Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thank you Buster & Kim and Blazer, Kitty Kimber & Momma Vicki for all asking about Jake. 
He went in for his amp this past Tuesday, October 14th. He made it through the surgery (yea!) but is still recovering at the hospital. The doctor said that the cancer was advancing up his leg so he needed to take his entire leg, right up to Jake's hip... ugh. The doctor doesn't want to release him until the wound has more tissue formed around it and isn't draining as much. I thought I'd be able to take him home today and was extremely disappointed that I couldn't. I know he is receiving very good care and obviously needs it right now but I am worried about Jake's emotional well being. I guess the other issue is that Jake is being stubborn and doesn't want to walk. The doctor explained that initially (a day after the surgery) he leaped out of his pen like a frog and took a dive. He seems to be reluctant to want to try now... the poor guy. They are taking him out to urinate but he is not wanting to get up on his own. I feel like a terrible mother because I haven't gone in to see him but the doctor is advising me that it wouldn't be a wise idea. If Jake sees me, he is going to want to go home and will be crushed when I have to leave without him. I don't want to upset him of course but I'm thinking that he is feeling abandoned. I don't know which is worse! The doctor said that he's eating like a pig (yea!) so perhaps he's not that upset. Anyway, so far so good but Poochie and I are anxiously awaiting for Jake to be able to come home so we can love him up and help him recover.
Luv Spirit Jake, Smooch, Baby Gus & Mom (Sherri)
They wheeled my Buster out on a gurney the first time I visited him. If Jake took a dive he will be anxious about the floor... my Buster still is when we go for a check up. It's not unusual to go up to the hip for clear margins. What did the vet say? I guess you'll have to wait when they do more testing on the limb that was amputated. Glad the surgery is all done & he'll be back home soon. You''ll have to post a recent pic... it's very good that he is eating. Sounds good. Thanks for the update.
Kim&Buster
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
We're glad to hear that Jake went through the surgery well. It sounds like he's in really good hands.
Many vets don't recommend visits right after surgery, especially if there are any complications afterward, as it's not a good idea to get the patient too excited.
Please don't beat yourself up, you are definitely not a bad pawrent, that's for sure, not with all the love and courage you're showing by taking the steps to give Jake a chance at a good life on three legs.
Great to hear his appetite is good, that is awesome.
Hang in there, he'll be out soon and you'll be well on your way to getting along just fine. Keep us posted OK?
Yes, do post some photos when you get a chance.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Jake...hang in there pal - just a few more weeks and you'll be doing just fine! My doctor didn't let mom come see me either, said it would be too difficult for me and depressing for me to watch her leave without me. She hated not seeing me, but I was home soon enough and wow did I get a ton of love and attention when I got home...every need I had was taken care of and I'm sure yours will be too. Him eating like a pig is a WONDERFUL sign that he's A-OK...we're so happy to hear that he's eating...not many dogs do after this surgery - that alone should make you feel good.
Couple things to make sure of...if you have hardwood floors, put rugs down for him so he has an easier time of getting around. If you can/want to, sleep on the floor with him with an air matress or regular matress...it can give them a lot of comfort through the night which wasn't the easiest time for Zeus while he was on the pain medicines. Be patient with him while he figures out how to do the basics again like walking, getting up and laying down and doing his business and most importantly lots and lots of love! 
Keep us posted and know that we're all here for you!
Licks and Wags (and hugs too)
Zeus and Mom
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Jake will regain his confidence. It may take a little while but he will get there. It's good he is staying at the vets until he is really to come home. I wish they had kept Titan an extra night. It took my husband and I 2 hours to get him in the house. We were so discouraged and emotionally drained. We were wondering if we did the right thing. It has been a little over 2 months and Titan is doing AMAZING. It took a good 2 weeks for him to be himself so hang in there. When I look back at the day we were discouraged I KNOW it was ALL worth it. I would go back and do it again. Good luck and remember baby steps Jake will get there.
Heidi and Titan
HI Sherry,
I know how much you are looking forward to having Jake home and hope it is very soon. He is going to get stronger and more confident every day and before you know it, he will be running again! I will never forget how exhilarating that was to see my Abbey run and smile and play again after limping and being in pain for the 2 mos prior to amputation. My heart just flipped thinking about it :o) You two are going to have fun times again; get your camera ready!!
Diane Riley
Thank you all for your encouragement and guidance. Jake and I appreciate it very much. We had a pretty nasty scare yesterday. I received a phone call around 10:30 in the morning from my vet saying that Jake's red blood cell count was at 17 (normal should be between 30 to 35 I was told). Jake was losing a lot of blood and anemic. His blood wasn't clotting. He wasn't getting up at all and they had to put a catheter in him. The doctor advised me to come and see him before he got any worse. He mentioned the possibility of a blood transfusion. I live about an hour away from the veterinary hospital so a friend from work left with me and drove me because I was a mess at this point.
I arrived and they let me see him right away. It was awesome of course to see Jake but I didn't feel like he was himself. He was somewhere deep down in there but his eyes even looked like a different dog to me... very strange. We were out in the middle of the room where the technicians were working on other animals... gracious people but too much activity going on. He lay there on the blanket the whole time and just hung out with me. I visited for a little while and then left for about an hour and came back when the specialist came back in the office. I spoke with him and he told me that Jake was looking worse on paper at this point. He said that he gave him vitamin K to help with the clotting. I visited with Jake in a private room after I spoke with the specialist... this was so much better. We were able to play with him and just give him a ton of TLC. It was a great visit. I could see Jake appearing more and more like himself! The doctor let me know the blood work results before the end of our visit. His clotting levels were normal so that was good. It was close to closing time so the techs wrapped him up like a little burrito and took him back to his pen. He popped his adorable head up from the middle of the blanket to see if we were still standing there and I thought it was the cutest darn thing I've ever seen!
