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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It's official. Tasha went in for her amputation today at Tufts and this afternoon they called and said everything went well and she recovered perfectly from the anesthesia. They said she would sleep the night and have plenty of medication for her pain. I can't say enough great things about Tufts. They have been so caring and informative about the disease and the procedure. They have spent so much ever time answering all my questions and calling daily to check on me and Tasha. I guess that has been the one silver lining in this cloud is I know she is in good hands and getting great care.
I couldn't help but think how creepy and quiet the house was without her tonight. Or that she won't be able to do her typical greeting when I come home anymore...she stands at the top of the stairs and waves at me with one paw. My poor buddy...She is supposed to come home on Saturday. Not quite the NYE I had planned but I am just so happy to get her home and start her recovery. I am expecting these next few weeks to be pretty rough. I am hoping she doesn't hate me for having to do this and is still her same spunky self minus a leg.
Tasha was a German ShepherdBorder Collie mix who was diagnosed with OSA at age 8. On December 29, 2011 she had her front right leg amputated and received 4 rounds of chemo. Sadly and suddenly Tasha became sick and we discovered she had liver cancer that had spread to her lung. After almost 19 months, Tasha earned her wings on July 17, 2013. No regrets and never forgotten.
She will be happy to see you!
It's hard not to feel worry and guilt but do try to be kind to yourself!
Wishing her and you a good recovery!
Good luck with the recovery! You will likely have ups and downs, and LOTS of questions. This site is an absolute wealth of information, so don't hesitate to post with your questions. The members here have been tremendously helpful to us! And you may be surprised (in time) with what she is able to do. You may very well see a wave or two from the top of those stairs!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Levi loved to use his front paw for everything. To open doors, and whack us for attention. I thought for sure he wouldn't be able to whack at the door or paw at us. Boy was I wrong. He just leans back on his haunches and whacks us like usual. He does all the same things he used to. Amazing!
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
So glad Tasha's surgery went well. She won't hate you for making that awful pain go away. I picked Daisy up the day after her surgery and was so surprised how she was moving around and happy to see me. I thought she would be mad at me, too. She even goosed a man standing at the counter (she'd never done that)!
Best of luck with Tasha's recovery! She's a very pretty girl. Cute hat, too.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
great news that tasha is recovering from her surgery, and will be home tomorrow!! get some rest and know that the moment that your eyes connect when you pick her up, you'll just melt and forget all of your doubts.
charon & spirit gayle
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
Glad to hear all went well and I hope she has a smooth recovery once she's home!
Dante still uses his front paw for everything. He just lays on his back or side to do it. He'll lay beside us and incessantly whack us with his paw over and over until we pet him. 
If she's a paws-on kinda girl it won't be long before she finds her own way to make it happen again!
Yay Tasha! So happy you have great vets at Tufts and a wonderful pawrent who loves you so much!
You'll be waving with your paw again soon. Just heal quickly and life will be good again!
huggs & wags
Joanne & lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Welcome to the family. Try to get some sleep if you get the chance, you might find it a cherished event in the next few days. Don't be surprised if Tasha looks great when you pick her up and crashes a day or so later, it's pretty normal, not all do it but it seems alot do. Don't worry about her being mad, you've taken a tremendous amount of pain away by doing the surgery. These guys adjust extremely well, you have questions, someone here will have an answer, so don't be afraid to ask. Hold on for the ride, it can get bumpy at first, but once it smooths out, you will be amazed at how normal she will be, Paws up, spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Tasha will be fine, so will you! Lucy is 11 days post amp and she had her stitches out today!! She is already getting back to herself and we have no doubt she'll amaze us every step of the way. She was happy to see us when we picked her up. We were all happy she was home. She had a good recovery and I'm hoping Tasha will too. Hang in there!
Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Hooray for surgery going well. That is the first big hurdle. Next big hurdle is to get through the recovery. Be sure to come here with questions or if you just need some support. Get some rest before she comes home! Sleep can be in short supply and then every little thing seems worse. Once she is off the meds and has her stitches out, she will begin to amaze you.
Welcome to the tripawd pawrent club. It is a very special club to be in.
Abby sends healing kisses,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Thank you everyone!!! I can't say enough how much your advice, inspiration and support have meant to me. Tash is a pretty tough dog and I don't think she will let a missing leg stop her from doing anything she wants to do. I'm looking forward to getting my little girl home and recovered so we can get back to enjoying the things we love and making every day count.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year in 2012!
Tasha was a German ShepherdBorder Collie mix who was diagnosed with OSA at age 8. On December 29, 2011 she had her front right leg amputated and received 4 rounds of chemo. Sadly and suddenly Tasha became sick and we discovered she had liver cancer that had spread to her lung. After almost 19 months, Tasha earned her wings on July 17, 2013. No regrets and never forgotten.
OH! This is terrific news!! Terrific Tasha!
Please get your sleep NOW! You'll want to fuss over her something fierce when she gets home and you'll sleep with one eye open until you feel confident she is okay during the night! Sleep deprivation escalates everything in your mind...and in a negative way!
What a wonderful way to celebrate the New Year! Who needs parties when you have your baby back home!
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.
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