Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Mary,
I can't believe everything you have had to go through with Angus. Good luck tomorrow with your appointment. Paws are crossed and I am praying. Hopefully Angus will not be mad at you again!
Debra & Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Hello Rubyaz & Tasha, it is so nice to meet you. Wow, 3 mos of going back and forth and not knowing. You and Tasha must has been so stressed, not to mention the pain she must have been in that whole time 
I am so glad that she is happy now and pain free. Thank you for your thoughts and wishes for Angus.
=========
Thank you so much Debra and Emily for your thoughts and prayers for Angus. He will really need them this coming Wednesday. He will be having his amputation surgery on Wednesday, 10-28-09.
=======
Well, first we went to see his oncologist and Angus was a little out of sorts, because he had to get his sutures out and then get an examination from the doctor.
Then we spoke with the doctor. He said unpon examination he found the right front lameness, muscle atrophy over the right front limb and an enlarged right prescapular lymph node (which no one ever found before). The enlarged lymph node. He said despite no visible evidence of pulmonary metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Approx. 90% have microscopic spread. Surgery is effective at relieving the pain, but is does not slow the progression of the disease (which I knew). The average survival time (with amputation but without chemo is approx. 3-4 mos)...............(My heart dropped when I heart this because I know this to be different). The average survival time (with amputation but with adjunctive chemo is approx. 9-12 mos).......(My heart dropped when I heart this information, because I know this to be different as well).......... Then we discussed the cost again which was the same for the amputation $3500. However he got into the chemo cost which was 6 tx'mts at $600 each (since Angus is a big boy).
We came home and discussed the amputation further with each other and with Angus (I think you know what I mean. He had that look in his eyes, he just wants the pain to go away. He pretty much now walks with his foot up, without even putting it down sometimes. He does put pressure on it, but I really think he kind of knows what's going on and that his paw is no longer working for him. So, we called the docter back over the weekend and we were able to get in on her schedule for first thing Wednesday, 10-28-09 at 6:30am. She said we can pick him up on Friday, 10-30-09.
I will be on pins and needles again for those days he is away, but I will be glad that the pain will be gone for him I want to see the happiness back in his beautiful brown eyes again.
I will keep everyone posted on the outcome of Angus' surgery.
I wanted to add one more thing that the oncologist said in his recommendation before we left. Well, he obviously suggested the amputation of the right forelimb, however he also suggested a biopsy of the right prescapular lymph node (since he found that it was enlarged upon examination). I'm hoping that the cancer hasn't spread any further Maybe I'm just getting my hopes up too far and stressing myself out too much 
I'll keep you posted. Thank you everyone
Good luck with the surgery and the biopsy of the lymph node... We'll be thinking of you and Angus the whole time!! Sending good thoughts your way!!
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Hi Jake's Mom, How are you and Jake doing today? Thank you so much for your good thought's today for Angus ' class='wp-smiley' />
We took Angus in for his surgery and biopsy of the lymph node first thing this morning Wednesday, 10-28-09 6:30 am check-in. He was so stressed with the long drive and the pain (because the doctor said he wasn't allowed any pain meds. I was in tears for him, plus my asthma was acting up because I was stressed all night, I was so anxious about the surgery (I was a wreck). The nurse, after we checked in, said "if the doctor doesn't call you by 1:00pm or 1:30pm then you call us to check on Angus, because the schedule may have been changed for his surgery". I didn't receive a call by 1:00pm, so I waited until 1:30pm and then I called. The doctor said the surgery went very well. Angus was just about coming out of the anesthesia, but he wasn't fully awake. They did the biopsy on the prescapular lymph node, but they had to send it out to be tested. The results should be back in a few days. The surgeon said I could call back later in the evening when Angus was fully awake around 5:30pm to check on him again.
I'll keep you posted with the results of the biopsy and an update on Angus. He should be able to come home on Friday, 10-30-09.
I was thinking of you and Angus all day today!!! Glad to hear that the surgery went well... Looking forward to reading your post on Friday, when you get to bring your baby home!!!
Take care!!
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Mary, what a relief to hear all went well with the surgery, that's one huge obstacle out of the way, now on to recovery!
It's good that they did the biopsy, that way you and the docs can come up with a good treatment plan according to how the cancer is presenting itself.
Be sure to get lots of rest and prepare your house for your big boy's arrival. If there's anything we can do to help please let us know oK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So glad the surgery is over. It is a relief isn't it? When is Angus coming home? Remember that the recovery is not very pleasant but it too will pass. Prayers said (mine) and paws crossed (Emily's).
Debra & Em
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
I am so glad that everything went well for Angus! It is good that they are keeping him for a few days, since it can take these big dogs a bit longer to get up and about. We did not need to use a sling for Tazzie but Angus might need help for the first few days.
Even if the biopsy of the lymph node shows cancer cells it shouldn't really change the treatment plan. Most cases of OSA have already metastasized somewhere at the time of surgery but you just can't see it yet (lung rads and bone scan could be clear).
Please let us know how he does these next few weeks.
Pam
What a relief that your little snuggler made it through OK! Here's a tip - if they say you can take him home on the 30th but can visit before then...don't visit!! You won't want to leave him behind. We went to pick up Jack the day after surgery and they said they would like to keep him an extra day since he had some drainage from the wound. Once they brought him in the room, however, there was no WAY I was leaving there without him 🙂 They but a compression bandage on Jack so I could take him without having to worry about nasty liquids oozing all over (yuck!). Good thoughts your way for a speedy recovery 🙂
<3 Laura and Jack
1 Guest(s)
