Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It has been awhile , very crazy life lately. Hubby in and out of hospital, Grandkids, etc. Anyhow, Cahndler has had a growth on his toe. We aspirated it last Summer and it came back as nothing. Now it is huge. We tried antibiotics thinking infection as he had a lick granuloma also. No luck. Back in we went for X-rays and another aspiration. X-ray shows no bone involvement. Waiting, waiting on results. The holiday is slowing everything down. He is on some Prednisone to see if it will shrink, has gone down a bit. He has been not quite the same dog since we did the aspiration. I am sure some of it is my mind running away, but this is how we started with Ty. I know a synovial aspiration is different than one on a toe, but he seems more lethargic. I know his toe hurts. So, it looks like we may be going in to have the toe amputated. 🙁 That will be the treatment, maybe even if it is not cancer. He is 13&1/2 and I worry about him going under, recovering. I keep asking myself what I am doing wrong. 3 pets in 3 years. Hopefully, he will do as well as my cat. I feed the best food, filter their water, Tigre Chandlers' vaccines. Maybe, it is nothing, maybe, I am getting ahead of myself. I just don't know why it won't go away. Other than the fact he keeps licking it. Has anybody else had their dog seem a bit off while on Prednisone? I thought that may be some of it also. Just neede to vent and touch base with my friends. ❤️ 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.
Gus did not react well to prednisone when he took it for his skin condition (reactive hystiocytosis). He had an upset stomach and was panting a lot more than usual. The hardest part about it was than you cannot just discontinue giving it, but have to taper off the dosage over a several day span. Once he was off the pred and back onto another drug, things returned to normal.
It's good to hear from you, Lori, even though the circumstances are not ideal. Give that Chan a hug from us, OK? And please keep us posted!
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!
LOOORI!!! We are here for you our friend!!!
Okay....get ready.....we're tossing you are very special rope! You know, the rope that we use to pull you back from the edge!! And boy oh boy, you have definitely gone a little too close to the edge!!
Okay! Hold on tightly!' We're pulling really hard! Whew! That wor pe me oit! Now we have you on solid ground with us now though!
I'm sure you are emotionally drained with everything going on with your husband a d now the challenges with SWEET, SWEET CHANDLER!!
I know it's hard to not thing the worse. I know it's hard to compare this to Ty's situation. But I really, reall think the reason yiu are seeing Chandler a little off is because his paw probably hurts, he IS a 13 1/2 yr young "seasoned" boy and, like Kathi said, the Pred may be making him a little off.
I know it's hard not to be anxious about putting him under anesthesia. I certainly get that. Right now though, it sou ds like the Pred has helped a little. So maybe that needs a little more time. I know it's treating the "symptons" as opposed to the root cause. But just having the swelling reduced has ro make him feel fetter.
A d without wuestio , WITHOUT QUESTION, you are doing nothing "wrong"! S**t happens, no matter what we do to prevent it.
Actually, you ARE doing something wrong! You posted without a picture of. DARYL and CHANDLER! That IS wrong!! So we'll be waiting..........
So hold onto the rope, tell your mind to go take a vacation and know that you will ALWAYS make the right decisions for Chandler once you get all the information in. Right now, you ARE helping the swelling.
I think ice cream and steak would help tremendously! I'm sure Chandler agrees!!
Really hope things are starting to settle down for you now. And stay connected my friend. We'll keep you from the edge!!
Love you!!
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!
Oh Lori... so good to hear from you even under this post!!! Know your family here loves you SO much and is totally praying it's nothing for Mr. Chandler!!! I totally understand where you are coming from and too many in so short of years!!!
I don't know anything about presnadone (sp) but know that I'll hold you all in my prayers!! You are a GREAT pet mom - do not ever doubt that!!! There is nothing you are doing or didn't do for your animals!!! If anything, you are more on top of things than most!!!
Please keep us posted!!!
LOVE!!!
alison with spirit shelby 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
Thinking of you and Chandler!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Thanks so much all! Chan is a cheese man, so he has been getting a bit extra of that. He and Ty were my team and when something happens to him, I will feel so very sad and lost. I know he is old, but somehow, in my mind, I felt that 15 was a good age. Not that I will let him suffer, but he still greets me at the door with a "smile" and eats his food, and cheese with gusto. He is there for his treat nightly when I put Lucy to bed. Daryl too.😊 Sally, I will try to upload some pictures soon. Actually, as I am typing this, he is chewing an antler instead of licking his darn paw. He is my boy. I am actually having some surgery to get a " bionic knee" soon. That is , if my hubby's digestive system corporates. CNt have us both down. I will have some down time to catch up with everyone. I feel as though my support here has dropped of with my craziness of every day life. Hugs to all, 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.
