Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey everypawdy. Well, no news is just no news at this point. The staff at A&M is baffled by this, it's not typical presentation of anything they can think of, so it looks like a biopsy and ultrasound is next. We are waiting for word on the plan of action. The holiday is slowing everything down, after today the clinic is closed until Monday to everything but life-threatening emergencies.
Here's a pic of Wyatt from yesterday. I don't think we've ever seen those giant satellite dish ears of his go sideways. He's not happy.
The docs told us that one theory as to what this could be is pythiosis, a water mold infection that is rare but rapidly growing among dogs who have been exposed to lakes, ponds, etc. The lesion/tumor thing looks a lot like pythiosis ones and the more we read about it, the more it sounds like this could be what he has. The only vet school testing for this disease is at Louisiana State, which is kinda funny because when we were driving out to Texas we actually thought about taking him to LSU instead. A biopsy will be sent there and it can take up to a week for results. Treatment is not easy.
No matter what we are dealing with, complete removal is probably not an option because the mass is in a very bad place 
The weirdest thing of all of this, is that exactly six years ago today, on November 21, 2006, a certain German Shepherd dog named Jerry underwent amputation at UC Davis in California. Sigh.
We'll have an update later today hopefully.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Is Wyatt with you or did you leave him at A&M? The first thing I noticed in the picture was the ears. So different than the normal Wyatt Ray .
Wishing the big guy a quick diagnosis and a speedy recovery. Oh, and big ((hugs)) for the two of you!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hey Shanna, thanks for the hugs. He is there at A&M.
Well, we just spoke with the primary vet, who was in the OR with Wyatt today. The docs did an exploratory surgery this morning to get some tissue samples, and what they found was that whatever this thing is, it's created a deep "tract" from his butt up to his spine, that goes up as far as his C4 vertebra, basically just past his hip bones.
Our wild boy has the brilliant minds there completely stumped. The actual mass is secondary to something else that's going on, and whatever it is, the vet told us it's "definitely serious." 
Wyatt will be at the hospital with 24-hour care until at least Monday. He's got drains in him and needs supervision to prevent infection, etc. On Monday, we should hopefully have the lab results back (minus the fungal tests, which can take about a week) and can then determine the next steps, probably a MRI.
Ugh.
Thanks for the support everyone, we can feel the love and need it more than ever.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We are thing about you all and Wyatt. So sorry that you are going through this-- and during a holiday too. 
thanks for keeping us all posted. We're sending the Tripawd, pawsitive, juju power your way!!!
Meghan and Angel Bo
OMD Rene, I am so very sorry that you and Jim are facing this right now. My heart goes out to you both. How scary to not know what you are dealing with. I hope it is something that can be treated. It's good to know that Wyatt is getting the best care possible and such wonderful pawrents that make sure that he receives nothing but the best care.
Just like Shanna said, when I saw that picture of Wyatt's ears down like that it got me all choked up. Poor guy must be feeling awful. Wyatt, buddy, I will be thinking pawsitive thoughts for you and your pawrents these next few days as you wait for a diagnosis.
Big hugs to you all, as well as healing tear-licking licks and leans from the Queen.
Sue and Nova
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
We don't hop by often anymore as life with the hairless bipawd is pretty hectic! But I saw the update on the facebook page and had to come send healing thoughts to Wyatt. We hope whatever this thing is, that he is able to kick it's butt. He's got the tripawd fight in him and we know he'll give it his best effort.
Hugs to Wyatt and you, Jim and Rene. It's amazing how life can change over night. I truly hope this is just but a blip in a very long life for Mr. Wyatt Ray !
I'm so sorry to hear that Wyatt isn't well. Poor guy....Ranger said that he knows Wyatt is a tough dude and that whatever it is doesn't stand a chance. He also suggested that Wyatt yell at it for a while and that should take care of it (he remembered that Wyatt is pretty good at yelling) We are all thinking about you guts and hoping for the best.
Lisa
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Could this have anything to do with his last surgery? I think he had a deep suture reaction or something related to his initial amputation. Maybe the culture or biopsy will reveal a cause for the mass/abscess. It is so hard to wait!!
Pam
Oh boy, Rene and Jim, I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. I was so hoping it would be a simple benign tumour. The waiting must be so hard for you. We are sending as many healing thoughts as we can to you and Wyatt.
Many hugs
Karen, Ruby and Spirit Magnum
XXX
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Wyatt,
Those ears broke my heart. You are such a special dog in ways that you cannot begin to understand because it is tied to these crazy emotions that us humans experience. You are our spokesdog. But, you are so much more than that. Your spirit and love for life represents the fight, the determination, and the pure resilience that defines our loved furbabies. It gives us the strength to know that, despite losing a limb, they can be happy. You are an inspiration. You are strong. You are a warrior. I believe in you and I believe that you can recover from whatever this is. Stay strong and fight hard, Sweet Wyatt. There are many prayers for you.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Yuck, poor Wyatt. They say a picture is worth a thousand words; in this case, the ears tell it all I hope they figure out what is going on (sooner rather than later) and Wyatt's ears rise up in triumph. I also hope you are able to sneak in to see your boy over the holiday weekend. Why do these things always happen over holiday weekends? This thing is all so weird-- 3X2 is 6, isn't it? Continuing to pray for Wyatt, and for you both as well.
Catherine
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
WTF? OMD! I was - Wyatt, tell your pawrents to hold on to their butts - checking facebook (I only signed up when adopting a dog a year ago) and saw your post. Unbelievable (as "C" unfortunately often is). I sure hope it turns out to be a contained mass.
A human friend here in Winnipeg is facing a sudden diagnosis of "C". She is also keeping these three words in mind "Be. More. Dog." I'll be thinking of you from Winnipeg.
By the way, those were the most fantastic pictures ever of Wyatt on the blog post before the health one (running free in Colorado or somewhere).
Susan
Any Dawg that can digest a road flare can beat this thing, right?
We are sending all positive thoughts to your pack this looong weekend, and hope for the best possible test results on Monday.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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