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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Making the decision on amputation in older small dog
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Westminster, MD
Member Since:
31 August 2013
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22 October 2014 - 9:12 am
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Hi to you and little Olive, 

Welcome to Tripawds, and really sorry to read your sweet girl was diagnosed with the "ugly c"......you have definitely come to the right place, this support group is amazing.

Everyone has already given fabulous advice, and I really can't add much, my sweet Lab Polly fought a different type cancer, was much younger and much larger than sweet little Olive. It sounds like many things are in your favor for dealing with this situation, and one thing I do want to say is a vast majority of our pups and kitties do extremely well after amp. It may take a few days or so, but they do surprise us with how well they do. I know there have been several here that had older pups with amp, and most did well.

Keep us all posted on Olive, we are all here to help you in any way...

Bonnie & Angel Polly

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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22 October 2014 - 10:41 am
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Aw you're not being sentimental at all about losing that special paw! We felt the same way but about different things, like not being able to go on backpacking trips anymore. But you know what? We learned that dogs are SO much more adaptable and ready to just learn new things when they can't do the old things anymore the way they used to. It was US who had the looking back problem, not Jer. So when someone says you can't teach an old dog new tricks, never ever believe it. Olive will prove you wrong! :)

Let us know what your surgeon says.

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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22 October 2014 - 2:28 pm
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How 'bout making a pawprint from one of those clay kits you can get? Or even just an ink pad and a piece of paper?

Just a thought!

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!

Member Since:
21 October 2014
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19
22 October 2014 - 4:51 pm
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Thanks again everyone!

Maybe this would be helpful to some people. This synovial carcinoma is intertwined with her tendons and the joint and because of this surgery is not an option since they need to remove a "zone" of tissue, about half an inch, around the tumor - that would be her entire joint, so is impossible. The cancer can metastasize into other cancers. Radiation is only effective about half the time and when it is, only for 6 to 12 months. It requires 4 sessions where she is under anesthesia each time. It would cost $4-5,000! Chemo is an option, but also only 50% effective, but has potential side effects (urinary problems and others) and costs $80 a month. The only 100% effective option to completely remove this cancer is amputation. There is a super low risk of her having this same tumor in another joint (oncologist says it almost never happens). From all this, it really does seem clear that amputation is the best thing for everyone. Radiation might seem less "cruel" when you have your initial freak out about amputation, but I think it would actually be the worst choice for almost every reason (in her case I mean). Our oncologist said people afraid of amputation have gone through radiation (with all the hassle, side effects and cost) only to end up having to amputate after all. 

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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22 October 2014 - 7:14 pm
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Your oncologist is correct, we've had many members end up here for that exact same reason.

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

Member Since:
18 June 2014
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22 October 2014 - 7:48 pm
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I ended up there after 4 years with my Jake. We initially did the debulking surgery twice followed by 15 radiation treatments. That was Mon-Fri for three weeks  one and a half hours each way.  He underwent anesthesia every time. Although he was never a complainer and VERY stoic- the radiation burns were horrible by week 3. He had MCT and the margins were clear.  He did great for 4 years and then it struck again at the same site. That is what lead him to amputation.  Olive is a small dog and sounds like she is in great shape despite her age.  You will be amazed at how well she will do.  As far as "THE PAW" we have all had that issue for some reason or another.  I have a Lab lawn ornament that my husband specialized for Jake (Painted on the white hair patch where his radiation site was)  this was prior to his amp.  I'm sure Olive will come up with some new and funny rituals.

Laurie

Member Since:
21 October 2014
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4 November 2014 - 12:10 pm
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Hi Everyone,

Sorry I have been away. I wanted to share some information. Maybe it will be helpful to others (like all of you have been so helpful to me and each other). Given what so many here are going through, I actually feel guilty about this, but it turns out our dog does not need to have an amputation. At least not yet. Her tumor is a lower grade (synovial carcinoma or joint tumor) , the risk of spreading to lungs or other places is low and is not causing any pain. While amputation of her front leg would be the 100% cure, both our oncologist and surgeon feel metronomic chemo therapy is a good option for her.

I am not a doctor, but here is what I understand. "Normal" chemo kills cells. This is different. What it does is shut down the growth of blood vessels that "feed" the tumor. By cutting off blood vessels the tumor growth will be slowed. They feel this treatment could keep the tumor down for a year or more. At that time we can reevaluate things. We might just have as much of the tumor removed as we did last month, or amputation might be the way to go. If it is, I sure learned a lot here and feel ready for this. 

At first we thought the side effects would be a risk, but we were told the risk is very low. We do need to have her blood checked every month and the drugs costs about $50 a month. There are two different drugs that are given each day. I'm sorry, I realize I could be much more detailed here (drug names, what they do, risks and benefits...), but when we know more I can post more detailed information. 

Thanks again!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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4 November 2014 - 6:58 pm
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Oh my gosh please don't feel guilty at all, we are happy that amputation isn't where you're headed! That's great. Lots of folks here including us have had great success with metronomics , you'll find lots of info in that link. Keep us posted on how the treatment works, we hope it does everything it's supposed to and keeps that nasty cancer at bay.

Thanks for the great update!

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

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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4 November 2014 - 7:19 pm
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GREAT NEWS INDEED!!! We LOVE this kind of update and we are all jumping up and down with happy giggles when one of m our teammates "escapes the knife"!!! WONDERFUL UPDATE!!!clapclap

Yeah, your grasp for metronomics seems spot on. Jackson, one m of our Super Stars here has been on it for wuite awhile now and has done very well!

Please keep us updated, okay? We are all family and cheering you on!!

Hugs and Happy Dance!!

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!

Member Since:
18 June 2014
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25
5 November 2014 - 4:19 am
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Hooray for you and Olive. Glad to hear.

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