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9:08 pm
5 March 2011
Offline
QuoteI'm looking for anyone that might have experience with this extensive amputation. Tate does not have a firm diagnosis yet but everything is pointing to malignant histiocytosis, and it's in his hip joint. So the joint has to go plus some surrounding pelvic bone. I've been browsing for pics but it looks like everyone has the hip intact, with the leg taken off above the knee. We just want to make the best decision for our boy.
Our golden Bud just had a faulty hip. He ended up with no hip and a left hind limb amputation. He seems so much happier without the pain of that hip and leg! We are only 3 weeks into his recovery. I dont have any pictures posted but there is a bump where the hip should be and the pelvis sticks out a bit but it really isnt that noticeable. Less when his hair grows back I would guess. He pretty much looks like the other dogs with the same amputation.I know the diagnosis is different and I dont know it that helps at all. But I do send Tate the sincerest of best wishes and to you too! We know these decisions are not easy!
6:27 am
5 March 2011
OfflineThis helps a lot! I'm glad Bud is doing well. You're right about the decision; I'm glad I stumbled onto this site because I've spent a good part of the weekend here educating myself. BTW, your Bud and my Tate have the same pose in their pictures! : )
8:28 am
25 August 2010
OfflineHi tatespeeps,
What kind of dog is Tate? Flat coated retriever? Newfie mix? It is hard to tell from the photo, but he has a pretty face.
Elizabeth and Sammy
8:59 am
Moderator
28 November 2008
Offline
Making the decision to amputate is never an easy one. Gather all the information you can find and be at peace that you have made the best decision you could make for Tate based on the information you have. Then be positive and go forward. Be cognizant of the risks involved in any surgery, and have faith.
There is always someone here to feed that emotional support you need as you begin this journey. Best of luck to you and Tate.
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
10:17 am
5 March 2011
OfflineThank you so much for your words of encouragement. Everyone else is pretty much horrified when we explain the treatment, "oh, I don't know if I could do that." Well, it's the choice between bad and worse, as you all know. We just want him to have one more summer at the lake, swiimming and fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. : )
Yes, Tate's a flat coat. Is Sammy a flat coat? He (she?) sure looks a lot like Tate!
That is what we wanted too! In Bud's picture he is standing in the lake 
They have a Ruff Wear life jacket on this website that I plan to get him to sport around this summer 
Maybe he and Tate will match!
12:09 pm
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
Offline
Welcome and thanks for joining. Sorry to hear about Tate.
A hemipelvectomy is fairly common for rear leg Tripawds. Wyatt does have a stump remaining, but others have reported success with removal of the hip, and some surgeons believe it is better to keep remaining tissue from atrophying. If the tumor is in the hip, it is probably best to remove the whole thing.
Best wishes for a complete speedy recover, please keep us posted.
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"Dogs are born with three legs and a spare." — Jerry G. Dawg (10/98-10/08) Please Support Your Tripawds Community! Have you started a Tripawds Blog yet? |
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12:11 pm
Moderator
18 October 2009
Offline
Hi Tate and peeps-
Welcome to tripawds. Maggie's amp left her hip intact so I can't help you with that.
Sounds like you have been doing lots of research here- if you haven't already you might want to look at Jerry's Required Reading List- a compilation of information from this site about what to expect with amputation, recovery, and treatment if you go that route.
You have probably read here that the first two weeks or so after surgery can be bumpy- lots of ups and downs for most pups. So if you do go with amputation don't get discouraged if Tate doesn't bounce right back- or if he seems fine for a couple of days then tails off. Hopefully he would be one of the lucky ones that sail through recovery- but be prepared.
Many people seem to have that 'horrified' reaction to amputation- I think most of us wrestled with the decision. But for me at least, once I weighed all the options amputation was the only way to go. I have never regretted any of the decisions I made for Maggie.
Make your decisions with Tate's best interest in your heart and you won't be wrong.
Let us know what you decide- and keep us posted on progress.
Someone is always around here to answer questions or offer support.
