Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Yeah, Dr. Andrew Weil...good source also
AND Dr. Marth Goldstein in NEWYYORK! Smith Ridge Veternary Center........Author of "Ainimal Healing" (not sure if got name right)This may be an old phone number 914 533-6066 You can google him
Glad Martha is gaining weight and getting her fur back all pretty and shiny! Yet another good sign that Martha has a lot going for her!!
We're all cheering for you...non-stop and loudly!!
Love and 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!
okay, it's been a while. trying to make heads or tails of more inconclusive results -- this time of a liver mass. after consulting with martha's original vet (who had already biopsied the liver) we decided to go ahead with amputation. a dilemma since none of the vets were willing to give guidance, nor hope, really. my experience is that they keep recommending tests, only for inconclusive results.
after making the though decision, we meet with the ortho-surgeon this am. his take on martha: her arthritis on remaining joints make him very cautious about her prognosis of living on three legs. this was a total surprise since the oncologist gave glowing recommendation that there was no problems with her physicality. anyway, after much discussion i asked what he'd do if martha was his. he said that he'd go ahead BUT if she didn't walk in two day to a week he'd euthanize! he confirmed that her pain level would go from a level 8 to 2-3 with amputation. his doubts focus on future mobility.
please, has anyone heard this before? anyone out there with an arthritic amputee?
at this point, i've turned cynic on the vet profession. feels like none will recommend or stand behind an opinion; for fear of retribution, lawsuits...? any thoughts on this? jerry, i did read the article posted from the nytimes on length of prognosis. vets seem hard pressed to go out on the limb for hope, unless there's little doubt...but who needs hope, then?
martha is scheduled for amputation tomorrow morning. thank you. please don't forget to remind me to breath!
x
amalia
benny55 said
AND Dr. Marth Goldstein in NEWYYORK! Smith Ridge Veternary Center........Author of "Ainimal Healing" (not sure if got name right)This may be an old phone number 914 533-6066 You can google himSally and Happy Hannah
Hey I just saw your comment about Dr. Marty, he's so cool. We love his book. Wrote a review about his book and some other holistic reference guides a while ago and we still use Dr. Marty's as our go-to book when something is wrong with Wyatt Ray .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Amalia I'm glad you read the article, I found it interesting. I'm not a vet so I can't say why they are so unwilling to give out hope but my gut instinct is it's not necessarily because of a fear of lawsuits, but just that it's how a scientific-thinking individual thinks; you go with facts and figures, and since science never has perfect or absolutely concrete answers, you use your best guess to gauge the outcome.
As for Martha's arthritis and the uncertain prognosis, well all I can tell you is that yes, we have had lots of arthritic canine amputee members here (just search through "Size and Age Matters" as the easiest way to locate some examples). And while some had rougher recoveries, the majority did fine after the healing was complete.
Kudos to you for being so courageous and going with your gut instinct. Never forget that you know Martha better than anyone. The decision you made is one that was not made lightly, you made it with all the love in your heart and no matter what happens next, the bond you two have will give you the strength you need to conquer anything.
Good luck tomorrow! Please keep us posted. I look forward to seeing your updates!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Talk abojt beng between a rock and a hard place.....darn if you do, darn if you don't. So very sorry you are n this "predicament" and continuing to get conflictng answers....or no answers at all.
I juat want to acknowledge you for your commitme t to doing everything possible for Martha. There are no guarantees regardless n ths crazy journey. Some dogs who have had the best preliminary work up, did poorly after amputation for verious reasons. Some dogs who had a "less than optimistic" prognosis before surgery, did very well. It's such a crap shoot.
One thing is for certain...one thing is a fact...EVERYTHING you are doing, EVERY decision you are makng, is out of love for Martha.
The whole tripawd community will have all our collective paws crossed. We are right here with you, right by your side. And we will be by your side when you bring her home! We will be by yor side cheering both of you on! Recovery is no picnic and Marthat s going to feel worse before she feels better, that's fr sure!! But once recovery takes place, yest se will then be out of pain and her quality wii be great!
With all my heart, I hope things turn out well for you and Martha. She is so loved and she knows it!
Keep us posted as soon as she's out of surgery so we can celebrate with you!
Sendng you love and a reminder t B R E A T H E.............B R E A T H E............B R E A T H E...
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!
hey,
sorry about not updating but just received yourreplies to my last post! is that possible?
anyway, martha has been doing great! should clarify, compared to the grim prognosis from the ortho-surgeon. the surgery was great! they'are so wonderful at amc. the day after surgery i visited. i was anxious expecting the worst but she got up by herself!
she has been steadily progressing. we stopped using the sling from the hospital approx a week after amputTion. two days ago she started making it around the block on outings. BUT last night she grew weak during late night oiting, then again this morning! i'm worried. she gets stitches out friday.
all thoughts, opinions, welcome! help!
amalia
Amalia,
You might want to slow down with going so far on her walks. I over did it with Sassy a little and she slowed down after her amputation while she was still healing. Martha is still getting used to using muscles she hasn't really had to use that much before. Maybe just go a short distance on her walks?
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Anything's pawsible. Ah the mysteries of the Internet! 
Glad to hear that she's doing so well. It sounds to me like the length of your walks with her are too long, it's still very soon after surgery. I would cut waaaay back to very short, 5 minute walks each day and remember that there will be plenty of time for hoppy outings when she's made a full recovery. Double check with your vet but it does sound like a lot of exercise for her at this point.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
great to hear from you! thanks. will take advice.
so, problem with five minute walk (live in nyc), by the time we get out of the building, it's five minutes and she hasn't had a chance to eliminate, yet.
by the way, we finally got a conclusive diagnosis of osteosarcoma that i can't say i am happy about...currently missing an inconclusive state of mind.
thanks for the support.
so glad to hear Martha is doing well! Yes isn't AMC great? Throughout this entire ideal it was so comforting to be able to have Jill treated there. I always felt she was in great hands.
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
good morning!
martha appears to be doing slightly better. does better inside--especially when food is involved. last night her hind leg weakened once we get outside. now, three days ago she was climbing up snow banks! hopefully she'll bounce back.
however, martha gets her stitches out tomorrow!!! anything i should ask the surgery team? also, amc carries dr. buzzy's toe nail guards hoping they'll help her on our wood floors.
most importantly though, i haven't discussed the osteosarcoma results with oncology yet. anything in particular i should ask? some posts claim the grade of tumor matters, others do not. HELP.
In my experience and according to Jill's onco at AMC, Dr Hohenhaus grade does not matter, however Mitotic index does, so you may want to ask about that. Best of luck!!!! Maybe we can have an AMC play date 
Jill's next appt is not until June though!!
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
funny, erica. yes, let's check in around may!
thanks fot the tip. question, did you meet with your surgeon when jill got stitches out? my experience thus far, first visit is with senior level vet who hands you over to residents, and never meet with senior vet again? was that your experience,too?
ALSO, any thoughts on Palladin (?).
thank you.
Jill didnt actually have her surgery done at AMC, she had it done at her primary care vet at Lincoln Square Vets. I did not meet with the surgeon when her stitches were taken out, a vet tech actually did it, but her vet took a look at her and pronounced her "looking great".
I do have great faith in the residents at AMC though, I work with Jill's oncology resident very closely throughout this entire process as well as Dr. Hohenhaus and always had tremendous faith in her.
Do you mean Palladia? As far as I understand, its typically given when there is a metastasis present. It can be quite pricey and there can definitely be some side effects. Dr. Hohenhaus does use it quite often though. Here is an article she wrote about it a while back:
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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