Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I proudly introduced our new babies last month. I sadly took one of them to the vet last week for a lump on his front leg. We have an appointment with the specialist on Thursday, but you know what is going through my head. There is an oddly shaped piece of bone growing outward from his ulna (think how a leaf grows out from the stem of a plant). Vet said there is a "periostial reaction" which means that the thin lining over the bone has pulled away and the reaction is for new bone to form under it - can be caused by trauma, but can also be due to a tumor that has irritated the periostium. Of course, when you google it, the first thing that pops up is OSA. Please keep Riggs in your thoughts. He's just a baby.
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Ohhhhh Lisa, my dearsweet Lisa! Of course you are worried out of your mind! It goes with the territory of this crazynjourney!
HOWEVER...Riggs IS young and it IS very likely that he had some early trauma PLUS bone growth problems due to poor nutrition!
AND, you have to remember, Zeus is watching over ecyerone!!
And no more googling, okay??
You know what will make us ALL feel better? We need PICTURES of your two pups! We haven't seen pictures for awhile!!!! P L E A S E!!!!!!
Sending gigantic hugs and truckloads of love!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
OH I feel your pain.... literally.... I understand how you would go to the 'dark side' but like Sally said ... he's just a baby!!! I am sure it is NOT OSA. Google can be our worst enemy!
Sending you lots of healing energy ... keep us posted! Will be keeping you in my thoughts!
alison with the spirit of shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little jasper too)
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
Oh, I am so sorry you are going through this worry! As Sally always says, " BREATHE" and eat chocolate. Of course they always have appointments several days away. Just enough time to worry and scour the Internet. The first thing I thought of was growth plates. He is so young, that I would think that OSA would be pretty unlikely. Of course, once we have made the journey it is the first thing to come to our mind with any joint problem. You did not mention limping or pain and that is usually the first sign of OSA. Hang in there! We and Zues are pulling for you all! Hugs, Lori, Ty and 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.
Ditto on what everyone has already said. Sending pawsitive thoughts your way.
Luanne and Team Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Keeping you and Riggs in my thoughts and prayers, and absolutely sending positive, optimistic thoughts for your young guy......I always want to believe to not worry about things until you have a definitive answer, but I also know since we have all been down this terrible road, it is very hard not to think the worst. However, I am still going to think as positively as I can, and things will be okay, especially with everyone here to help in anyway we can.
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
I am new to this forum, and I will pray for Riggs tonight. Although your gut reaction of OSA is unlikely, at least you had the knowledge and experience to motivate you to get it checked out asap. I have learned the hard way to dig a little deeper, even if the vet says it's nothing to be concerned about. I let my 6yo baby develop cancer in his rear ankle for the last 6 months because I was told it was only a cyst and nothing to worry about. So I think it's totally acceptable to get a little freaked-out, just hang in there until the diagnosis and don't let the negative thoughts overcome the positive ones. We are all keeping you in our prayers and sending love and comfort your way.
Jennifer and Titan
Ain't no way no how with all of us here sending you good juju. Don't panic, odds are very, very slim. But do keep us posted, we'll be thinking of you.
xoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry that you're going through this worrying. I'll be keeping sweet Riggs in my thoughts and pray that it's nothing major and it is easily treated.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Crossing my fingers, toes, legs, arms, eyes, and a few other things thanks to gravity and old age for Riggs.
Keep us posted..... you are in our thoughts!
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!
Oh Lisa, UGH! Add me to the list of well wishers and paw crossers. Keeping you in my thoughts.
Amy & Spirit Libby
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Hi Lisa
Thoughts and prayers for your little Riggs!
I'm sure it is a growth plate issue....or something that happened as a reaction to trauma
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Thanks everyone. I guess I just needed to vent and know you guys will always understand. I don't think it is a growth plate because it is smack-dab in the middle of the bone instead of being near the end/at the joints. Appointment is tomorrow, so hopefully we will know something then...
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Ahhh....that even makes it sound even more like a puppy trauma. There little baby bones are so vulnerable...bumps, falls, jumping, so many things could cause havoc...and especially if he was deprived of proper puppy nutrition before Zeus sent him to you...
Hugs snd love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Sally, we really have no idea what their life was like for the first four months. Story was that pregnant mom showed up on a man's doorstep. She had the pups and he found homes for all except mom and these two, which he eventually surrendered to the Humane Society. Based on the response at the shelter (multiple apps) and since we have had them (people constantly asking what breed and, seemingly sincerely, commenting on how pretty they are) we question why he had trouble finding homes for these last two. Maybe he just ran out of friends who wanted dogs. Or, maybe, one of the dogs was limping from a fractured leg and no one wanted a defective puppy. Our vet said the amount of new bone growth was telling and that this was likely something that happened or started developing well before we got them. At least that eased my mind that he didn't get hurt on my watch because I would never forgive myself.
I can't get off work to go to the appointment with Greg, so I will be eagerly waiting by the phone. Blah.
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
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