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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Good morning everyone. Thank you all so much for the support here. I have told everyone about this wonderful site and I will post it at my vet's office. I just can not thank you enough for helping us through this.
I called the vet's this morning. (It is in another state and an hour's drive, or I would be right there). Ronnie did very well through the night. She stayed comfortable and slept most all night. She got up on her own this morning and went outside to go potty! I am very proud of her. She will be able to come home later today and I have everything ready for her. I have placed rugs on the hard floors, food and water up to her level, bed right by the back door for easy access outside, washed all 5 dog beds for rotation and bought 10 gallons of spring wanter. No more flouride for this dog. (it has been said that it could have been the cause of cancer in dogs) We are ready for her and ready to start her new life as a tripawd!
I feel like I can breathe easier today and relax my mind.
Best wishes to you all and I will keep checking back to see how everyone is doing..
a great big THANK YOU from Ronnie and me!! 
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
We're so glad to hear that Ronnie did well with her surgery! Now she'll begin her recovery, and we're keeping all fingers and paws crossed that all goes well for her. It sounds like you're prepared for her homecoming, which is great. Please keep us posted, and give her a couple of scratches behind the ear (or wherever she best likes them) from us!
Hugs,
Holly and Holly's mom
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
so very glad to hear ronnie made it through the surgery, and is coming home to you soon!! many hugs and kisses to her as she regains strength and heals!!!
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
Very happy to hear that Ronnie came through the surgery so good and that she will be coming back home today where she belongs! You sound like you have everything ready for Ronnies homecoming. Now let the healing begin. All the best during the recovery period.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
I'm also very glad to hear that Ronnie made it through her surgery and that she's up and pottying already. She'll be even happier at home. Be prepared for at least 20 hours per day of sleeping--she still has some major healing to do. I hope it all goes well--keep the reports coming!
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
We are cheering, too!
Give me an "R", give me an "O", give me an "N", give me another "N", give me an "I", give me "E"....
What's that spell?
RELIEVED !!!!! 
Go R o n n i e !
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 also new to the tripawd world .... Etta is just past a week out of her surgery. I'm also happy to hear that Ronnie's surgery went well and you will be reunited soon! Looking forward to hearing about the progress....
julie & etta
Our angel "Etta" amputation on 4-15-10 lost her front limb. initially dx'd with neurofibrosarcoma. However, after surgery they discovered histiocytic sarcoma a very aggressive cancer. After two full rounds of chemo our special angel lost her battle on 6-21-10. the sweetest and most gentle soul. Our lives are forever blessed for having known her...
As always thank you all so very much.
I got to the vet's office and when they told me to meet them out back to put Ronnie into the car I was amazed. She was standing there in the grass on a leash like she just went for a walk. My beatuful Ronnie was back! I went to pet her and she turned her head. Ok I thought she must be a wee bit angry with me and she must have thought "we will discuss this at home mother!" So I let her alone to go potty. I was shocked to see her wound. My heart just ached but got over that quickly for her sake. I opened the back of my Escape for them to lift her into but she leaped before any of us knew what was going on and in the car she went all by herself. Less than 24 hours after her surgery. The technicians and myself all jaws dropped to the floor. I got her home ok and she came in and drank a ton of water. Thirsty girl. then she laid down on her bed on her wound. I knew that wasnt good. I gave her two pain pills knowing that soon she would be hurting to get off that side. Sure enough, the worst crying out I had ever heard from her and she was struggling to get up and when i tried to help by pulling on her bed, she yelled even louder. I left her alone and she managed to get up and we both took a deep breath. Now she is on her belly on her bed. She is not happy to have to stay in the kitchen but with the blood seeping and our white carpet, not so good to let her go through the house right now. She has three beds in there with her so she is comfortable, plus many throw rugs if she does not want on her bed.
Ronnie is resting easily now and that thanks to all your wonderful prayers this has been a bit easier of a transition getting her home than what we expected. Take care, God bless and have a beautiful Friday night all.
