Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My Luna (10yr Border Collie / Golden Retriever mix) has had a rough few months.
She had an issue where she would not use her right rear leg, and was diagnosed via X-ray to have a slipped disc and IVDD. She had knuckled on that leg ever since.
During the recovery from the back issue, she slipped on the left rear leg and was diagnosed with a torn or partially torn CCL.
She had a relapse of her back issue that was so bad she only used that left leg and held the right one in the air, so we resumed treatment for that. (carprofen, gabapentin, methocarbomel, chondroprotec, cold laser)
Then last weekend that back rear leg swelled up with a pitted edema, and red skin in her leg and stomach area towards the leg. After an ER visit and ultrasounds they found a intermuscular tumor, they suspect is hemangiosarcoma but did not find and evidence of spread, and because of the bleeding in her leg, gave her an estimated 3 weeks to live 🙁
However fast-forward 1 week, the swelling has gone down, redness is gone, bloodwork looks good. So now what?
My local vet thinks the Median Survival time of a tumor of this type in the leg that has not spread can be 9 months to a year or more instead of 3 weeks.. But, he recommends not only removing the tumor, but amputating the leg at the hip.
My concern is, the recent CCL injury that is about 6 weeks old in the other leg. She uses it, but not fully, but I have seen her only use it when the back issue flared up. And the back issues, will they come back, or where they really caused by the tumor pressing on a nerve... ITs hard to say how much of that is caused by the tumor. Can she recover from the amputation and have good mobility with those issues as a tri-pawd? Does anyone have a similar experience?
Going back into the vet this week for a re-assessment of that knee and to try to work it out. It feels like such an unfortunate chain of events, and a big decision that I need to make soon if we will amputate.
Hi Jeff and Luna, welcome. Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
Poor Luna has had a tough time! It sounds like she is getting good rehab, which is awesome. I'm sorry the problems have continued. How is her appetite and activity level? Is she showing any pain signals ?
Since cancer is involved and the diagnosis is questionable, I would want a board certified oncologist to review her case. Are you lined up to see one yet? I wouldn't do anything until then, since this is complicated. An orthopedic surgeon reviewing her case would also be good. Are you near any specialty clinics? Would you like help finding one?
Thank you Jerry,
Its amazing how great simple advise from someone not emotionally close to the situation can be 🙂
We have not confirmed 100% that this is cancer, or what type. We have technically only confirmed there is an Caudal Thigh Tumor. Breaking this down logically we are going to have this sampled, and tested to confirm what it is since Luna's recovery does not match the symptoms of what the emergency vet assumed it to be. Once better informed we can make decisions about if removing the tumor, or leg make sense.
We do have specialists in the area, Care Center, a Medvet, and our local vets.
Hey Jeff, OK good, yeah this is definitely a situation for specialty care. Medvet is really good if it's the one I'm thinking of.
ER vets are amazing, incredible practitioners. They work with very little information to come up with some kind of diagnosis or potential diagnosis, so that panicked pet parents have some information to go on. But sometimes those diagnoses miss the mark, we see that happen here occasionally. Let us know how it goes with the specialists OK? We all learn from situations like this.
Hello Everyone, I wanted to come back and give an update about Luna.
We did do some more testing as Luna continued to improve, and got results back from a FNA that indicated this was osteosarcoma, and not hemangiosarcoma. We are seeing a oncology specialist in the area, and have decided not to amputate this leg. The main reason is that where the tumor is, it has spread up the inside of her groin area and they think with how large it has become it is unlikely they would be able to remove it all even with an amputation. Luna currently has no sign of mets or spreading, the main concern is the growth rate of the muscular tumor.
We are trying Palladia as a chemo therapy drug in hopes to stop that growth, or in the best case shrink it. We took measurements of the tumor and will measure again in 2 weeks. If we see the growth stabilize or start to shrink we will continue Palladia, but if we do not see results or have any negative side effects we will discontinue and just pursue pain management . So far she seems to tolerate it well, though often seems tired the day she takes it. And not like sleepy tired, more like she is hot and panting.
While we will likely not become a tripawd, I greatly appreciate this community! And while we do not know if or survival time will be weeks, months, or years.. We will take things a day at a time and enjoy the time we have.
Hi Jeff,
Thank you for letting us know about Luna's health situation. As tough of a diagnosis as osteosarcoma is, from my knowledge it's a less aggressive disease than hemangiosarcoma. I'm so glad you're seeing a specialist. Can you update on how things are going for her? We are here to support you on this journey, and always curious how situations like this are handled as far as treatments and such.
One day at a time indeed, you are a good student of Luna's!
