Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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luke4275 said
Were you offered cyberknife radiation.? ( 3 consec days of powereful radiation .. 1 hour session) I did this with simon in February and a ct scan shows clean lungs... Note: I might have caught this earlier than most.You said the needle aspirate showed clear? Did you get a firm diagnosis for osteosarcoma via the cells? You do need this diagnosis to take the vaccine,, so be sure you have this.. all the best to you
We were not offered that though I have started to look into it.
The chest X-ray was clear, but needle aspirate was probable osteosarcoma- but not 100% confirmed. Vet said they could do a bone biopsy, but that it was highly likely to be anything else and the bone biopsy results could cost valuable time and lead to potential fracture.
Can the cyber knife radiation be done if amputation is an option? Is it considered palliative care? I’m confused by it. If it helps prevent the spread and controls pain, wouldn’t everyone do it?
thanks in advance!
the cyberknife replaces the amputation. Biopsy not a good idea. I think that a diagnosis of probable likely osteosarcoma is usually enough to get in a vaccine trial. You might want to ask your doctor to look into that for you or else consider an additional needle biopsy when or if your dog is put on there anesthesia.
You can private message me. Though many people here might learn from your question as well
Hey Mango and Mom 🐾🌸
Wishing you the best for sweet Mango tomorrow and please remember my Angel Eurydice is going to stay by his side and will not leave until surgery is over 🐮🌟
Miss Cow has a lot on her plate tomorrow with three sweet pups to watch over but she is an Angel and everything is possible for an Angel, as we so well know 🧚🏼♂️
Sending you an avalanche of kisses and a cloud of sausage shaped cuddles to your sweet boy 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thank you for your thoughts and wishes! Mango’s surgery went well, but he is having a tough time recovering. We were hoping to bring him home today, but vet wanted to keep him another night because he wasn’t up and walking yet. He has stood up twice but didn’t get too far. He did start eating a bit today and we were able to visit him.
It was heartbreaking. He wagged his tail when he saw us but didn’t attempt to get up. I felt horrible leaving him again.
Vet is hopeful he’ll be able to go home with us tomorrow so I’m crossing my fingers!
thanks again for thinking of us!
Mango is exactly where he needs ro be until he can get a vit steadier on his paws. He's still heavily medicated and quite woozy. It's not unusual at all for dogs to stay two, or even three nights, and some even more.
And he's already eating some?? That's great news! And you got some tail wags? Even better news!
Keep in mind this is major surgery and Mango is not up for a pawty.....yet!
We'll look for your update tomorrow. Get some rest.
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!
Ohhh I hope he can come home this weekend! Let us know and don't get discouraged, this is not at all uncommon.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey sweetie 🌸
I’m sure you felt pretty overwhelmed seeing him right after surgery but, as Sally and Rene say it’s as expected.
He’s just been through major surgery and needs to adjust to his new normal.
That takes time.
Arm yourself with patience and let him rest as much as possible, resting is crucial during the first couple of weeks.
Is he back home yet?
Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Update- he’s finally home! Took a long while with the vet due to bandaging issues, but he’s home. 
He’s VERY shaky, but was able to walk a little with the Ruffwear harness (thanks for the suggestion!) and lots of help.
It’s tough to see him so unsure, (and he’s still super loopy from pain meds and fentanyl patch) but just happy we can focus on recovery now.
I wont be able to express how much the support I’ve found on this site helped me. Truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Don’t know if you all get paid to support people like this, but you should! 
HAPPY TEARS!!!! MANGO IS HOME!!! YAAAAAAAAY!!!😁😁😁
Mango is DEFINITELY loopy and slightly whacked right now, especially with the patch! So dont let any of that concern you, it's all part of the meds! He may be vocal and restless, or he may be completely zonked...it can go either way.
STAY CONNECTED! You've got a bit of a bumpy road for a week or so, maybe a bit more, then eventually smooth sailing!!
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!
Sugar bun 🌸
I am SOOOOO happy to hear this 😍
Mango is back into your loving arms and even if he is frail he KNOWS he is home !!!
Do not get discouraged, he needs time to adjust and above all he needs rest and drugs on time.
It may seem there is very little progress for a little while but even if you can't see it, he will be adapting and will get over recovery.
Don't expect him to be energetic for a while, we can all assure you he will turn the corner in due course.
We ain't going anywhere so reach out to us anytime you want!
Sending you an avalanche of kisses and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Mango update 🙂
he is doing really well now. Definitely struggles at times, but overall, he's way more mobile than I expected.
He does cry out really loudly sometimes at times after he's stood up... seems like something really hurts him, but we can't tell exactly what it is. But he recovers.
Last night he slept almost all the way through the night which was so great. Definitely a big change after the fentanyl patch came off.
the biggest successes have been him being able to get up on the couch into his favorite look-out spot, returning to begging for food a little, AND GET THIS- he voluntarily got in and out of his dog door this morning! We have been home with him constantly so he hasn't had to use it, but this morning he did it on his own... i never expected that he would be able to do this again. It was pretty exciting and nice to see.
We go back to the Vet tomorrow to look over staples and potentially re-bandage. I'll be relieved to see how the vet thinks he's doing.
thanks again for all the support and encouragement. I still have moments where I'm so sad he only has 3 legs, just because it does take so much more effort for him to do things, but overall, its feeling more and more like we made the right call. Hopefully we will have many many more months to love him.
Oh sweetie I cannot tell how happy your update makes me feel ☺️
So happy for you and for Mango, he is adapting well and showing you a glimpse of all he will be able to do in a not too distant future!
I bet he feels very proud of himself, owning his couch again and going through the doggie door ! Wow ! Well done Mango 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
As for the screaming, it sounds like phantom pain , something to ask your vet tomorrow.
I totally hear you when you say you feel sad he only has three legs, it is such a pity our babies have to go through that ...
Sadly we are left with no options, cancer sucks and we have to do what is best for them.
Mango is happy and he will have a great life on 3, our pups are wonderful and teach us so much about enjoying life to the full, accepting what we cannot change and making the most of it.
Let us know what the vet says tomorrow, I bet he’s gonna be impressed with all Mango has achieved so far 😊
Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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