Youre always "here with us" Lori. Especially when we see Ty's great banner pop up...like it just did !
Gosh,I remember you were having knee issues at the Virginia Tipawd Pawty! I know doing the k ee replacement is not something you look forward too. Many say how much better they feel tthough. And it seems like your hubby was having issues back then too. UGH!!
You ought to take some notes and pics of scenes like tonight where The Chan Man is content chewing his antler. And make note thst he is still cheerfully greeting you. That way, if he does have an off day every now and then, you can remind yourself that he also has good days!!
A d Miss Lucy!! OMD!! I forgot to give my best to Lucy earlier! Give her a smooch for me 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!
Hi Lori, you know we all are here for you, and so sorry about your hubby still in and out of the hospital, I am keeping him and you in my prayers.
That Chandler man is keeping you busy for sure, and my thought is that this is some type of histeocytoma thing. It took more than 3 weeks and several biopsies with $$$$$$$ attached to figure out this was Pearl's latest diagnosis from a second growth removal in early November. Glad for the benign diagnosis, but it sure took a long time to figure it out for some reason. And regarding Chan being 13+ years old and the fear of anesthesia, my first Lab Duchess underwent a lengthy major surgery at this same age to remove a huge chest tumor that ended up thankfully being benign, but she had stitches from the top of her back all the way around her chest area and I can't tell you how many staples she had. Plus she had to have the same exact surgery on the other side of her chest for a second large tumor a few months later, because it was too much to do all at one time. She did amazing with anesthesia and healing. If Chan is basically healthy with good blood work and no heart murmurs or anything, he should do fine.
One more thing, remember that you are doing NOTHING wrong, it is just everyday life with our fur kids and the challenges they present, which in many cases, is a lot of challenges. If I learned one thing from Polly's journey, is that I was blessed to have her in my life for 9 years. She definitely had many serious medical challenges through her life, but in the end, I knew we lived the best life together for those nine years, and we were joyful till the end, no regrets. It is the joy in the days you have, not the quantity of the days 💜🐾
Love to you,
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl, and Zuzu 🐾😎
Lori,
I'm sorry this is why you had to post. No worries about being away- family first!
One of my fav quotes of all time is from John Lennon: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans".
Anyway...I was thinking of you and Ty the other day- while I was in the shower Elly took one of my slippers downstairs
I know a little about how you feel about the 'boys'. For me it was the Pug Girls for 9 years until Maggie left. Tani was left to carry on- she made it to almost 15 but when she left it was hard, the end of an era.
But Chan isn't there yet!! Let's see if we can root him on to 15. YOU are not doing anything wrong! You are doing your best and that is all you have control of.
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
And the old friends, and new friends, rally round!! What a loving place!
Bonnie, great insight and wisdom, as always!
And Duchess, after all these years, and sweet Polly too, continuing on through you to help others
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!
A d yeah Karen! We're rooting Chan onto 15!! Good idea!! 🙂 🙂
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!
My Elsie was on Prednisone for quite a long time (months) when she was very young. I DEFINITELY noticed the difference when she came off it. It was as though the Prednisone 'turned her down', if I can describe it like that. When she came off it (which she did gradually), it was like turning her up to full volume.
Sending every pawsitive to you and Chandler!
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Prednisone turned her down. Exactly!! The opposite of what it does to humans. Maybe I can find a reason to have some prescribed for " Loony Lucy.😂 She is so hyper. Chan is very panty on it. Thank you all for the support. Hopefully, I hear something soon. ❤️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.
LOONY HYPER LUCY!!!! Luv it!!
PIIIIIICTURES!!!!!!!! Some of the newbies haven't seen your crew! And us oldies need our ADORABLE pack fix!!
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!
Maybe I can find a reason to have some prescribed for " Loony Lucy.😂 She is so hyper
Actually, there's a thought... Meg, where are you? 
Ditto Sally! Would love to see some pics of your pack.
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
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