Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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im new to this website but I am really desperate for some advice or to hear some other experiences!
About 2 weeks ago we had my little 6 year old Poms leg e-rays done and they look bad! The vet thinks it is synovial cell scarmoa. We don't think it's bone cancer because it is seen in more then 1 place and I guess bone cancer dose not usually move from bone to bone. Anyway,we got a lung xray and it looked good! Today we had the biopsy but now we have to wait for the results and it's killing me! We have accepted that the leg will probably have to go but I just want her to live a long happy life!! Dose anyone have any advice? Any other experiences of this kind of cancer? I need to hear some happy outcomes if you have any! This is so so so hard! Thank you!
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you are dealing with potential cancer in your girl, what's her name?
I did a forum search on synovial cell sarcoma and got these results, you may find some info there. I dealt with different cancers in my pugs.
You might want to look through the Reading List- there is lots of information there on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
I've had two small Tripawds, both rear amps. Tri-pug Maggie lost her leg to mast cell cancer. Although her prognosis was 6 to 9 months she lived almost 4 years. She took her time getting used to her new normal, but then hopped happily through life. My current Tripawd is a little pug mix named Elly. She lost her leg at 7 months old after being hit by a car. She is almost 3 now and can do pretty much everything any dog her size can do.
When are the biopsy results due?
We know how scary this time is- there are lots of people here who have been where you are now and we can help you though this time.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hello!
Her name is Snookie. I'm so glad to read that you got so much more time with Maggie then expected! That is such a blessing, I hope I am lucky enough to receive a similar blessing! I'm so glad that there are dogs out there that live way past what the vets think, it's a true miracle! Her results should be in sometime next week. They think it's a localized cancer, I guess we will see! We are just hoping it's something that was mistaken as cancer and is something less deadly but I guess only time will tell.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means more then you will ever know. This is all so difficult but having someone take time out of their day to help makes it a bit easier!
Well hello there cute Snookie! Your avatar picture is very cute, vut we need to see more of your sweet self!!
As you already know, YOU ARE. OT ALONE!! Karen have given you great advice and links.
And heck no, Snookie doesn't have a timeframe stamped anywhere in her vutt! Take a look! Nothing there, right? Statistics don't mean swuat around here. Prognosis - schmognosis!
Is she in pain meds now? Sounds like that leg might hurt! Amputation re.oves that painful leg and Snookie can get on with enjoying life to the fullest, pain free!! Now, that doesnw mean that recovery is easy for a couple of weeks. It's MAJOR surgery and it hurts! We can give you more information along those lines if needed. We'll be right here vynyiur side the whole way!!
Sending lots of pawsitive thoughts yiur way!
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!
Thank you so so much for your kindness! She is currently on pain meds as well as antibiotics because she just had her biopsy. We are so dang scared for her possible amputation but even more scared of the possible cancer. I have been reading a lot of the info and stories on this site and it seems like the amputation is difficult but worth it, so that sure helps! It's all just so scary and happening so fast, it's hard to process it.
On a happier note snookie has been in great spirits and seems pretty happy! She is not showing much pain and has been eating! Seeing her happy makes it easier for sure, I just hope it continues for as long as possible. ❤️
Stay connected with us, okay? We're here ro help you navice through whatever journeynyou and Snookie are on.
Let us know the results when they come in. Sometimes they do come back inconclusive though. Ugh!
Snookie sounds like a feisty pup ready to take on any challenge that comes her way! 🙂
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!
Well it's is cancer. I'm not sure what grade or anything yet, but they said it's a kind that dose not spread easily and should stay pretty localized. Her amputation will be a week from this Thursday. We were expecting the leg to need to go but it's still pretty scary 🙁 I guess now we just wait. Snookie is outside barking and playing with a toy, it's nice to see that she has no idea about being sick and is still so happy!
Hey Snookie, you little cutie! You don't even know what cancer is, do you? Snookie is just living in the moment as a fiesty, noisy, happy and playful pup. Your biggest challenge may be keeping her quiet and relaxed after surgery so she can heal! I predict that the worst part will be having that beautiful coat shaved.
My cat Mona had a fibrosarcoma and her front leg was amputated 3.5 years ago. She'd doing great and is a very happy cat who makes sure her much bigger brother knows his place.
What part of the amputation is scary for you? Perhaps people here can help address your concerns based on their experience.
Hugs to you and little Snookie,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
becky111390 said
Snookie is outside barking and playing with a toy, it's nice to see that she has no idea about being sick and is still so happy!
And that's what we call around here BEING MORE DOG!!! You are exzctly right!! NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN SNOOKIE'S WORLD!!
Of course as hoomans, we are scared and panicky and fearful and feel lost and uncertain! We get it! We've all been there a d we can all tell you that Snookie, and you, will get through this! 🙂
Recovery is no licnoe for a couple of weeks. Especially in the beginning you may second guess yourself and wonder what the heck yiu did TO Snookie! Before long though, you will quickly realize you did this FOR Snookie!! 🙂
After you read through the li ks Karen gave you, let us know what questions you may have.
