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| Name: Mustkill Barney Website: http://killbarney.tripawds.com Bio: Barney was always a favorite of Jerry … and his greatest nemesis. |
Recent Posts (All Posts)
| KillBarney Tour Taking A Break After much deliberation at Tripawds HQ, the KillBarney Tour has been suspended until further notice. [captio (More) |
| The Devil Went Down to Georgia What a tough little dino that Barney is, nothing will stop him! After surviving the most insane adventures EVER with Happy Hann (More) |
| Barney Parties with Happy Hannah! Happy Hannah had a pre-party for her one year More) |
| Word From Barney At Last! If you're as anxious to hear about Barney's latest adventures as we have been, check this out from More) |
| Barney Helps Wyatt Heal While we wait for news about the next adventures of the KillBarney Tour, Spirit Jerry's More) |
Hello all – I took my cat to the vets as stated in my pervious post re appointment made from reading others experiences and videos that matched my Jimmy behaviour of walking backwards and going backwards up the walls crying. The vet prescribed Gabapentin x2 a day to which I’ve now got down to x1 a day but noticed he’s started to show the abnormal behaviour again. I will talk to the vet about increasing it again, but my question is, his back left leg was removed early December 2020 now going into April 2021, is this normal for him to still be walking backwards and without taking the Gabapentin x2 a day ? I’ve read nerve healing can take up to x3 months but I’m almost into x4 since his operation and getting worried he maybe on meds for Life. Feeling sad I’ve had to put my boy through all of this. I know cancer of leg unavoidable but sad none the less to watch him in pain
Max, please get Jimmy to a pain management specialist for a second opinion. There so much more than Gabapentin that you can use to help him. A specialist can get him on the road to recovery faster. Please keep us posted in the Tripawds Discussion Forums.
We adopted a terrier mix front leg tripawd on Jan. 1st this year. He comes with a history of having been attacked by a pack of larger dogs resulting in multiple bites on all limbs and supposedly the front right amputation. Additional information states the limb was amputated prior to the fight so we don’t really know how long he has been a tripawd. His mobility was great during the first 7 weeks with no indication of pain. Over the past 6 weeks he is demonstrating decreasing stamina/mobility and significant increase in pain. He responds well to Capoten as needed and massage with Absorbine gel. He is on a glucosamine supplement plus Hills Metabolic and Mobility. Would this program be appropriate for his rehab? His vet is recommending acupuncture or chiropractic however we are not close to reputable providers. Thank you
Hi and thanks for adopting your pup. It’s not unusual for a new Tripawd to slow down like this, it’s usually because all their new life’s activity is catching up to them. It’s great that you saw your vet to discuss his situation. We do believe that yes this program will be helpful, but if you can perhaps manage the in-person visits for a while so that you can get him back to a pain-free life, that would be SUPER helpful and help him heal faster. Usually it just takes a few weeks, say 4-6, of initial rehab therapy before you can scale back on in-person visits. This program would be a great addendum to a program developed especially for your new buddy.
Best wishes to you both! Keep us posted in the Tripawds Discussion Forums!
Thanks for sharing Izzie’s story. Tomorrow we are taking my 4 year old Bernese Mnt dog Jordy for amputation on his right front leg after being diagnosed with an osteosarcoma. I’m an anxious mess & your article helped me to realize that we ARE doing the right thing for relieving his pain but also so he may stay around just a little longer.
Thank you for your last paragraph, it made my heart soar.
Sarah McCourt
Jordy Gustave Garcia
Sarah, we are sorry you had to join our club but know that we are here for you! Feel free to post in the Forums so we can help you and Jordy on your Tripawd journey. Much love & healing wishes to you both!
Thanks for sharing yours and Kix’s story.
Our 9 year old German Shepherd broke a toe nail 6 weeks ago and it just wasn’t getting better and got infected. He was at the vet again last week and they found a tumor on the bottom of the nail/toe. It has not reduced in size after a high dose antibiotic shot so it’s very likely he’ll need to have the toe amputated. Glad to hear she’s recovering.
Laura, we are glad you found Kix’s story. As you can see, dogs handle any kind of amputation so much better than humans! Best wishes to you and your GSD!
Hi I have a terrier with a front leg amputated. Where would I go for advice and price for a prosthetic leg thank you
Barbara, it’s best to locate an orthopedic veterinary surgeon in your area who has experience with prosthetics for dogs. If you cannot find one reach out to OrthoPets and they can point you to someone.
I found a beautiful, but emaciated and seriously injured, German shepherd (now named Winnie) on the side of the freeway almost 2 months ago. Her left hind leg was broken in two places and the vet said it looked like she had been hit by a car about a month prior to me finding her. When we had her leg amputated, the vet put her in my car while she was still unconscious from the anesthesia. Mind you, I am an averagely built 19 year old girl who has taken on this responsibility nearly completely solo, so I was terrified at the thought of how I was going to carry her inside my house. I had to call my friend, also 19 years old, to help me carry this 70 pound dog into my home. Winnie was bleeding everywhere from her drain tubes and after a few hours she started to wake up. The next 8 hours were a nightmare. She was moaning like a dying human. The vet did not give me any sedative or opiate and the strongest pain med they gave me was carprofen, which is basically doggy advil. Now, I have an overwhelming amount of experience with dealing with dying/injured people and animals, but this was something else. I had to pay an extra $800 (on top of the $2000 surgery) to have her admitted at an emergency vet only 12 hours after her coming home. I only got 3 hours of sleep every night for about about 4 days after this and two days before the surgery. Luckily, the er vet gave me an anti anxiety medication that really calmed her down. I think she was terrified and disoriented. The vet never told me what to expect or what to do, but I digress. The point I am trying to make is that she got her leg amputated a little over a month ago and is doing very well now considering. She is going up and down the stairs, running, eating, learning commands, etc. To all of you who are worried about your pet’s disinterest in food or toys, just know it will come with time. A week is not enough time for a dog to mentally or physically recover from such a serious surgery — Winnie didn’t really start to do well until week 2. If Winnie could recover after the terrible emotional and physical trauma she has endured, so can you and your pup. Patience and sympathy are all I was able to give Winnie during that time (apart from thousands of dollars, love, and time, of course). One last bit of advice, I highly recommend getting your tripawd a joint supplement with chondroitin and glucosamine. They sell treats with both of those ingredients on amazon for pretty cheap and it will seriously help your dog compensate for the strain of the uneven weight distribution. Good luck!
Thank you so much for sharing, Ellis. We LOVE German Shepherds and are so glad Winnie is rockin’ the Tripawd life now. She won the doggy lotto when she met you! Feel free to join us in the Discussion Forums to share more about your adventures.
My dog had puppies and one little girl was born without a front leg, I was really concerned so went straight to vets with her and the vet told me that she would be okay, so I decided to give her a chance and to keep her. She had a condition called Amniotic Ring, where a hole appeared in the amniotic sack and her leg poked through, but as she grew, the hole didn’t stretch and it cut off the blood supply in her leg and it withered off, so she was born missing a right front leg.
I called her Sasha and she was a gorgeous little thing, half Shih tzu and half Lhasa Apso. She adjusted well to only having three legs and didn’t seem to have any problem with it. She held her own with her siblings and ran round and played just like them.
After the rest of the litter were sold she settled into her life and just got on with things, she could run as fast as my other dogs and loved playing with them and only having three legs didn’t hold her back at all. My other dog had puppies, and Sasha loved to get in the box with them and pretend they were her pups, she had such a strong maternal instinct, treating the pups like they were her own. I hadn’t intended to breed with her, but she was such a natural mum I decided to let her have a litter.
She sailed through her pregnancy and she had two beautiful pups a boy and a girl with no health problems and the pups where all perfectly normal and all had 4 legs. She was a fantastic mother, the pups did well, I sold the little girl and kept the boy who is called Hugo.
I’m so glad I kept her, she is such a lovely natured dog, and she enjoys her life. I was worried how she would cope as a Tripawed dog, but it’s not been an issue and she doesn’t need any special assistance. Letting her have puppies was great, she was such a good mum.
Thank you for sharing Ian, we are so glad Sasha is thriving and doing well as a mum and a Tripawd!
Hi I’m in the uk, my world is in pieces at the moment ny little girl of 8 has cancer in two
Lumps on her front wrist. They carnt remove so amputation is an option, need some advice feeling so raw and constantly crying .
Best wishes for your pup! Please post in the forums for much more help and support from others than you will get from comments on this old blog post.
Hi. I’m in the UK as well. You’re not alone. My dog Charlie, golden retriever, had one of his back legs amputated nearly 7 years ago. Yes, he’s nearly 10 and doing so well. It’s a shock when you know it’s going to happen but dogs adjust magnificently – much better than humans. Wishing you all the best. It will be fine
Sue that is so kind of you to share your story, thank you! All the best to you and Charlie!
Hi my 8 year old lab/Aussie Shepard mix Lexi has infiltration lipoma in her hind right leg. It is quite painful, and is affecting her other leg as she is compensating with the left leg. We have just come home from the vet and have made the decision to remove her hind leg. She goes at the beginning of next week. Thank you for this information. We are very nervous but optimistic for a good recovery. We have stairs off of our deck. Would you suggest a ramp for Lexi rather than use the stairs. Are there any other things that we can get to assist her through her post op. Thank you maureen bartlett.
Hi Maureen, sorry to hear about your pup but you’ve come to the right place. Be sure to join our Discussion Forums for fast help from the community. Most dogs don’t take too well to ramps. If you only have a few stairs, say less than 6, some traction tape would be just fine. Check out The Tripawds Recovery Shopping List for tips about what to consider for your home. Keep us posted!
Thank you so much for your own experiences and advice. My cat started to walk backwards and flip after a back leg removal December 2020. Feel so help less when it happens. I’ve booked an appointment with the vet and have a video of the events but less panicked now read others experiences. THANK YOU
You are so welcome Max. Good luck and feel free to keep us posted in our Three Legged Cats Forum Topic!
My dog has just had an amputation due to cancer and we are still in the very early stages of recovery so I’m still learning but is it the expectation that tripods will be on pain relief for life?
Hi Nicola, sorry to hear about your pup. Please feel free to join our Discussion Forums for more help from the community. Meanwhile, about pain relief, every dog is different. Some need extra help, some don’t, it just depends on the dog. To find out what yours will need, we encourage you to take advantage of the Tripawds Rehab Reimbursement program to get your pup assessed so that you will know what to expect, how to keep your dog injury free, and strong. See you in the Forums!
Is that triday graphic something we can post to ig so our friends will know about it?
Please! 🙂 Be sure to tag @TripawdsCommunity.
Being a dogmom of a tri-pod (rear leg amputated November 9th, 2020) that wants nothing more than to “work”, this is fantastic news!! I am just starting the process, but I seriously want to change the AKC eligibility requirements for FAST CAT….our Wrigley LOVES to run. If anyone can give me pointers on how to get started, please reach out! lori.moes@gmail.com
This is awesome. Congrats on the change to AKC.
Thank you MIchelle! I was a labor of love for all of us!!!!!!!!
Hello,
My 10+/- rescue Rottie Brutus has been home 1day since left hind amputation due to osteosarcoma.
Luckily it didn’t turn up on X-rays but haven’t received info from bone biopsy yet. Is this a death sentence?
His remaining right hind leg has significant arthritis. How realistic is it to have repeated activity on it. He is big almost 140. I will get him to lose weight but am tentative to overwork it. I have a good vet & feel like I’ve asked these questions but am still confused on what’s next. He is resting, has fentanyl patch. Should I still administer tramadol or gabapentin for pain? He ate & drank. Threw up a very little bit. Even hopped up the steps to get inside/outside but no pee or poo allday! I will try again tomorrow with sling & assistant. This article really helps. I have hope! Thank you!!
Hi Brutus and Dude, welcome. Please consider joining us in the Discussion Forums so we can help you better OK? For now, yes, most dogs are on pain control at least until stitches are out. Take it slow and easy, consider making an appointment with a rehab therapist to help you help Brutus. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit!
Hi Jerry thank you for your reply . Yes it is osteosarcoma sorry typing error! I was wondering if there was anything the new treatment at UW could help Beau with ? Does the treatment extend to the UK in any way . I was wondering if there were any University Veterinary Centres here that carry out the new treatment or work alongside UW ,or that UW could advise my referral vets on the best way to help Beau .
I am now going to get Beau to a rehabilitation specialist as he has finished his chemotherapy. Looking to take him to hydrotherapy too. Thank you again .
Anthea
Anthea, I’m not 100% sure, you would have to contact UW to find out. Best wishes to you and Beau. Keep us posted in the Forums!
Hello it is lovely to be in contact with you.
I have just clicked onto this topic so please bear with me to the fact I have not read looked into it yet fully . I just had to reply to you as I am in need of hope for my dog and I know time is the essence.
I have a wonderful 5year 11month old Hungarian Vizsla who showed a limp just before Christmas 2019 . Still showing it when I returned after days away ,I made an appointment at my vets for us to call in on our journey home. There we were told to my relief that he had bruised toes and to carry on with his metacalm for a few more weeks. Over the next week I became increasingly worried as he had a lump over his wrist area and I was looking at it all the time wondering if it had got bigger. My other dog was registered from birth at another closer vets and so I seemed a second opinion there. As you can imagine I was out of my mind with worry but after xrays the vet came and showed me one and explained he had broken his wrist ! He said he had not seen anything quite like it before but that nothing needed to be done surgically as it was stable between the two outside bones . We went home with an appointment for a few weeks later and told to keep him as quiet as possible. Only exercising on the lead for a toilet run. I went back with Beau for check up . Vet said he was happy and perhaps give him short walks . I insisted I had another consultation as I wanted to do everything right for Beau and didn’t want to take things too fast . Once again everything was reported to me as ok . I was told to increase his exercise s little periodically. He did not want to see Beau anymore and said it would just be time.Anyway. I still wasn’t happy and so I took Beau back in June 2019 to just get confirmation everything was ok. Once again I was told by the vet he was happy with Beau progress and that some dogs limp for a very long time after .
I took Beau up for his vaccinations on September 16th 2019 we were not thinking the worst. I made the appointment with the same vet who had treated him for the break just so that he could see him again . When he brought Beau back to the car ,all consultations were done from the car park with the dogs taken off by the vet if treatment was needed because of Covid , he said he was not happy with Beau and to fear the worst . I was floored totally devastated. He wanted to do a biopsy the following day to confirm his thoughts. After the biopsy we waited another 10 days for the results. It came back Beau had Oesteocarcinoma ! . I did not want Beau to be treated by this veterinary Hospital so I asked for him to be referred to Cave Referrals. We were contacted by them almost immediately and Beau was booked in for consultation the next day. After some tests the vet phoned me and said they would go ahead with amputation of his left front leg. He was in Vets for 3days . There was no sign of spread to his lymph glands ,they did have his leg and one near it that was removed tested . From his scan there was no significant spread anywhere but an off the scale mark on his lung which they said could have been scarring .
He was quite out of it for some days after returning home . After his check up we booked him in to start chemotherapy. He has had 6 treatments the last one only 3 days ago .
I am not sure what to do now . I have been offered another scan. Chemotherapy treatment to be given at home . I turned down another scan if it is not going to be beneficial to Beau and will not change decisions to give anymore treatment at the moment . I am considering having one done in a couple of months maybe but I do not know whether this is the exact right time for one as I do not want it to be too late or early .
I have now seen your report/ trial and wonder with so much hope if you could offer my wonderful boy ❣️❤️any help PLEASE. I lost previous My Hungarian Vizsla to prostrate/urethra / bladder cancer at exactly the same age . Beau was even named to help me over Sonny’s loss and to be able to move forward with this beautiful breed. Beau was born only two days after Sonny died. We lost Sonny 13 months after diagnosis when he was 6years 8 months old . I can not believe this horrific time has happened again to me . I live in hope . THANK YOU for reading this .
Regards
Anthea Clark
Hi Anthea, I’m assuming you are talking about osteosarcoma, correct? Either way I’m so sorry you went through such an awful ordeal with the vets and hope you were able to find more competent ones to treat Beau. Please consider searching for an AAHA-accredited clinic in your area for his primary care. Meanwhile it sounds like Beau is doing really well, which is great. After chemotherapy is over you can certainly do metronomic chemotherapy in an attempt to prevent metastasis, but recent studies show it is falling out of favor and hasn’t been as beneficial as once believed. What you can do is help Beau stay strong and healthy by 1) following the awesome guidance in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, and 2) making an appointment with a canine rehabilitation therapist to ensure he stays strong and injury free, and to learn how you can help him do that. The Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit!
Finally, please consider joining us in the Tripawds Discussion Forums where you will receive MUCH more help from the entire community. Hope to see you there.
My 3 legged cat was born with 3 legs but she recently just got it fully amputated so the bone isn’t sticking out anymore. I have tried multiple different cones but she won’t wear any of them. I am trying to find a sock/t-shirt to put over it. I’m just wondering if someone can help me create something to cover it until the stitches are removed? She won’t stop licking/biting them.
Hi Liz! Have you tried a baby onesie? There is also the VetMedWear Recovery Suit. Come join us in the 3-Legged Cats Discussion Forum topic so we can help you better!
Thank you for sharing this story. I am struggling with this decision. Two rounds of antibiotics have not helped and my vet suggested amputation. The reason I am hesitant is my dog is 16 and I’m so scared he won’t recover from the surgery. At the same time I can’t stand to see him suffering with this toe. He still eats, plays and goes for walks but I know it bothers him.
Frances, sorry to hear you are faced with this situation. I’m glad you found comfort in Kip’s recovery story!
I just had my 11yr old Beagle Charlie’s front middle toe amputated. I too was afraid of the anesthesia for his age. It’s been 48 hrs and he’s hobbling around but I also pick him up and carry him outside to potty. He’s eating, drinking and doing much better than I expected. He goes in tomorrow for a bandage change and pathology report. I hope and pray no cancer. It was a hard decision, but he was suffering and I couldn’t put him through that any longer. Only you know what’s best for your fur baby!!
This is an amazing video offered by Pam! I’ve noticed how she stares at the missing limb and still cries out in pain after 5 months (she’s been with me 1 mo) I will begin this today, thank you again!
Question about prevention. I have a young dog, front leg amputee, who is very active/athletic. Is it possible to use support wraps on her one front leg? This is common with performance horses and I hope that I can fashion something similar for my tripod pup.
Hi Ann. Great question. We are not vets, but we have never heard of this as an option. In fact, rehab vets tell us that any kind of support device placed on a Tripawd without the supervision of a vet therapist can do more harm than good. Please consider taking advantage of our Tripawds Rehab Reimbursement program so your pup can get evaluated by a therapist and you can learn how to keep him safe.
My 11 year old bishon Bolognese, Enana was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. The cancer was metastasized. Right after the diagnosis I started to give her (mushrooms) immune boosters, detox formulas, and cbd and she is doing well. She was supposed to get radiography and X-rays but she she refused to get touched by the vet technicians, she almost bite them.
Now we received a call that her rabies and distemper vaccines, which she has it every 3 years, are due this month. Now, Reading this and many other news, I will no have my baby get the vaccine.
I’ve read that distemper is very contagious between dogs and other mammals. How can I protect my baby Enana from this contagios illness?
Mariana, it’s wonderful that your dog is doing so well and beating cancer, that’s great. To protect her from diseases it’s important to work with an integrative vet who understands how to help a dog with cancer stay safe. Check this American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association directory to find one near you.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I’m very interested in prosthetics, my 7 year old Rottweiler just had a full shoulder amputation for bone cancer. Not even 48 hours post op she is herself hobbling around with help of a sling to go out to the bathroom. In a month when she is healed I really want her to be able go back to getting active again.
Glad to hear she’s doing well! Yay! Join us in the Forums to keep us posted. Meanwhile you will want to watch this space for a two-part series on prosthetics and Tripawds!
