Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Yay Shelby for completing your chemo & Yay for stitches out. Those are great feats. Alison, I am glad to see Shelby is slowly getting back to the new normal. Hopefully things slow down a little for you. 
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Well Shelby now that you have your magical Tripawds bandanna cape, you can do anything!
I hope you have a great day today. Here's to more hot dogs for dinner 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ha ha Jerry! I think she does feel that way in her cape! 🙂
Baby steps are right - she still camps out in the bathroom BUT a small victory last night and today before I left for work - she will come out and see what's going on. Last night, we had some snuggle couch time and she was perfectly content. We still have challenges trying to maneuver her around w/the wound site.
Last night, however, watching her sit in the bathroom, shaking, I got upset (something I really try NOT to do around her). I just laid on the floor with her and gave her a massage sort of from the videos/links, and tried to calm down. And true to form, she tried to comfort me! When I pulled myself together and went into the kitchen, I turned around and she was there. Tail wagging / ears alert! (I call them her 'Jack' ears when her ears are perky like a Jack Russell Terrier).
As I got ready for bed, she did follow me into the bedroom and ultimately decided she couldn't figure out how to sit down on her blankets there (which are SAME texture as that silly bath mat that she loves) so she went into the bathroom. But she is coming out of it more and more (not a lot but any time I don't have to pry her out of there is a bonus). So perhaps she was/is still feeling insecure about her new figure? I know dogs don't know 3 vs 4 legs but she MUST know something is different and feel slightly 'off' about it? Right?
She had stopped shaking when I left for work so I feel confident she'll have a good day hanging in the bathroom! I just had no idea her recovery from this would be so much longer than the others. 15 days post amp today!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
You're so funny talking about Shelby and her "bathrom addictin"! I mean, I kow it's not funny...but...well...maybe just a little, o,ay?
I knowI keep referring to every dog's recovery is different." But when yo cl pare it to Hapoy Hannah, who at tw weeks was still whining, still only driking water if I put a scoop of ice cream in it, still not getting up to greet me, still not sleeping through the night at all......in fact when many dogs were gettng off pain meds, the vet upped hers a little going to the third week.....she's having a mich faster recovery than some!!
In fact, if you take the "bathroom equatio " out of the picture, I think you'd really be surprised at how much progress she has made...ESPECIALLY with all ner "other challe ges"
rior to this surgery! OMD! SHELBYSTRONG indeed!
If the shakng comes and goes pretty quickly, it's probably a short burst of sjrgety pain. The fact that she gt up and pt on ner "Jack Russell Ears" sounds like she poweres through t okay. I know the vet has her off all pain meds.....is she on any anri-i flammatory?
O,ay, "ve heard of "coing ot of the closet", bjt nlw we have a dog "coming ot of the bathroom"! Yoj rock Shelby!!
Keep on iproving sweet girl! Team Shelby .....great job!
Sally and Hapy Hannah
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!
"coming out of the bathroom"!!! Sally! You crack me up.
I'm not so sure about dogs having any sense of body image, but you never know. They obviously do sense something is off but probably not in the same way that humans do. I'm just glad she's getting used to things little by little.
As for the 15 day mark...remember, that is still in the normal time frame. Congrats on making it past 2 weeks! Hopefully you won't have much longer to deal with such odd behaviors.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ha ha!!! I think I have pushed her emotionally over the edge tonight. I decided to wash the towels and bathroom stuff. She is literally at a loss as to where to sit or go. She has been staring at me for the past 20 minutes and the wash won't be done for another 45 minutes!!! It would be sad if it wasn't so funny. I do feel bad for her BUT seriously - she has a TON of other blankets she could lay on (and no, not putting one in there as I don't want to enable or encourage this).
I have never seen her so vulnerable or scared or lost ... not since I rescued her so perhaps she's having to learn to trust me again. Good times at our casa tonight!
But she did eat like a total champ, kibble (most of it) chicken, cookies ... she's having a mostly good day - except for this.
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Oh wow that is interesting. How did she do after the blankets & towels were washed?
I hope you're having a good day!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So there is seriously something about the bathroom that is comforting to her. I did try and put another blanket in there and she was having none of that so as soon as the mats came out of the dryer, I gave them back to her. True they were nice and warm so she loved that (as usual). She didn't leave her bathroom the rest of the night!