Online
Oh gosh, just catching up on everything about your beloved Luna. And she clearly is so very loved and adored and she is very lucky to have you as an advocate for her. You clearly are focused on her quality and what is best for luna. That is such a beautiful Bond you have with her.She is one strong determined pupper and that is a real plus in this scenario.
FWIW, EPeven without the questions about whether the amputation surgery could remove all of the tumor or not, with all of her other issues it would have been a really, really hard decision to make to pursue that path. Just too many other things going on with her remaining legs her back Etc. Guess I'm trying to say,considering the circumstances, the path forward you are taking is absolutely the best.
Hoping you can get some good results from the Palladia. Keep the vet informed if the side effects are affecting her quality. It sounds like right now she's not having any really bad issues with it and that's good news.
As you already know on this journey, making the most of every moment and living in the present is the best lesson our dogs can teach us. Luna isn't worried about that tomorrow's, she only wants to be by your side today and soak up all the loving and spoiling and tummy rubs and treats she can get for her sweet self.
Luna doesn't count the days on a calendar and she certainly doesn't have a time frame stamped anywhere on her adorable butt. She's living in the present, in the now and then now is all that matters
I think she would agree that steak, cheeseburgers and a scoop of ice cream would be very therapeutic for her!
Liberty pictures of her and if I can help post them for you let me know I'm going to send you my email address in the PM ( private messaging). You can email me pictures and I would be more than happy to post them. Looking forward to seeing her!
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!
Drum roll please!!! Introducing the lovely, very, very lovely LUNA! Isnt she the sweetest looking gal? She looks so happy and so gentle, but I do think she has a Warrior spirit within 😎 And look at her little ADORAVLE puppy self. Everyone say "Awwwww........."
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!
Luna’s palladia treatment started out with hope, and without many side effects. However, it was not enough to slow the growth of her tumor quickly enough. 2 weeks after my last post we had made it to a point where she could not get up on her own, her leg and tumor had ballooned in size, and we were losing control of pain management . It was very evident that it was time to let her go.
I will miss her dearly but in the end there is not much I would do differently. We reacted at each step of her disease with the best treatment and advice of our vets. We had a great last couple months with her where she was still happy, alert, and lived every day the best she could, as we did with her.
After some time to grieve, we put a deposit on a young Australian Shepherd. I can’t wait to show her all of Luna’s favorite hikes and toys when we pick her up in a few weeks. I have always believed that the best way to honor a lost pet, is to, when your family is ready, bring another dog that is in need into your home.
Oh Jeff, it breaks my heart to read this. This disease is so brutal and causes such unrelenting devastation on our sweet animal companions. To hear it has taken your beloved Lina, our beloved Lina so quickly saddens us all greatly. I'm just so very, very sorry.
You absolutely 100% gave her the best chance possible to beat a disease that already had plotted it's course. And you were avle to do it without putting her through stress of surgeries or poking g and prodding with endless Vet visits which, as we know now, would ,have been futile anyway. When Luna could no longer be Luna you gave her the loving gift of release. She knew you loved her enough to free her from her earth clothes that no longer served her. She ran free and fast and pain free to The Rainbow Bridge where she could watch over you knowing she is always in your heart, as you are in hers.
I have always believed that the best way to honor a lost pet, is to, when your family is ready, bring another dog that is in need into your home
Could not agree more. The depth of despair when they leave us is seemingy unbearable. But the joy of having them in our lives, the love, the eternal bond, all outweighs the sadness. Luna could not be more proud to know you are bringing another dog into your lives to feel loved and to experience the joy she had with you. To paraphrase (and not very well at that)....every dog leaves a piece of their heart in mine....someday my heart will be filled with all the dogs I have loved and they have love me.
So when will the dog Lina has guided you to be ready to go home?? The pupper will help heal your heart with all the puppy antics. And Lina will be laughing at all the puppy things she does..like tearing up shoes or pooing on the floor 😉.
Please, please, please keep us updated on Lina's choice, okay? And we must have pics!
And we also would love to see more pictires of Luna too. You have my email so send as many as you like. We can never have too many pictures of that sweet girl.
I was going to add to let is know when Luna connects with you, because she will. There will be a sogn from her she is still with you in energy form. But I think guiding you to a puppy os a pretty special way of connecting.
Surrounding you with Luna's eternal light
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!
Jeff, I'm so sorry Luna got her wings. That cancer moved so fast and so mean, my heart hurts for you and your family. Even when we know that setting our dog's spirit free is the best thing to do, it's never easy. I'm sorry that you got to that point so quickly.
Luna will be watching over her new earthbound sibling and making sure she has as much fun with her toys as she did. What a lucky pup to have such awesome parents. Yes, it's a great way to honor your sweet warrior's legacy. Dogs have so much to teach us!
Thank you for letting us know. If you'd like to share more pictures we would love to see them and honor Luna's life.
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