Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I know, I panic a bit easier now. I am quite sure my vet thinks I am a nut job. At his last checkup, as he was getting his nails trimmed, the tech noticed the lump. The other day, as I was trimming the hair off of his paws to give him better traction , I noticed it had gotten larger. This was in just like 6-8 weeks. I am worried it is a mast cell tumor. The reason being is he is so allergic to everything. The tech said to remove it, they would have to remove his toe. The vet talked about medicine, but not tumor removal. Maybe he will wait for results? They did a needle aspirate yesterday. I should know by Monday. He will turn 13 this year so I am not sure surgery is the best. I worry about putting him out. Just needed to vent a little. Thanks for listening. Lori, Ty and Gang
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.
Oh Lori, we all are nut jobs, especially when all of us here have dealt with terrible things with our pets and they end up on 3 legs, but we also know that we are stronger than we think....... However, when something seems wrong with one of our pups or kitties after going through this journey, our minds just automatically think the worst again, I know mine does. And you can vent anytime you need to.
The best advice I can give you, is to wait for the results, and since you HAVE been challenged before with sweet Ty, you will know in your heart what is best for Chandler. He has had the best life possible with you, as have all your fur kids, and getting to the age of 13 is a celebration in itself, and I think he still has much more quality time with you. You know our main motto here, just Be More Dog , and enjoy every single day 🐾😎
Sending Love and hugs, 💜
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu
Oh Lori... I know how that panic will quickly sink in and you will replay everything you went through with Ty in your mind. But you are strong and you are a HUGE advocate for your fubabies so I know Chandler is in the best care possible!!! Try not to let your mind spiral until you get the results. It could just be a fatty thing. I remember when Shelby had an ugly bump on her ear and we had it removed - it was the worst waiting for those results. It was benign. It was months later that we did get that dreaded diagnosis but her ear thing ... totally unrelated.
I am sure Chandler, since he's older and I've heard dogs get fatty tissues as they age, is probably just going through that!!! I will hold you in my heart and prayers!!! And keep us posted!!!
Much love!!!
alison (with spirit shelby in her heart) and little jasper too
PS - and I know you are coming up on 2 years too next month so extra love to you!!!
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
Awww Lori! So glad you posted rather than letting those crazy thoughts get any crazier! I ditto Alison and Bonnie.
We wear our."nuttiness" like a badge of honor around here! We deserve the.designation and make no apologies for it!
Like Alison said, older dogs get lots of lumps and bumps. Years ago, one of my senior citizens had a similar bump in a similar place.This was before this nutty journey and I wasn't as suspicious of those types of thi gs as I am now. Okay, maybe OVERLY suspicious now! Anyway, after quite sometime it sorta opened up like a "boil", dried up and went away.
Glad you went ahead and got an aspiration to put your mind at ease. Even IF...big huge IF...it is "something", it doesn't mean anythi g bad would happen anytime soon. I guess being a ".ature age" has it's advantages sometimes! The only thi g that would be affecting Mr. Sweet Boy Chandler will be the slowing down due to "senioritis"! And around here, that's a really good thing!
Grab tbe chocolate. We'll all eat some too in solidarity!
LOTS and LOTS OF LOVE AND 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!
Lori that's so awesome your groomer caught it first. You are doing everything right by getting it checked out and odds are very good this is just nothing to worry about. Try not to let your mind go there, it's not always cancer.
We'll be thinking of you, so keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Lori, Gus had repeated bouts of something called reactive hystiocytosis which caused rapidly growing bumps. His outbreaks were successfully treated with doxycycline for several years, and just when that drug's price went through the roof, it also quit working for him. His last one was on his toe and grew at an alarming rate. The dermatologist put him on a drug called Atopica, which is also used in treating allergies. That one was a miracle drug!
I hope this helps you to see that all strange, fast growing lumps are NOT malignant. I do understand, however, that we are all paranoid! Ollie thinks he is getting a full body rub every morning and has no clue that I am checking for bumps. We were fortunate that our primary vet decided to send us to the dermatologist. She had actually done a study of the condition over about a ten year period and knew right away how to treat it.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Great insight Kathi!! Thanks Sweet Gus!
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!
Any news on Chandler?
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."
