Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hello all,
It's been two months since the original diagnosis and a 2nd opinion. Mummbles began to limp in late August. We had thought it was just a tad of arthritis until we noticed a hard mass on his right hind leg/almost at his ankle. The first vet, who I had dealt with for 20 plus years said we should amputate right away regardless. I was shocked. First to find out he may have a cancerous growth, and two how did they know without a biopsy? Anyways off to a 2nd vet for a check and biopsy and it was confirmed.
We had thought that we would like quality over quantity, but after observing him for the past several weeks and agonizing over whether we should amputate or not - we have chosen to move forward with the amputation. He cant even use his right hind leg, he hops and runs everywhere. I'm so terrified about this surgery, but so thankful that this website has a vast array of resources. We just lost Mummbles step sister, Cosmo to complications from diabetes on September 12th. I feel that he is also likely grieving the loss of her too and the pain.
Today we are going for the chest xray to determine if the cancer has metastisized. Please wish me luck. I'd appreciate any feedback/support from anyone as we begin this journey.
Welcome and best wishes for Mum's speedy recovery!
These forums are just the beginning, if you ever need help finding the many Tripawds Resources, start here .
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. Don't miss all the tri-kitty blogs, and this growing reading list of cat tips.
You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
Please keep us posted. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well the vet took the X-rays and he said that given the dark mass / gray area he sees within the lungs that he doesn't feel comfortable amputating. 😿 He said the prognosis doesn't look good and said if we'd like he could refer us to an oncology vet specialist. My heart is feeling heavy- I had hoped for a better outcome. I do appreciate the honestly of our vet though.
chatmeow said
...he could refer us to an oncology vet specialist.
This is the best recommendation.
With any (even potential) cancer diagnosis, the best suggestion is to consult with a board certified veterinary oncologist. Especially when it comes to metastatic disease.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry you have to join us and are dealing with cancer.
This is the news no one wants to get! I know you are crushed I am reading this! Please follow up with an oncologist they are the experts, and they can guide you with recommendations. Let the specialist tell you precisely what you are dealing with & what the grey area is! See what they suggest and the very least they can keep Mumbles comfortable.
If he is not on pain medication now, he needs to be!
((((((((Hugs)))))) and special scratches to Mumbles, please!
Holly & Purrkins❤️
A kick in the gut, that for sure. But you've gotten good advice from Admin, your Bet and Purrkins.....do get a consultation with an Onco specialist. Also, they would have a Radiologist look at the xrays. Weve seen cases where the regular Vet thought the xray showed metasis, but it wasn't.
IF amputation is off the table, there still are things that can be done, especially in the area of helping reduce the pain with some good meds. So Mumbles can still definitely have some good quality time. Looks like in spite of that bum leg, Mumble is still quite frisky! He doesn't appear to show any symptoms from mets and that's good.
Remember, Mumble doesn't care about any old xrays or prognosis. They mean nothing to him! He just wants to get all the loving and spoiling he can get every single second!
I'm so sorry about the loss of Cosmo. Yoive certainly had a rough couple pf mont. I know that Cosmo is watching over Mumbles.
Take some deep breaths. Contact that Onoc and have a Rad looks at those xrays.
Stay connected with us, okay? We are here with you every step of the way and support whatev66 path you take.❤
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!
Wanted to share I got an email this morning I follow yahoo kitty cancer groups, I see a member has a kitty with lung mets from a VAS.
If in fact, you are dealing with lung mets they have their kitty on Palladia and doing well on it. That is another option to talk to the Oncologist about. I have no experience in chemo, but we know it is not as harsh on our animals as it is in humans because we do not treat it so aggressively. We treat cancer in animals to maintain the disease not cure. It may be an option to give Mumbles more quality time that is why having an Oncologist is so essential they will know what the x-ray is showing and what options you may have. Here are some links to read.
Questions to Ask Your Veterinary Oncologist
Cat Cancer, Oncology and Radiation Realities, Part 1
More About Cat Cancer, Oncology and Radiation Therapy
We respect and support whatever you decide to do or not do from here! Quality of life is always number one.
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins
Thank you all! I'm so happy I've found this site to help me work though this. I appreciate all the feedback and alternative sites I can view. Currently we're giving Mummbles CBD oil twice a day to help with the pain. He had been given a painkiller at the vet's several weeks ago (an opiod) but it didn't settle well with him. He was neurotic and upset. So far the CBD is working fine. I'm also modifying his diet to organic / good perhaps homemade wet food - he loves his fancy feast.
Thank you all! This has been such a tremendous help on this emotional roller coaster.
Oh good. Many have said good things about the CBD oil. Sounds like Mumbles is still being Mumbles, and that's all that matters!
Holly gave uou sone good links to check out.
And in the meantime, we would love to see more pics of Mumbles. The avatar pic is adorable!!
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!
So glad you could find comfort here. I'm sorry about the news from your primary care vet, but if you do want to know exactly what you're dealing with, it can bring tremendous peace of mind to at least talk to an oncologist.
You're a great parent to Mumbles, what a lucky kitty.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am a HUGE fan of alternative medicine and use CBD currently have one cat on it now and used it with Purrkins when he was first diagnosed. There is a time for alternative and traditional meds IMO Mumbles needs both. CBD alone won't cut all the pain.
It doesn't have to be the one that made him neurotic and upset. Mumbles is in pain not using that leg; please ask about a different traditional pain med to be added in. What was the med Buprenorphine? There are a lot of other options. He will regain some quality of life back, and that is the goal regardless.
I would give Mumbles whatever he loves to eat 🙂 Spoil him even more!
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins
Hello and welcome!
I am just here for moral support. You have already been given some awesome advice. I would like to repeat one thing that I read though, the chest rads... def have an expert check them. We don't see it a lot, but sometimes what one person looks at as cancer finds out after that it was not. Sometimes they will recommend repeating xrays, and I think that is solid advice if there is any question. I have also known some docs that just prefer to take their own because they have a specific technique that they prefer when taking xrays.
Big hugs to you and Mum wishing you much luck and health for your beautiful boy. Yes, would love more pictures!
Jackie and Huck
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
would you consider thc in addition to cbd,,, thc might kill cancer,, try king harvest wellness they ship to all 50 states. ( they do help you with doses etc,, but they re sales people too
Thank you all for the tremendous support and wishes! This has been so helpful. Here’s a video taken just recently and a pic of my baby Mummbles!
chatmeow said
Here’s a video...
FYI: The easiest way to share videos here is to upload them to Youtube (or Vimeo, etc.) first. Paste the Share link in your forum post and the video will auto-embed for all to see. Here are details about adding photos to forum posts .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
