Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone,
I'm new here and don't know what to do. A couple of months ago I took my dog into the vet because a small bump that was on her right front elbow had suddenly quadrupled in size. The vet said she didn't know what it was, but she was able to get some of liquid out of it by pressing on it with a glass slide. She said she didn't see anything cancerous so prescribed antibiotics and a steroid spray for 6 weeks. For the first three weeks, it seemed that the treatment was helping, but then the mass just kept getting bigger. Last week I took her back in and saw my regular vet (there are multiple vets at the practice I use) and she gave me a much different response. She immediately did a fine needle aspiration and sent it off to be analyzed. She also said the mass needed to come off but she didn't feel comfortable doing it because of the size and location. She reached out to another surgeon in the practice, and she was willing to examine her and make a decision to we made an appointment to see her a few days later, once the cytology results came in.
The initial cytology was inconclusive, but the lab strongly suspected it was a sarcoma. The surgeon looked at her, also suspected that it was cancer and said she wouldn't be able to remove the mass because it had penetrated into the tendons of her leg. She recommended having a biopsy done, so we did that on Friday and just got the results tonight. I missed the call from the vet so only have her voicemail to go by and she won't be back in the office until Thursday, which is her surgery day so she couldn't see us until Friday. It's a soft tissue sarcoma, grade 3. The tumor has erupted through the skin and what is visible is 6cm x 5.5cm x 3cm deep - and that's only what they can see - she can feel more but wasn't able to measure it. She's willing to refer us to a specialist but said even they wouldn't be able to remove the tumor without removing her front leg - and that's if she can survive the surgery.
Anya (my dog) is a husky/rottweiler mix who is 11.5 years old. She's losing weight and was running a fever at both appointments last week, despite being on antibiotics. Her appetite has dropped but she's still eating - but she's also drinking large amounts of water all the time. She'd drink non-stop if I let her and can easily go through a gallon of water per day (I keep track by using a gallon jug to fill up her water bowl). I can't tell if she's in pain but she's having a hard time putting weight on her leg and is very hesitant when walking and taking stairs. Over the last week she's become very clingy and wants me to walk with her when she's out in the yard. Having said all of that, she's still her sweet self who wants to torment my cats, and sneak treats from my kids.
When I was waiting for the biopsy results, I was seriously considering amputation if the tumor turned out to be benign, but had doubts given her age, size (75 lbs) and the fact that it's her front leg that's impacted. Now that I know it's a grade 3 cancer, those doubts are even stronger. We don't know if the sarcoma has spread anywhere else, although she does have another red spot on her underbelly that the vet saw last week, but her primary concern is her leg.
I did some research and read that nearly 50% of grade 3 sarcomas metastasize, and that 3 out of 4 grade grade 3 sarcomas recur even after surgery. I don't know if it's fair to Anya to put her through an amputation given her age and the grade of the sarcoma, but also don't want to say goodbye if there's a chance she could have a few more years with us. The quality of her life is very important to me though and I don't want her to suffer or be in pain. I just don't know what the right answer is.
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry cancer has brought you here- I assume Anya has two blue eyes? She sounds like a beauty.
What we talk about here is often not the age of the dog (or cat) but the shape the dog is in. Other than the last couple of months how is Anya? Is she still full of life? Does she still enjoy her life? Does the vet think she she is a good candidate for amputation?
Did the vet talk about any testing to see if the cancer has spread anywhere? Before making a decision I would want to know if there is any evidence of cancer.
75 pounds is not a huge dog, we have many large and even many giant breed dogs here who have thrived after a front amp.
Do your research and find out what all the options are. Maybe even get a second opinion. Dealing with cancer is a bit of a crap shoot- some here far outlive their diagnosis without any additional treatment, some do every treatment available and only get a few months. My little pug Maggie was given 6 to 9 months after her amp for mast cell cancer, she lived almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell cancer.
No matter what path you choose we are here to help you on this cancer journey, we have been there and understand what you are going though.
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
There are a couple of us in the chat room right now- I see you are logged in.
If you log into chat scroll down and wait for it to load and the window to open.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your response - and yes, my Anya has two blue eyes. I also have her sister who has one blue eye and one brown eye. When I was picking out a puppy from my friend's dog's litter, I couldn't decide between the two of them so I took them both and have never regretted it.
I haven't had a chance to talk much with my vet about our options - I talked with her the day she took the biopsy but when she called tonight with the results, it was after 8:30pm and I was putting my kids to bed so she left me a voicemail with the results and the phone number for specialist who would actually do the amputation.
Anya's never had any health problems so it's ironic that her first health issues is a big one. To me she still seems full of life but I can also tell a change in her over the past few months - I just don't know if she'll go back to her normal self when the tumor is removed, and her leg by default.
My vet said last week that if the biopsy showed cancer, the next step would be x-rays to see if it had spread. I also want to find out what kind of sarcoma Anya has since there are several and that can impact her prognosis. She's out of the office tomorrow and Thursdays are her surgery day - I don't want to deal with any of the other vets at the practice, so it will be Friday before I can get in to talk with her. She's been my vet for 10 years and I value her opinion - she's been great with my other dogs too. From the moment she saw Anya's leg, she told me she didn't have a good feeling about it. I just don't know how much additional information she can give me since she wouldn't be doing the surgery.
