Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My 9 pound 5 year old Maltese Cosmo recently has a tumor removed from In between his does removed and it came back as a low grade mast cell tumor with a mitotic level of 2. The pathologist said that there were cancer cells all the way around the tumor which was stated a incomplete removal of the cancer. I've seen an oncologist which said best route would be radiation which was way to far away to travel 4:30 hours and have to live out of a hotel for a month with 19 rounds of treatment and $6000 for it which I could not do 😞 so next step to competing get rid of it was amputation of the leg bc just removing one toe they felt they couldn't get it all and two toes he wouldn't walk so leg amputation was best. Which I'm highly considering but that's where I need your help as too what is best. I can either do that and him be cancer free or try chemo which won't get rid of it but give him longer with us but it still may come back or play the waiting game and if it were to come back it may be more aggressive. So please I'm so stuck on what to do. Please give me some advise as to what would be best. I am also trying to get an appointment for ultra sound to make sure it hasn't spread to his organs. Before I go forward with what I choose to do.
Hi Marlena and Cosmo, welcome. Hope you don't mind I moved your post here, but Cosmo deserves a topic all to himself 🙂
Mast cell cancer is such a tricky condition to deal with surgically. We see a lot of people who come here because surgical attempts and radiation therapy didn't eradicate the cancer. Most do go on to live longer, happier lives as Tripawds, like Roxy the Boxer.
Cosmo's size is a big advantage. He's not old either, especiallly for a dog his size. Check out Jerry's Required Reading List and you'll see that life can be good on three legs. You can also call our Tripawds Helpline too if you want to talk on the phone. We can't tell you what to do but just share our experiences on 3.
You can also check out this Tripawd Talk Radio podcast about Mast Cell Cancer:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry for your information. Hopefully I can have some people help me out with cosmos situation. He's not just a dog but my baby. I want to make the best decision for him. And see if there is anyone who has experienced similar things and be able to give me some advise.
Only you can decide what's best for your sweet boy. Make your decision out of love and you won't go wrong. That being said I will say I think if I had the opportunity to cure my dogs cancer with amp I would not hesitate to do so. Dogs are so resilient and I have seen first hand how well they get around. They're amazing. I'm sure Karen and Bonnie will be here shortly they unfortunately have first hand experiences with mast cell cancers and have a lot of knowledge of it. So I welcome you and are sorry your diagnosis brought you here. Again no one can make this decision for you just do your research and your love for your boy will guide you to the right decision for both of you. We are here to support you in whatever you choose to do. Hugs ((()))
Linda, Riley & Spirits Ollie & Mighty Max
Thank you Linda! It's so hard to digest. Watching him play and run around with my sisters huskys having fun and him not knowing what's going on kills me. I want what's best for him and just pray God leads us in the right direction. As of now I am trying to get scheduled a chest and abdomen X-ray as well as ultra sounds to make sure it hasn't spread before we choose the next step of amputation. But if an amp or radiation is the only way to make sure it's gone then that's what I'll do. But radiation is far out of my price range and the travel of 4 1/2 hours is too as well as staying in a hotel for a month for the treatments. Just pray it hasn't spread and what comes next is best for Cosmo.
Hi and welcome.
I'm sorry you are dealing with mast cell in your boy Cosmo.
You do have a tough decision to make. You are doing the right thing by doing some additional testing, although that is not foolproof- more on that in a second. Have you and your vet given her a thorough exam to look for other bumps?
Low grade MCT with a MI of 2 is good. Surgical removal is always the best treatment, but on limbs it is almost impossible to get clean margins which is what has happened for Cosmo. There is a chance that the cancer would not return even with dirty margins since the MI is so low, generally anything less than 5 out of 10 is considered good.
On the other hand when MCTs come back they are sometimes more aggressive so removing the leg may get rid of the cancer.
While mast cell tends to be one of the easiest cancers to treat in dogs, it is also very unpredictable which makes choosing treatment harder. My pug Maggie lost her rear leg to a MCT, the tumor was in her knee and there was no tumor removal option. Maggie's prognosis was poor after surgery and she developed new tumors but she beat mast cell. You can read her story and about her amp and treatments in her blog, the links are in my signature below. Maggie's little sis Tani also developed mast cell, but her tumors were all on her torso. I had some removed then decided to leave them alone as new ones popped up. She had 11 or 12 MCTs in her lifetime, lived to be almost 15, and did not pass from mast cell. She did have a couple tumors removed with dirty margins but the tumors did not recur in those locations.
About the foolproof comment- removing his leg will get rid of that tumor, it does not mean absolutely that he will never develop more MCTs. Chances are good that his surgery would be curative, but you should be aware that new, related or unrelated tumors could still develop down the road. Going into it I though Maggie's surgery would be curative- but it was not. I don't regret it at all, and I would do it again if faced with the same circumstances. Maggie developed a few new tumors after her surgery but not at her amp site. In her case they were probably new occurrences of cancer, not metastasis from the original. She lived almost 4 years after her amp and did not pass from mast cell.
