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Help! I need to decide in a week whether or not to amputate my 12 year old dogs leg!
18 June 2010
9:52 pm
Las Vegas, Nevada

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Keep us updated, okay? 

Best wishes!

 

Her Retired AvatarComet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly  January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
20 June 2010
10:32 am
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7 June 2010
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I will definetly keep in touch once I get the biopsy relsults backs.

 

28 June 2010
1:22 am
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I got the biopsy results back on Friday, she said that the cancer is low grade. They narrowed it down to 2 types of cancers, hemangiopericytoma and fibrosarcoma, said that they 2 can overlap sometimes. So thats good news its a low grade cancer. I have asked my vet serval times before what she would do if it were her dog and she always kinda just seemed neutral and didnt have an answer. But when she called with the results she told me if it were her dog she wouldnt choose to amputate. Maybe she didnt wanna give advice till we knew exactly what we were dealing with. She said that it would take Brandi a long time to adapt after surgery and she wouldnt have a good quality of life after. So after a lot of thinking we decided to try to remove the tumor instead of amputating. I hope its the right choice. She goes in for surgery tomorrow morning. Please everyone think postive thoughts for Brandi, even though we arent amputating its still a very tricky surgery and very scary.

 

Also the punk show fundraiser last night went awesome!! We raised $550 for her surgery, $350 in cover charge and $200 in dontations!!!

28 June 2010
3:47 am
My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge

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28 November 2008
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If removing the tumor is a viable option, this would seem to be a great choice.  One most of us do not have.  I have a friend whose dog had a low grade tumor (can't recall what type) and she elected to do radiation.  The treatments were grueling, and the sore was a long time healing, but Indy is doing great.   

Good thoughts coming your way for the surgery and recovery.  Keep us posted even though it isn't an amputation.  I'm sure there are folks here (like myself) who are interested in the recovery and ongoing treatment.

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
We honor our fellow November Five members who will always remain forever in my heart: Nova – the lone survivor, live proud and long; Spirits Max, Cherry, & Tika – who made half the journey with us and greeted Trouble at the Bridge
http://k9cancer.org – a canine cancer support community
28 June 2010
11:34 am
The Rainbow Bridge

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Hey that's fantastic! Yeay! Ohhh so many of us wish we got that kind of diagnosis. Lucky DAWG!

Well we will definitely be thinking pawsitive for Brandi, we hope everything goes great. Keep us posted OK?

It's better to hop on three legs than to limp on four.™
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28 June 2010
1:38 pm
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Forum Posts: 223
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27 February 2010
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Mandi and Brandi … this is great news !!

We're not kicking you out of the Tripawds community because your dog doesn't need her leg amputated … although CometDog DID say that the membership fee WAS one leg….winker

Best of luck with the surgery ! Sending you lots of pawsitive thoughts and prayers. 

Tana and Sophie

 

Sophie (1998 – 2010) "Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." –Unknown
28 June 2010
9:33 pm
Sebastopol, CA
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14 March 2010
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Good luck with the surgery!  We didn't have that choice.  We are a non-discreminatory community…four legs is a good thing!  Prayers for you tomorrow.

Pat & Spirit Ruthie

After 9 months, Ruthie lost her battle on June 13, 2010. My heart is broken…I miss you so much my dear sweet girl.
28 June 2010
9:55 pm
Las Vegas, Nevada

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14 August 2009
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I think this is wonderful news as far as cancer goes!  Heck no!  We don't want you to leave – keep up updated!

Wishing you all the best!

 

 

 

Sorry, I meant to write the 1 leg membership fee is optional.  I'm going to start inviting people over that don't even have dogs!little-devil

  

 

Her Retired AvatarComet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly  January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
28 June 2010
11:08 pm
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Forum Posts: 14
Member Since:
7 June 2010
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Thank you all for your thoughts and concern!! Brandi's surgery went good this morning. She had to stay overnight which breaks my heart but atleast she made it through the surgery. I get to pick her up at 10am tomorrow.The vet said her heartbeat was good through the whole surgery. They did have to take a lot of skin off her arm, took some from the shoulder. Since most the skin was taken, when sewing her back up there was so much tension in the skin the vet warned me, not to be alarmed but there are tiny 3mm cuts all along her legs to relieve some of the tension. She has drainage tubes right now and has to go back Friday to get them removed. Her activity is restricted for a week. She is only allowed to go pee on a leash and come back inside. We managed to get the in laws to watch our other dog for the night so Brandi can rest. Im not sure what to expect tomorrow but im so excited to get my dog back and have most of the stress gone.

