This blog is about and for my Tripawd Heidi!
Here is the link to the interview I gave AFN during a recent Pet Show Spectacular sponsored by AAFES! Click the first link below and the video should be on the right side of the screen. Enjoy!
http://kaiserslautern.afneurope.net/default.aspx
For those who have a facebook account, you can check out the video here!
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=184968431557349&oid=132003660176193&comments
Today, our military community held a pet spectacular. They had an agility course and different competitions (most obiedent, most unique, best outfit, etc.) We deicided to take Heidi to celebrate her 3rd anniversary of being a Tripawd!
Needless to say, Heidi got a lot of attention. People were very interested in her story. She loved the attention and getting to meet so many new people and dogs. AFN (Armed Forces Network) was there shooting some footage for the local updates. They were very taken with Heidi and asked for an interview. They asked a lot of questions, and of course I mentioned Tripawds.com as well as National Canine Cancer Foundation!
I will be e-mailed before it airs, and will definately post a link to the video! Oh yeah, and I was sporting my Tripawds Rule! t-shirt I ordered from cafe press!
We had a great day getting the word out about tripawd dogs!
When I went to pick up Heidi from the vet after her amputation, she recommended putting a t-shirt on Heidi instead of using a “cone of shame”. Since Heidi is a big girl (95lbs @ the time), I did not have any dog shirts. (I don’t think any owner of a GSD owns a dog shirt.)
Once home, I used one of my own t-shirts. It worked okay, but there were issues. It was loose, so one of her back legs whould get caught up in it and she would be unable to get up. It was also a pain to deal with when it was time for her warm compresses.
About a week after her surgery, I had to run some errands. While in a store, I saw Underarmour’s compression shirts (for women). Because it was the compression shirt, I figured I would not have the issues with the loose-ness I had with traditional t-shirts. The issue I did have was with the sleeves. (Heidi had her front left leg removed)
To fix the sleeves required some sewing. Now, I am not the best sewer in the world. In fact, I can barely sew a straight seam, but I gave it my best shot. First, I turned the shirt inside-out. Next, I sewed BOTH sleeves shut. Then, I measured the distance from Heidi’s collar to her only front leg. I took this measurement to the shirt, starting from the shirt collar. I believe her measurement was 10″. I measured 10″ down from the shirt collar and cut an opening big enough for her leg to fit thru. I then hemmed the opening with a zig-zag stitch on my machine.
I found that Heidi liked the compression shirt a lot better. It moved with her, hugged her body and the material breathed. (When buying the shirt, I suggest a woman’s shirt. To determine the size you need, measure the dog’s chest (behind the front leg) and get the size that corresponds to the measurement on the price tag.) I also found that the compression shirt helped to keep her post-surgery swelling down and helped hold her warm compresses in place.
We made Heidi wear the shirts until most of her hair had grown back. She never seemed to mind them. I know these shirts can be pricey (I paid $25 each, and they were on sale!), but you only need 2 (one to wear & one to wash) and I found them to be worth the money after a little doggy alteration.
My name is Heidi and I was born on 1 Jan 2009. I was the only puppy in my litter, and I was conceived via invetro fertilization. I came from the same breeder as my mate, but we have different parents. Shortly after my owner brought me home, we discovered that I have megaesophagus. After an exploratory surgery, my vets determined that it could not be fixed. As i have grown, my mega-e has gotten “better”. In June of 2010, I had a lump show up on my front left leg. After x-rays and a bone biopsy, I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer in dogs). My vets gave me 4-6 months to live. I am happy to say that I am still going strong 10 1/2 months after my diagnosis. I had my leg amputated in March of 2011, and I haven’t felt this good since before my diagnosis! If you have any questions about my conditions, please feel free to ask me. I want to help as many dogs as I can! 🙂
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