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
Laurie and Ronnie,
We are so very glad to hear that Ronnie is doing so very well. She is definately off to a great start and sounds like she is ready to return to the "new normal"
Forget the white capet, Ronnie needs some quiet time now and confining her is an excellent idea. Many of our companions have returned home and over exerted themselves the first day, only to crash the next. This is very common, so confining is really good for Ronnie. Also, we are sorry that we did not properly prepare you for what you would see when you picked up Ronnie. I remember a response from Shanna (Trouble's mom - hugapitbull) regarding what to expect - "Expect to see a three legged dog." This is in addition to all the bandages and potential swelling. Above all, remember to stay positive around Ronnie. She will look to you for guidance and if you are doing well, she will respond. In case you have not viewed photos of the recovery process, I have a large number of thumbnail (with links to larger versions) photos of Miss Cherry's TriPawd Journey. They cover from the week-end before surgery to last Christmas. You can view them through this LINK.
We will be looking forward to hearing of Ronnie's continued progress toward a return to an excellent quality of life.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
So happy to hear Ronnie is doing well. Wanted to tell you not to worry about her laying on the surgery site. Trouble did it, and never seemed to have any additional pain from it. She is a front amputation, so I kept a t-shirt on her until the site healed so that it stayed clean. A 4T fit her just dandy!
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.
Oh so glad to hear the good news ... Magic did that not looking at me thing...really avoiding my eyes....after about two weeks it occurred to me it was the tramadol and it was...however, he needed it during that first bit of time. Magic also laid on his surgery site and I worried that wouldn't be good for him but he moved around and sometimes lay on it and sometimes on the other side.
I also got many foam beds...I had a few in the shed outside, one in the den and I added a bunch...They are now stored in another room because except for when he goes out to lay in the shed, he seems to prefer laying on the carpet or on the zillion throw rugs...I think because it is easier for him to get up.
I also confined Magic to the kitchen and shut the doggie door cuz I wanted to keep him in the house and monitor his movements outside whille he went through the first part of his healing....the first time he had been locked out of anyplace in the house or yard...but I truly think they don't give a you know what because they are pretty much just recovering!!!
Now when Ronnie sleeps....YOU SLEEP....you will need your rest to be able to care for Ronnie...keep us posted!
Wow - amazing that Ronnie was able to jump in the car the way she did! That's what our tripawds do..continually amaze us. I'm sure she's a lot more comfortable now that she's home. When Mackenzie first came home, she jumped up on the couch - we were so scared that she hurt something but she did just fine. It was getting her off the couch that became the challenge. Then it took a few days before she attempted it again. But it's those little things that become so important to you and gives you so much hope that everything is going to be OK.
We wish you all the best in Ronnie's recovery - sounds like she's off to a great start. You'll have some ups and downs, but before you know it, you'll see lots more ups than downs - that's the best part!
Give Ronnie a big hug from her golden friends in LA!
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!
Laurie that's great news that she's home. Yeah, the scary is pretty frightening, and the crying out just rips your heart out. But the recovery is only temporary. Fur will grow over the incision, and the crying will stop when she feels better. As long as you keep your vet in the loop about what's going on, and you come here to ask people stuff, you'll both do fine.
Hang in there! Glad to hear you're on to the next chapter.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ah yes, we are on to the next chapeter and thank you all again.
Ronnie had a great first night at home. I slept on couch and woke up about four times to check on her and she was sleeping peacefully. She had gotten up and moved from bed to bed, but I never heard her cry out. This morning, she is GREAT! She had not had any pain meds for 12 hours and she got up, went out and pottied, came in and ate a nice big chicken breakfast and taking a morning nap! I just am amazed at how well she is doing. I am thankful for all the prayers, they certainly are working.
Also, she is moving her shoulder like she is accepting the amputation and figuring out what to do.
Bless you all! I will try to post some pics soon.
thank you Mackenzie, Jerry, Magic, Trouble, Cherry and all the tripawds!!! we love you all!
Ronnie Smith, born July 13 2000. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 4/2010. Right front leg amputation 4/2010. Cancer returned after 4 rounds of chemo July 2010. Reunited with her amputated leg 7/21/2010. God bless my baby girl.
So glad that Ronnie is home again!!! Hoping she recovers quickly and is back to doing all the things she loves real soon!! Can't wait to see some pics of your sweetie-pie!!!
Angel Jake'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!
1 Guest(s)