We left knowing that it was a great visit and that his clotting levels were normal. We planned to come again in the morning. The doctor called me this morning to tell me the good news... Jake's red blood cell count was getting better - up to 23. He had been up and around this morning with a tech who just came back from being out a week. She had received chemo and radiation treatments for breast cancer! She was encouraging/pushing him in a loving way which was what he responded to! We returned this morning and low and behold he came into the room assisted with a sling but hopping as a beautiful tripawd! I felt like such a proud pawrent! I just threw my arms around him and told him how very proud I am of him!
His appetite is now hit or miss. He didn't eat with them this morning but ate the chicken and peanut butter bones I brought to him. He is still oozing a little blood (not the watered down kind either) but it's not as bad as yesterday. Hopefully we will continue to go in this positive direction. I'd like to visit him tomorrow but I have to wait to see what the doc says tomorrow morning. I am so proud of my baby and I have to say that I absolutely love my vet and all of the technicians who have assisted Jake! We feel truly blessed!
I will try to post a recent picture (visit with him today) and one of Jake at the beach looking like a catfish! Thanks again for all of your warm regards and guidance. Jake sends his love and gratitude!
Luv Spirit Jake, Smooch, Baby Gus & Mom (Sherri)
Lookin' good there ol' boy! Keep on keepin' on ...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi sweet boy...you are a beautiful looking guy (at least mom says so)...We're happy to hear that the super duper scare is behind you and hope that you continue on your merry way back to good health and hopefully home very soon where we're sure you will be given the ultra super star treatment!
Mom and I will say extra, extra prayers for you tonight - please let us know when you get to go home ok?
Love and prayers,
Mom and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Jake's home!!! Yippee!!! The doc called this morning and said that it was time he went home because Jake was getting to a point where he was "just being a brat". Ha, ha! For the past two days, he didn't want to eat in front of them but would eat during the night (which is unusual for him). I think he just wanted to be home already because he seems so content right now. He is still draining here and there so I'll probably take tomorrow off from work to stay with him and make sure everything is good. He is getting around okay... hopping around while mom hovers over with a towel/sling, wincing and holding her breath! He is wobbly but doing well. My honey, John (has been Jake's dad since he was 1 and a 1/2 year old) made a ramp for him for my back steps (only three steps). Jake bypasses the ramp as if to say, "is that for you because I don't need it".
I am just so proud of my little tripawd and tripawds everywhere for that matter! Thanks for the extra prayers and love Zeus and Zeus' momma! They have been very helpful indeed! Thanks again to Spirit Jerry who I really feel was with Jake during those difficult days after the surgery. I know they have never met before but I felt a different kind of energy (other than the pain meds, stress and depression) with Jake and I kept on seeing another dog's eyes (uneasy for me) when I looked at him on Friday (our scarey day). I could swear they were Jerry's eyes as I have admired so many of his pictures in his gallery over the past couple of weeks. I have learned to trust these feelings and experiences when they happen in my life... don't happen often of course and as I've expressed to Rene and Jim in an email - I swear I'm not on any hallucinogenic drugs! Honestly! I just feel that when you ask angels like Jerry for help, they are more than happy to be there when you need them the most! So, please don't think that Jake's mom is crazy even though I am certainly feeling a little crazed these days, that's for sure! I just wanted to share our incredibly awesome experience with everyone. We truly feel so blessed to be feeling better and to be together at home again!
Luv Spirit Jake, Smooch, Baby Gus & Mom (Sherri)
jakethesnake said:
...when you ask angels like Jerry for help, they are more than happy to be there when you need them the most!
Always. 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm just catching up on Jake's discharge from the hospital. I'm so happy to hear he is home now. Sounds like quite a scare... Wishing him a speedy recovery. The pics are nice too thanks so much for sharing. With what just happened it's a nice opportunity to encourage all those fellow pawrents with healthy fur babies to donate some blood. Dogs need blood much like humans do... one pint of blood can help save the lives of up to 3 critically ill dogs.
Here is a bloodbank at the University of Penn.. help spread the word. Find one in your area you never know the life you save may be your own precious fur baby.
Jake looks sweet... not a snake at all. Take it easy during recovery...
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
Way to go Jake, you handsome devil you!! He looks great (before and after). Love the beach shot.
I totally know how you feel - so happy to have him home and see that old personality in his eyes. Yeah, the appetite will come and go. He may be moody until the stitches are out and he is off pain meds but if he gets in too much of a funk you may want to keep up with that red cell count. If he'll eat veggies, green leafy vegetables and brocolli are great sources of vitamin K. Stay pawsitive for him as he recovers and remember that we are hear if you have any questions at all.
Hugs
Connie & Radar
Yippie !!! Jake is home - we are happy for you beyond words. You are not silly for feeling Jerry spirit dog or any other angels around you that helped Jake (and you) through this very scary experience. Ask and you shall receive. I believe too.
Keep us posted on his continuing progress!! (We will still say extra, extra prayers for him)
Much love,
Zeus and Mom
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
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