Oh my gosh I'm sorry, you must be going crazy waiting to speak with your vet.
Your story is like many here; an older dog in otherwise great shape who is at the amputation crossroads. It's a scary place to be but you are not alone. One thing that may bring you peace of mind is getting an opinion from a board-certified oncologist who can give you more specifics. Your vet practice sounds large, I'm guessing they have one there?
I know her age is a concern but if she's in otherwise good health she could do really well on three. Have you seen our Size and Age Matters forum? Hop on over for some examples of older amputee dogs. Jerry's Required Reading List is another place to stop by.
Don't get too hung up on numbers, remember that your dog is one-of-a-kind and even with a condition like cancer, she doesn't have an expiration date stamped on her butt. All dogs are different and nobody knows what the future holds. The most important thing is to deal with the pain she is in from the tumor (thus, the clinginess, very common pain indicator in dogs). We'll help you every step of the way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Anya! Knowing that you are a Husky means you have a lot of spunk and age is just a number!
You've gotten great advice and insight from Karen and Jerry. Even though it means a couple .pre tests, you do need to see if there is any spreadi g and to have an overall assessment. At 11.5 Anya could have some age related "issues" that may need to be addressed. I would want to know why she is running a fever and have her kidney levels, etc. checked ro see why she's drinking so much water.
Havi g a fever a d having a leg that hurts and throbs is enough to make her not have a.big appetite. And not wanting to put weight on her leg and being hesitant with the stairs means she hurts probably. Perhaps your vet could prescribe some Tramadol while you are waiting for your appt. Friday.
So get a little more information, maybe a consult with an Onco., get her some pain meds,, see if she's a good candidate for surgery...and stay connected to us!! I know this is all so overwhelming right now and your emotions are off the chart. But with a bit more Information, you will develop a plan of treatment. You will find some relief in being able to move forward.
You clearly love Anya very much and will undoubetly make decisions based on her best interest. Anya doesn't care about days on a calendar. She just cares about quality ti e with her humans and sneaking treats!
TRY not to worry! Stay away from Dr. Google. Go snuggle with Anya and watch her tail wag. All is well in Anya's world and she isn't going anywhere anytime soon!
We'll look for your update Friday. And we would LOVE to see pictures of Anya and her brother! I was o ce owned vy a blue and brown eyed Husky. Fun loving dogs who never seem to age.
Love and hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Oh, I know your dilemma all too well. My nearly 12 year old American bulldog Izzy is just 10 days past amputation of her front leg. She used to weigh about 55-60 pounds but lost some weight before I knew she was sick, likely due to the osteosarcoma.
Like you, I struggled with "do I put her through all this" and felt selfish for wanting to do it. All dogs are different, but my Izzy still was so full of life so I went with amputation. I haven't decided about chemo but am leaning toward no. She is old and her cancer has likely spread and I just want to love on her. And that's what I've been doing.
Talk to your vet and do what you think is best for your baby. what you do out of love and compassion will always be that right choice.
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.
I'm surprised that they didn't do x-rays right away so that they could get a better look at what you're dealing with.
As to Anya being too old, I believe there was someone here recently who had a husky that was 16 who had surgery. Age of course has to be a factor, but you know your dog better than anyone. The recovery can be a bit rough, but after the first couple of weeks, they usually do well.
We weren't told a staging with Murphy's cancer, we weren't even really told what kind of cancer because his biopsy was inconclusive. We chose not to do a second biopsy since the tumor was growing and you could see on s-ray that the bone was deteriorating. It was just a matter of time before he would have had a fracture.
Anya is probably in pain, so it's no wonder she's staying very close to you!
Is there a teaching hospital near you? They are a great resource and are often less expensive when it comes to surgery.
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
I'm sitting here watching the clock waiting for the vet's office to open so I can call them.....fortunately today is my work-from-home day so I can make phone calls in peace. My vet ran the senior bloodwork panel on Anya last week and while we haven't had a chance to get into specifics, she said there were some highs and low but nothing that would preclude her from having surgery - this was back when we were hoping the surgeon could remove the tumor at their practice. I did some googling and read that excessive thirst can come with a fever so I'm assuming that's what's going on with her - but that's definitely something I'll be asking. I don't know if the vet can tell what's causing the fever by looking at the bloodwork....I would think with the antibiotics she's been on, it would treat the infection that would cause a fever but that doesn't seem to be happening. Her fever was 103.8 at her last visit which they said was fairly high.
We are about an hour away from Virginia Tech's teaching hospital and we've been there before - one of our other dogs needed a hip replacement but he was very young (18 months) so we were referred there. He ended up having an FHO instead because his hip socket was too shallow to support the replacement, but he made a full recovery and can still jump a 6 foot fence even with a bum hip. I'd need a referral from my vet to see them, but that's definitely an option.
