Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Im new and so glad I found this forum! My 14 year old kitty has a very localized nerve sheath tumor on back toe. The surgeon thinks he may be able o save her leg if he can amputate two toes. I know i may be back in a year for a full amputation if he is not successful in getting it all. Has anyone here had a similar situation? I have confidence in this surgeon but still am wrestling with what to do. The tumor itself is grade 1 with no mitosis. She is older and probably the least athletic cat I've ever seen although she has other wonderful qualities 🙂 Anyway I'd appreciate any insight from those who have been through similar circumstances.
Welcome and best wishes for your kitty! Is her name Ruby?
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Hi Rubygirrl!
I just wanted to welcome you. I don't have experience with your tumor but I think others here can help you. Sometimes it takes us a moment to find you, but others will pop in. Sorry you had to find us this way, but I'm really glad you're here. Is your girl in good general health even though she's a couch potato? Which back leg is this affecting?
My oldest kitty lived to be 23 and he was a quad. We have seen older than 14 have surgery and do well. I don't know if just taking the toes will be sufficient, and I don't know anything about the tumor that she has, so I cannot guide you there.
I wish you well in your journey and just wanted to welcome you!
Jackie and Huckleberry ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Hey there! Not sure how much this will help, but my kitty is a bit older too. She turned 14 on April 2nd and had amputation surgery (front right leg, she had major nerve damage from an incident with a dog) on April 6th. She’s still getting back into the swing of things, but overall has recovered really well (thank goodness), is getting around well, and acting much more like herself. Older kitties can do well! It’s really tough making such a major decision. Allow yourself that! It helped that I was able to pretty much get the same information from multiple sources, which is that there wasn’t anything to make her leg better, and leaving it like it was was not good for her. I’m sending you and Ruby positive thoughts!!!
Hello and Welcome,
Sorry, you have to join us, and we have many senior kitties have amps and recover and hop on.
Purrkins lost his left front leg to soft tissue sarcoma on his wrist. Purrkins was also a low grade and very low mitotic figures 0-1 per 10 high power fields.
We have a couple of members have toe’s removed one was on an already tripawd from Osteosarcoma, and the other was for a different type of cancer Squamous Cell. The one with Squamous Cell did have to go back shortly to remove the leg.
As you already know you need clean margins to ensure it will not come back. You are already prepared that the surgeon may or may not get clean margins missing the toes she will adapt. My only concern would be if they did not get clean margins these tumors can come back pretty quickly and are locally aggressive. Have you consulted with an oncologist?
We had options one was to surgically remove what they could knowing we would not get clean margins, followed with 16-20 treatments of radiation that would be every day Monday thru Friday weekends off. Purrkins would have to be sedated each time. Purrkins was six at the time our other option was to amputate and get HUGE margins and “likely to be curative” We chose likely curative amputation.
You are the only one who knows in your heart what path to take you are already doing the research. Follow your gut instinct on this and do what you feel is best for you and your kitty on which route to go. If you have not seen an oncologist I would recommend doing so.
Here are a couple of articles on Soft Tissue Sarcoma and nerve sheath does fall into STS they go into detail on margins needed etc.
http://cancer.l.....rcomas.pdf
https://vetgirl.....ion-blogs/
Whatever path you chose we support you 100 percent she will hop on with two fewer toes or minus a leg. Please let us know what you decide from here. We are on this journey with you either way and wish you the best possible outcome!
Hugs & scratches to your kitty! Is her name Ruby?
Holly & Purrkins❤️
Thank you all for your support! What a whirlwind! Well she is going for surgery on Monday. We elected to be conservative if it was at all possible knowing we may be back for a full amputation later. Her name is Lollipop actually 🙂 We are going to consult with the oncologist there as well before then. I hope the surgeon is a talented as he is dedicated but he seems convinced we have a shot so I will take it.
She is 14 and also a bit of a wobbly cat as well so that is factoring into my thought process as well. Ugh...they do not deserve this!
I will keep you all updated as to the outcome!
Lollipop, that is sweet ❤️ So your name is Ruby then? I understand your deduction. I hope this is the fix for her. Just make sure you ask plenty of questions. If you don't mind, I would ask them to look at her bloodwork and make sure that she'll be a good candidate for a second surgery if the first one doesn't fix things. I, like you, would love to see conservative treatment do the trick, but I would also educate myself as much as possible just in case she needs more. I'm not a vet, and I'm not saying it won't work. I just think when you come to things of this nature that education is so important so that you understand pros and cons either way.
Please stay tuned in, I'm sure others will pop in with input.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huckleberry ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Let us know what the oncologist says.
We all understand wanting to save the leg as we are not pro amputation we are pro-quality of life. Our hope is wide enough margins with the toes and your done!🙏 I would also want those toes sent off to be checked if that has not been talked about yet. They sent Purrkins leg and scapula in to be tested.
We had a needle aspirate done & then a surgical biopsy was done on the lump before we saw our oncologist. Our Oncologist checked Purrkins bloodwork, chest x-ray, ultrasound & urinalysis. Before we even discussed a plan forward.
I'm sure they will test all that is needed to proceed in any manner.
Update us when you can!
We will send all pawsitive thoughts for Monday.
Holly & Purrkins❤️
Alrighty,you javea plan and you and Lollipop are moving forward! Good job! There's actually a reliefwhen you make a decision and can continue on giving Lollipop a quality pain free life!
We'll be sending @ots of pawsitive energy your way. And please update when surgerynis done! We worry when we don't hear back fro our family
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!
Hi yes and thank you! The surgical biopsy has been done as well as the chest x-ray and prelim bloodwork. Meeting with Oncologist who is onsite Friday. I will ask about the ultrasound for sure and the plan was to send the toes off to be checked.
Surgically - I hope they can do what they say but am prepared for the call Monday that says best course is full amputation right away. Did I just say 'prepared'? I really am not but will move forward with however much of her comes back home.
Update to follow on Monday!
Great sounds you are in excellent hands!
You are as mentally prepared as you can be, this is never easy taking digits or limbs. Know you will be doing this for Lollipop you choosing her life over toes or limb.
We will be hoping for clean margins & fewer digits. If you get the call, the leg has to go know Lollipop can and will hop on either way!
pain management is key to any amputation it will make all the difference for you both! Please have the pain management discussion before surgery and know what they will be sending home. Too often cats are not sent home with enough pain meds.
How To Help Your Tripawd’s Post-Amputation Recovery Pain
Will be thinking of Lollipop and you on Monday!
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️
rubygirrl said
Hi yes and thank you! The surgical biopsy has been done as well as the chest x-ray and prelim bloodwork. Meeting with Oncologist who is onsite Friday. I will ask about the ultrasound for sure and the plan was to send the toes off to be checked.Surgically - I hope they can do what they say but am prepared for the call Monday that says best course is full amputation right away. Did I just say 'prepared'? I really am not but will move forward with however much of her comes back home.
Update to follow on Monday!
We are sending our best wishes for tomorrow & will be thinking of you and Lollipop.
Hugs, Holly & Purrkins
I'm just catching up. I think my tripawd Mona would challenge your Lollipop for being non-athletic. Mona loves to sleep and the most athletic thing she does is to go outside to sleep under a bush where she fantasizes about catching a bird. Thankfully it hasn't happened yet. I think it's hard to stalk on 3 legs.
Hope Lollipops surgery goes well and she impresses you with a great recovery.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
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