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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Osteosarcoma Advice
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Member Since:
17 March 2014
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17 March 2014 - 11:05 am
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Hello all...I am new to this forum but based on the title, I can assume that you know what I am going to be asking.

Our golden retreiver Rusty (9.5 years old 82 lbs) fell yesterday in the yard and suffered a fracutred right front leg.  Upon rushing him to the emergency vet clinic, I was given some bad news.  The bone where the fracture occurred was most likely secondary to osteosarcoma.  The bone looked very moth-eaten and it was obviously less dense.  They kept him overnight and we took him to our regular vet this morning to confirm the diagnosis.  He agreed with the assessment and believes that it is indeed cancer (99.9% sure).  He has told me that we have the following options:  1.  Amputate the leg and once healed have Rusty undergo chemo with a 6-13 months prognosis or 2.  Euthanasia.  Obviously, this has led me through a range of emotions and has made working today very difficult.  He is my special little (big) guy and I am not ready to let him go but I WILL do what is best for him...one caveat to our story is that he does have some arthiritis and I don't know how he will do being one leg short so that concerns me greatly. 

I came here looking for advice and support.  My questions are for those who have undergone this type of treatment.  When the leg was amputated, was their any semblance of return to a normal life for your pet?  What were the side effects for your dog when the chemotherapy was performed?   When you dog ultimately went downhill, what were the symptoms?  My biggest concern is that rusty will fracture another leg.  He was in so much pain that I do not think I could let him go through that again.  I want to make the best decision for him and not for me so I need help.  My wife and I were pretty much set on amputation and chemo and see what happens but then we talked to a friend (who is a vet) who said that osteosarcoma is so aggressive that he would put our Rusty to sleep if it was his.  He was sympathetic but we were really pressing for an answer.  I knew that this time would eventually come but I am no prepared...I feel like I have to made a decision quickly as he has a fractured leg but I don't want to make a rash decision either

 

 

Ohio
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21 February 2014
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17 March 2014 - 11:48 am
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Hi there... So sorry to hear the news of your big guy! Our Cody was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on 2/20 and we amputated the next day. Now he doesn't have any arthritis or anything so that part is different, but I know people on here who have that same issue. He bounces back very quickly and 3 weeks post amp is almost back to his normal self (playing, going for walks, using the stairs) and we are so happy we did the amputation. It is a nasty and aggressive disease but we are giving him some quality pain free time. We are not doing chemotherapy however, we have chosen to do a homeopathic approach with Dr loops out of NC. Good luck with your dicision, I know it is so hard.

Keeping you in our thoughts.

Cody and family

Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.

Ohio
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17 March 2014 - 11:50 am
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Forgot to mention: Cody is 7 and otherwise healthy... He stopped using his leg the day before diagnosis.

And whatever your choice it will be out of love for your guy! Your a great parent for looking for all the information you can!

Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.

Fort Wayne, IN
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25 January 2013
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17 March 2014 - 11:52 am
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First...Breathe!  Second...Welcome to the family.  I'm sorry you are going through this with Rusty, especially in a rush situation.  Libby is our almost 11, chocolate lab/chessy mix. Fourteen months ago she was diagnosed with OSA in her right front leg and a significant arthritic hip.  The vet was conservative but we made the choice to give her a chance after finding this site and reading, reading, reading.  She has beaten the odds for living with OSA.  We now have some problems but she has had a wonderful 14 months and she has given us so much joy. 

I would do it all again if given the choice.  She adapted so well and got back to dog life nicely.  She went swimming, trail walking (not quite as far as before) car rides, ball playing..and on and on.  We chose not to do IV Chemo but went with metronomic therapy.  You can find tons of info on both on these forums.

This community will support you no matter your decision.  It's personal and you have to decide what is best for you, Rusty and your family situation. Good luck and I look forward to your updates.

Amy & Libby

I forgot to add....her arthritis has been well managed with supplements.  We love Glycoflex III but there are many out there.  Her hip never gave her a problem that we could detect.

Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13.  Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14.  She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self.  Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14

On The Road


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17 March 2014 - 11:52 am
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Hello and welcome to the club nobody wants to join. We're so sorry to hear about the fracture, we know that's a horrific situation to deal with and we're so sorry. Hope you don't mind I moved your post but since you're still coping with a diagnosis I thought this was a good place.

