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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Member Since:
26 January 2017
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31
20 February 2017 - 8:52 pm
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It's nearly been a week since Rocky's surgery, and he's still doing really well. We've got another week to go before the stitches come out, and he can start really living life again. 

Thanks everyone for all the support and advice. I really appreciate it. 

This is from the weekend: 

Image Enlarger

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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20 February 2017 - 9:15 pm
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LOOOOKING GOOD ROCKY! REAL GOOD! 🙂 Looks like he's real comfy being his cute adorable self! 🙂

HAPPY ONE WEEK (almost) AMPUVERSARY!!! That calls for steak and ice cream! 🙂

Rocky, your Mom thinks when you get your stitches out you can "really start living life again." Shhhh....we won't tell her that you already are! 🙂

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!

Member Since:
26 January 2017
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20 February 2017 - 9:23 pm
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His dad says that. laughing

And I only say that because (other than possibly eating) his most favorite thing in all the world is to play ball in the backyard. And he's been under doctor's orders for a month now not to do that. We're both really looking forward to being able to do that again. 

To be honest, he and I both are going to have some work to do after more than a month of no activity other than eating and laying on the floor watching TV. big-grin

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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21 February 2017 - 3:22 am
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Those ball days are right around the corner!  🎾🎾🎾. Great update!

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Member Since:
22 December 2016
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21 February 2017 - 6:32 pm
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Woohoo, go Rocky! I love how he's lying next to the dog bed instead of on it...aint't that the way it goes! He looks great! Now if you can just keep him still for a whole month. Good luck with that one! clap

Schofield, WI
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13 August 2015
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22 February 2017 - 9:09 am
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Looking great there Rocky.  Hang in there staples out is HUGE!  Soon sweet boy!

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26 January 2017
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28 February 2017 - 8:00 pm
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Update time: 

It's been a busy week so far. Monday, Rocky went back to the surgeon to have his staples removed. There's still some scabbing, but the surgeon said he's healing nicely. The best news though is that the leg biopsy came back and there was no evidence the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.

Today, we made the trek to Nashville to begin chemo. He'll get chemo treatments every three weeks for a total of six doses. So far he's handled it well, although the oncologist said it would take 3-5 days for any side effects to show up. 

He did really well the first couple of days after the amputation, then some lethargy set in for a few days after that. From reading other threads on here, that seems to be pretty normal. He's perked up a bit the last week or so, although he still prefers to sleep most of the time. But overall he's doing pretty good. And he's figuring out how to move around on three legs pretty well. 

Random question that may or may not have anything to do with the cancer/amputation: Has anybody ever experienced their dog constantly licking his nose, smacking his lips, almost chewing air at times? Rocky started doing this, mainly at night, a couple of years ago. Multiple vets looked at him, couldn't figure it out and said not to worry about it. He continued to do it, but not as often. But it's picked up again post-amp. It's been more of an issue when he sleeps at night. 

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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38
28 February 2017 - 9:25 pm
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If it was a new behavior, I would wonder if it was nausea.  My Otis displayed nausea by lip smacking/licking and drooling.  Since this happened before, I wonder of it is anxiety based?  Anything going on in his life back then that could have caused anxiety?  

Give him time on activity (and know that sleeping a lot after a chemo treatment is normal). Getting staples out is a big deal, but his return to normal will still be a day by day process.  It sounds like he is doing great!

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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28 February 2017 - 9:52 pm
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lowerwolf said
...constantly licking his nose, smacking his lips, almost chewing air at times?

Lip smacking could be an indicator of pain, thirst or nausea. Check out the various pain management posts for other signs of how to determine if your pet is in pain.

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

Member Since:
26 January 2017
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1 March 2017 - 10:13 am
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One thing I didn't think about until we went to bed last night: The increased smacking coincided with us sleeping back in my bed again. Usually he picks a spot near the foot of the bed and he's out for the night. But he'd been really restless sleeping back on the bed. Whether the restlessness led to the increased smacking or vice versa, I'm not sure. But I had him sleep back in his dog bed last night (with me on the floor next to him) and he slept much better and didn't smack nearly as much. It may be he's having a hard time getting comfortable on the bed and that's making him anxious. He's also been on some form of pain meds for six weeks now. I don't know if that would affect him or not. But he finished the Deramaxx last night, only has a couple of more days of Clavamox to go and the vet has me weening him off the Tramadol now. 

I'm working from home with him today, and so far he's doing really well. He's taken his ball out with him in the backyard, but he's not quite confident enough yet to go fetch it when I throw it. He did, however, jump back into the car on his own (he decided he just wasn't going to wait for me) when we left the vet both Monday and again yesterday. 

Once he feels good enough to play ball, the next obstacle will be the stairs. We usually hang out in my loft, but that's been blocked off to him since the X-rays five weeks ago. I think he could navigate going up pretty well, but going down concerns me.

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Member Since:
26 January 2017
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41
2 March 2017 - 7:47 pm
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Guess who went on a walk today? laughing

It was just a short trip down the street and back. He wanted to go further, but I thought it best to ease him back after six weeks of inactivity. He is going to have to figure out another way to let the other neighborhood doggies know he'd been there. Lifting up his rear right leg doesn't work as well without a front right leg. 

So proud of my boy. 

Thanks again for all the re-assurance and advice. Y'all have been a huge help. 

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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42
2 March 2017 - 9:38 pm
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GOOD JOB ROCKY!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Being able to get outside and sniff all the scents! And don't you worry Rocky, real men dogs can squat when peeing!!

I know how good it feels to see your pups get their sparkle back 🙂 🙂 And good for you for taking things slpwly so Rocky can adjust without overdoing things.

Glad that the lip smacking is starting to subside too....whatever the reason!

Keep these great updates coming Rocky! And tell your Mom we MUST have .ore pictures if your cute self! 🙂

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!

Germany
Member Since:
14 December 2016
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3 March 2017 - 5:11 am
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Hey Rocky! good to hear you're doing so well!! And don't you worry, you'll get the hang of the manly-peeing-on-two-legs shortly!!

Here's how Manni does it 🙂

Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.

Manni's blog -dogblog-

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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3 March 2017 - 11:03 am
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GOOD JOB MANNI!!! Love seeing you romping so happuly throw that beautiful field of green lush grasses!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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3 March 2017 - 4:15 pm
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YAAA ROCKY! Oh what a great day.

And good job to you too maw. Taking it slow will pay off.

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

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