Tripawd Pals

We just heard from Frankie in Naples, Florida. Frankie is a six year old Dachshund / Schnauzer dog who joined the Tripawd club just three weeks ago. Frankie, you get the honor of being the smallest dog to be in the club. Small in stature but not in heart!

Here is the story that Frankie’s Mom Melissa told us:

My Frankie boy just had his left front leg amputated due to a mast cell tumor. It is 3 weeks later and he is amazing me everyday! He has already mastered our 3 flights of stairs at our condo, and just 4 days after I brought him home he jumped through my sisters doggie door. Life is good!

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I can’t even pronounce it, but my tripawd friend Sammy sure can. He is such a survivor! Sammy had arthrodesis surgery in February, 2007, to have his wrist bones fused together.

The surgery helped him out of pain, and made it easier for him to walk. Then he lost his other rear leg. He’s real trooper though, and is still as spunky as ever.

Sammy’s Mom wants to know:

I just wonder how other 3 leggers do with a fused wrist?

If you are a tripawd that’s had arthrodesis surgery, do you have any advice for Sammy?

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Each week, nervous Dog Moms and Dog Dads contact me, wondering how we dogs do after amputation. They want to know what the post-op procedures are like, and how dogs handle chemotherapy. And while all dogs respond a little differently to all of this, most of us bounce back right away!

Kiva is one of my new tripawd friends, and she is recovering nicely after losing her front right leg. What a great Christmas present; the gift of a pain-free life, and another chance at being a healthy, happy dog!

Her Mom Jolene has graciously allowed us to share her account of the first few days after Kiva’s surgery. We hope this gives you a small picture of what it’s like to bring a dog home after surgery, and what to expect if you’re participating in chemotherapy.

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Our roving correspondent, Lalla, would like to educate humans about what tripawds really want for the holidays.

Bedding – your Tripawd deserves special consideration here, because there are special orthopedic concerns and Tripawds need to rest quite a bit. Avoid baskets and bassinets, as your Tripawd does need to stretch out a lot and the curves could cause muscle strain. Your best bet is a simple pad which is not too thick and not too thin. A dog trainer friend recommends buying a baby cot mattress (or a small child size one if you’re a biggie) coated in latex; it’s also very easy to clean with a quick wipe down. Invest in a couple of flannel stretch sheets which you can wash and change alternately – and voila! For warmth, use a TV fleece blanket.

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Some people wonder if big dogs have it ruff when they join the Tripawd club. Well, all you need to do is look at a stunningly gorgeous lady like 5-year old Darcy Deerhound, and you’ll see how much pure strength and resilience a statuesque gal like her has, and how easy it is for dogs of any size to bounce back from amputation and chemo. Here is her story:

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