Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All,
I have lurking here a while. My son's Rottweiler ,Bandit, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma January 23. There was also a spot in his lung. The vet has finally scheduled amputation surgery for Monday Feb 18. We love the dog dearly but know his time is short. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with cancer spreading to the dog's lungs. I'm just not sure amputation is going to do much to extend his life. Cost of surgery is $2600 which my son has to take out a loan for. There is so much read here with lots of good advice.
Hi Gramps, welcome! You obviously care a lot about Bandit and your son or else you wouldn't be here. Thanks for giving amputation consideration, I know it's a giant leap to envision, especially for a big dog like Bandit.
Ok, the first place to begin is Jerry's Required Reading List if you haven't seen it already. That, and our ebook, Three Legs And A Spare will also help answer most of your questions, but you'll also find lots of great input from members here.
My question for you is, did the vet confirm that the spot on his lung is a lung metastasis? Amputation is a tough decision that's made even tougher when cancer has metastasized. Most vets will not recommend amputation if lung mets are found, but it sounds to me like Bandit's vet is optimistic that this may not be a lung met?
We've seen many dogs defy the odds after lung mets were found and go on to live even a couple of years, but that was after amputation they became Tripawds. It's heartbreaking but true that a dog has less of a chance of living up to the prognosis if lung mets are found before surgery. But keep in mind that cancer will often behave in ways that don't match the textbooks, and there is always a chance that the dog could live a long time despite having those mets. I reallly hope that Bandit is just as fortunate.
One more thing to consider; amputation will not extend life, nor cure the cancer. What it will do is give Bandit quality time that's free of the horrible pain of osteosarcoma. Most dogs bounce back pretty quick, in a matter of a couple of weeks, and after that every day is icing on the cake. One of the biggest lessons we learn here is that every day is a gift and life is all about quality, not quantity. If that time can be free of pain, then that's all that matters.
I hope this helps. Please keep us posted on how things are going. We are here for you and your son and of course Bandit.Thanks for coming here to ask questions!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey there, iam really new to this too. My xena rott x had her op yesterday, she didnt have any mets on her lungs so it made the decision really easy for me. I know it would of been much more difficult if there had of been cancer in the lungs. How old is your rotty? Also i dont think your vet would recommend amputation if he didnt think it was worth it. Speak to the vet about how much time he thinks your dog has with and without the surgery? These are all things i took into account when i had to go with Xena. I didnt want to put her through any more pain. We all want the best for our dogs so ask as many questions as you can. Let me know how you get on plus the guys here are great and will help you with everything you need, i dont think i could of done it without them!
Chloe and Xena xx
Hi and welcome to the site. Our dog Zeus was a Husky mix who was diagnosed with OSA at 11 years old. Unfortunately, a CT scan at the time of diagnosis showed a spot on his lung and a spot on his liver. We knew the statistics and asked our vet for his personal experience with mets at diagnosis. The only thing he could offer in comparison was a dog that he treated that had a lung met at diagnosis, owners proceeded with amp and the dog lived only six weeks. We were devastated but decided to give it a shot anyway. Zeus lived ten months after his diagnosis - and they were ten really good months. We did opt to do chemo (carboplatin) and we switched him to Dr. Dressler's dog cancer diet. Not sure what worked, but the spot on his lung only grew a tiny bit and never multiplied, although it was confirmed to be a lung met. Eventually the cancer returned in his belly (liver and spleen) and we lost him. Maybe Zeus was just really lucky and the exception to the rule, but we are so very glad that we did the amp and don't regret our decision one bit.
I wish you guys all the luck in the world and hope that Bandit surprises you all and stays around for a long, long time!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Welcome to Tripawds. You sound like you have a tough decision to make. We dealt with a different kind of cancer, mast cell, so our decision making process was a little different. Maggie my Tri-pug was given 6 to 9 months after amputation due to lymph system involvement, she lived almost 4 years and didn't pass from mast cell. There are no guarantees, and many are not so lucky, but the stats and odds are not always right.
I just wanted to say that it's great how much you care about your son's pup. I could not have gotten through Maggie's cancer journey, or any number of pug health issues since without the help of my Dad (Mom too!). Dog grandparents are the best.
Karen
krun15 said
Welcome to Tripawds. You sound like you have a tough decision to make. We dealt with a different kind of cancer, mast cell, so our decision making process was a little different. Maggie my Tri-pug was given 6 to 9 months after amputation due to lymph system involvement, she lived almost 4 years and didn't pass from mast cell. There are no guarantees, and many are not so lucky, but the stats and odds are not always right.
I just wanted to say that it's great how much you care about your son's pup. I could not have gotten through Maggie's cancer journey, or any number of pug health issues since without the help of my Dad (Mom too!). Dog grandparents are the best.Karen
Hi Krun15,
Thanks for the reply. I am answering your post first because we had a dog diagnosed with Mass Cell. Our boy Zipi a Husky/Akita mix That looked like Maggie ( I think that is her name ) the black & white dog on the home page. Anyway Zipi lived almost 4 years after his diag also. When he did go it was due to Kidney failure. I was so thankful we had him so much more time that the original vet told use. He was my wife's best friend. Its hard for our "new" dogs to live up to Zipi's legacy.
