Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi there,
I've been reading on these forums for the past few days since my dog was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right rear femur
she is an 11 year old mix breed, shepard/collie and 57 other things.
besides some gray hair on the snout she really always seemed the same as she was when she was 3 or 4 years old.
She is a very sensitive dog and I am worried that she wont be able to handle the process, or maybe I am more worried I won't be able to handle the process.
I understand that the statistic is 6 months to a year even with chemo and amputation and I just want her to have the best quality of life before its her time.
right now she is still mobile and sometimes using her leg, she has been on gabapentin and derramax and I think the gabepentin is making her vomit and have diarhea so I am concerned about her pain management post-op.
Also my house is a split level so no matter what she has to go up or down 6 stairs to do her business. She has been managing on 3 legs for a few weeks now, traction for the stairs helped, and also encouragement as she is sometimes hesitant. I am worried how I willl maneuver her when she comes home. I don't want to hurt or stress her more by making her do these stairs. My only option would be putting a big tent in the backyard and staying out there with her while the weather is nice!
Sometimes reading on here I feel like its something that I should do, and other times I wonder if I should just take her in the car for the best road trip of her life with lots of picnics and treats until she can't go any more.
Any words of advice or encouragement would be so much appreciated
Her name is Seeker, I will post some pictures for you guys later
Hello and welcome. Your future posts will not require approval.
I'm sorry to hear about Seeker's diagnosis. Have you asked your vet about the symptoms you're seeing from the meds she's on and your concerns about post-op pain management ? If not, I'd start there.
The stairs are definitely a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. You say she's already doing the stairs on 3 legs, so that's a good sign. You can also get a harness with a support handle to help her. I like the Ruffwear Flagline .
Every cancer journey is unique and there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to what treatment to persue (or not). It comes down to what you cna live with.
Seeker is stunn8ng.....all 57 mixes!
We know how scary it is ro try and navigate a path forward when first hearing the "diagnosis". You have definitely come to the roght place for support and I information from people who understand.
One thing to remember is every dog os different. Some dogs blow statistics out of the water with or without chemo, some don't. For now keep things chunked down and focus on research uou need to do as far as amp. You can decide on chemo (or not) later.)
Have you jad Seeker evaluated by an Orthopedic Sirgeon? They can confirm if she's a good can for sirgery and life on three. It sounds like she's fit and vibrant.
The fact that she's limping and holding g her paw up is showing pain. Amputation gets rid of the pain and restores quaility so Seeker can be Seeker again.
Speak to your Vet about the vomiting and diarrhea. Generally they are not side effects of the Gabapentin. What dose is she on and the frequency? You might also ask about Amanditine (sp). Maybe the Deramaxx is causing the issues? If for some reason she is having symptons from the Gaba, (which is rare), the Vet can come up with other ways to manage the pain after surgee.
worried that she wont be able to handle the process, or maybe I am more worried I won't be able to handle the process.
Yeah......it will be harder on uou than Seeker😉 We'll be right by your side the whole way to help you and answer any questions you have aalong the way. Sure, it's major surgery and she'll need two weeks of recovery....rest, rest, rest, short potty breaks and more rest. May take a few days to fet her ses legs. Has Mischi said, you can get a harness or make a towel sling to help her with stairs. Usually a rear legger can go down stairs easier than up bec they only have one leg for propulsion. You will be amazed thoigh how good she feels with that painful leg gone and recovery is complete.
STAY CONNECTED!!! YOU ARE NOT ALKNE!! Smooches to beautiful Seeker.
Hugs
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!
Hi, thank you for the kind replies.
Today has been a rollercoaster of unfortunate news for Seeker. Her vomiting got exponentially worse last night with her not even being able to keep water down. Her oncologist took her off the derammax that she has been on for 2 months now to help with the pain in her leg.
Today I had seeker in the back yard to get some fresh air and she would not eat and looked more down than I have ever seen her before. I tried to get her up to head to the E.R regarding vomiting and both her back legs gave out, as I got her in the car she was howling in pain like I had never heard her before. Possibly because she was not keeping down any of the gabapentin and off the deramaxx for the first time.
The vet techs did a echo of her organs and noticed that her spleen and liver were quite enlarged. They determine that it is possibly another kind of lymphoma or rare cancer.
She was schedule for amputation on Tuesday and told she would be a good candidate and I do not know why they did not check anything else besides her lungs
I've been reading terrible things about Deramaxx over the past few days and am concerned this might be the issue with her organs but the vets dont seem to think so.
The vet that was at the E.R was on her own with no other technicians, I've accepted the fact that seeker will probably not be a good candidate for amputation if she has probably another type of cancer to her organs.
We were going to say are last good byes this after noon but I chose to keep her one night over at the hospital until her oncologist arrives back tomorrow to give her a proper prognosis.
