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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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8 yr old Gabbar suspected of Osteogenic Sarcoma. Biopsy pending.
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Member Since:
14 February 2016
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21 October 2016 - 2:42 am
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My Otis was diagnosed with osteo after his leg broke.  A regular X-ray showed that the bone had been eaten away in a pattern characteristic of osteosarcoma.  In your case, however, since it could be tick related, the biopsy makes sense.  (any way he could have been bitten by the snake?  My dogs only had to deal with squirrels in their pee place.  I can't imagine a 6 foot snake being there!). I seem to remember a post here about Lyme disease (a tick borne illness) causing limb paralysis in a dog, who was then cured when the proper diagnosis was made.  So, let's hope that your vet can properly diagnose this.  But, if you do end up with amputation, don't worry about Gabbar's ability to adjust.  Once the pain he is clearly in is removed, he will do fine.

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.  

Wherever they are, they are together.



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21 May 2016
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21 October 2016 - 6:07 am
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A 6ft long snake 🐍??? 

Goodness 😳😳😳😱 !!!

Like Christine I wander, could this snake have bitten him at some point causing the infection?

I seem to remember one pup here was beaten by a spider 🕷 ...

To reply to your previous post reg X-rays versus CT scans, Eurydice did an X-ray of the leg first and it was very clear her bone was being eaten away and had exploded out on one side and then she had a PET scan the next day but this was to check whether she had metastasis anywhere in her body. 

Great to hear your boy was energetic after the snake episode and in any case if you need to amputate the leg he has just shown you he can do this 💪🏽

Sending you a big hug and cuddles to your sweetie ❤️🐾😘

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 :-) 

Virginia







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21 October 2016 - 10:47 am
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WOW!!! JUST WOW!!!! Gabbar is one very smart boy!!! Sooooo scary!!! Yikes! Still shuttering just thinking about it!!

Sooooo glad your spirits are lifted and you have your fight and determination back!!! YES, no matter what happens, you and Gabbar will meet any challenge head on and plow through any obstacles in your way!! 🙂 🙂

We'll look forward to your next update. Has his fever gone down any? Okay, I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but I think the procedure is painful, so see if the Vet will give him so e pain meds!' Okay, off my soap box. Maybe he won't need them.

Gabber, we're all cheering for you!!! And good job at staying away from snakes!!!

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!

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20 October 2016
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21 October 2016 - 10:48 am
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I doubt he would've been bitten by the snake. Gabbar & Suzy are always on leash during walks so it wouldn't have gone unnoticed.

So we have done a biopsy & X-Rayed the chest. Because it was quite late and almost closing hours, we'll get the results of the XRay along with the biopsy tomorrow evening. Till then, fingers crossed.

The vet is still hoping that it's not cancer & that it's because of an infection. Hoping for the best.

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

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20 October 2016
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21 October 2016 - 10:51 am
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And yes, along with the antibiotics, the vet has restarted Gabapentin. 300mg dose, twice a day for the pain.

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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21 October 2016 - 11:00 am
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We will be waiting for word on the test results. I know it seems like forever till they arrive but once you have more information you'll feel so much better. Glad to hear he's getting pain medication again.

Fight on Gabbar & family!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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22 October 2016 - 1:23 am
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Waiting for biopsy results to come in this evening. Had a bit of a tough morning. Gabbar was in pain all night. Couldn't give him any meds last night as the sedation given for the biopsy was still wearing off. This morning, he wasn't keen on eating but swallowed as I put morsels of food in his mouth. Gave him antibiotics as well as Gabapin for pain. He's really knocked out. Wanted to go out for a pee break. But couldn't walk. I had to carry him out and back in. Thankfully he is peeing & pooping fine. I'm hoping all this is because of the drowsiness caused by the medication and that he will get used to it in a few days. Onwards!

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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22 October 2016 - 2:15 am
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otisandtess said
My Otis was diagnosed with osteo after his leg broke.  A regular X-ray showed that the bone had been eaten away in a pattern characteristic of osteosarcoma.  In your case, however, since it could be tick related, the biopsy makes sense.  (any way he could have been bitten by the snake?  My dogs only had to deal with squirrels in their pee place.  I can't imagine a 6 foot snake being there!). I seem to remember a post here about Lyme disease (a tick borne illness) causing limb paralysis in a dog, who was then cured when the proper diagnosis was made.  So, let's hope that your vet can properly diagnose this.  But, if you do end up with amputation, don't worry about Gabbar's ability to adjust.  Once the pain he is clearly in is removed, he will do fine.  

