Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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best to all!
moving right along, martha has an appointment w/an oncologist at Animal Medical. unfortunately, not until next monday. nervous we've waited too long already. (but needed recovery time after spleen removal--11.27.13).
continuing to read through Tripawds and found thread on older dog amputation. they advice an orthopedic surgeon will know best how the older dog would fare? any thoughts? how about an oncologist? wouldn't she be able to assess martha's degree of candidacy?
thank you so for your time. also, as per suggestion, asked vet for generic metacam script! will pick up today--a lot cheaper!
THANKS.
amalia (btw)
Hi Amalia,
Which oncologist are you seeing at animal medical? My Jill sees Dr. Hohenhaus
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
hi all!
so the oncologist sees martha as good candidate for tripawd life, however new xrays show a tumor in the liver! all else clean; blood tests and liver function good.
for her november spleen removal, and everyone's assumption of hemangiosarcoma, the liver looked "gnarley", was surgically biopsied, but tests came back negative. now, we're back to whether or not this thing in her liver is, or isn't HSA. animal medical oncologists want a needle biopsy done. i'm so scared (again) and SAD (again). we're still dealing with the first disgusting disease.
tomorrow we do the LIVER NEEDLE BIOPSY; and then, wait some more. a
anyway, that's where we are; didn't want you to think i fell from earth. thanks.
amalia
Oh gosh please don't apologize, you are dealing with SO MUCH. It's not easy, we understand totally.
Well, I know it's hard not to be scared or sad. Just keep telling yourself that Martha doesn't know that anything is different. She just wants to spend time with her happy, loving Momma. Give her all the hugs and smooches and attention in the world and remember that anything is pawsible.
We will be thinking of you and hoping for good news. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Goodness gracious! Talk abut a roller coaster ride...you two are definitely on one! Well, actually just you because, as Jerry said, Martha doesn't know anything different!
Yeah, it almost always seems like there's one more test to be done....some more waiting...ugh! It's good that all her other tests have come back okay. That should be a plus regardless of what's going on with the liver.
And ya' know, maybe this little bit of extra time to recover from the spleen surgery isn't a bad thing. Yoj want her in optimum c dition in order to proceed with the amputation.
Now, here'swhat a lot of us do around here when we're in the "wait and see" part of the roller coaster ride.....eat lots snd lots of chocolate!! I think some even pour wne over their chocolate! Heck, throw in a bag of potato chips too! And hen for breakfast, eat ice cream ! It helps, realy!
Keeping all paws crossed in tripawd land.....and that's a lot of paws!!
Hugs and love to yoj and Martha!! Oh, also during the "wait and seez" eating chocolate therapy, post more pictures of Martha
Sally snd 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!
IN THE DARK -- STILL waiting for results from needle liver biopsy.
so afraid to do the wrong thing to martha! she's so tall, long, and did i mention the two herniated disks in her past??? nothing compared to Ollie's two hip replacements. right?
erica, sorry, never answersed your question. AMC oncologist: dr. nicole liebman: with a wonderful resident, dr. valerie wiles.
again, thank you for the support and guidance.
amalia
Amalia I'm sorry, I can imagine how crazy this is making you. Please know there are no right or wrong decisions. All decisions that are made with love and concern for the animal's well-being are the only right ones. You are doing great.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Darn! This waiting stuff just plain sucks!!
I know it's soooooo hard not to fast forward, but you are doing an amazing job...AMAZING JOB...of hanging tough!
The orthopedic surgeon wn't suggest amputation if he feels the discs, erc. could be an issue. We certainly understand your concerns vut this is where the opinion of specialists really matter. And yeah, there have been lots of dogs with, leg issues, hip issues, back issues.....you name it.....who have still been god candidates for amputation! I would think acupuncture and massage therapy may help hour sweet Martha too! And you can just tell by her avatar picture and your description, she is one sweet soul!
ANY decision made out of love fr Martha is the RIGHT decision! Doing what you and the specialist think is best for Martha can never be wrong. This journey has NO guaranttees regardless of what path i e takes or regardless of how great a co dition...or not so great a cndition...your dog is i ! Yeah, it's that crazy!!
We're keepi g all paws crossed over here! We are with you! you are not alne!!
HUGE HUGS to you and to that Swwet Martha! Yo are one strong team, that's for sure! Incrediby strong!
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!
Just want to say, I'm so sorry for all that has happened and my thoughts are with you and your sweet Martha.......you have the most awesome support system here.
Bonnie and Polly
so, bad news. the walnut size mass is cancer but they don't know what kind. UGH. what is this??? always inconclusive! vet's worried it's agressive since it wasn't seen during spleen removal. no hemangiosarcoma was found, in the spleen or liver when they looked for it during surgery or boipsies. AND, from my limited knowledge, osteosarcoma rarely jumps to the liver. so, we're left with no hope or clarity. apparently. vet doesn't recommend amputation now...
will have to talk to vet tomorrow; this was second hand info--i was/am at work when vet called.
amaia
I'm so sorry you got this news. That would've made me crazy if I missed a call like that.
Don't give up hope though; if anyone can figure out a game plan for dealing with it, the good folks at AMC can. Let us know how your conversation goes, sorry you have to wait so long to talk to them.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Okay, not too much has changed as so much is still inconclusive. And NOTHING has chaged in Marth's world! She sure doesn't care about any ole'report that's incnclisve!
If this Oncologist doesn't offer up hope, then find another one. There is always hope! I read somewhere that NO disease, no "terminal" disease, has EVER been 100% fatal.....that someone, somewhere, somehow, survived!! Hold onto that fact! Martha is a very strong, one of a kind girl who has already proven she can overcome obstacles put in her path.
May I suggest searching this site for Holistic Vets that have been used by members here. One that comes to mind is Dr. Charles Loops out of North Carolina.
Perhaps it's possible to still do the amptatin AND treat both situatio s with chemo OR metronomics
. Hang on, okay? We'll help you figure out something
There are options! The reason I say that is because Martha is such an exceptional soul! Martha is a fighter! She makes her own rules and her own statistics!
We'll look for yourpost tomorrow! In the meantime, go hug that sweet Martha for us.....and give her sweet momma a hug too!!
Sending you love!
Sally snd 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!
thanks, will communicate after talk with vet. martha is gaining weight after a roundworm bout found during last week's tests for amputation she had been losing too much eight and losing a lot of wool, looking patchy. now, ironically, she's putting on weight, her coat looks normal, again...
anyway, thank you sally, jerry! yes i have always wanted to treat martha holistically. looked up doctors in nyc but didn't know which one to call--no recommendations; plus i thought first amputate, like others did. read the upenn mushroom study for hemangiosaecoma, but they never found HSAr?? what else could it be?! looked up dr. weil on liver cancer this morning...miatake mushroom--so maybe the thing to do is bombard ber w/mushroom extracts...
XXA
Before you start the mushroom therapy be sure to catch this Tripawd Talk Radio interview with Dr. McCullough of A Path With Paws. You'll find lots of tips there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
UGH sorry you are dealing with all this! Jill does not see Doctor Liebman and Doctor Wiles (she sees Dr. Hohenhaus and her resident is Dr. Tegtmeyer), but I do know them well from sitting in the waiting room there :).......the wonderful thing about AMC is you get the oncologist and the resident to work with, Dr. Wiles is really great - I overhear her talking to patients all the time!!!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
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