Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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UPDATE
Ty is sitting up today! =) He is eating on his own which is great!!
We are definitely a lot more hopeful today!
Jerry- the new vet wanted to wait until today to see if there were any improvements before he prescribed pain meds. We will find out today what kind he will be on.
Again, we are so thankful for all of your help. All of you gave us hope and a need for a second opinion which turned out to be the best thing since his old vet was ready to euthanize.
We are very upset about the way he handled the situation. We took Ty to him many times during the past year concerned about his limp and he always blamed it on arthritis. When we noticed a lump on his left front shoulder 2 months ago we took him in and he proceeded to say it was arthritis without taking any xrays.
Now that we have more information on OSA we realize that there were plenty of signs that should have prompted him to take at least some xrays.
Also, the new vet made us aware that the pain meds the other vet prescribed on tues (after diagnosis) were a very low dosage for a dog his size.
So happy we took him for a second opinion before making any decisions.
Thank you all for sharing your stories and motivating us!!
Will keep updating on his improvement.
derekdanelyn said
Again, we are so thankful for all of your help. All of you gave us hope and a need for a second opinion which turned out to be the best thing since his old vet was ready to euthanize.We are very upset about the way he handled the situation. We took Ty to him many times during the past year concerned about his limp and he always blamed it on arthritis. When we noticed a lump on his left front shoulder 2 months ago we took him in and he proceeded to say it was arthritis without taking any xrays.
You sound so much more optimistic, this is wonderful news. If it's any comfort, many of us who have or are coping with cancer had a diagnosis take longer than anyone would want. We also had an old-school vet who wasn't up on pain management , and several months after my symptoms started, wouldn't admit he didn't know why I was limping and also didn't recommend more diagnostics. Ultimately it was the vet tech at that practice who suggested we go get another opinion! If it hadn't have been for her, Tripawds may not even be here.
FYI: one of the things we've learned over the last few years is that vets who were schooled before the mid 1980s were actually taught that animals don't feel pain the same way humans do, and that the less pain medication the better because being in pain was thought to help them heal faster! Well, thankfully that's been disproven and now modern vets know that proper pain management protocols are more humane an beneficial. You always want to ask your vet what their thoughts are on pain mangement, it's so important from everything from dental work to amputation.
So please don't have regrets, but rather be glad you're on another path now that can at least present all of your options before making any decisions. I'm glad you're on that path! Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The meds that he is on are 75 mg of Tramadol twice a day and .75 mg of IC Dexamethasone.
He is finally able to sleep so hopefully resting will recharge his energy.
If Ty is in good health, you don't want to dismiss amputation just because he is 12. But then you obviously have not done that. Search the archives for reports on other 'older' dogs. I believe Pez was one that was originally advised against amputation due to age and arthritis. Eventually (maybe 9 months or so later), she had an amputation and did really well. You should be able to find her story in the archives.
Bisphosphonates are a family of drugs that can help strengthen the bone, and perhaps reduce pain, when amputation is not used. Good luck - it sounds as though you are doing all the right things in terms of finding information.
Hi, there is a great video clip on this site somewhere of a 13 year old mix breed from Holland who had a tough recovery, however, she pulled thru and she is doing great on that video clip.
IF I may suggest that you order Zyflamend and LifeShield Immunity by New Chapter (best prices at 4allvitamin.com ) that you put him on those immediately or for speed, your local health food nutrition type store. First, that is what I give Zuess, now two months post op his surgery, and chasing rabbits again... (against my will, but oh well) 2nd, I take it, for 8 years now.
Zyflamend was originally created for folks with rheumathoid arthritis, but low and behold, the other things it fixes is amazing. IN short, it "renews the cells at a faster pace" so booting out the bad by replacing it with new, and I take it and it saved my life for the last 8 years.
Give him ONE Zyflamend 3x a day 8 hrs apart. (dogs age much faster than we do, thus 3x the volume) And the Life Shield Immunity 2pills 2x a day. This all organically grown product has been researched the world over as, yes, a cancer fighter! So, though I fear, amputation you can not get around, due to the spreading of OS, he will recover better, and thrive faster. The pain is not going to go away. Whatever the vet gave him, is a band-aid, but I appreciate why.