My cat is just a year old he got hit by a car in the middle of the night. Then crawled his way all the way back to our door. We took him to the vet he said if he survives(eats, drinks, and goes to the bathroom normally) through the weekend at home we could take him in on Monday to get his back leg amputated. His growth plate was too damaged to heal on its own and his leg was mangled other than that he was healthy. He came home the day of the surgery which is today. He’s already eating, he went pee(after a lot of struggling), he has a soft cone on, he’s had his pain medication. I just can’t help but worry cause he seems aggravated all the time. He will toss around and make noises frequently. Then just stare at the floor for a while then repeat and whenever I try to pet him or help him he “yells” at me. Am I doing something wrong, is there something else I can do to help, is what he’s doing normal, and should I tell the vet about his behavior. Any help would be amazing cause god knows I don’t know what I’m doing.
Hi Shellia, I answered your questions here in the Three Legged Cat Forum. Glad you posted there!
Thank you so much for spotlighting my amazing lil girl. This means the world to me as she was a one of a kind find.
No, thank you!
Elias study guess not apply here. Anybody other suggestions before I loose my dog. What do they do in the case where a dog has their leg amputated for a soft cell scar coma from two previous biopsy and the amputation biopsy comes back now bone cancer. They double check the previous biopsies and all correct. Then don’t have some stain they need to confirm bone cancer. So my dog goes on chemo as a precaution. E months in they do X-rays and the bone cancer is now in her lungs.
So very sorry to hear about your pup Lynette. Lung metastasis is heartbreaking. Please see our Metronomics Discussion Forum Topic for some ideas and this news post about lung metastasis. Hope to see you in the Forums.
Cooper has been a front-leg amputee for 9 years (he was a puppy when he lost his leg). He recovered at that time very, very quickly and he can jump into the car, does stairs quite well (we live in a one-level home though); and he jumps onto and off of the couch and human bed. But… we really can’t go for walks. He can’t keep up with the other two non-disabled dogs, and he not only lags behind but starts panting heavily, and often hops away into the woods (naughty) because I’ll walk ahead with the other two and leave him unleashed behind us. We live in the country, so there is no danger of traffic or anything. However, as he gets older.. I worry that he won’t be able to do any of this activity as time goes on. Would this program help in a case like ours?
Hi Kathleen, it’s great to hear from you! I’m glad Cooper is still thriving, he’s such a great dog! I would say that YES this program can help him get stronger, but I can’t say if it will enable him to keep up with the other dogs. Have you considered a pet stroller? They are GREAT for multi-dog housholds! And some models are really good at going off-road. But first please check in with your vet to ensure there’s nothing else going on. And don’t forget the Tripawds Foundation can pay for his first rehab consultation too, so that will also put you on the right track.
I would love to take this back leg amputation 12 week course for my Priscilla oh, but I cannot afford it.
Hi, my cat is due to have his left front leg amputated in a week – he is 12 yrs old. I’d like to know how many owners let their cats go back outside once they have 3 legs? He doesn’t venture far, only the back garden & occasionally the neighbours … very pleased to have joined this site, it doesn’t feel so scary now.
Hi Luci, sorry to hear about your kitty. We are glad you found us though! Regarding being an outdoor cat, this is what I told Sephy’s human: we highly recommend building a catio to keep her safe from predators. As a three-legged animal she will be extra vulnerable so this sounds like an opportunity to train her to be an indoor cat? I know that’s hard but worth the effort.
I have a 8 months cat that was amputated at 5 months old. Recently he started randomly walking backwards. I don’t know if this is normal..
Hi Renata. He could have residual phantom pain from the amputation. Let your vet know as soon as possible so this can be addressed and keep us posted in the Tripawds Cat Discussion Forums OK?
I was given Previcox as the only pain reliever for my 3 yr old jack Russell terrier, that had her right front leg amputated yesterday. She is constantly moaning, what should I do?
Lisa, that is so sad! If your dog hasn’t received a 3-day injectable pain relief drug called “Nocita,” please call your vet immediately and demand additional pain medication such as Gabapentin. That is not nearly enough to help a dog through this recovery. Good luck and keep us posted in the Discussion Forums.
I just adopted a tripod and am worried about pre-existing condition restrictions with pet insurance. Any suggestions?
Hi Deborah. Yes, as mentioned in the interview, ask whatever insurance company you are considering, to do a full medical record review of your dog. That way you will know in advance what will or will not be covered.
Thank you for sharing. My Irish Setter is going in for amputation tomorrow with a suspected hemangiosarcoma on her shoulder. It gives me hope that Chestnut is doing so well.
Jamie, we wish you and your pup all the best for an easy, speedy recovery. Please keep us posted in the Forums!
We just lost my boy ‘Sam’ last night due to Osteosarcoma and we are utterly devastated. No sleep, our hearts are ripped out of us. He was 6 years old and a Great Pyrenees. I just discovered this website this morning…..
So sorry for your loss! Please post in the Coping With Loss forum for support, or call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime.
Hi Mark
I haven’t been on this page for years but just felt compelled to this morning as I was reminiscing about my Porthos and just saw your message. I know what you are going through and I am so sorry for your loss. The Tripawds Community are AMAZING and really helped me through my grief.
Praying for you during this difficult time.
Amanda & Angel Porthos
Hi my dog had front left leg amputation and since then he has had a problem somewhere in his back left leg or hip ! He widens his back left leg to make up for balance since left front leg is no longer there ! Recently he hurt it so bad he couldn’t put weight on his back left leg .. do you think it’s his hip since he has to widen his back left leg to make up for the front not being there
Ed, we are sorry your doggie isn’t feeling well. We can’t even begin to guess what the problem is so please get your pup to a canine rehabilitation therapist asap. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your dog’s first rehab visit too! And post in the Discussion Forums so we can help you along in your journey OK? See you there!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everypawdy. Upside down snow globe for sure. Sending love and hugs to all. Seeing the zoom call photo made me smile, so much warmth, love, and comradery
Wishing for a much better year to come but for now, one day at a time.
Lots of love,
Jackie and Huckleberry
Wishing you and your pack all the best too, Jackie! You help keep us right side up and smiling, thank you for being there and for all your support! Hoppy Pawlidays!
Hi everyone,
Rebecca here, I’m new to the forum. My nine year old golden, Chewy, was diagnosed with rear leg osteosarcoma at the beginning of November. At the time there was no sign of spread. We did the amputation mid november, and when we went to start chemo dec 10, the vet said that it had spread and was in multiple spots. We’ve started the first round of chemo to try and slow the progression, and are on day 8 of the first round. I’ve noticed a light cough, and she’s doing it multiple times throughout the day. (Prior to today she would maybe half that light cough once a day, when she got up after sleeping for a few hours.) Does this mean the chemo isn’t working and the cancer is spreading rapidly? I’m really worried about my girl. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Rebecca. We are sorry to hear about Chewy’s lung metastasis. Sounds like you have a great vet team looking out for her. It’s hard to say what her coughing could be. Yes it could be mets but it could also be something she accidentally inhaled, so try not to panic right now. Mention it to your vet when they are back in the clinic. In the meantime please post in our Tripawds Discussion Forums for more feedback from the community and check our thread about metronomics and lung metastasis. See you there!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all. Wishing you all the best this season and much love and health as this crazy year comes to a close. Albeit crazy and out of the norm, I am blessed to have much to be grateful for which I do not take for granted, one blessing is definitely Jim and Rene and the Tripawd family. Happy wishes to all, love Nancy and “angel” Applesauce ❤️
Awww thank you Nancy and Angel Applesauce, this makes us so hoppy. We treasure your being part of this community, and helping others by inspiring them to life life as large as Applesauce did. May you have a beautiful celebration safely at home with your sweet girl watching over you. Hoppy Christmas to you too!
Our Greyhound Reno had an amputation three weeks ago. He is having phantom pains. Gabapentin, Carprofin, Amantadine. Still yelping probably 10 times a day. I burst into tears nearly every time. I feel defeated. Guilty. Hopeless. But he still loves his walks and his personality is just the same. He even plays a bit. I’m so confused. We are trying acupuncture next week. I just pray we find a solution.
Hi Beth. I saw your post and want you to know that this is not forever! Glad you posted in the Forums, we’ll see you over there. (((hugs)))
My dog was diagnosed with a spleen tumour in November and they have said they cannot do anything because it has spread to his liver. They put him on metacam first to manage the discomfort but eventually it was strong enough so gave me gabapentin to take along side the metacam again worked for a bit but started to wear off too quickly. He has now been taken off that and been on prednisolone for a week and a half. I don’t quite understand what the benefits of it are. He is okay, he is not as good as he was when the pain killers were working. And the past few days he walks very carefully up and down the stairs. As we get throughout the day he has definitely perked up later in the afternoon and evening. They cannot tell me how long he has left. I am tempted to ask the vets if there is anything else we can give him to make him more comfortable I’m just really struggling to know what the right thing to do is. I wish I knew how it’s going to progress, I know more likely than not I am going to have to make the decision to put him to sleep so he isn’t suffering. I’ve never had to make that decision before and I just scared of knowing when to make that call.
Kayla I’m sorry to hear about your pup. It sounds like they are giving the pred to reduce inflammation and keep him comfortable. YES, ask the vet what else they can do! It will put your mind at ease to know that you are doing everything possible. Your vet wants to hear from you so call them OK? Let them know you are also confused about end of life decisions so they can guide you with that decision as well. You can do this. (((hugs)))
I’m so sorry to hear about your dog baby. I know the pain and sadness you are experiencing as I too am going thru trying to make the best decisions for my fur baby girl as she too has been diagnosed with cancer. All I can tell you is that, after having to make the decision 2 times now, they do let you know when it’s their time. It’s our job to pay close attention and listen them as they do communicate to us. It will be one of the most difficult decisions you will every make… Trust that you will, thru love, make the decision that is best for him. I also want to say that the depth of sadness and loss is very deep and real. Take very good care of yourself as you go thru this process. I wish you peace of heart.
Hi I am going threw the same thing right now I don’t know if I should put her to sleep or wait it out what did you end up doing and what to expect
Margaret we are so sorry to hear that. It’s a good idea to consult with a pet hospice expert at this point so they can analyze your pup’s situation. We wish you both lots of quality time in the coming weeks.
Shoot I totally forgot 🙁
Hello, my 1 year old cat had his rear leg amputated on Wednesday. Today he came home from the vet. My poor cat cannot have opioids because he gets a really bad reaction to them. So he came home with 2 pain meds. His incision sight is about 5 inches long. I didn’t expect it to be so long. He has eaten well since being home. I just don’t know what to expect from here on out. He was meowing a lot so i emailed the vet and i increased one of the pain meds. He just can’t seem to get comfortable. He wants to lay and sleep on the incision sight but its not comfortable so he isn’t sleeping well. He sleeps in like 20 min increments and adjusts and meows and then falls asleep again. The incision site is red and puffy and the vet said that was normal and there was some liquid but that would get absorbed over the next few days.
He is pretty weak on this good rear leg so he kind of walks a little then plops down and then meows and then walks a little. I assume that normal but not sure.
If anyone has any tips or just can relay there cat’s recovery that would be helpful. Oh he does hate the cone so i got a soft cone and then got him a t-shirt that goes over the incision so that i don’t need to use the cone when he eats or sleeps. so i interchange them.
Thanks!!
Hi Vanessa! I’m so glad you posted in the Forums. I answered over there. Hope things are going well today!
I realize this post is several years old, but recent events with my dog lead me here.
Sometime in 2017, my previous dog received his rabies vaccine. He passed away rather unexpectedly a week later. He was 14 years old.
Halloween of THIS YEAR (2020) my other dog (age 8 years) received her annual rabies vaccine. Since then, she’s had breathing difficulties, nasal and eye discharge, and ongoing sneezing and “reverse sneezing. It was discovered via X-ray there is a growth inside her nasal passage. Ergo, i hypothesize that the rabies vaccine ACCELERATES tumor growth in older dogs.
I refuse to allow my dogs to suffer. Ergo, I requested my vet to put my dog on steroids. She was Rx’d prednisolone (sp?) and is doing much better, albeit the nasal growth. Going forward, I am denying the “mandated” rabies vaccination. It is turning out that my dog will die ANYWAY, rabies vaccination or not.
Given my PERSONAL experience with TWO different dogs w recent rabies vaccinations, I no longer think this is just “a coincidence.” Pish posh. The rabies vaccine in my state is REQUIRED by law. Just because something is “law” doesn’t mean the reasons FOR the law is logical. Please feel free to share this sentiment and my hypothesis with your colleagues.
I’m starting to think the anti-vaxxers may have a point.
JL, I’m so sorry for the heartache you’ve experienced with your two dogs. Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with our community. We send tons of pawsitivity to you and your current pup for more happy days ahead.
My foster dog (2 or 3 year old island dog) came to be with me in mid September. In July, she had a right hind amputation (and her owner didn’t want her back). I live on a boat, and she’s been adapting wonderfully. Better than most 4 legged dogs! However, in October we had a day of “episodes”. By “episode”, I mean she screams/yelps for a few seconds intensely (it sounds like she’s dying), and tries to “get away” from (??) basically nothing. Nothing is touching her when these episodes hit. She’s usually resting, but not asleep. She then looks distressed, doesn’t want cuddles, and doesn’t offer kisses (very unlike her). She never licks or points towards her amputated limb (or anything else). So, the day in October, she had like 4 episodes in a day. For 24 hours after that, she slept on our bed, looking depressed. Then, she was fine. Now, today (12/4/20), she had one more completely random episode. I called her back to our bed, and she climbed onto it by herself and wedged herself between our pillows. She spent the rest of the day there and only came down to get her dinner. She’s giving me kisses again, but she’s not her happy, tail wagging self. I have no idea if this is phantom limb pain or not, but I’m starting to think it could be.
Nik it absolutely does sound like phantom pain. I’m so sorry. Please post in our Discussion Forums so we can better help you and even locate a pain specialist if you’d like help. Your pup is lucky to have you!
You are doing very good and useful things indeed! 14 years it really a lot. It was interesting to know your backstory, I wish you that all your affairs would only go up and of course good luck.
This is a fantastic summary of the backstory and all that you’ve developed over these many years now!
Thanks Dave! 🙂
With all the sad emotions you have to be feeling right now, reaching out to everyone with your love and wisdom is one of a gazillion reasons we are grateful for you! You two, Jerry, Wyatt Ray, this community….yeah, we are so grateful.
And that picture…beautiful! I can hearing Wyatt yapping and barking and telling you what’s on his mind!! He’s probably saying put that dang camera down!
Aww Sally, thanks. Some days are harder than others but through it all the lessons our animals teach us give us strength to continue our mission to help our 3-legged heroes. And then there’s the amazing people like you who embrace us with warmth and friendship. How can we NOT be grateful for that? (((hugs)))
Thank you ❤ this was well needed.
You are so welcome Jackie, I’m glad we could brighten your day a little. (((hugs))) to you and the pack.
My cat just had back leg amputation 3 days ago, and this started happening today. I really hope it will go away soon. Anyone else had this? How long did it last? any tips?
Yes! Please visit the forum topics linked to above for much more feedback and better help from tri-kitty members!
Cat Post-Amputation Strange Behavior
Cat Displaying Strange Behavior After Amputation
I am trying to get into study before taking leg but will not know if mine gets chemo of the ELIAS. Not sure its worth it if I only have 50/50 of getting ELIAS.
Let us know how it goes, we hope you get in. Thank you for thinking about helping science eradicate this disease.
I have a puppy that was born with just 3 legs and a little nub. I was wondering if you would be interested in this dog as a service animal for a wounded soldier as a therapy dog? Please let me know where I could donate her. Thank you. Nancy Smith
Nancy if you have a Tripawd for adoption please post in our Tripawd Rescue Forums. Thanks.
How long after the surgery can I allow my cat to attempt to walk? Right now she is in a large dog cage.
Hi Lynette, generally, most cats are up and about within a day or two after surgery, but kept in a safe confined place for at least a week. Little by little after that, most parents allow their cat a bit more freedom but still in a controlled environment, like a bedroom with the door closed (as long as they can’t get trapped in a box spring or jump up onto high shelves). When stitches come out is typically when the restrictions end, but still in a home with safe places to land and climb. You know your cat better than anyone. The slower you reintroduce her world the safer it is for her recover. Please join us in the Trikitty Discussion Forums for more help from members and keep us posted!
Hi i have a young kitty that has a urinary tract infection what should i do he was on antibiotic please tell what i can do to help him out
Hi Kimberly. The best thing to do is to call your vet to figure out why the antibiotic isn’t working. Good luck ad we hope your kitty gets well soon!
My dog was just diagnosed with Ostesarcoma in her clavicle, and across the shoulder and down her humerus.
She is almost 12 yrs old. I’m trying to decide what is going to give her the best quality of life. They are only giving her 4 months.
We are sorry to hear this Rachel. Please consider joining us in the Tripawds Discussion Forums so we can help you both on whatever path you take. We will support you no matter what.
Hi Jerry,
I have a 10-year old front-leg tripawd who has been this way since she was less than a year old. We just recently got her a wheel chair from Ruff Rollin’ in order to combat the arthritis that’s started to develop. We were told that the bars of the chair should be parallel with the floor, but we could never quite get that to happen (it’s lower in the rear) and communication has been rather limited with the company. My concern is that, if the chair isn’t adjusted correctly, then we are doing more harm than good. Riley seems determined to continue her hopping form of walking even in the chair, which I can’t imagine is good for her and why we got the chair in the first place. She’s had it for more than a month now and only rarely lifts up her front leg to glide on her back legs alone. She also is still very reluctant to use it without high-value treats as encouragement. Could this be because of the chair adjustment? If not, do you have any recommendations for how I can better train her to effectively use the chair?
Thanks much! Your website has been a great help so far.
Hi Elisa and pup (what’s her name?). We are so glad you joined us. Yes, your instincts are spot-on: a chair that doesn’t fit right can do more harm than good. I would not use the chair any more until that happens. It sounds like the chair needs an expert to review the fit, in person. Please consider taking her to a canine rehabilitation therapist for an evaluation. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so you’ve got nothing to lose. And also, please consider joining us in the Tripawds Discussion Forums so we can follow along on your pup’s journey.
I’ve had my outdoor cat Kitten for 12 years now. A couple of weeks ago she went missing for 2 weeks in really cold temperatures. She came back on Thursday and her Right front leg was broken in half with a large wound like she was attacked. She ended up getting the leg amputated yesterday. When she got home she hobbled around a little, ate and used the bathroom. This morning she is VERY tired, but ate a whole can of cat food in bed with her meds. I called my vet to ask about her being so lame and sleepy and she said that it’s completely normal. As long as she continues to eat and drink. Thank you all for your stories they are really helping me. Xoxo
Lyndzie I”m sorry to hear about Kitten but so glad she survived. Yes it is a lot of work going through surgery recovery so it’s smart of you to reach out to your vet to confirm everything’s good. Please consider joining our Trikitty Discussion Forums for more input from the community OK? Best wishes to you both, keep in touch.
Thank you for sharing Anniston’s story!
Is this the correct place to be: https://vosmlearning.thinkific.com/courses/tripods-prosthetics-how-to-care-for-our-3-legged-friends
Yes, it is! Hang in there. Thanks for your patience.
Ok, thank you! Just wanted to be sure I was in the right place. 🙂
Looks like the course is live!
I registered and am logged into the site, but the webinar isn’t loading?? Anyone else having a problem?
Hi Jessica! We are awaiting word on the start, sorry for the technical glitch. Hang in there! It should be live in the next few minutes.
Thanks!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBx6YZBble/?igshid=1itruohj8jg28
I hope this worked?! Our tripawd tripod!
Sure thing! Great costume!
Just brought Cooper and his brother, Charlie Brown, to a dog park for the first time.
They both did great! I know not to let Cooper get tired. The only problem is he’s ball-crazy and very possessive. Somebody had thrown a bunch of tennis balls around, so he was gathering them all up in a pile (yeah, he does that!) and then got a little snooty and snappy with a dog who wasn’t even going for a ball, she just wanted to say hi. So, we left. I brought Charlie back alone a few days later. It’s too bad he was so snooty about the ball, because it would be a great place to bring him for some moderate exercise. The humans didn’t even notice he was on three legs until about 10 minutes in! I do think that has to do with both dogs being twins, so they don’t notice immediately. Funny!