First off, do check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawd e-book library, which can answer many of your questions and alleviate your fears. And do poke around here and see what others have written about their own journeys. This Tripawds Amputation Quality of Life Survey will also be of interest to you.

A vet who says they would automatically put a 9 year old down because of this hasn't had the pleasure of experiencing the hundreds of dogs (and cats!) who have thrived after amputation due to osteosarcoma. This cancer is aggressive but many dogs have beaten the odds, some for up to 6 years that we've seen here (we beat it for 2 years and no chemo either). Not everyone is as lucky and generally the cancer follows the course of predicted survival times. But in the end it's not about how much time you have left, but about making sure that time is spent pain-free. Our Tripawds Survey (above link) will show you that even for those who didn't get more than a month or two were still glad they did it because they got quality time with their dog.

Meanwhile I'll try to answer your questions here. If you want to hop over to the Chat Room, I'm hanging out there for a bit so feel free to come by now, or later in the evening when you'll usually find folks there.

When the leg was amputated, was their any semblance of return to a normal life for your pet?  
Absolutely! You'll find many of our videos and blogs will show that the experience for most Tripawds is similar: a 2 or 3 week recovery and a good quality of life afterward. Of course there will be some ups and downs and some will have a rougher time than others. Just like people, pets heal at different rates but for the most part they do much better than any human would after this surgery.
What were the side effects for your dog when the chemotherapy was performed? 
Again, that depends on the dog. Many do not have side effects, some have nausea and vomiting. Fewer require any kind of hospitalization because of them. Keep in mind that chemotherapy is optional; it's not required and many of us who didn't do it beat the odds despite the prognosis we were given. On the other hand, many who did have chemo didn't live up to predictions either. As much as statics show, you'll eventually see that it comes down to a luck of the draw.
 
When you dog ultimately went downhill, what were the symptoms?  
Generally most dogs will experience difficulty breathing because of lung metastasis but symptoms vary. Again, all dogs are so different. Some may not even succumb to the disease but something else.
 
Making the decision to amputate is difficult, we understand that completely. It's a huge leap of faith, and there are no guarantees. But if your dog is a good candidate for surgery otherwise, you will likely find that removing the horrible source of pain will give you an excellent quality of life for however long you have left. If there's anything this disease teaches you, it's to live life for the NOW and not focus on what may or may not happen tomorrow. It's an awesome lesson.
 
I hope this helps. Whatever you decide for your dog, we will support you so please keep us posted.
 

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

Virginia
Member Since:
26 January 2014
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17 March 2014 - 12:13 pm
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Hi and welcome! You will find multiple dogs on here older than Rusty who have had amps and done well. I guess I'm in a little shock that someone would tell you to just put him down. He obviously doesn't know how resilient and amazing these Tripawds are!winker I can tell you that my Jake was 11. His amp was due to a nerve sheath tumor and he passed away 9 months later from a completely unrelated cancer. Looking back on it now, giving him those months where he could just be a normal dog was worth everything we did. Even if I had known from the beginning that a second cancer would take him, I'd do it again. No one can tell you what Rusty's story will be. The best thing you can do is research your options and choose the route you think is best for Rusty. Whatever you decide, we're here for you! 

Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”  

      

New York, NY
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3 December 2012
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17 March 2014 - 12:44 pm
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Hello and welcome - I am so sorry you have to join us here!

I will preface everything I am about to say with one disclaimer, my tripawd Jill is a kitty.  But she does have/had osteosarcoma.

Jill is now 15 months post amputation and doing great.  She had her right rear leg amputated, followed by 4 rounds of chemotherapy.  She is still cancer free.

You will find SO MANY stories on this website of hope.  We're all here to support your decision and to answer any questions you may have.  Every animal is different, but most handle the surgery very well.  Some have a REALLY short recovery time, and some have a bit longer.  Many handle chemo very well, while others have some (mostly mangeable) issues.

