Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Bone biopsy results are in. This what they say:
Short version:
"Microscopic Findings: myelofibrosis and fragments of atypical spindle cells, suspect underlying sarcoma.
Prognosis: probably guarded"
Well, kinda like, maybe, kinda, sorta. Hello, does she have cancer or not?! Seems like everything is pointing in that direction.
We had a good discussion with the surgeon and pretty much decided removing her leg is the safest and most humane thing to do. (She is continuing to experience bad pain in her leg even with all the pain meds and fentanyl patch).
To absolutely get a confirmed diagnosis the next test would be an open biopsy which is very invasive. And even if it wasn't cancer something is causing really bad pain in the leg and could we ever heal it?
We talked about going up to UC Davis but as our surgeon said they would probably want more info and suggest an open biopsy as the next step, or just amputation.
We put sooo much time, energy and $ (about 6k) trying to save her leg last year. Now we get to take it off! Okay, it's fine - just get our girlie outta pain!!
So Monday the 20th is the date we set for amputation. It's taking a while to sink in.
Keep the love flowing 
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Oh Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Wow, I'm so sorry you didn't get a definite answer but at least you have some great vets helping to choose a plan of action.
There's only been a handful of cases that I can recall which had such inconclusive findings, even after a bone biopsy. Poor Lylee gets to be in that group!
You have a great attitude, that will get you through this and whatever comes next. Just take things day by day and remember the love is definitely flowing, we're here for ya.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Plenty of love headed Lyla's way. Far too many times we here from people putting their pups through multiple invasive procedures to "save the leg" or get an absolute diagnosis. Happy to hear you're moving forward. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
we're sending our best ET 'juju' to lylee girl, paws crossed the surgery is successful and the pain ends after monday! we too had spindle cells, and the biopsy of the wrist indicated a soft tissue sarcoma grade three. the invasive biopsy just added to the pain and never did even start to heal prior to the amputation... but, we knew what we were facing i guess. sounds like you have based your decisions on solid info so just know lylee girl will be fine on three legs!! let us know how she does on monday.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
You folks are the BEST!!!
Your support in all of this is priceless 
Thank you for staying with us on this path.
We took Lylee to the beach today for short visit – her most favourite thing to do, even thou' she lay down most of the time. We made her hop so she didn't experience extra pain in the leg and she got practice for the future. She has more stamina than us even as a newbie!
We'll post photos to her blog.
Huggs to you all!
(I downloaded the Tripawds ebook today – thanks for a great resource, will help streamline my research enormously 🙂 )
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
RUH ROH! I totally missed all of the updates!
So sorry you had to go through all of this! But I'm happy it's going to be over soon and you'll have your furbaby back with no pain!
Wishing you tons and tons of good wishes for Monday!
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.
I think you will be surprised at how good Lylee handles the surgery and how well she will look when you pick her up. having said that don't be surprised if she " crashes " a couple days later, very normal.. She will adjust amazingly well, since she has had some practice already the transition won't be so bad. Gus was not using his leg at all when we had the surgery done and once the initial healing was over, he was his old self. With all you have gone through already and 6k lighter, maybe you should see if there is a way you can mount that thing and display it, or if somebody tell you they don't have a leg to stand on you could let them use that one
. OK, I'll stop here. Good luck on Monday, it won't be as bad as you might think, Paws Up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Lots of good thoughts for both of you. The waiting has to be the hardest. I dropped Trouble off for surgery 36 hours after diagnosis and while it was hard to do, I cannot imagine how hard it would be with the uncertainly you've faced.
She will be fine. You will be fine. Once you get past recovery, life gets much easier.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi there pups and people
Well we are having a VERY hard time with the thought of an uncertain cancer diagnosis. To remove her leg and then find out she didn't have cancer is a difficult scenario. We'd really like to know what is going on with her leg. But doing more invasive and expensive tests also seems a very difficult direction to take. So doing the amputation on Monday is looming up like a huge, formidable spectre. What if the pathology reveals there is no cancer. We remove a leg when healing it would've been an option. This is yucky.
