I had no emotional attachment to the loss of the leg. I was way too busy dealing with the here-and-now of helping Dakota learn how to move and be comfortable. I was relieved the leg was gone because it would have killed him. If you look at the leg in that way, it may help you to accept its loss. 

Shari

tkk81 said
Wow you are all truly amazing people! Did you all feel emotional about the loss of the limb? The thoughts of my dog is going to be different after. Not the same way I've known him for so long. I seem to be having a hard time with that

I wouldn't say emotional. It was strange--I've always loved Sam's legs (okay, that sounds strange :p). When he was a puppy, he was all legs, like a deer. And then, later, his front legs (along with his face) became one of the few places on his body that were not affected by the S.A. They still retained their fur--and even would grow it back after surgeries. So they've always been a salient feature, I guess.

So, then I thought of this disembodied leg sitting on a tray in the exam/recovery room, and it was like..."Huh." My vet asked if I wanted to see it, and I thought about it for a second, and was like, nah. And then, of course, he told me if I wanted to later, I could, since he was building a Frankenweenie in the back room and it'd be around. (Er, I have a good...and obviously very informal... relationship with my vet--as you can see, we use humour in all things. )

For us, it was largely a  cosmetic thing--and since we've had cosmetic issues for years now, it wasn't that big of a deal.

This is my opinion, of course, but I'd do the amp sooner, rather than later (assuming you are leaning toward going that route). OSA is a horridly painful disease. If you know you want to keep your pup around for awhile longer (as in not going to immediately euthanize), then do it as opposed to deliberating about it. It takes none of your options away (palliative care only, chemo, radiation, whatever), and it gets rid of the pain. But again...very much my opinion.

As a side note--DakotaDawg mentioned personalities, etc. And it's funny, I read all these posts about these loving, boisterous, outgoing, people-dogs... and thank god that's not what we base decisions on, or Sam would never have made it He may be only half-akita by breed, but by god, he is one to the core personality wise. Aloof, quiet, stubborn, and very "my way. my terms." But again, if someone hadn't lived with him day in and day out for 13 years, they'd never know the real Sam. And in knowing him like we do, it was easy to see he wasn't done living yet...even if he was a crank about it. :p

Tanya, I remember now there was something else I wanted to tell you. You said you've started Congo on fish oil, correct? You should call your vet to ask about that because fish oil can hinder surgery. My understanding is that it can act as an anticoagulant and you don't want that. Since it takes a couple of days to work out of the dog's system, my uneducated advice is to check with the vet now before you have a concern. 

Shari

I dont see the oncologist until Thursday, that is when a plan will be made, until then I dont even know if he is a candidate for amp, (although his reg vet said he is).  If it is an option, I have pretty much come to the conclusion that this is the route I will be going.  I am trying to adjust to the idea of the feelings involved with looking at your once four legged dog who is now three legged.  

I am soo frustrated with peoples feelings about my possible amp dog.  People give me opinions without me even asking for them, ugh so frustrating.  I am really finding that people dont "get" it. My mother of all people, keeps trying to convince me that I should just do nothing and enhance his quality of life through foods and vitamins.  I dont think she gets how painful it would be for him.  Right now he is taking duramax for pain and is doing quite well on it, running playing jumping.  I wonder if I am not getting it, but from what I read, the disease is fast and painful.  I feel that if I do not act soon on his amp, he will likely need to be put down soon as the meds will not help forever. 

I will let you all know what happens on thursday. 

fetchon3 said
You know, after we got Jackson's cancer diagnosis and before his amp, I was mad at him.  I was angry at him!  I can't really explain it.  My first family dog, Britta, got bone cancer, but that nearly 20 years ago.  Oh my, how things have changed.  What hadn't changed was my hatred and fear of cancer.  I was convinced Jackson wouldn't get cancer, for the following: He is a mutt.  He benefits from modern medicine, an anal retentive mom, great body weight and activity level, and great food....and he still got cancer?!  I was angry.  At him.  It was weird.  That lasted about 3 days.  Then, we got him from his amp and it all changed.  I was there.  With him.  For him.  I took his leg away, and although he didn't seem to care (which is SO weird!), b/c I pulled that trigger, it was my job to escort him, support him, encourage him, and rebuild his confidence in this New Normal.  I also remember feeling relieved to have made the decision to amp and an even greater sense of relief when the amp was underway and completed.  Why?  Because that was the first step (hop?) toward getting Jackson's life and health back to normal.  We had done SOMETHING.  ANYTHING.  We cut that damn tumor out.  We were moving forward.  Forward on a path is so empowering.  It's something to sink your teeth, hope, and heart into.  Or bury your head in.  Either way, just make a plan, have confidence in it, and move on it.  You'll feel better.

~ Katy

Katy, I know what that madness feels like. I am mad, but not at Congo, I am mad at the people who bought him.  You see, I obtained congo at my previous job.  My old boss bought this pedigree black lab, to be a guard dog in his rail/gravel yard, (it was a trucking company).  Congo was left to sleep outside and was supposed to stay outside all day too, but I would always sneak him into the office.  I would get to work at 6am and stay until 9pm, just so he wouldnt have to be alone outside too long, sometimes I would leave him with a bed in the office if nobody was there.  One night some railway workers came into the lot and stole him.  I worked my butt off for a month and a half and managed to track him down and brought him back.  When I would leave for business trips nobody would feed him, my parents would go down to the office and feed him.  When I left my job, I told my boss that if he didnt let me take him, I would have the SPCA take him and I'd adopt him.  So I brought congo home in 2006 for his first glimpse of what a "home" is like.  I am mad at these people for everything, but for thinking that they are entitled to "visit" him now, after so many years.  I am here and always have been, I am the one who is dealing with this awful diagnosis. 

Well thats my vent