Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It took me months to get comfortable with the idea of amputation and this morning I dropped Harley off at the hospital for his surgery. Shortly after I got home, the surgeon called and said she did an x-ray of his right leg to make sure he could carry the weight of a left limb amputation and then did chest xrays and she found a 4 cm mass in the left lung field (I think she said below the heart) and a 2 cm mass in the right lung field so she recommended not doing the surgery. On the phone I told her I did not plan to pursue any further treatment.
(oops did something but I see I can edit)
when I picked him up I asked if these were related to the mass in his leg and she said she doubted it. The first CT Scan of his leg had clean margins and the biopsy showed it was a benign lipoma (not even infiltrative as UW-Madison had expected but they did not have the advantage of the CT Scan). About 9 months later the lipoma was back, an MRI was done and it showed signs of it being infiltrative and biopsy following the 2nd surgery to debulk confirmed this. Most of what I have seen online says infiltrative tumors are aggressive but DO NOT metastasize to other organs. I think on occasion they can spread to bone. So I guess these two masses are something independent of the leg.
the surgeon recommended at least having a biopsy done to know what type of cancer I am dealing with.
I need a day to just regroup and think this out. Last week Harley did cough 2 or 3 times but twice was after eating grass, I thought about lung mets but then pretty much dismissed it thinking my imagination was getting the best of me.
Any thought here on what I should do????
He's running, eating maybe panting a bit but it's been warm in Wisconsin and he is not fond of temps over 75!
Kathy and Harley
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
I never had to deal with anything like you’re describing, so I’m certainly not the best person to offer advice. Hopefully others, maybe Dr. Pam, will offer some advice here. I just want to let you know I’m sending positive thoughts to you and Harley, and hoping for the best. Please update as you can.
Kathy and Harley,
No advice to give but sending you our supportive wishes.
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
(dang - typed a long message and lost it...)
Anyway - So sorry you are in this situation. We dealt with bone cancer, so I don't know anything about lipomas. But... I do know a little about masses in the lungs and location is important (from my understanding) in terms of longevity. Our Abby lived over a year w/ lung mets. The first 2 were in a "good" location. It was the 3rd one that showed up near her airways that threw a big wrench in the works.
I'm assuming the vet who did the xrays was not an oncologist, so you might want to speak to one.
Wish I had words of wisdom, advice or comfort. Just know we are sending out pawsitive thoughts to you.
Hang in there,
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi Kathy,
I posted in your other thread as well, I'm sorry Harley has these complications.
I don't know anything specific about lipomas- and the cancer the pugs have/had doesn't go to the lungs so I'm not that informed there either.
Here is one way to approach it- let your treatment plan make the decision. If you are truly not going to do any further treatment no matter what is in his lungs then leave everything alone, no tests, and keep Harley happy for as long as possible.
However- if you have any doubts about what is in the lungs and what you might do then consider a biopsy, keeping in mind that they are not always conclusive. I don't know how invasive or painful a biopsy in the lung area/chest is.
I can empathize a little with where you are now. Tri-pug Maggie was diagnosed with oral melanoma, her second cancer. Because of other health issues I was not able to treat the melanoma aggressively. Once I made the no treatment decision then I was comfortable passing on the tests that would usually be run to grade and stage the tumor- none of that mattered. I just made sure every day from then on was Maggie's best day.
Keep us posted on what you decide to do.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Ugh! After all that gut wrenching and heart wringing to get comfortable with what to do, everything changes! I cannot offer any advice for your situation but I am sure someone among us knows something that will help. In the meantime, keeping those pawsitive thoughts coming in Harley's direction.
Heather & Spirit Shadow
I am just so very sorry to hear about Harley. What a devastating blow! How sad.
I wished I had advice but I don't have experience; not even being here for several years. Like you said earlier, Harley is happy and that's what is important no matter what happens. Just keep being happy yourself for his sake. (even tho it's incredibly hard)
Sending Harley a lot of happy thoughts.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I'm sorry...
Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to Harley.
