Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all,
Hoping for some thoughts/advice - our 10 year old chow mix Lacey is scheduled for a front leg amputation tomorrow due to a spindle-cell sarcoma tumor on her front leg. The tumor came about within a matter of months. Lab results were very definitive as to the type of cancer. But just this weekend we found a lump on our OTHER dog's (Mollie's) front leg, a black lab mix who's 11. The lump seems very similar in appearance to Lacey's and we are going to the vet today to have it looked at. Anybody have thoughts about such a coincidence? Would there be reason to delay Lacey's surgery until we figure out Mollie's situation? Any instances where these could be related? I'm totally trusting in our surgeon, not so much our regular vet. I'm probably being paranoid but starting to worry about if something like vaccine or food or something is causing these.
Thoughts? Thank you so much.
Laceysmom, welcome. This is the club nobody wants to join, but if you need to, we're here to help make it as easy as possible.
I'm sorry you're going through such a stressful time. I'm going to take a leap of faith here and say that the lump on Mollie's leg could be a totally harmless lipoma or something like that. Now I'm not a vet, but we like to tell folks here that until those diagnostics come back, it's best to keep pawsitive and hope for the best. Speculating can make us totally insane, and once a dog gets cancer, it's very difficult not to be over the top vigilant, we totally understand that.
Lacey and Mollie are very fortunate to have such a great pawrent, and so fortunate you're going to a specialist for them. Rest easy in knowing that vet care doesn't get much better than that, and you are in good hands.
There is lots of speculation out there about what types of things cause cancer, but there's a real lack of proof that shows "this causes cancer" or "that causes cancer." Sooo many things have been linked to it, but even the world's best researchers haven't pinpointed exact causes. You can drive yourself crazy wondering.
For now, take it easy, breathe, and remember that your pups need you to be a strong pack leader. Spend this time preparing your home for Lacey's three-legged lifestyle (our Required Reading List and ebook, "Three Legs & a Spare" have great tips). And in the meantime, vent all you want here, that's why we exist.
Good luck and keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Laceysmom. Sorry to hear about Lacey's diagnosis, but you've certainly come to the right place for advice and support. This community has been invaluable to us during Zeus' journey.
There are so many theories as to what causes cancer (in humans and in dogs) that it's hard to even guess whether the two are related. There are lots of benign causes for lumps - hopefully Mollie's bump turns out to be harmless. If it eases your mind any, Zeus has lumps all over (we finally quit testing them a couple of years ago b/c it was just too invasive to have every one checked). After all those needle aspirates and worrying about lumps and bumps, the tumor that eventually bit us in the @#$ and caused us to amputate didn't even show up visibly. Go figure.
Try to rest up as much as possible while Lacey is in the hospital. Once she comes home you will probably be sleep deprived for a while. Even if she does great, paranoia tends to take over and make you jump up at every noise! Good luck with everything and best wishes for benign/fatty Mollie bumps!
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/
Hi Lacey's Mom,
Wow - I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with two lumps at once. Even if this is a terrible coincidence, and they both have cancer, the amp will still be necessary for Lacey, so I wouldn't delay her surgery for any reason.
We are sending our best pawsitive thoughts out to you that Mollie's lump is just a benign/fatty tumor (and beginning the "B9! B9! B9!" chant now...)
As Lisa said, be sure to rest up. The first 12-14 days post amp can be very tiring - you will probably be more uneasy than your pup, but once Lacey is off the pain meds and gets her staples out, you should see her starting to act more like her old self.
We're here if you have any specific questions during her recovery! Hang in there, and let us know what you find out about Mollie too!
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!
Hi Lacy's mom,
Chloe was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma on her left hind hock in July of 2010. Her amputation surgery was 2 weeks after diagnosis. And while I was paranoid those 2 weeks, currently we are nearing the 2 year mark of her being free from cancer.
Chloe's vet said that spindle cell usually only affects the tissues in and around the tumor and have a low chance for metastasizing. Tumor growth is not a big deal because the whole leg is coming off, its the nasty little mets into the main body cavity that are the problem. Ask your vet what the chances of your dogs tumor metastasizing into the main body cavity are and how long you can wait.
I feel that with the diagnosis of spindle cell, Chloe was really lucky in the cancer department. Amputation cured her. They did a biopsy of the nearest lymphnodes (knee) and they came back negative for cancer. She had some xrays a month ago (unrelated matter) and there was no indication that the cancer ever spread. No chemo, no radiation, just an amputation.
As for lumps and bumps: Chloe has 3 lipomas (benign), 2 warts (benign), and 1 skin tag (benign). She's 11, she's getting lumpy and bumpy....
