Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Only to be told it wasn't a good option for their dog? I am so worried that the surgeons will tell me Ti shouldn't have the amputation when I take him next week. I know a lot of people decide not to for their dogs, because of their own knowledge of the dog, but I'm wondering if anyone thought it would he just fine, only to be told no.
Thank you!!
First of all...so glad to hear from you and to know where you are in the process! I posted tonyour blog but wasn't sure how you were proceeding.
Secondly....B R E A T H E! B R E A T H E!!!
You have been through an unbelievably stressful couple of weeks of intense ups and downs! I applaud your courage and yiur strew!
Now, I know this is hard....really, really hard......but to worry about your appointment next week takes away from being in the moment with Ti right now!! Ti isn't worried about next week....he isn't worried about the what ifs....he's just thoroughly ejoying being with you and waiting to see what you will do next to make his tail wag and even spoil him more and more!!!!
To try and play different scenarios out in your head based on what the surgeon may, or may not say, robs you of the joy of being in the present with Ti!
I DO knwo that many here have gotten differing opinions on wether or not a dog was a good candidate for surgery for a variety of reasons.. That has to be torture when you are trying to decide what to do and the professionals can't even agree!!!
This is stil l the first surgeon, right? The one who said once the mets were found he wasn't comfortable moving ahead, right? Then, after talking with you and knowing you understood his concerns and why, he is prepared to proceed if the xrays still look fairly consistent. TRY and just wait and see how things unfold at the appointment.
I "think" your gut is still telling you to move forward. Whatever your choice (forced choice), it IS your choice and you will find a surgeon who will honor that. You and Ti are in charge!!!!
Okay, now go back and get some snuggles from that gentle giant.....and maybe post some more pictures too! I just want to jump through the screen and hug him everytime I see him!!!!
And huge hugs to you both!!! You are such good soulmates!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
You give such awesome answers! I was typing these questions while lying in bed, to get them out of my head.. Tomorrow I will
Elaborate, when I'm not so sleepy, I just wanted to thank you for your reply 
Okay....you get some good zzzzzs now! I do the same thing....my mind will start .going bonkers rolling around stuff in mynhead! I find if I write it down it's like purging and dumping it out of my brain!! YAAAY for pen and paper....or....computer!!
Sending you good snuggles and cuddles with Ti! And he's probably already asleep not worrying about a thing!! Ahhhhh....the bliss of being dog!!!
Sleep well!
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!
Keep the faith and go with your gut! Ti is a beautiful baby. Continue to advocate and use us to lean on. This is an overwhelming time. Stay in the moment with Ti...it will work out!
Laurie
Hi I did have that!
Well I had a couple of vets tell me she would do fine and one tell me they didn't think she would cope (she already had arthritics and on the CT scan they found she had a bulging disc). I went for it (it was a very hard decision-and there is a post I made in the forum called 'is amputation the right decision' when I was trying to decide) because she had a bone tumour and I KNEW she would stay in agony until the day we decided to let her go or it was forced on us due to a fracture - I thought getting her pain free was the best option.
Anyway just over 3 weeks since she had the amputation and she is doing brilliant, she had a really good recover after op (not always the case though) and she has got her appetite and figured out how to get about. However I have ordered her an Eddies Wheel cart for walks because I don't want her putting any unnecessary strain on her remaining arthritic legs and her spine with the bulging disc. As well as having hydrotherapy.
Anyway I just wanted to say even if all goes down here from now it was worth it getting her pain free for this last bit of time and I wont regret doing it!
Why are you worried that they will tell you Ti is not a candidate? And remember if they do say that you can get a second opinion and ultimately the decision is yours! Why do you need to amputate?
Annie
Thank you so much!
I am going to be seeing the specialists here in Pittsburgh, they have not seen him before, but they are who I would want to do the surgery. I am just worried that I am bopping along just expecting to have the amputation done, and that I might be blindsided by bad news about his eligibility.
Tuesday can't come fast enough. 
Sorry Annie, I had started my reply long before you replied, and just forgot to hit send... then hit send when I saw it, and just now saw your post.
Ti has osteosarcoma, so that's the reason we are looking to amputate.
I am worried because I was looking at his vet records (I had them sent to me as I just switched vets) and I see that my old vet talks a lot about him thinking Ti has bad hips in his assessments... so due to his very large size and the possibility of bad hips, I worry. I just don't like being blindsided, you know? I've been saying "he is going to have his leg amputated" so much, that it just hit me... "what if they say he shouldn't!?"
I know there are other vets, but this is the best specialist in the area, and I feel like if they say he isn't a good candidate, I will have to take their word for it.
I am so glad that you made the decision you felt was right and it panned out! You have to go with your gut! My gut is just a mess right now, is all.
That yucky feeling innyour stomach is the worse feeling...hate that bubbling, churning filp flopping felling! I found ice cream to help out tremendously!
ANNIE...good feedback! Glad to hear things are going well. HUGS TO YOU BOTH!!
Ti! Have I completely confused myself (which is sooooo easy to do)? Were mets found? I really apologize...I think my response above was based on thinking you had already had the surgery scheduled and it was put off because of mets...and then yo found a surgeon who would proceed. I'm probably making ZERO sense right now!!!
Yeah, hip issues can cause a few hurdles in your decision making. HOWEVER, that is NOT all that unusual here on this site. There have been many here who were considered "poor" candidates because of arthritis, knee issues, hip issues, etc. and lrceeded without any real issues related to that. Granted you have HUGE dog, but that may not play as much as factor as you think.
Keeping all paws crossed for you! Stay connected...keep voicing your concerns and get it all out! You're doing great!!!!!
Hugs and love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
You're not alone, lots of people have had these concerns or been told by vets that their dog wasn't a candidate. And sometimes vet are right but oftentimes they are not, especially if they are not an orthopedic specialist. We've seen many instances when a third opinion made all the difference.
Here is Great Dane Atlas' story, I'm not sure if you've run across it yet. Talk about a dog who was a classic "non-candidate" according to conventional thinking! His Momma didn't buy it though, got MANY opinions, followed her heart and now look at how he's doing!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have read Atlas's story, and it's so inspiring! I will definitely be seeing the orthopedic specialist for his opinion and surgery...
Benny, yeah you are mixing me up with someone else, but that is ok! You respond to so many people and with such thought, It's amazing you can keep anyone straight!
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