If she had cancer, no problem, we remove the leg but now we are not sure.
This is a stressful weekend!
Thank you all for your wonderful support.
Any help with clarity would be welcome 
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
It stinks that you couldn't get a diagnosis to help you make your decision, but I think considering the circumstances, that you are doing the right thing. The biopsy didn't positively confirm cancer, but it didn't confirm that she doesn't have cancer either. Unfortunately, your options are limited, but it sounds like amputation will get rid of the source of Lylee's pain. I think she'll do great as a tripawd. She is a beautiful girl . Good luck on Monday, I'll be sending lots of positive thoughts to you!
Lisa
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Oh I'll bet your stressed, I know we would be too.
If it helps at all, in the few times there's been an uncertain cancer diagnoses here at Tripawds (we've been online since 2006 and I'm thinking as far back as I can), there's only been one, MAYBE two times where the leg was removed and it wasn't cancer. I think it was just one time though.
I'm not sure if that helps but I sure hope so. You have my sympathy, I totally understand.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi there....
I too had an "unconfirmed diagnosis" at first with Brindy...That dog not had only one...but three bone biopsies! (too many I think now). The first one was "inconclusive....not enough cells"...so, she had another one that showed something like"abnormal bone growth"...but no cancer...Well, let me tell you...the lump grew, the pain got worse, she would not use the leg, pain meds were not helping...and a third biopsy later...there is was...osteo...I was angry! Why did this not show on the first two biopsies!!! WEll....they said they only saw a "very few" cells this time...that it just had not shown before....But...It obviously was there!!!
You are chosing the right path...get rid of the pain...she will love you for it! And, although inconclusive now...it could very well by "lying in wait"...the sooner you get that leg off...probably the better...
Hugs to you....It is scary to see your baby at first after surgery...truthfully, I freaked out...but, when I saw how pain free she was..after healing...it was worth it..
Hang in there!!!!!
I'll throw you my three paws worth for clarity. You are doing the right thing. #1, your getting rid of pain that the meds can't seem to. #2, sometimes it doesn't pay to mess around, our vet thought we'd have a year with Gus, biopsy was negative, chest was clear, and we still lost him 3 1/2 months later. #3, I've seen cases here where someone tried to wait, the leg broke, and with most of us, our luck would have it that would happen on a weekend, at night or at a time that was inconvienient as all get out. I think you have made the right decision, is it going to be easy, not right away, but everyone here will tell you, once that rough period of healing is over, you'll wonder why the decision was so hard. These guys adapt amzingly well, it's the humans that create the drama. For me, the decision to amputate was easy since he was in so much pain, you will be amazed at how much more comfortable she looks RIGHT AWAY. The Tripawd family is behind you just like they are for everyone going through this same thing, we've all been there, know the anxious feelings, cried the tears, it's all worth it, trust us. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Hi... I'll add my 3 cents as well...
She's in pain, I'm sure more than she would ever let on with you... The attempts at "fixing" the leg haven't worked... She's still in pain... If the doctors had a way to fix it wouldn't they have tried by now?... It just seems that they exhausted all their ideas already...
Cancer is probably the cause, per the reports... the longer you wait, the more the cancer has a chance to spread... and those places would probably be inoperable... I wanted Champ's leg amputated right away but that tumor in his spleen sidetracked us... we had to wait until after chemo and an "all clear" on the lungs before we could get the leg amputated...
Worst case scenario... it's NOT cancer... the leg isn't healing right so she will still be in pain that will not be taken care of by the meds... what kind of life is tht for her?
My ex-husband and my brother were appalled that I would have Champ's leg amputated... Champ would not be here today if I hadn't... People look at him and don't even realize he has only 3 legs... he does everything my other dogs do except jump up on the bed... he's only a medium sized cocker spaniel... but I adjusted... i put my mattress on the floor and he could climb up...
Lylee will still play and run and swim and do everything she wants to do... But WITHOUT pain...
You have to think beyond the human view of amputation....
Best of luck with Lylee... you would share our ampuversary date... the 20th...
Joy & Champ
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