Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey all!! It's been crazy around my house since the East Coast Tripawd Party! I just had minor surgery for a kidney stone, and work has been insane. I'm posting on here because I'm trying not to freak out....
A little bit ago, maybe a month or more, I noticed a hard bony "growth" on Domino's jaw bone. I tried to dismiss it originally as part of his normal anatomy, but I can tell now that its not. If he's looking nose up to the sky and I feel his bottom jaw line, one side feels skinny and normal, and the other side about halfway up is very hard, bumpy, and wide. Not at all like the other side. I've been freaking out, and am terrified he has some sort of bone cancer in his jaw... Of course last week when I was getting more concerned about it, his vet was out of town. I work at a very nice boarding facility thats owned by a vet clinic, so I luckily have access to an amazing vet (who also happens to be a certified rehab therapist should Dom ever need him). So today is my first day back at work officially since my surgery last week, so I need to look at the schedule and see if he can be seen tomorrow or Wednesday. My biggest worry with something like this is A) can anything even be done? If its cancer in his jaw, he can't live without his jaw like he could a limb.... B) if anything can be done, ie radiation, or chemo to slow progression, I can't afford it. That would all have to be done at a specialty clinic, and that's simply not even remotely in my budget.
I'm going to feel like the worst dog parent in the world if it is a type of cancer and I could have taken him in a month ago. I keep checking his jaw everyday hoping that it's nothing, I also check the inside of his mouth for any additional growth.
Domino is my heart dog... I never knew the meaning of that phrase until I met him. I can't imagine something happening to him, I don't know what I'd do. Again, I'm trying not to freak out, but it's not that easy with something potentially so serious. Hopefully he can be seen tomorrow, but I would imagine I'd have to schedule another follow up appointment for sedation and xrays since it's in such a tricky spot. For now, fingers and paws crossed that it's nothing major...
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Of course you're freaking out! That's what we ALL do soooo well around here!! AND....what we also do so well around here is exhales a huge sign of relief when we find out our "freak outs" were over nothing at all!!
I have nooo clue what's going on, but it sounds like "it's" not bothering Domino in the least and is notnpainful at all. To me, thst indicates that many times a feeling of extra bone is nothing at all
I hope Clare won't mind me telling this story a out Meg. She fretted kver a boney growth on Meg's leg. Scared the heck out of her. I think she thought it was changing and was different from the vone kn the other leg too. The Vet confirmed it was just actually her normal bone!!!!
And so orry you had to deal with your kidney issue. Don't want anything happening to our Cassie!! So typical arpund here rhough. We focus totally on any lump or bump on our dogs and cats, and downplay anything "little" like KIDNEY SURGERY!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Lots of love Cassie....And to Alex and all the wonderful pack
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!
I hope Clare won't mind me telling this story a out Meg. She fretted kver a boney growth on Meg's leg. Scared the heck out of her. I think she thought it was changing and was different from the vone kn the other leg too. The Vet confirmed it was just actually her normal bone!!!!
Of course I don't mind! This topic caught my eye for precisely that reason. Yup, you obviously want to get it checked, but I'll bet it's just that his jaw is not symmetrical. Meg's leg definitely does have a boney 'growth'/lump that is not there on the other leg, but it's nothing to worry about at all. Just a normal part of the joint, that for some reason is much less prominent in the other leg. Is it possible he bashed his jaw as a puppy or something? I think the fact that it is clearly not painful or warm to touch or anything like that is a reassuring sign, though I KNOW nothing is going to reassure you until the vet has checked him over.
Sorry about the kidney stone. I understand they can be terribly painful. I do hope you'll be able to relax a bit and take some time out to recover.
Big hug,
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...
Hey Cassie! Yikes glad you are recuperated from the surgery. Be good to yourself, panic isn't good for the body 🙂
Please don't search Google and don't freak yourself out. There is no point in speculating at this point. Not even the best vet can tell what a lump or bump is without a diagnostic, which I know you already understand. Of course when it's your own animal it's impossible not to freak out. But you can do it!
I'm not even going to go there on the subject of cancer in the jaw OK? Because you most definitely don't need to freak out over something like this until you know if it's what you're dealing with. Hang tight and get it checked out. We're all cheering for a B9 lumpy bumpy! Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I ditto what the others have said. Breathe deep. Get it checked out. Keep us informed
xoxoxo
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."
Sending hugs to you and Dom! And yes please stay of Dr Google! Get it checked out and we'll be waiting somewhat impatiently here as patience is mostly not our biggest virtue. ❤️❤️❤️
Sorry it took me so long to post this! Domino saw his vet last Wednesday for his jaw. The doctor said the "mass/growth" is very smooth, Dom is showing no signs of pain or problems with it and it doesn't appear to be growing or causing problems with his mouth. Domino is due to have his teeth cleaned soon, so the vet recommends waiting until then and taking a set of xrays of the area to insure its not affecting the bone. A thought the vet and I had during his exam, the excess bone growth is on the same side as Domino's amputation.... We both wondered if maybe during his car accident if his jaw wasn't fractured slightly and caused the excess bone growth as it healed. This is something the xrays will tell us. It's very possible that this growth has been there all along and I just haven't noticed it. Domino did have some trauma to his mouth after his accident, he is missing two teeth and has a third broken on that same side of his mouth. And I do remember him taking several days to a week after amputation to eat well. So good news hopefully. Now I just have to work on getting money saved up to have his teeth cleaned and his jaw xrayed, hopefully that will happen within the next month or two. Thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement! I love this community!
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Good news!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 Your assessment of what is going on sounds spot on!! 🙂 Makes sense.
To think that, had you not been working at the Vet when Domino came in and was surrendered thst day...had your Vet not been willing to fi Domino up..had you not falle. In love at first sight.....scary thought!
It was so much fun being with Domino and all your delightful pack at the Virginia Pawty! Speaki g of which, how 'bout a picture of everybody? 🙂
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!
I took these just now just for you Sally!! Getting 5 crazy puppers to sit still for a picture is a task lol.
Much love from Domino, Finnigan, Tonks, Riot and Ziggy!!
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
WOW I'm impressed you got them all in one photo! And I'm especially THRILLED that Domino's funky lumpy isn't an urgent situation. I was totally thinking about you yesterday and hoping for the best, so thanks for the update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I JUST LOOOOVE YOUR PACK!!!!!! AND I LOOOOOVE THAT THEY ARE ALL SO WELL BEHAVED AND GET ALONG BEATIFULLY!! And anyone at the Virginia Tripawd Pawty will tell you that this good looking pack was very well behaved! 🙂
Is that Domino who Finn is trying his best to ignore? I just love that gentle giant!
No, that's not Domino...that dawg has four legs! I know who Ziggy is....so I'm thiniking RIOT???
THANKS FOR THE SMILES!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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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