Kathy! It’s great to hear from you, I’m so glad Cooper and Charlie B are doing terrific! That’s awesome that Cooper does great at the dog park, mostly! Silly boy, doesn’t he know that’s no way to make friends? Thanks for the pupdate!
Great tips/tricks! We did not take Eider to a dog park, since there wasn’t one nearby, but I would have had no hesitation. He had plenty of neighborhood friends and no dog every appeared to notice his missing leg. Typically, he was the “boss” dog in a group! LOL!
Aww it’s so good to see you here! I’m so hoppy you liked the article. And thank you for sharing Eider’s experience with other dogs, it’s so helpful for others to see that the “big deal” about being a Tripawd is really just a human thing 🙂
My dog, Canela, just got her dose of zoledronate today at the Vet Cancer Group, L.A. I did my research beforehand and it sounded promising! She has been limping for a few months and hopefully she forgives me for not doing this soon!
Gary, you found a terrific oncology practice to work with! Canela is a lucky girl and she knows that she’s in good hands. Please keep us posted in the Forums and let us know how it’s going OK?
Very interesting. Sure wish we lived closer to one of those trial places. Would be interesting but nope we don’t. 🙁
Thanks for keeping us informed
Michelle & Angels Sassy, Bosch and Baby Simba
Such an inspirational story! Meeting Abvey, Chevy, Kaia and Granite too is an introduction to a loving bond among Warriors!! And Granite is now watching over all of them as their protector!❤
Yes, Chevy and Abbey are on a recovery journey chock full,of lessons….with Chevy as the teacher and Abvey as the student!
Thanks for sharing their adventures, as well as such gre pictures. Sending best wishes for all your future endeavors!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Oh, thank you. A reminder that was badly needed right now. Beautiful Jerry, thank you for all you’ve done for all of us. I don’t know what I’d do without this community.
hugs for the hoomans.
Teri and Angel Isa
Thank you Teri & Angel Isa. It’s legends like yours that keep this community strong and hopeful for others. (((hugs)))
Hey! My cat had an amputation on 26th of August on his front right paw. He was not yet 1 year old, his 1st birthday was on 27th August. He had to get an amputation because that paw was swollen and the vet near me tried everything they could for a week including giving him IV fluids twice a day everyday. After a week his paw was in a very bad condition and he even started chewing his paw (as if to try and remove it) so the vet said our only option was amputation. His surgery went very well and he was doing very well. His dressing had to be changed every 2 days. But then after 1 dressing change the next day his dressing was wet so the vet said now his dressing would have to be changed everyday because there was an infection in his stitches because of that. The next day when they changed his dressing the infection was gone. The day after that the next day he wasn’t eating anything so I got worried and I took his temperature and he had fever. So they treated him for fever and within a day his fever was gone and after his fever had gone when they were changing his dressing, they informed us that one of his stitches needed to be redone, they said they would do it tomorrow( the next day). That day when wr came back home my cat was acting very strange he kept escaping from his cage and going to the bathroom and laying down there in the water. And the vet had told us that it’s very important that his bandage should not get wet. So we were getting even more worried and it was late at night. The people working at the clinic told us this was normal as this was a period of depression for him.That night he kept drinking lots and lots of water from his bowl. And in the morning I woke up at 5.30am and I found that he has peed on his bandage and it had gotten wet. So I tried to dry it off as much as I could. After that when I had lay him down, he suddenly started moving his paws vigorously and coughing and then he spat some liquid out and just stopped breathing and was just staring at us his eyes were very still. Panicking we called the clincic and asked whether we could come and something could be done to keep him alive and they told us noone was at the clinic at that time. And just at the moment I was on the phone, my cat stretched out his paw and looked at us and after that he just lay still. He passed away at 6.03 am. We just didn’t understand why he passed away all of a sudden. We thought maybe it was because he wasn’t able to suffer anymore? He was a very young cat after all. He was the most beautiful ginger cat with lovely stripes. Do you know any possible reason he could have suddenly passed away like that. I did some research about death in cats and many said it could be a possible heart attack or trauma. I’m just sad after all he went through receiving IV fluids for 3 weeks everyday. In the end he just couldn’t handle it all. I’m very dissapointed that I couldn’t help him. He was a little angel ♡ he was with us since the day he was born.
I still don’t know alot about cats as I am very young but I would love to learn more so I was looking for a website like this and I am glad I found it. So I was hoping you could help me.
Thank you! ♡
Indu, please know that you DID do everything possible for your kitty, really. We are so sorry, this was such a tragic situation and how I wish that your boy had gone on to live a happy life on three legs. Honestly it’s hard to say what it was that he passed away from, without a “necropsy,” the animal version of an autopsy. Sometimes a blood clot can happen, but again, there are many things that could have contributed to it. I urge you though, try not to focus on the reasons why he passed. You will make yourself crazy. Instead focus on all of the good things you did for him when he was alive. What was his name? Please share more about him in our Coping with Loss Discussion Forum OK? You had such a special relationship with him, and we would be honored to learn more about his short but well-lived life. We look forward to seeing you there.
This is chock full of invaluable information, as well as I aspiration and hopelife. Thank you so much for taking time to share for.young dogs who become Tripawds early in life.
Nyaya is abs beautiful! To be your companion, and you hersw for fifteen years…WOW!!! I know you miss her but I also know one reason she thrived was because of your love and care. Both were exquisite ❤❤
Nyaya’s legacy will continue to live on here. She, and you, are touching lives more than you could know.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
I didn’t get around to commenting. Hoppy Angelversary. I know this day is always tough and this year even tougher. Know Jerry is up there with your Dad. Thinking of you all and thank you for starting this family.
MIchelle, Snickers, Jasmine, Chief & Angels Sassy, Bosch and Baby Simba
Thank you Michelle, it always helps us get through the day knowing that beautiful souls like you are in our community. xoxo
Happy Angelversary Jerry! Your wisdom still prevails with every passing year. As I reflect on my own journey two years ago as Applesauce began her last chapter, the best advice we followed was just to be more dog. We reach a threshold where we know when to stop our need to fix and just be. It’s a hard to let go. In today’s world I still miss and reflect on all that she was and with organizations such as this allow me to keep her spirit and memory alive without judgement. Love and light sweet boy! You’ve left an incredible legacy!
“We reach a threshold where we know when to stop our need to fix and just be.” Beautifully said Nancy! Thank you so much for sharing, for being a part of this community and most importantly for bringing Applesauce into our life. We are better people because of her. xoxo
Happy Angelversary Jerry You have quite the following down here on earth. Sending love and hugs to your mom and dad.
Jackie and Huck
Aww thank you so much Jackie. Your love is felt from across the miles, keep on spreading the sunshine! xoxo
It is clear to see how happy Jerry was. Even on three he was faster then Brownie on four! Jerry lived such an amazing life, that only a dog can dream of! Rene and Jim, you are definitely Jerry’s heroes!
Happy Angelversary Jerry! I know by now that you have met Brownie, and the two are you are having all kinds of fun! Jerry, please keep Brownie out of trouble. I know you are so proud of your mom and dad for helping so many people!
Jerry, we all owe you so much gratitude, because of you this community was born! Even from the bridge, you have taught so many people such valuable lessons, and you will always be remembered and live in our hearts!
Nancy, that’s so sweet, thank you! It means a lot to know that you are here helping others, even though I know it’s not always easy.
And you’re right, Brownie is such a cool buddy! You cannot even imagine all the fun that we are having with all our Tripawd heroes, it’s incredible! And together all of us are still watching over our humans, helping them spread the lessons that we taught when we had our earth clothes. Thank you for mkaing the world a better place!
Keep us updated on how Wyatt is doing. You know we are all cheering for that special boy!!
Thanks Sally, we can hear the cheering from over here, even over Wyatt’s barking! 😉
WYATT! YOU ARE SOOOOO HANDSOME!!!! And you look so scholarly with your eye glasses.
It makes us all so happy to hear that you are feeling better! And just in time to feel spunky enough to steal Thanksgiving pies and dish towels!
And it was very thoughtful of you to share the information on Prednisone. It really can be a “miracle” drug sometimes. And, as Jerry and you have reminded us, every dog reacts differently when it comes to meds, especially this one. I’ve been quite lucky when having to use Prednisone through the years on different dogs for different reasons. Thankfully, it has always been very beneficial to each particular situation. I’m sooooo glad to hear it is helping Wyatt.
Wuatt, you already know this, but no dog could have better top of the line care than you. To be an eleven year young GSD who has lived almost all of those years on three….yeah, lots of exquisite care and love!
Yeah, let’s keep those “quality of life discussions” off the table, okay sweet boy? Only thing on your table should be pies!!!
Lots of love to you and uour hoomans❤
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
Very informative.
Aloha, my four year old Pomeranian sheltie mix had his tail amputated just over a month ago. He has been obsessed with licking it. We have tried several types of cones and tubes And he finds a way. Currently the one he has is working to keep him from it but the second I take it off for him to eat, he sneaks in licks/nibbles again and it is back to raw bleeding skin. I don’t know what to do.. the next step would be numbing the nerves with the vet and I’m trying to avoid that! Any help is greatly appreciated!
Flora, that definitely sounds like untreated pain, and hopefully it’s very treatable. Have you received a second opinion from a pain management specialist? Please reach out to a vet credentialed with the IVAPM and have them assess your pom before you do anything else. Good luck and keep us posted!
Hi Flora. My dog is the same, he had his tail amputated in June this year following an infection. All he does now is “chase his tail” and will spin and spin until we have to calm him down (which takes a long time and he doesnt stay calm for long) he has a neck brace to stop him getting at it but we are concerned for his wellbeing as all he does is spin around. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Hi Leah. We are so sorry about your dog. Any time a body part is amputated there is a risk of phantom pain. I would recommend searching for a veterinarian pain specialist who can do dry needling acupuncture, which is one of the most helpful ways to decrease the pain and stop it from happening. If you’d like help finding one let us know, otherwise search the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management for a provider near you.
What a great story and our prayers arexwith you. Our BooneDog will have his 7th ampuversary in 6 weeks. We opted for the K9 medicinal too, and contribute his success to the homeopathic treatment. Keep the faith, and pass the message. Tripawds ROCK!
Thank you for this very helpful website. My Boo Boo was diagnosed with lymphoma last week and began the CHOP Protocol the same week.
I couldn’t believe all the comments I read about dogs having no reaction to chemotherapy, as mine was about ready to jump out the window on Saturday night. After analyzing symptoms, I realized that the response was from the prednisone, not the chemo. All the traditional signs like panting, lip smacking, severe thirst, urinating in his sleep for the first time, and obscene stomach cramps. The last time Boo was on a steroid, I asked for Prednisolone to save his liver a step.
If anyone has any website/blogs or if the information is on this one, please let me know: I’m wondering if it’s normal that some nodes aren’t shrinking, whereas others have decreased. Makes me so nervous!
Thank you kindly,
Luzanne Otte
Luzanne you are so welcome. We are sorry to hear about Boo Boo. Since we are not lymphoma experts here, I encourage you to talk to your vet oncologists about the side effects of Pred and what to expect with the CHOP protocol. Best wishes and hugs to you and Boo Boo!
How is your baby doing now? My girl is starting the chop chemo on Tuesday and I started her on Prednisone today. I am a wreck.
Please keep in touch. My 6 year old Collie got diagnosed with lymphoma on the 18th November. I’m heartbroken and don’t know what to do.
This is such a beautiful story of hope and of miracles. Just beautiful.
Giuseppe is such a handsome boy. Just loved those pictures of him. You can see he has a gentle Soul within all that fluffy fur.
You are doing a spectacular job of caring for him and making every day the best day ever. Giuseppe clearly lives in the NOW and is loving being spoiled and adored by his favorite hoomans!
Thank you so much for reaching out with this inspirational story. Giuseppe is showing everyone statistics and prognosis do t mean much around here! Hope and miracles do though!!
Keep on keepin’ on Giuseppe!’❤
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Thank you so much for your beautiful note about Giuseppe. It warms our hearts.
Tikka had a back leg remove in December 2018. She has done well but we knew the other lag was arthritic and has become much worse. She had trouble walking at all yesterday. Now feel like we need to investigate when carts and don’t even know where to start. I have read what is here but the posts are older. Any new information out there?
The #1 thing you can do for Tikka is consult with a certified canine rehab therapist for proper evaluation, therapy recommendations, and proper selection and fitting if it is determined the time has come for wheels. Visit a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit! Self-prescribing a wheelchair or improper fit can do more harm than good. And yes, there are many more recent articles, videos and podcast interviews about wheelchairs for Tripawds here.
Thank you Jet Set!
Just found this site,my dog had a rt.frt. amputation about 2 weeks ago,she is doing well except for wanting to lick the stitches (which are probably itching like crazy by now) but was looking for something for her to wear that might discourage the licking
Wearing a cone is best, and there are many cone of shame alternatives, including the surgery recovery suit.
Three days ago, we got the news that our 7-year-old Saint Bernard has bone cancer. A month ago, she’d started limping on her left front leg. We thought it was just a sprain from exerting herself as we recently got a puppy, and the two love to play rough. Our vet also thought it was a minor sprain. But the limp didn’t go away and suddenly it worsened overnight. So we took her to the vet again and x-rays revealed that she has bone cancer.
Our vet said she’s not a good candidate for an amputation as she has hip dysplasia and is very large at 175 pounds. He said she only has, at most, two months to live.
My family and I are absolutely devastated. We love her so much. We’ve decided to take this one day at a time and euthanize her when her quality of life declines.
Bobette, we encourage you to come visit our Discussion Forums and chat with others. Please get a second opinion: we have had many members provide their giant breed dogs with an excellent quality of life on three legs, including Saint Bernard Thurston, now 2 years post amputation because of osteosarcoma. Hope to see you in our Forums.
I am so sorry it is so hard. I understand what you’re going through. We took our 8 year old Saint (Cookie) in yesterday because she suddenly, in just a few days, stopped putting any weight in her right hind leg. We thought it was her arthritis acting up. They found osteosarcom and a comminuted fracture in her stifle. We are crushed, she is such a big love and such a loyal friend. They saod she may have 6.months if weeave the leg. And gave us the option of amputation with maybe a year before it shows up elsewhere. She’s on a lot of pain medication for now. We have opted to have her euthanized next week and will have her cremated so we can keep her with us wherever we go. Our hearts go out to all of you who are going through this. It is most certainly devastating news to get. It was the last thing I would have thought was wrong with her she has been so healthy up until this. God bless
Daree I’m so sorry that your pup was diagnosed. I know that this is a tough decision, but I really encourage you to seek another opinion and check out stories like Thurston the Saint or Patchy the Saint, so you can see that for many giant breed dogs, life on three legs can be great even for big dogs. Please join us in Size and Age Matters for more input from the community. No judgement, we will support you either way. We send all our love to you and Cookie.
My precious Yorkie kept gaining weight….then his belly started bulging and getting hard. I thought it was all a weight problem and kept cutting back on his food and adding more no-salt green beans. Two weeks ago he started having a problem breathing. I took him right to my vet who ran xrays and an ultra sound. They said he had cancer in his chest and spleen and the prognosis was not good. They put him on prednisone, but 7 days later he had deteriorated to the point of not being able to lay down and his respiration was 130 per minute. There was no way he could continue to suffer that much. I had to have him put to sleep (heart breaking) but I wish I had been told how rapid he would deteriorate. His suffering was horrible.
Carol, you have our deepest condolences. Cancer can be so mean, we are so sorry it took your sweet pup from you. Someday, the memories you shared will bring you comfort. For now as you cope with the heartache of saying goodbye, know that your sweet pup is never far from your side in spirit. (((hugs)))
My dog Arnold is having the same problem with breathing not quite 60 breaths per minute. he fainted last week I took him the vet clinic in my small town. I had taken him to the clinic several times because he was limping and I was trying to figure out what was going on. They did chest x-rays and the vet showed me that Arnold had a bunch of white spots on his lungs so the vet put him on prednisone because I told him I didn’t want a lung biopsy because there are no oncologist in the area should I choose chemo. He was on 20 mg of prednisone twice a day and after four days they wanted him to go to a 20 mg once a day treatment. In the evening when I didn’t give him a dose of prednisone he became very agitated and had a lot of gas so I ended up continuing the prednisone 20 mg twice a day. I went to the vet the next morning after one of his bad nights and the vet wanted to switch him to a NSAID called Vetprofen and told me to give him the prednisone today and start giving Vetprofen to him tomorrow. I don’t feel comfortable giving him this after he’s only been less than 24 hours off prednisone. I ordered Arnold a cremation urn and it came today so I may just try and keep him comfortable until Monday and put him to sleep then. Am I doing the right thing by not switching drugs?
I’m so sorry about Arnold’s situation. I’m not a vet but it is my understanding that a standard wash-out period between NSAIDs and Prednisone should be at least 5 days. The doses of Pred Arnold is getting seem quite high. I encourage you to seek help from another vet before making any major decisions. Best wishes to you both. Please feel free to keep us posted in the Tripawds Forums.
I was forced into chipping my Doberman. Now he sleeps al the time and loses bags full of hair weekly! I think he is dying but I can’t afford a vet.
Smg, it is almost 100% likely that the chip is not related to your dog’s health issues. Please call your nearest Humane Society to inquire about local charitable clinics that can help with his care so you can find out what’s going on. Our Tripawds Financial Resources List might also point you to some organizations. Good luck.
Ari shows that, just because a dog loses a leg, doesn’t mean that they have to retire to the couch! I have an 11 year of flat-coated retriever named Neon who lost his left front leg to cancer 2 years ago. He was a performance dog prior to diagnosis and has bounced back from the treatment still able to do just about everything he did before! He runs NADAC agility, field and does tracking. We were working towards our AKC novice obedience title when this happened and were not able to finish due to the rules set forth by the AKC regarding lameness. I feel cheated that he is not able to finish what he is capable of finishing just as well as a dog that still has all 4 legs. Kudos to you and please keep fighting. Our tri-paws as so worth it!
Penny thank you for sharing Neon’s story! Sure hope the AKC comes around. If they recognized Bart the Vizsla Tripawd hunting dog with an outstanding companion dog award, then they can let dogs get into agility.
Thank you penny! I won’t stop until trpawds can compete in Rally and Obedience! Would you be interested in writing a letter/email to the AKC I’m working with to support this mission? If so I can send you AKC contact info!
Ari is one of the most agile dogs I ever met. She can hold her own with most dogs. She is smart and learns fast. I should know Her brother is my pup.
I LOVE this! And I LOVE my painting 🙂 Kaiserin and mama even go one step further! On the back of our beautiful painting is a picture of Kaiserin actually painting it, and her pawprint with a thank you note.
Just amazing work!
Jackie and Huck
Thank you for buying one of her paintings Jackie! That is adorable about how they customize the back of the painting! Can you send me a photo so I can share that? Pawesome!
Is it normal that my dog wot ACL tear wont even get u to eat or pee? He is in that much pain!.. I don’t know what to give him. would this work?
Jessica, please call your vet ASAP if you think your dog is in pain (it definitely sounds like it). Pain medication and a combination of heat and ice therapy is what’s needed here. Good luck.
My 13 year old American Pitbull was diagnosed with lymphoma.
I did some looking and LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) looked somewhat hopeful and contacted my vet due to Chemo not being an option.
Was told it takes several weeks of dosing to know if it has had any positive results. And that Vets aren’t using this as a treatment at this time.
But our vet went ahead and called a compounding pharmacy to make 5mg doses for him 1x daily along with 20mg 1x day 1x night Prednisone and then after 7 days go to 10mg of Prednisone daily but continue the 5mg LDN dose.
