Max
Thanks everyone! You are all wonderful!! We will still be a member and keep you posted....we are learning so much on this group. Thank you for being there!!
Alice & Gus
Chemo is not right in every circumstance. Really, don't feel bad about the cost being a factor in your decision. It would be great if we all had unlimited funds but we don't. Even if you did it's not a guarantee.
With my two pugs chemo was recommended 3 times. Tri-pug Maggie had two different cancers, quad-pug Tani had one. I did chemo with Maggie after her amp, but did not treat her second cancer. And partly because Tani had so many other health issues I declined to do chemo for her mast cell cancer.
You make the best decision you can and move forward with optimism! Make every day Gus' best day and that is all that matters.
And you better keep us posted!! Once you join here you are family, chemo or not, even amp or not. We have some 4 legged members.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Gus and Mom,
i do have the same feelings you do about the 3 legs and what happens if another leg gets injured etc....I guess it is one day at a time thing and keeping them harnessed when walked. Since Zeus has had leg problems most of his life the past few years I've been keeping him from the jumping and running things he loved to do. He likes to just be with me and when I let him out in the small yard I have he comes right back in. I did hire professional dog walkers who have dealt with tri pawed dogs so I'm confident he'll be exercised without injury. You and the rest of the community have been a Godsend. Thank you for all the support!
Deb, Zeus and Belle
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