Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My sweet Cocoa, who is already a tripod, has a mast cell tumor in her "under arm" of one of her front legs (opposite her amputation). I thought it was a hot spot that just wasn't going away (since Sunday). She's going to have surgery on Tuesday. Internally, I am FREAKING OUT, but I know y'all will tell me honestly if I really need to be worried.
Oh, I'm so sorry. Poor Cocoa! What I know of MCT's is that they are locally invasive and can have a good prognosis if they are low grade and excised completely. Please keep us posted!!!!
HUGS
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Wow Susan, I saw your and Cocoa's name show up and went "whaaaaa????"
Folks, Susan and Cocoa joined us years ago. You can read their story here, and check out what a sweetie she is.
OK, breathe. What exactly is the surgery for? To remove it? Or is it to do biopsy? Do they know for sure it's mast cell?
Breathe. We're here for you. It's nice to hear from you, I'm sorry about the circumstances. Give Cocoa a hug from us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm sorry to hear that Cocoa has a new challenge. My pug Maggie was a Tripawd due to mast cell cancer, and my quad pug Tani has been dealing with cutaneous MCTs for years.
The level of worry is going to be tied to the grade of the tumor, the margins achieved with surgery, and the mitotic index or MI. The MI seems to predict how aggressive the cancer is and survival times, in mast cell oncologists like to see the MI be 5 or less. So, it will be hard to tell the 'appropriate' worry level until after surgery and the path report is back. Also, so you are prepared, with a MCT in the arm pit area it might be hard to get the wide margins desired.
In your favor- mast cell is one of the most treatable cancers in dogs. Many tumors are removed and that is all that is necessary. There are also lots of options if clean margins are not achieved including radiation and chemo. Maggie had an amp (because her tumor was entwined in her knee and could not be removed) and chemo. Tani has had several tumors removed, and now I'm treating Tani with diet, supplements and herbs. Mast cell can also be unpredictable, which has been my experience.
I wish I could say you have nothing at all to worry about, but right now you don't have enough information. With luck surgery will be curative. You can spend some time doing some research so you know what you are up against, know what options you have, and know what questions to ask. I don't want you to be scared or freak out with this info, but I believe that knowledge is power!
More positives: Maggie was given 6 to 9 months after her amp, WITH the chemo we did. Mag did have some recurring cutaneous tumors, but lived almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell. Tani has been dealing wth MCTs for 7 years. Some have been surgically removed, but they keep coming back so I'm not removing them any more. We have not done any chemo, although it was recomended by a couple vets. We are seeing an Eastern Med vet now and we are treating with a herb called Blood's Palace. Since she has been on the herbs the tumors have not been evident!
Remember to stay optimistic until there is a real reason not to be. I'm hoping for the best outcome from the surgery on Tuesday.
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
Thanks y'all. I'm about to head out the door for a day trip to Houston but wanted to thank you for the responses. I'll be back online tonight or tomorrow.
❤️❤️❤️ ~ Susan, Cocoa and Gigi
OK, the timeline.
Last Saturday or Sunday I noticed Cocoa was licking her under arm a lot. Sunday I put some cortisone on it. Monday I put on a cone of shame before buying a blow-up one. That seemed to help immensely. I kept putting cortisone or neosporin on it, thinking it was a hotspot that would go away.
I'd already made an appointment for the vet on Friday when I noticed she'd figured out how to scratch it. So I put a t-shirt on her. She's loving the collar/t-shirt look (not!).
After inspecting the area, the vet took some blood from the spot and looked at it under the microscope. Then she came back to tell me it was mast cell cancer and that Cocoa would need surgery to remove it. It's scheduled for Tuesday.
She seems to feel like her usual sweet self, and is eating and drinking normally. It does seem she has a harder time getting down and even harder getting back up.
Karen - Thanks for sharing your story. I'd rather be armed with the facts than flounder blindly.
Jim & Rene - The minute we got in the car I knew this would be the first place I'd visit. I knew I'd find the information I needed on the site and from the users. Thank you again for being here for me.
For mast cell cancer the needle aspirates are very accurate. Between the two pugs we've had close to 20 done and they are always right. Of course the vet always follows with a path report when the tumor is removed.
I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday and looking for a surgery update. Probably a few days after that for the path report? Did the vet mention how long?
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
We've been home for two hours and I cannot get her to settle. She is whining in pain and it is causing both of us great anxiety. She's had two pain pills since we've been home. I am at my wits end right now.
We're four hours in now and the crying has lessened. But the panting and pacing are the same. I hate this. Wanting to be able to help and not knowing how. I'm guessing no more tramadol for her.
Hey just now catching up on things. I'm sorry she's anxious, that does sound like the ol' tramadol effect. Did they give you anything else for her pain? NSAID?
Hang in there, she'll be a lot better in the morning. I'm in the chat now if you want to hop on over.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She just went down. That was six hours of chaos. I'm going to shut down now too in hopes she will sleep all night. I'll be calling the vet in the morning about a different script for sure!
Whew! OK, i have my paws crossed that you have a restful night. Let us know what the vet says.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sounds like she is reacting to the tram and probably the anesthetic given for the surgery. What does the incision look like? How big is it? In general a mast cell tumor removal surgey isn't as painful as other orthopedic type surgeries- that's my experience. Maggie had a tumor removed from her side about 6 months before her amp- a 7 inch incision which was about a third of the circumference of her chest! I gave her too much pain med because I thought she was in pain. It turned out she was a bit uncomfortable and mad because the incision was pulling and felt like something was around her...she HATED wearing anything. She was really agitated for a few hours until the meds worked their way out of her system.
How is she doing now?
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Now I know what a manic dog looks like. She started jumping over a small stool near the end. Crazy. I called an hour ago for a new med and expect to hear something around 9am.
We got up around midnight and then she went down for the night. She's been upright over an hour now. I can tell she is exhausted, but she won't lay back down.
The wound is tightly wrapped, which I am sure doesn't help the hurt. I did have to put the collar and t-shirt back on because she was trying to get the bandage off.
They told me to try to leave the bandage on and keep her still (HA!) for five days. I'd planned to just crate her today and go to work, but decided she might be more comforted if I were here. Or that I would be more comforted.
They said the path would be five to seven days. It's been sent to Texas A&M. It'll be a long week.
Wow, that's exactly how Wyatt Ray
was when he was on Tramadol. We avoid it for those reasons. I hope you were able to get something for her and that she's gotten some rest. Did you ask the vet for something for you too? 
Sorry you have to wait so long for the report, but you can't go wrong when A&M takes care of things. Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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