Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm in complete shock as to how quickly things deteriorated with Lily....
Last Friday, Lily was at A&M for restaging and continued chemo (we had switched over to Doxorubicin since she had mets while on the Carboplatin protocol). She had been experiencing some mild right rear leg pain that was well controlled with Metacam. Repeat nuclear bone scan showed that the OSA had metastasized to her lungs, neck and proximal femur (reason for the limp). When I got her back from A&M the next morning, she was markedly more painful in the right rear leg...which they attributed to positioning during the bone scan.
We started on Palladia last Saturday and Metacam every other day (to decrease the chance of GI side effects) but I noticed that the limp wasn't improving...Over the course of this week, her pain continued to get worse and she required max dose Tramadol every 4 hours scheduled. The breaking point was last night...I had been sleeping on the floor with her for the past several nights to watch her closely...Tramadol stopped controlling her pain and she was refusing to pee or poop (not because she didn't want to go but that it was too painful for her to squat). I was up all night with her trying to make her as comfortable as possible and couldn't...went to the vet early this morning and repeated right rear leg x rays...no evidence on xray of mets but we knew it was there from the bone scan....they made her comfortable with hydromorphone thankfully...I didn't want Lily's remaining time on this earth to consist of being doped up on narcotics to keep her around for me...I knew this time would come, I just didn't expect it so suddenly! Logically, I'm at peace because I know that I did absolutely everything in my power to fight the cancer. I know setting her free from her cancer riddled body was the right thing to do for us but I'm heartbroken...A huge piece of my heart died with her today...
I will always love you my sweet girl! Go harrass all those heavenly squirrels!!
I want to thank everyone on this site for sharing their information and experiences in addition to their support and words of encouragement...give all your pups a big hug and kiss today and cherish every day you have!
Lily is 9 y/o Shepherd/Lab/Pit mix who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 5/26/2012. Left front ampuversary 5/29/12. Eastern and Western medicine used to attack the cancer. Splenectomy secondary to mets 8/24/12. Mets to right rear femur, neck and lungs 9/21/12. Sweet Lily fought hard for 4 months and earned her wings on 9/27/12. Run free and chase those squirrels my love bug!
I am so sorry for your loss. Each tripawd loss leaves a whole in the heart. You and Lily fought a brave battle. May you find peace in the happy memories you shared.
RIP sweet Lily. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
My thoughts are with you. Letting them go is the hardest decision to make but you gave your sweet Lily a great life and chance to beat this horrible disease.
What out squirrels, here comes Lily!!!
-Kori & Angel Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
I'm so sorry Lily's tripawd journey came to an end today. I am very glad that you are at peace with your decision, but that in no way makes it any less painful. You did all you could for your girl, and gave her the most unselfish gift today.
Lily will always be in your heart and so will always be by your side.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Allison,
I am so very very sorry for your loss. You did do everything possible for Lily and there is much peace with that knowledge, but unfortunately that does make the pain any less when we lose them. Please accept my condolences and know that you will be in my thoughts.
Lisa
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/
I'm so sorry you didn't get to have more time with Lily. Cancer has its own rules and we never know what they are in advance. That's probably the hardest part. But you gave Lily the chance and you and she had extra time together. I'm sure she was thankful that you did.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I'm so sorry to hear Lily has passed. She fought a courageous battle. Sending healing thoughts to you.
I'm so sorry to hear that Lilly has passed. She is running pain free now!
Like you said, you did everything you could for her and i hope you have peace in knowing that. It's a great gift to them to be able to set them free of their pain. It was an unselfish thing you had to do today. When their pain ends ours is just starting.
Hang in there. Thinking of you at this horrible time. She will always be with you in your heart!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Oh no! I'm so heartbroken to read this sad news. To have things happen so quickly like this is such a shock, please accept my deepest condolences.
You are such a great pawrent, and did everything possible for Lily for so long, right up until the very end. I hope you can take comfort in knowing that she didn't suffer, and went on to the Rainbow Bridge without pain or sadness. May her spirit stay close to your heart and shine brightly in your life forever.
My heart goes out to you at this difficult time, I'm so very sorry.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry for your loss. The end can come very quickly and what you have described sounds so much like what happened with Magnum that my heart just breaks for you.
You know that you did everything you could for Lily and she knows that you did too. She was loved and treasured and given the ultimate gift of freedom from her pain.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about Lily. It is so hard when things happen quickly at the end. You did everything for her and more, she was such a loved girl.
We send huge hugs to you,
Joanne & Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
You are in my thoughts as you grieve for Lily. I'm so sorry you lost your beautiful girl. She fought hard and gave it all she had; cancer really is the most miserable thing I can think of.
Catherine
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
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