Oh my gosh, I can totally relate! In January we had a lump removed from Cassie's back foot, I even started a forum thread "What does MCT look like?" because I was convinced that she probably had a mast cell tumor. I consulted Dr. Google looking at pictures. I was circling right down that drain..what if we had to have a 2nd tripawd? She's older than Murphy was, would we actually do amputation for her? Everyone here was so, so great at pulling me back from the edge of that cliff that I so easily was jumping over! Thankfully the biopsy came back as an abnormal growth of normal cells. Breathe, eat chocolate, drink wine, whatever works! We are here for you 
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
Folks here are great about pulling you back from the edge!
I wonder if others have had the unfortunate experience of someone pushing them off the edge? Our quadpaw broke his toe back in January and it is still healing (for a dog, they trim off the nail and wait for it to either grow back or not. Well, Toby's is still raw looking.) So I mentioned this to someone and their response was 'oh, that is just like our cat and they had squamous cell tumor'. OH GREAT! Thanks so much for THAT! 
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
DONNA!! Quick! Get ready! We're gonna throw you a sturdy cable to pull you back from the edge right now!! Ready? 1....2...3...BAM!! Whew!! Good job! You caught it perfectly and now you're back on solid grpund surrounded by Tripawd Power!! I have to say though, it took all of us to pull you back...you were pretty far pff that edge!!
One or two of my dogs have had a similar toe nail issue, can't remember the exaw "reason", but I do know it took forever to grow back. It seemed like it stayed an OWWEEE for wuite awhile. I .may have even had to put one on an antibiotic, or an antibiotic cream, because it stayed raw for so long...and that was WITHOUT breaking the toe! So I'm sure that it will take longer with that issue. Actually, I think in one case it was so e sort of fungus that caused removal of the toenail and subsequent slow recovery.
A d as far as your friend" with a cat.....okay, if I can't say anything nice I won't say anything at all!! Toby, sweet Toby, is a DOG and that's very different from being her cat!!
If you want though, you coukd take a picture and post it under Ask A Vet for reassurance. Keep holding onto thst cable! Sometimes we use must a rope. But in cases like these, we bring out our steel cables!
Lots of 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!
Thanks Sally, I feel safe back on solid ground now!
The thing is, I KNOW it is a broken toe (it showed up on x-rays) but the comment still stung. And it doesn't help that the vet is suggesting that if it doesn't heal, it will need to be amputated! It is a weight bearing toe (rear) and I don't want to amputate so we're just waiting for the d&^# nail to fully regrow.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Rope Pleeeeeeaseeeee!! i am so angry!! I was in at vet on Monday to pick up meds. I asked for results. Was told they had just come in and had not been looked at by my vet. It is now Saturday. I just called again. I was now told, I see the results, but they are nothing I can interpret or share over the phone. What?????? the heck! this is my dog! I kept telling myself all week that it is probably negative and that is why they did not call. Now I am back to feeling sick to my stomach. I am to get a call from the vet that is there today. Not my regular vet, but she did my cat's cancer surgery ( stellar job) so I trust her. It is not like i would have had his toe cut off this wek anyhow, he has a beach trip planned, but to start a game plan. Would just be nice to be informed. 
I should have some answers by days end. Lori, Ty and gang
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.
LOOOOORRRRRIIIII! This calls for more than a strong cavle ro pull you back from the edge! This calls flr thr whole Tripawd Nation to fo storm your vet's office! This is caraaaaazzzy!!
I'm sure you are piffed off beyond words!!
I do think the only reason he said he couldn't share over the phone was because he couldn't INTERPRET the.! Leave it up to Chandler to come up with something off the wall!!
I'm not fonna tell ya' not to worry because I know better!! I do "feel" like if was something horrible it would jave been pretty easy to make that determination. It sou ds like it's NOT "that", but rather some whacky configuration that could imply a couple of minor things and they just aren't sure what!
BTW, we threw the rope and lassod you back while yiu weren't looki g! It was so fast and wuick you didn't even know it!
Lots and lots of love!!!! And Hugs!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS!! DENISE!! Why in the world I every now and then cal@ you Don a is beyond me! It's gon a be a stretch, but I'm fonna blame it on typos!! Tole ya' it was a stretch!!
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!
Vet just called. Not enough cells to make a diffinitive diagnosis. No cancer cells though. Some Keratin and other stuff. They said we can try to aspirate more or do a biopsy. My gut says just leave it alone. Advice? I suppose if it gets too large, we can remove it. It would be his whole toe because of where it is. Thanks all for letting me vent. Sally, you were right a bunch of stuff they could not figure out. She rattled off a few things that were in there, but Keratin was the only one I remember. ( hair and nails yuk!) thanks for listening, Lori, Ty and gang
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.
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