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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Well it looks like we spoke too soon. Chance was having trouble breathing on Saturday and I took him back in to see a different vet. He pulled up Chance's previous X-rays and did another set also. He saw a "suspicious spot" that was missed the first time and now some fluid around the lungs. He gave Chance a shot of Lasix and sent us home with some more to be given over the rest of the weekend. I called the on call oncologist at Auburn and updated her on the situation. She said that if there was fluid inside the lungs, then the Lasix would help but if it was around the lungs then it wouldn't. Chance's was around the lungs. She said that I could bring him there and she could pull the fluid off and run some tests to see what was causing the fluid build up. After some debate about driving 4 hours round trip to Auburn and Chance wasn't getting any better, I decided to take him on. We got there and she had seen that mornings X-rays that were emailed to her and she saw several things she didn't like. They did an Ultrasound to look at the fluid and found several masses along the chest wall with enlarged lymph nodes and a mass on the outside of his heart. She was able to pull off 500 ml of bloody fluid from one lung and 100ml off the other. She said there was still more that she couldn't get to and it is only a matter of time before the fluid comes back. We don't know if it will be days or weeks. She was surprised that the osteosarcoma presented this way as it is rare to appear on the chest wall. Normally it attacks the lung tissue but she still thinks it is the osteosarcoma. I told her that we didn't want to pursue any more aggressive treatment and she understood and agreed that there wasn't much else to do. He is feeling better now and had a good day playing yesterday and being Chance. It pains me to know that these are the last moments that I will have with him, but I am blessed to be able to know and cherish each one. I thought that he would be one of the lucky ones that would beat the odds since he has done so well until now. He is 1 month shy of his 1 year ampuversary…
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
He is just so cute. His avitar picture melts my heart. I am so sorry you got this news. Doesn't matter if it is a week, a month or a year, we are still not ready for it. Sound s like you are a great pawrent. He sounds like he is so much more comfortable without that fluid. And still able to play and be himself, priceless! Hug on him and love on him. He isn't being ruled by any diagnosis. He just knows that today he feels like playing. If only we humans could be the same. Thinking of you, Lori and Ty
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Lori and Ty said.it very well......
NOTHING has changed in Chance's world and he is certainly.living in the moment feeling just fine!! The bliss of being Dog!! Being human...just not what we want to be during these kinds of.challenges.
And even the vet was perplexed and rather uncertain by Chance's "diagnosis". So there is no clear course written in stone in any way, shape or form! And we all know Chance is one of a kind anyway!!!
As you know from being on the site....none of our dogs and cats have expiration dates stamped on their butt! Not one! Every single situation is different because every dog is different! Chance has already proven he is one of a kind on sooo many levels!! This boy has spunk!!!
Now is where it.is more important than ever for you to stay in the moment with Chance...stay in the present...stay in his bliss!!!
And you will because you love him so much!!! The bond the two of you have will empower you! Your love is stronger than this piece of crap disease and you will NOT let it rob you of your time together!!! And it will try but your love and courage are stronger than that cowardly disease!
Okay, we need to keep mom busy and focused on the moment, right? Well you know.what? .Our Chance boy has a ONE YEAR AMPUVERSARY TO START CELEBRATING.RIGHT NOW!!! . Yes!! When a dog or cat gets to the.one year mark, celebrations go on for weeks and it's never to early to start!!!! An incredible victory Mr. Chance!!!
Okay, ONE YEAR AMPUVERSARIES call for STEAK!!
ICE CREAM!!!!! REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS CHEESEBURGERS!! CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Standing ovation going on.over here!!! Great milestone Chance!!!! And the victory pawty continues until Chance is all pawtied out.....and I think he will be in a.pawty mood for quite awhile!!!
Sending you love, strength, peace and a huge, huge group hug from the entire Tripawd Universe!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Why not celebrate 11 months?! I wish I would have celebrated every single month. Every. One. Because every day is an extra one that you wouldn't have had before, right?
Just go ahead and start the celebration now!
I am sorry about all you have gone through. Cancer just really sucks.
I was saddened to read about your news Chancey boy....... and yet somehow I knew that there was something going on... cause we have been there.
I was so happy to hear the first diagnosis, yet there is always that nagging thing in the back of your mind.. f**k....
but.. that does't mean we have to be sad today.... you can still do things.. perhaps try some benalyn dry cough to help his cough, mixed with ham.. just like Franklin!! yummy!! And things may be a bit slower for a bit.. because of the cough.. but the love will still be strong.. and the snuggles will be more special.. and each day to Chance is another great day!
He will let you know when it's time.. you will know just by looking in his eyes and reading the signs.. but until then.. celebrate, spoil and love him up! I bet you he will make his 1 year ampuversary!!!! I am crossing fingers, toes, eyes, and a few other things now thanks to old age and gravity that he makes it!!
Christine..... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement! I am learning to cherish each moment that I have and yes he is being spoiled!! You never appreciate the little things until you know they will be taken away from you. When he gets up to follow me around the house, or jumps on me for a head scratch, or runs to grab a toy, and finishes his bowl of cooked chicken. I rejoice because those are moments that I will remember the most. He is definitely one of a kind. Maybe he will surprise us and make it to his 1 year ampuversary! He's already escaped death on more than 1 occasion, so what's 1 more?
Sally, I just have to give a shout out to you because you are always to put a smile on peoples faces during such a miserable time. Your words are filled with compassion and encouragement with an added sense of humor. Thank you for being such a pillar to this site. It wouldn't be the same without you!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
With Sally's love and Chance's strength, miracles happen!
Here's to Chance, a sweetie pie, original pup!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry to hear about this "bump in the road", but you are doing the right thing: enjoying one day at a time with Chance. We never know, us tripawd moms, what lies ahead - could be one day, one month, or even close to one year like with Chance - which is a blessing. Keep up the good spirit, because this is what Chance needs: happy moments.
Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
I read this last night and I just didn't know what to say or how to say it. Like Chris said you just always have that thought in the back of your mind (especially when you have been through the mets before). I just was so happy to hear the first diagnosis and wanted it to be so.
Do everything you can with him. Enjoy every moment snuggle time, dinner time, play time. The one thing that Shari, Dakota's mom said to me is take pictures not just of him but make sure you are in some of them. I even took selfies with Sassy (the 1st time of ever doing it.) I cut myself out a lot of them so I would delete them and start over. Make sure you are in some of them.
Enjoy & spoil the heck out of him. And like Sally said there is no time stamp on anyone's butt 🙂 Celebrate everything.
Thinking of you
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
1 Guest(s)
