Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all
I posted a few weeks ago about finding a hard bony mass on Domino's bottom jaw. Domino is at the vet today to have his teeth cleaned and his jaw xrayed. The vet just called.
He believes that Domino has bone cancer in his jaw. I'm in shock. He said the xray shows no actual bone in that part of his jaw, just tumor. I don't know what to do with myself. Domino is still under anesthesia so they can finish cleaning his teeth, and take chest xrays to see if the cancer has spread. He wants me to go talk to the dental specialist at our local specialty clinic to discuss options and prognosis but it doesn't look good.
I can't lose him. Domino is my heart dog, he's my best friend, my soul. I can't imagine him not being here. And it seems so unfair that he's been through so much in his short life, and now this.
I feel like the worst dog mom alive, I noticed the growth months ago and dismissed it, if I had taken him sooner would the prognosis be this bad?
Even if the specialist has recommendations, I'm so restricted financially that I won't be able to pursue treatment at all. I'm scraping money together just to take him to the consultation.
I'm not sure what to do at this point. I'll go look at all of the xrays this afternoon when I pick him up. I just want to hold him. I guess I could always start a Go Fund Me for him to attempt treatment, but even if I could afford it would it be worth putting him through?
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Oh Cassie!! Dear sweet Cassie!!! So shocked to hear this! I'm just so angry that sweet Domino has ro deal with this piece of s**t disease! Hate this disease!!! Unfair doesn't even begin to describe it!!
As hard as it is, and it's hard, try not to jump ahead. Just wait until you get ALL the information from the experts, chunk it down, one step at a time.
I know the Bet recommended the De tal Specialist, but I'm wondering if an Onco Consultation wouldnt be the best approach? Or maybe consults with both? It's POSSIBLE it's a benign tumor. It's POSSIBLE it may not even need removing...just watching for now. Treatment may not be as costly or extensive as you imagine, okay?
REMEMBER THIS CASSIE: Had you not steped in years ago, Domino would NEVER have known all the joy, the love, the happiness, the security and the fun he has had with you and all his siblings!!! NOTHING can take that away from you and Domino!!
Some of us had the PRIVILEGE of meeting Domino (some of us were licky enough to meet him twice!! We saw FIRST HAND the love and bond you two have! And we saw FIRST HAND the sheer joy Domino experienced being with you and his pack! 🙂 As much as you feel Domino is unlucky with everything thst has happened in his life, DOMINO FEELS LIKE HE IS THE LUCKIEST DOG ALIVE TO HAVE YOU AS HIS "HEART HUMAN":-)
Update us when you can. We'll help you move forward out EVERY aspect this new challenge is presenting, okay? We'll help figure out ways to get over hurdles so you and Domino can get on with gettin' on!! 🙂
Lots of love and cyber 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!
Cassie, I'm stunned. OK look first: DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF. You are NOT a terrible dog mom, you are an awesome dog mom! He's at the vet getting his teeth cleaned, examined, etc....I mean that is the sign of a GREAT dog mom! You did what you had to do and Domino, nor anybody, will hold that against you, I promise with all my heart.
You know our mantra here....don't panic until you know what you're dealing with. A specialist can confirm this and then help you determine what steps are next, IF it is bone cancer. I'm curious why your vet is recommending a dental specialist and not an oncologist? It makes more sense to me to see an onco, but I'm sure your vet has good reasons for that suggestion.
Please don't panic. We so often see potential diagnoses turn out to be other things that aren't as serious as we thought. We hope with all our hearts that this is the case for Dom.
If you want to talk I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now, and you have my # so call if you want to vent about all this OK?
Love you and the pack lots and lots. We are hoping for good news.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Cassie.... sweet Cassie!!!! I'll chime in what the others have said ... try not to panic until you know exactly what you are dealing with. And you are an AWESOME dog mom!!! Never stop believing that ... in fact ... repeat after me ... I am a GREAT DOG MOM!!!
I know how scary this is - especially when it comes to money woes ... we are here for you and support you 100%! Please keep us posted and know we are all holding you and Domino in our hearts!
Much love!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hi again.
thank y'all so much for your kind words. Domino is home now and resting. His X-rays were shocking to say the least... I did take pictures of them and I'll post later. For now the vet said to soften his dry food. He has a tentative appointment to see the veterinary dentist on Sept 5th. The vet said there are other conditions other than cancer that can present this way which is why we'll see the dentist first. I'd be lying though if I said I didn't see that look in the vets eyes, he knows it doesn't look good. Until his appointment Domino will get lots of love!!
