Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our Max is an 8 year old, 100 pound Golden Retreiver diagnosed with osteosarcoma
Our vet is afraid he won't do well as a tripawd because of his size but agrees that it will elliviate his pain for now. We also know that the cancer has already started to spread and I haven't read any stories similar to his in that the cancer is spreading. If anyone has a similar situation please help!!!! I'm soooo confused. I want to make him as comfortable as I can in the short time that I am now accepting is leftThe cancer is in his front right shoulder. The vet explained that dogs use 80% of their front legs and 20% of their back legs so he would have to really work that front left leg and he is such a big guy. I love him dearly. He is my 3rd child but we lack the funds to take drastic measures such as chemo, radiation, etc. I have read about several supplements and have learned alot about cancer diets for dogs so I think I'm somewhat prepared for the road ahead but just wish I knew what the right thing to do is....dang! I really wish he could talk and tell me what he wants me to do:)
I'm so very sorry to hear about Max. I really don't have a similar situation, just wanted to offer my support. I know how I felt in the beginning and the support I found here and through others gave me the strength to make the decisions as they came based on the quality of life for Trouble. Hugs to you and Max.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi there, we are so so sorry to hear about Max. Thanks for joining us here and becoming a member, we'll do our best to help you through this ruff time. You're right, it is very confusing.
So it sounds like you took x-rays of Max's lungs? Are there mets? If so, how bad are they?
Now, what about a second opinion? It can help to have a third party take a look at him. Are you able to take Max to a veterinary teaching school hospital? Med schools are light years ahead of regular vet practices, and can give you a better idea of his ability to cope with the surgery. If you can't take him to a teaching hospital, a board certified surgeon would be another good bet.
Right not, Max can benefit the most by having you be his strong pack leader. It's hard, but remember that someday in the future, there will be plenty of time for tears. Today, you can help him by trying your best to stay calm and doing all the research you need to feel comfortable with any decisions you make. Remember, there are no rights or wrongs, you have to do what is right for you and Max.
Many hugs going out to you. Please let us know how things are going OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you so much for the support. I'm so very appreciative and touched that so many people are reaching out to one another.
We have taken Xrays and the vet says that they are "suspicious" and that since the biopsy came back with microscopic spreading he suspects that the spots could be mets but doesn't know for sure. We are going this afternoon to sit down and speak with the doc further and hopefully come up with a solution for him.
I'm definetly not against a second opinion but it's pretty hard for Max to get around and he is sporting a Fentynol patch along with Tramadol so he's kind of out of it and I hate to ask anymore of him right now but again, want to do whats best for him so it's definetly a possibility.
I know that these special creatures of ours sense our energy and react so I'm holding it together the best I can until someone asks how he's doing or wants an update. Maybe I should avoid answering the phone:)
Is your dog overweight? How are his back legs? My dog Tazzie is a Mastiff (190 #) and lost her RF leg 8/26/08 due to osteosarcoma. She had both of her knees fixed prior (for ruptured ACL) so I was unsure how she would do. Well she gets around great! I would be more concerned with lung mets but some dogs (see Jerry) have even lived a long time with those. Amputation will relieve the pain, so I would get a second opinion.
Pam and Tazzie
Hello! Welcome to our Tripawd family. I think you will find a tremendous amount of support and advice here to help guide you through tihs difficult decision. So sorry to hear about Max's diagnosis. My dog Shadow is a 11 year old Labrador Retriever, who weighed 102lbs before amputation. Not really "overweight" because he's taller than the average Lab, but he was probably a little huskier than he should have been. The bone cancer was located in his front left shoulder. We were a little concerned as well before we did the amputation on how well he would get around, considering his age, weight and the he has arthritis in his hips. But Shadow was a very energetic and active personality type dog before his diagnosis. We knew that once we got rid of the pain from the bone cancer, he would recover fine. We are coming up on our 3 month amputation mark, and he's doing great! The first couple weeks or so after the surgery was very trying, but we got through it and have had no regrets. Max is 8 years old, still fairly young. I think you should definitely get a 2nd opinion. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
Tina and Spirit Shadow
Hello everyone!! Wow....you guys are great!! Your responses to my posts' are so positive and encouraging
Max doesn't look overweight. He's all fur and just tall and big! We just came back from the vet and he reiterated his concern with amputation but doesn't rule it out but suggested that we meet with an oncologist in Ventura, Ca. who has specialized in the field for 20 years. This same oncologist saved our Lab mix years ago when she came up with a serious fungal infection and went blind from it so I am going to schedule a visit with him.