Definitely stop by the chat room if you have a chance, theres usually a bunch of us in there at night!

xoxo,

Erica & Tripawd Kitty Jill

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

Member Since:
17 March 2014
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17 March 2014 - 2:10 pm
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Thank you all very much.  It has been quite uplifting to hear these stories and read around this forum.  As you can tell, I am just devastated by the news that I have received.  We consider our dog a member of the family and he is so special to us all.  I have thought about it a lot and I have come to the decision that we are going to proceed with surgery if the vet thinks that we will have a few more good months with our dog.  We are not ready to say goodbye and based on what I have read here, it is not unreasonable to think that I am in any way prolonging Rusty's agony.  When I think about euthanasia I start to cry...when I think about surgery I get a feeling of peace.  I wish I could take Rusty's pain and give it to me and let him be happy again.

Thanks everyone...I will re-post tonight after meeting with the vet.  You all do not know how much your words of encouragment have meant to me!

Idaho
Member Since:
12 March 2013
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17 March 2014 - 2:23 pm
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Welcome. I am glad to see that some reading and additional perspective are bringing you some sense of calm in this difficult time. I don't see where you are located, but was wondering whether you have access to an orthopedic surgeon/oncologist/rehab facility. All of these can help make your decisions a bit easier. Some of our Tripawds have been able to take advantage of local veterinary schools, too.

Just rest assured that this entire community is on your side.

Kathi and Murphy

Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!

UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!

Livermore, CA




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18 October 2009
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17 March 2014 - 5:41 pm
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Welcome.

I'm sorry cancer has brought you here and that Rusty has a fracture.  It puts you in a high pressure situation to make a decision.

Did Rusty have xrays of his lungs? I would want to know if there are lung mets.

My pug Maggie had a different kind of cancer, mast cell.  AFTER surgery her prognosis was downgraded and she was given 6 to 9 months with chemo.  At first I though I had made a mistake by choosing surgery- that I would ONLY get 6 to 9 months.  But you learn on this journey that every day is precious and each day is to be treasured and enjoyed. 

It turned out that Maggie lived almost 4 years after her amputation. Not every pup is so lucky, but I would not have had any of that time with her if I hadn't given her a chance with the surgery. 

What ever you decide we are here for you.

 

Karen and Spirit Maggie

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
17 March 2014
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17 March 2014 - 7:02 pm
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Well I had a nice long talk with the vet this evening after work. We discussed many of the questions that were discussed on this forum, I neglected to mention it earlier, but luckily at this time, there were no signs of mets in his lungs. He told me that they were most likely there, but usually were not seen until 1 cm (I think that is what he said) in size. After many tears were shed but me and my wife, we decided that we are not ready to say goodbye and rusty is scheduled for surgery tomorrow! I went to see rusty in his bed and he was so happy and acted so normally (probably due to the fentanyl patch). We discussed the fee for the surgery and I was shocked at how low it was...my vet said that he does many many of these a year and he did not want to take advantage of an emotional situation so he has a low fee as he wants people to have the last good days that they can with their dogs without automatically going the euthanasia route. I feel really good about this decision! It will be an adventure and I can't wait to go through it with Rusty!

So as you can tell, I am pretty excited about the coming months and will try to be a good leader for him...after all I am a member of his pack. We have ordered a ruff wear harness and we have even scheduled our family photographer for pics with rusty and the family in early May.

I will update tomorrow following surgery. He will stay at the hospital for the next several days and we will bring him home on either Thursday night or Friday but most likely on Friday!

New York, NY
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3 December 2012
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17 March 2014 - 7:54 pm
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Best of luck tomorrow!!! Keep us posted!  Come on over to chat if you can, theres a bunch of us in there now!

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

Ohio
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21 February 2014
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17 March 2014 - 8:11 pm
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Good luck tomorrow! Let us know how everything goes! So glad you have made a decision that you are content with. I know Rusty will do great!

 

 

Cody and Family

Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.

On The Road


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17 March 2014 - 8:13 pm
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Oh wow, this just makes your head spin doesn't it? You sound like you've got a great attitude, that will help him SO much! We are here for you any way possible so please do let us know how we can help.

Your vet sounds AWESOME, feel free to put a referral for the practice in our Veterinary Referrals topic:
http://tripawds.....referrals/

Good luck! We will be thinking of you all and sending our best. Keep us posted.

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

Virginia
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14 March 2014
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17 March 2014 - 9:17 pm
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Best of luck to you and Rusty and your family... And what a wonderful surgeon you have, too. I wish more vets did that. 

Anyway, we'll be thinking of y'all...fingers and paws crossed for a smooth surgery!

Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.  

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