I am hopeful too, that this is due to everything other than Osteosarcoma. While we are still waiting for that to be confirmed, one thing is for sure, that his bones have suffered severe damage as shown by the CT Scan. Even during the biopsy yesterday, when the vet was trying to get a sample from the bone, the needle was able to penetrate the bone. The vet informed me that this should not be possible in an ideal situation. The needle should not be able to penetrate the bone surface. So there is some obvious softening that has happened.

What is frustrating is that we got no signs of this at all. He was extremely healthy, fully energetic, running, jumping, never a sign of pain, or reluctance to move around. And then one morning, poof, he's limping.

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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22 October 2016 - 3:28 am
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We also had no sign.  Otis and I did our normal walk the day before, about a mile.  He was just walking outside when it broke.  I think most on the site would tell a similar story of a seemingly perfectly healthy dog who is suddenly in a life threatening situation.  Let us know when you get your results - either way, we can all relate.

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.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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22 October 2016 - 6:31 am
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I'm afraid the news is not good. The biopsy results are consistent with Osteosarcoma. We have not yet seen the chest X-Rays. We are on our way to the vet to discuss the results and determine how bad it is, what the next steps are etc. I will need your support and will need to draw from your experiences to help me make whatever decisions are necessary moving forward.

Meanwhile, I'm pasting the text from the biopsy report below:

Microscopic examination of fine needle aspirate from left shoulder reveled presence of plump to fusiform cells with marked variation in size of individual cells, Marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis and prominent nucleoli.Vacuolted cytoplasm with pinkish granular cytoplasm.Abnormal mitotic figures noticed.Osteoclasts noticed.Few fibrocytes noticed. Interpretation: Above microscopic findings are consistent with Osteosarcoma

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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22 October 2016 - 8:43 am
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The good news is that the chest X-Rays are clear. We have had an extensive chat with the vet. We will be proceeding with amputation on Thursday. Till then, we have to manage his pain as best as we can.

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

Member Since:
31 May 2016
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22 October 2016 - 8:57 am
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I'm so sorry its osteo. Such a crap disease. But I know that as weird as it sounds, I felt better when I knew, when my fears were confirmed, and then had a plan. In my case, we didn't do chemo so my goal was to get him pain free and happy. And the amputation did just that. Good luck to you and Gabbar! He's a lucky boy to have a mom like you.

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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22 October 2016 - 8:58 am
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YOU ARE. OT ALONE!!

We are all right here with you, okay? Under the circumstances, there is no better place to be for support, information comma knowledge and understanding from those who have been where you are.

Unfortunately, the results you just received work not that unexpected by most of us. Yes, it is a scary thing to hear. believe it or not, it also gives you a chance to take away a very painful leg and give your pup and opportunity to live life to the fullest, pain free!

Most of us had thesame experience as you had with Gabbar leading up to this diagnosis. All of the sudden a limp presented itself. In many cases, are dogs were treated for arthritis or a sprain. Meds gave us a temporary fix and the limp went away, but then came back. For many of us that's when the x-rays were first performed.

Gabbar does NOT care about any ole' diagnosis! Garbbar does NOT have a time frame stamped anywhere on his butt!

The recovery from surgery us no picnic for a couple of weeks. But when Gabbar gets his sparkle back you will be amazed at how happy he is and how well it gets around on three legs just fine!!!

We'll all fill you in on how to prepare yourself, and Gabbar for a smooth and safe recovery. Things like non slip scatter rugs for traction if you have hardwood floors, etc

For now, just take some deep breaths and KNOW that all is well in Gabbar's world and he isn't worried about a thing!! There are lots of success stories arpund here and Gabbar will be one of them!!

Love to all!

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!

London, UK


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15 December 2015
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22 October 2016 - 9:10 am
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I'm sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but GREAT news that Gabbar's lungs are clear. Now you can proceed with the full information and get rid of Gabbar's painful leg. The first couple of weeks after amputation may be pretty full on, but he will soon be feeling SO much better, and we will all be here to support you. Given that Gabbar is so active and fit, that should help him greatly in adjusting to life on three.

In the meantime, when you say 'manage his pain as best you can', is he on pain meds?

Sending warmest wishes,

Meg and 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...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar

Member Since:
20 October 2016
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22 October 2016 - 9:21 am
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Thank you all so much for the support.

1. I'm his dad, not his mom. But his mom's pretty great too.

2. Yes he's been back on Gabapin since this morning. Just had another 300mg dose now. But not sure it's helping too much with his pain. He is in a LOT of pain.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks again.

Read about Gabbar's journey from diagnosis to amputation at

http://gabbar.t.....eosarcoma/

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