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 everyone,
I am looking for advice:
My 9 year old Lab/fur baby was diagnosed with OSA two weeks ago via x-ray. His oncologist said we caught it very early. He is on very low dose pain meds and wormwood. Buddy is also a Type I diabetic (diagnosed 1.5 yrs ago and takes insulin 2x a day) and has been regulated since the beginning of his diagnoses. He still has clear vision and no cataracts. Buddy goes to a Holistic Vet that is extremely knowledgeable and she has him on a raw diet with several supplements. I bring this up because the oncologist and the Holistic Vet have completely different treatment protocols for this disease. This is where I need advice. I really wanted to try and use combo therapy (Western medicine and Chinese). He is very active (a typical Lab), still loves to swim, very healthy weight and his chest X-Ray showed his lungs were clear and no mets at this time.
His oncologist says to wait and perform amputation when the pain gets to be really bad and then proceeded with chemo; but my questions are:
Wouldn’t it be better to remove the source of the cancer now before the pain is much worse and he will not be able to put any weight on it?
Has anyone had a diabetic dog go through limp removal?
His Holistic Vet refuses to be a part of his treatment if chemo and limb removal are chosen. She stated that she has only seen dogs live for a couple of months after limp removal (which is contrary to what I have read here on tripawds). She will only work with us if we choose the 100% Holistic treatment. She wants to try Frankincense injections.
Has anyone used a Holistic approach with OSA or combo therapy?
I have spent countless days researching this disease and prognoses and I still feel lost. I would absolutely hate to lose his Holistic Vet since she has done a fantastic job with managing his diabetes but I also want to keep him around and happy and comfortable for as long as I can.
buddyluv said
I am looking for advice:
Welcome! You've come to the right place. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Wouldn’t it be better to remove the source of the cancer now
Various oncologists have told us that removal of the primary tumor can expedite the spread of metastases. Search the blogs for more articles like this one from Dr. Lucroy...
Does Amputation Speed Cancer Metastasis?
Has anyone used a Holistic approach with OSA or combo therapy?
Many members have reported successful holistic treatment. Dr. Dressler's Dog Cancer Survival Guide promotes "full spectrum care" encompassing Eastern and Western medicine. And Dr. Chretin offers his opinion in this video interview:
An Oncologist's View on Treating Bone Cancer Dogs with Holistic Medicine
Search all blogs here to find more stories and interviews.
PS: Don't miss these episodes of Tripawd Talk Radio in the Tripawds Downloads blog :
Best of Tripawd Talk Radio Veterinary Cancer Care Oncologist Interviews
You'll find many more helpful articles, podcasts and videos in the Tripawds e-books .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Buddy sounds like a delightful fella' who has a real zest for life and wants to continue going foward living life to the fullest!!
I know this is upsetting beyond words and it just kicks you in the gut. The , you get over the shock, take some deep breaths, do your research and come up with a plan! Remember, Buddy isn't worried about a thing and could care less about any ole' diagnosis or statistics. Buddy does NOT have a timeframe stamped on his butt and is living in the NOW!!
Take what I am about to say with a grain of salt. Clearly I am not a vet. Im .merely expressing my thought process in making my decision for my beloved Happy Hannah. No right or wrong, no judgement here. Total support on whatever lath you decide to take.
I actually canceled the first scheduled amputation sur g ery because I was petrified in so many levels. It was at that poi t that the Oncologist (who had ZERO "bedside manner"), told me basically, that it was my fault (actually said "my fault") if Happy Hannah's prognosis was less favorable now because I had delayed the surgery!. Yeah, a whole @ot of differing views make this journey so crazy!
Anhwah, within about a week's time she actually started holding ner law up rather than just limpi g a d I k ew I had to get rid of that pain for her right away! All this was before I had joined this site. I jave since learned of the danger of the leg breaking all of the sudden. To think that could have happened while I was at work still makes me shudder!
Again, and just a "for whatever it's worth" comment. While I appreciate your Holistic Vet's approach, there are many, many, many others who work hand in hand with patients who have gone through amputation and incorporate both Eastern and Western. DEFINITELY read the links above, but ESPECIALLY Dressler's book . She may be the perfection solution for handling Buddy's diabetes, but this piece of crap disease is a whole 'nother ballgame...a painful ballgame!