He had very swollen nodes on his neck and then on chest and rear legs the Prednisone has made them smaller but even before he was taking any meds he continued to eat and play. He did throw up once in a while but not continually. I know he was not feeling well but he does well hiding it.
He seems to be holding down his food now still plays and the nodes have shrunk but this is the Prednisone not the LDN.
So I’m hoping for a miracle that between both meds he can be with us longer.
Thanks for sharing your pup’s story Sal. We hope he has many happy days with you!
We lost our dog post amputation!
Didn’t receive message of his death until next morning.
Should we order an autopsy? What other information should we obtain from the vet.
Bill, our hearts go out to you, we are so sorry for your loss. Please join our Discussion Forums if you want to talk further about this OK? Meanwhile, in the vet field an autopsy is known as a “necropsy.” I’m not sure how long ago your pup passed away but if it wasn’t ordered immediately upon his death, then it may be too late to have one done. Call your vet to ask. As far as we know, that is the only way to determine exactly what happened. Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
We had a very similar situation with our cat. Same leg amputation, though part of his femur was left. For the first few days he was listless and barely ate at all and I think maybe it was a combination of anesthesia wearing off and the copious amount of drugs he was on. He’s still on the same drugs now, but a week later he’s VERY much improved. My best advice is to consult with your vet if you’re worried. We’ve been feeding him Hill Science Diet Urgent Care a/d on the advice of our vet, since it’s very calorie dense and he doesn’t have to eat as much to get the calories he needs.
Thanks for sharing Ziggy’s story, we are soooo glad he’s gotten better and is on the mend!
Such an interesting point about leaving as much of limb behind as possible. I adopted a tripawd who came with he front right amputated. She was left with a little “stump”. The stump has been causing lots of issue (fluid buildup from bone hitting hard surfaces, irritation from harness drubbing on stump, rug burn from dragging stump on carpet, etc.). I had been wondering if it would be beneficial to get rid of her stump. I had not thought about any of the benefits her stump could be providing.
Hi Eileen, great feedback. We’ve heard of many similar issues from members whose Tripawds have remaining stumps. Sometimes people’s animals go through an “amputation correction” when the stump just won’t heal. I do believe that while leaving as much of the limb behind as possible is good, if the client knows they want to pursue a prosthesis. But the complication rate is high if the surgeon doesn’t know how to properly close the amputation wound to reduce problems like what you’re seeing. Check out our blog post about full or partial limb amputations.
Hi, I’m Martha. I’m a newby here, and I have a 3 year old Black Lab/Rot mix who is Day 5 post op for the amputation of her back right leg. We’ve give her pumpkin pulp, and broth, and other fiber-rich things. And she has not pooped yet. 🙁 I’m not sure if she’s just not quite sure how to squat correctly, I have a sling to support her I’m just kinda lost on how to help it along. She’s had a huge appetite, so I know it needs to come out. Any advice? This article was so helpful! Thank you
Please consult your vet with serious concerns.
A little olive oil in the food can help get things moving along, but please know that we are not vets! And be careful what you ask for…as Jerry’s vet told us, when they need to go, they’ll go. But five days is a long time for no poop if eating regularly.
Unfortunately my beautiful Otto the rott was only able to enjoy two and a half happy months with us after surgery before that monster, osteosarcoma, reared up again and spread to his lungs despite chemo.
I don’t regret the surgery in the slightest! After the initial 2 week recovery period, I had my happy playful companion back again, swimming every day and playing with his favourite toys.
Thanks for the feedback! There are many ways to pay tribute and help inspire others.
RESENTLY AS OF FRIDAY 6/3/2020 STARTED MY YORKIE ON PREDNISONE SHE A A MASS ON RIGHT SIDE OF NECK . HER REACTION IS STRANGE SHE SLEEPS A LOT SHE DOES THRIST BUT IS HARD FOR HER TO SWALLOW FOOD BUT SHE DOES EAT . I WILL NOT PUT HER THROUGH THIS VERY LONG SHE ONLY WEIGHS 41/2 POUNDS ASN IS 12 YEARS OLD . THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AFER I LOST MY HUSBAND. I HOPE TO KEEP HER LONGER BUT WILL NOT LET HER SUFFER. WE HAVE LOST ONE DOG AND MY SONS DOG AHD CANCER AND NOW MY AIDEN. THIS IS THE LAST STOP AND THE LAST HOPE WE KNOW HOW THIS WILL END.
Our hearts go out to you and your Aiden, we are so sorry Janet. This is never easy and you have been through so much. We are keeping a candle lit in our hearts for your sweet pup and you.
My (very strong, vital & playful) 18 year old Maine Coon, Captain, just had his right rear leg amputated to the hip 3 days ago. I built him a ramp to get up and down from his chair and a small step to get in & out of the litter box. He’s getting around okay, and hustles it to his usual spot for feeding, but other than getting up for food and bathroom breaks he’s just sleeping constantly. I know his body is doing a lot of work to recover, but I’m worried because he is eating and drinking so much less than he used to. I’m giving him the most calorie dense foods I can but I’m worried about him getting adequate nutrition to fix himself. Is this a product of the pain meds? Or a sign of something else wrong? His stitches and skin look good and his eyes are still bright.
Hi Captain and Magf, welcome. It’s natural to be concerned, amputation is not an easy journey. BUT, three days is not a long time after surgery, especially for a senior kitty. Try to picture yourself in his paws: most humans who just has a leg amputated would not be getting up and moving around, or too enthusiastic about anything, at this point. It may be a couple weeks before you see his sparkle come back, but try not to worry. Yes, the pain meds decrease appetite. Talk to your vet about trying an appetite stimulant, try making your own (scroll down for cat-specific tips) and be sure to check out our e-book, Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats for more tips. Also please join our Discussion Forums for lots of help from the community. See you there!
This is great information and will be very helpful. Sometimes cats aren’t sent home with an effective pain management plan.
I’d like to add that Metacam for Cats in oral liquid form is prescribed in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This .5 mg/ml meloxicam formula is not legally approved in the US yet recent clinical studies have failed to demonstrate impairment in renal function, even in cats with pre-existing renal disease. It’s proven to be effective and safe and cats find it palatable.
Those residents outside the US may find that it’s prescribed, along with an opioid, following an amputation. Certainly a discussion with the vet about potential side effects of all medications could alleviate any concerns.
Kerren
Wow thanks for that important information Kerren! I hope they can get it approved in the states soon. We’ll keep an eye on it.
Ashes the Silver Surfer, my beautiful cat, just had his left front leg amputated today due to cancer. Other than that he is in great shape for a 14 year cat. The vet will call tomorrow morning to tell us if we should pick him up tomorrow or the next day. I’ve had pets most of my life but this my 1st amputee pet. Ashes is so amazing!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Check out the many helpful tri-kitty tips or post in the three-legged cats forum for more support from Tripawds cat members.
Hi Jerry we have a cat name Thomas that needs two surgeries or an Amputation however they say almost 2,000 dollars is there any programs to help with this his terrible watching and hearing him suffer we don’t wanna have to put him down and that’s the only other choice it seems it’s hurting us watching this . Please help idk if momma will handle it if she has to put him down . As she lost my dad 10 years ago and she getting very depressed worried about Tom Tom .
Best wishes for Thomas! Please see this growing list of veterinary financial aid resources and see if you qualify for the Tripawds ASAP grant.
And if you missed it, check out Tripawd Cats Quality of Life Survey Results.
Our puppy had his front leg amputated at 14 weeks, almost 3 months ago. He just developed a seroma on his stump, and it became infected. The vet drained it today. Are there steps we should take to prevent a recurrence?
Hi Nettie, sorry to hear that. It’s not terribly unusual for a seroma to happen this late after surgery but the infection is what I would be concerned about. Make sure your vet has the fluid tested for MRSA if it doesn’t clear up with an antibiotic (he should be on one now). Hope your pup gets well soon. Keep us posted in the Discussion Forums.
Why should you not sleep on the floor with your cat post-surgery?
I ask as my feline friend had a front left leg amputation earlier this month. Normally, we sleep on the bed together which is roughly 2 feet off the ground. I tried sleeping on the couch while she slept on the floor but she kept staring at me all sad and I finally set up a spot on the floor and she’s slept with me each night.
I’m hoping this isn’t bad!
Hi Sydney, great question! Well, we’ve talked to vets who tell us that changing the sleeping routine can be stressful for both the Tripawd and the parent. I think if your cat is happy with you on the floor then it’s fine but the sooner you start to normalize the sleeping routine the better. Also consider pet steps so that your cat can get up and down from the bed safely.
I am new to the group. My dachshund had her right front leg amputation yesterday, and I am a nervous wreck. I’m not sure how to pick her up to take her outside, and she won’t stand up.
So sorry about your pup’s amputation. Please check out our e-books library and post in our Discussion Forums so we can help with your specific recovery questions OK? See you there!
I hope your little one is doing great now and showing you how adaptable she is. The decision is difficult and the first few weeks are stressful, however, you will find the decision was worth it.
Thanks for sharing your support Robert!
Oliver’s hooman. We are here for you, okay? We also have a TRIPAWDS HELPLINE , as well as the forums to help support you. 1 888 tripawd
Rocky is, indeed, brave, as is his hooman! Such an uplifting story! I love what you said, “He lost his leg, but he didn’t lose his sparkle,” Keep on rockin’ Rocky! We’re cheering for you!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. I’m owned by a four legger Bull Mastiff who lost her site one/two years ago. You are doing am excellent job of caring for your handsome boy…..a very loved boy!❤
My dog, Lolli, 9 years old, just had her front left leg amputated 11 days ago. When she was 2 years old, she had TPLO surgery to repair torn CCL in her both back legs. For the first few days after amputation, she was doing well. She would walk around outside and even try to play with us. However, for the past few days, she won’t sleep. She just stands around at night and pants with her legs shaking. During the day she also just stands around, not knowing where to go. When she does lay down she looks uncomfortable, and sometimes gets up and yelps. We called the vet and they gave her anxiety medication, and it has helped a little bit. She isn’t panting or shaking as much, and she is sleeping more, but she will still yelp, pant, and drool every so often. Is she just taking longer to recover? Or should we be concerned?
Sylvia, I’m so sorry, poor Lolli. Unfortunately, I believe you are describing classic pain signals and no amount of anxiety medication is going to control pain, but rather sedate her so she can’t complain about it. Did she get any kind of pain control after amputation? If so, what was it? Please call your vet ASAP and get a referral to a pain management specialist who can pinpoint the issue and help her get on the path to feeling good. If your vet doesn’t know who to refer you to, please reach out to us and we can locate one. Also, keep us posted on how she’s doing in the Discussion Forums OK?
My dog seems to be doing the same. We are almost 1 week out of forelimb amputation, also history of TPLO in both rear. He did good yesterday and got up server all times. Last night he was laying on his surgical side and was unable to get up. Finally got moved around and whimpered. I am having a hard time determining where the pain is. It’s almost like he’s having pain in the rear leg. Did you ever figure anything out about your dog or did it resolve?
Courtney, please consult with a certified canine rehab therapist. Visit a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit. Also find many helpful pain management posts and videos to help determine if your pet is in pain.
Hi Sylvia, it’s been a while so you might not see this. Curious if and how long it took your Lolli to return back to herself? My Titan, yellow lab, is 7 days post op and having the same issues. Not sleeping at night – just sits or stands and fights off sleep, swaying. When awake, he seems disoriented. He walks uncomfortably like his back legs are sore, in the off chances he gets up to walk on his own at all.
We notified our vet, but got the “give it time” message.
Please consider posting in the forums for much more current feedback from others. This post is from 2008. 🙂
My dog tore her left ccl about 1 year ago and just blew the right one this afternoon. The vet says she may only be able to put 60% of her weight on it after 4-5months. Im wondering if it would be better to ampute this time cause or would that put too much stress on the repaired knee? She’s about 65lbs. Any thoughts please?
Oh poor puppers. I think a second opinion from a board-certified orthopedic surgeon is always a good thing in situations where surgery is recommended. That is the best type of expert to assess your pup. Best wishes to you both.
My yorkie had his right hind leg last night, called to check on him, said hes not doing well and I cabt see him..worried sick…
Oliver’s Mom, I know you must be so worried but he’s in the best place right now. Many Tripawds need to stay longer in the clinic after surgery and the reason they asked you not to visit is because doing so can stress out an animal more than help, when you have to leave. Stay strong, keep calling and don’t give up, he will be home before you know it. Please post in our Discussion Forums so you can lean on us OK?
I am looking for the same. I wish there was more information. My dog lost her back leg when she was a year old its been 7 years now and it is taking a toll on her front same side leg. Getting her into the vet later this week.. She has been perfectly happy and healthy up to this point….
Blake, if your girl hasn’t already had rehabilitation therapy, now is the time. Please check out our Maggie Moo Rehab Reimbursement Program and keep us posted about how she’s doing in the Forums OK? We’re crossing our paws for a complete recovery!
Hi My Morag a Scottish deerhound 5yrs had her right leg amputated on the 1st June due to osteosarcoma. She starts her chemo next Friday.
Lovely encouraging stories from you all thank you. It’s been a traumatic time especially for Morag but she is doing great. So proud of her!
I have been worried about the chemo so good to hear that it doesn’t sound too bad for them
Sending my best wishes and Good luck to all your brave and courageous dogs.
Best wishes for Morag! Start here for many more helpful resources and assistance programs.
Hello Ilona.
Like your dear dog, ours is going through a complete personality change. It’s as though he is a cardboard cut out of the dog we know and love.
His story began just over 5 weeks ago (He is a Lurcher by the way). He managed to fracture his hind leg badly and dislocate his ankle. He was operated on with a partial fusion and a plate. However, it all went wrong from there. Due to insufficient skin he had most of the plate exposed. The bandages caused bandage sores that were open and painful. Finally he got an infection in the bone where the plate was. The only only suitable option at this point was amputation. He is now suffering because the wound dressing has caused two splits in his skin that were bleeding and oozing (he has typical thin Lurcher skin). So, we now have to go and have these redressed every other day. He no longer sleeps at night and whines and moans. Yet during the day he is quiet. Since the day of the accident we have not seen his personality return. The vet doesn’t think its due to pain – which leaves anxiety as the other option. Poor boy.
I found reading your blog interesting – did your vet give you any indication on which medication might cause the issues you had?. I am wondering if it’s the same with our boy.
I’m so pleased that eventually your boy pulled through and returned to you as his happy contented self again. We look forward to that day too. xx
Scoobs & family, I”m sorry to hear that things are ruff right now. Please get another opinion on the situation. When a dog gives signals like what you described, those behaviors are likely due to pain issues. Sometimes vets are not current on pain management and your boy could be missing out on important relief to help him get his life back. Please keep us posted in the Forums OK?
I too debated about my decision to amputate my 8 1/2 yr old lab’s rear leg due to osteosarcoma. When he came back from a short vet stay after the amputation, he wasn’t himself. It didn’t seem to be pain, but he didn’t act as he normally would have and it didn’t improve for weeks. He was being medicated to pain and my husband & I questioned if the meds were causing the differences in his personality. After speaking to his vet who suggested we just stop all the meds, we instead started decreasing each med one at a time. Within in a short amount of time, you could start to see his personality emerge again. It took about a month to decrease all of his medications once we started, but we had our wonderful dog back! It’s now been 27 months since diagnosis and amputation and he’s now 11 and going strong.
Awwww Ilona thank you so so much for sharing your dog’s story! We are so hoppy that he is doing so much better. Feel free to send us a Tripawd Tuesday spotlight or chime into the Forums, we would love to get to know you two.
My kitty got his front leg amputated a few years back. He’s always been quite athletic and that has not changed. He’s still quite capable but he does fall occasionally and can’t quite do everything the same as he used to. I’m having to move into a small studio apartment and I’m considering getting one of those top opening litter boxes but I’m just not sure if that’s a horrible idea for him? I know this isn’t a new amputee question but I would love some advice! Thanks.
Hi Rachel, we’re not sure about the box you are describing, so please stop by our 3 Legged Cats Discussion Forum for feedback from the entire community. See you there!
My gorgeous little 5 month pup had to get his leg amputated last weekend, I did everything to keep him calm and rested but he still split his stitches to the bone , now he’s back in getting re-stitched for the third time as he had split them before he even left the vets the first time. This is so hard to see my gorgeous pup struggling so much, the vet said this time it could lead to complications, does anyone know what that means?
Finn and George, I would ask your vet what they meant by that but generally speaking, when a wound doesn’t heal, the tissues surrounding it can die off, get infected and require a more serious surgery than just a re-stitching. Keep the cone on your pup at all costs. Best wishes to you two. Be sure to join our Discussion Forums for feedback from the community!
My dog had masectomy 1 year ago & one rear leg lynph node removed in March metastisized to lung. Several small tumors. Can she get electrochemo? How effective in the lungs. It is andenoma carcinoma – mammary cancer
Deborah I’m sorry to hear about your pup. As far as I know, electrochemotherapy is not an internal procedure. But there are lung metastasis treatments and clinical trials out there that may be able to help. Your best bet is to ask your oncologist.
Rene,
So glad Wyatt’s dental issues were covered. Dental coverage varies so much company to company and it is one of the most commonly treated areas of the body vets see day in and day out. So, getting good coverage is vital IMHO.
Thanks Dr. Kenney, we never would have imagined that dental coverage can vary. That’s another great reason for all of us to research everything possible before committing to a policy. Keep up the great work, thanks for all you do!
Our 6 year old lab mix was diagnosed with a grade 2 soft tissue sarcoma on his left hind leg. The only potential cure is an amputation for him but he also has severe hip dysplasia. So, if he gets the amputation then we will also likely be faced with hip replacement soon to follow. The alternative is getting the hip replacement, allow him 2 weeks to heal and then do the amputation. We truly feel he still has so much good life to live but surgeries have risks and only the final pathology after the amputation will show if the entire cancer was removed or if it even spread. Anyone else ever have a similar situation?
Hi Steven, we are sorry to hear about your pup but glad you found us. Please consider posting in our Discussion Forums for more feedback from the community. Meanwhile, if you haven’t gotten a second or third opinion from a board-certified orthopedic vet surgeon, now is the time. They can give you a good idea as to whether or not a future surgery may be needed. Our own Wyatt Ray, a rear-leg Tripawd for 10 years, has hip dysplasia and that hasn’t kept him from having a good quality of life. See you in the Forums we hope!
Thank for sharing…my Sasha girl a beautiful Doberman I adopted 8 years ago was just diagnosed…I am beside myself..Your stories have helped me come to terms with it. She’s pain free and still active but I know the inevitable is coming.
Bobby we are deeply sorry you got the bad news. We understand how you feel and are so glad you found us. There is hope for better days and a long, happy life. Please join us in the Discussion Forums where we can help you along and you can meet members like Dobemom, Nitro’s human. I know she would love to meet you two. See you there OK?
Bobby my 6 year old adopted doberman Bruno was just diagnosed today. we are shattered.
Dan, we are sorry to hear that. Be sure to join the Discussion Forums so we can help you in the journey, and check out Nitro’s story (reading from the beginning) for some inspawration too!
My 3 month old puppy lost 1 hind leg due to a car accident. He also has a small crack in his pelvis. He is a blue heeler. When I first brought him home he was crazy, barking incessantly in the kennel. When I took off his cone to eat or drink he was going mad biting and licking his body not just his stitches. He was given tramadol and carprofin. I was going crazy as he was going crazy!!! On the 3rd day of this the vet took him off tramodal. I had to leave him with first overnight as I had to go to a funeral. When we came back he seemed calmer, but now he’s not eating, so I haven’t been able to give him the carpofin. And I’m out of it, the vet said to crush it and put it in a seringe (I decided to go ahead and try the tramodal since I’m out of the carpofin). I’ll get more medicine tomorrow tho. Anyway, does this sound normal to you? I’m wondering if he just didn’t get his body to rest at all for 3+ days due to his craziness with the drugs in his system.
