Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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As many of you may remember, we lost our 5 year old Irish Wolfhound on November 28th. For those of you new to the site, Fergus was diagnosed with OSA on 9/20/11 and had his leg amputated on 9/22/11. He had a difficult recovery do, I think, to his size. By the beginning of November, he was doing well on 3 legs and running with his brothers. On November 22, he was diagnosed with OSA in a second limb, a very rare occurence. On November 28th, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge and has been running pain free with all of his new friends. It has been very difficult and we miss him every day.
Yesterday, I brought his 2 year old Irish Wolfhound "brother", Shamus, to the vet to have a small lump on his leg looked at. The doctor aspirated it, determined it is a tumor and wants to remove and biopsy it. I can't even comprehend having to go through another potential cancer diagnosis within a few short months. Fergus and Shamus do not share the same bloodlines. He will have the tumor removed tomorrow and then the waiting begins. Shamus has had a rough few months watching his best buddy get sick, work through a difficult recovery and then have to say goodbye. This just can't happen to him.
Please keep us in your thoughts and I will pray everything is benign.
As always, thank you for your support,
Tara, Spirit Fergus and Shamus
Oh my goodness. How frightening for you. I can't imagine going through this twice, so soon after losing Fergus either. I will send all sorts of good thoughts your way that it is NOT the same thing.
Chanting: Benign, benign, benign! for Fergus.
Keep us posted. Be well, Fergus!
Jackie, 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!
Oh Tara,
I hope, hope, hope it is benign.
I know from personal experience that 'here we go again' feeling. And although I wouldn't wish it on anyone- I have found that past experience has made the present a bit easier to deal with.
Is it a tumor in the skin or a bone tumor? Did the vet say or have a guess as to what type of tumor?
Please let us know when you get some information. Until then strong and positive thoughts headed your way.
Karen and the pugapalooza
We hope it is benign, benign, benign too!! You've been through so much so we are praying it turns out to be nothing.
I really hope it is benign, as I also have first hand experience with "oh no, not again". Sending up many prayers & pawsitive thoughts that Shamus will be fine!
Sending lots of golden hugs too!
Cathy
we're sending our best ET juju your way, hoping this is a benign 'one time' growth. life isn't fair, but it would be doubly unfair to think elsewise. paws crossed for good news!!!
charon & spirit 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
Oh Tara!
You poor thing! How scary! It just has to be BENIGN! It just has to be!!!!!!
Did the vet not indicate at all what it looked like? If not, can you call him? I know my imagination will run wild and I have found calling back a vet or doctor when I have gathered my thoughts and am not in the initial shock phase is always better than sitting around and imagining to the worst!
If he/she didn't indicate what the tumor could be, then call him/her today and just point blank ask him..."How worried should I be? Because right now, I'm making myself sick from worrying!"
Please let us know when you find out!
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.
Hello Tara,
I am so sorry for all that you have been thru...It sounds eerily familiar to what happened with our girl Brandy. She lost the front left leg to OSA in May 2010. Then in March 2011, another bump appeared on the rear leg which also turned out to be OSA. She gained her wings in September 2011, the pain of her loss is still so raw for our family. Brandy was my dad's baby and her loss crushed him.
On Saturday I noticed my Maggie girl had a good sized lump on her front right leg. When I saw the lump I got physically sick. I have no idea what it is. All I know is it looks terribly similar to Brandy's original tumor. Maggie is a 2 1/2 year old Rottweiler. Brandy's diagnosis of her original tumor was right at 2 1/2 years old, which is very rare. Unfortunately, living in Hawaii I have found that Rottweilers here are not breed well and I do not know much about her background because she is not AKC. Maggie does not seem to show pain in the area nor is she limping at all. In Brandy's case, we had no idea there was anything wrong until she fractured her front leg, these darn Rotties are too tough for their own good! I have an appointment at my vet today and I am praying for an all clear...
I will keep you in my prayers
Benign! Benign! Benign! - joining in on the chants...
Teresa, Spirit Brandy and Maggie
BE-nine! BE-nine! Be-NINE!!!!
Be nine ...then ten ..then eleven!!!
We love you Shamus...keepin' all 3 paws crossed for you.
Love,
Miss Pegz
Tara, we lost Tate on the exact same day that you lost Fergus. I can't imagine being faced with the same situation again at this point, especially not with a 2 year old. Praying for strength for you, but mostly for a benign diagnosis.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Sending you and Shamus good thoughts for a B9 diagnosis. And sending you strength and courage to get through both the waiting and whatever comes after.
Micki and Rio
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Wow. I don't even want to think about the possibility of Shamus having osteo. So I won't. For now, it's
BE-NINE! BE-NINE!
You have all the pawsitive energy we can muster up here. Please keep us posted oK? We'll be waiting.
xoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
BENIGN!!!!! Me and all my fur kids are praying praying praying!!!! Hang in there!!!! Hugs!!!
Thank you so much for all of your good wishes. I am staying positive but it is really hard.
The doctor said it is a round cell tumor. There are many different types of round cell tumors, both benign and malignant. If it is a malignant mast cell tumor, it will need to be graded (from 1 to 4). The vet is being positive but I am still terrified. I am thankful we are not looking at bone cancer again. He has also ruled out melanoma.
Teresa, good luck with Maggie. I will keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully, it will only be a benign cyst. Here's hoping for benign results all around.
Hugs,
Tara, Spirit Fergus and Shamus
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