Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi guys, great site by the way. Let me tell you that I put down my tripawd dog on 11/28/2015, I still feet guilty over her death.
I would like to ask your opinion for something that has been going around in my head:
I recently remembered an incident that happened around December 2014. My dog loved playing fetch, you could say she lived for it. On one of the occasions that we were playing fetch I accidentally hit and broke a led bulb, my dog went for the ball which fell among the broken pieces of the bulb. I immediately took away the ball and command her to move to other place. Well, unfortunately she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her left front leg 6 months after that incident.
I have read that inhaling the fumes from a broken bulb might cause cancer. What do you guys think? Could the incident of the broken bulb could have caused the cancer in my dog?
Thanks for any thought.
I'm so sorry for your loss! Having to let them go is by far the hardest part of this journey. I really would doubt that the broken led light would have anything to do with it though. i guess it's human nature to try and figure out how and why. Cancer is just a piece of crap disease and it just picks and chooses what it wants. Why do some dogs live 3 months and some live 3 years after the same diagnosis? I guess if we had the answer to that question we'd have the cure to cancer. Please don't feel guilty or beat yourself up. Cancer just happens and it's a total crapshoot. I hope in the days to come you will be able to remember your joyous times and your grief will lesson.
Hugs (((())))
Linda & Spirit Mighty Max
First, I am so sorry for your loss..... I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet ... it's the worst.
But as far as cancer from the bulb - I had not heard that. But I wouldn't think so. I think cancer is one of those things the grows inside for a long time before it found. It's an ugly disease - in both humans and animals - but does lay dormant till it rears it's ugly head. I don't think there is a connection here.
But I do know how the mind can spiral and you wonder "what if".... I did the same w/my Shelby for almost year (and I still catch myself sometimes). It is really hard not to. Please do not feel guilty or beat yourself up.
Tell us more about your dog ... what was her name? What breed was she?
Sending you love and hugs!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart
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
Oh goodness....ABSOLUTELY NOT!! We may not know exactly what caused it, but we know it wasn't that! Unfortunately it is not uncommon for a bulb, an led bulb to break, and a dog to walk over it, lay on it, or even eat a few pieces! Obviously, eating it is not good and would cause instant problems!, not six months down the road. Humans break bulbs all the time with no ill effect. Dogs step on the glass shards with no ill effects, other than maybe a cut paw!
MY DOG, ALONG WITH PROBABLY ALMOST EVERY DOG HERE, NEVER STEPPED ON A BROKEN LED BULB and still developed that piece of crap disease!!
Linda and Alison have given great advice.
We search and search for "reasons" with the hope we can "control" it, we can prevent it. We can understand "why" it happened. The reality is all we do is waste our energy in endless loop wuestions. All we do is allow that piece of crap disease to continue to cause pain, to continue to focus on "it" instead of the thousands of happy times you had with your great dog.
Channel all that neergy that no longer serves you, that energy that will NEVER give you an answer, that energy that, even WITH answers )which you'll never have with this crap disease), could never, ever change what happened. I'll say it again.....My dog, along with probably almost every dog here never stepped on a broken LED bulb and still got the disease!!!
As Alison said, PLEASE share more about your sweet dog with us. She clearly was well.loved by you and we would love to get ro know her.
Love and 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!
First off, I agree w/ everyone---it is not your fault, no matter what! As hard as it is, try not to figure out the "why". There is no explanation that really satisfies when it it your dog or your family member or you yourself. I know it is human nature, but try to stuff that blame thing back in a box. And as time wears on, you'll probably find yourself coming to terms with the unfairness and randomness of it all.
I think what you are hearing about "fumes" from broken bulbs is that compact fluorescent bulbs (those spiral things) can have mercury in them, so it isn't good if they break. That is why places like Home Depot have big containers where you can recycle them. I think most CFLs now come w/o mercury though.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
I am so sorry for the loss of your Tripawd girl, it is so difficult to lose a beloved pet.......
I also agree with everyone else here, this ugly disease just seems to have a mind of it's own, and comes out of nowhere...... I absolutely can understand your questioning of the hows and whys of crappy cancer. I had 2 of my beloved Labs, back-to-back within a year and a half of each other, (including my precious Tripawd Polly) develop hemangiosarcoma, a very aggressive and deadly quick killing cancer, I still question why, and how, and what, till I am dizzy sometimes. I have just come to the understanding that this crappy disease just is, and does.......
Keeping you in my thoughts, and I am hoping happy memories of her help ease your heartache....🐾
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu
Welcome, your future forum posts will not require moderation.
So sorry for your loss...just remember, we are not vets, but also agree that this is likely just a terribly unfortunate coincidence.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Many thanks to everyone, it was helpful for me to read your opinions. By the way my dog name was Pearl, she was a German Shepherd Mix. She was very active, always running and playing.
Pearl sounds like an awesome dog and greatly loved by you I can tell. Our Max was a German Sheperd too. He was my sons dog but came here so often he was a big part of my pack too. He was totally active with a high prey drive so chasing his ball was his favorite thing to do too. Bob ran him hard early on to get the craziness as he called it out of him. He even asked the surgeon if maybe by letting him run so much if that could've been the reason for the cancer in that leg. The surgeon calmly said no that was you letting him be a dog. That's what they do. Max only lived 4 1/2 months after surgery. Even as we were doing the chemo spine mets must've been growing. But he had a wonderful 4 1/2 months free of pain and going on in his typical happy fashion. We loved on him and spoiled him silly and he loved all the extra attention. I've given up on questioning the how and why of it and now I'm just very grateful we had him for the glorious 6 1/2 years we did have with him. I don't regret one decision we made. Pearl was met at the bridge by all the tripawd Warriors that went before her and is now running happy and whole. You gave her a wonderful life with much love in it. Pearl knew what she was doing when she "picked" you out.
Hugs,
Linda & Spirit Mighty Max
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your Pearl.
To everyone's point here in the thread, don't beat yourself up over something that wasn't your fault. Remember, that's cancer's MO. Cancer will also make you waste time on questioning your decisions. Pearl wouldn't want you to carry this false burden.
As far as bulbs are concerned, you're probably thinking about the mercury in CF or fluorescent bulbs like Denise mentioned. I don't think LEDs have any gases or metals in them.
Be at peace my dear friend.
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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