The doctor is not sure if the spots on the chest xray are mets. He said he can only assume that they are from knowing that the cancer has already started to spread. I guess we'll get a better answer on the lungs from the oncologist.
Max hasn't shown any signs of arthritis in his back legs. He's just a great big teddy bear that loves his family.
I'm so glad to hear that all of your dogs have recovered well and are back to them selves. It gives me a tremendous amount of hope and gives me reassurance that I need to fight this!!!
I will keep you posted
Hi there...it sounds like you're pretty on top of this with research and have a good vet team. So good on you!
My Cooper is also an 8 year old, 100lb dog - Rottweiler. (Actually his ideal working weight was 96-98lbs, not that I'm anal about keeping my dogs thin or anything LOL.) And his cancer was also in his left front leg, in the elbow joint. He was amputated Feb 13. This was him 6 weeks post op. There's a bunch of videos somewhere on this site of tripawd dogs.
By the way, he had one "possible" lung met at initial diagnosis. A follow-up xray and ultrasound about six weeks later showed the same spot on his lung but it hadn't grown at all, so it probably isn't actually a cancerous lesion.
I'm no vet and obviously don't know Max...but clearly many big, older dogs do very well as tripawds!
Our diagnosing vet did not encourage amputation at all because Trouble was overweight and carries a lot of her weight up front in true bully fashion. The 2nd opinion vet, who coincidentally is her treating vet, totally encouraged the amputation to eliminate the pain. He was concerned about the weight, but felt it was worth the risk to be rid of pain.
It was an exhausting decision for us, but one we are so thankful we made. Trouble is doing awesome and approaching her 5 month ampuversary.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi there - you've gotten some great advice and I just want to chime in with support and love and pawsitive energy to you while you go through this very emotional process of the diagnosis and understanding what that means, gathering information, sorting through emotions of it all and realizing that your baby isn't exempt from something like this and finally the decision making process.
I agree with everyone - the amputation will be the only way to relieve his pain and it is most likely that he will do just fine and adjust with no problem. They are amazing. Zeus is 11 (golden too!) now and we amputated at 10 (a little over a year ago) - he was 75 pounds at the time. He is doing soooo well. Love works wonders.
When I was struggling with the decision - whether or not to amputate - I finally just asked him. We were laying down on the bed and I explained everything that was going on and what our options were. I told him that I didn't know what to do and I needed to know what HE wanted to do. He responded by jumping off the bed, tossing some toys around, chasing his tail and running to the window and barking - then he looked back at me to say, "I want to live Mom"...I said, OK pal, we'll do this together. I have not one single regret. It has been the most fulfilling year of my life honestly - taking this journey with him. It has opened so many other doors for me - I can't even tell you. It isn't always easy, but what wonderful things in life are easy?
Many prayers to you - please keep us posted. You're in our thoughts.
Much love,
Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Cemil is one more big guy with a left front amp. He's an Anatolian Shepherd weighing about 140# and he gets around fine. You can see that it takes more effort, but he runs and plays with the other dogs and doesn't seem to mind. It took him a little longer to get moving, but we're about 2.5 months post-amp and he's almost back to normal. The only thing he hasn't figured out yet is how to get through the doggie door. He just barks and waits for me to come and open the regular door when he wants to go out.
It's a very difficult decision, but keep reading the posts here. The information and support are the best.
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Hi!
