Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I have a 7 year old male Rott that has just been diagnosed with bone cancer. He's around 115 lbs and used to weigh 130. About 5 months ago he tore his crucial ligament in his left rear leg. In the past 6 days the bone cancer popped up on his front left leg. I have been told it has most likely spread to his lungs by now and I am devastated. I want to do everything to make him comfortable. Amputation from the bet I went too was 3500-3800$ I live near Chicago. I just don't know if he would be able to bounce back and walk with three legs since he has trouble with four because of his crucial ligament. Also I want to ask if you think I should do chemotherapy he's the toughest sucker I know but I don't know if that will matter. I love this dog to death and don't want to make him suffer but I don't want to give up on him please help if you have input I would really appreciate it. Keep in mind I'm 20 years old in college but my mother would most likely assist with the bills.
Kevin, welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I'm so sorry to hear about your pup. He sounds like such a great dog and you two are obviously very close. We can all relate about wanting to do anything we can to help our dogs through osteosarcoma. Many of us are here because of one form of cancer or another (and lots of Rottie pawrents too) and we understand how upsetting it is to get the news.
First, keep in mind that everyone whose pup has osteosarcoma is told that the cancer has likely already spread. Yes, that is true. It's called "micrometastasis" and it means that there are small tumors in the lungs that can't be picked up by x-rays. Only a CT scan will show them but for most folks the $1k+ cost for that scan is out of reach. Instead, we go on the presumption that the cancer has spread, because yes, that's how it typically progresses. However, sometimes it takes longer than statistics predict. Our Jerry lived two years post-amputation surgery, and we have seen many others outlive the dreaded diagnosis. So don't let that get you down too much. Move on and deal with the first issue: the pain your dog is in.
Osteo is very, very painful and the only way to alleviate the pain is through either palliative care (pain medication, which typically works for less than 6 months until the dog has to be euthanized because of pain), or amputation. Amputation won't stop the cancer but it will get rid of the pain and buy your dog more quality time with you. So that's your first decision to make.
How does your vet feel about your dog being a candidate for surgery? Has your dog been seen by an orthopedic specialist? If not, I would recommend a consult with one to be sure that your pup's remaining legs can handle the additional weight. We've had many dogs here with limb surgeries both before and after amputation and they did quite well. Just search the forums for "cruciate tear" and you'll find many examples.
If your dog can stand to lose more weight, even better. That's easy enough, many here have to do that. The leaner a Tripawd the better, even leaner than you think they should be. Your vet can guide you in a safe diet plan.
As for chemo, that's the next big decision to make but hold off for now, first decide on amputation. Keep in mind that chemo is not a requirement and it doesn't offer guarantees. Some dogs outlive the prognosis without chemo (our Jerry didn't have chemo) and others don't make it past the minimum survival times with chemo. It's a roll of the dice and something to consider for sure but for now, figure out if you want to proceed with amputation surgery.
As for the cost, have you gotten other estimates? I know surgeries in large cities is higher but you may find that your vet is willing to work with you on payment plans or other ways. Here are some other ideas:
How to Get Affordable, Awesome Veterinary Care for Your Tripawd
How to Choose a High Quality Vet Practice for Your Dog’s Surgery
Considerations When Price Shopping for Veterinary Care
Also don't forget to check out Jerry's Required Reading List , it will help answer many of your questions. Our great community will chime in too so hang in there OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Okay, some deep breaths first.....B R E A T H E.....B R E A T H E........B R E A T H E ......
YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You have come to the right place for support and information.
The. news is scary to hear and you are devastated. HOWEVER, once you do your research and proceed with a plan, you will feel a lot of relief and far less stressed.
Second opinion! You absolutely need a second opinion right now from an orthopedic surgeon and an Oncologist! MANY dogs have gone through amputation with issues with their other legs, ranging from ACL, to arthritis, to hip dysplasia, etc.
Did the vet do xrays of his lungs? Otherwise, there is no reason to believe he has lung mets, okay? And yes, there is a theory that onec it is found in the bone, that it is "probably" already in the lungs, but way too small to show up in tests. So vets refer to xrays as "clean" a d met free if they aren't showing up.
Even IF he's not a candidate for suregery...and I bet an Orthopedic Surgeon will say that he is...there are still options, okay? But let's see what the Ortho. Vet says first.
It sounds like your pup is a fighter and is not giving up on life at all! He does NOT have a timeframe stamped on his butt!
Keep it chunked down for now. Focus on checking out if amputation will work for him, then you can think about chemo. Dogs really don't have the side effects that humans do and generally sail through with no problems.
Update us as soon as you can. And tell us more about your sweet Rottie!
Michelle was owned by one of our Rottie heros named Sassy! She'll see this and chime in. Her Rottie wasn't the best candidate either for various reasons and she got along great on three legs!
Remember...deep breaths....second opinions from specialist...and grab a bag of chocolate and eat it all at once..it helps!
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I agree - get a second opinion! Do you have a veterinary college anywhere near you? Murphy's surgery was about $2500...there was added for the pathology & stuff, but better than what you were quoted at least. He went to Michigan State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Murphy's tumor had likely been there for over 5 months before his surgery, and the lymph node that they removed near the site was positive, but just over 2 years later Murphy is still with us 
He doesn't know what prognosis means! So far his lungs remain clear.
