Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I have received a foster dog (potentially forever dog) around 2 days ago. She apparently has had this tumor for around a month. Her previous owner refused to believe it was a tumor and treated it as a bone infection with antibiotics. The front left leg had gone from bad to worse. X rays show the tumor has almost completely eaten away most of the bone. It has swelled to an amazing size and just yesterday started seeping pus and today is turning purple (possibly the bone snapped?). Surgery is scheduled for Monday.
2 questions- should this be considered an emergency and I push for surgery tomorrow? (With a less reputable and experienced vet) or wait it out to Monday AM (with my normal vet and practice owner) as I had called the office and they didn't sound extremely worried (He did say Monday was as late as we should go)?
2nd question- In your opinions and experience, because this was left alone for so long, what are the odds of her recovering and having time to live pain free and actively alongside her brother (rescued him from same owner a year ago- it was a cute reunion)? There have been no signs of cancer in her lungs thus far but my vet said it most likely has had a chance to get there.
Any info on how your dogs tumors acted while waiting for surgery would be helpful.
yuki87 said
Any info on how your dogs tumors acted while waiting for surgery would be helpful.
Bookmrk Jerry's Require Reading list for lots of helpful links or consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to the most common questions about amputation car and recovery. You may also find this post helpful in justifying waiting for the scheduled sugery. (Please note: We are not vets. Please consult yours with any serious concerns.)
Does Amputation Speed Cancer Metastasis?
OSA left unattended will indeed eventually result in a pathological fracture. Depending on the severity of the tumor, a few more days should not make a difference if you employ a strict regimen of confinement and pain medication. As far as the "regular vet" goes, consider this video interview about how to choose a veterinary surgery center for amputation.
Hope this helps! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry to read this but what a saint you are for saving these dogs. You will get more input from folks with more experience than me very soon I'm sure.
That's tough because I would say the sooner the better to get that leg off, but may be best to wait for experience??? As for your second questions ...odds and statistics ...one thing I have learned being on this site for four months is that those are just numbers and every dog is different. Some dogs cancer was caught late and they go on to live for years. Some dogs it was caught early and they only survive a few months. I'm sorry, I'm not answering you very well, but I can share my experience.....
Our Atlas was limping for a few weeks and we thought just from another sprained ankle as we saw him slip in the wet grass when playing. Then overnight it swelled to the size of a tennis ball and we took him to vet next day. The X-rays showed what you described, his bone was completely moth eaten and almost gone. We were lucky it didn't break. He had surgery one week after the X-rays AND he just had his three month X-rays and there were NO visible metastases.
We were told with every osteosarcoma case, by the time the tumor is discovered there is a 90% chance it has already spread, thats why we follow up the amp with chemotherapy. There were no mets on her X-rays - that's great! she's got a really good chance at a pain free life. Especially with a guardian as on top of it as you!
Should be noted also, there are lots of doggies here living very full happy lives with mets!
Sending you all pawsitive energy!
Patricia & Mighty Atlas
Online
Yeah, ditto everything Patricia and admin have said.
Just want to say we are here for you and thisis definitely a case where surgery will relieve the poor pup's pain! Assuming you have him on pain meds, right?
If not, please call the week end vet and see if you can get something. If the vet said it could wait til Mon. then they are in the best position to make that determination.
This whole journey is about quality and loving and spoiling! Looks like this poor pup has finally fond the love and care he deserves.
Keeping al, paws crossed and PLEASE update us!
Yeah, you are a Saint:-) 
((((((HUGS))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
We also had a long time between the appearance of lameness and the op...but didn't realize it at the time. I'd say it had probably been at LEAST five months (you can see the swelling in photos as far back as November)--we just chalked it up to his arthritis and his normal lumpiness. When I finally took him in b/c his wrist grew 2 cm pretty much overnight...it was just like Patricia said, as well--completely moth-eaten, all the way through.
Our vet said he was shocked it hadn't snapped, given the number of stairs in our house that Sam went up and down every day, and the horrid weather (Minnesota winter with multiple feet of snow on the ground).
We elected to amputate the next morning--simply b/c of the fracture risk. If you can keep the pup contained and quiet, though, I wouldn't think another couple days would matter, if you are nmore comfortable waiting for your regular vet.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Awww poor kid! What a lucky pup to be under your care now. It really breaks my heart to hear about humans who knowingly allow tumors to get to that point, if that tumor were on their body I'll bet you they wouldn't! Grrr.
Well, it's hard to say what the odds are. Cancer often does what it wants to do and goes against the odds, either in a pawsitive way or not so good way. Some dogs can live a really long time with it while others do not, you just never know. The best thing you can do right now is to help alleviate the terrible pain and get that leg off. After that, and after recovery, any time a pup has to live a pain-free quality life is icing on the cake.
Let us know what you decide to do about choosing a vet. Thanks for joining us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you everyone. It wasn't a hard decision, she needed a home, was suffering, and deserved a second chance, especially alongside her brother. She is one of the most loving dogs I have ever met. All she wants to do is be near you, get pets, and make you happy. She also has springs in her legs! She's completely mobile- she jumped over a 3 foot tall baby gate with her 'cone of shame ' all on 3 legs! (Needless to say the couch is all hers...) This little girl is going to thrive on 3 legs! I can't wait to post photos after she is all healed up and playing frisbee again!
The tumor site still scares me but we are so close to Monday! It's goopy, flakey, and swollen. I assume it has swelled so much that the skin cannot hold in the fluids. She is on a chewable pain med that gets her pretty dopey but relatively pain free and I keep her inside and as calm as possible. We have received word that a non profit organization will pay for her surgery so that I can afford her chemo treatments. She has a whole town cheering her on and tons of foster aunties that are at her beck and call. The amount of love she has for anyone has softened even the hardest of people, including her vet (the girls at reception told me he rarely has soft spots for dogs but she's won him over)!
We just have to make it through tomorrow and Sunday!
Xoxo
Daryl and Yuki
Still, you're a good human Daryl, thanks for being there for her. The weekend will be a long one but it'll be over before you know it. In the meantime you can look for ways to "tripawd-proof" your home by covering slippery surfaces, raising her food bowls and creating a safe quiet place for her to recover. If you have any questions just holler!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I think your story just touched all the soft spots in the hearts of the tripawd commnity!!
You rock Yuki!! You've got his:-)
Baby gates beware, You are of no value when Yuki is around:-)
Lots of love to all!
Sally and Happy Hannzn
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!
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