You can check out my blog to read about Chloe's story (see link in signature below). If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or PM me.
Also, see the picture below for what her tumor looked like on her leg (just below knee, dark black spot). It was firm to the touch and it too grew in a matter of months.
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
THANK YOU everyone for your input, it totally helps! The vet wasn't sure what Mollie's lump is, he said it appeared to be producing proteins of some sort; we hope to have a more definitive lab result tomorrow. Lacey is currently in surgery (or maybe out by now) and we are awaiting the call from the surgeon. Definitely spending tonight prepping the house for her homecoming in a few days! Will keep ya'll updated.....thank you again so much!!
Let us know how the surgery goes. Fingers and paws crossed for an uneventful recovery.
Rest up before she gets home!
Jackie
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!
Good luck to you and Lacey! We send all our best for a swift recovery. I hope your lab results show the lump is nothing serious. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome!
I'm sorry you find yourself here with us. I'm sorry you've got so much to deal with at once. Gosh! That's a lot!
We'll be sending the best good thoughts imaginable to you, Lacie and Mollie!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Update from LaceysMom:
Good news: Lacey is doing spectacular - we are almost a week post-op and she is already navigating the hard floors in our house, almost weaned off pain meds, eating well and is anxious to start running (which we are trying to keep her from doing just yet!).
Bad news: her sis Mollie now has the SAME type of tumor and the vet found a second tumor on her side (possibly just fatty tumor there). I will be talking with the vet further later but after both our surgeon and vet telling us that it would be like winning the lottery if they ended up being the same thing; now I'm wondering if there is something environmental going on!?!
Sigh. When it rains it pours.
Woo hoo for Lacey! Sounds like she is doing beautifully!!! Keep it up girl!!
On no for Mollie! Sending you all the fatty tumor vibes and for a good outcome with everything. Not sure about environmental factors but it would go through my mind as well.
And for you? Lots of hugs and good vibes coming your way...keep us posted!!! Will be thinking of you.
-Kori & Angel Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
Wow. What are the chances of having cancer happen at the same time in the pack? I'm so sorry! Ugh. Is Mollie a candidate for amputation?
I'm hoppy to hear that Lacey is doing well though. At least you will know what to expect, should you decide to proceed with amputation for Molly.
Whatever we can do to help, just let us know. {{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm just laying here trying to sleep but just baffled that BOTH my sweet pups have this at the same time. I'm so scared that it's something we've done; their food, our water, something in our house. Makes me concerned for the rest of the pack, including our two year old boy, the littlest. The vet even made the lab recheck Mollies results thinking they must have mixed them up with Lacey's initial test. So now, he feels he can remove both of Mollie's tumors successfully without amputation. I'm just a little skeptical because Lacey's surgeon said this kind of sarcoma has tentacles that invade and root within the surrounding tissues. I'm worried he won't get it all. I don't think she's an amputation candidate bc the tumors are on her shoulder/armpit of her front leg and another in nearly the same place, a little lower on the other front leg. But I've got a call into the vet myself; my husband took mollie today and I still have lots of questions. So happy to have found thus site, if anything only to vent. Thanks for listening.
OMD, I can't believe you are having to deal with this in both your pups. I can't even imagine what the odds of that are. My mind would also start to go to environmental things, but even then... geez.
I don't know much about that kind of cancer, so don't know about the chance of getting it all without a full amp. I hope you get all the answers you need from the vet.
Now - on to the good news. It sounds like Lacey is doing really awesome and is adapting well to being a Tripawd Warrior Princess!
Keep us posted on both your pups!
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!
Dakota had the same type of cancer. His situation was almost identical to Chloe's except it was a front leg.
Regarding Mollie, I was told that if we'd discovered Dakota's cancer while it was smaller, the tumor could have been removed. I would question the vet about why he/she thinks they can get the tumors to make sure it sounds right, but I would tend to believe it's possible. My understanding was that the tumor might invade again if they can't get clean margins, but it's not a cancer known for metastasizing so even that might not be the end of the world. I would have elected to remove the tumor only had it been smaller and in a better spot. (It began where there was literally no meat, so there would have been nothing to sew up.)
After you figure all this out, I wouldn't blame you for checking around to see if any clusters of unusual illnesses are reported in your area. Like you, I would be a bit on edge about my family. Lightning does sometimes strike the same place twice, and we've seen recently that the same person can win a lottery jackpot multiple times--so perhaps your dogs just drew the short straw. I'd still do some research, though. I don't blame you at all for wondering.
Good luck with your consult with the vet and let us know what you all decide together.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
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