Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I need the help of the Tripawd Nation!
Today I found a small lump on Cassie's back foot. It sort of looks like a pimple, but nothing comes out of it and it's not red. Of course I started looking around on google and you know what that can lead to! Between the holiday, weekend & work I can't get her in to the vet until Tuesday.
One of the things that I read said that mct releases histamines...and now tonight her lips are swollen. This happened last week and a couple weeks ago, too, but went away after a couple days of Benadryl. Now I wonder if it had something to do with this lump - maybe she chewed on it or something.
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
Hi Donna,
Unfortunately Mast Cell tumors can not be identified by sight or feel. In my two pugs with MCTs I never had their lips swell at any time.
I think the best thing to do is leave Dr. Google alone and wait for the vet visit. Keep an eye on the lump, watch to see if is shrinks or swells. My experience is that a quick needle aspirate is very accurate so your vet should be able to let you know on Tuesday.
I know it's hard not to think the worst after you have been down the cancer road.
Let us know what the vet says Tuesday.
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
I'm with Karen on this one for sure. See what the dogtor says.
Harmony had MCT, but she never had any allergic swelling. Only one of her tumors broke the skin and it was because she licked it constantly. Otherwise they were quite tricky to "feel-out". For the most part, a fatty lump and a MCT lump feel the same. That's why it's important to get them aspirated.
I'll be waiting with the rest to find out what the vet says.
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
DONNA, DONNA, DONNA!! Ohhh boy! We can all relate to worrying about all the "what ifs"! And we never make the "what ifs" good, we always make them monumentally bad! And then we visit Dr. Google to make sure that we haven't missed anything else that could be even worse than our worse fear!!! And Dr. Google is available 24/7 to ensure that we have plenty of non-stop worrying time!
As you know, when Merry Myrtle and Frankie went on their unauthorized three day adventure, every negative rhought imaginable grabbed my brain and held on with a grip that wouldn't let go! The frustrating part was, I, like you, who hope we can somehow help pull others from the edge, aren't very good at doing it for ourselves.
So hang on, we've gotcha'! We're pulling you off the edge right now!! My dog Bernie developed allergies later in life that, for something "unknown" that caused swelling. in in face/mug off and on. It's been awhile,but I think the vet concluded allergies or an immune deficiency. It seems like a dose of steroids were used on occasion when the swelling wouldn't go down on its own.
And the lump around Cassie's toenail is most likely related ro some fungal/infection thing going on with the toenail.
I know it's hard to focus on that fact that it's most likely nothing at all....but it's most likely nothing at all!!
Sending you lots of hugs and love!!
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!
You know I love you guys!
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
So we took Cassie in to see the vet today. He's not sure what that is on her foot. It's on the side, but that black tip isn't a nail. He took some blood work and we scheduled her for surgery next week to remove it. Then he will send it to pathology.
She had another bout of swelling in her face this weekend. Still not sure what's causing that. No new food or treats. It has to be an allergic reaction to something, and the vet agrees with that. It goes away after about 3-4 days of Benadryl.
So, I guess we still wait. 
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
Glad she got into the vet. Hey at least they didn't panic too right? One time we were very worked up over what we thought was Mast Cell Cancer on Wyatt, and after labs and surgical removal were done, it turned out to be an ingrown hair. We call it the $800 hair follicle debacle!
Hang in there, usually whatever it is isn't nearly as bad as our mind worked it up to be. We're thinking of you both.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Okay, at least it didn't seem too alarming ro the vet, so that's good. And the face swelling has to be some allergy of some sort. Anything changed with his bedding, or any different detergent are you using that he could be allergic to?
Thanks for clarifying that black spot wasn't his toenail. Time for ole' Sal to start wearing magnifying glasses!
Keep us posted...and no worries, okay? Yeah...right!!!
Lots of love!
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!
Donna,
Glad you got her into the clinic to be seen. Dr Google is very dangerous. I know its easy to use and we (all of us around here) are known to use it now & then but guess what sometimes that darn Dr Google can get us into panic mode. Breathe deep.
