Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hi, we are new here and have been reading a lot on this forum. What a blessing.
My Alexa was diagnosed with MCT in July and had two tumors removed in August. One on her flank, which was removed with clear margins. The other was on her front leg and the surgeon was not able to get clear margins due to locations. She healed nicely, but unfortunately the tumor came back extremely quickly, before we could do chemo, she had 5 new tumors!!!! Our oncologist said due to the regrowth, he cannot do electro chemotherapy and suggested we consult with the surgeon to see if we can remove the new tumors with skin grafts. The tuners grew at an unimaginable speed. Within a week they had doubled in size and skin grafting was no longer an option. By now, some 3-4 weeks later, her leg is huge riddled with tumors all the way up on her leg along her scar line. We met with the surgeon again yesterday and her strongly suggested amputation. There are no other options and if we wait, the tumors with rupture and she may develop necrosis at which point she probably will die.
Reading a lot about three legged dogs as well as speaking to my sister who had a three legged cat, I am not really concerned about her coping. Although she us 10, she is in fabulous shape and in perfect health otherwise. I am concerned about MCT coming back in another leg afterwards... It is so scary with the aggressive nature it came back....
does anybody have experience with MCT and consequential amputation? Also how did your senior dogs deal with it? She is a very active dog and loves to go running of hiking with me. I feel amputation will give her the best quality of time going forward as she is on painkillers and limping with these monsters on her leg.
thank you all for sharing your experiences, this site is a blessing.
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
My pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT, and had several other MCTs, one before her amp on her side, and a few more in random places. You can read her story and about her amp and treatment in her blog, the links are in my signature below.
Maggie's little sis Tani also had recurring cutaneous MCTs, I think she had 11 or 12 overall. Some I removed, some I left alone as she was getting older and had other health issues. I did experience with her removing 2 tumors and having 3 more pop up before the path report came back. MCT is notorious for tumors swelling and shrinking, coming back in the same place or other places and being unpredictable.
Check out this link provided by Jerry:
I know that mast cell is so unpredictable, no matter how many times it presents. Check out this Tripawd Talk Radio interview with Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, we talked all about mast cell for 30 minutes. I think it will give some insight:
Did you get the grade and mitotic index (MI) of the tumors that were removed? It is frightening how fast they can come back, but I think the MI and grade of the turmor give you a better idea of how aggressive the cancer is. Also I would want to see an abdominal ultrasound (since MCT mets to the spleen and liver) and maybe some lymph node samples before surgery.
But I do agree with you about getting the leg off before one or more of those tumors rupture. I was fortunate that none of the 20 or so tumors I dealt with in my two pugs ever ruptured but I was cautioned by the oncologist before the amputation that if we didn't remove her leg and the tumor ruptured it most likely would not ever heal.
There are many people here who have dealt with MCTs- you should get some more info soon.
BTW: Maggie lived almost 4 years after her amp, she did not pass from mast cell cancer. Tani passed this past year at almost 15 years old, again not from the mast cell cancer.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thank you, Karen. I will check out your blog and the radio link.
both tumors were grade 2 and the one in her flank was a 0/10, the one on her leg was a 2/10. We were so hopeful. We had chest X-rays, ultrasound and lymph nodes checked. Everything came back clear. We do not know grades on the new tumors, but have aspirated and they are definitely MCT and were warned that due to the speed and size and number, the MI and grade maybe higher.
20 tumors, thats a lot of tumors, I know we are lucky we haven't had any issues until now.... Karen how old was Maggie when her leg was amputated?
thanks again.
I'm glad you have all that information on the tumors. Based on the grade and low MI' s I would be hopeful too.
Maggie was about 7.5 years old at the time of her surgery.
It is scary to think about the possibility of the MCT coming back, from all the information I have read dogs who have more than one MCT are prone to more so odds are even with the amputation you could see tumors again. On the other hand, MCT is so fricking unpredictable.
When Maggie had her amputation I thought it would be curative (pretty naive on my part as it turns out since she had already had one MCT removed). I was surprised after the surgery that there was cancer in her lymph node. Honestly, if I had known that before the amp I might not have done the surgery. In hindsight of course it was the right thing to do. But I also realized that I had given her a chance to beat the cancer with the amp, and she really beat the odds she was given.
