Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi - Any advice would be so appreciated. Rosco is a 10 year old Schnauzer, very young at heart, we are often asked if he is a puppy. Totally healthy except for tumor on his back right hind paw-in his digits. It was just confirmed to be melanoma. We were told most effective and efficient way to remove is amputating his hind leg. The digits where the tumor is are weigh-baring and we won't be able to get all the cancer without removing the entire foot.
We are trying to decide between amputating now or trying radiation. 50% chance of radiation causing the tumor to go into remission, and if it doesn't we would need to amputate anyway. We are scared it will metastasize and want to make a decision soon. Any advice?
Hi Emi, welcome to Tripawds, your future posts won't require moderation.
I just wrote you a long post and accidentally deleted it. Doh!
So to sum it up: I am so sorry to hear about Rosco's diagnosis.
Schnauzers are tough doggies, I'm sure he would do fine on three legs. How does your vet feel about his candidacy as a Tripawd?
If you haven't seen a board-certified onco doc, that's what I would do next. A second opinion = peace of mind.
Another aspect to factor in: your finances. It sucks that money plays a role but for most folks it does. But if you are inclined to try radiation, can your finances handle the additional costs of amputation should you have to go that route? We see lots of dogs here for whom radiation didn't work. But that doesn't take into account all the dogs who had successful outcomes. So if you can afford both and you're inclined to try it, then why not?
Also, sounds like he might be a good candidate for a prosthetic, but that has to be decided before amp. to determine how much leg can be saved (the more the better). Again, if you have the finances and time to work with him on adapting to a prosthesis, it's something to consider. These blog posts can tell you more about the possibilities.
I know others will chime in with great insight, we have a fantastic community here. Stay tuned!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to you and Rosco.
When my pug Maggie was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor in her knee there was an option to treat with radiation. I researched it and decided I would not do it with Maggie. The major concern I had was the number of times she would need to be anesthetized, more than once a week for several weeks. Maggie did not recover well, in fact we almost lost her after an earlier surgery. How does Rosco do with anesthesia? He also would most likely have to wear a cone throughout the treatment and until the radiation caused skin damage was healed. How does your boy do as a cone head? I did meet a pug after Maggie passed who had done the radiation treatment instead of amputation and handled it fine. I was not able to follow up so I don't know how he did long term.
My initial reaction would be to amputate, but that is because I've had a Tripawd and know how well they do, and that Maggie died from oral melanoma that I couldn't treat. You need to figure all the variables and decide the best path for you and Rosco.
We are here to help you on this cancer journey no matter what treatment path you choose. Even though most dogs and cats here are Tripawds, we have many members for whom amputation was not the best option.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi guys - thank you so much for replying. We have met with an oncologist this morning and talked to our surgeon today who would be doing the amputation. She has done a "de-bulking" of Rosco's tumor already and we feel comfortable with her. Our primary care vet, our surgeon, and one of the Oncologist Drs. all agree that they would do amputation if it was their dog. The second oncologist was hopeful that radiation could put the tumor in remission, but she did say the most "efficient and effective" way to treat the cancer locally is with amputation and there is a 50% chance he would need the amputation anyway post-radiation. Additionally, with radiation or amputation we will also be giving him the vaccine that will help to prevent metastasis.
We have been talking through options and currently feel amputation will be the best path and have it scheduled for Wednesday. If we did radiation and the cancer did spread over those six weeks, I think we would feel terrible we weren't more aggressive.
Karen - agree with you that multiple anesthesia also isn't ideal, though Rosco has handled it well in the past. He's currently limping often to avoid walking on the tumor and we know that with radiation his paw will also be irritated.
Now, when he isn't putting weight on his back hind leg he is walking pretty quickly, hopping at times - he always seems to want to push to go faster even when he can't walk on all four legs, so this we see as a hopeful sign that he can adjust to a 3-pawed life.
I am definitely going to be exploring the forums (and have downloaded the ebook) to prep for the surgery and recovery, but any tips would be greatly appreciated as far as preparing ourselves and Rosco for the amputation.
Your research and fantastic attitude will carry you far, it sounds like you are making the best decision for the pack. The clinic team sounds great as well, lucky dawg!
Yes, many Tripawds are already "honorary" Tripawds by the time they have surgery, many start to hop long before the leg comes off.
Thanks for downloading our ebook. I think the biggest tip I can offer you right now is to stay focused and be strong. Recovery isn't always easy but holding steady with a good attitude and being strong for Rosco will help make it so much easier. Remember, he will look to you for leadership.
This weekend I would prepare your home by putting down carpet runners (you can get some decent ones at Costco for $11 each), putting up baby gates where necessary (any stairs?) and of course stocking your panty with chocolate, wine, whatever it takes to keep you strong and relaxed as the big surgery day approaches!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I hope you feel some peace or comfort in making a decision. Now on with the next chapter of your life with Rosco!
Maggie was also a rear amp. She was hopping on her own the day of her surgery and never really needed much help. She couldn't get very far, but she slowly built strength. Mag had no physical complications, but she was really stubborn and did not get used to her new normal for several weeks. Most pups here are getting their spark back in two or three weeks (some even sooner!) but Mag was not happy for about six weeks. Her surgery was before Tripawds was here so all the input I had to go on was from the vet who said that most dogs do fine on three. It got to the point that I thought I had made the wrong decision. And I made the mistake of letting Mag see that I was discouraged- it didn't help her mood any. So be a strong pack leader and only show Rosco your positive side. He will heal and deal on his own schedule.
