Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Worst week ever with a young clumber being diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer. Prognosis is weeks or couple of months. If I amputate I will take that pain away and will not have the worry of a fracture.. she will then get to play with her sister... will she and I cope?? devastating...
sarahms said
...will she and I cope??
Yes, and yes if you are willing to follow her lead. the vast majority of dogs cope much better than we silly people do!
Please tell us more so others can be of better assistance. What is a clumber? Dog? Cat? Are we talking about osteosarcoma? What is her name?
FYI: They gave our Jerry "a few months" after his osteosarcoma amputation, and he lived two years. And that was without IV chemotherapy.
Our best advice is to Be More Dog . Seriously, what she needs most right now is a strong balanced pack leader to show her that life will be normal again. It is perfectly normal to be devastated, just not in front of your girl. She will follow your lead.
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Read the FAQs and bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
Start here if you ever need help navigating the many helpful resources here. Best wishes, and please keep us posted. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Deep breath and remember no matter what TriPawds Nation is here for you and your Clumber! Yes, the news is always shocking and terrifying BUT many, many dogs and cats outlast and outlive the "several months" prognosis. What IS important is to know you are doing everything you can to make certain the pain is taken away. If that means amputation, then yes, amputate. But there are other options as well. And, a CLUMBER is ALWAYS A CLUMBER!!! OMDDDDDDDD, A CLUMBER!!! What is your Clumber's name? When you can, please share your story. And, we LOVE pictures! CLUMMMMMMMMMMBER!!! We at DaBears HQ are absolutely in love with Clumbers:) ( Seriuosly, WyattRay, a cat!?!? Wait until you meet the majestic CLUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMBERS!)Â
My gorgeous baby Clumber is Esmae..
I am devastated and yes osteosarcoma is the diagnosis. She is far outside the norm for this horrendous diagnosis.. too young by everyones standards
She is active and fit and actually the number one Clumber Spaniel (show dog) in Australia for 2016..
I am told chemo is not an option and the radiotherapy means that she will be away from us for at least a week... and given our short term left (been told 6-8 wks or 4-5 months) that seems too long... but I am in shock.. and have not slept..... random bursts of tears 24 hours a day
Ditto DaBears! Clumber Spaniel, right? Smoochable, squishy face with some yummy drooling jowls thrown in 🙂 🙂
No, this isn't the diagnosis anyone wants ro get. But ya' know what? Your pup doesn't give a rip about statistics or prognosis. And days on aa calendar don't mean squat to her!
And most importantly, check out your pup's butt. Do you see any timeframe stamped on that fluffy butt of hers? NO! Statistics don't mean much around here.
And yiu are exactly right, the amputation will take the pain away and give her a quality life full of more loving and spoiling than you could ever imagine!!
Have you had a consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon? They can reassure you that your girl is a good candidate for surgery. Also, have they xrayed?
A dd YES! She will get tomplay with her sister, all while being pain free! She will cope beautifully and so will you!!
STAY CONNECTED!!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! We'll help you navigate through recovery and ccelebrate all the upcoming victories with you 🙂
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
So, one thing to remember, is EXACTLY what Sally is spot on about: there is NO stamp on Esmae's butt! NONE!!! And, yes, vets will use all of the data to help and guide us but ( and god KNOWS I LOVE my vets) the data is NOT Esmae! Esmae is Esmae!!! ( Beautiful name, btw!) The only tiny thing that I can say is something I tell myself: If you don't go away, you can't come back. Meaning, if I do not at least try treatment(s), then I have to reconcile that the prognosis and outcome will be very different than if I had. Of course, it is terrifying. And stressful. But...shhhhhhhh....here is the secret: many, many, many times, treatment does have good outcomes! ( Did they recommend SRT? If so, there may be the possibility that Esmae can come home each night during SRT. I have had two with brain tumors who did come home each night. It made for a long day as I dropped off early in the morning and went to work and picked up late afternoon BUT it was wonderful to have them home.) Please tell us more about Esmae! And share pictures when you can! She is obviously a one of a kind CLLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMBER!!! ( I'm sorry...DaBears and I are seriously smitten by Clumbers. We rarely see them here in the States.)Â
A d Ditto DaBears agai !!
I alsomlove her beautiful name and cannot wait to see pictures of this ROCK STAR!!
Curious why they said Carboplatin chemo wasn't an option?