You do face a tough choice, but I don't see much option to treat the leg with all the tumors. If she is a good candidate then amputation might be the right choice. Did the vet discuss any post amp options like chemo or radiation?
No matter what you choose to do we will help and support you as you face this cancer journey.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
The oncologist recommended radiation, but that is not an option for us. Alexa is highly sensitive and deals with non routine things very poorly. Radiation therapy would require us to travel to eastern Washington and stay there for a few weeks. Alexa would have to go for several sessions, I don't think she could deal with it. Her holistic vet advises against it because of her personality. So, the other option is regular chemo. Which we will opt for if we get the chance. We already had scheduled electro chemo, but the tumors came back too fast.
today, one of the tumors started oozing again (she's been licking it relentlessly, so I bandaged it again).
I decided against radiation for Maggie also. Mag sounds a bit like Alexa- she never coped well with changes to her routine. She was a 17 pound pug who tried to take on cows one time, but then would not walk on a linoleum floor in my new house! She also did poorly coming out of sedation, we almost lost her a couple times for routine type surgeries, I couldn't see putting her under over and over.
As a heads up- Maggie took about 6 weeks post amp before she started playing again. I thought I had made a terrible mistake by doing the surgery. Most pups bounce back much faster. But in hindsight she was just being herself, a stubborn pug who hated change.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Alexa! Your avatar picture shows a very exquisite doggy! Can't wait t o see more photos.
Sorry you have to be here but, as you can see from Karen's response, this site is chock full.of firsthand information. Karen's "Stubborn I-don't-like-change" Pug Maggie taught us all so much..and still is!
Karen really has insight I to Alexa's challe ges. I just wanted to add my support and let you know we are all right by your side. Clearly you have Alexa's best interest at heart and you will make the right decision out of love for her. You know your Alexa better than anyone. It sounds like you do have some options that will not compromise her quality and not stress her out.
Sending you lots of 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!
Alexa does sound like Maggie :). The hardwood floors terrify her and she only crosses them with lots of coaxing ( when the runners are in the laundry)!!!
as of today, we do no longer have an option it seems and I've made the appointment for Thursday. Her tumors started bleeding again yesterday, so I wrap them up with a bandage. This morning though, her paw is much bigger then the one on her healthy leg. I thought maybe I wrapped it too tightly, but definitely not the case. She no longer can put weight on it and several of the tumors are open and bleeding. She has not been eating, so I went to get her liver and heart and kidneys. Usually she never says no to liver, but still nothing. I can tell she is in pain and because she won't eat, I had to shove the tramadil down her throat which she held against me for a couple of hours 🙂
the positive is, that I am now certain amputation is the best for her. Even if there are other medications that might alleviate the symptoms, these tumors grow much too fast to even find out if anything else might work. I feel we are definitely doing right by her. Although she won't be able to do her favorite move anymore: handstand peeing. Her specialty.
please let me know anything I might forget in preparation for this. I'll have the grocery store bag sling and I'll get another dog bed (we only have one in every room) to switch the one in my bedroom to a flat one.
its extremely difficult for my son, who spent the last ten years with Alexa sleeping in his bed. He just moved off to college, so Alexa now sleeps in my bed (lucky me), but he has a very difficult time with this. He didn't want to come home this weekend because he can't watch her suffer :(. The good news is that she is still here and soon the pain will be gone.
I understand how scary these fast growing tumours are. My cat Mona had a fibrosarcoma in her right leg. It grew so rapidly the vet recommended an amputation in less than a week after the tumour first appeared. There was no time to do a biopsy and get the results.
It sounds like you are ready for the surgery. Some pets aren't so keen to eat after surgery. My vet sent Mona home with tins of wet kitten food for Mona. She loved it. Your vet may have some recommendations for recovery food.
Some wise people here have suggested that a medication chart, which outlines the meds, dosage and time, can really help during this stressful time of early recovery. My med administration did not go smoothly with my cat - I couldn't even open the darn bottle!
Some people by carpet runners for wood and tile floors so their dog has traction and doesn't slip.
