Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone
I'm hoping someone will have an idea or know of where to buy a forearm splint.
I have a 12yr old golden retriever (Bear) with hemangiosarcoma in the liver/spleen/lungs. We now think that it has spread to her right foreleg. Hemangiosarcoma itself is a relatively painless cancer, but now that we think it has shown up in the bone she is limping slightly.
We are looking for a splint to help support her leg that would go from under her foot to just barely above the elbow. All of the splints I'm finding go to the mid-foreleg, so not quite long enough.
I know most people's pets on here have amputations rather than splints, but am hoping that you might have some ideas or maybe used splints before amputation.
Thanks
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer and Bear, thanks for joining us. We're so sorry that you're coping with hemangio, it's a disease we're all too familiar with here.
Have you talked to your regular vet or a rehab vet about using a splint? I ask because it would be good to know if the splint will help or make things worse, before you spend the money on one. Since I know they can run into the hundreds of dollars, it would be good to get a medical opinion before doing so.
If you have gotten to go-ahead to try one, Orthopets in Denver is one of the most well-regarded companies out there.
Amputation or not, we're here to help any way we can make this journey easier. Give Bear a big hug from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thanks, it was actually my vets idea.
She gave me a flier for orthovet and when I looked at the website instructions on how to order, the splints only came up to the mid fore-arm. If I ordered it big enough for length, then the foot-carpal pad sizing was too big.
I'll check out that website
So sorry to hear about Bear. As one that has had to deal with hemangio twice, I know how it isn't good.
Have you tried thera-paw? http://www.therapaw.com/ I have a small one. Since they are an adjustable velcro with wrap straps, you can move it up or down and go to a bigger size for a longer length.
I hope it works out for you. Again, I'm sorry about the cancer.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Thanks
I talked to my onco vet and she said it is definitely a tumor. We can't be 100% sure, but most likely a metastasis of the hemangio.
She wants me to switch from Tramadol (which my vets gave me since they weren't sure about cross-reactivity issues with all of her cancer drugs) to rimadyl.
I'm going to go in to see onco vet on Tuesday (the next time she is in my area). She wants to try a bisphosphatane that she says almost immediately causes bone pain to go away and can even help regrow bone. Does anyone have any experience with that?
She also did warn me that it can come back somewhere else, and that there can be a fracture.
To me the swelling actually looks worse today. When she first gets up and starts moving, she's limping pretty bad and it breaks my heart to see it. It does seem like the limping gets a little better as she moves around and isn't quite so noticeable.
I'm still trying to decide what I want to do. The one good thing about hemangiosarcoma is it was painless.....
Here is information here on Tripawds about bisphosphonates :
http://tripawds.....an-option/
We have had a few people here that has had hemangio show up in the bone. The one thing I remember is that it is painful when in the bone.
I know it's not painful when it only affects the organs which is why it is a silent killer since there is no warning until a tumor ruptures. I'm sure the oncologist will give you a better idea.
Wishing you all the best.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I'm so sorry. This is a tough spot. It sounds like you have a great vet team though, so I would rely on them to help guide you in the right direction for your pup. Bisphosphonates work very well in many dogs, I hope it does for yours too. Keep us posted oK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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