Katy we are sorry about your puppy and hope he starts feeling better soon. Many dogs experience those kinds of side effects with Tramadol. Since Tramadol is now proven to be ineffective for treating pain, we recommend asking your vet for a better pain pain medication like Codeine, so your dog can get some relief. Please post in our Discussion Forums so we can help you better.
I have a very active terrier Chihuahua mix that has bad knees. She’s only 7 right now but already has level 4 arthritis in both knees and the vet said she’s going to need surgery in the next few years. I was wondering if it would be possible to get prosthetics that would attatch to her femurs if her legs were amputated at the knees? I live in the country and feel like wheels would be harder on her to get around than having prosthetic legs.
Hi Mickayla, sorry to hear about your pup. Before resorting to orthopedic surgery or amputation of both legs, which is pretty drastic and probably not necessary, we recommend getting a second opinion from a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a canine rehabilitation therapist to find out why your dog has the arthritis and how to help alleviate it without surgery, hopefully. Two amputated legs is definitely harder for a dog to adjust to than a set of wheels. Best wishes to you and your pup.
This is such a sweet story and with ADORABLE pictures!! Obviously the fact that your husband became an amputee jad to be a rough time.
But clearly this is a family that makes the best of any situation and in a way that expands your circle of compassion to all beings.
Loved the phrase “friend shaped”….priceless.❤
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Bravo! What an honor to have Dr Dressler recognize Tripawds as the go to aite for support on three-legged dogs and cats!
That is just so wonderful that they both found their forever home. And it takes a special person to open their home to a rescue, especially two, and tripawds at that.
Please tell your husband thank you for his service.
You do collect amputees! You have a very special home. I wish you all good health.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Thanks for sharing Jerry and fine tuning my radar. Your words will help me be proactive in caring for Jake. Think of all the animals who’s lives you have helped make better!!
You are so welcome! Jake is very fortunate to have you looking out for him. By being part of this community, we can all help animals on 3 live better lives!
I loved reading about Wyatt, thanks. He is so handsome!
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience of Wyatt as a geriatric tripawd. What I love so much is the personal touch and the honesty. You don’t sugar coat the effects on a dog’s body living with only 3 legs. You make me want to do everything I can for Jake. Now I can’t wait to read part 2!
Aww thanks, I”ll tell Wyatt what you said. We only want to be honest about what to expect as a Tripawd ages. It’s not bad, it’s just different and an honor to be able to help him when he needs it most. Jake is going to have a long, healthy strong life thanks to you!
Thank you for this group. I just became a tripawd mom on Thursday.
Hi Kristina! We are so glad you found us! Please hop over to the Discussion Forums to let us know how your Tripawd is doing!
Hello all! I unfortunately am having an extremely difficult time as I just had to put my dog maya down. She had osteosarcoma and had her front leg amputated after fracturing it. So we found the cancer late. However maya was such a strong girl. She went through chemo about 2 months after that. We had so many financial problems through this whole thing which makes me so mad cause the vets just care about money never mind our babies lives and suffering. But despite everything maya made it just over a year. Through half of that time she became paralyzed in the hind legs. We thought it was temporary because she did have some feelings. So we started physical therapy. She was doing great and so close to walking again but then she got really bad pressure sores, UTI’s and then lost feeling again. She had a fall so we thought she hit her back and caused trauma because she had a big bump. Now I can’t stop thinking she had cancer back that whole time which kills me. I have such guilt. My girl was everything to me. Sorry for writing so long but I’m lost. I really want to have peace of mind that I didn’t miss something but I have a feeling I did. I would have given my last breath for my girl.
Maya was fortunate to have you. Sound like you did the best you could to provide her with a pawesome quality of life! Please post in the forums for more feedback and support from others or call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
Thanks for this advice. We just got home from the vet today. Our first potty trip was excruciating. My Macy Mae did the best she could but got tired – we took two breaks getting back inside. I definitely need this help!
I really appreciate reading all of this! Tomorrow my girl and I start of first of 5 treatments. Hoping for the best! She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma middle of March fours days later had her hind leg amputated. Has healed really well and is getting back to herself again. My only regret at this point was not amputating the leg when she broke it as a pup. Had I known our odds of developing osteosarcoma at that that time I would have. Poor girl has had too many surgeries I just want her to be happy and enjoy her life one day at a time.
No Regrets! 🙂 Best wishes for your pup. Start here for help finding many more helpful Tripawds resources and assistance programs.
please advise how I would find a rehab therapist and would you recommend chiropractor sessions also
Hello S.L. Sure! Check out our Vet Rehab Reimbursement announcement, we have links to different provider directories. As for chiropractic care, that’s something that you and your rehab practitioner should decide on. I would always see a rehab therapist first, that way they can point you to the best modalities for your Tripawd. Good luck and keep us posted!
When Biggz was 3yrs old he was hit by a van that was going 50-55mph. A fire chief saw the whole thing happen,and pretty much saved my dog. The woman in the van didn’t even stop!!! The chief said she was texting on her phone. As he’s helping my dog,another volunteer fighter stopped and ended up taking him 20 miles away to an emergency vet. He (Biggz) couldn’t use his back legs. At that time he weighed 140lbs. Next morning I get a call and I find all of this out. Well,when I took him to our vet a week later,he told me to save $ cause he was thinking of taking his rear left leg. Well,Biggz was telling him in his voice”bull!!!! I’m going to show you”!!!! He was walking that night!!!
He is a Rott n Lab. He is now 11 yrs old,has used his back left leg like a kickstand but can run n jump like he was normal. Until,2 weeks ago. My HAPPY ALL THE TIME DOG isn’t so happy. The vet thinks its bone cancer. And,happens to be on his left front leg.
I don’t know what to do. He’s on pain meds n gabapentin. I’m on a fixed income and don’t have a clue how much this is going to cost. They wont take payments….☹
I’ve had him since he was 4 months old,after I put my 15 yrs old ‘Rock’ to rest.
Best wishes for Biggz! Check out this growing list of veterinary financial aid resources.
Thank you so much for sharing. It is a great help to hear other’s going through the same unknowns. We all want what’s best for our furbabies and getting advice and recommendations from someone who has or is going through the same challenges sparks a new hope for others. Best of luck to you and we look forward to hearing more from Wyatt Ray. What an inspiration. Love you guys.
You are so welcome Judy! We will keep you posted on Wyatt, and hope you will do the same for Buffy. Thank you so much for stopping by and being such a pawesome supporter!
This is a nice story. My dog, Bobby, had his lower jaw removed due to cancer and we are wondering if we should have just let him go but it just wasn’t his time – he was such a lively dog. 3 weeks on from the mandibulectomy he seems to be healing well – a bit depressed until he goes out for a walk – but hopefully we will have some months longer with him and he will feel good in himself until it’s his time
Best wishes for Bobby!
Thank you 🙂
Morag it is so nice to hear from you. I’m so sorry about the diagnosis. How is Bobby doing? And what kind of cancer was he diagnosed with?
We hope with all our hearts that he has many good times ahead. Please keep us posted.
Thanks for all your support and love to the Tripawds community!
Rene, Jim, Wyatt Ray, Spirit Jerry & the Tripawds Nation
Bobby’s doing well, thanks. It was a melanoma in his jaw. I know he’s not a tripawd (it’s my cat Wubba that’s the tripawd) but it was nice to read the post where someone else took the chance of more time for an older dog.
My pit had her front left leg amputed due to Osteocarcoma.
She is coming home today and I need any suggestions on assisting her in any way possible.
Hi Suzanne, welcome. Sorry to hear about your pup. Please come join us in our Discussion Forums for fast help from the community. We also have our Tripawds e-books library, Jerry’s Required Reading List and our Start Here Page for tours of the resources we offer. We look forward to seeing you in our Forums!
I have a Terrier mix that recently had to have her one of her hind legs removed. She will wake up yelping. I don’t know if this is due to phantom pain, but she has never done it before the surgery or even after she hurt her leg.
Elizabeth, this could be phantom pain. Let your vet know about it and make sure your pup gets treatment. Dry needling acupuncture combined with pain control like Gabapentin is shown to make a big difference. Keep us posted in the Discussion Forums on how she’s doing.
Hello,
Where can I adopt a tripawd?
Hi Jessica, thanks for asking. We have our Tripawd Rescue Forum with three-legged pets for adoption, and you can also look on Petfinder under the “special needs” category.
Where can I adopt a tripawd
Hi Frank, thanks for asking. We have our Tripawd Rescue Forum with three-legged pets for adoption, and you can also look on Petfinder under the “special needs” category.
we have a 25 pound 13 year old Sheltie; she’s in good health, except for some arthritic back legs/hip area….we take slow walks, and at times she will stumble. She’s on Rymadel for the inflammation; the small heating device looks promising… can you recommend an item to help us apply heat? (she is indoors & outdoors – when outdoors she has a wonderful heating pad in her house)..
Hi Judy and pup, thanks for writing and caring so much about your dog’s mobility. First, check out our Heat and Ice Therapy Tips for Tripawds to learn why, when and how to use hot and cold therapy. You’ll find an Amazon link to hot and cold packs you can try. Let us know what works! Best wishes to you both.
Just had rear rigth leg removed from my 10 year golden yesterday.
He cant stand on the one leg for long at all. He is 80lb long hair. Which harness do you think well be best for him to help get up walk and stand to pee
Michael, hang in there. It’s pretty normal for a brand new amputee to be tired and wobbly for at least a couple weeks. Try to put yourself in his paws. He will get stronger over time, just be patient. As for a harness, you can check out our Harness Comparison Chart for details or feel free to contact us with more questions. And remember you can always post in the Tripawds Discussion Forums for fast help from the entire community. Keep us posted, we are cheering for your pup!
Hi There!
My dog Calvin got his poor tailed slammed in a self closing metal door on March 7th. I quickly ran him to the vets and he was able to get sedated and have surgery right away! The vet tried to save the tail but it was almost a 360 wound. Also it wasn’t the full tail just part of the end. So we continued with his meds and follow up appointments after and they seems great. Sadly yesterday he had to get surgery to get some of his tail amputated as that part didn’t end up surviving. The surgery went well but seemed like the tail was leaking a bit more than we wanted so today we took him in again (March 30) and he needed to get some more stitches. He is home now but the tail is cold! Is this normal after an amputation? It’s really freaking me out!
Hi Madisan. Sorry to hear about Calvin but glad he’s on the mend. This is a question best left to your veterinarian I’m afraid. Please let us know what they say. Wish we could help you more with that but better safe than sorry right? All the best to you both.
Hello,
I was unaware of the advice about adopting a tri-paw until reading your blog. I am a bit concerned for my handsome baby boy Zeus. He is 2 1/2 Years old German Shepherd Dog. I adopted him shortly after his left rear amputation at 10 months old. I didn’t know that he was an amputee when I went to see him at the shelter. I wasn’t able to get on the wait list to adopt him, as it was full. After a few days, I called and was put on the list. A half hour later, I received a call to come and get him.
I will write more later but, he RUNS everywhere he goes indoors and out. He never hops unless he has to reverse. He throws his toys in the air and pogos on his rear leg wtih great skill. The rehab vet said to build his core and we have accomplished that much and so much more. Most people meet him numerous times before noticing that he only has 3 legs. He has NO idea as far as I can tell that he is different. After reading this, I feel like I have done something wrong.
Hi Zeus and family! First, you are doing everything right by meeting with a rehab therapist! That is more than most people do when they don’t know about what a Tripawd needs, so give yourself a pat on the back. What you are describing sounds pretty typical for a young dog. Our German Shepherd (also a rear leg) was also super energetic like your boy when he was young. Yes, things will catch up with him and he will slow down but as long as you continue checking in with the therapist and being diligent about his fitness and exercises, he should do just fine. Please come over to our Hopping Around Discussion Forum to share more about him OK? Thanks for sharing.
I would love a copy of this article for the rescue where I adopted Shu from. Is it possible to get one to provide for them? It’s terrific and thanking goodness I found you on my own!
Sure thing Subeanie’s Mom, thanks for asking! We know printing a web page is tricky so we created this infographic about adopting a Tripawd. You can print that and it will direct people to this page. Thanks again!
Mr B now has this kind of dressing. He is much happier with it, and far less restricted.
Oh good to know! Are you having to change it? I’m so glad he’s happier, poor guy’s been through so much (and you as well). Keep up the healing!
Hi everyone! My tripawed cat is doing great ( aptutation in December) but he can NOT aim in the litter box. There is pee everywhere! Any advice? We have a covered box and an uncovered box.
Hi Laura, glad your cat is doing great!Have you tried making a low-sided litter box out of cardboard? Check out Feta’s blog post, “Litterbox Mods for Severely Disabled Kitties.” Also, come visit us in our Three Legged Cats Discussion Forum topic for more ideas from members. Hope to see you there!
Hiya my 1 year 7 month old Cockapoo, Female decided to prance around and took a fall off the sofa and we had to amputate her back left leg (14th Feb 2020) her recovery was fast and I’m so happy with the results.. However, for the past couple of days I’ve been checking her but I had to put her cone back on as she’s has a very small, reddish lump on her stomp. Its soft but it hasn’t affected her in any way.. She’s just been herself, jumping around, eating, drinking, playing etc etc.. I hope its nothing to worry about but I have now started to put the cone on so that she doesn’t irritate it but it does look like it’s getting better.
I hope there’s someone out there who is going through the same as I really don’t know what it is or how she got it.
Hi Kerry, glad your girl is doing well. It could be a suture reaction, I would let your vet know about it. Also, please come visit us in the Tripawds Discussion Forums for faster help from the community. Hope to see you there!
I have a Belgian malinois that has a deformed left leg they said I would have to amputate I’m a single mother of three is there any help out there that I could look for
Best wishes for your pup! Start here for help finding numerous free resources and plenty of support from others in the blogs and forums. The Tripawds Foundation also offers various assistance programs.
My 5year old Rottweiler berry had Carcinoma in her rear leg and we had to amputate her leg in November! But from February the amputated part has become really hard as a stone and there is a swelling in the part ! She has lost her old charm and is having troubles walking or standing up and tends to drag while she has to get up ! Please help !!
I’m so sorry to hear that Aishwarya. The best thing you can do right now is have her checked out by a veterinarian. I hope it’s nothing serious. You can keep us posted in our Discussion Forums.
Very helpful info. My pit one and half year old is 8 days out. She is very tired sits and stares not interested in toys, bones that she loved. But seems this can be normal for some. I pray she gets back to her spunky self after staples are removed in a few days.
Jackie please pop into our Discussion Forums so we can help you better. Yes, only eight days out is not a long time but if her pain isn’t well managed from the beginning, this kind of behavior can occur. Glad she made it through surgery but please keep us posted on how she’s doing OK?
My rescue pup was between 1 and 1.5 yrs old when he was hit by a car. Former owner sent him out to streets to die. He was 38 pounds (now 75!) and ravaged with worms and failing organs. Had back right leg amputated. I’m sure by now your dog has rounded the corner..it will happen. I remember being concerned my pup wouldn’t live a normal life but he is a mad man in the woods and the most appreciative dog I’ve ever met. I found when petting the “nub” pet over it and down towards where toes would be it seemed to help my guy with phantom leg issues. Keep your dogs weight in check and they’ll lead a happy life. We’re going on 5 years now. Good luck!
Ryan thank you for sharing such great feedback! Your dog is soooo lucky to have found his way to you. Thanks for giving him a great life. Please feel free to submit your story for a Tripawd Tuesday feature, we would love to share it with the entire community!
The same thing happened to my Siberian husky. He was hit by a car, and back right leg amputation. It has been just over 2 weeks since his stitches were removed, and I know he really wants to go for a walk. But I am really nervous about taking him out of the yard. How long did you wait before you took yours out for a short walk?
Tina, it’s best to discuss this with your veterinarian, so that you can come up with a plan for getting back into shape. And don’t forget that the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your dog’s first rehab visit, it’s a great way to know for sure what your pup is and is not capable of doing at this point in time. Any other questions please share in our Discussion Forums and the whole community can help you there.
Hi Jackie
How is your fur girlie now.
I notice you put a comment on that she was not interested in toys treats etc.
Our Lurcher had his amputation 3 days ago. Prior to that we had a month of post surgery issues from a fracture op that didn’t go well. Our dog has been exactly as you describe – no interest in anything for over a month now.
How long was it before your girlie returned to her original bright self please?.
YAY TriPod, YOU ROCK !! WE ARE GETTING A THRID TRIPOD IN OUR FAMILY, THE OTHER TWO HAVE SADLY PASSED AWAY, THEY WERE ALSO BOTH PET THERAPY DOGS AND ALSO R.E. A.D. DOGS *KIDS PRACTICED THEIR READING (TO THE DOGS) AT THE LIBRARY. WITH OUR NEW, VERY YOUNG, 9 MOS OLD, TRIPOD, UNNAMED AS OF YET, WE HOPE TO FOLLOW IN HER SISTERS PAWSTEPS. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND LOVELY MEMORIES.
TO-BE-NAMED TRIPOD (HOPSCOTCH, BUT WE PLAN ON CHANGING THAT TO A PRETTY GIRLY NAME) AND SOON-TO-BE-IN-HER-NEW-HOME !!
~CHRISTINE. (sorry for all the caps….didn’t notice when I was typing, but we certainly do mean YOU ROCK, TRIPOD !!
Thanks for all your enthusiasm Christine! You are a Tripawd Mom rock star! Send us your story, we would be happy to share it. Keep up the great work!
Reading about Wyatt is helpful for me as I have 10 1/2 year old Bonz a English Lab who is 2 years into his amputation of a rear leg. Bonz has always been active, hiking and swimming with our other dogs. Recently, I have noticed that he tires more easily on our regular 2 1/2 mile walks and sometimes will have problems getting up stairs for bed. Even without the amputation, I remind myself that he is aging. To make things easier I have reduced the days when we go the full 2 1/2 miles to half routes of shorter but different lengths. During the winter when we don’t worry about snakes, we tend to take walks in the back country. During the summer, we walk on a paved trail. I have begun to consider purchasing a stroller that would accommodate his 75# although I’m not sure he would agree to use it! We use a very simple sling to help Bonz getting up stairs when he seems to need it. I have also added a Twister Step to the back of my SUV to assist him getting into the car along with the sling. He gets that these things are designed to help him and will wait for me to wrap the sling around his waist before trying to step into the car.
Thanks for commentinging. Senior Tripawds Rule! Please consider sharing your story! There are many ways to pay tribute and help inspire others.
My Cooper (front leg amputee at 7 months old) turns 9 years old this coming November!
Hard to believe. All of a sudden they are seniors. We already pamper him and try to make him slow down in terms of playing fetch (his favorite). He’s still able to leap into the car like a kangaroo, using those powerful, muscular hind legs. He is an amazing creature.
My boy lost his front leg at 1 year and is 3 years now im worried about his overall happiness and health. He doesn’t take any supplements of any sort. And wondering when I should start. Time to save some money aside
Hi Amber. Your boy’s young and it’s super smart of you to be thinking about the future. We recommend seeing a canine rehabilitation therapist to help your boy have the best quality of life possible. They can show you exercises to help him stay strong, and grow your bond together. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit too! Hop on over to our Discussion Forums for support and tips from the community!
Thanks guys, Awesome advise.
Aksel_Rose has always needed extra grip for smooth floors. She likes her grippy boots.
She will wear one on her remaining hind leg almost everywhere we go outside of the house. At home I am the master of the carpet runners. They are everywhere!!
Although Aksel is only 4.5 y.o. we always need to think ahead and be prepared..
Our fur-kids are everything!!!
Kathy you are doing such a great job with Aksel, it will pay off big time as she ages!
Hi Jerry,
Thank you so much for your great tips. My tripawd girl is only 2 and I hope that she will be pain free as long as possible. I do what you have suggested already. I learned canine massage, we do short walks, mostly 30 – 45 min. , a lot of swimming, joint supplements and a balanced raw diet. I am studying vet nursing now and also have a physiotherapist and two great vets at hand. When she gets older I will buy a dog stroller. Wheelchair won’t work for a front limb amputee. I love her so much and will do everything I can to make life easier for her.
