Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My 10 year old Beagle Sally has myxosarcoma in her hind leg and she's scheduled for coxofemoral disarticulation this Friday. Sally gets around fine as of now and shows no signs of pain. Other then some swelling in her ankle/foot. she's seems fine. I thought maybe I'd take a holistic/natural approach to helping her fight off the cancer, but from what I've read this can be very costly and with mixed results. I just don't know what to do. If I had a better idea how quickly this cancer will spread or if there was a natural remedy that might slow it down then I might consider holding off on the surgery until a later date. Has anyone out there dealt with myxosarcoma that might be able to shed some light. I'm running out of time.
Sally's Dad
Hi Sally and Co.,
Thanks for joining us here, we're sorry you had to. Hope you don't mind I moved your post to "Treatment and Recovery," but I thought it would make it easier for others coping with this same condition to find it in the future.
We're so sorry you're dealing with mysoxarcoma. We've had a few other dogs coping with it in the past, you can check out these search results to read their stories.
What I read on Oncolink is this:
"Myxosarcomas are a type of generally "low grade" soft tissue sarcomas that arise from the connective tissues of the body. Low grade tumors are locally very invasive and aggressive, but are unlikely to metastasize (spread to other body parts). The "grade" of the tumor is determined by both the appearance of the tumor cells under the microscope and how rapidly and invasively the tumor is growing.
If there is no evidence of tumor spread (i.e. to lymph nodes and lungs) then the treatment of choice is complete surgical removal, or a combination of surgery and radiation therapy. It can be very difficult to adequately remove a large tumor on a limb with surgery by itself short of an amputation. Chemotherapy is not considered a primary mode of treatment for low-grade tumors (although it might be recommended for the much less common high-grade versions of these tumors)."
So, it sounds like a pretty mellow kind of cancer. Still scary, but not as "bad" as other more aggressive ones. Now, your biggest decision is whether or not to proceed with the amputation. How does your Doc feel about Sally being a candidate for amputation? If she's in good health and not overweight, her small size will give her an advantage in living life on three legs. Plus, since small dogs live a long time, she should have lots of good years left as a Tripawd.
What are your biggest concerns? How can we help?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for responding, I guess my biggest concern is how well Sally will adapt, and how quickly she'll recover. If I thought there was a better way to treat her cancer I'd forego the amputation. It sounds like amputation is the quiuckest approach to ridding her body of the disease. Her health, and weight are good which bode well in her recovery. We're scheduled to go on vacation at the end of June, I'm hopeful she'll recoveer in time to go with us.
All the vets and oncologists we speak with agree that amputation is the only way to permanently remove the tumor pain. For many cancers, it will not rid the body of disease, but for localized sarcomas it will indeed "guarantee" remission in most cases. Sally should recover quickly and adapt well to life on three legs. If your vacation doesn't entail mile-long hikes, the entire pack should have a great time!
While holistic care is mostly undocumented and offers mixed results, it cannot hurt. The best place to start is with a healthy grain-free diet. Dr. Dressler has a free canine cancer diet e-book with offers some sound advice for getting started.
Best wishes for Sally's complete speedy recovery. Please keep us posted on her progress!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome!
Oh gosh, I'm so sorry to hear! But in the world of cancer, it sounds like you are a lucky one!
Trust me no one wants to amputate their dog's leg. It's a hard decision. It seems so radical! But dogs are fine and dandy without their leg! Once they get over the drugs from surgery, they just figure out that they need to walk different. Dogs just dont have a sense of their cosmetic appearance so they just hop instead of walk and go about their merry business! Not to downplay it, but it really is that simple for them. FOR US, we'll that's another issue!
I hope you decide to amputate so you guys can go on and have a terrific life since it doesn't seem cancer will be in the picture after it's done.
Sending you my best! Keep us updated!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Amputation sounds so horrible, gosh I remember my horror when it was my time to decide...but they adapt so well that it amaze you and I would agree with everyone else. She may even try to catch a rabbit if you're not careful.
Pat, Angel Ruthie & "puppy" Tess
We know how scary the word "amputation" is and what a struggle this decision can be.
We decided to amputate Ginger's right rear leg but even the morning of the surgery we were second guessing ourselves. She was running around like a puppy and had never shown signs of being in pain.
Just know that amputating her leg was the best decision we have ever made. Ginger is still with us, over a year since the surgery, and is doing great. The first couple weeks of recovery were tiring but a month after the amputation she was back doing everything she did with four legs.
Know that you are not alone, we are here to support you, and know that the decision you make for Sally will be the right one for you.
Annie, Ginger's Proud Mom
All I can do is echo what others have already said. Catie had her right foreleg and shoulder amputated in January 2010 after a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. I remember the horrible gut-wrenching struggles I had with the very idea of the surgery. My husband was far more at ease with it than I was. In fact, my first words were: "No way we're cutting off her leg."
