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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Get ready for your heart to melt as you look into Venga’s soulful eyes✨
Such a handsome fella…..
So in love with him🥰😘
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!
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Hello Everyone,
Thanks again for all your support. Venga is due for surgery on Tuesday November 7th. We have purchased the harness you recommended, and this weekend we will be purchasing yoga mats and other traction related items to keep the floors easy going for him. Emotionally, my spouse and I are in a better place with this all. Over the last week, Venga has been exhibiting signs of pain. This is the first time he has indicated pain, and so, we feel a confidence now that removing the leg is the right thing to do. We are gearing up to affirm to him his resiliency and capacity to heal, so that he can put all his energy into getting better.
We will keep you posted on how this all goes. In the meantime, thank you in advance for your positive thoughts, love and energy. We do believe that the energy of Love does heal.
Warmly,
Lara, Cameron and Venga 
We are gearing up to affirm to him his resiliency and capacity to heal, so that he can put all his energy into getting better.
Great attitude! Venga definitely confirmed for you he’s ready to get rid of his painful leg.
You’ve done an excellent job of prepping your home👍
Will be sending our love and lots of positive healing energy too sweet Venga.Keep us posted Tuesday on how things are going, OK ? we are all here for you to help you navigate through recovery and answer any questions you may have. We’ve been where you are and we know it’s no picnic, but it helps when you have support from those who understand
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!
Hey thanks for the update! So to be clear, you decided on the full amputation with the vet you've already been working with?
Make sure they have overnight care, meaning a vet tech or vet will be there all night to make sure he's resting and comfortable. Or, is he coming home from you the same day? That's a tough situation but not impossible, others have done it and lived to tell about it!
Also, be sure to know exactly what pain medication they are sending him home with. Our pain management articles have recommendations for what kinds of meds are being used for top-notch pain control. The right pain control makes all the difference, so you want to make sure it's good.
Hope you guys are having a nice, mellow, and snuggly weekend. Let us know what questions you have, we are here for you.
benny55 said
vets are leaving as much residual limb as possible,
Jerry, I’m confused (no surprise)🤪😱. The article reinforces why full amputation is better than leaving a stump . Yet it sounds like you are sing some surgeons are prompting leaving stump now?
LOL I just saw this and apparently I was the one who was confused. 
Actually, there's a lot of conflicting information and no one right way to do things.
This one study says it's better to take the whole limb on rear leggers to avoid problems later on. We believe that's the case, based on our experience with Wyatt Ray and his wound issues.
But in our conversations with ortho vets, we keep hearing that many are now leaving as much leg as possible because they believe it helps the dog overall, especially with balance and motor control. Since many dogs still try to use that amputated phantom limb, they're of the mindset to leave as much as possible without causing wound healing problems.
Hope that makes sense.
Venga is celebrating getting his stitches out by reclaiming his couch 👍 Good boy Venga!!
Looking into those beautiful eyes of his just makes you want to smooch those sweet jowls right through the screen🥰
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!
Oh Venga you make my heart do flip flops! So nice to see you.
Thanks for sharing for them Sally!
Thank you so much for sharing Venga's photo Sally!
Venga is now 16 days post surgery, he got his stitches out on Monday, and just this morning, he chased a squirrel on his morning short walk! So needless to say, Venga is doing exceptionally well.
I am so grateful for the support of this community, especially to you Sally - your being there for my questions through the helpline really helped put my mind and heart at ease as we make our way through this transition and change
At this point, we are trusting Venga's body and spirit to move through this process in a good way - we are following his lead while ensuring his safety and health. We continue to keep him on the main floor to avoid the big flight of stairs. As you can see, he still jumps up on the couch, but not as much as he used to, as he is still adjusting to his new body. Everyday he seems to get a little stronger and more confident.
The vet is very happy with his progress so far, and has asked my spouse and I if we would be willing to offer support to any other dog owners that come through their practice that may be facing amputation. I gave them an enthusiastic 'YES' as I have come to see and experience how important support is in this. I will be sure to tell anyone I come across who is going through this journey about this invaluable community as well.
Your support has been an unwavering lifeline. Thank you so much. I will continue to keep you all posted on his progress 
Well we couldn't ask for a better update, so thrilled that your incredible boy is doing so well!
That is wonderful your vet asked you to be ambassadors, thank you for saying yes 🙂 Venga's story will help others so they too can feel the sense of relief you are feeling today. WOOHOO!!
Lara....thank you for being you♥️ Give yourself credit for helping Venga rock this tripawd recover.
These videos need to be a go-to resource for any newbie wondering of their tripawd will recover and enjoy lofe.
Venga is clearly living life to the fullest and has noooo clue he's "missing" a leg😎 This handsome boy is so happy to be on the "trails" again and showing off his hiking skills. I love how he p icjd out his path off the rocks and heads straight for an adorable "sit" waiting for his cookie. GOOD BOY VENGA!!!
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!
Aww it's wonderful to see him enjoying life!
Sally can you mark these videos as Public? They're marked as "Unlisted" so we can't share them to Tripawds YouTube channel. If that's clear as mud let me know and I'll try to help.
Thank you for sharing the videos with our community Sally! We are so impressed with Venga's recovery. At the time of these video's he was exactly 19 days post amputation, just shy of 3 weeks! Tomorrow will be 3 weeks 🙂
We did not expect such a turn around! This morning on his walk, he jumped up on his hinds to get his treat, which is what he used to do with 4 legs! I am just amazed by his progress. I am so glad we made this decision, he is a happy healthy pooch!
We are still keeping a close eye on him. For safe measure, we still have him just on the main floor of the house as he continues to build up his strength and gain super confidence as a Tripawd. Tomorrow, we will be going to the vet and I will be inquiring into physiotherapy; we want to do everything we can to promote his strength and resiliency.
Thank you so much for your support and cheers!
Big Hugs,
Lara, Cameron and Venga
Nothing is going to stop Venga from being Venga and doing what Venga r does best..... being adorable and capturing our hearts♥️♥️
Jerry....fixed the videos to public. Thanks!
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!
It's a dream recovery for sure. So happy you are all doing great. 
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