Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My beloved Border Collie/Lab mix, Bruce, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at the end of November. He had been diagnosed with arthritis about a year ago and we put him on Dasuquin. He was doing really well for quite sometime. He is extremely active! We noticed he was favoring his left leg, so the vet did x-rays to see what was going on. They found OS in his left hind leg and 3 nodules in his chest. My husband and I were completely devastated.
We went to a specialist and they confirmed the diagnosis and we opted for amputation. He is still so incredibly active, playful and never showed any signs of slowing down (even with the limp in the leg). I noticed the limp on a Monday and then took him that Friday. I still feel very guilty that I didn't notice something sooner. The fact that it has spread to his lungs means that he has been suffering from it for awhile, but I literally had no clue. I am very close with him. I adopted him at 3 months and we have been inseparable every since. I feel I have always been attuned to his needs. He has severe allergies and I have to give him a shot every 21 days. He never misses a check-up, vaccine or preventative care. I check him over for new lumps all the time. He has a couple on his chest that we were monitoring closely (just fatty lumps...not cancer).
We go in next week to get his sutures out this week and meet with Oncology to discuss chemo options. We were told by our primary vet and the specialist that his cancer is very advanced (again beating myself up). I am wondering if anyone has had any success with chemo when it has already spread to the lungs? What options we may have? What have people's experiences been like with chemo post-op and post-spread of OS? I am really, really heartbroken.
On a positive note, Bruce turned 10 this week, is full of life, is eating, walking, pooping, play, laying down on both sides, doesn't seem like he is any pain, still howls A LOT and is pretty much back to his daily routine of protecting our house from the mailman. The vets have been very happy with his recovery and he didn't even need to put hooked up to a ventilator during surgery. Any insight would mean so much to me! Thanks!
Aindrea, Philip and Bruce (the Bubs)
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you are facing cancer in your boy Bruce.
First thing- give yourself a break! Bruce was not giving you any indication that there was anything wrong- you have always done your best for him! Most bone cancer tumors can not be seen or felt until they are quite advanced- you took him in as soon as he was limping. Many here took there dogs in for limps and it was months before diagnosis. Take your cues from Bruce:
On a positive note, Bruce turned 10 this week, is full of life, is eating, walking, pooping, play, laying down on both sides, doesn't seem like he is any pain, still howls A LOT and is pretty much back to his daily routine of protecting our house from the mailman.
Since he hasn't had any chemo yet they might try carboplatin. Many dogs with lung mets or dogs who finished the standard chemo go on metronomic chemo. Here are some blog posts about it and here is a forum thread about metronomics. The second link was started several years ago but updated posts have been added.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hello - so sorry you have to be here, but so happy you found us. This site is so supportive and there is such a wealth of tribal knowledge, too, that people are willing to share.
Please do not beat yourself up - a strong and active dog like your Bruce, he probably hid any symptoms very well. They are more stoic than we realize - I know that mine was and remarkably so.
The important thing now is that you'll have the assistance of an oncologist to help you make the decisions that are right for him and this group cheering you all on.
Karen already mentioned metronomics - this was my recommendation. Read about it and maybe even leave a message ahead of time with the onco to say you want to discuss it. IV Chemo may also be discussed and that will likely be doxorubicin, I think, because of the lung mets; it is the "big hitter". Here is a thread on our warrior Eurydice who is currently undergoing doxorubicin and doing beautifully for some encouragement.
Also, ask your onco vet about metronomics with Palladia - more expensive than standard oral treatments like Cytoxan (which was, I thought, surprisingly inexpensive), but some dogs seem to have success with lung mets either shrinking or just seeming to go into a stasis with it. I know someone with a Greyhound on FB who has seen the former with Palladia for months now. I think Palladia is usually given just 3x a week and alternated with something like Cytoxan 4x a week.
One piece of advice for you - it is okay to be angry and sad - and it is okay to express that with us! We get it so much. But be a positive and in the moment enjoying the fact his pain is gone as you can with your Bruce. Don't let him pick up on your anguish. As we say around here, "Be More Dog ."
Sending huge positive vibes to you!
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Aindrea, Philip and Bruce, I say "ditto!" to Karen and Lisa's advice. You did everything you possibly could and are awesome doggy parents. We too had the same experience where Jerry's diagnosis was delayed for months, and we felt many of the same emotions you did. It's OK to feel that way at first but try to focus on how well Bruce is doing now....that's all he wants, is for you to be happy today, not looking back with regret at yesterday. By doing that, you are setting a tone for his life with you from here on out and he will respond accordingly.
Meanwhile, let us know what the onco's say, we'll be waiting. Here's a post that may help you ask the right questions when you go, if you haven't already:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Andrea, Philip and Bubs 💗🐶
I am so sorry you feel so low right now and so guilty for not having found out earlier but this is the way things are ... not your fault at all, at all, at all !
My baby girl was always extremely healthy and like you, I always kept an eagle's eye on her and never missed any vaccine, etc but fate is fate and we cannot go against that.
