Hi Gillian and Dizzy,

Sorry way to meet but so glad you found us. There are always more questions than you can ask the vet, usually you remember as you are getting in the car. Each dog is so individual in thier response to the loss of a limp and follow up treatment. Are you going to do supplements and chemo? How old is Dizzy, forgive me if you mentioned it already I was speed reading and didn't notice. Age has lots to do with how soon they respond to the recovery process. We have a 14 year old border collie that lost her back leg last Sept. and a tripawd cat that is not quite a year that lost his front left leg in January and the recovery time was so different and abilities were vastly different. There will be hills and valleys regardless of age and some days there will be more pain than others. We kept a soft comforter where Zip slept and made her stay on that till she was let out to walk or bathroom. Dizzy will learn and remember quite soon not to roll on that area and after awhile it won't hurt anyway. Hold on the first two-three weeks can be a bit overwhelming but you can get through it.

Best wishes and keeping the paws that are left crossed for  you, Dizzy.

Zip and Susan

I wonder if pain meds have her a little loopy still and that's why she forgets not to lay like that.  Though, it could have not much to do with how she lays and actually be phantom limb pain.  Just unuseful speculation from me, I guess – sorry!  My front leg tripawd (osteosarcoma and passed on in 2009) laid on his incision almost from the first day home and it never seemed to bother him, he just seem to like it.  Gerry though (injury, back leg amputee) did seem to have some sensitivity to lying on his.  Results vary!  Hang in there – you're doing great with a lousy situation.  It will pass.

she is a rescue dog so we think she is around 7 she had/has osteosarcoma she had her first post op vet check today and they are happy with how it is healing. The chemo route I'm not sure yet and I will need advice on if we should do it or not. The xray showed her chest as clear but I understand that that doesn't mean there isn't something small there. Our vet seems reluctant to go down the chemo route saying it would only give her 6 months to a year if it has spead but that time would be precious to me and worth it.

gillian said:

 but that time would be precious to me and worth it.

Gillian, I think you have answered your own question about whether or not you want to do chemo. If–and it can be a huge if–the dog handles it well enough so that you don't regret doing it, then why not? As Mr. Admin said, you aren't committed to doing it for any longer than you and Dizzy think it's worthwhile.

Personally, I don't think I could do it to gain only a few months. Financially, it would have been impossible so I'm fortunate that I didn't have to face it. But a year? That's huge! And who knows, anyway, how long it could buy her? Nobody does, so you are left just following your heart. And your heart dearly loves Dizzy.

Shari

Welcome to the family. I am going to suggest that the yelping could be phantom pain. Gus  started having that about 5 days post op, and when it first hit you thought he was hit by a car. He would have a couple spells a day, sometimes at night, I would just stay with him as it was happening, it usually lasted 10-15 seconds but it does rip your heart out. Gabapentin helped him with that, it lasted about 4 weeks but by that time his crys would be more like soft whimpers. We decided to not do chemo, partly for financial reasons but my fear was side effects, he was a very active dog and watching him lay around not being able to do what he liked would have killed me, so I opted to not do it. Several here have had good luck with it, it is a personal choice, you make the decisions with their best interst in mind and hope the outcome is positive. Personally, I'm glad you skipped the biopsy, we did it and it still came back negative, to me it was wasted money and time in addressing the problem.. Don't be afraid to ask anything,m experience gives the best answers. You will be amazed at how well Dizzy will do once her initial healing is over, just try to get some sleep if you get the chance, its something you might find rare the next couple weeks. Goodl uck and Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan