Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives

If this is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it!

Clyde is celebrating his 13 month ampuversary! I can't believe it, he's my wonder dog. Brief backstory since I haven't posted for a while - Clyde is a 10.5 year old dude who is of unknown parentage. Best guess - labradoodle type. I adopted him when he was a 3-4 month old puppy from a high kill shelter near me.

He has been just the light of my life, and (don't tell them) although I love my others to death, he's my heart dog. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma just after Memorial Day last year, and had his amputation (right front leg) on June 2. I could not afford chemo, so he's had nothing other than Rimadyl to help with doggy aches and pains. I also give him K9 Immunity plus. That's it.

Well, he's hit 13 months and still is his happy, goofy self. Recent bloodwork was good except for a low thyroid. I am going to go ahead with a more in depth blood test on that issue, but its not really a concern to me or him or his vet. My vet and I agree no lung xrays unless or until he starts acting like he's having trouble breathing. So, he could have mets but they aren't bothering him. He's probably a little less active than he was a year ago - he's a year older, and he's a big guy, so I chalk that up to age. He still runs, barks, has fun with his dog friends, and enjoys life to the fullest.

Its gotten easier to take each day in stride and not worry constantly that each ache, pain and issue is cancer. I know I've posted here a couple of times freaking out over things that turned out to be nothing. The "Be More Dog " thing, while really hard to do, is truly the best way to approach this journey. I am just so very lucky to have had all this time with him, and while our celebration has been pretty low key (that's the way he likes things) he has had a cheeseburger, outside time off leash in the front yard (which is the best thing ever in his mind) and later we will have some ice cream.

Just wanted to share, and I'm now going to try to post a picture. That could take a while