I am sorry to hear about Max's diagnosis. Please get a second opinion if you can. You will be amazed at how much the quality of life improves after an amputation. My big girl Nova had her front left leg amputed just over 5 months ago. She's a 121-lb. Great Dane. My regular vet said the exact same things your vet is saying. I went to an oncologist and got a much more positive attitude. My girl is living proof that big dogs can make it on 3 legs.
Last week, my Nova was hiking and climbing mountains in NC! And she was a counch potato before the amputation. Plus she is blind in one eye. But there is nothing this girl can't do. Please go check out her blog at http://www.trip.....ogspot.com. It documents her whole journey from the day she was diagnosed. Now Nova does not have lung mets yet, but if she had when she was diagnosed, I still would not have thought twice about the amputation.
I hope this gives you some encouragement.
Sue and Nova
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
I can't begin to tell you how much encouragement everyones posts' give me. Sometimes just looking at Max and his tumor(its huge!)brings me down because he is so out of it and the cancer is literally staring me in the face. Then I hop on to read all of your posts' and it lifts my spirits and gives me so much hope and he needs me to feel that way and not the negative way and the "glass is half empty" way the docs make me feel.
Thanks again to every single person who has responded to us with such words of compassion and encouragment. It means the world to me.
We have an appointment with an oncologist tomorrow so I'll post an update after that!
Love,
Shaun
Back from Oncology appointment. We were given three options. Best long term results with amputation and chemo, pain releif and slow down of cancer spread with radiation or just amputation alone. Their radiologist read the chest xray and found the nodule to be very suspicious. The cancer is an imtermediate grade and doc says his bone doesn't look too bad, he's seen alot worse. What I'm not sure of is wether or not the "nodule" is considered a met.
So here we are back to square one but with a more optimistic outlook! The oncologist was very encouraging about amputation on large breeds. Not that hearing everyones wonderful, success stories here didn't give me encouragment, but it was great to hear it from him as well.
Alot to think about this weekend!
Hi
I am sorry to hear about Max..
Yes it is a big decision one that you will go over and over in your head wondering if you are going to make the right decision but as everyone here has made us see it is quality of life that is important for your friend.
Everyone on this site is great and have helped us really open our eyes and help us think more clearly as initially you are just so shocked and devastated at the diagnoses that it is hard to think clearly.
We were in the same position as you are almost 2 weeks ago when our dog was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front right leg in her shoulder near her joint, and honestly as our dog weighed 132 pounds ( Alaskan Malamute )at the time of diagnoses our initial reaction when they suggested amputation was no way she is to big there is no way she will cope even our vet said no but the oncologist said no everything will be fine she will cope a lot better than you think she will..We still were not convinced...
Montana is our world she is our baby we take her to work everywhere we go i was devastated to think that she would have to go through this....Then our oncologist gave us the address to this site and said go and look at all the dogs that have been through what she is going through you will be very surprised at how well they all do...He was right we were amazed ......
It transformed how we were looking and thinking about the whole situation...
We decided to do the amputation and relieve her pain....Our beautiful girl was operated on 2 days ago and is now home and starting her healing process...She was amazing she was up walking around the next day she figured out how to stand and go to the toliet and today (being the second day after surgery) we picked her up she hoped in the car herself walked up our 2 stairs to the front door and into the house...After seeing all this we knew one hundred percent that we had made the right decision..I'm not saying that she is not in a lot of pain at the moment (as anyone who has had surgery would be) but for going through what she has she is coping amazingly.. And to think that there was a time we said no way to the surgery....
We can only look up from here and be positive for her and enjoy whatever time we are blessed to share with her...At least she no longer has her bung leg weighing her down she can now concentrate on enjoying her life.
All i can say is give yourself a couple of days to deal with the news then listen to your heart and Max, ask him what he wants as well, some people think that this is crazy but it really works they give you the sign that you need.
No one can make the decision for you but don't under estimate the get up and go that they have for life it is us humans that have the problem in thinking they can't cope they just learn to adjust and get on with their life....
I wish you all the luck in making your decision we will be thinking of you and Max in this hard time.
xxx
Tracey,Stuart & Montana - cherishing every day we have together
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