Thank you for managing this group. It’s full of good information and great support.
Warm regards and pats ,
Andrea & Tilly (doggy)
Andrea & Tilly, thanks for sharing your experience! Tilly is going to age very well thanks to the terrific team she has on her side. Keep up the great work!
Great points. Getting older can lead to arthritis and other pain. Not having a limb equals more stress on remaining limbs means more pain.
Thanks for sharing this. I look forward to Part II. With TriPod turning 9 in January he is definitely a senior dog now. So hard to believe…. I’m sure it was just yesterday that he was a puppy. Thank you for all you do. I am now looking into getting him some front “wheels” to take some stress off that front leg. Any thoughts on a good place to look?
Hi Denna. We just published Part II yesterday so check it out. I’m glad you found it useful. Meanwhile before getting a wheelchair, be sure to check out our wheelchair article for some tips. Let us know how it goes and what you decide on. TPod is gonna rock and roll ’em!
Can this webinar still be viewed?
Only to paid subscribers at this point. But stay tuned, Dr. Waterhouse has big news for the Tripawds community soon!
Wow, thanks for the incredible story Jerry. I feel your spirit with me! Thanks for telling us what is most important in our lives. Sometimes as humans we forget the simple facts of life! What a beautiful story!
Sunny’s mom
Nesamoney
Thanks for the kind words! In case you missed it, Jerry’s full life story, and the many lessons he taught us, is now available in our new book, Be More Dog: Learning to Live in the Now.
My greyhound got diagnosed with osteosarcoma on January 13th 2020 in the hind limb. The entire week went by so quickly. We did a met check the following day and all was clear, no sign of mets to the lungs or elsewhere. We drew labs and they were incredible. We scheduled his hind limb amputation for that Friday January 17th 2020. All was moving quickly and in the right direction. We consulted with many vets and amputation was the best option as the limb had visible bone swelling and a micro fracture already. My boy wasn’t suffering, he was a retired racer and quite stoic and I had him on gaba and rimadyl for pain. He had survived a lot, including a rattlesnake bite in the past and a heart attack from the venom. It’s heartbreaking to receive this sort of diagnosis with your beloved animal. We brought my boy in for his surgery Friday the 17th and all seemed well. He was stable throughout the procedure, vitals, potassium, everything. I went over everything with his surgeon prior to the procedure. I informed her of his cardiac issues (mitral valve regurgitation, heart murmur, past MI, etc). Apparently everything looked fantastic that morning, ECG, EKG, etc. I got a call that he was waking up from surgery and all had gone well. 5 minutes later I got a call that my boy had endured a massive heart attack and was deceased. Resuscitation efforts, atropine, etc, had failed. It is VERY difficult to make sense of a situation like this. I never once blamed anyone, I work in hospice and healthcare myself, things can go wrong. I just still am wondering what transpired with him. They knew and understood greyhound protocols and abided by them for his surgery. Everything was done right and he was completely stable prior and during surgery. I am not a vet and I’m curious if any vets read this what their perspective is. My boy didn’t have DCM, nothing like that. Osteosarcoma with a stage 2 diagnosis. Underlying cardiovascular issues sure, mitral valve regurg and a grade 2 murmur. I still wonder what happened. Everyone attending said he was coming out of surgery and his respiratory rate increased then his heart just stopped entirely. It’s very sad to lose your pet this way and I can’t seem to find any similar stories anywhere. Vets I know said he must have thrown a clot or had a heart defect that we weren’t aware of and couldn’t have been aware of. I don’t mean to scare anyone into not amputating, I just share my boys story to bring awareness that stuff can go south even when you were on the right path all along. You just never know. Cherish your pets. My boy was just shy of his 8th birthday. He was my therapy dog.
So sorry for your loss…thank you for sharing your story.
I’m so sorry about your pup, this is heartbreaking and I can only imagine your grief. Please consider posting in our “Coping with Loss” Discussion Forum topic so that others in the community can chime in OK? My deepest condolences to you and your pack.
Thank you so much. I just wanted to share his story. He had a quick diagnosis that was so acute and out of nowhere and a death that was so sudden as well. The tragic part or the most saddening part is that my birthday was on the 11th and we had hiked 5 plus miles in snow. I had no idea he had cancer. Fast forward to two days later and he was diagnosed then dead by the 17th. It’s amazing what our pets will endure and how well they hide their suffering. Initially the attending vet on the 13th chalked it all up to a soft tissue injury but after radiology looked they determined it was osteosarcoma.
This is so interesting. Our Nico is 12 yrs old Boxer and had his rear leg amp 8 days ago. His rear leg does buckle at times like Wyatt’s, especially on our slick hardwood floors. Thanks for the wheelchair idea, it may come in handy. Best wishes of health to Wyatt.
Best wishes for Nico! Providing good traction on slick floors is very important, to help prevent injury. Find many traction solutions for Trip awds in the gear blog. And once Nico is healed up, please consider consulting with a certified rehab vet/tech for an orthopedic evaluation, treatment recommendations and strengthening exercises you can do at home. Visit a CCRT or CCCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab!
Wyatt really hit the jackpot with his pawrents. I love the attention that you pay to his needs on the active, and not so active days. Thanks so much for sharing. He really does well as a GSD tripawd. Mitch had 4 legs and did not get around nearly as well. All that hard work has really helped him as he goes through his golden years.
Lots of hugs and love to you all!
Jackie and Huck
Thanks Jackie. It’s quite a balancing act with senior dogs isn’t it? We all do our best and the animals are grateful for it.
Thanks for sharing this. It is helpful for everyone
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angels Sassy & Bosch
Aww thanks Michelle. We pet parents need to share all the info about stuff like this that we can.
My Benny had leg amputated today due to i osteosarcoma. Brought him home around 5. He has slept most of the time. He has been whimpering for the past hour or more. Is that normal? I did get him to take his pills with some meat. Thank goodness! Any suggestions for post surgery care would be appreciated so much!
Best wishes for Benny! That type of behavior sounds perfectly normal for a dog that came home from amputation surgery the same day. He will still be coming down of the anesthesia medication for a while, and needs nothing but confinement and rest right now. Make sure you stay on top of the pain management, consult your vet with any serious concerns, and find many other posts about what to expect here in the Tripawds News blog. Or, start here for help finding the many other resources and assistance programs.
I was lucky with my 3 cats when I brought Sky home. Actually he didn’t smell like the hospital as my wonderful vet kept him at her home for the first 2 nights. I have a very large carpeted closet – actually was called a bedroom technically – that I set up and it was quiet and warm for Sky. I put a gate across the door so the other 2 could sniff him. No hissing or any bad behavior. When I eventually let them get together, my least social rescue cat began grooming Sky. That was well over a year ago. He still grooms him to this day. <3 . So we had no issues thankfully with the other cats. It was hard enough as it was!
Thanks for the feedback!
So wrong. The vet school at Texas A&M is not cheaper, in fact, it is higher. They also do more tests, thereby raising the cost even more. The care is excellent, but be prepared for a large bill.
Hi Marian. Well, the article was written in 2014 so costs have gone up everywhere accordingly. As for diagnostics, in our experience the amount of workup really depends on the condition the vets are trying to diagnose. Either way, yes, we can definitely agree that the Aggies are fabulous!
My greyhound has Osteosarcoma in the humerus of her right front leg. do we need to have her leg amputated before undergoing this treatment? There is no evidence of metastasis so far and we’ve gone through two rounds of palliative radiation recently. We live in San Diego county and would like to know if a clinical trial is available in our area as well as the participation cost. Thank you for your help!
Hi George, for the latest criteria we suggest contacting Aratana at 1-844-ARATANA (272-8262). They can help you find a local clinic participating in the trial (and I do believe you have one in San Diego). Please join us in our Discussion Forums so we can help you and your pup. Best wishes to you both.
Thank you for this <3
Murphy made it well past that 23 months – he lived over 4 years past his amputation. So proud of how well that boy did.
Donna
Thanks for that reminder Donna! I totally forgot to include that very important milestone. Murphy is a LEGEND! xoxoxo
<3 <3 <3 True Warriors.
You know it Michelle! These pups, all of them, are so much stronger than we ever could be. Amazing.
So proud of the latest Odaroloc tripawd!
Thank you for sharing Tana’s story, it gives us such hope! We have adopted a GS tripaw under similar circumstances. His front left leg was amputated at 16 weeks of age due to an attack by another dog. The owner at the time was going to have him put down but at the vets urging surrendered him to a rescue. Louie is now 8 months and teaching us what a survivor he is. He trust us, is growing happily while his PTSD is getting fewer and far between surfacing.
We are hoping that he will one day figure out how to maneuver stairs like your Tana did.
Louie can now get himself on and off the couch…. what a wonderful day it will be if and when he can get himself in and out of the car 🙂
C
Thanks for the comment! Please consider getting rehab for your pup, and he’ll be tackling those stairs in no time! Consult with a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab.
Hi our. Chocolate lab, Allie had bone cancer and had to have her front leg amputated on 12/19 The first 9 days were terrible, she did not eat for 9 days or want to get up. At one point she went over 30 hours without urinating. On the 9th day you can imagine how happy we were to find her standing and walking. Then she started to eat. 3 weeks into recovery we were feeling good then vet said she had dead skin in the area of the surgical site. We were relieved to learn it was not cancer, but once the stitches were removed we found this gapping hole. That is why the skin died, it did not connect to tissue under it. We’ve been nursing the whole for 12 days, it seems to be healing. Our last vet visit our vet said there was area the size of a pencil that is several inches deep with a hole. Is this normal? Is this bad veterinary work? Why is this not stitched closed? Really does seem like there is any thing to stitch to. So far it’s healing. The bummer is she can’t take chemo until healed and she is on pain medication and she is held back from being herself on pain medicine. Anyone ever heard of this? Thanks for any insights.
Hi Allie and family, welcome. We’re so glad she is on the mend! Fear not, others have gone through similar wound issues after amputation surgery. No, it’s not necessarily bad surgical work, it’s just something that occasionally happens. Sounds like your vet is confident it’s healing, that’s great! Please come to our Discussion Forums where we can help and support you on your journey OK? Hope to see you there.
Aww what a beautiful story and wonderful life you gave Tana. Thank you so much for sharing. <3 <3 <3
xoxo,
Martha
Hello, I am writing for some advice about my 13 year old jack russell Sonny. In the summer of 19 he developed a mass cell tumour. The tumour was removed however it has came back with vengeance. Our only option now us amputation, however he is of an age and has a heart murmur. Is this a massive risk. We and the vets think he could pull through and live another happy year or so. I just want other peoples perspectives? Thanks, Alice.
Alice, I’m sorry to hear about Sonny. To get other perspectives, please post in our Discussion Forums “Size and Age Matters.” My own perspective is that if you get at least two or three opinions from veterinarians, you can make a more confident decision. For a small dog, 13 isn’t that old and Sonny could go on to have at least a few more years of quality time. Good luck and please go to the Forums where the entire community can help you better OK?
My 18 year old MC cat just had amputation surgery due to a tumor that grew out of control. He also has a congenital heart murmur. His surgery was 06/30/2020. The big concern due to his age & murmur was him surviving anesthesia.
He did just fine in the surgery and was using the litter box on day 2. It all depends on the animal. We always knew Captain was a strong lively guy and we had a lot of hope he’d be ok. We did try to emotionally prepare that he might not make it, but his quality of life/pain from the tumor was bad enough that it was the only choice left for him. You know your boy, and you know what’s right for you. I’m here if you need to talk.
Hi. My 15 year old cat had a front leg amputated yesterday due to cancer. He cannot move at the moment and just pretty much sits on the floor. He hasn’t drunk anything yet but has eaten. I’m very anxious about his recovery and fear he’ll never learn to walk again.
Can anyone reassure me that his is normal?
Thank you so much
Natasha
Natasha, it’s good that your cat ate something but please contact your vet about your cat’s behavior. Don’t wait. Your cat needs to stay hydrated or it could lead to serious problems. Is this behavior normal? Yes and no, all cats are different, but what you are describing sounds as if your cat needs his pain management adjusted, or may have something else going on that your vet needs to know about. Also, come to our Discussion Forums for more insight from the community. Best wishes to both of you.
Hello your story gives me hope. My 11 year old Siberian who thinks he is 6 just had this procedure done yesterday. We originally thought the tumor was not connected to bone via xrays. However when they went in to remove it they had to take 6 cm off near the very back side of the scapula from shoulder joint but still involved a good amount of muscles connections. Did you use any shoulder braces during recovery to help Liam to run again ? We are hopeful for full recovery for our pup And looking for things that worked. 🙂 Thank you
Best wishes for your pup! We met Liam shortly after his surgery, and do not believe he ever wore any sort of braces. Please consider posting in the Tripawds Forums for much more feedback and support from members, or start here for help finding the many other Tripawds resources.
Hi Wendy-
Liam had a shoulder wrap right after surgery, but that was more of a bandage than a brace. We followed our vet’s recommendations, and he never had any further issues from his shoulder. Liam passed away when he was 16 as a happy old guy, and his spirit still runs the snowy trails of my mind. Good luck with your Sibe – I am sure he will be up to his old ways soon.
Thank you for chiming in! 🙂
Tripawds Spokesdog Cadence is now and 8.5 year survivor. Her 9 year anniversary is July 29th! There was no vaccine available during Cadence’s diagnosis and recovery. Glad that is an option to help dogs live longer lives!
Oh my dog Heather! I can’t believe it’s been that long, I totally spaced on Rock Star Cadence’s longevity! WOWWW! Please send us a blog post with some photos and we will feature her in our Tripawd Tuesday blog post. The more long-term survivors we can share with the community, the better! CONGRATS!
Way to go Dexter and family! What a truly uplifting story. Dexter has beaten the odds and gives hope and inspiration to new tripawds and their families looking for support in their journey to beat this despicable disease. Happy birthday Dexter!
Jackie and Huckleberry
We are sitting in the surgeons office hoping he can do the scapulaectomy for our 7 yr old golden with osteo sarcoma…your article and video gave us a LOT if hope for the outcome!
Oh glad to hear it Tom! Please keep us posted, we hope it works out.
EXCITING!!! A lot to talk about indeed!
Loved seeing thus little video clip. Made me smile
Hope those facebooger people join our forums….just sayin’
Well Sally, great minds think alike, because that’s exactly our intention: to let the Facebooger folks know how much MORE pawesome life is over at Tripawds.com! Stay tuned.
My 3 year old Rottweiler had bilateral cruciate surgery in January 2019 as poor genetics gave her bad knees. The surgery and recovery went well. However 6 months later she just stopped using her right hind leg. The surgeon who preformed the surgery told us that her knee was “end stage” and it is what it is. I contacted Cornell University Companion Hospital for a consult. To my surprise, yes the right knee needs a complete replacement but it is the left rear knee that needs TPLO surgery as the original surgery failed and the femur slipped behind the tibia. Worst they’ve ever seen. Now I my girl is faced with surgery and a recovery that leave her with no rear limb for a time. Any words of advice?
Lisa we are so sorry to hear this, what a tough situation. Good for you for going and getting another opinion, by one of the best clinics in the country! My best suggestion is to stick with Cornell and have them do the surgery as well as the extensive rehabilitation therapy that will be needed for a good outcome. You may want to consider medically boarding her during the first few weeks after surgery, just to make it easier on you by leaving her early care to the experts. My other advice? Come post in our Discussion Forums where we can help keep you sane and hopeful OK? See you there.
Hello… I’m new here. My sweet Buddy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma couple days ago. I’m so heartbroken, confused and the sadness has taken over. Buddy is our family, he is the most incredible dog, so loyal and loving. Buddy is 12 years old and until now, he was in good health. I don’t know what to do. Can a 12 year old dog thrive after amputation?
Hi Dedee and Buddy, welcome. We are so sorry about the diagnosis, and can totally relate to your situation. Please come to our Discussion Forums and post in our “Size and Age Matters” topic, where you will find that yes, twelve year old dogs can do well on three as long as they are otherwise healthy. Please hop on over OK? We are waiting to help you there.
My 13 year old feline has small cell lymphoma. The vet is ordering chlorambucil and prednisone. I have to have the money to pay for it but it will be a hardship. Any ideas/comments/suggestions would be appreciated very much. Thank you.
Lynne
Best wishes for your kitty! Start here for help finding the many Tripawds Resources and assistance programs. Don’t miss the growing list of Tips for Tripawd Cats and post in the Three Legged Cats Forum for help and support from other tri-kitty members
Our pal Caira Sue was in an inhalation chemo study at Davis (I think) way back in 2009! Her mom Mary posted about all of them sitting around with their masks! https://cairasue.tripawds.com/2009/09/09/my-dog-thinks-im-nuts/
Woah! I totally remember that now, Karen! Thank you for sharing the link. I will include it in our follow-up story next week.
Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention! Fascinating!
Yeah, the length of time this study takes could be years. Of course, it’s sad that some of the placebo group would have to develop cancer in order to see if it is effective for those who had the actual treatment.
It would also be interesting if all the dogs were on same nutr6 plan, same supplement plan, same number of limited rabies vaccines, same general age of spying/neutering (or left “intact”), etc. That said, most of that is probably addressed in some form or another in the paperwork and follow up.
To think this might work would be the miracle we all want!!
With appreciation
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
I agree Sally! What IF we could have them all on the same diet and protocols? Wow that would be crazy good, but unfortunately that’s probably not realistic. Still, the vaccine study is as close as we’ve gotten to any kind of way to eradicate this disease and I’m totally confident the scientists will come up with something to do it. Stay tuned!
We love you guys soooo much and we are pawsibly the mostest grateful Tripawd (Thurston), Big brother (Raffie) and Hoomama in the whole world! Thanks to you guys I have somewhere at complain about Hoomama and she has someplace to brag about Meeeeee! Luff, Thurston
Back at ya Glo, Thurston & Raffie! You always make us smile and although we are sorry you had to join us, we are so hoppy you’re here! Hoppy Pawlidays!
I will always be thankful I found this amazing place, with the most amazing people ever! I would not be the person I am today if not for the lifeline Tripawds threw me when I was drowning 5 years ago. I am truly blessed to have you in my life.
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro (and the Terrorist Trio)
Paula, you bring a sense of calm and reassurance to members here like nopawdy else. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for, and we are furever grateful to call you our friend. Hugs coming at ya!
Lovelu sentiments snd sich grear ohotos. Always remember though, the ripple of waves of love and pawsitivty start with you two. And those ripples have no ending.
Thank YOU
With love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Sally, thank you. But honestly, we just put those waves out there. It’s amazing people like you who spread the magic among this community, over and over again. We love you my friend!
Wishing safe travels and a Happy Thanksgiving to your pack!!
Same to you Jackie! Hope your pawliday season is off to a great start!
Yeah! I have my amazon smiles account set up to support Tripawds! Can anyone help with the boots? Do any of them work for dogs with dewclaws?
Thank you so much! As for the boots, check out our reply, here.
My dog was born with hemimelia in his right forelimb, he just turned 2 years old last week. When I adopted Chance he was only 6 months old and one of my concerns was the long-term affect it may take on the rest of his body. I’ve tried to research and learn how to best help him and prevent issues but there is not much information available about dogs that were born as a tripod. He has already had surgery for elbow dysplasia in his left leg and we are hoping a prosthetic will help take the load off of that leg.
I would love to see a lifetime study done on Tripawds, there definitely needs to be more data available for professionals to use when giving advice and paw parents to learn from. By the way, we live in Colorado and would be very interested if CSU decides to move forward on this!
Thanks for the comment and best wishes for Chance! You will find numerous blog posts and forum topics from members sharing stories about their pups living entire lives as Tripawds. Search and post in the forums for plenty of feedback from others, or search all blogs here. Or, feel free to call the toll-free Helpline anytime. Start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources and assistance programs.
oh i will have to tune in 🙂 for the amounts lol
Heee heee! We promise it’ll be worth the effort!
