Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone.
Bogart, my now 8 and a half year old pit mix, has been diagnosed with Metastatic disease.
5 years ago, I posted here looking for hope when we had to make the hardest decision ever, and remove his back left leg when we found an inoperable nerve sheath tumor. A year later, we found another one on his front left leg. We had as much of it surgically removed, and Bogart went through 30 days of pretty rough radiation treatment. After much healing, he bounced back. A little slower, a little less endurance, but still, 100% Bogart. For four years, he has thrived. He has helped socialize and raise over 20 foster dogs. He has traveled across the country. He has been an incredibly ambassador for both pitbulls and tripawds. He even went on national television and appeared on Americas Got Talent. He was my best man at my wedding and was right there, between my wife and I while we exchanged vows and said "I do." As I am writing this, he is laying next to me on his favorite dog bed and waiting for the rain to stop so that we can go on a walk. He has lived more life and touched more people and dogs than I could have EVER imagined and I am so so so proud of him.
Unfortunately, in the exact same spot that we had a tumor removed on his front left leg 4 years ago, a new mass began to develop. Over the last couple of years, it grew slowly and we would get it checked by vets frequently. It always appeared to be just a fatty mass and we were told that it wasn't anything to worry about. Well, over the last few months, that mass began to grow more, so we were recommended to see the oncology specialists at NCSU. That appointment was yesterday and the news could not have been worse. The mass is a resurgence of the previous cancer and is in too deep into the muscle to be operable. A CT scan also revealed that Bogart has some rather large masses in his lungs (about 5cm) from the cancer metastasizing. The oncologist does not recommend radiation or surgical treatment and suggests that we enjoy the time we have left. However long or short that may be. They fear that radiation could make an already aggressive cancer more aggressive and weaken Bogart as well. We are completely devastated. He's fought this cancer his whole life and he's beaten it twice, but I don't think he'll beat it the third time. It's so incredibly unfair, but we have to accept it and live with it.
On the positive side, other than being a little groggy from his sedation yesterday, Bogart is in great spirits. The last several months, he seems to be happier and more puppy-like than ever before. We moved to this new state and were able to get a bigger yard and he loves to go outside and bake in the sun and explore around his new home. Everyday around 5 o'clock, he barks and yells at my wife and me to take him on a walk. He has to have his walk at this time or we won't hear the end of it. He is more playful than normal and became best friends with our neighbors' puppy. He is so gentle and aware while playing with her.
I don't know how much time I have left with him. The oncologist said that this cancer could change and spread pretty fast and that when the time comes, it will come quickly. So, yeh, we're going to enjoy the time we can for as long as we can. None of this is fair. None of this makes sense. Bogart has fought and been so so good his entire life. He is my heart dog and there will never be another Bogart. I really cannot imagine my life without him, but know that it's coming.
Here's some images of my best boy. While the future is uncertain, we will continue to cherish each day for as long as we have.
BOAGART!!! I absolutely remember when Bogart first joined and I remember how we cheered with each victory. The video of him hopping so perfectly so bery shortly after surgery....such an inspiration on so many levels!!!
I loved...and continue to love ..every sweet morsel about who Bogart is as a Soul...as a delightful and fun and smart dog...as a mighty Triapwd Warrior....a fighter with a fierce resolve to be Bogart as long as he can! He's still showing that fighter Spirit that defines who he is.
Sure, no one wants the news you just got. Of course, as you know, Boagart didn't hear a word of it and ""prognosis" doesnt mean squat to him.
HOWEVER....this is BOGART::
The last several months, he seems to be happier and more puppy-like than ever before. We moved to this new state and were able to get a bigger yard and he loves to go outside and bake in the sun and explore around his new home. Everyday around 5 o'clock, he barks and yells at my wife and me to take him on a walk. He has to have his walk at this time or we won't hear the end of it. He is more playful than normal and became best friends with our neighbors' puppy. He is so gentle and aware while playing with her.
I delighted in reading this part of your post. Hang on to this...Bogart feels good now and he will tomprrow...and that's all you need to think about. One day at a time.
With extra ((((((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!
Thank you for the kind words!
Bogart is napping next to me, like he does most days. Probably wondering why his mom and dad have been so sad and crying lately. But I imagine these initial feelings of dread will pass. I hope they will at least.
