Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
Join The Tripawds Community
Register your free account to join the Tripawds Support Circle. Connecting with members and getting the support you need is now easier than ever with the Circle app!
✅ Easy Photo Upload
✅ Direct Messaging
✅ Subscribe to Topics.
✅ Live Chat and much more!
Forums Locked: Search archives for answers & join Tripawds Support Circle to keep discussion going!
Log In
Members
9:53 am
25 January 2014
Offline
Yay Gizmo!!! So glad you are home. Eating and doing your business! Yep, I get the deli thing. I rotated between Cheese, pill pockets, cream cheese and peanut butter. I found that if I rotated all 4, I could eventually get the first thing to work again for a bit. I think I bought more groceries for Ty at one point that I would buy for my husband and I 
the lap sitting...sounds like the total right thing to do. Lori and Ty
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.
Day 6 and Gizmo is doing so much better! She finally slept through the night last night and really just wants to get up and go! I don't let her of course! I am such a paranoid "pawrent". Her Dr. called her today to see how she's doing and said we can cut her tramadol down to 1/4 tab. twice a day. She will get her stitches out a week from Monday.
8:52 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
Offline
Woot! Woot! Yay Gizmo!
it's a fine line between being pawanoid and being a great pawrent, you're doing a great job walking it. Congrats on this big improvement.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It is with a heavy heart that I come here to let everyone know we are going to loose our Gizmo to MCT. In Aug. we had her leg amputated along with the upper lymph node. Her oncologist told us she had a good prognosis however, 2 weeks later we found another lump on her neck, one on her side and another on the top for her head. We took her to the vet and he aspirated 2 of them and told us they were indeed MCT and chances are the MCT is in her blood now. He gave us about 2 months. Now the only thing we can do is keep her comfortable and love her. I am so sad in that we are going to loose her
12:32 pm
Moderators
Helpline Hosts
Bucketeers
22 February 2013
Offline
#$&#*!# picec of crap disease...hate it!!!!
So sorry to hear this news...rotten, just plain rotten!
But good fornyou for staying in the lresent with Gizmo!! Gixmo is with you now and that is all that matters!!!! She has gotten more loving and spoiling in the last months than any dog could ever hope for in a lifetime!!
Gizmo doesn't have a time frame stamped on her butt....never has...never will!!
I apologize for being brief...have to go to work.
Just wanted to send you love and to remind you NOT to let anything rob you of your time together!!!!!
Sending love, so much love...
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
2:26 pm
Moderators
Helpline Hosts
18 October 2009
Offline
I'm sorry to hear Gizmo has recurring tumors. Maggie had a few after her amp, but the didn't show up that fast. I think she had 6 or 7 after her amp.
I know it's hard but try not to focus on the Vet's prognosis. And try not to start missing her yet- there will be time for tears later. Now is the time to focus on making every day her very best day.
Who knows- mast cell is very unpredictable. Lets hope the vet is wrong these are independent cutaneous tumors and there isn't any internal spread. As long as Gizmo feels good there is hope.
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
Find me now on Tripawds Circle
3:44 pm
13 March 2013
Offline
Our only experience with MCT was more than 15 years ago. Not as much was known then. Our Lab, Cody, had two good size tumors -- one on his chest and one in the genital area. The vet who did the surgery to remove the tumors advised us that after looking at the lab reports, the best he could offer was that Cody probably had about six months. We lived in a very rural area, and I don't know if there was any other alternative than to just take Cody home and love him, but that's what we did....for six more YEARS! When he died at the ripe old age of 12, it was not from MCT.
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!
3:59 pm
26 January 2014
Offline
No one can tell you how much time Gizmo has, no one. The only time Gizmo knows is right now. He's not worried about those tumors, or how long he might have. He's too busy enjoying his day. I agree with Karen, try not to grieve him when he's still here. I know its hard not to think about losing him, but Gizmo is still here 
Sending lots of positive vibes your way.
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”
I'm sorry to hear about the new tumor! One of our dals had a MCT removed several years ago from her rear leg fold. So far so good.
I only briefly looked though your August posts. Have you heard of treating MCT with Benedryl and Tagament? I'll have to see if I can find a link for you, but you may want to do some googling. Also, a vet friend put another friends dog on quercertin (a natural antihistimine) and maybe some other stuff when her dog's MCT tumor came back & they decided not to put him through another surgery. He lived at least another year and was put down due to bad arthritis.
mast cell is one of those cancers that you have NO idea how long you have & many dogs actually are lost from something else.
Sonya & "Millie"--born Feb 1999, diagnosed with OSA 8/27/14, set free 9/27/14
(RIP baby girl)
8:01 pm
Moderators
17 October 2012
Offline
I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis for Gizmo. Try not to dwell on this. There is no time stamp on his butt so he may just prove everyone wrong.
Hugs
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."
8:25 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
Offline
My heart breaks for you, I know you must be so devastated. Like others have said, don't grieve yet, she's still here with you and wants to live every day as fully as ever. Prognoses are just guesses, they aren't always right and they really teach us that every day is so special.
One thing to check out, just in case, you may want to discuss this protocol with Dr. Loops, he's helped tons of dogs with advanced MCTs live long, quality lives when things seemed hopeless.
Many hugs coming your way. We are here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
9:04 pm
31 August 2013
Offline
So sorry little Gizmo has more tumors, but I am with many others here.....MCT is a confusing cancer and one I would say never give in to.....I know there are a few treatments available to help Gizmo possibly live a longer and comfortable life. She is still with you so go out and enjoy everyday, tell the ugly "c" to stick it !!!
Keeping you in my thoughts,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
9:04 pm
15 December 2012
Offline
Very sorry to hear this about Gizmo but hopefully things will turn around. Best of luck to you and Gizmo.
Penny
9:56 pm
Moderators
Helpline Hosts
Bucketeers
22 February 2013
Offline
Sooooo glad you posted because the feedback can really give you some true life examples that a prognosis doesn't hold much weight around here!!
You've also been given some treatment options to check out too!
I hope this helps get you back on track and feeling more positive and hopeful.
And, as we have all said in so many different ways, to think about what you might lose down the road, prevents you from enjoying the bliss of being together NOW.
Stay connected tonis, okay? As you can see, we are all right here with you helping you stay stong and positive for Gizmo!
He's Gizmo for pete's sake! And Gizmo is his own dog and NOBODY is gonna' hold him back from enjoying himself to the fullest! And if that means laying around and getting tummy rubs and treats, or peeing in the hoise because it's raining outside, or walking around sniffing every single bush before pottying....well good for Gizmo!!!
Do your deep B R E A T H I N G, give Gizmo a scoop of ice cream...and you eat lots of chocolate!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