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 cannot believe you sd RockStar! That's what we have always called her and her sister- that they are rockstars and they rock it! Ohhhh
and I keep changing my mind- convinced each time! This is heartbreaking....
oncologist and vet have both sd chemo will not cure it and neither recommended bc it will detract from her quality of life.....
sarahms said
Worst week ever with a young clumber being diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer. Prognosis is weeks or couple of months. If I amputate I will take that pain away and will not have the worry of a fracture.. she will then get to play with her sister... will she and I cope?? devastating...
Okay, deep breaths. Keep things chunked down. You can think about chemo later.
Glad to validate that Esmae is the ROCKSTAR she knows she is!!! 🙂 🙂
And ROCK STARS usually handle three legs just fine!!
Yes, this horrible piece of crap disease FORCES us to make very,very difficult decisions. And your pup is soooo young. This just stinks. Her youth will help with recovery though.
The thing is, her pain will get worse. If she is limping, it hurts. The amputation will take away the pain. And NO ONE knows how long any of us have on this earth. The mlst important thing is to make everyday count!!! Make EVERYDAY ESMAE DAY! 🙂 🙂 Spoil,spoil,spoil! 🙂 🙂 BE.MORE DOG! Esmae is living in the moment! She has NO worries! She only cares about living in the moment and making every moment the best time ever!
Let us help you navigate through this scary time. Ask any questions you have. And for whatever it's worth, I actually cancelled the first surgery I had scheduled for my Happy Hannah because I was PETRIFIED OUT OF MY MIND!!! Absolutely hysterical! I can say now, it was the best decision ever! It gave us QUALITY extended bo us time that was absolutely spectacular!
Love and hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
sarahms said
Worst week ever with a young clumber being diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer. Prognosis is weeks or couple of months. If I amputate I will take that pain away and will not have the worry of a fracture.. she will then get to play with her sister... will she and I cope?? devastating... Â
Now day 2 post amputation. She pooed peed and ran within 24 hours! Now she is getting frustrated by laying on the same hip. It clearly hurts to lie on the hip missing the leg...Â
Really glad to hear she's doing so well! Is she eating and drinking pretty good too?
You might want to watch her activity level. Even though she's got loads of energy, rest is still important for a complication-free recovery (and to keep the stitches from coming out).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
POOP ALREADY???? HAPPY POOP DANCE!! 🙂 YAAAAAAAAAY FOR ESMAE!!! 🙂 Way to gooooo! 🙂 And PEEING TOOO? Always a good thing! 🙂 🙂
My Happy Hannah didn't lay on her amp side for weeks! Just make sure you gently massage the leg/hip she's laying, as well as her shoulders ,neck and back. Dog, like humans, often prefer laying on one side over the other. If their "preference side" is the amp side, it can, I deed, br frustrating jntil they are avle to get their normal sleep routine back.
Slow and easy sweet Esmae!' She might experience a bit of a crash around day three when all the hospital meds are out of their system.
GREAT UPDATE!! KEEP 'EM COMING 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
benny55 said
POOP ALREADY???? HAPPY POOP DANCE!! 🙂 YAAAAAAAAAY FOR ESMAE!!! 🙂 Way to gooooo! 🙂 And PEEING TOOO? Always a good thing! 🙂 🙂My Happy Hannah didn't lay on her amp side for weeks! Just make sure you gently massage the leg/hip she's laying, as well as her shoulders ,neck and back. Dog, like humans, often prefer laying on one side over the other. If their "preference side" is the amp side, it can, I deed, br frustrating jntil they are avle to get their normal sleep routine back.
Slow and easy sweet Esmae!' She might experience a bit of a crash around day three when all the hospital meds are out of their system.
GREAT UPDATE!! KEEP 'EM COMING 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too! Â
She pood by herself within 24 hours of the surgery. She is doing great. Got a nerve blocker pain killer though yesterday as she wasn't settling at night. And yup massaging her good hip already. Trying to encourage her to roll on back but she is still protective of her rump- we decided it's called her rump! She is doing really super and is sorta sitting on her butt but won't lie on it but she is getting better every day ...aahhh
Glad she, and "her rump" are getting better!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I know it's at a snail's pace, but a vit of sparkle will start to come back little by little...slowly vut surely!
Can't wait to see pictures...hint! 🙂
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Great to hear she is doing well and gotten rid of that painful leg! I'm sorry you had to come to the decision of amputation and with such a grim diagnosis, but getting rid of her pain for the time she has left is the right thing to do! Enjoy every moment of her, she doesn't know how long she has left and just wants to enjoy each day with you!
As others have said, watch her activity levels until the stitches come out, and then hopefully her sparkle comes back and she'll be even better than she was pre-op!
Best of luck, and keep in touch with tripawds nation! 
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