Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We are one week shy of our 9 month ampuversary and are now entering pawspice. 
The Zometa injection unfortunately did not work for his hypertrophic osteopathy so we are discontinuing that. At this point we are going to try adding in a narcotic patch to help make him more comfortable. And may alter current pain med regimen if our regular vet recommends that. So the idea now is just keeping him as happy and comfy as possible.
The onco doc suggested we could try a surgery to remove lung mets - once those are gone, the HO would resolve. But we decided not to go that route and instead just enjoy what time we have left.
I'm sad but I guess I knew this day was coming eventually.
So sorry to hear this news, but I have to agree with you, that at some point (which is probably different for each of us), there have been enough surgeries and it is just time to enjoy whatever time is left. Will be thinking of you.
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. Â
Wherever they are, they are together.
It wasn't too many years ago that there was no such thing as "pawspice". There were no additional ways to help keep our pets comfortable so they could still enjoy more loving and spoiling until it was their "time".
I'm soooo.glad you have a Vet who is up to date in ways to continue to help keep Chance happy and comfortable!
PLEASE know that you have ALWAYS made THE best decisions for Chance, and ALWAYS WILL!! And while ChanceyPants has had great extended quality time (and hopefully more of that to co.e), he certainly has had some mighty bad luck. "Generally", you ger dogs don't get osteo...."ge erally" HO is very rare. Guess it's jisrt my way of saying to pursue more sugery that is "iffy" at best as far as a good outcome....well.....it sure doesn't seem like the odds would be in his favor.
This saddens us all ao deeply. We've certainly been touched vy the resiliency of this youngster! So very touched. As you knkw, there will be plenty of time to grieve, vut not today, not while Chance is still vy your side. Nope, you won't waste one second of your precious time together. And we are all here to help you stay in the moment in any way we can.
You know Chance better than anyone. I have a very, very strong "sense" this is EXACTLY the way he would want you to handle this on his behalf........EXACTLY THE WAY HE WOULD WANT YOU TO HANDLE THIS ON HIS BEHALF!!!!!!!
Chance DOES have some mighty good luck though when it comes to having THE BEST HUMANS a dog could ever choose!!
Now, what creative ways are you coming up with to spoil Chance even more (if that's possible)! And you KNOW we have to have pictures, right'?
Ice cream cones....pictures of Chance eating an ice cream cone, have any of those?
Lots and lots of hugs and 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 am so, so sorry that the injection did not work. It didn't work for Fionn either and I had such high hopes. You have done everything you could for Chance and he had 9 months that most dogs with osteo don't even get the opportunity to have. Make Chance's last days- however many that might be- full of love and memories of your journey together. Take LOTS of pictures and make sure YOU are in them. I was angry about the HO, and, if I'm honest, I still am, but it's a useless exercise. Choose to celebrate the good times with some ice cream, steak, visits from Chance's friends, whatever makes him happy!
Blessings and cyber hugs to you and Chance
Nancy and Angel Fionn
Nancy- mom to the FABULOUS Fionn. He rescued me in 2015 when he was 6.Â
Right front leg amputation at age 7 for osteosarcoma 10/6/16. Taken too soon 6/12/17. Read about our journey here:
http://fionnsjo.....pawds.com/
Nancy.....always good to hear from you and to see Fionnx wo derful avatr. He's always with us, okay? ALWAYS! NEVER FORGOTTEN HERE!
With 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'm so sorry to hear this, Patricia. Your love for Chance and your dedication to his wellbeing have shone from every one of your posts. And now again you are guided by Chance and by your determination to do what is best for him. He is extraordinarily lucky to have picked a Mum like you. I hope that the meds will allow you as much comfortable, quality time together as possible. Time for lots of love and spoiling. We will be thinking of you.
Big hug,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 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 Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Dang I'm sad to hear this. Please know you did everything possible to fight the HO. We are so sad the injection didn't work, but at least you can know in your heart that you gave it all you've got. And you still are.
Helping Chance through this transition time is the work of angels on earth, he is so lucky to have a human like you working with vets and making sure that every minute of his life is spent happy, loved and comfortable. This is a hard time but it's a beautiful thing you are doing for him. Give him extra love from all of us and spoil that boy rotten.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thanks everyone. Indeed Chance has been dealt some crappy luck -- getting Osteo at 2 years of age, doing great post amp but then developing HO, not responding to HO drugs...etc etc.
Before all of this happened we were on track to get him certified as a CGC dog (canine good citizen) and was planning on having him be a Foster "dad" to other pups and dogs in need. He loves absolutely all dogs and people and is the sweetest most caring soul. Alas, none of this will come to pass.
The forums are helpful to read. It helps knowing we are not alone. But I sincerely wish none of our pups ever had to go through any of this.
I am making chicken thighs tonight for Chance and heading out now to pick up more raw marrow bones (his fave!)
Oh no, I am so sad to read this. We just love Chanceypants and think he's the most beautiful boy. I hope the new pain management regimen buys you a little time to spoil him rotten.
We never do have enough time ... no matter how much we get, it always feels like we've been cheated. But Chance is such a young boy so it does make me extra sad. I suppose that the good news is that he will have lots and lots of friends waiting for him when it's his turn to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
We are here for you so please lean on us!
Sending love,
Amy and IzzyÂ
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Hear ye! Hear ye! It is now official and Sally would like everypawdy to know that:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for getting this posted Rene!
Chance "don't need no stinkin' fancy training class" ......this boy was born with all the heart needed to be a "good" citizen! And there is nomother dog on the Planet who has his certificate signed by THE Head Honcho!! 🙂
Lots and lots of 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!
LOVE IT! Sending hugs to you and Chance. Print that baby out and hang it by his bed! 🙂
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
We are almost at 'the end'. It became clear to us yesterday. Chance's HO in his back right leg is so bad now that he will only gingerly use that leg- so he is basically a two-pawd. We were going to take him for a swim but realized that it would likely just make the leg feel worse and that making him suffer more is just not worth it at this point. We took him for a fresh fentanyl patch and upped the dose to 75 mcg (he had been doing 50 for the past month).Â
To say we are devastated is an understatement. He is only 3 1/2 years old and we want more time with him. But he can't do hikes or swims anymore, we haven't done any kind of 'walk' at all. All the things he loves. And now we just feel like we are keeping him around because we don't want to say goodbye. He is still happy and has spirit but surely the HO is uncomfortable. And we are maxed out on pain meds already. 5 different ones!Â
Right now we are thinking of scheduling an at home euthanasia for Wed or Thurs. We really don't want to. I would do anything in my power to save him. It sucks just picking some arbitrary day. How do you pick? Everyone seems to wait for some kind of 'sign' from their dog. Even if Chance couldn't walk or eat at all, he would still have a happy look on his face and wag his tail and 'talk' to us in his happy little way of talking. I don't think he will ever say 'enough is enough, Mom'. That's just how he is. Perpetually happy no matter what.Â
What a terrible disease. I hope they figure out why it occurs so often. I will still always blame myself. I know I'm not supposed to do that but I will.Â
I'm so, so very sorry to hear about Chance. You're right this is a terrible disease but there is just no way in the world that you should ever blame yourself. None of us have any control over cancer and are just doing the best we can to make decisions with limited information for our kiddos. You clearly love Chance to pieces and would never have wished him any pain. You have done an incredible job of extending his time and making him happy and comfortable. You would do anything for him and will be there for him through every impossible decision. There is no greater gift and we can only hope that we have someone like you to love us until the very end. I wish you many happy moments, just love him up, that's all he wants.Â
With much love,
 Amy & Rusty
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