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
A partial pathology report came in today on the samples from Sheba's amputation. Fine needle aspirate results said cancer or fungus, today's report made it very clear that there are no cancer cells whatsoever. What is present are fungal cells and the appropriate immune cells for a fungal infection. The part that's missing is the fungal culture results because fungi are so slow growing. Doc says it could take up to a month to get results. Has anyone gotten fungal cultures back sooner than that?
Cynthia and Sheba
Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium).
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.
We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba
Congrats on no cancer!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Yes, YAY for no cancer!
I haven't dealt with a test like that but I have read/heard that yep, it does take that long for certain cultures to grow. So is there any treatment they can do in the meantime or does Sheba have to wait?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Congrats!!!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Sheba is on a broad spectrum antifungal (itraconazole). Once the susceptibility tests are back she'll go on an drug more specific to the strain of fungus. Or we might find out itraconazole was the right drug to begin with.
Cynthia and Sheba
Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium).
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.
We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba
Ohh OK. Well here's to hoping that'll do the trick!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sheba your are a lucky girl
No cancer, we are all cheering for you to get back on the right track and enjoy life to the full
Sending you a big ear scratch, tummy rub and cuddles, gorgeous girl 
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
So happy for you! It's nice to have it NOT be cancer for once. Fungal cultures can take many weeks to grow - I work in a hospital lab. Many hugs coming Sheba's way!
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Yeah for Sheba! You must be so relieved! You got the result so many of us would have wanted. Here's to many hoppy ampuversaries for Sheba
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
The very first culture (5/23/16) actually grew something - Aspergillus! there were only 2 potentially fungal cells so they didn't expect anything to grow and I had totally forgotten about it. Someone must have babied the heck out of that culture and it took over a month to grow enough to ID. Because Sheba will require monthly monitoring (blood and x-rays), our surgeon is handing us over to the infectious disease specialist when her stitches come out Tuesday. By then hopefully the drug susceptibility results are in and the new vet can give us a prognosis.
Cynthia and Sheba
Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium).
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.
We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba
Sending Sheba clouds of pawsitive energy and a big hug to Mom
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Fungal is definitely better than cancer at this point, we were still holding out hope it would be some quick to treat bacteria, do a couple weeks of antibiotics and be done! Of course none of our dogs here do things the "easy" way, do they?
Sheba's back to refusing kibbles (only eating chicken at the moment) and hasn't pooped in two days. She's had this stubborn look since she got over the crying phase. I'm hoping that means we can sleep through the night tonight!
Cynthia and Sheba
Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium).
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.
We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba
It's sooo rare that this stupod piece of crap doesn't get a chance ro invade oir dogs and cats here. It's wonderful to be able to celebrate this kind of VICTORY with you and Sheba!
SHEBA WON!!
Hope you get some good sleeq...zzzzzz.....zzzzzzz
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Pure pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie stuff) can help with the poop stuff! I think the pain meds can constipate them. We didn't have that issue per se. BUT we did have a picky eater and I chalked it up to Shelby preferring the moist cuisine she got at the hospital. Perhaps mix some stock with dinner?
You guys are still early in your recovery so it will and does get better .... HUGS!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
2 Guest(s)
