Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Lilly is a beautiful lab mix who is only 1 1/2 years old. I adopted her from a local rescue group when she was 5 months old and was looking forward to many happy years together.  As a puppy she survived parvo and mange. She loved to run and chase squirrels and birds in the yard and is the most friendly dog both to people and other dogs. In March she injured her hind leg. The vet originally thought it was a soft tissue injury. We later found out through x-rays and biopsy that it was cancer. Since she was so young and I new she was a fighter we opted for amputation. I wanted to give her the chance she deserved. The surgery was performed on May 2, 2017.  She recovered beautifully. She was back to running, playing and being her old self again and enjoying life as a tripawd.  I was told that her lungs were clear and so we her lymphnodes. The oncologist told me that without chemo she had approx. 3-4 months and with chemo approx. 12 months. Again I wanted to give her a fighting chance because I know she is a fighter and would prove the doctors wrong. She had her first chemo treatment with no side affects--her blood work came back perfect. Last week she started a slight cough and was just not herself. Took her to the vet and was told that her lungs were full of nodules. I am devastated. The time I thought I had with her is gone so quickly. In 3 weeks this cancer spread so much. I am taking her to see her oncologist tomorrow and I am afraid I know what will have to be done. I am heartbroken. She is much too young and full of life. I have learned a lot from her about finding joy in the little things. A fly would absolutely amaze her! She would stare in wonderment over an worm crawling in the grass! Everything was and adventure from a trip in the car to a walk around the block! I have done so much with her in the year that I have had her in my life. I will truly miss her and she will forever be in my heart. I love you so much Lilly and thank you for sharing your short life with me. I was an honor and a privilege.
Lilly and family, thank you for sharing your story with us. I know it wasn't easy and my heart goes out to you as you prepare for the road ahead. I'm really sorry, nobody ever expects mets to happen so quickly. You are wise to visit an oncologist just to see what your options are. Managing mets is getting better and better these days and there could be some kind of treatment that can help her feel better and give her a good quality of life for a while longer. If you want some inspiration just check out Eurydice's story, she has been living with mets for a while now and many other members have too. I truly hope Lily can be just as fortunate.
She sounds like such a wonderful doggie. Please keep us posted OK? We are keeping you in our thoughts and hearts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Oh gosh!!! My emotions are all.lver the place!!! Happy, sad, devastated AND HOPEFUL!!
You have written sooo lovingly about yiur SWEET ADORABLE LILLY!! Oh my goodness, she is indeed a WARRIOR and a true @over of everything life has to offer!!
Now, let me get to the HOPEFUL part!!! As Jerry said, sooooo much progress has been made with treatment aimed at getting MORE EXTENDED QUALITY TIME FOR LIVING AND SPOILING G AND BE AMAZED BY FLIES!!!
And we do have sooooo many REAL atories arlund here of dogs STILL enjoying life in spite of mets!! SASSY got an addional seven months of loving and spoiling and joy!! EURYDICE is still soaking up the joys of life going on eight months with mets. A d, I may have the neame wrong, ut I be@ieve we jave a sog here named RENO who is going on over a year with mets!!!
My Happy Hannah got some SPECTACULAR time even though she had a met the size of a baseball!
Ya' see...LILLY, JJST LIKE ALL THE DOGS MENTIONED, DID NOT LISTEN TO THE VETS!! THEY DO NOT CARE WHAT XRAYS SAY! It means NOTHING to them!!! They don't care about days on a calendar and they don't listen to statistics!!
So letsw take some DEEP BREATHS and get back nto that dighting spirit that Lilly shows you she has!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 B R E A T H E......... B R E A T H E.............Grab some CHOCOLATE and let's talk options!!!
Generally the cough can be treated with medicine and Prednisone is very helpful in alleviating symptons!!! METRONOMICS is another iption to doscuss with your Onco, as well as Palladia.
Generally these nasty a*s mets just make a dog tire more easilyand maybe cha ge the breathing pattern a bit.....And that is NOT painful and not "end of life" at that point by any stretch of the imagination!!!
Based on what you've said about her "symptons", Miss Lilly the Warrior has a lot of "wiggle room"'for some good treatmnt options to help her get more comfy so she eat h more worms and eat lots of ICE CREAM!!!! Yeah, my Happy Hannah had me convinced ice cream was a vitamin!!!
WE'RE MAKING EVSRYDAY AROUND HERE...LILLY DAY!!!!
Please uptate when you can.....And ALWAYS consider a second opinion if need be!! I really think you will find relief in knowing Lilly the Fighting Warrior has more time to be loved and spoiled like craaaaazy!!
Lots of 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!
Thank you SOOOOOO much for your support and advice. It really has made me feel better and more hopeful than I was this morning. She is a warrior and can still prove the doctors wrong! I will keep you updated on her progress.
Marianne and Lilly "The Fighting Warrior"
NOW WE'RE TALKING!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 YAY FOR WARRIOR MARIANNE AND WARRIOR LILLY!! And you have the Tripawd Warrior Nation fighting right by your side!!
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!
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