To my humble opinion, OS is too painful to hold off. When my vet clarified it, I told her "when can we do it?" and the next day his surgery took place. My vet is very much an all encompassing vet. Believes in all approaches of medicine. So, since I preached Zyflamend to her, she has now been spreading the word, AND, is on it herself to boot... She said, "Gina, so many people since your mentioning of it, have now mentioned to me they take it, i gotta believe it..." AND she did the research reading the 'nitty gritty' which non vets can't understand, so yeeehhh another believer!
We are only two months post op however, I refuse to put a nearly 10 year old thru chemo, so that was just me, some dogs seem to do great. Ty is 12, so his immunity is not going to get better unless he gets some help.
ALL new chapters products are immediately bio-available, another thing i can personally attest to, AND won't interfere with regular meds. In effect, they will make your/his meds work more efficiently.
but, for example, go to amazon and read teh experiencesfrom many users of zyflamend: then to http://www.newc.....apter.com/ and find the research on Zyflamend and their FAQ http://www.newc.....er.com/faq
I hope this helps. Many people, to my great surprise, are unaware of this product's greatness, because New Chapter doesn't advertise. Its been around for a long time. (proctor and gamble recently purchased them, that should tell us something of its success) Oh they will remain a standalone company.
Best of luck with Ty!!!
It's great to hear Zeuss is doing well! That's terrific. And that Zyflamend sounds interesting. We appreciate your sharing your positive experience with it (we do recommend that others talk to their vets about supplements before introducing them, just to be safe and make sure they don't conflict with current treatments). Thanks for sharing!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
How is Ty doing now? Did the pain meds help at all? Were you able to go back to the second opinion vet to discuss amputation?
I am praying for Ty and hope you are able to find comfort with whatever decision you make...
Our tripawd is Meeko. Four and a half year old male Leonberger. Certified therapy dog with his CGC. Diagnosed with grade 1 chondrosarcoma 9-16-12. Right rear leg amputated 10-1-12. We also had Casper who was an 8 year old Great Pyrenees diagnosed with osteosarcoma. We sent him to the Rainbow Bridge 10-29-11.
Hello,
Ty is doing better. He is starting to use his back legs ( he crawled form point A to point B to go poop) which is a big improvement from last thursday. He is also not crying in pain which is great. He has an appt tomorrow with an oncologist.
The biggest thing is that he is eating and not crying in pain.
I have an older tripawd Boxer, Rumbles, who was 9-1/2 at the time of amputation. Last month he celebrated his 11th birthday and 16 month ampuversary. Rumbles did not have osteosarcoma, however. He had two tumors on his leg, an hemangiopericytoma and a mast cell tumor. We didn't do chemo because his lymph nodes were unaffected at the time of amp.
It's not an easy road with an older dog. Rumbles has arthritis and sometimes has a very hard time getting around. We have a wonderful vet who is just as bonded to Rumbles as we are and he keeps moving us along this path with kindness and encouragement and lots of supplements and anti-inflamatories!
Best of luck in your decision making. Follow your heart.
UPDATE
Ty is at the oncologist right now and initial assessment is that cancer is not spread anywhere else; his arthritis is not as bad as the first vet had told us and he would be a candidate for amputation!!
Hope!!!
They are taking more xrays for a thorough evaluation but so far so good!!!
Hope is a good thing.
Many good thoughts to you on the remainder of the exam.
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.
Sounds good so far. Hope is indeed a good thing.
Keep us posted.
Karen and the pugapalooza
UPDATE
Ty is a candidate for amputation but it will only happen if he starts walking again. There is nothing wrong with his back legs but he still wont put any weight on his right front leg (not the one with cancer). His progression since last thursday has been great. If he is not walking in a week he might not walk again so we have to take it one day at a time.
Praying that he can walk on his own in a few days so we can move on with treatment!
HOPE!!!
Sending pawsitive thoughts out for you and for Ty.
You can do it Ty!!!
We're pulling for you,
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!
Thanks for the update and best wishes moving forward! Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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