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Keeping paws crossed for Domino. So very sorry to read this!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Oh Cassie! I know just how devastating this is, and I'm so sorry. I'm praying that it's just some other thing and not bone cancer. But if it is, please don't blame yourself!!! You know that you have given Domino such an amazing life! You've given him a second chance. And shown him so much love. Sometimes things happen for a reason - things are diagnosed at an advanced stage because someone knows that you would try to find a way to fix it when there is no fixing it. I'm speaking this from experience - our Taz .. in 2005 when we were on vacation in Cape Cod; we had boarded Taz & Cassie at our groomer's house. Taz was 11 & was healthy except for high triglycerides and he had lipomas because of that. He had just had 1 removed a month before, so had some blood work done, too. Mindy called to say that Taz just was acting funny, laying around, not interacting ... so she ended up taking him to our vet, who did labs, x-rays & blood work, gave him a pain shot & sent him back home with her. Of course we started the drive home, but it was a long drive. By 6 am I got a call from Mindy that he was gone... we were less than an hour from home. We picked him up & took him in to the vet's office. We reviewed his labs & x-rays - he had large tumors in his liver & spleen. My vet was surprised, he said he couldn't believe it since he had just done surgery on him a month earlier. Had I been home, I would have rushed him into surgery- I would have done anything because he was my baby! My son & I adopted Taz right after I graduated nursing school. But it had been out of my hands. Taz had not shown any symptoms of being sick. And looking back I know, surgery wouldn't have fixed him - he would have suffered.
So love on Domino. And know that sometimes things are out of our hands.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Just a quick update!
My vet where I work actually agreed to do Dominos surgery at a greatly reduced cost under the supervision and direction of the specialist. Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday the 20th. They want to go in, remove all of the molars on the effected side of the jaw and scoop out enough stuff for a biopsy.
Unfortunately something else has developed. I've noticed that Dominos jaw is sliding to the left when his mouth opens and his teeth are hitting each other. I sent a video to the specialist and she's concerned that either his jaw is broken, or he has way more bone loss than we initially thought. So now she's recommending the surgery be done at the specialty clinic since they're better prepared for that scenario. That also has a higher price tag. Luckily care credit is amazing and I can afford his surgery!!! I'm supposed to call and schedule it when the clinic opens tomorrow. Still hopefully shooting for next week if at all possible. Fingers crossed the biopsy isn't scary....
cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
Sorry for the late post, but things have kind of happened quickly. Domino is currently in surgery as I type this. They have decided to do a total hemimandibulectomy. Which basically means they are taking the lower left jaw in its entirety, all the way back to the joint. They did this for many reasons, cost, the amount of bone loss, and mainly because that side of his jaw has become unstable and they are concerned about a future fracture and second surgery. They started the surgery about an hour and a half ago, so I should be getting a call in the next couple of hours to see how he did and I'll pick him up tomorrow. I seem to be handling it ok, but it happened so fast. It's also insane to think that when I see him tomorrow he'll be missing a quarter of his face... I cuddled with him all night last night and stared at his face, his beautiful face. His tongue will now permanently hang out, and he'll have to re learn how to eat and drink as his jaw will always drift to the side. We'll get results of the biopsy in about 14 days or so and I keep hoping for good news. It just seems too coincidental that it's on the same side where he was hit by the car. For now I'm just waiting on a phone call...
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
OHHHH CASSIE!!!! Imissed your Sept 14th post, and apparently all of us did....And now to see today's post.....my heart is in my throat!
Al@ I can say right now is Domino cannot ve in better hands at this clinic AND he can ot be in better hands when he gets home!!! Yes, a learning curve indeed, vut just like everything else Domino and you have endured, YOU VOTH WILL POWER THROUGH THIS AND GET RO BETTER DAYS!!!
Call Tripawds Helpline while you wait! I'm on "duty" and can help hold you back from the edge whike you wait! Seriously! Do it! Guess yourew at work though, so maybe you can't.
1 844 tripawds
Sending every ounce of positive heal energynyiur entire Tripawds Family can muster up....And we can muster up a lot!!!
Love and hugs...lots of both
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!
Hey Cassie,
Thanks for posting the update here. It's new territory that you and Domino are embarking on but your courage is inspirational and I have no doubt that Domino is just as strong. When you see him, I know that your gratitude over having him with you and continuing to enjoy life will outshine any changes to his physical appearance. Love runs much deeper than the bodies our spirits are housed in. Dom's got such spunk, he's going to rock life even more when this is all over. Keep us posted OK? xoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Cassie I've been holding both you and sweet Domino in my thoughts and prayers since you first posted back in August but praying especially hard today! Hang in there sweetie and update after surgery!
Domino is out of surgery! He did well and is waking up fine. The doctor did say the bone loss was worse than we thought and did extend up the back of his jaw which was probably what was causing the laxity. He's on some good pain meds and will be monitored carefully through the night. The doctor will call in the morning with an update and let me know when he can come home. I'm so relieved that he's awake but so worried about the biopsy. Still keeping my fingers crossed for good news. It's odd though that the doctor still doesn't have a guess as to what it is, she said she's never really seen anything like it.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
WHEW!!! Okay....good....surgery is DONE and Domino is waking up, no doubt high as a kite!!!
Ya' know Cassie, since this is on the same side as where he was struck by that car, in could br be some sort of belated undisclosed trauma caused by that accident.
I know one thing for certain from having met this spunky boy in person twice now...HE IS ONE STRONG DUDE WITH A LOT OF SPUNK!!! And a very, very smart boy who also happens to be cute as a button!!!
Try and get some rest yourself, okay? It may be a rough few nights when you first get him home. I'm guessing syringe feeding for the first several days maybe?? He'll still be very druggy, but he'll figure things out.
Lots and lots of love and hugs from us all!!
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!
Super news! What a relief. Get some rest and let us know how it goes tomorrow!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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