Yesterday was the first day I was really feeling confident for her amputation and journey forward but after the past 24 hours I do not see much hope.
- I’m so sorry. I can only commiserate with you on feeling beaten down by this cancer and, like no matter what you try to do, things just don’t go as planned and hopes getting crushed quickly. My dog hasn’t been able to tolerate the NSAID’s or many other medications and it makes it extremely difficult. I need to give him these things for pain but his stomach gets so upset that it ends up being a choice between stomach pain, terrible diarrhea, nausea or pain from his leg and, now that he’s doing chemo, I have no idea what is causing which symptom at this point. I think you’re doing the best thing at you can at the moment by waiting one night to see what the actual diagnosis is. The ER gave you kind of a vague explanation and I think you might end up with “what ifs” if you based your decision on that.
Thank you for sharing your story. I can relate to the ups and downs of emotions and it's absolutely heartbreaking and exhausting. I commend you for continuously trying to make things better for your pup, you're doing an amazing job. They are so so so lucky to have you as their friend and caregiver. I bet you feel the same about Seeker too! A dynamic duo you are!! I hope the oncologist brings you answers and know that we are all here for you.
Pola & Bury
I am so sorry- I can unfortunately empathize with the whiplash that is cancer in dogs. I hope you get some concrete answers today, but regardless of the outcome please remind yourself that everything you have done and will do is "for" Seeker not "to" her. You are making the best decisions you can with the information you have/had at the time. I know how impossible it feels to make some of these decisions with so little information or confidence in treatment.
Seeing as osteosarcoma is one of the most aggressive cancers there is; if it's a different cancer that is very possibly great news (relatively of course), the optimist in me can't help but hope this for Seeker. You two are in my thoughts, and I hope you keep us in the loop regardless of the news.
Hi guys, thank you for everything.
unfortunately Seeker did not make it through the night at the hospital. They called me around 530 a.m to notify me that she had passed.
The oncologist reviewed everything and regrettably admitted that he overlooked some of the radiology report where they noticed she had an englarged liver and spleen because he was so focused on the bones and lung and compensated the entire cost of her aquamation
He is really surprised how rapidly she went downhill as it was not huge on the echoscan, and because her blood work was normal last month and even last week.
He believes it could have been a second cancer unrelated to the the bone cancer like a lymphoma, or possibly a very rare 1% cancer called Histiocytic Sarcoma.
Yesterday when I thought she was going to go down I was able to have the chance to spend some time with her alone in a private room to say my good byes, although I did hope to see her today I guess it was her time. In the end I didnt have to make the decision for her amputation or her euthanization.
Seeker was my heart dog that I had since the age of 18, she was there for me through thick and thin and I dont think I will ever feel whole again.
Thank you guys for all your support, if it ever comes to it in the future I will most definitely consider adopting a beloved tripawd
Oh Seeker- no amount of time is ever enough, but I am grateful you are no longer in pain and resting in peace.
I can hear my vet saying the same thing of being so surprised how rapidly she went downhill. This process as really helped me see that vets are still only human, and even though they are highly intelligent and have so much knowledge they don't know everything, or don't understand everything right from the get go. I'm sorry that you had to experience that first hand, but also pretty impressed the vet was so transparent about it. It doesn't sound like it would have changed the outcome, and for that I'm so incredibly sorry.
I understand the feeling less than whole, and it very possible you won't, there will always be a place in your heart that is solely for Seeker nothing and no one can fit in that place. I'm so grateful you were able to spend some private time with Seeker yesterday so you had your goodbyes, she knew she was loved.
Please feel free to reach out on here to vent or share more about Seeker. She was as lucky to have you as you were to have her.
This is not the update I was expecting. I'm so so sorry, this is heartbreaking. Seeker knew it was her time and she thanks you for everything you did for her, the time you spent with her, your affection. You were so lucky to have one another.
Pola & Bury
I’m so very sorry and know you must still be in shock. I hope it offers you at least a bit of comfort that you had that private time with her beforehand to say goodbye just in case. I wish I had better words, but am thinking of you and hoping you can find strength to get through the days ahead and comfort in the good memories.
I have been offline for several days and was completely shocked and stunned to read this very sad update on Seeker. Absolutely breaks my heart to read this. This disease is so brutal and cunning and sneaky and barbaric and seems to just do what it wants sometimes and nothing can stop it. I'm just so sorry.
We could see the loving Bond you and Seeker shared with every word you wrote. It's obvious she was the center of your universe as you were hers. Nothing can interfere with that type of connection. It truly is eternal and Unbroken. We know there are no words and we know the void is unbearable right now please stay connected and when you are up to it, share more of your life with this very special soulmate. And of course we would love pictures of this beautiful girl.
Surrounding you with all the happy memories you and Seeker shared during her Earth time with you.....
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!
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