Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Bear with me. . I'm trying to compose myself enough to call some surgeons. There is one call already out thanks to my general vet. I've just had a lot of differing opinions and I wanna try to sort through them.
Chuck has fractured but our onco sent us home yesterday to think about our next step. We honestly did not even realize he fractured. There's been no no noticeable difference between his pain so his thoughts were to watch till he starts declining then pts.
His general vet didn't think it's fair to wait. Pts now or prolong the inevitable via amping. Shes talking to her surgeon to discuss what she thinks. ..
is amping even worth it now? Do I pts when he's still happy ? So far not really finding many ppl in favor of splinting. Will mets appear very soon since we waited 5 months? We did both iv and metro chemo already, would that effect his recovery? He comleted 5 rounds of iv? Do we call 5 months of palliative care what it is and call it a day?
If I call a teaching hospital for advice am I just Bothering them? Pulling at straws?
I know there is no right answer. I just am so lost and confused now. I almost wish there were visable mets so I didn't have to choose.
What do I even ask drs? What kind of doc should I be contacting? Or do I just call it a day and say goodbye.
I just am looking for opinions.
Ty
lori and chuck
Okay, the vet will chime n but I just have t wrap you in hugs right now!!
Do NOT apologize!! You have been given a real kick in the fut and you are handlingit!! Okay?
I dn't care if you have to climb on rood tops and scream your lungs out...you are still handling it! So you do whateer you need to to get through! We love our Lori and our Chuck!!
Now, I'm going to apologize because I try to avoid sayi g what I would do or espressing an opinion to stro gly when it's really not my decisin to make. I just try and be supportive.
Well, today' I'm going to break one of my own "rules and express sort of an "opinion". I can nly say...for me....I would have a very, very, very difficult time pts with the way he's feeling right now. And I aplogize again because I really shouldn't be expressing this vut I feel like you and I "know" each other well enough that you don't mind. AND, it's just as opinion...a "grain of salt" opinion. IF a big fracture did take place, you could pump pain pills in him and then do what needs to be done. Anyone who's had a broken vne can tell you it hurts, but the pain meds would take over fairly quickly.
Again, there is no right or wrong here. You still have a lot more information to get. And right now, Chuck is feeling so hapy and so good and I don't think that will change anytime soon. And I'd dedinitely get more info before deciding anything!
Is the "inevitable" they are referring to a fracture or eventualy that rotten disease?? Well, everyone already nows that that piece of crap disease is usualy, not always, but usualky "inevitable".
Hope you dn't mind me voicing an opinion. You KNOW it's well intended and coming from a place of love for you and Chuck!
What time do you usualky have a glass of wine? NOW is the perfect time! And if you dn't drink, NOW ia the perfect time to start!! Or, do like I do, eat chocolate til you puke!!
Sally and Hapy Hannah
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!
Lol I want opinions. No one is really willing to give them to me. I tried calling teaching hospitals here to discuss their thoughts on braces and they won't give me any advice without being seen. I just want to be informed without relying on Google. Without having to bring chuck to every doc under the sun. I don't have the luxury of time to drive him all over. I respect my current docs but neither feel a brace is a good idea. And neither are convinced that amp is either. But I guess if my option is put to sleep now, or die trying .. is it bad or wrong or unethical to try? I really don't know. I'm so so lousy because I have a hard time pts now too. But in the end what is better? Yah the inevitable is the effing disease. Ef this effing disease.
sigh.
Okay, "m gonna' tweek somehng (no...ot 'twerk'!) you sais.....because it really does boil down to this.....
1. Die now withoit trying
2. Die after cntinuing on and doing everything to keep him pain free and nappy until....and IF......a bad break. At that point the decision would be made and it would also be clear what Chuck would want. (and maybe there are even bone bulding thigs that can be given...others can chime in on that.
3. Die after trying an amputation that, AFTER recovery may give him more extended quality time. OR, he may not be ale to recover from the surgery.
Since I'm breaking my "don't express my opinio rule" so very well.....and you did give me permission.....for me, and I'm not in your shoes, for me I'd take number one off the table!
That leaves two and three......and until you can get some more information.
I'm not IN our shoes Lorei, but please kow I'm walking beside you in mine and we are all holdingyour hand tightly and won't let go.
From my heart, love to you and the "Chuckster"
Sally and Happy Hannah
And PS.....dn't worry, we've got a lot of us in tripawd land who will be googling for you, okay?
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!
Not a vet, obviously, but when we were faced with three options...wait for a horrible traumatic fracture (as opposed to a hairline type one), euthanize, or amp... We took amp. Yes, we had contraindications...but my preference was to roll the dice on the amp. If we euthanized right then, there was 0% chance of survival. No matter what the % with the amp, it was better than that.
Not many vets will give you opinions, and for good reasons. We are absolutely lucky in that we have a vet who knows us, and who we consider a friend... I trust his judgement, and he's willing to say what he'd do in our shoes...as an owner. What he'd do if he were us, I mean. It's a relationship worth it's weight in gold, for sure. But probably rather uncommon. 
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Hi Lori
I too am not a vet but I was blessed with two vets who gave me their own opinions about the amputation for Tuck.
Tuck was not an ideal candidate - front leg amputation on a deep chested 100 pound lab who had mild dysplasia in his one hip! The surgeon asked my vet one question - are there any clinical signs of the dysplasia and when she said no he said then let's do it! Tuck has done really well and I am so happy that I made the choice I did.
It really sounds like you do not have a lot of choices left for Chuck - and I agree with Sally that the choice behind door #1 is no choice at all!
I know you will do what is best for Chuck....and for your family.
Thinking of you!
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
I would amputate ASAP. He is already probably used to walking on 3 legs anyway. I may have already told you this story but I treated a large male St Bernard for OSA a few years ago. Initially the people did not want to consider amputation but after several months the tumor was very large and had broken through the skin and was bleeding and smelly and the dog was walking on 3 legs. We took chest xrays to verify no lung mets and then amputated. The dog did great and lived 8 more months without any chemo and then developed skin masses that eventually did spread to the lungs but he was happy and did great until the last few days.
Splinting is really not an option in such a big dog so you really need to decide quickly. In my opinion your choices are to put him to sleep before the fracture becomes worse/more painful or amputate now. Pain meds are really just a band-aid at this stage.
Pam
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