This a.m. - in a beta test of sorts, I put the bath mat in the living room. Nope. Didn't want it there. Looked upset. Kept going back to the bathroom and looking at me. I was rushing to get to work so I didn't want to totally traumatize her so I put the mat back in the bathroom and was off.
So what I have learned is that she likes the bathroom with the bath mat in it. And she's getting a bit more snarky when I try and get in there to use the bathroom - bordering on aggressive since it's really not big enough for BOTH of us if I want to use the potty or anything. I have to wonder if they gave her a brain transplant while she was at the vet since this is absolutely NOT normal - at all - at this point! 
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hmmmm. This sounds to me like it could be a developing case of her feeling vulnerable and staking out her territory. I'm not a dog behaviorist but that does sound like a bit of role reversal here and she's trying to establish herself as top dog. Has she always tried to be the pack leader or is this something new?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMG - yes, she has always tried to "alpha dog" me - typical stuff like pulling on her leash, going in the door first, not moving over when she used to sleep in my bed.
By aggressive - I simply meant that she would give me a 'look' and refuse to budge. She has not bitten, snapped or growled at me over the bathroom nest (or any other place for that matter).
She has always been a very strong willed dog so I guess this is par for the course and I have to let her ride it out. I fear that it would upset her too much if I closed the bathroom door to shut her out - but perhaps that is what I need to do. Her vets, of course, think there is nothing wrong with this, but if I have guests that want to use the bathroom, will be awkward since we can't seem to close the door currently!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
OKAY! I GOOGLED Dogs Addicted to Bathrooms who are thirteen and just had an amputtiin"...........I found one result on my APPLE-GRAPE COMPUTER!!
I think thaty have a proram forpawparents of bathroom addicted dogs too!
And my 2 cents? Just let it go.....if this works for her and makes her ahpy and secure and less vulnerable while she's healing.....jist let her do it. No jarm to anyone.
And probably as son as YOU release it, she'll start letting go of it too! Now, if she starts sitting on the toilet, then we mayhave an "issue"
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!
LOL Sally and Hannah! Goodness I love you both so much! Thank you for a MUCH needed smile today!!!
Everyone is right - it's not hurting anyone and she can probably sense that it's bugging me *(thus her continuing to do so).
I will work on letting it go and honestly - to stop and think about it, it's kind of funny. Won't go in a crate to save her life but will hang in my bathroom all day long! Silly dog. She probably has figured out what she can and cannot do and is perfectly happy! I do need to get her some new bone at the store... she made motions to play w/one last night and it was empty (I get her the cheesy filled ones). Onward! XO
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
OK well that makes sense. I agree with Sally though: let it ride during this part of her journey. Just be strong and treat things as normal and they will get there.
I hope she enjoys the cheesy bone!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I love the photos of her in her bandana - she looks so cute. I must get one for Eva.
Eva has been really keen on the corner of our bedroom after her op and kept taking herself off to sit there - even when it had the least comfortable bed in it. We moved one of her other ones in there, but she still insists on sitting on a smelly pillow. She's seems to have been spending less time in the bedroom over the past few days, although she still comes in there to sleep at night (so she can wake me up when she stands up and squeaks or wants to rearrange her bed!).
I'd just let Shelby do what she wants for the time being - you may find she uses the bathroom as a den less as she becomes more confident in the 'new normal'. After all - we put them through a lot of upheaval - never mind the missing leg, it's the change in routine, all the vet visits, the weird (although yummy) food, mommy staying home all day... I bet they heave a sigh of relief when we finally go back to work!
Anyway - she's a small dog - unless you have a very small bathroom I'm sure you can manage. 
I have before now taken one of our dogs (not both of them, now that would be impossible) into a toilet cubicle with me!
Well, well, well - look who is out of the bathroom on her own? 
My bathroom - her safe zone - is pretty tiny - not a lot of space for both of us (let alone if I have to use the potty) so I am starting to kick her out to actually "use" the bathroom. I dont' care if she's in there when I am showering or putting on make-up but other stuff, if she's in the way and I have to straddle her or the potty, then out she goes. I am also trying to establish that I am the alpha in this house (cause that has worked SO well over the past 13 years... ha ha).
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
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