Zip’s bio
Zip, is a female border collie that came into our life over 13 years ago. She was 5 weeks old when Rachel picked her out of a litter in Rogers,TX and took her off to Texas A&M to go to school. I will now let Zip tell her own story.
Yes, I went off with Rachel who was about to be a junior at college and boy did things get fun then. I learned about all kinds of things from how to get in a laundry basket to not getting in one after I had been “gardening” and had muddy paws. We had a fine time and sometimes we would go to Austin and I got to see the rest of the family and swim in a pool which I love!
Rachel and I did all sorts of things from agility to obedience to Search and Rescue plus when she went to vet school, I became a demo dog, though some of that, well, getting my temperature taken over and over again was not too much fun. We also went to the stables a lot and I soon learned not to chase the horses, they kick but I could move the cows around and that was fine.
After vet school we went to Florida for a year so she could practice on horses but I think I finally nudged her away from big animals and got her to go back to Texas and work on my size animals. While I was in Florida I got cancer and had a month of radiation on my leg then I was fine but that leg never felt quite the same afterward.
We came back to Austin and I love it here! Lots of squirrels and lakes and swimming pools and my best friend Ace who is a border collie too. I also became a therapy pet over at the local hospital, I love all the people I get to meet!
One day I broke that same leg that had the cancer and had to have a plate put in it 2 years ago and also somehow messed up my kidneys a little but with the right diet that has been okay. Well, I started limping on that same right rear leg and Rachel got worried and had a picture of it taken and really got scared when she saw it. After two biopsies, the first one didn’t have enough stuff, we got the news that I had osteosarcoma and we all went into meltdown for awhile. I went to San Antonio for a bone scan and except for some ribs I looked pretty good and they were very nice but I had to spend the night and that wasn’t any fun.
I had more pictures taken and a MRI and rib biopsies done twice, wrong ribs the first time, so about a month after I started limping I had an ampawtation.I also got a thermal burn which is uncomfortable on my other side so I don’t know which way to lie down.
I wasn’t sad I just didn’t understand except that leg that hurt and wouldn’t work right was gone. Rachel had me stay at her parents house but she stayed with me. She still had to go to work and her parents, whom I love, her mom makes me good stuff to eat, have been helping me. I now go to work again with Rachel, I am the shelter mascot, I even got to dig at the groundbreaking for the new shelter. I love being with everyone and if Rachel takes a lunch, we sometimes go down by the lake so I can watch the squirrels and I really like that even if I can’t chase them.
Now I’ll turn it back to Susan, Rachel’s mom and she can tell you all the stuff they worry about while I go take a nap and maybe watch my squirrelavision.
We do worry, she seemed depressed today and had more falling down time on that back leg last night and we don’t know if it is all normal and if others do this too. Heard the first two weeks were the worse and we are on day 15 since surgery and day 8 since chemo. She is taking little walks and having some massages but wonder if we should be doing more to help strengthen that leg. Any suggestions are great!
Welcome to the club, Zip. I like to say that any old dog can get by with 4 legs, but it takes a special dog to live on 3 legs. I know you and your mom are scared, but you have found the right place. Here, you will find great information and some of the best, kindest and funniest dogs and their packs. We just know before long you will be up and around just like you never had that bad leg. It sounds like you’ve had a great life, and you will be here for so much more.
Sending you pawsitive thoughts and virtual hugs,
Ginger
Hey Zip,
Sounds like a pretty good life my friend. Well all except for that temperature taking thing, but a Vet for a mom, maybe that makes her worry even more.
Sorry you are a bit slow and fumbly right now, but I bet in no time your folks will see you hopping after those pesky squirrels!
Best of luck to you.
Spirit JD’s mom
Hi Zip!
Sorry to hear about your leg, but don’t you feel much better now without that broken leg?
I fall down all the time, but you just get back up and it’s really no big deal. Tell your pawrents not to worry.
But, hey, can you go swimming to help strenthen your leg? Are your stitches out now? Swimming is the best! Tell your pawrents to post some photos of you.
James the poodle
welcome, very interesting story miss zip!! only 15 days out from surgery isn’t really that much time – some of us take longer than others to get use to our amputations…plus you’ve had chemo which can knock a girl out…geesh… have you checked out the forum posts, and read jerry’s ‘required reading list’..there is alot of good information there about life after surgery and expectations and such. gayle is a front amputee, and it took a little bit for her to get her ‘sea legs’, now the remaining left front leg is pretty much planted in the center of her stance, and she’s pretty good at getting where ever she wants to go. it may take a little longer, but it comes. how about some pictures of miss zip and her family!!!
charon & gayle
Hi Susan, Rachel and Zip,
Welcome to Tripawds. We always say that we hate that you HAD to find us, but you have found a very informative and supportive community.
The first two weeks are usually the toughest-but because of all the drugs and healing, once sutures or staples come out things seem to improve. Remember though that Zip has to rebuild and retrain muscles- 15 days post amp is not that long. And chemo can slow them down.
You should check out Jerry’s required reading list:http://tripawds.com/2010/06/01/first-tripawds-required-reading-list/, a compilation of information on what to expect with amputation, cancer, and treatment.
For much more information and feed back you should visit the discussion forums here: http://tripawds.com/forums/ , you will find more people and support there.
We also have gear blogs, nutrition blogs, and check out Maggie the Agile Cow Dogs blog: http://maggie.tripawds.com/
for lots of ideas on rehab.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hi Zip!! Nice to meet you, but sorry we had to meet you under the circumstances…
Anyway, some dogs take to the 3 legged thing much faster than others. Chloe’s incentive to be mobile were 2 fold: to go on walks again and to chase her squeaker toy. She recovered faster than most seem to, but it is normal for dogs like Zip to take additional time to adjust.
If she has arthritis or is slightly over weight, those can be huge factors in mobility. You can always try strength training (commands like sit, stand, lay down) or core training (Buja board etc…) in the mean time. I am sure others will chime in regarding this.
Lastly, Chloe and I will be walking for dogs who have been affected by cancer in a K9 Cancer walk in October. We would be honored to write Zip on the back of our T-shirt in order to walk for her too! Just visit my forum about it below and leave a comment that you would like me to add Zip! Every 10 names I get I add a new photo so check back soon to see her name!
http://tripawds.com/forums/anything-goes/chloe-signed-up-for-los-gatos-k9-cancer-walk-we-will-walk-for-your-dogs-too-just-give-us-their-names/page-7/#p40540
-Chloe’s mom