My Happy Hannah a d I had a GLORIOUS bonus time of one year and two months...and I mean GLORIOUS! She sparkled every day with a shimmering brightness and lpved her life of spoiling and fun and loving right up until her transition time.
We are right here by your side, okay?
Sending you a great big group hug from your new family!
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!
Hi and welcome Buddy and family.......like Sally said, this is just my opinion of your situation. My Dobe Nitro was diagnosed last spring with OSA and subsequently had his front right leg removed. It took us awhile to reach a diagnosis, but the one thing that pushed us in the direction of surgery was the thought of the leg fracturing spontaneously. We weren't ready to say good bye to our boy who was (and continues to be) so full of life. He had somewhat of a difficult recovery, and I discovered a vet who specializes in Eastern medicine, chiropractic care and acupuncture. She had no issues with amp surgery whatsoever; she prescribed Chinese anti cancer herbs for his first couple months after surgery and she continues to see him every 4 weeks for chiro adjustments.
my feeling is get rid of the cancer before it spreads or gets worse; Nitro didn't appear to be in much pain (but they do hide it well) but I didn't want to wait too long to have the surgery. I wish your holistic vet felt differently, but just know others out there don't share the same opinion. Good luck going forward, with whatever you choose.
paula and nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Welcome to Tripawds.
I can't speak to the question of removing the limb now or later. My inclination would be to do it as soon as it is identified, but it is interesting and worth considering if there is information that says waiting is better.
I would be quite disappointed if my holistic vet would not treat my pugs if I chose a treatment she didn't agree with. I used a combo of treatments for my second pug with mast cell cancer (she was a quad pug). Both my holistic and traditional vets were all about what was best for Tani. My first pug Maggie lost her leg to mast cell cancer and far outlived her 6 to 9 month prognosis, in fact she lived almost 4 years and did not pass from that cancer.
I have a local pal who had his front leg amputated over 5 YEARS ago for OSA. Not all are so lucky, but you might tell your holistic vet about these forums, and maybe she would change her opinion. There are some pups who only make a couple of months, but I would guess the majority here get more than that. And that time is generally pain free, without pain meds.
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
wow, how sad that someone who should be more open-minded is actually not.
Obviously, none of us can tell you what would be best for your Buddy, only you know what would be best for him. That being said, osa is very painful. There is no cure right now, but all we can do is our best. Removing the leg does remove the cancer, but there probably is already microscopic cells in his body. That's where the chemo and/or alternative medicines come into play. To rid his body of those microscopic cells. And many people have used both successfully.
Being diabetic probably makes things a bit more difficult. In people, diabetics have a harder time healing, so I would imagine the same would hold true with Buddy. But with proper care he should be ok. It sounds like you keep his diabetes under control and that he's fairly healthy otherwise, so that also helps.
What is considered "really bad?" Is that when the bone breaks? Because that is inevitable if let go too long. Murphy was misdiagnosed for over 5 months - as long as he was on pain medication he would bear weight on his bad leg, but once he was off his meds, he wouldn't eat or go outside, and he would yelp whenever he moved. When he was finally diagnosed. the orthopedic surgeon told me that he was surprised that the bone hadn't already broken and he didn't understand how Murphy was walking at all, even with medications. I felt so guilty! How did I let it go for so long before I got a second opinion? I'm a nurse, I should know better.
Murphy had histiocytic sarcoma, which is highly aggressive. His prognosis was 12-18 months survival with surgery and chemo. That was April 2013 and he's still running around chasing squirrels and jumping on the furniture. His lungs are still clear and proving that a prognosis is just a guessing game.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Thank you everyone for your support and shared stories!! I admire your strength and courage, I hope I can get there!!
I can only speak from where we are, which is 11 days post amputation and can say the although we are aware that if they finally decide it is osteosarcoma and the consequences of that the happy look on our boys face now he no longer hurts makes up for taking off the leg which we can now see must have been beyond painful for him
I am sad that your vets are being unhelpful with this, hope you can get through to them that he is a sentient being and is probably in pain now, not when it gets worse, this is one of our worries - how much pain our boy was in before we knew
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