I will say some prayers for Cassie.
xoxoxox
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Lol Sally, you always make me smile! We can't think of anything that's changed. Cassie & Max eat science diet food, although sometimes my husband buys different flavor so I'm going to pay attention the next time we buy another bag. All of the treats we buy are the same, no new detergents. Unless there's been something outside, which is always possible, especially since there's a park behind us.
i know Michelle, Dr. Google is dangerous, and I even said that to my husband.
I will be happy if it's just a hair follicle! Were quoted $425 for the surgery + $198 if we have it sent for biopsy (and the $190 for the visit & labs the other day) ...sigh...these kids sure do get expensive!
hugs to all!
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
Just wanted to add something I learned when we went through our journey with Harmony. We were brand/flavor loyal with Harmony and Melody. Then one day, both of them started with the whole vomiting and diarrhea. Come to find out, we had just started a newly bought bag. Upon further research, we discovered, the food manufacturer had changed the formula which made our girls very sick. Melody recovered quite well, but we didn't realize that Harmony was "sick" at the time and never truly recovered.
Also, I think it was Jerry (Rene) who had mentioned in a post somewhere on this site, that feeding your furbabies a variety of foods and brands was good for their immune system. It totally made sense to me. It's like making sure we eat a balanced diet by eating a variety of vegetables, not just broccoli. Now, I make sure I change brands and flavors of their kibble at least once, maybe twice a month always taking care to introduce the new "flavor" gradually. It kinda gives me just a little more peace of mind.
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
harmony said
It's like making sure we eat a balanced diet by eating a variety of vegetables, not just broccoli. Now, I make sure I change brands and flavors of their kibble at least once, maybe twice a month
Exactly! Imagine what our own bodies would be like if we ate the same exact thing twice a day for years and years. Eeek!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Donna,
Did the vet aspirate the lump and look at cells? My experience with an aspiration is that it has always been accurate in determining if a lump on one of the pugs was mast cell cancer.
On the face swelling...has Cassie received a new toy recently that is made of plastic or latex? Maybe a new bowl that is plastic? Some dogs have touch allergies with plastic.
On the food... when my quad pug Tani was around I had to keep the menu pretty much the same since she had IBD. Also quad pug Obie had some skin allergies. Now that Tani has passed on I do make periodic changes in the kibble and can food I use to supplement the Honest Kitchen I use as the base. When Tani was first diagnosed with IBD she had been on the same food for years with no issues. I don't remember the brand, but it was one of the big name foods. Once I switched her to a higher quality grain free food her stomach issues cleared up.
I hope the lump turns out to be a 'no never mind'.
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
Hi Karen ~
He didn't aspirate it, partly because Cassie has quite a bit of anxiety with men that she doesn't know. When we go in for her routine things, he often just has the tech draw her blood work because she's a little better with women. 2 years ago she had a hot spot on the underside of her tail and just to shave the hair and get a good look at it he almost had to anesthetize her! He tried a pain shot, then more, but still couldn't look at it so he gave her something that made her drop on the table 
It was really pathetic! She was laying there with her eyes open & unblinking while he was shaving her tail to look at it. Then we had to hang out while it wore off - I have some pretty funny videos of her "swimming" on the floor lol
I completely trust him, he's been our vet for probably 20 years or so, and was actually our family vet way back when I lived at home in 1982, so he's seen a lot of things. I think when Murphy was diagnosed he was just as surprised as anyone, because he's one of those doctors that can diagnose things when you walk in the door, but Murphy was still walking on his leg and would let him manipulate it as much as he wanted to.
We don't buy the latex or plastic toys because none of our dogs really like those too much. They mostly just play with the stuffed animal type of toys. No new bowls or anything, either. That's why I'm so confused as to what it could be. The first time the swelling was on both sides of her face, the 2nd time it was mostly on the left and the last time it was mostly just underneath. Luckily none of the times interfered with her airway. She has a wide snout anyways (the vet thinks there might be some shar pei in her), so with swelling it's really big! lol
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
Could she be eating something while outside? The lump on her foot looks kind of like it could be a subcutaneous horn? I was searching lumps the other day because Chandler has a pinkish mole on his face. Of course I stared searching. Once I shaved off the hair , it looked the same as some others he has and the vet has seen. Always something to worry about it seems. BTW, subcutaneous horns are benign and usually removed only if bothersome. Note: IAM NOT A VET! Just sort of clicked when you said the black part wasn't her nail. Lori, Ty and Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
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