I found out about OSA after she was misdiagnosed by 4 different vets and she had her surgery shortly after her initial X-ray and subsequent PET scan (which was clear at that point)
The first couple of weeks were very, very hard for both of us due to her enormous size (she weighed 77kg before amp) but ever since stitches came out she went back to being her lovely happy self, full of energy and enjoying life to the full.
As for chemo, we did 6 sessions of carboplatin and after that we started metronomic treatment (cyclophosphamide, doxycycline and metacam) and proceeded with this daily treatment for over one month.
The aim of metronomics is to stop blood vessels (where tumours are located) development by cutting the blood supply tumours need to grow.
It works wonderfully for a lot of dogs but sadly it didn't for my Eurydice.
Before we started metronomics we did a lung X-ray and it was clear but the next test was a PET scan (over one month after treatment started) and sadly it showed 3 little masses which means metronomics was not able to stop the tumours from developing.
It may or may not have slowed development of the tumours but didn't stop it altogether.
So, the next step was to start another IV chemo treatment, doxorubicin.
This chemo is potentially harmful to the kidneys and heart but it is relatively safe for the first 5 sessions (maximum allowed)
I felt we had nothing to loose and, as with all other treatments, blood tests were done prior to every session.
Eurydice has sailed through the first 2 sessions of dox (just like she did with all treatments before) and will have another PET scan roughly 2 months after the first dox chemo to access whether it is working for her or not.
Our oncologist said it is very rare the tumours disappear but it happens so obviously that is what we want to happen !
If tumours shrink it is good news and if they are the same size it is not bad.
If they shrunk or are the same size he may consider an operation to remove them, if they increased in size or there are more there is no point operating.
I asked what can be done after we hit the maximum amount of doxorubicin or it shows as not effective and he said there are still other drugs we can use.
I asked how effective are those and he said there isn't enough data to be able to make statements but he will explain my options as things progress and I accept that and will decide according to the future specific circumstances.
It is just so terribly unfair we do not have a solution for this horrid disease but sadly we can only do the maximum and hope for the best...
In the meantime, my dear new friends, it is CRUCIAL to try and keep our spirits high and above all give our babies the best time we can, every single day !!!!
The result is a deliriously happy dog and really happy pawrents too 💞💞💞🐶
I want to thank Lisa for directing you to one of my posts, I hope it made you smile ☺️
You can also check the Anything Goes forum under Eurydice's travels in Europe 5 months after amputation and another I started today Eurydice's travels in Europe with lung mets 7 1/2 months after amputation 💕🐶🚙💨💨💨💨💨
We may not be able to control cancer but we sure are able to make every day count for as long as we can 💪🏽
Sending you both an avalanche of kisses and super cuddles to your cutie pie 😘😘😘💞🐶🐾 don't forget you are not alone, we are all here for you anytime 😘😘😘
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
You have soooo much great input from everyone! All I can add is DITTO!!
As you can see, you are not alone!!
Remember that Bruce does NOT have aa timeframe stamped anywhere on his cute Border Collie Labby butt! He doesn't care abput days on a calendar, he doesn't care about xrays or diagnosis. He does care about all the loving and spoiling and tummy rubs and treats and snuggles and cheeseburgers and steak a d ice cream he gets because he's BRUCE!!!!
Meep us posted and stay connected!!! We understand like no others can!!
Love
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!
Aindrea,
Welcome and I'm so sorry for Bruce's diagnosis. DO NOT beat yourself up over his diagnosis and the spread - Dogs are so different in demonstrating their pain and they are all so stoic - you just never know how long they've been suffering until they give you a tiny little clue. I can't offer you any advice on chemo since we did not opt for it in MySweetTed's battle. I will say that I (and we) know your guilt and your devastation at the diagnosis. Keep loving him like you have been - I'm sure he will keep loving you back the way he has been too!
w
THANK YOU to everyone who has reached out and given me such good advice on how to handle this terrible news & what questions to ask the oncologist.
Bruce has been doing so well since his surgery. He gave me little scare the other day when he was acting so HYPER on his short walk that I thought he twisted and hurt his only hind leg! But he just over did it and rested a lot the next day and his leg seems to be okay now. We are all learning to adjust. I think he is just happy with the new bed, new toys & extra love he has been getting. My husband is sleeping on the couch downstairs so he won't have to be alone until he can climb back up to our room. Bubs thinks he hit the jackpot!
We go see the oncologist on Thursday. I will update everyone with what we are told. I am going in armed with some great knowledge from this post. Thank you all soooo much!
Lots of love! 
First of all I must say that Bruce has a perfect muzzle. I guess you could say he has "chiseled features". Handsome fellow.
You've got great advice here and the reality is that no matter how well we treat our pets we never know what life will hold for them. My cat Mona got cancer from a vaccine and had to have her leg amputated. We all do the best we can with what we know and some things we have no control over.
I hope the healing and further treatments go well.