But, with assurances from the surgeon (who told us, from the floor, with Catie scrambling in his lap, that 'this dog wasn't ready to die') AND from information on this site about the resilience and determination of tripawds, I took a deep (quivery, squeamish) breath and said okay.
And I haven't regretted it for a moment.
It's such a personal decision and it's so very hard to have to make these choices for our furry loved ones. It really is. I feel for you, Sally's Dad.
Ginger's mom is so right when she said, "..the decision you make for Sally will be the right one for you."
Best wishes.
Carmen, Catie's mom.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Is it possible she is a candidate for radiation instead? Amputation is really scarey for the humans. The dogs get through it pretty well for the most part. And most of them adapt quickly and recover in about 2 weeks. Recovery is no fun, but once it is behind you life should be good.
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.
hugapitbull said:
Is it possible she is a candidate for radiation instead?
Keep in mind that radiation does not kill the cancer, it treats the symptoms, in other words it will alleviate pain, but not stop tumor growth. Radiation is also not recommended for bulky tissue diseases as much as it i for more aggressive bone tumors.
This info comes from a video interview I am working on right now with oncologist Dr. Johnny Chretin addressing how chemo and radiation are not recommended for chondrosarcoma. Hope to wrap it up and upload soon...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry you are going thru this. I just had to make the same decision about a month ago. Never would I have thought that I would be ok with making the decision to amputate my dog's leg, but he has adapted right away and is still his happy self (except for when the chemo effects flare up). I talked with friends, family, friends who are vets, our regular vet and several others, read thru the forums here, basically talked to or read everyone and everything I could find. I was not completely comfortable with the first specialty clinic we went to, so I got a second opinion. After all of that, I was pretty sure that my dog would be ok with the amputation in that it would not affect his quality of life or how he perceived himself. Once I understood that, it was easier to make a "logical" (un-emotional) decision on how to treat the disease, which was amputation.
I know this is incredibly hard, and the time pressure makes it harder, but hang in there. Talk to people whose opinion you trust to get the information you need to make your decision. Someone here told me that there are no wrong decisions — you make the best decision you can with the information that you have. The folks here are a wonderfully supportive group.
It's a very hard decision, but it is one most of us have to make. I agree with the others, who have posted on here. Talk with friends, family, and vets you know and trust.
About 20 days ago, my Sasha's leg was removed, but I made the decision about a month ago. I knew she was going to lose in the beginning. It just happened sooner than I thought. But even after the leg broke, she wasn't even using it at all. My mother was more upset about the limb removal than I was.
Read Sasha's Story At…..My Dear Sasha
I'll just agree with everything everyone said so far. It is an emotional roller coaster before, during and after...after the two week recovery from hell that alot of us have experienced. But after that, life just gets so much better! Out of pain and back to living life as normally as possible for our 3 leggers 🙂
Good luck with your decision - I know it's not easy.
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
The "making yourself sick" is something all of us here can relate to. Its never an easy decision to go forward with such a drastic step. Rio's cancer, although a different "brand," presented very similarly. She wasn't in pain, she wasn't limping, for all outward appearances, she was totally fine. She just had a lump (Mast Cell Tumor). And when the doctor said the leg needed to go, it was the worst possible thing I could think of. I think my heart stopped beating for several seconds. I know I stopped breathing.
They said "we can schedule you for surgery tomorrow." Tomorrow -- are you kidding me!!! I haven't even processed this and you want to do it tomorrow????? Instead, I went home, weighed my options, played scenarios out in my head, did my research, freaked out, did more research, talked to my friends, cried, talked to the doctors, freaked out a few more times, then finally (two weeks later) scheduled the appointment. But even going in to the surgical consult the morning of the surgery, I allowed myself the option to back out at the last minute if it didn't feel like the right thing to do.
Rio's had complications, and I've had a few moments of questioning whether or not we did the right thing, but my girl is still here. She's still happy, still loves playing ball, still will chase after a squirrel, still lives for her dinner. I may have approached the decision differently knowing what I know now, but I likely would arrive at the same conclusion -- amputation was the right choice for us.
I wish you and your pup all the best.
Rio's mom (Micki) and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Welcome to the family. For me, the decison to amputate was easy since Gus was in such pain, the hard part was waiting to get it done, knowing how much pain he was in. As I think back to that time, I wonder why our vet never gave me any pain meds for him in the time that lead up to surgery. You will say to yourself once she has healed I can't believe how well she adjusts and why you debated the decision. Listen to everyone here, once those initial couple weeks of healing are over, you'll say I can't believe I ever considered it a tough choice. Paws up and good luck, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
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