When my dog became a tripod I did a lot of research on the internet and didn’t find a lot about long term studies of three legged dogs. Just recently I thought about a tripod study and was hoping someone would start doing one. When older dogs become a tripod it is certainly different to a puppy. Mine was just 12 weeks old when she had her accident. She would have been a great study pup. Her body was still growing. Her leg got amputated in May this year (accident happened in February the year before). So far she’s doing very well on her three legs but she’s only 2. I am very concerned about arthritis later in life but I am working with a great vet and a physiotherapist to ensure as much prevention as possible. However, she’s a dog and loves to run…If there is ever a study coming up I am more than happy to contribute. The only problem is, we live in Australia.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for sharing your dog’s experience. Your pup is so lucky to have you, what a great job you are doing to keep her strong and healthy.
We have a lifetime study on our radar and now all we need is the $ to kick it off. We will keep everyone posted.
P.S. Being in Australia isn’t a problem, it’s pawesome 🙂 We are jealous!
I loved this interview, thank you very much for sharing. I recently nominated my dog to participate in the Dog Aging Project study and I’m waiting to see if he was accepted. There definitely seems to be a lot of work that goes into these studies, but I really hope that they do a lifetime study on tripawds someday. There’s so much we could learn.
You are so welcome! Thanks for listening and for enrolling your pup in the DAP project! We’ve heard great things about it. All of us will keep our paws & fingers crossed that your pup gets enrolled. Let us know when you hear back.
Hi Joel & Ross,
Wondering if you might be willing to connect/chat with me as we are battling osteosarcoma with our 6.5 year old Dane, Winnie. She underwent CyberKnife in September at Vet Cancer Group in Culver City (LA). Doing really well but has two fractures so we are considering amputation or limb-sparing and trying to gather as much info and testimonials/real stories as we can. Would love to speak with you if you’re open to it. Our perfect girl is a rescue from Indian Dane in San Marcos
Hi Kinzie. Joel and Ross are always open to a conversation. I will ask for their approval to connect you with them. Stay tuned and meanwhile please join our Discussion Forums Size and Age Matters topic for more support from parents of giant breed Tripawds. Give Winnie a smooch from us!
O you beautiful big boy! O you beautiful brave mom! How lucky you both are to have each other. Doctors have their place – diagnosis, treatment, meds, surgery – but unfortunately for us and for our animal companions, what is in short supply in the medical profession is HOPE. Hope is the glue that keeps us together in these hardest of times! I urge all families tosearch for doctors that offer you hope. Head right back out that door if they tell you “nothing can be done”. Congratulations, Caroline and Gabriel, you kept your hopeful hearts!
I have recently adopted a 3 legged cat. Peeing on the rug. Sometimes litter box. Have another inside cat. Does he need his own? Missing RF leg.
Please post in the Three Legged Cats Forum for much more feedback, where other tri-kitty members are more likely to see your question.
We are 9 days post-surgery. My annie is a Malinois. Pre surgery she had very high energy and high prey drive. She is on tramadol and seems to be doing okay with the pain as far as I know but has absolutely no energy. Difficult to get her up to go to the bathroom. Is not interested much an eating. And does not lift her head when we come into the room or wag her tail much. Not sure if that is too much to expect so soon. Either way this is extremely difficult to watch and I continue to second-guess myself with did I do the right thing? Please share any advice you may have and if this is normal? I know she is only 9 days post-op but her chemo is set to start next week and I’m concerned about putting her through even more trauma. She had cancer in her front left leg. Her incision looks great and is healing well. Any advice is appreciated.
Most members see vast improvement in their pups once off the pain meds. Annie may surprise you before you know it…until then, confinement and moderated activity are a must for a speedy recovery! Consult your vet with serious concerns, and check out the many Tripawds News posts about what to expect during these early days. Post in the forums for much more feedback from others!
Just checked out the CoFund MyPet link and saw this link on their page. Unbelievable heroism and love❤
https://mobile.twitter.com/cofundmypet/status/1189719881484263424
Matt Martin is a SAINT!! Another human Soul living in sync with his mission.
A well thought out brilliant way to help our beloved animals.
Thanks for bringing this to ur attention and a standing ovation to Matt Martin and CoFundMyPet And love the Chi modeling the teeshirt!
Gratefully
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
We agree too, Sally. It’s such a creative way to help people and pets, we couldn’t help but share his work here.
Hey Sally, I have no idea how I missed your comment until now, but THANK YOU!!!
We love what we do and hope to continue to grow the thousands of pet parents we’ve already helped in our first 6 months. We just don’t want to think about a few hundred dollars being the difference for an otherwise treatable pet not having more time with their family.
Matt
p.s. Carlos is still “learning to love” his CoFund My Pet t-shirt!
Just wanted to add, that some of the organizations listed do not currently have funds. After visting their site, they will have funds after more donations are received, so I did leave them on spreadsheet.
Thank you Jerry. But mostly all I did was take the information that was posted on this site and transfer to a spreadsheet, and I did find some additional ones along the way.
I’ve, just been so touched ( and soooo unxeserving!) by what Jim and Rene put together❤. And to see those photos of my sweet pups…an extra bonus.
I consider it to be such an incredible privilege to be a part of this loving and supportive community. You all contribute in so many ways to reach out and help others…..such true selfless role models for us all❤
Paula, thank YOU my dear friend fot being YOU!! Talk about compassionate…look in the nirror!! Always giving to all of us on so many levels!!❤
Repairman. (aka master of lawnmower repairs on 20 yr old lawnmower and more!!) Thank you Mark! Very kind of you❤❤
Rene
Love to all
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Oh my gosh Sally you TOTALLY deserve the praise. You are a DEAR to this community and do so much for others. We love you to pieces and are grateful to have you in the family.
Wow! Do a video next time!! People will fall in love with Sally and her animal world. She is such a blessing to call a friend. from: Sally’s repair man
Aww thanks for listening! She IS great isn’t she? Would loooooove to do a video call with Sally but first we have to figure out that low-bandwidth Interwebs problem on her property. Got Internet? 😉
What a great interview! I love listening to Sally talk, she has so much insight and wisdom, and endless compassion. I’m honored to call Sally a friend and so blessed to have met her in person. Thank you for sharing her with everyone!
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
We totally feel the same way Paula, that woman is a gift!
I don’t know if anyone still monitors this site. Its October 2019. But I just wanted to say thanks. There is not a lot of information about wound aftercare for amputation.
I had two dogs. A female GSD who recently passed in April due to complications from degenerative poly neuropathy, two failed surgeries, and an aggressive strain of MRS-P.
Now our other GSD-mix was just diagnosed with osteosarcoma and in the same week we were told we had to amputate his rear right leg.
It’s been pretty trying, but he’s been healing well. And we didn’t know what to expect after the awful experience we had with our first dog.
I just wanted to add my little crumbs of info in case it helps anyone else: my dog is almost 80lbs and has osteoarthritis and a partial tear CCL in his remaining hood leg. The vets told is he was perfectly fine and still a candidate for his amputation. And he has been. 7 days post-OP and he hops around just fine. We would wake up in the mornings to him trembling or shivering, panting and drooling. Turns out it was about the time when his pain meds would wear off, once we gave them to him, 30min later he’s calm and happy again. He also came home from surgery with a droopy watery red lazy eye. But just some eye drops and a few days later he was fine. They often get dry eyes or dust or some small thing in their eyes during the hospital stay that can irritate.
And the last thing I will add is the best thing I bought was a lambs wool sling that I could quickly throw around him when he stands to help him learn to walk again. Brought it to the hospital to bring him home with it and even the vets loved it.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience Elizabeth, it is very helpful. I’m just sorry you had to go through that but glad your dog is doing well. Please consider joining our Discussion Forums where you will find a lot of great people ready to discuss life on three legs and learn from each other’s experiences. Hope to see you there!
Belle is such a beautiful Soul and has an truly inspiring story to tell!
Team Belle stayed focused on solutions with a pawsitive oitcome snd brought about astounding results!
Thanks for sharing the story of Belle and her devoted family and medical team. So uplifiting!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
I have 2 tripawd dogs, both rear leg amputees. One is 2 years, Shepherd mix small female 45 lb, the other lab mix 7 years 75lb.
My lab mix is experiencing difficulty in walking, going up stairs, and getting up after sitting. I have tried rimadyl, and the “g” drug, neither seem to get much relief and make his mood strange. Have also tried glucosemine and recently CBC I his food.
Seems like soreness in his back and groin, when I massage him
Where to go from here. Laser?, massage? When I exercise him, he cannot get up but drags his rear….so I don’t
He loves his life, too young to die, and I have another dog. Owing up and want her to have a long life
As we face winter and colder weather it just gets much harder for him to move go upstairs and be active.
Any suggestions you might have please let me know I live in Parker Colorado
the other 7 years
Please consult with a certified canine rehab therapist for proper evaluation, treatment recommendations and the best exercise program designed specifically for your pup. (Walks do not build strength, only stamina.) Visit a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first visit!
Hi! Don’t forget Bandit’s BandAid! They help all dog breeds in emergency situations. I did a fundraiser for Charles’s one year ampuversary and we raised almost $250 for Bandit’s BandAid! Great folks over there!
THANK YOU! We didn’t know about this org and are adding them to the list.
I am so excited to get the book! Cannot wait to read it I already pre-ordered the Kindle version this morning as soon as I found out it was available.
Congratulations Rene and Jim, this is such wonderful news, I know Jerry is smiling from above
Happy Birthday Angel Jerry, thank you for sharing your most awesome pawrents with us. You have been the inspiration of a lifetime
Many hugs and lots of love,
Jackie and Huckleberry
We are facing something similar with our 5 year old dog Sadie. She started limping one day and several days later I literally thought he leg was broken from the way she was knuckling over. Her xrays came back fine, no break or fracture. We saw a neurologist who said she suspected a nerve sheath tumor. We were referred to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a complete neurological work up. Although her MRI “lit up” they were not able to differentiate between inflammation and a tumor. They did a nerve biopsy which was inconclusive as well and an infectious work up, which was negative . Sadie came home after a week at UGA on antibiotics, steroids and gabapentin for nerve pain. This all started at the beginning of August and had only progressed in spite of all our efforts. She is still unable to use her leg and it’s just wasting away. We return for our next visit at UGA Tuesday to determine our next step. They will repeat the MRI to see if the area that lit up has increased in size, if so they feel
it is most likely cancer, if not, it’s a brachial plexus injury. They said she will never regain full function of her leg, if she even regains any function at all. We are devastated! Sadie was such a happy dog, full of life and now she seems sad, frustrated and depressed. She has basically been at Tripawd since this happened. Will her love of life return if her leg is amputated?
We are so sorry to hear about Sadie. What a tough time for all of you! It’s very difficult having an uncertain diagnosis but rest assured you are working with a GREAT team that will help your girl get her sparkle back. Do keep in mind that what we humans perceive as “depression” in dogs is more likely a response to the pain they are in, and once the pain is gone, they are back to their old selves. We see it again and again. Please do visit our Discussion Forums to share her story and talk to other people for much more help. See you there!
Oh wow thank you Dawn! I thought I had checked them all. Yes if you would like to send me a list of the links and updates that would be GREAT! Email me when you have a chance.
I’m sending you an email. I have a feeling an outdated version of the spreadsheet was posted and a better one is somewhere–much outdated info and typos here.
I love the team effort! Thank you Dawn, I made the changes and all info is current. You’re a rock star!
This is wonderful, and so important but some links need to be checked for viability. The first in “Funds Pet Owners…” should be “Angels”, I believe, but I can’t locate a program there any longer. Banfield also leads to nowhere. We went through this list, or one similar 2 years ago and found some programs listed no longer existed, and came up otherwise empty because of income, disease, location or other restrictions. I am happy to click through links and provide updates as they are found.
Congratulations on getting this long-time-coming, well deserved and much-needed story out to the world! It will be a benefit to many and I wish you all the success with it.
We never could have done such a great job without all your good help. Thanks again!
A BLOCKBUSTER ON SO MANY LEVELS!! THIS IS SOOOO EXCITING!! CANNOT WAIT FOR THE RELEASE!!!
And a blog site too?
Jerry is indeed with you, with all of us! And without Jerry, there would be no “us”❤❤❤❤❤
Gonna go get in line. And I hope you get this vlog post up in permanent form on the blog space and not rotate it out. Make sense?
Love and light
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
You’re the best cheerleader Sally! Thank you for being so excited about it. Oh yes you’ll be hearing a lot more in the coming weeks and afterward. Stay tuned.
How do I find a rehab therapist for my tripawd. I live in Palm Springs, CA
Use the directories listed here on the Resources page to find certified therapists near you.
Hi, my dog was diagnosed with bone cancer 1 month ago she is on pain meds .. would like to know after amputation how much longer did your dog live ? and would you do it again?
Jerry loved life on three legs for 2 years, without any IV chemotherapy. You will find many more stories from others in the blogs and forums where some dogs survived much longer. Every dog is different. For the best feedback from others please post in the forums or start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources!
I have a 9 month old female German shepherd with her left shoulder and leg amputated due to a birth defect. I’d very much like to have something fitted for her that could possibly work long-term she’s just a puppy & soon to be an adult. I want her to have a very functioning quality of life long-term. She is an amazing dog. Please help us. 🙂
Tess, please consider taking advantage of our Tripawds Foundation Rehabilitation Therapy Reimbursement Program. A rehab expert can explain what you can do to help keep your GSD strong and healthy for life. As of now we know of no prosthetic that can work when the entire leg is removed. Please reach out to our Discussion Forums to talk about this further.
My dog is on day 7 from surgery. She’s almost 10 it is the front leg. She’s a healthy whippet that had the removal due to cancer . She is still very lethargic, seems depressed, only will walk to relive herself. She son gabapentin, medacam, and Tylenol 3. She is now done the gabapentin as of tonight, but still seems painful.
Is this common
Thx
There are many ways to identify and treat pain symptoms many people overlook. Being only about halfway through the recovery process, what you describe for your pup does sound pretty common. Confinement and moderated activity are pertinent now. She should only be having short leashed potty time right now anyway, until completely healed. Please consult your vet with serious concerns and start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources.
Nina,
I have no other way to get in touch with you apparently so I am hoping you come back here occasionally and find this.
I have wanted to thank you for your very kind words in my blog. I am no better today -going on two years- but your words made me feel like we’re two peas in a pod. Thank you so much for your kindness and for sharing. I will remember you and Connor forever.
Biggest hugs
Tina
without Manni
Hi Tina,
Just got back here, first time in over a year, wish I checked in sooner to find your sweet note. My dear, how my heart goes out to you, I remember how I felt at two years of no Connor. Still raw and bleeding in my soul. It will be four years this February, and it was only this past summer that I was able to talk about my boy without breaking down completely and not being able to say a word. Please know that it does get better, it really does, hopefully you are feeling that now, a year and two months later. You have to just go with the loss and pain and let time do its healing work. I miss my guy every day, and this past May I had to say goodbye to the baby of my three boys, my Manx kitty Jonas. Three gone in four years. it’s too much. If you want to email me I am keahinui@gmail.com, or you can message me on FB, think I’m the only Nina Hettema out there.
Sending you so much love, healing thoughts and prayers, blessings and hugs. Let’s have a play date at the Rainbow Bridge some day, the four of us, okay? xoxo,
Nina
Hi, my cat had his front leg amputated 2 years ago and now i’m noticing that the bone where his leg used to be is ‘more present’, in the sense that when I pick him up i’m feeling it more than I used to. I don’t know whether it’s just my imagination or maybe he lost a bit of weight (although he doesn’t seem like he lost weight as he’s quite chubby).
Has anyone ever had this problem?
Thanks
Hi Bernardine! It sounds like the tissues over the partial amputation your cat received may have wasted away and the bony area is now more obvious. See our article “Partial versus full leg amputation” for examples. I would talk to a good surgeon about this if it seems to be bothering your cat. Also, please help your cat lose those extra pounds, as a Tripawd needs to be slimmer than usual to make mobility easier on their joints.
Nocita was extremely helpful. Those 72 hours of pain relief Moose got was very helpful to get him home and settled and for us to adjust to our new reality. Knowing it only lasted 72 hours also gave us the opportunity to evaluate changes when he did start having pain.
I’m so happy to hear that it helped. And yeah that is a good point about knowing exactly how long it will last. Great job! We hope Moose is doing well.
Whoo Hooo Dr. Downing! I LOVE HER! Only wearing three legs or 2 legs;)
Yes, they adapt and are happy to move along differently.
Wow, we need more Dr. Downings in this world.
I look furward to reading more!
Jerry, what is the best way to get in contact with Dr. Kramer? I want to ask her about borrowing (front) wheels for my Sophie post-op. She’ll only need them for a few weeks until her shoulder heals.
Consider checking Dr Kramer’s website, at the link in the post above!
How is it I’m just now seeing this? One would think I’d been busy trying to build a house or keep a dog from eating the neighbors. So, so lovely to see everyone and of course I was crying and grinning throughout.
Highly recommend IRL gatherings!
Hugs!
Teri
Karen was amazing helping the whole family through an extremely traumatic time. All the way over here in Australia we found a truly wonderful, caring person.
A wonderful well deserved way to pay tribute to an INVALUABLE , LOYAL, COMPASSIONATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE long term member! She’s always in the front line willing to help others. I know I’ve been the recipient of her generosity of spirit many times, starting with my Hapoy Hannah, and carrying on through Frankie and Merry Myrtle..
I refer to Stubborn Pug Maggie too many times to count when I want to offer inspiration and hope. to others. I always encourage mothers to read about her journey. For one thing, you will always get a chuckle as you get to know Pug Maggie and all the ways she earned the name “stubborn”. Reading about Rani and Obie, and of course Elly…….enlightens is on so many levels!!
I haven’t had a chance to listen to the Radio Podcast yet ( it sure if tablets can do that), but Ioooooved watching Elly do her nosework! She nailed it! I love how she kept double checking and kept showing Karen where the prize was
Thank you Pug Magfie, for bringing us Karen. So much about what is good about this site is because Karen is such a major component of it
Love and light❤
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
What a great interview! Loved hearing the questions and the answers Karen gave. Was also good to put a “voice” to the name. Can’t wait for more episodes of this
This is awesome. Thanks for sharing Karen. 🙂
Any info about the best vet for Harry would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry to hear about Harry, and we are glad to hear you are getting him help. Please read on to find out why we recommend searching for an AAHA-accredited clinic, of which there are many in your area. Good luck and let us know how it goes in our Tripawd Cat Discussion Forums.
Out kitten, Harry, is about 9 weeks old and was born with a “dead” right-rear paw. His leg was partially amputated but the “stub” is bleeding (lots of spots on bed ,blankets, etc.).
We need to find the best vet in Orlando area, right away, to examine our kitty & maybe do more surgery.
My dog is just hours post op. They have given me gabapentin, carprofen, buprenorphine, tramadol, and cephalexan. Sorry if the spelling is wrong. It’s midnight and I’m exhausted. I’m a relative of the vet and I feel like they’re doing everything possible to keep her comfortable, 110lb Rotti, but I kind of feel it’s overkill. Thoughts?
Hi Bridget. Sorry for the diagnosis. No, this is not overkill and it sounds like your vet is giving some good pain management. Try to put yourself in your dog’s paws: amputation is a major surgery that needs major pain management for at least 10 days or so. Work with your vet if you feel it is not enough or too much and join us in the Forums for faster help from the community.
I’ve created an account! So happy to have found such a supportive community. Roxy is 9, 110lb Rottweiler, that was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front right leg. Yesterday, was her amputation. She’s been kept pretty comfortable with the arsenal of meds. My next question is when does she go to the bathroom? How do I help her? It’s very overwhelming and I feel pretty helpless.
Welcome. As Jerry’s vet told us…when they need to go, they’ll go! Please search the forums for plenty of feedback from others about any specific concerns. Or, search all blogs here. And be sure to start here for help finding the many Tripawds Resources.