Many hugs.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
UPDATE on Bruce:
Post-Amputation/Suture Removal: The surgeon was very pleased with Bruce's healing and his sutures came out beautifully. He waltzed right into the hospital and tried to play with every dog in the lobby! He was a trooper on the 2 hour car ride there and then 2 hour car ride back. The vet said he was an angel and such a sweet boy!
Oncology: they ran all the tests needed to determine if they could do chemo (blood count, chemistry panel, new chest x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, neurological tests, etc). Everything looked normal, expect for the lungs, which we already. His first chest x-rays happened on 11-30 with our primary vet. The oncologist said that they had progressed since that date, but said because all of his other tests were normal and they did not think it has spread any place else he was eligible for chemo!! I cried tears of joy that he was able to get some treatments! They did say this was palliative chemo and said they hope to give us 5 good months with him. I, of course, hope for as much as we can get.
Bruce was able to receive his first injection of Doxorubicin today. They sent me home with a bag full of pills to help with any side effects and antibiotics just in case. We go in next week to draw blood and make sure his white blood cell count is good. Then Bruce will get 5 more treatments, with radiographs in between to measure progress.
One thing that has me a little puzzled (maybe you can help) is that they ran tests on his leg after it was amputated. The histopathology came back as: "poorly-differentiated spindle cell sarcoma with 21 mitotic figures per 10 high-power microscopic fibers." They said the cancer was high grade and aggressive. So I guess it wasn't OSA after all? Has anyone had this happen to them after amputation?
Since we have been home, Bruce ate some food and drank some water. He got a little dizzy when eating, is that normal? He is now fast asleep on his bed. No signs of vomiting at this point. How long until we are in the clear with possible bad side effects?
Thanks everyone for reading and helping me through this horrible process. I hold out hope for my Bubs!
Hi Aindrea and Bubs 🌹🐶
First of all MANY congratulations on stitch removal 🎉🎊🎈👏🏽👏🏽👌🏽 and how well he is feeling YAY !!!!
I am a little bit surprised at the number of doxorubicin sessions they are planning for him ... this is because our oncologist told me 5 is the maximum safe dosage as more than that is too dangerous to the heart.
Maybe it is more dangerous for bigger dogs hence we stop at five (I'm guessing...) but still worth you double checking why the six and not five?
The other thing I am surprised about is this bag full of pills ...
Eurydice only gets 1 Cerenia pill (for nausea) chemo day plus 1 pill a day for the next 2-3 days.
I'm sure other pawrents will chime in with different experiences than mine but we were never advised to take anything else.
Of course, we were told to look out for any symptoms like vomiting or diarrhoea but weren't given medicine before hand.
Like you, we were asked to have blood tests one week after the first doxo session.
Was he given a Cerenia pill today?
Concerning his dizziness I don't have any comments because Eurydice luckily never showed any side effects.
As for the histopathology I have no knowledge at all ... Eurydice's report came back as 100% osteo.
Hang in there Andrea, Bubs is doing really well, jumping around and trying to play with every single dawg available 🐾💞🎉
Sending you lots of hugs and cuddles to your super handsome boy 😘😘😘🐾🐶
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Glad to hear you have some options for Bruce.
I don't think it is really common for an OSA diagnosis to be another cancer but it does happen, I don't know how often. I do know that the mitotic index of 21 is pretty high. For mast cell cancer, which is what Maggie had, anything over 5 was considered aggressive.
I searched blogs and found this post on Chemo Side Effects. It's a couple years old but I would think still applicable. There are links there to forum posts and at the bottom some links to more info.
I suggest you keep a log of how Bruce does. I did that with Maggie and it helped me track her appatite, eliminations, energy level, what she ate each day, and all her meds. It allowed me to find any patterns in how she dealt with her chemo.
All pups are different, Bruce is his own dog. Hopefully he will sail through his chemo like many dogs do.
Positive thoughts for you and Bruce as you start this next part of the journey.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hello! Thanks for the reply!
The pills we got are:
Trimethoprim Sulfa (antibiotics for 10 days)
Cerenia (to give for 5 days)
Metronidazole (as needed for diarrhea)
Ondansetron (as needed for vomiting)
And I misspoke, he will get 5 TOTAL treatments. He received his first today. The are monitoring his heart as well. His heartbeat was a little fast tonight, but that was because he was so excited and anxious.
He has shown anymore signs of dizziness. I think he was just a little overwhelmed after 4 hours in the car total. He still sleeping away right now!
Oh, those are good news 👍🏼
No more dizziness, sleeping well now and energetic and wanting to play with dawgs earlier 👍🏼
Also good to know it is 5 treatments and they are monitoring his heart 👍🏼
Lots of kisses and cuddles flying your way 😘😘💞🐶
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR BRUCE HANDLING THINGS LIKE THE CHAMP HE IS!!! 🙂
Sounds like you have any pills necessary to prevent him having any issues should they arise.
You're doing EVERYTHING possible for your boy! You've removed his painful leg a d restored his quality! He can now get even more loving and more spoiling crammed into every second of everyday!! Cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, ice cream, pizza crusts and on and on!
Happiest of Holidays to all!!
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!
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