Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello!
We just received our biopsy results for our 8y 3m boxer Oscar. We first noticed a golf ball sized lump just above his left front elbow about a month ago. The tumor has stayed about the same size for the past 30 days or so. After meeting with a local oncologist and performing a biopsy, we have confirmed that it is a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. As of right now, it does not seem to bother him at all. Our oncologist has been very helpful and recommended three options.
1. Amputate his leg. We are not opposed to this but want to make the best decision for Oscar.
2. Pursue mild to aggressive radiation treatment to possibly shrink the tumor and slow its growth. She thinks this will slow the growth for 3-6 months but says she has seen it stop growth for several years. The issue with this is that the treatment center is out of state.
3. Wait and see. The idea being, since it doesn't appear to bother him, we wait to see if the tumor grows. The obvious risk here is that there is a chance of the cancer spreading, but she also says that the tumor will continue to grow and will eventually break through the skin, probably in 6mos to a year. When that happens, we can evaluate his overall health and amputate then if necessary.
Aside from liking to take naps more often, Oscar has shown no signs of slowing down. He is still full of life and loves to play. He just had his annual check-up with his regular vet and the oncologist also did a full body scan while he was under for the biopsy and he appears to be in good health. We also did chest X-rays and no signs of cancer are in his lungs.
I guess we are just wondering if others have experience with this type of tumor on a limb... we are trying to figure out the next best steps.
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Awww Oscar is a cutie! I'm sorry about the diagnosis. Welcome! You'll find lots of members here who have dealt with the condition, Pofi and Lisa being one of them. See:
Pofi: Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Amputation
Glad to hear your oncologist has been guiding you so well. Amputation isn't an easy decision, especially when he's not appearing painful. The way I try to look at is like this: how would I feel if I had the same tumor? What would my body feel like, my mind, my stamina? Would I want to wait and see?
The problem with waiting is that we have seen many members join us when a tumor has suddenly grown overnight and, I hate to say it, but burst through the skin in a very ugly, scary manner. It's not pretty. It's easy to forget about that tumor until this happens. And then you're under a lot of pressure to make big decisions, fast.
Right now you do have a bit of time. Radiation therapy can help, definitely. We often see people join us because it stopped working. So there's that risk.
As for amputation, it sounds like Oscar has everything on his side to do well on three legs. If you want more confirmation, see an orthopedic specialist to make sure. That can help put your mind at ease.
Just a few random thoughts here, I hope they help. Stay tuned for feedback from others.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Pofi's Mom here.
Pofi's peripheral nerve sheath tumor was, most unfortunately for us, in a very tricky spot. It was never visible. And that is how despite me bringing him to my own vets multiple times, the e-vet twice, having a referral consult with a leading veterinary hospital AND PT sessions at that same hospital, it was more than a year before we had a diagnosis. We had removed lumps and a toe in the interim.
I can only speak from my own experience, but I've lost count of how many times I've said my only regret with amputation is not having had diagnosis and the amp sooner. When we still had a chance of the removal being curative. The odds of amputation being curative are significantly higher for your boy because it is so much further (now) from the spine. Has he had an MRI to map the extent of the growth along the nerve?
While we did not, in the end, pursue radiation on top of the amp, I have been part of a support team that helped ferry a dog to and from his radiation treatments for a soft tissue sarcoma (his owner was battling his own cancer at same time and was not physically able to do so) and while he did pretty well, it was not super pleasant for him. And involves anesthesia for every treatment - and that is a lot of anesthesia in a daily regimen. Pofi's proposed treatment plan was 18 to 22 days (consecutive weekdays).
I think a CT scan will be a precursor to radiation therapy - they radiation oncologist needs a very detailed map of the tumor to plan the treatments. I think you might be able to opt for doing that diagnostic to see if it is well contained or spreading up or down and then make decision of amp versus radiation? You might ask about this.
From where I sit on the other side of all of this, option 3 is not something I would endorse - nerve sheath tumors hurt. And while it may seem like it is not bothering him right now,
- Dogs can be shockingly stoic
- That could change dramatically and suddenly
I hope this is helpful - I know more about this type of tumor than I wish I did, but, of course, I am not a vet. And it is clear you have some good ones in your corner.
Sending 
to handsome Oscar.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Wow - I just found this recent and really wonderful blog on the site of Buster's radiation treatment (post amp). Buster had the same peripheral nerve sheath tumor as Pofi, but his Mom was a bit tougher and braver than me. You really should check it out
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Thanks for sharing! It’s such a hard decision... we are meeting with the surgeon next week to talk about amputation.
Is is there anyone out there who has amputated a front limb of their older Boxer? I’d love to hear how they adapted.
hester said
Wow - I just found this recent and really wonderful blog on the site of Buster's radiation treatment (post amp). Buster had the same peripheral nerve sheath tumor as Pofi, but his Mom was a bit tougher and braver than me. You really should check it out
Lisa, thank you for sharing, I totally spaced on that. And YOU, my dear, were and ARE tough and brave, never forget that.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Remmer said
Thanks for sharing! It’s such a hard decision... we are meeting with the surgeon next week to talk about amputation.Is is there anyone out there who has amputated a front limb of their older Boxer? I’d love to hear how they adapted.
Remmer, thanks for chiming in. We hope you will consider registering as a member and starting a new topic about your dog so that we can help you better. We currently have a Tripawd Boxer discussion going on here, so hop on over to see some examples.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
Remmer, thanks for chiming in. We hope you will consider registering as a member and starting a new topic about your dog so that we can help you better. We currently have a Tripawd Boxer discussion going on here, so hop on over to see some examples.
I haven’t created an account yet, put I did start this thread. Oscar is my boy 😉
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