Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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To ease my mind.
Back in October, when Ti started treatment, we did chest X-rays at the specialist that looked like this:
Then Yesterday, I decided to get them done again, but I only went to my regular vet because he is so much closer. This is what we got:
My vet said they looked good, but I am quite sure that they are clear. I know it's silly to second guess a vet, in this situation, but that's just what I do sometimes.
Opinions?
Thank you so much!
Rachel and Ti
Maybe you could send them to your specialist to look at if you are not comfortable. Sometimes, just having that second person verify it can make us feel so much better. I have a special soft spot for your boy. My pup's name was TY . Great name don't ya think? Hugs, Lori, Angel Ty. & the canine 3
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.
Ty is certainly a great name!
I could send them off, I just need to consider how I am spending my money. I spend so much on meds for him, in addition to the radiation and bisphosphonates that I have to think about spending a few hundred more dollars to have them looked at again.. I only got them done for my own info. Since he still has his leg, the lungs are really secondary to his leg pain. I just needed to see something.. Just wish I had a clearer picture.
Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it!!
Hi and so glad Ty seems to be doing well....it is nice having another Ty here, like Lori said, her sweet Tripawd angel was named Ty as well.
As far as these x-rays go, vets are highly trained with them and I would take his word that they look good....there are things that always show up on x-rays that may look sinister to us, but 99% of the time, there is a completely explanatory reason for what you are seeing. However, if it would make you feel better, a second opinion surely can't hurt. The lungs are quite complex, and there are constant changes with air pockets and such.
Now, I am certainly not a vet, this is just my opinion from working at my veterinary hospital, but I absolutely believe if your vet saw something he didn't think was right, he would let you know, and have Ty's specialist take a look as well.
Let us know either way if you decide to take this a bit further, and also hoping Ty continues to do well.
Bonnie & Angel Polly
My question is- would you do anything differently if the X-rays were not clear? Since the leg pain is the focus why even do X-rays?
I don't mean to sound glib- I was going down the same path with Maggie. She had mast cell cancer so our checkups included an abdominal ultrasound. I was lucky that Mag had out lived her prognosis, when she was 10 I decided not to do anymore invasive tests or treatments- for lots of reasons I felt her little body had had enough. But I still did the ultrasound...and after three years of it being clear, there were lesions on her liver (a common place for mast cell to go). It could have been just her age, the only way to tell were invasive tests.... so I got to worry about that for 9 months or so until some other health issues pushed it aside.
I think if I am ever in the same situation as I was with Mag I would stop doing the non-invasive tests too, unless I was prepared to do something. If you might add chemo, or change tactics then doing the X-rays (and worrying about them!) makes sense.
Just my thoughts
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I've come to realize that I now have too much access to information on the internet and the more I read the more I worry. I had a cat diagnosed with malignant melanoma (rare they say), before there was the internet, and I was told there was nothing to do as it would progress and go to his lungs. I didn't bother with a lung xray because there was nothing I could do anyway because the skin tumours were popping up all over. Rather than researching, testing and fretting I put my time into giving him comfort and enjoying our remaining time together. And it was a wonderful time.
For Mona's amputation, I had no time to research because her tumour was growing so quickly I wanted it gone and amputation was the only way. There was no biopsy done because we knew there was no time to wait. The leg pathology did show an aggressive cancer with huge margins.
Both of the treatments for both of my cats was somewhat instinctual. I listened to what the vets had to say, I talked to my cats (yeah, kooky but it provides clarity) and I followed what my heart said. I have never regretted or felt any guilt about these decisions.
Rachel, if money is a factor in getting another opinion, it is important to consider that. You don't need added stress from financial issue. Perhaps the money is better spent managing Ti's pain. It sounds like you already have that plan in place.
Mona is on Power Mushrooms to support her immune system. I don't know what Ti's diagnosis is but I couldn't give any suggestions anyway because I only have experience with my cats.
All the best to you and Ti!
Kerren and Trikitty Mona
Did your vet take all 3 views of the chest? It is really hard to guess based on just 1 film. I would want another view to evaluate the space between rib number 5 and 6. If you can only afford 1 more view take the one where he is laying on his back.
It is true that even if there is a nodule there it may not change your treatment. I used to xray Tazzie every 3 to 6 months just because it was so easy for me to take her to work and do it and I may have pursued other treatment if nodules were found.
PAM
I was right. I hate being right.
There was fluid in his lungs. He is gone.
Oh.. I didn't expect to read this... I am soooooo sorry for your loss
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
I just caught up on your blog and your Coping with Loss posts, My heart goes out to you, all of us here send our love & sympathy to you. I'm so sorry.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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