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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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We found a mass...
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San Francisco Bay Area
Member Since:
27 June 2016
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26 July 2016 - 12:41 pm
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Sheba has been wearing her webmaster harness and brush guard constantly since her amputation a little over 3 weeks ago.  At night I unclip the straps and rub her so she can breathe, but she never gets up enough for me to take it off.  Last night she did, so I took the opportunity to give her a little sponge bath since its hot and her stitches don't come out for another week.  Not sure how long its been there, but I found a mass just o the side of her sternum that just barely fits in my hands.  We've been watching/feeling the lymph nodes, but didn't even think of doing a full body exam.  Hopefully its something other than the fungus, but the likelihood of that happening is low.  My poor princess!  crying

Cynthia and Sheba

Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium). 
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.

We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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26 July 2016 - 1:14 pm
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OK do not panic (I know, super hard not to right?!). But this really could be as simple as a lipoma. Only a fine needle aspirate will say for sure. We've seen this happen more times than I could count and almost every time it's been a happy result. Let your vet know and keep calm like I'm sure Sheba is.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

San Francisco Bay Area
Member Since:
27 June 2016
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26 July 2016 - 3:05 pm
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jerry said
OK do not panic (I know, super hard not to right?!). But this really could be as simple as a lipoma. Only a fine needle aspirate will say for sure. We've seen this happen more times than I could count and almost every time it's been a happy result. Let your vet know and keep calm like I'm sure Sheba is.  

Thanks for the moment of sanity Jerry!  Imagine that, our skinny Minnie with a blob of fat!  We see the surgeon next Tuesday for stitch removal and so she can check how Sheba is rehabbing andadjusting to 3 legs. She'll take a look at it then, but told me not to read too much into it. 

Cynthia and Sheba

Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium). 
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.

We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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26 July 2016 - 3:21 pm
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Ohhhh yeah....we all go bat crap nuts around here whenever we find lumps and bumps! And, zs Jerry said, that usually are just some sort of benign lump. Sounds crazy that "skinny" dogs get "fatty lipomas", but they do!

Glad the vet offered you reassurance too.

Curious though, it will be approximately four weeks before the stitches are out???

Hang in there and continue to be more Sheba...no worries!

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

San Francisco Bay Area
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27 June 2016
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26 July 2016 - 4:38 pm
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benny55 said I'm 

Curious though, it will be approximately four weeks before the stitches are out???

Haha, well...stitches came out at 14days, then a week later about 1.5" of the incision split open and we took her to ER to have it stitched back up. That second set of stitches comes out next week

Cynthia and Sheba

Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium). 
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.

We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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26 July 2016 - 6:29 pm
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My Tess had one of those as well, right at the bottom of her sternum.  I noticed it in late June.  Fatty lipoma - nothing to worry about!  Otis, interestingly, also has one on his remaining front leg.  Very common in older labs, but you can't help but stress.

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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26 July 2016 - 7:48 pm
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Murphy has 2 lumps - I assume are lipomas...I don't remember at this point if they've been aspirated or not (I know that sounds horrible, but it seems like that first 6 months or so he had several things aspirated/checked out, so it's possible they were & I just don't remember now).  I feel them most days & they really haven't changed or grown any.  1 is about 3 fingers wide and 1 is about 2 fingers.  They feel like lipomas - they move easily & are softish, oval shaped, and they don't hurt him.  They've been there since not long after his surgery, so about 3 years now.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Minneapolis, MN
Member Since:
23 April 2016
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27 July 2016 - 5:47 am
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Just adding that Pofi, as lean as he is, has many, many fatty lipomas.  And he started getting them when he was barely a middle aged dog (around 6).  So it isn't even just "old" dogs that get them.  

Best thoughts for Sheba that this is an NBD (no big deal) lipoma!

Lisa, Minneapolis

On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly.  His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.

Blog: Pofi, Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Amputation

San Francisco Bay Area
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27 June 2016
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27 July 2016 - 2:18 pm
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midnighter94 said
Murphy has 2 lumps - I assume are lipomas...I don't remember at this point if they've been aspirated or not (I know that sounds horrible, but it seems like that first 6 months or so he had several things aspirated/checked out, so it's possible they were & I just don't remember now).  I feel them most days & they really haven't changed or grown any.  1 is about 3 fingers wide and 1 is about 2 fingers.  They feel like lipomas - they move easily & are softish, oval shaped, and they don't hurt him.  They've been there since not long after his surgery, so about 3 years now.

Donna  

Our little dogs have lipomas all over (they're also both fat, we're working on it)  This is very stiff, no defined edges and feels like its under and on top of the rib cage. its possible she already had it, she's lost a lot of weight in the last few months and post op she eats a lot now, but I'm not sure where it goes.  Maybe she just lost enough weight that its palpable now  Currently she's 76lbs (maybe she's lost ~5lbs post op), down from 86 prior to her TPLO in September, and a high of 98lbs when she injured the knee.  And she still looked skinny at 98!  I want her skinny genes!

Lisa, thanks for sharing about Pofi, I thought lipomas were just an old dog thing, I thought 5 is too young. Guess not!

Cynthia and Sheba

Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium). 
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.

We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 July 2016 - 2:39 pm
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Okay, Sheba'sthought bubble right nkw is something like this: " YO! Mom! Quit poking around on that bump! You should spend "poking" time giving me treats and tummy rubs instead!"clap

Yep, pretty sure thate her thought bubble! 🙂 Besides, your vet will check it out when you go in next Tues. IF...and that's a big IF...it is "something", a treatment plan will be devised and you'll move forward.

Another story for ya......took Happy Hannah in a couple of months after her amputation for a lump at the end of her rib cage. The vet had a hard time not laughing when he told me it was simply the end of her rib cage!

((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

San Francisco Bay Area
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27 June 2016
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18 August 2016 - 12:11 am
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So, not a mass, just her deep chested GSD ribcage.  But when they xrayed it  they found a spinal lesion, radiologist believes its a fungal lesion rather than arthritis so we see neurologist tomorrow.  Surgeon said if it spread to the spine she'd go quick, but everyone has been surprised she's still alive so I think Sheba will surprise us.

Cynthia and Sheba

Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium). 
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.

We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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18 August 2016 - 9:44 am
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Ohhhh Sheba. That stinks. I hope it's not serious.

We are sending lots of love and healing thoughts your way. Keep on ROCKIN sweet girl, we know you can! Keep us posted.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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18 August 2016 - 10:04 am
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Sending pawsitive energy from all of us.

Sheba is Sheba! She is not a sstatistic and she does not listen to any ole doctors. She is a strong girl! All she is focusing on is soaking up all that loving and spoiling you are giving her 24/7.

Update when you can.

Lots of hugs and loveheart

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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14
18 August 2016 - 10:15 am
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Oh man ..... sending you lots of healing energy and please keep us posted!!! 

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

Schofield, WI
Member Since:
13 August 2015
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18 August 2016 - 7:29 pm
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Please keep us posted on the beautiful Sheba.  Sending out tons of thoughts and prayers to you both.  You're due for some good news for once!  Stay strong!

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