Your pup might also be able to wear some sort of support brace on his back leg to help.
You are definitely in the right place here - there is so much support and information!
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
Keep on shining your Beacon of Hope Murphy!! Inspirations like you are soooooo necessary in this journey!!
Thank you for continuing to offer support while going through yournown journey!
Love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I know it is a lot to wrap your head around when it comes out of the blue like this. OSA is is a terrible diagnosis and amputation isn't a cake walk. But it is way too early to be giving up! He's not giving up, is he? The thing that really sealed our decision to amputate was knowing that Ellie just wasn't ready to give up. And I'm so so glad we didn't give up on her either. We've had 9 months post-amp (and still clear lungs) and we never would have had that if we had followed our first instinct that she was too old or too big or that she would suffer too much as a tripawd.
You've gotten some great advice to get you started. I can only add to take one day at a time and make one decision at a time. And if you're in the Chicago area, I would certainly look into the resources at UW-Madison vet school.
Denise, Bill and 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
Sassy was 138 pound when she had her amputation (also a Rottie) down to 128. She also had Osteoscaroma. She did really well with her amputation but she didn't have any other problems except hip dipslasia but that was in the leg that the Osteoscaroma was in so we were lucky that way.
I would check into the vet schools in the Chicago area. I know there is one around there some where because one of our members took her dog Chance to there. She was in a study & I am not sure they are still doing that study but check around.
We did do chemo but that is a very personal decision and many do not do it for many reasons. I chose to do it because I wanted to give Sassy the best chance at survival but 4 rounds into Chemo she developed lung mets. Would I do it over yes. Still a personal decision. She lived another 7 3/4 months after the diagnosis with mets. Almost 10 months total.
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I had a app. 12 1/2 year old golden diagnosed with the tumor on his front leg. He had been diagnosed with arthritis in his back knees app. six months earlier. I was concerned as you were - if could he bounce back and function on three legs with his age and other arthritic conditions. Other considerations is that I am a single mother and work away from home so wasn't sure if I would be able to give adequate care with the amputation. Also, just wasn't sure that putting him through the surgery, rehab, etc. was a good choice only for him to go through dealing with the cancer / not knowing how he could function after the surgery. I have to admit that I was headed down the road of palliative radiation therapy to alleviate the pain and give him a couple of months (our doctors told us that 70 days on average) but the equipment was reported as having failed the day that we went to start treatment. Given the amount of pain that Chase was in, I decided to try the amputation (the equipment wasn't reliable and didn't feel that I had any other option to get him out of pain). I was shocked at how he bounced back. I had a picture of him standing from the vets which was taken probably 14 hours after surgery. It did take a while for him to get around well on his own and it was a learning experience for both of us (me & him). There is a lot of helpful devices available - for instance (he is a large retriever) and there is a help em harness designed for dogs which has been a tremendous help as I live by myself and am not a large person. Also we found a doggie physical therapist that made a orthotic (brace) because the carpus on his remaining front leg is hyper extended to begin with. He is actually able to hop up the ramp to get into my SUV which I never imagined - of course I keep my hand on the harness but he does it himself.
Also, he has tolerated the carboplatin chemo as well as possible. He did have some GI issues with the Doxorubicin (but not severe). Unfortunately, after his four rounds of carboplatin, his blood work and x-rays had indicated that there were nodules in his lungs. These had not been there prior to his surgery. So even with the surgery and chemo, the cancer progressed.
Base on my particular experience (realizing that every situation is different), I found that the pain was the immediate concern and made it even more difficult when rushed to make a decision. My vet missed his first signs then referred us to a teaching hospital which took weeks to get in to get a diagnosis.
Reaching out and finding resources is an excellent start toward the hard decisions that you have to make. But they are out there. I know that I wasn't aware of any prior to this diagnosis and have found that there is support available.
Chase, you are an amazingnfella'!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to provide such valuable input. You clearly have a lot of slunk as well as being a very, very loved pup!! Sending you the very best wishes...
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
As for second opinions, as well as probably more affordable surgery, there is also a veterinary teaching hospital in Urbana. Take a look at their website. You can also search the forum thread on veterinary recommendations for Chicago or Illinois. There may be a reco close to you.
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
Thank you so much for the replies! I am going to get a second opinion tomorrow and maybe even a third if I find a vetinarian school near me. I want to give this dog the world and he has been so healthy and is always so energetic I sometimes forget how old he is getting. There are so many things I haven't been able to do with him that I want to and extending his life is going to give me those options. I'm a bigger fella so I know I can deal with helping him around a lot but I am a busy college student athlete so that can interfere. 7 am going to look into amputation because I have hope that it hasn't spread to his lungs and I have hope that if I feed him just meats I can extend his life longer giving him more time to give him hugs and the affection he deserves.
It doesn't have to be just meats, but grain-free ..Murphy's oncologist told us that grain turns into sugar and cancer feeds off sugar, so grain-free is good. We've found quite a few grain-free treats & cookies available at the pet store now, which is nice since we have other dogs, so Murphy can have treats at the same time as Cassie & Max.
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
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