Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Welcome Shah. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'm glad to see you've found so many helpful suggestions. Most of all, I agree with Comet. I know it sucks to get rushed into a decision, but cancer in general just sucks. You'll be in our thoughts & prayers.
Hi Shah
Sorry you have to be in this position. Our furkids are so much of the family!
Well our Lylee Girl is mostly German Shepherd and is 12 years old. She had her right front leg amputated over 8 months ago. And she is doing amazingly. She loves the beach and chases sticks and balls and loves to go in the ocean. She is one happy bouncy girl!
Unless Rocky has other health issues that the vet thinks would be a contraindication to amputation (or finances) there should be no reason for him to not be able to join us and be an esteemed Tripawd. As the others said the 2 weeks after surgery can be alot of work, (our girl did remarkably well)
Sending you much positive energy and good thoughts to you and extra special scratches to Rocky.
Hugs & wags
Joanne & Lylee Girl
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Shah and Rocky, welcome. I'm so sorry you find yourself dealing with the cancer diagnosis. I moved your post to this discussion forum topic because it's also where another person a while back, had asked the same question about her 12 year old dog. See:
Help: I need to decide in a week whether or not to amputate my 12 year old dog's leg
I do agree with Comet. Bone cancer is horribly painful. If that awful last trip to the vet is unthinkable, please consider hospice care. These blog posts talk about how hospice care can help make this sad time more peaceful and stress-free for the animal:
Hospice Care Helps Cope with Loss
Tripawd Talk Radio Discusses Hospice Care
We hope you can reach a decision soon. Either way we are all here to support you during this tough time.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Shah. I am going to say ditto to all the other post and then I am not going to mince words when I tell you that you should get as much info as soon as possible and decide how you will proceed. Your beloved Rocky is suffering. Cadence also has a diagnosis of OSA and still while it was relatively small and not really noticeable, at diagnosis she was already starting to bear weight off of the leg. She was hurting, and so is your guy. OSA is an aggressive and painful cancer. If you don't have the strength to think about taking him to the vet to euthanize him, do you have the strength to watch him laying there suffering with that tumor, growing bigger? Even though he is 12, if his lungs are clear, the blood work comes out good and he is generally healthy and in good shape, he will do just fine with amputation. Please don't wait to do something. I hear most people say they are sorry they waited so long to get the amputation. Almost all owners (besides the one Abby's Mom mentioned in her post) who decide to amputate and get just a little more time with their pet, pain free, they are grateful and do not regret it. You will get all support you can imagine here. We are always happy to help. We all have PM too. I suspect when you do the amputation, and the recovery period is past you, you will see your dog go back to the dog he used to be, energetic, sleeping less and comfy. I would be more than happy to tell you Cadence's story. If you would like please PM me.
Cadence''s Mom
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
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