I'm concerned about Anya this morning - it's rainy here today so I was putting a cover over her bandage so it wouldn't get wet and noticed her entire leg was shaking. She's also very agitated and breathing heavily. We weren't given any pain meds but I'm going to ask for some - there's no reason for her to be in pain while we figure out the best steps to take.
I live in Powhatan Virginia (West of Richmond). We have several members in Virginia and surrounding area. A d yeah....the rain has been craaaazy for days and days...and more to come!
Yes, you are exactly right, there is no reason they can't get her pain under control while determining the next steps. I think you'll see a difference in her overall attitude. Dogs are so stoic a d try so hard not to show pain. The fever could still .ake her feel less e energetic too. It may be that, o ce her lain is managed, it may even possibly go down a bit.
Hang in there. This "diagnosing"part can seem to take forever. At least getting the pain managed now will help.
We'll be looking for your update.
Sending love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I definitely agree with the others. Getting him on some pain meds now is your first course of action. The fever may be a product of being in pain. When our Max was diagnosed he was on Tramadol, Rimadyl and the vet at UW Madison added Tylenol with codeine to that mix just to get him out of pain before the surgery. We did the amp surgery because Max let us know he wasn't done living yet. We are now 4 weeks post surgery and he is living life large. We are following up with chemo because we feel it's needed to give him his best chance but we are prepared if it doesn't work too. All I know for sure is we got him out of his pain of walking on that leg and have given him the chance to enjoy whatever life he does have left whether it's months or hopefully years. Good luck no matter what you chose we've got your back here. You are not alone!
Oops I'm sorry I called the beautiful Anya him and she's definitely a her. I apologize. Also wanted to let you know Max is a big 110# German Shepherd. By day 3 he was hopping around like he'd been doing it a long time. Dogs adapt so well!
We have an appointment Friday at 2pm to talk next steps. I was able to talk with one of the other vets and got more details but it's making my head spin.
The good news - her senior panel looks great. Kidneys and thyroid function is good, no heartworm, no UTI.
The not so good news - liver enzymes are elevated but that could be from the muscle damage because of the tumor, or it could mean the start of liver problems. Also, the type of sarcoma she has metastasizes via the blood vessels and in her words "can go anywhere". This type of cancer may not spread to the chest, but she doesn't think chest x-rays are a bad idea. I asked what kind of test we could do to find out if the cancer has spread and she said she didn't know but would try to find out. She also encouraged me to call the surgeon's office - which I did - but they suggested I talk to an oncologist first, so I have a call into them too.
I have to say the vet didn't sound very hopeful about Anya's prognosis, given the stage and type of sarcoma. She's treated my other dogs and I think she's very good, but she's not *my* vet if that makes sense, so I'd rather wait and see her on Friday before I make any big decisions. In the meantime, I'm picking up some pain pills for Anya and am going to spend as much time as I can with her.
ETA: - small update. The oncologist's office called and we have a consultation next Wednesday at 1pm. They said to definitely do the chest x-rays and also an abdominal x-ray. So that's the plan - we'll do those on Friday and have the results sent to the oncologist. I'm just praying that the x-rays aren't an utter mess and that we can get to next Wednesday's appointment.
Okay....dewp breaths....really....B R E A T H E......B R E A T H E.....
Take a look at Anya...does she look worried about a thing? Nope, didn't think so! This "hurry up and wait" routine stinks, but it's pretty much what happens in the process leading to treatment. This is where BEING MORE DOG is really helpful. You are able to stay in the moment with Anya and not worry about the tomorrows, just focus on the bliss of being together now. You aound like you are doing a great job of not letting anything interfere with your time together.
Try not to let the gloomy attitude of the vet bother you. She doesn't know Anya and she doesn't know you and she sure doesn't have a crystal ball to see into the future.
You are doing everything right to develop a plan of action. Sooooo glad Anya is going to have pain meds now. That will make "waiting" for the various appointments a little less stressful.
Also, elevated liver may simply be a symptom of her age too. Ask your vet about Milk Thistle supplements to help the liver get healthier.
I'm glad Anya's overall blood work was great...that's important!
Now, get back to spoiling the heck out of Anya and give her some cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese!!
Have any pictures you can share? We love pictures around nere!
We're all cheering for ya' Anya!!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
You are tugging at my heart strings with your blue eyed baby. My Jake (also with two blue eyes) was 11 when he had his leg amputated due to a nerve sheath tumor, it was a grade 2 at biopsy but they changed it to a grade 4 at amputation. Jake lived for 9 months afterwards and actually passed away from a separate unrelated cancer hemangiosarcoma. Jake was in pain before the surgery and I told myself that it would all be worth it if he was able to play ONE more game of tug-a-war (his favorite). Jake not only played it once, but he played it a TON and knowing that he was able to enjoy the last few months of his life made it all worthwhile to me. Getting her on pain meds and getting those xrays are both a great place to start. Cancer is such a crapshoot and you just can't predict what it'll do. There are dogs here who have lived years past what vets thought they would.
Like Sally, I am also in the Richmond area. Are you close to us?
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
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