Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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i am thinking of getting a miniature schnauzer puppy. my dog mickey is 9 years old. he has hemangiosarcoma. he has
had a left front leg amputation and has 3 chemo treatments left. he is the only dog i have. i live alone in a house. i
was thinking it might be better to get another dog while mickey is still around. i am just not sure if its a good idea.
mickey was around another dog for 1 year, after i purchased him at 10 weeks old. he did okay. it might be easier on me
if i already have another dog before mickey has to be put down, but i need to do what is best for mickey. i greatly
appreciate any feedback. this is a hard decision.
judy
Just wanted to say I'm sorry your sweet boy Mickey is having to deal with these challenges. We all understand how emotional this whole journey is. Your love for Mickey comes shining through!
We understand why this decision is tough. I'm no vet and I can only offer just an "opimion" Assuming Mickey is feeling good and not having any side effects from his treatment, not having any trouble navigating, etc., it may be good for him...and you...and the pupoy ..to liven things up a bit by brining in a youngster. Generalky, "older" dogs get an extra surge of energy when a new dog is brought into the house.
I think it will bring you great comfort knowing Micky showed the new puppy the "ropes". And besides, I think Mickey will be around for a long time and has mo intention of going anywhere anytime soon!
Your well being is important to Mickey. He wants you to be happy. And a puppy may work wonders for both of you!
Keep us posted..."talk" it over with Mickey and let us know what "he" decides!
Higs and best wishes to you and Mickey. We are here for you, okay?
Sally and Happy 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!
Hi Judy,
So sorry you are dealing with this ugly "c" with your Mickey ,,,,,I also lost my Polly to this crappy cancer in February, as well as my sweet black Lab Maggie less than 3 years ago. I certainly know the feelings you are having, all the way around.......When I lost my very first lab several years ago, I had no other dog in the house and it was terrible. And I do not live alone.......I have a husband and daughter, but I swore I would never go through that again. In July of 2011, when I lost my sweet Maggie very quickly to hemangiosarcoma, I already had my Polly....having her saved me from going off the deep end, for sure. Fast forward to December 2012, I decided since Polly was my only " pup child" I needed to get another black Lab sister for her and got on the waiting list for a pup from the breeder I got my Maggie from. Less than 2 months later, I was once again pulled into the awful ordeal of dealing with cancer with my Polly. I had horrible apprehension about bringing a new pup into the house with this situation, also knowing that my Polly may not tolerate another pup in the house with her. We went ahead with bringing a new 8 week old pup home about 1 week after my Polly had her first leg surgery for her cancer. The extreme apprehensiveness very quickly was relieved, as not only did Polly accept her, they bonded almost immediately.
Now I am not saying this will happen all the time between a new pup and an older one, but I can tell you, that not only has this new pup helped me through one of the WORST times of my life, when I lost my precious Polly, she also helped my Polly through her cancer ordeal..... Polly was like a puppy again herself, even through the awful effects of chemo. My new pup Pearl adored Polly and is now quite lonely but I am very much trying to rectify that........
I know this is a personal decision for you, but I thought I would share my experience with this situation, and also my feelings about it.....I have truly embraced the 2 pups-at-a-time kind of life.
Best wishes to you, and keeping you in my thoughts.....keep us posted on Mickey, and there is a ton of support here for you, to help you in any way......
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Hi Judy,
I was in the same boat as you. I am single and lost my soul mate, Shelby, to hemangiosarcoma, in April. It's an awful cancer for sure. As far as getting a new puppy - I think that is a very personal decision. It was very hard to come home the first weeks to an empty home. It was painfully silent and I was without a purpose. Many told me I looked "dead" in my own eyes. It is/was the worst heartache I have ever been through since the loss of a parent. Would a young puppy have helped me? Helped Shelby? I don't know. Shelby and I were so bonded there is a part of me that thought Shelby would have resented a new dog. She didn't care much for other dogs in her later years in life (she was never mean but just didn't want to play).
I just recently got a new dog, Jasper, and I know that in the prime of her life, she and Shelby would have been the greatest of friends! But as tired and mellow as Shelby was, she probably would have hated Jasper and I wouldn't have been able to bond with Jasper (as is, I am having a hard time with that even though Jasper is an only dog).
For me, I wanted to have Shelby live out her remaining years as queen of the castle and being the only girl that got my attention. But that is just me. I know others who have gotten a dog while their dog was ill that has helped distract and ease the pain of the loss.
Wishing you all the best and am so sorry about Mikey.
I see you have gotten the positive side of this scenario so I hope my opposite view doesn't offend you. I am just saying, for me, it wasn't in the cards! Keep us posted and regardless, we are all here for you!
Alison & her Shelby fur-ever in her heart
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
So sorry for what you are going through, Judy. It's definitely a very personal decision and depends so much on the dog in question. In our case -- even pre-amp -- Lexie has never been a huge fan of young puppies; too bouncy and 'in her face' and demanding of attention. However, she loves adult dogs and older, very mellow puppies.
When Lexie was about 8 I ended up fostering then adopting Milo, who was around 2 at the time. Still very energetic and fun, but through the bad chewing stage, housebroken, and far less demanding than a newer puppy. I'm convinced that having Milo has helped Lexie stay young.
Just for what it's worth... Dealing with the different stages of cancer and research, vet appointments and specialists, etc., plus working full-time, has been time-consuming and at various times exhausting and emotionally draining--but it's a gift that's allowed Lexie and me to bond even more. And I've met some incredible people here. Even if Lexie was an 'only' and she liked puppies I feel like there's no way I could be a good advocate for her and simultaneously be a good parent of a new puppy. Both roles are so time intensive and demanding. But that's just me; your situation and Mickey's type of cancer could be very different.
Just a thought--Any chance you could work with a breed rescue to foster a mellow, less needy younger dog and see how Mickey does with him/her? Even if you took Mickey to the breeder to see how he interacts with a puppy it can be a different story at home, which is why fostering can be such a win/win.
Coincidentally we ended up dog-sitting for my in-law's adult dogs about 2 weeks post amp, and I do think having them around was a good distraction for Lexie.
Bottom line...only you know what's best for you and your precious Mickey. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Online
It really depends on the dog and how he is getting around. Sometimes a puppy is an annoyance to an older dog especially if the older dog doesn't have a safe place where the puppy can't get to him. Some dogs like to be the only dog and some are very social so it really is a unique situation for every dog and owner. Just remember that puppies are a lot of work!
Pam
I cannot add much to the new puppy scenario, but I do have 2 remaining dogs. Yes I had 3:) I think they helped me a lot. Our Corgi, Lucy took it upon herself to be Ty's " nurse ". The first place she went every morning was to get him up. I think the routine of feeding, playing etc. helped. I am not sure I could have done the no dog thing. I did it one time before and it lasted all of 2 months. A lot may depend on vet visits etc. It is hard to leave a puppy alone for long periods. I had the advantage of having adult dogs. I think you have to go with your heart on this one. There is no real right or wrong. Love from, Lori and Ty
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.
I'll support what most everyone is saying here: it's up to Mickey. Does Mickey want a companion? Can Mickey keep up with one? Or does Mickey want to and need to absorb all your love and attention? Jackson is a 1-dog guy and I know it would destroy him if we shared our love with another. We'll have to endure his end days and departure in silence...
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
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