The oncologist said that with this disease, he can have anywhere between a few weeks to a few months, and that it can all go downhill very fast. What are other people's experiences with this? Because we have no clue how long these masses in the lungs have been forming. His last CT scan was in 2022 and there was nothing found, but this time, there were several and the biggest was around 5cm. The last year or so, we've noticed his stamina isn't what it used to be, but he's still active, wants walks, has a great appetite, and loves his outings and playdates. It's sort of beyond belief to think that his time left can be so short.
I'm really sorry to know that you and Bogart are going through this. Cancer can be so mean. My heart goes out to you all.
Your sweet boy has been an incredible ambassador! He has reached so many people who never would have known how amazing a Tripawd cancer fighter can be. Bogart is leaving pawsitive impressions on the world! Be proud of all that you have achieved together to open minds and hearts to three-legged animals.
OK about that cancer ... It's hard to say how quickly the mets will develop. Some dogs have it happen faster than others. There is no way to tell how fast they are growing but you can look for signs like lack of appetite, more decrease in stamina, and coughing is often the next sign. We discovered mets in our Jerry in April, and by October it was time to set him free. Other dogs have gone longer, you just don't know.
There are things you can do to keep him comfortable when mets do impact his daily life, like starting him a low dose prednisone and cough suppressants. Be sure to ask about palliative care so you're ready with these things. A good way to learn more is to get in touch with a hospice vet, so they can guide you through this very emotional time. Your vet should be able to refer you to one nearby but if not let me know.
Meanwhile, yes, soak up every minute. Some day there will be time for tears, but not now. He is still the same old Bogart, and only wants the pack to be one and enjoying the days together, whatever they look like at this point.
Please keep us posted and feel free to ask any questions so we can help you all OK? Lots of hugs and love headed your way.
Those photos are precious, by the way. What did he do for AGT? Is there a youtube clip of his appearance? Would love to see it!
Thanks so much for the advice and kind words Jerry.
I hate that I always seem to post here when it's terrible news, but this forum has helped me so much to express my feelings and my fears to other people who know exactly what I'm going through. I know this is probably just me being overly optimistic, but our vet mentioned that most people don't find out about metastatic spread until it's already far too late. And that most of the time, they go to the vet because they think their dog is just regularly sick with a cough or loss of appetite and find out that there is a cancer that is quite far along. We seem to have caught this "early" since we were getting him checked up on for something totally unrelated. That might not mean much of anything for how long he has before it gets bad, but it gives me some amount of hope.
For AGT, my wife did a really simple agility routine with Bogart... Bogart was a sport dog, so it was kind of difficult to do something interesting for a couple minutes since he doesn't do a ton of tricks. I joked that it was like asking a track and field star to show off their "talent" in a talent show haha. But we knew we were there to be an uplifting sob story, so we welcomed the experience. A lot of stuff gets cut for the television release, but the judges chatted a good bit with my wife Heather before the act and we made sure to namedrop this website for the audience. Unfortunately, that doesn't make the tv cut haha.
AGT did have this video on their official Youtube, but it was removed recently. Fortunately, we have copies!
We even got a couple fluff piece news articles:
https://www.nbc.....3-audition
It was a surreal experience. Bogart did so great around all of the people and cameras and weird costumes and noises. He felt right at home and became best pals with many of the backstage workers and other acts for our stay during the shoot. He's such a champion.
What an amazing boy! And you have given him an amazing life!
I'm so sorry you have this bad news- cancer is a nasty beast.
My Pug Maggie lost her left back leg to cancer and did great for about 3.5 years. She was given 6 to 9 months but actually beat that cancer and I thought we were done with that stuff. But she developed a second, unrelated cancer. Because of the toll treatment for the first cancer took on her as well as some other developing health issues I couldn't aggressively fight. I knew time was short but I didn't ask for a prognosis.
One thing I did was that I defined her minimum quality of life and what things would tell me that she was ready to go. I did that right after the diagnosis while she was still feeling pretty good, she was still herself and i was thinking clearly (after I came to grips with the second diagnosis!). I wanted to try and make it clear in my mind while I wasn't so emotional so that as she declined I could make the right decisions for her at the right time. Since I had chosen not to do any aggressive treatments I actually wrote down my thought process because I knew when we got to the end human nature would make me question my choices.
This is the hardest part of the journey and when Bogart needs you most. Being calm and confident will let him know things are normal. Getting in touch with a hospice vet and making plans for the end are best done now, then you won't have to worry about those things and you can focus on making every day his best day.
So many of us have experienced this part of the journey. Sending you strength and peace.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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