Thanks for the replies
My son got Bandit from a breeder in Indiana. When Bandit arrived (via air cargo 
) he had pneumonia. Vet gave him some meds and gave Bandit only a couple of days to live. I can still see my son holding the little guy in his arms crying. Bandit survived his brush with death and turned 7 last September. On January 23 Bandit went to the vet with a slight limp. I think the vet knew right away what was wrong. They did the x-ray and diagnosed Osteosarcoma. They weren't as sure about a spot on his lung. That film wasn't very good. They sent my son home with a small print out of what the diagnosis meant, treatments, and survival rates. My son was devastated when he told us the news. It was like the day he got Bandit 7 years ago. The vet did recommend amputation for pain relief not for longevity. The vet he goes to is very good but very expensive. Unfortunately money is a factor so chemo is not an option. My son lives in an upstairs apartment so Bandit will b be living with us while he recuperates. My guess is he will be here until the end. My son will probably come back home to live also. Bandit is an active dog with very mild arthritis. He is slim so we're hoping amputation won't have much of an effect on him. He is a big ( very tall) dog though, weighing in at 110 lbs. We have a ramp set up for him to get in & out of the house.
I have been reading as much as I can here. IT get a bit overwhelming though. I am self employed so keeping up with things is tough. My son isn't an internet person so research has falling on to my shoulders.
I am so very sorry that you are all dealing with this. Is there any possibility of checking prices for the surgery at other well-respected places? Do you have any universities with vet schools attached that are nearby? I think that we paid $1800.00 for surgery and the chemo was about $1500-$2000.
You are in our thoughts--I wish you a ton of luck and best wishes.
Joan and Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Sorry you had to find us here. Our Abby had a clear lung xray at the the of her amp, but only about six weeks later an xray showed a very small lung met, so it had been there, but undetectable at the time of her amp. She lived 15 mo. post amp and it was an amazing time. We did chemo, but it's not for everyone. There are supplements you can try and other holistic options. Try not to think in terms of how much time will we get. Just focus on making whatever time you have with Bandit the best it can be. Getting rid of the pain in his leg will help. Once he's done with the pain meds and gets his staples out, he'll begin to amaze you, and your son will likely have an even stronger bond with him.
I know it's all overwhelming right now, but there can still be lots of good times ahead for Bandit.
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!
So sorry you and your son have to experience this. It is incredibly difficult. Things can get really confusing. Especially when money is a concern too. It doesnt seem fair that money can make up our minds for us. Our vet has a special payment plan so you don't have to pay all at once. You could ask about that or find a vet that has a payment plan. I chose not to do chemo though because of the money but also I didn't want to put my Dog through anything else after she was healed from the amputation. It's an individual decision and whatever a person decides is the right decision for them. I had a Great Dane named Valentina and she was 160lbs and 36 inches tall at the shoulder so she was a big girl. I was worried about her being able to walk after the surgery because of her size but she figured it out quickly. After she was healed she had a wonderful life. She was back to herself and I was satisfied with my decision to amputate. We had lots of great times but 7 months after her amp she became unable to walk. Her back legs had given out and we discovered that she had severe arthritis in her spine and she had slipped discs and compressed nerves that were leaving her unable to walk. This left us with the decision to let her go. It was the hardest decision of my life but I was very thankful for the previous 7 months that we had her with us. If not for the amputation we would have had to put her to sleep 7 months earlier. And even if we had done the chemo we still would have had to put her to sleep because she could no longer walk. I had felt really guilty about not having the money to do the chemo but in the end it didn't matter because we ended up having to put her to sleep because of her spine problem not the actual cancer. It's been a year now since she has been gone and I am able to look back and feel good about my decisions and remember those wonderful last months with my favorite Dog ever. Hoping that Bandit gets though his surgery and heals up speedy quick so you and your son can enjoy him like you know him to be. Without pain. And praying that he has much more time here with you. I had a Dog named Bandit when I was a kid and you story has made me remember the good times with my Bandit. Wishing all of you the very best. 
Gramps, I think Joan is right, if you have access to a nearby veterinary school you can save money on the surgery and get the best care around. Your vet's price is about average, unfortunately, for private practice amputation surgeries. I know it's a lot to deal with, this whole situation is very overwhelming. But please don't feel bad about not doing chemo. Not everyone here decides to do it (I didn't have chemo) and while it does give dogs a better chance at living longer, it doesn't guarantee anything. We've met many dogs who survived way past the odds (like me; two years!) without chemo and many dogs who had chemo but sadly, did not live long enough. So all you can do make the most of each day and love love love one another as much as you can. In the meantime, we'll be here however we can. If you need to talk stop by our chat room . Usually there is someone there in the evenings and sometimes in the afternoon, so don't be a stranger.
Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
For many reasons that weren't tied to Jackson's cancer, his amputation took place 4 hours away, at a private practice with an ortho specialist. Turns out, we paid about a grand less there than if his operation were done under the same conditions but at home (in Connecticut). That's a lot of savings! Maybe shop around? Don't be afraid to travel either....
Good luck! Keep us posted!
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
fetchon3 said
For many reasons that weren't tied to Jackson's cancer, his amputation took place 4 hours away, at a private practice with an ortho specialist. Turns out, we paid about a grand less there than if his operation were done under the same conditions but at home (in Connecticut). That's a lot of savings! Maybe shop around? Don't be afraid to travel either....Good luck! Keep us posted!
Just curious, where was your amp done. We live Near Albany NY I see you're in CT
His amputation took place in Rumney, New Hampshire. CT is known for high prices on EVERYTHING so probably having his surgery done anywhere else would save money. You've got Cornell near enough to you, give them a call and see.
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
I know people who've gone to Cornell just for the GREAT hospital and the great prices there (I live in NYC), so I would check them out!!!!!!!!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
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