I don't mean to scare you- but you should make your decision knowing what could happen and all the options you have.
Does the vet have Cosmo on benadryl and pepcid? Those will help protect him from swelling and stomach issues after having the tumor removed.
I gave you a lot to think about (maybe too much?). Please feel free to send me a PM if I can help.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Great to hear you're doing what you can to rule out a spread. Just take one step at a time. I'll be sending many prayers for clear X-rays and ultrasound. You're doing exactly what you need to be doing to make an informed decision for your sweet boy. We know how hard this is and we'll all be right here helping you wherever we can. Please don't feel bad having to focus to on the money issue. We all have to take into consideration that part of it and certain treatments are just beyond what we can do. For now just lean on all the new friends you will make here. That's what got us through this journey that none of us asked for. Please keep us posted on beautiful Cosmos journey. First step is getting the X-rays and ultrasounds done and then you will be able to go on to step two whatever that happens to bring. You can do this! Cosmo has no idea he has cancer he's just living his today with happy doggie gusto. Try not to worry and take a page out of Cosmos book. A very good friend of ours Sally (Benny 55) recommends chocolate in heavy doses. No not for Cosmo for you! I have to tell you it does work. 😀 Remember you're among friends here you're not alone. Many hugs!
Linda, Riley & Spirits Ollie & Mighty Max
OMD!! Cosmomis absolutely ADORABLE!!! Cannot wai to see .ore pictures of this Cutie Pa Tootie! 🙂
You've gotten grew support and information from Karen, Linda and Jerry! Ditto all!
Yep, as you can tell, you are not alone!!
You're doing an excellent job of gathering information and giving Cosmo all the proper work ups.
I can tell you that, regardless of finances, many here have gone ahead with amputation because the whole ordeal of radiation and everything involved, was just to stressful for their dogs.
There are absolutely no guarantees about anything with this piece of crap disease. We make decisions out of love. That's all our dogs expect.
As far as amputation, should you go that route, smaller dogs really do seem to recover from the surgery and adapting to three legs mich faster than larger dogs. It certainly sounds like Cosmo is spunky and fiesty...great traits to jave on this journey! You will be amazed at how well Cosmo will do without that "spare" leg!
We are here for you Cosmo, okay?
And yeah...grab that CHOCOLATE!!
Lpve!
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!
Thanks for your support. I'm hoping and praying that I'm make the right decision for him. But in my head i keep telling myself to wait and see what happens. Then again if it comes back, it will come back worse. I'm glad u stated that u wouldn't change a thing about removing the leg.
As far as Benadryl or pepsid he isn't taking anything like that but I will call the oncologist first thing in the morning and see what they say. Oh and another thing I can't see Maggie's story I see it at the bottom of the message but can't click it. I'm new to this forum and not good with running it yet.
What a cutie!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Ive also noticed that his lymph node in his leg is slightly larger than the other but not sure if it's due to the oncologist squeezing around on it yesterday or if it's due to where he had the mass removed?? And he don't have any other lumps on him anywhere else.
Not sure why the links don't work, I need to update that signature box anyway.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Okay...deep breaths....B R E A T H E.......
Keep things chunked down. You're getting all the necessary tests done so you can make an informed decision. For the moment, the "decision" can wait until the tests come back. Then express all your concerns with Cosmo's vets. Waiting can be an option...amputation can be an option....a solution will become more clear for you over the next several days. Well, as "clear" as anything can be on this crazy journey!
And welcome to the "Worry Wart Club"! We worry about every single hiccup, every burp, every lump and buml(even if it's just our imagination)! The lymph node can certainly be altered due to the surgery on that leg,...or too much poking around...or for any number of other harmless reasons!
Now go give that ADORABLE Cosmo a cookie and know that all is well in his world!
Lots of hugs!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...Don't forget the deep breaths...it helps! B R E A T H E......B R E A T H E
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!
There is always a lot to think about, we get that, and no one means to overwhelm you. From what little I've read about mct, when you mess with them, they release histamines, so I'm surprised that your vet didn't put Cosmo on Benadryl & Pepcid - they're both histamine blockers, so help to protect the cells from the release of all of that histamine. We all can also relate to the money situation. Ultimately, you have to make your decisions based on what's best for you & Cosmo. We'll be here to help you out should you need us!
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
Probably a silly suggestion, but after Otis' amputation I kept a log book of all the meds, when he ate, peed, pooped, etc. I am not using it to write down all my questions for the next vet visit. Some I may cross off before I get there, but at least I have every concern written down in one place.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
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