You never know what other specialty Alexa with develop - 1 leg handstand to pee perhaps? Our pets are very resilient and find ways to adapt. When Alexa has healed after the surgery you might want to look at rehab.
In preparation for Alexa's recovery please think of yourself. You'll need to eat and sleep. Please call on friends and family for help and check in here if you need support. As you know it's a wonderfully supportive forum with a lot of experience and information.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Howdy and welcome!!!
Oh, Alexa is a beautiful fur-baby!!! I just wanted to chime in here and add my thoughts. Our Harmony had MCT and even though her ultra-sounds and xrays were clear at first on her internal organs, her spleen was involved and had to be removed at the same time her leg was taken. She too had a ulcerated tumor on her flank that was removed six months prior. Just like Karen, we believed once the tumor was gone that she was cured. Boy-howdy did that one bite us in the arse!
First off, I'm no dogtor and all I can relay to you is our own experience with Harmony. She only lived 11 days after her amp, but we don't believe it was MCT that took her life. We believe it was a blood clot because she was doing remarkable for what she'd been through. She collapsed suddenly and passed within hours.
This type of cancer is very unpredictable, the sooner you get that leg taken care of, the better. I would add to keep Alexa on Benadryl for the out-of-control histamine. For the most part, MCT doesn't really cause pain (just itches like crazy) unless the tumors are pressing on nerves or crowding organs. And yes, it can hinder healing during a flare phase. So the key is to keep the flares under control.
I've heard and seen many MCT pups live long lives. Sometimes they have surgery, sometimes it goes into remission on its own. Sometimes it's both. My point is, Alexa has a great start from your being her advocate.
Now, kick MCT's butt!!!! xoxo
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
Pam...we love you! That Harmony continues to offer life affirming support to everyone on this journey through you.
A d Mona kitty...you always have great advice for your doggy friends!
Alexa, sending you healing energy for a quick recovery and a pain free quality life...and sleeping in bed with your humans!
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!
My beagle Kasey had her right front leg amputated a year and a half ago due to a MCT tumor and she was 12 at the time of surgery. I worried just like you about her age, but she is doing just fine. She did great in surgery and adjusted very well. I wrote a blog about her about a year ago. Since her amputation she has been diagnosed with Cushing's disease, broke her toe on her remaining front leg, and had a another MCT tumor removed in September. This tumor was in the exact same location of where her leg was amputated. The vet got clear margins (both times) and it was low grade (both times). She did not need chemo or radiation after either surgery. I hope for the best for Alexa...and you too!!
Here is the link to Kasey's blog, if you want to check it out!
Thanks everyone!
Pam, what a kick in the stomach to lose her so soon. Harmony was georgous, I bet she still watches over you and steals some of those naps on your chest. You just can't see her.
Alexa had her surgery yesterday, no complications and I get to pick her up this afternoon. I will post updates once she gets home.
Tarheelsfan1, how did you make the decision not to do chemo? Because of the low grade? I will meet with the oncologist once she is all healed up, but I've been told that chemo is advisable.
Alexa came home yesterday, boy is she a trooper. Wagged her tail all the way out the vets office. For a moment I thought she'd hold court in that waiting room with all eyes on her, she stopped and took it all in. Smiling at each person, then carried on hopping out to the car.
when we came home, I had the canvas bag sling to help her, but she was not impressed. She wanted to do everything by herself. She went in her bed downstairs and I told her to stay, I was going to run upstairs to change. By the time I had changed, she already was upstairs. All by herself!!!! Poor baby. We went back down, me with the sling thingy helping her. I tried carrying her but she insisted on walking. Ok. Soon after ups arrived with her harness which fits perfectly. She is wearing a shirt for now and the harness over it. We tried pottying but she was not going to. Just sat at the front lawn, sniffing the air. Didn't eat dinner, no medication :(. She doesn't do hot dogs or anything. I have to grind up her meds and put them in her raw food. Or make a tahini sandwich with flash dried beef biscuits and ground up meds. Hopefully, she'll eat today. We took a trip outside at 4am and she did pee.
Im sure today she'll eat. She is just so particular about when and how she eats......
she wags her tail nonstop. I'm very hopeful.
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