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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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How did you know the cancer had spread?
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Member Since:
6 July 2017
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19 July 2017 - 3:27 pm
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Hey guys! We amputated our pitty's left hind leg two weeks ago today because of osteosarcoma! Good news is she's doing great on 3 legs!!!!!!

We had chest xrays done prior to the surgery, and no mets were visible. I am curious how you knew once the cancer had spread to the lungs? Did behavior change, etc? Or did you do periodic chest xrays? 

Right now our plan is to opt out of the chemo route. 

Any feedback would be awesome!!!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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19 July 2017 - 4:21 pm
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emilyann47 said
I am curious how you knew once the cancer had spread to the lungs?

While micrometastases are often present at the time of diagnosis, every dog is different. Many members choose to proceed with chemotherapy and frequent follow-up x-rays. We did not, knowing that Jerry would let us know when that time came we chose instead to focus on quality of life, not quantity... He loved life on three legs for two years! And that was back in 2006.

Search the blogs and these forums and you will find many helpful articles, podcasts and video interviews regarding recovery, care and what signs to look for, but it is far too soon to think about that. Focus on healing right now. Our best advice is to Be More Dog . and that is not just some silly saying.

While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
26 January 2017
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19 July 2017 - 4:55 pm
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Rocky's spread down his side rather than to his lungs (at this point anyway). He had a couple of new lumps that I got checked out. A pathology confirmed it was his OSA. 

For the lungs, I think coughing is the first sign of trouble. My vet said we'd need to do chest x-rays if Rocky started coughing. 

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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19 July 2017 - 5:27 pm
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Well HAPPY TWO WEEK AMPUVERSARY MISS "PITTIE"! Glad to hear she's doing so well this early on. Tell us more abput your sweet girl when you can!

As far as doing xrays, that's such an individual choice with absolutely no right or wrong path!! Sooooo many individual variables!!

Because my Happy Hannah proceeded with four rounds of Carboplatin, she had one set of xrays during that time. If I recall, the Onco wanted to do another set when she completed her fourth and I opted not to do anymore at that point. I jad pretty much decided I wouod not do any additional "treatments" if she did get mets.

My personality is such that I did better BEING MORE DOG and staying fully present in the NOW with my Happy Hannah by not "knowing" what the xrays may, or may not tell me. Some people do better knowing and some people do them because they know they will pursue additional treatments. Again, such an individual choice!

I did decide that, if "symptons" showed up, I would do xrays then because there are some pallative things that can be done to give extended quality time.

Now, as far as "symptons", TRY not to focus on what the tomorrows may or may not bring. As they say, today is all we have and we must make every day count! And, again , even IF mets appear, they show different symptons in different dogs. We see so many variables here.

In my Happy Hannah's case, there was no coughing, just more and more tired. And some point there was a bit of change in her breathing pattern. If I recall, there was some "yucky discharge" in her yese which antibiotics actually did clear up. I think it was at this point her regular Vet suggested the xrays due to the tiredness and maybe listening to her chest (can't remeber for sure). Anyway, I did do some non invasive, no side effect stuff after that and that helped maintain her quality. So, I guess the main "sympton" in her case was being so easily exhausted.

Your Pittie isn't worried about a thing and doesn't have a timeframe stamped anywhere on that cute Pittie butt! 🙂 Let NOTHING rob you of your time together.....she sure isnt! 🙂

Now, THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON of this entire journey is to stay FULLY PRESENT...STAY IN THE NOW...STAY IN THE MOMENT...And make EVERY DAY THE BEST DAY EVVVVER!!!

PICTURES!! We MUST have pictures!

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!


Member Since:
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20 July 2017 - 7:39 am
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First of all, I cannot even begin to tell you how much Tripawds has helped us get through these last 2 weeks!!! We're so grateful to have found such an amazing community of people/pups so eager to help soothe the soul and move forward with life!! Here are some pics of our sweet girl!

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Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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20 July 2017 - 8:58 am
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SHE'S GORGEOUS 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 And that PITTY SMILE......melting my heart over here!! 🙂 And nothing lights up my world more than seeing a doggy enjoy a good roll on their back in the grass.....soooo cute!

Keep em coming!

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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20 July 2017 - 9:18 am
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For awhile we did x-rays ...every 3 months..then every 4-6 months..then as time went on I thought, why?  It can get expensive and Murphy wasn't showing any symptoms - he was breathing just fine, no coughing, no shortness of breath, nothing.  So we waited.  Then at about 3 1/2 years we did x-rays & they were still clear!  I just about cried in the office because I thought for sure there would be some mets by then.  We actually used that to decide on a dental procedure for him, since I hadn't wanted him to go under anesthesia before that.  At the time we lost Murphy, it was due to a different cancer and his x-rays still showed no metastasis, his lungs were still clear.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Scotland, ON
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24 August 2016
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20 July 2017 - 9:33 am
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Your sweet girl is gorgeous, and I'm glad to hear she's doing so well in her recovery.

We did 4 rounds of carboplatin and 6 months on cyclophosphamide, and so we did x-rays every 3 months during those treatments. However a month ago we decided to stop the cyclophosphamide because even though Bruce had been doing great and didn't seem to be having any side effects, we decided to quit before he could develop any kidney issues. At this time we have decided not to do any more treatments or x-rays, and to just let Bruce continue the rest of his days being a dog rather than a patient. He is currently about a week short of 11 months post amputation and aside from a 3 weeks period where he had difficulty walking (most likely due to a soft tissue injury in his remaining hind leg), he's been doing great!big-grin

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