Hugs and chocolate labby kisses,
Ellen & Charley
Charley's Blog: CHOCOLATE KISSES
DOB: 3-29-08, male chocolate lab
Dx: OSA L proximal humerus 10-19-10
Amputation: L front leg & scapula 10-28-10
Chemo: 5 rounds of Carboplatin
Video (12 weeks post amp):Tripaw Charley Playing
♥♥♥ Lots of supplements and love!!! ♥♥♥
Kathy, I'm very, very sorry. I know this had to have knocked the wind out you.
On Sunday we are having a veterinary oncologist on Tripawd Talk Radio, you may want to bring your questions to her during the show or afterward in the chat.
I wish I could say "Do this" or "do that" but only you can decide what's next. I know that when two lung mets were discovered in my lungs, the only option was to surgically remove part of my lung with the larger met, and hope for the best with the other. We opted out, and still feel it was a good decision for us.
Whatever you decide to do, or not do, always remember that Harley doesn't know what the doctor says. All he wants is to make the most of every minute on this earth, now and always. Make the most of your precious time together and remember, there will be plenty of time for tears someday far away.
{{{{hugs}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I woke up thinking about Harley today, and I forgot to mention that metronomic chemo is always an option even at this point. I started on it when the two lung mets were found in me, and metronomics gave me 7 wonderful months. Other dogs have done even better on it, so always remember this is an option. Here is a good radio show where we talk about it:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry, thank you for the extra note. I was thinking about that and was going to ask that on the show or forum. I'm worried that his tumors might be too large already -- one is 2 cm and the other is 6 cm. I am still confused where these came from if the mass in his forelimb was a benign infilitrative lipoma. Everything I am seeing on lung tumors is that they rarely begin in the lungs and have metastasized from somewhere else. UW was right in suggesting amputation in the beginning, but when everything on scans and MRI looked fine I thought I could buy time with debulking. Right now I need to decide if I should have the larger mass biopsied to see what type of cancer I am dealing with. The surgeon said if it was lymphatic he had a good chance of adding maybe even a few years of quality time. She feels the masses did not originate from the leg
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
A 2 cm tumor isn't bad, the 6 cm is a little large. When my lung capacity was compromised, one of my tumors was 10 cm.
It's so hard to know what to do next. If your surgeon says it's worth doing a biopsy for your own information, then as long as it's not a bone biopsy (which is super painful), I'd say why not? You'll have answers, and for some people that's so much of a relief. But, then you have to ask yourself, what would you do if you did know what you were dealing with? How far are you both willing to go to beat this thing at this point in time.
Tough questions, for sure.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Given my experience with my last dog, Yoda (had osteosarcoma and was treated at UW Madison), I'd assume the surgeon consulted with an oncologist and vice versa. Was that clear from your discussion(s)? The oncologist and surgeon I had there were really great for us in 2009. I don't think they're still there, but I expect that's the quality Madison gets in general. 
That's all I know. Good luck!
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
GerrysMom said
Given my experience with my last dog, Yoda (had osteosarcoma and was treated at UW Madison), I'd assume the surgeon consulted with an oncologist and vice versa. Was that clear from your discussion(s)? The oncologist and surgeon I had there were really great for us in 2009. I don't think they're still there, but I expect that's the quality Madison gets in general.
My experience with UW was also excellent. They did the initial consultation and ultrasound and aspirated the mass. They then recommended a CT Scan followed by surgery depending what the scan showed. Because of the drive and my work schedule I asked if there was anywhere local that could do the scan and they made a local referral. The infiltrative lipoma is benign and they really do not metastasize. When I took Harley in for the amputation and the surgeon did a chest x-ray, she found the two masses in the chest cavity. I'm sure she was surprised as I was. Unfortunately we are now dealing with two devils. I spoke to an oncologist at UW today and he also feels the lung masses did not originate from the lipoma, so apparently something else is going on. I probably wasn't clear writing this, I'm a little besides myself right now.
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
Hello kathy, really wish I could offer advise but just don't have the knowledge on this subject. Jerry was helfull for me about Maggie and I think he is making good sense for you and Harley. I hope the oncologist appointment will give you some good options. I would ask the Doctor about using metronomic chemo. The very best and I know this is very difficult. Please know many of us are with you. Good luck and please keep us updated.
Silver and Maggie
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