Recently, my friend Sami sent me a news story about advances in prosthetics for Tripawds. I wasn’t able to post that video here, but I did find another one on YouTube.
As you know, Tripawds usually get along fine on three legs. We can run, jump and play like other dogs, and we honestly don’t care that we are missing one of our spare limbs. We here at Tripawds are dedicated to showing humans this is true.
So when I heard about these new prosthetics for dogs, I had to wonder; are these prosthetics really necessary? Who are they really for, dogs . . . or their humans?
I know that prosthetic tests being done on dogs may eventually help humans and other animals that can’t function with missing limbs, and that’s a good thing. But if these prosthetics become a mainstream thing in veterinary medicine, how will that affect Tripawd acceptance in the eyes of humans?
Most importantly, how do you all feel about prosthetics? Would you get one if you could?
When we reviewed the Hot/Cold Pain Relief Pack from Bella’s Pain Relief, we discovered the namesake of this great pet products company was a great tripawd – Great Dane to be specific.
And when we read the amazing story of Bella and Hope, we knew we had to share it with our readers.
So we asked Ronnie from BellasPainRelief.com to tell us about these two incredible three-legged dogs. We hope you enjoy her touching tale as much as we do …
My new friend Sammy wrote to me to share his story about how he just became a Tripawd and had his surgery where I did, in California.
Sammy is from Mexico, and the way he started out his life is not an easy story to read. In fact, it made my Mom cry. But it has a hoppy ending, and it will put a smile on your face.
Welcome to America, Sammy. Your story is proof that miracles do happen, and not all humans are jerks. What a lucky, lucky Tripawd you are!
Barely Alive on the Beach
My name is Sammy. I was born in a tiny fishing village in Baja, Mexico. Some jerk ran over me when I was only 3 months old and then dumped me off at a deserted beach to die a slow, agonizing death! I had a broken pelvis, broken femur, terrible mange, open sores all over, millions of fleas (at least that’s how it felt) and a tummy filled with nasty worms…I was a mess!
We just started the Tripawds Angel Exhange in our Forums, so three legged dogs in need of items like harnesses, ramps, etc., can meet generous people who want to donate these things to Tripawds who can use them.
We started the Exchange with two DogLegg vests that belonged to Dakota. From the bottom of our hearts, many thanks to Dakota and her pawrents. Click here to read her story.
Many weeks ago, I hurt my knee somehow. Maybe I caught the frisbee one too many times, I don’t know. But now, my doctor thinks that I have a partial ACL tear, and she recommended acupuncture treatment to help me feel better. I know that I don’t like Tramadol, so I was willing to try anything, even getting pins stuck in my flesh.
When I first got cancer, my Mom kept putting Frontline on me, because we had ticks and fleas bad where we used to live. Even though she wondered if maybe that’s what caused my cancer in the first place, she was afraid that the diseases I could get from fleas would be far worse than the risk of getting sick from chemicals that are supposed to be “safe” for us.
But when my lung mets showed up, Mom had to know: Is flea medication safe? Can it make me sick?
She talked to my oncologist, a pet nutrition guru, about flea prevention. My oncologist believes that dogs with “compromised immune systems” shouldn’t have more chemicals in their bodies. Since my great diet keeps my body strong, she said that fleas shouldn’t be a problem for me. She recommended that we stick with natural flea solutions.
Over the last year, my pawrents have received a few emails like this:
“I have 2 Doglegg vests for amputees that I am willing to donate to a rescue organization or an individual who is financially unable to get a protective vest for their tripawd dog . . .”
It got us to thinking; Why not connect Tripawds in need of gear, supplements, and other stuff, with generous people who are looking to donate these types of tripawd-related things?
So, in the same giving spirit as Freecycle, we are starting the Tripawds Angel Exchange.
When an item has been donated, add a reply indicating this.
Protect your privacy; only give an email address in the Forum. All other personal information should be communicated directly between interested parties via email.
Angel/Receiver will work out shipping methods and associated costs among themselves.
Post your topic only once.
From the bottom of our hearts, thanks in advance to all of the Tripawd Angels out there who want to list their items in this exchange. You make the world a beautiful place.
My pawrents want you to know that even if your tripawd is given a bad prognosis after amputation, many of us will show those doctors how wrong they are, and go on to live long and happy lives.
Irish Wolfie Finnegan Celebrates Eighth Birthday
My pal Finnegan, in Erie Pennsylvania, celebrated his eighth birthday this week. This is a very big deal, because two years ago, Finny was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. He’s not only beating the average life expectancy of Wolfhounds, 6.2 years, but has exceeded the odds for any dog to survive an osteosarcoma diagnosis.
Happy Ampuversary Keno!
Next up, my Mom just heard about Keno, a beautiful girldog, who will celebrate her 33 month ampuversary this Monday, June 16. Keno has not only been diagnosed once, but twice, with osteosarcoma.
On Keno’s website, her Mom tells a great story about how Keno was diagnosed, what her recovery was like, and how her life is today.
Anyone who is unsure about whether amputation is the right thing to do should definitely take a look at her story. As her Mom likes to say:
Whatever you do, don’t give up hope.
Miracles can happen!
Congratulations Finnegan and Keno, thank you for being the inspawration for so many of us bone cancer dogs and our pawrents!
Some of you may be thinking “What? Snow went bye bye months ago!” But not here in the Colorado high country where I’m camped out all summer with my pawrents. At over 9300′ above sea level, it takes a while for it to look like summer in these parts. But as you can see, the sun is out, and the snow is just melting away here.
I’ll sure miss it, but at least now I can finally go swimming in all the cool lakes around here. Come visit me while my pawrents work all day, let’s play!
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