 

All of you guys have helped me so much through this horrible events and I dont think I could of stayed as strong without your support and stories!! Thank you guys soooo much!! I will keep you updated once I get Brandi back on how she is doing

29 June 2010
3:07 am
My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge

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28 November 2008
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So happy Brandi had a succesful surgery.  She'll be her own bouncy self in no time.  Make her get plenty of rest until the surgery site heals completely – and you get some rest yourself.  You've had some pretty sizable stress.

Keep us updated!

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
We honor our fellow November Five members who will always remain forever in my heart: Nova – the lone survivor, live proud and long; Spirits Max, Cherry, & Tika – who made half the journey with us and greeted Trouble at the Bridge
http://k9cancer.org – a canine cancer support community
3 July 2010
6:42 pm
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7 June 2010
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Lol you were exactly right. The day I brought Brandi home she was running around, trying to jump on the couch and didnt act like she just had major surgery. She has a massive incision, 4 drainage tubes that she just got removed yesterday. She is doing really good, other then the fact that she is too active so it will slow the healing process. She was very clingy for the first few days, I think the overnight stay at the vet was traumatic and we have our other dog at the inlaws since the surgery on Monday and I can tell Brandi is loving all the extra attention and being the only dog of the house. Her leg is looking really swollen today down at the paw not by the elbow where her incision is. Im thinking it might be cause the drainage tubes are out. Brandi is such an insipiration , she is to tough

17 July 2010
4:24 pm
Lantana, Florida
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17 July 2010
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For most it's really about cost sadly.  I just picked up Foxy who was my Grandmother's dog.  My Grandmother died a few weeks ago and no one wanted the 'cute' three-legged dog.  She had four dogs.  Spent a lot on keeping them healthy.

I talked to the vet's staff a lot about taking this dog on.  She is estimated to be born in 1999.  She had her amputation last year, 10/02/2009.  They all loved her too.  They begged me to at least bring her by one last time.  I was doing a 12 hour car trip to get her and bring her back home.

She's a great dog.  I am sure my Grandmother spent a way into 5 figures on her during her life.  I just couldn't let her be put to sleep after all that. 

Unfortunately for her my other dog is not yet 2 year old Australian Cattle Dog/Lab mix.  Polar opposites.  They are adapting to each other though and that's great.

Unfortunately as well this comes down to finances even for a suffering family member.   I'd never recommend it if quality of life would still suffer.  I don't think animals understand the fight their owners go through at times when they are just looking to leave and go out of this life.

I don't know how much longer Foxy will live.  She is small (a little bit overweight 23 lbs) and her breed make up on first glance shows she may go another 5+ years.  If I can just enjoy her company and she mine even if less than a year it's worth it to me.

Foxy | Golden Ret./Corgi Mix | Born on Date ~1999 | Tripawd mode – 10/02/2009 | RIP - 03/05/2012
17 July 2010
4:34 pm
The Rainbow Bridge

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Alkemyst, what a saint you are for adopting Foxy. Thank you so much for giving a sweet dog a chance at a good life as a senior dog. Thanks for sharing your experience here.

Please consider registering so that your posts will appear immediately. Just click on the big yellow button above. And start a new topic about Foxy so we can hear more about her. She sounds really sweet.

Hugs coming your way!

p.s. It's really weird that you came here today because just this morning I was thinking of that book, "The Alchemist"!

It's better to hop on three legs than to limp on four.™
Latest Tripawds News
Read my story here.
17 July 2010
4:48 pm
Lantana, Florida
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17 July 2010
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thanks…hopefully I have registered now.  I have added a few posts and profile updates.

 

Foxy | Golden Ret./Corgi Mix | Born on Date ~1999 | Tripawd mode – 10/02/2009 | RIP - 03/05/2012
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