One thing that was critical for Maggie was good traction on slippery floors. She was easily discouraged, when she slipped or fell I had to really coax her to try again. I put extra rugs on the hard floors, and I had to put rugs down on the back deck stairs (only two steps) or she wouldn't even try to go up them.
I was offered the melanoma vaccine for Mag, but without removing the tumor first it wouldn't have much affect. I hope the vaccine works for Rosco.
Good luck on Wednesday.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Good morning
Tucker, my 10 year old goofy lab, had his right front leg amputated six months ago and he is doing wonderfully.
Tucker had a localized but invasive sarcoma and he had debulking surgery in April last year but the sarcoma grew back quickly and with a vengeance so his leg was amputated in September - and I have always been thankful that I got this second chance with him.
Tuck's recovery was not eventful though I struggled with the balance of meds and pain relief when Tuck seemed a bit agitated from (I believe) the Tramadol he was prescribed. The light really came back in Tuck's eyes about two weeks after surgery when his sutures were removed and he no longer had to wear the "cone of shame ".
Good Luck with the surgery on Wednesday - keep us posted.
Linda and Tucker
Hi Rosco's mom, and welcome. Just for what it's worth, sounds like our cases have some similarities, and I think you made the right decision.
My Lexie also has an aggressive leg tumor. In hindsight, I wish I had chosen amputation three weeks ago instead of radiation. (The presence of lung mets, an atypical diagnosis and some other medical issues she has led my vets to be more conservative, so as of now Lexie remains an honorary tripawd.)
You'll get a ton of helpful information and incredible support from this community as you embark on this journey.
All the best to Rosco and your family as you get prepared. Please keep us posted!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Hi all,
Thank you so much for the support. I'm so glad we've found Tripawds - it's been such a source of comfort in the last two days.
My husband and I have been trying to stay positive, make lists of reasons this decision is the best for us, and be strong, but it has been really hard. I have been crying on and off all weekend and I know I will need to cut this out after Rosco has surgery, because I don't want him to know I'm crying over him. It just breaks my heart that he comes over to comfort me when I'm upset. I am trying to remind myself that as a dog, he won't process the surgery with human emotions, but we see so many emotions from our dog.
The one thing we're struggling most with is that Rosco seems healthy now and has great energy, aside from limping on his back leg. We know his current good health would be temporary without treatment, but we are having trouble knowing his happy life will be so disrupted so soon and it's been very hard to know that he will go through some suffering. We're trying to remember all the stories of dogs who get back to a new kind of normal after surgery and have time after that makes the pain of surgery worth it.
I think that for pawrents with dogs who aren't showing any obvious signs of pain, it's doubly hard to go through this, so nobody can blame you for being so upset. I also think that you might be surprised to see how much spunkier he is after the leg is gone. Dogs are SO good at hiding their pain that most humans don't even notice they were hurting until they feel good again.
You're doing great, you've done your research and you have a supportive family. Nopawdy could ask for more. We'll be there for you when you feel like having a meltdown, trust me, we've all been there. But as for Rosco, I guarantee he'll take it much better than his humans!
Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Maggie had almost no pain from the tumor in her knee. Only after I knew it was there I noticed that she put her left rear foot just slightly farther out when she squatted. And Mag was always quite a drama queen, she ALWAYS let me know when she didn't feel good. So when the vet said amputation it was really difficult to accept that something so extreme was the best solution!
I knew that without surgery the tumor would eventually rupture and create a wound that wouldn't heal, and that waiting for the tumor to rupture before doing the surgery would give the cancer a chance to spread. But even with that it was hard to make the obviousness decision. Then when Mag was unhappy for a few weeks....
Maggie was given 6 to 9 months after surgery with chemo, she lived almost 4 years (mast cell cancer). Although the decision was hard I realized that I had given Maggie a chance at more quality time. Not everyone is so lucky, but I know that we would not have had that time together if I hadn't gone forward with the amp.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
It's the eve of our surgery - and we've been saying that Rosco has been practicing his "hoppies" - see his honorary tri-pawding here: https://vine.co.....5OWJJFEz5h.
He will see the vet tomorrow morning for one last check and chest xray before the surgery. He coughed twice in the last 24 hrs, nothing I would normally notice but we are on high alert and want to be sure there isn't evidence of the cancer spreading before we move forward with the surgery, even though his scans were clear just a few weeks ago. These tiny coughs have now made me so worried we won't do the surgery, so maybe that was the push I needed to really be ready to go for it.
Rosco's laying next to me on the couch now - trying to enjoy this last night before surgery together and be strong for him in the next few days.
I searched the forum archive and have been messaging with two schnauzer owners - if you remember Piper with melanoma (so similar to our Rosco) and Dolly the cabbage pup is the same age schnauzer as Rosco. Thank you thank you for creating this resource and for helping to connect us. Hearing similar stories was exactly what I needed.
Will post an update soon.
Rosco you have the Tripawd hop down perfectly! Look at you go kiddo!
I'm SO glad you have been talking to Piper and Dolly's people, now that is a great way to work the forums and make the most of this community, kudos to you! You get the pawesome pawrent award!
Hang in there, the coughing is probably allergies or something. Don't fret, if there's anything abnormal going on they'll tell you and you can take it from there. Good luck tomorrow, keep us posted. Hugs to you and Rosco!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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