My Teddy a Male Dog never had any symptoms of cancer but a lump not a reddish one never had any pain when he move around after taking a x Ray Doctor said he suspect it as a bone cancer and to amputate which I did and the samples send for a histopathology Of bone tissue. My dog 100% healthy even now a Crocker spanioal 5 years old.
Do you think this is a Bone Cancer.
Sajith, we are glad your dog is doing well. What did the histiopathy report say? Did it not determine that your dog has bone cancer?
Awww everyone, I’m thrilled you enjoyed the video and hope we captured the essence of your magical sisterhood. Thank you so much for doing the video for the community!
It’s so hard to put into one short video what Tripawds has done for us! Yes we met in the forums and the chat room first, then a few of us met in Chicago at PuppyUp. Then even more at the Epic Pawty in Virginia. Our friendship has just grown and grown and grown. We’ve been there for each other through the hard times and through the good times too. And each year we get together and we reminisce about our babies – it’s so good to have people we can talk to about them, those that remember our journey with us, and we can feel with, we can let the tears fall without being embarrassed, because they remember too, and they loved them too. It truly is like having a bunch of sisters!
And we spend a great deal of our time together talking about our Tripawd Hero’s – hours and hours worth. And we never get tired of listening to each other about different aspects of the journey. You’d think after 3 years of vacations together we’d run out of things to say about them, but we don’t. This keeps our heart dogs alive for us…I can’t put into words how important this is. Their lives mattered, the horrible journey was not for nothing – it all happened for a reason. WE FOUND EACH OTHER, WE FOUND FAMILY!
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
That is just PAWSOME!!!!! I smiled throughout that whole video.. even though I only know a few of you.. I certainly feel the awsesome friendship you have developed together!!!
Christine.. with Franklin and Maggie in hed heart!!
My tears are flowing right with you Michelle! Lump in my throat, warm fuzzies, tears, reconnected with our sister and great times through your “preeentation”…………GREAT JOB RENE!!! AO WELL DONE!!!
The thought you gave to incorporating the ohotos pf our Spirit Dogs was just beautiful! Every photo was PERFECT!!! Yes, they are the heroes that brought us all together. They were all gifts on loan to us for too short a time, yet they are the gifts that keep on giving and always live in through us, and through our friendships.❤❤❤
And the first hero of all, Jerry!!! He was…and continues to be….an eternal gift to all of us (with a little help from his hoomans and Wyatt)
Thank you Soul Sisters, thank you Spirit Angel Dogs, thank Jerry…..and the pawty continues on!!
BTW…all it takes is two for a pawty! Numbers don’t matter. Bonding with someone who “understands” the depth of love we have for our animals is the prize
With love and appreciation to all
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
You are right it doesn’t matter the numbers. Just a meet up with one other person and it can grow from there.
xoxoxo
And, next year will be year 4 of us getting together – in Wisconsin this time! Can’t wait to see my “family” again!
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
P.S. good job Rene of editing all our craziness
Brings back so many memories of a fabulous vacation with my sisters! They truly did get me through one of the most difficult times in my life. Everyone should be so lucky to meet their soul mates! Come on tripawd people…..plan a party and meet yours!
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
I love it. But not smiling crying (of course I am LOL). I miss my gals and family. This is the greatest family on earth. Everyone of these ladies I would trust with my heart and soul. We have been through some of the roughest times together. But we also have shared some of the greatest together as well. When I said family I truly mean it.
The Tripawds party in VA (the greatest epic party) was the first real vacation I had in years way before Sassy got cancer. I met some of the greatest people. What you didn’t see was we were missing a few ( Clare, Alison, Amy and Glenn, Donna’s husband, was at the first party.)
All of us ladies have a great time when we are together. We bonded, when we get together each year its like we just left off where we were before.
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angels Sassy & Bosch
Glad you liked it Jackie! Watching the video for the first time just put the biggest smile on my face too Talk about special friends!
Great job ladies!! I am just grinning from ear to ear here seeing all of you! Love the t -shirts
Thank you Rene for putting that together, it is so special to see the bonds that are made here.
Hugs to all of you, just made my morning
Jackie and Huckleberry
First of all, thank you SO much for the website and all the effort going into it.
I just arrived here today, after a canine cancer diagnosis, and amputation was suggested for our wonderful 10 year old border collie. I entered “tripod dogs” into Google — your landing page was the fourth hit. Another page on this site was the fifth hit. So something is right. By rights, pages from this site should have been #1 through 1000….
Hi Dennis, welcome. We are so sorry to hear about your pup, and hope you will join us in the Forums for help from the community. Thanks for your kind words about our community, we are trying hard to increase our ranking.
Yesterday my 8 yr old Ridgeback mix was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg and unfortunately it showed up on chest x-rays also. I am waiting on the biopsy results to be certain. The vet mentioned amputation but I can’t seem to find any information on dogs where the cancer has spread and whether amputation is even a possibility. I will talk to the vet in the next few days when the results are back but was wondering if anyone had any input.
Hi Debzab. I’m sorry about the diagnosis. We do have some information you are looking for. Please see: https://tripawds.com/2012/08/28/senior-dog-zeus-living-large-against-all-odds/ and also https://tripawds.com/forums/treatment-and-recovery/is-the-remedy-for-cancer-worth-the-cure-another-great-article-by-dr-intile/ and finally a member experience: https://tripawds.com/forums/presentation-and-diagnosis/should-amputation-be-done-if-mets-found-in-lungs/. Please consider posting in the Forums so more people can provide input. See you there!
My dog was diagnosed today. Unfortunately it’s bad in his leg and in his lungs already. 3-4 months left
Best wishes for your pup! Jerry’s vet told us a few months, and he loved life for another six. Find plenty of posts about what to expect here, including our own reality check with Jerry as we reached the end of his journey.
Hi, I absolutely loved this story about beautiful Emerson. Being from Sydney, it is very reassuring.
Our boy has recently been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and we are devastated.
My partner has never seen a three legged dog and very nervous about it. He hasn’t slept in days. I try and show him these inspiring stories but I think he needs to see it with his own eyes to believe how great dogs do adapt.
Thank you so much
Aww I’m so glad you read his story Leona. There are mannnnny more so please tell your partner to come on over and we will try to help him feel better about the decision. Best wishes to you and your boy.
Is there a prescription drug you would recommend that I inquire about in lieu of Tramadol? My dog just had an amputation yesterday and I am trying my best to be on top of the latest and greatest and most effective way to treat her pain.
Hi Denise, keep in mind that when used as part of a multi-modal pain relief approach, it is believed that Tramadol is effective. When used alone, not so much according to the recent study. If your dog doesn’t tolerate Tramadol, you can always ask your vet about adding Amantadine into the mix, which addresses another pain pathway effectively when used with Gabapentin and a NSAID. Hope this helps.
Our amazing pup, Desmond (or Desi to most), is a year and a half old Golden Retriever. He was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma in his left front leg about a month ago. He had been limping since the middle of February, but the vet kept telling us it was just a shoulder strain, until we finally pushed for an x_ray. After a very painful bone biopsy & having to watch our poor boy suffer in immense pain for two weeks, we got the call. It was cancer. The decision was so easy. Taking his leg meant no more pain, so that is what we did. The vet’s office took x-rays and bloodwork one week before surgery & both were clear. Of course, we were told the osteosarcoma could have spread microscopically, but nothing could be seen by the naked eye. We are now five weeks post surgery & Desi is doing AWESOME! He had a few complications with the incision (the vet had to go back in to remove some necrotic tissue & there was some infection present), but as of today, our sweet, playful, & loving boy has been returned to us. He also started his chemo pill today, so we are going to see how that goes. The oncologist said that his osteosarcoma was caught very early & now we are starting with a clean slate. I pray every single day (sometimes more than that) that the lung mets hold off for as long as possible. I worry about every sound Desi makes when he is breathing. I just worry about everything. We are thinking of starting him on CBD oil as well to add in a holistic approach to the chemo pill. We have already put over $6,000 with the biopsy & the amputation surgery, so we are not able to do the full chemo regimen, so I think adding in CBD oil can only help. All this being said, we are enjoying every single moment with our fur baby, b/c we never know when the last one will come.
Thanks for sharing Desi’s story. You are an amazing Tripawd parent! We wish you lots of great, hoppy time together on three. Let us know if we can help at all!
My 12 year old Terrier mix developed a huge lump on his shoulder, seemingly overnight. X-rays showed moth eaten bone, typical of bone cancers but consults with experts were inconclusive. Nevertheless, we started Butters on Zolendronate and after the second infusion the lump opened up and drained blood and who knows what else. Further x-rays seemed to suggest that bone was being rebuilt. The “wound” healed and it was almost like he had never had the lump. Unfortunately, Butters had to be put to sleep a few months later due to liver failure. I truly believe the bisphosphonate was a miracle treatment.
Holly thank you sooo much for your feedback on this treatment. I’m sorry to hear about Butters’ getting his wings, but so glad that he had some quality time with you. What a great mom you were to him. xoxo
How do I apply? My sweet MJ had cancer 3 years ago. We had to amputate her leg to stop the cancer. She jumped off the table after surgery and immediately did just fine! She’s now 14 and in the last few days her other back leg is giving her serious pain and I can hear her help when her hips move. She is still eating and going potty and moving, just in pain. It breaks my heart! She’s a rescue and her 14 year old and 6 year old sister rescue come running when she winces! We need help!
Nikki, please get MJ to a canine pain management / animal rehabilitation (physio) therapist asap. Wheels are not the answer right now, at least until she is evaluated. If you are in Canada or the U.S. Tripawds Foundation may reimburse for your first rehab visit. Also please post in our Size and Age Matters forum for feedback from members. See you there.
OMG! To see this post was just amazing. Thinking of all you guys do for us Tripawds and how much we love you and spirit Jerry!
Love from Thurston, Raffie and Hoomom, Gloria
Thank you! We’ve come a long way indeed…
What a beautiful story! Reminds me so much of our Rottie, Reggie. In 2017 he was 5 years 3 months old when diagnosed. Same thing, osteosarcoma in his back left leg. Such a hard decision isn’t it to amputate. But as I can see you also learned they get along just fine, the horrible pain is gone & they know how to live life to it’s fullest. We’ve learned so much from him as I’m sure you did with your beautiful Major. Thanks for sharing his story.
Thanks for the comment! Please consider sharing your story. There are many ways to pay tribute and help inspire others.
Thanks for this quick blurb on biphosphonates! It has been a great option for our girl!
Thanks for reading! Please consider sharing your story.
Is gabapentin the drug it works best with? And I have been giving it to my dog per vet’s instructions However she doesn’t seem to be in terrible pain should I cut back on it?
According to veterinarians we have talked to, Gabapentin and Tramadol may work synergistically with one another. Before assuming your dog is not in pain, please review these pain signals in dogs and talk to your vet about how and when to reduce her medications. Keep us posted in the Forums.
I believe that Bisphosphonates are a very useful alternative however our oncologist back then stated that they only seem to work on tubular bones such as in the limbs. It would be interesting to know what Dr. Kelly thinks about that.
Thanks
tina
Thank you for posing a great question, Tina! I’ll be sure to ask and report back here.
jerry- were you able to check with Dr. Kelly about tinsch concern?
Oh thanks for reminding me, I didn’t hear back on that one but it’s a great question to ask future oncologists we interview. Thanks for reading.
Whohoo..yay for more attention to this treatment.
And thanks for mentioning my Neka..u guys made me smile ear to ear..I mean literally smile!!…I’m also open to any questions anyone has:)
I am soooo glad you saw it Steph! If it wasn’t for you and beautiful Neka this treatment wouldn’t have been on our radar. Thanks to you, we finally got to dive into this topic and hopefully others will investigate it if their vets didn’t present it as a choice. You are such a great pet parent, advocate and friend to the Tripawds community. Thank you so much.
Can’t believe I missed this, will Stacy be returning in the future?
There are no plans to do another animal communication episode for the foreseeable future. Subscribe to Tripawd Talk Radio to be notified of all new episodes.
I’ve been please with Pets Best. I paid $1000 a year with a 10% copay and $200 yearly deductible. They don’t cover hyperbaric chamber or O-Zone therapy and I’m fine with that. Usually they wire payment into my checking account within five days of the claim. premium rises as pet ages at renewal
Good to know Luke. Our premium with them doubled for Wyatt when he turned 9. I think that their rates also depend on the breed. Glad you are happy with them!
My understanding is the goal is to use immune therapy and do limb spare not amputation?
For this one they are amputating to take the dog’s tumor in order to create the vaccine. I don’t believe they are turning to limb spare first.
I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to see Otis’ picture when I opened up the newsletter this morning! For those Tripawd parents going through this, I should also add that as Otis grew more stable, there were still times, generally on walks, when I used my leg to help him balance so that he could do what needed to be done. I was also very careful around trees – the mounding of mulch around trees can be difficult for a Tripawd male if you do not approach the tree from the right angle and let him lean against your leg if needed. (Yes, I know we should have found better trees, but it is hard to argue with a dog and a favorite tree).
What a beautiful gift from you al! This is one of the most informative cases I have seen. It was majorly impactful and I am so grateful Spree made such a contribution with her life. Every tripawd owner (and not the case here but also owners of unfit pets at unhealthy weights) should see what osteoarthritis does to these poor pups. I’ve never seen this …and all most owners see are the examples of healthy plastic bones in our vets offices. A big thank you to Spree and her mom. Such. Valuable. Knowledge. Xoxo. My heart is with you.
God Bless your heart Spree. Journey isn’t easy but we all need this inspiration. I too have a tripawd and she has been diagnosed with Hip Dyspepsia and arthritis.
Therapy and diet are a must but along with that, the love of their humans is the best medicine of all…
Thanks for sharing.
Kathy and my GSD Aksel_Rose
I did’t even think about raised feeders , Rocky seems to have no trouble but I’m all for making things even easier for him. So glad I checked this recovery shopping list out and I’ll be purchasing those asap.
Good job! Thanks for the feedback, so glad it helped. Yes, raised feeders are great for three and four legged dogs. Imagine trying to bend over and eat your food from a bowl on the ground, then do it with one leg. Rocky’s a lucky dawg to have you for a mama.
Great information. It doesn’t work for me either but must help someone. Unfortunately our pets can’t tell us how they are feeling. Thanks for this article.
You are so welcome. And you’re right, it is such a test of our sensitivity to animals’ behavior when trying to decipher their pain. I hope you find a medication that does help you feel better.
Hi, does any one know of someone whose dog was diagnosed with melanoma in the mouth and used the beads? My 8yr old chihuahua has a tumor on the side of his mouth. I went to an oncologist who suggested a vaccine but it’s duper expensive and not a guarantee that he will be ok after. I spoke to another vet who suggested the beads, I’m just looking for feed back, i feel so lost and helpless.
This post (and treatment) is rather old. You might consider looking into Electrochemotherapy…we have new video interviews and articles coming soon.
Thank you so much for posting part 1 and part 2. I’m currently sitting in my living room while our greyhound is in her crate next to me – I collected her 12 hours ago following a front limb amputation for osteosarcoma. It has been the most harrowing thing I think I’ve ever done, given how dopey she was, yet how much she wants to stand up and move aboit. However, we just got back inside after a successful 4am hobble outside (with a sling to assist) to toilet. I think I can see the light. Nice to know I’m not alone in this!
Welcome to the club nopawdy ever wants to join, and best wishes for a speedy recovery! Start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources. As a Greyhound lover, you should especially enjoy the Be More Dog podcast from our keynote at the 2012 Greyhounds Rock canine cancer conference.
My dog has just been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (back leg). The leg will be amputated the day after tomorrow and he will then begin chemotherapy. The vet will x-ray his chest first (I am so hoping it has not already made it’s way there). I’m so glad I have found this blog because now I know I’m not alone. What I can’t come to terms with are the statistics and the inevitably bad prognosis. My heart goes out to those who have lost their special babies to this hideous disease. I will take on board the “be more dog” mantra – thank you for this forum.
Sssshhhhh…your dog knows nothing about statistics! that’s why it is so important to Be More Dog. If you have not yet done so, listen to the Be More Dog Podcast for details. And start here for help finding the many other Tripawds resources and assistance programs.
3 weeks ago my 9 year old Rottie was diagnosed with bone cancer. I’m devastated. The vet said it has already spread throughout his body because of the weight loss. He has his good days and he has his not so good days. Whenever I touch him, he flinches. WHY? Is it painful for him when I touch him. Taking him to an oncologist tomorrow. I think I need an expert to tell me what his quality of life is at this moment. I don’t want him to suffer any longer, but I’m so depressed thinking about losing my boy. I have another furbaby… Max, he is a black lab. How is this going to affect him?
Hello Ida. I’m sorry to hear about your boy. Rest assured you are doing the best thing possible by visiting an oncologist. I hope you get hopeful news today. Please come back and visit us in our Discussion Forums so we can help you better OK?
I’m so sorry to hear this. We just learned that our 10 1/2 old English Mastiff has bone cacner – in her front leg. We are devastated and I’m just sick to my stomach trying to figure out what is the right path of treatment for her. Be strong for your furbaby. He is lucky to have you.
What are you sorry to hear!? Jerry loved life on three legs for two years, without chemotherapy, and this was back in 2007! Besides, it’s all about quality of life now, not quantity. Please listen to our Be More Dog podcast, to learn how to follow your pup’s lead on this journey. And sshhhhhh…she does not know she has cancer!
Ida I’m going through the same! Vet is saying she has suspicious Bristol femur cancer in her June leg she has been limping. I’m so lost and confused. Taking her to oncologist on Monday I don’t want to lose my baby girl but I don’t want her to suffer.
Karen, best wishes for your girl. Please start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources, post in the forums for more feedback from others, or call the toll-free Helpline anytime!
Healthy Paws paid for everything they said they would from my girl’s xrays, bone scan, amputation with 7 day hospital stay, chemotherapy, the osteosarcoma vaccine, and, sadly, for euthanasia. I am very grateful for Healthy Paws and have enrolled my new dogs with them, too. They have been a godsend for my past dogs over the years, too. Ultimately, they paid out over $20,000 in claims over a 25 month period. They allowed me to give her a very happy and very healthy 25 months. Worth every cent of the monthly premium.
Wow thank you for sharing your experience! You’re not the first person to say great things about Healthy Paws. I’m so hoppy it worked out for your pack!
We use Healthy Paws for our Tripawd, too. They covered the cost of her amputation and now they are covering her chemo. I chose a $250 deductible and a 90% reimbursement.
I’m so glad they are working out for you Simone! That’s great peace of mind.
Well to understate the problem this just sucks! We have made so many longtime friends because of tripawds.com and are so grateful to be part of this community. I try to post on FB links to the sight as much as possible. And always refer anyone who has a pet who is or will be becoming a TriPod. I will be ordering more brochure to give to vets office as well. I wish there was more we could do but we will continue to spread the word as much as possible.
Thank you for everything you do! You guys see PAWsome!!
Denna & TriPod
“Living life to the fullest……one hop at a time”
Wow and my spellcheck is awful apparently after I re-read this post
Oh gosh don’t you worry about spelling or typos Denna! Thank you for your supportive message and all that you do to help us spread the word. We WILL get through and over this temporary hurdle thanks to the love and concern from great members like you. 3-paws up to you and the pack!
Isnt this immunotherapy supposed to be used on Limb spare where the leg can be saved And the vaccine is made from the removed tumor?
Their trials focused on post amputation.
It would be great if it works without amputation.
Wouldn’t that be great! Well, it all starts with studies like this, which are very expensive, time-consuming, and complicated to administer.
I dont have tons of google experience . Wouldn’t buying google ads help?
Sure, if we had an unlimited advertising budget. Sadly this is not our reality. Thanks for the suggestion though!
What is the signs of cancer spreading to the lungs. I did have Daisy who died of lung cancer. She started acting lethargic and coughing. That was 15 years ago. They said there was nothing that could be done.
For now brownie’s chest xray came back clear, but was wondering if there are other signs to watch for?