Karen and the pugapalooza
5:07 pm
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
Offline
Hi there,
Welcome. We're so sorry you're going through so much right now, but rest assured that the hemipelvectomy procedure is common and lots of pups here have had it. Here is a link to search results for "hemipelvectomy."
Hope this helps. We're here for you when you need it OK? Keep us posted.
Latest Tripawds News
Read my story here.
7:40 pm
5 March 2011
OfflineThanks to all of you. I've scrubbed the required reading list and read all the search results and now I know what this horrible surgery is called. I've heard along the way but I'm learning a lot of new lingo. Very, very helpful. Knowledge is power.
I guess it not surprising that we are vacillating, We're okay with it and then we're not. Here's my concern: Tate's a very sensitive boy. We got him when he was about a year old, and it took a long time for him to eat normally and to really get comfortable with us.
He does not do well with us leaving him at the vet's. Is it normal for dogs to howl their brains out when they are coming out of it after surgery? He was nearly frantic when we picked him up after his surgical biopsy (but they'd just slapped an e-collar on him). That night, we found him in the garage, curled up under the driver's side door of the truck…"Dad's not getting out of here without me!"
I just don't want to break his little heart. Maybe someone out there has a sensitive sweetheart like ours that could advise us.
7:59 am
Moderator
12 February 2010
Offline
tate, we know this is 'uber scary' for you. gayle was not the social butterfly when she was diagnosed last january. the vet office gave her the heebie jeebies, and she just didn't trust people much in general… she lost her right front leg and scapula, and has really done well through surgeries, chemo, etc. we find that if the humans are brave and positive, then gayle is willing to follow lead and be brave and positive too. sometimes it seems like her bravery is so much bigger than mine, but we try to stay focused as a team and relish that we have each other. take each day one at a time, enjoy every moment. we're sending our best ET juju your way and hope that tate can take a leap of faith and trust during this process.
charon & gayle
10:15 am
Team Tripawds
25 April 2007
Offline
We're so glad you found some useful info here. Yes, knowledge is powerful indeed.
What we've seen here is that dogs who have strong pack leaders to help them through amputation recovery generally do better than those who don't. What I mean by that is, when a human babies their new Tripawd and they do things like bringing their food to them instead of making them go get it, that kind of behavior can be detrimental to recovery. Here's a great video that talks about how to emotionally cope with amputation recovery.
I'm not doubting that Tate isn't sensitive, but if you are strong, Tate will be stronger for it. Even if things get ruff. If you feel sorry for him, he will sense that, and consequently, not believe in himself. We're not saying that things won't go wrong if you have a strong attitude, but if they do, it makes things much less emotional if you can be strong.
I hope this helps.
Latest Tripawds News
Read my story here.
2:05 pm
9 February 2011
Offline
Hi Tate's Family,
We have one of the more "sensitve" dogs out there. A puppyhood of abuse and abandonment followed by literally months of veterinary interventioin to save his life turned our Dakota into a trembling, slobbering, fearful dog. We tried. We hired 2 canine behaviorists to come to our home and then took Dakota to a superb dog trainer gifted with helping anxious dogs. Eventually, we gave up and tried incredibly hard not to feed the anxiety.
Three weeks ago, Dakota lost his leg. It wasn't optional. The ride to the hospital left him saturated in his own saliva from the hyper-anxious drooling. He trembled even as he obeyed me–because he loves me that much–while pleading with me to get him the hell out of there.
Honestly, if Dakota could get through this, any dog can. I don't say that lightly. Dakota is a basket case on a good day. At home, when things are going well and he's happy, he obsessively licks bare patches in my carpet, or on his legs. I interrupt so many of his little OCD behaviors every hour that I wonder how I get anything done. (If you want more evidence to help you see what can be overcome, you can go to my blog and read Dakota's back story.)
It may not be easy for him, but Tate can do it.
Shari and Dakota
5:29 pm
5 March 2011
OfflineThese answers are so helpful. We're mentally prepared now. Tough love! If Dakota can do it then so can we!
I'm still getting the blog thing figured out but I'll try to get updates going. I think this is the link: http://tate.tripawds.com/
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