Just make sure if you have hardwood floors, you put non slip scatter rugs for traction . If you have a lot of steps going outside for potty, try and get a ramp built. Some dogs have challenges navigating stairs. Then again every now and then we have a dog like Angel member POFI who handled stairs right away!
STAY CONNECTED!! STOCK UP ON CHOCOLATE!! Remember, we also have a TRIPAWDS HELPLINE 1 844 HELPLINE
NOW GO HUG THST SWEET SNOOKIE AND WATCHNHIS TAIL WAG!!! 🙂 🙂 Hesq gonna be just fine!!
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!
Thank you all again! Having your replays and advice has been so helpful! I wish i could put into words how much you have helped me feel like I'm not alone and lost in all of this! So thank you thank you thank you!
I think what scares me the most is putting her through all the pain but not knowing if I will remove the cancer completely. I do know that it will take away a lot of pain for her, but I'm so scared of the cancer coming back. I talked to the vet again and he said it's pretty localized but there are no grades/stages to the type of cancer that they think it is. I'm hoping that means it's only in the leg and not anywhere else but I know there is a chance. He said that if it is anywhere else that chemo probably won't help(if there is any cancer left) but I'm not sure if I believe that! That seems off to me. For now we will take it one step at a time but I'm thinking of getting another opinion on the chemo thing. I'm also looking into dog food that is supposed to help (Dr. Harvey’s or something) so if anyone knows anything about that, that would be helpful but I'll do more research on it.
Thank you all again for making this really scary time less scary for me and my family! You are appreciated more then you will ever know! ❤️
I'm glad you are feeling somewhat reassured. I knew that Mona would have less time with me because the cancer would spread and become really nasty. So I read up on the stats (which aren't necessarily usefull) and had a chat with Mona (she looked very bored) and told her we were taking her leg off to remove the cancer and asked her to give me at least two more years of her living. Well, she's given me 3.5 years so far! Both the vet and I believe she is cancer free.
You can ask for an xray of the lungs to ensure it hasn't spread. Many vets take the xray before they would amputate. Mona didn't need to be sedated for an xray so it was done the day before the amputation. Has Snookie had her lungs xrayed? If not, you can discuss this with the vet/surgeon to have it done even just before the surgery. If something shows up they will call you and you can be prepared to not go ahead with the amputation (if that is your decision).
Generally they will to a pathology of the amputated leg and lymph nodes to see if the cancer had spread. It's this report that can give you further direction for treatment.
It sounds like a second opinion will really help in your decision.
All the best moving forward,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Hello everyone!
Surgery went well and my little fur baby is now a tripaw. She is home and recovering great so far. She had a few bites of chicken but only a small amount incase she starts to feel sick. The vet said it looked like the cancer was just in the knee but can’t guarantee there has not been a microscopic spread. The cancerous leg is gone, as well as the pain of the cancer so we are focusing on that.😊
Seeing her for the first time without the leg was much harder then I anticipated, it was pretty much tears as soon as I saw her but I feel much better now. I guess it was just a shock at first. The vet only sent vetprofen and a antibiotic which seems off.I feel like she might need something stronger for the pain...? I guess we will see when the drugs she’s on now wear off.
Again thank you all so much for the help and support!!❤️
I'm glad she is home with you. In time you'll forget what she looked like with 4 legs.
You will need at least one pain medication for her. Vetprofen is not enough because its an anti-inflammatory. My cat was on an opioid, Medicam (anti-inflammatory/pain med). Sometimes people also need Gabapentin for phantom limb pain.
Others will let you know what pain meds they used for their dogs. Please phone your vet in the morning for a pain medication because you want to stay ahead of the pain.
I hope the cancer went with the leg!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
I'm glad the surgery went well and she is home.
You are right to be concerned about the meds they sent home, in my opinion vetprofen alone is not strong enough for this surgery.
When Maggie came home from her rear amp she had a fentanyl patch as well as tramadol. For each of my quad-pug boy's knee surgeries he came home with a fentanyl patch, tramadol and rimadyl. Even when Elly had dental surgery she had tramadol for pain.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
SOOOO GLAD SUREGRRY IS DONE!!! Jist focus on javing that bum leg gone and don't even vother looking at the incision! And they shave sooooo much fur! :-), That is sometimes the real shock!
AND DITTO AVOUT THE PAIN MEDS!!! The hospital meds will wear off in a out 48-72 hours and that's when the pain meds really need to kick in. This is MAJOR SURGERY and it hurts!!! So DEFINITELY get asupply of Tramadol and Gabapentin before the holiday week-end. Some Vets just aren't up to snuff on managing pain in dogs.
Drinr and peeing are important. Eating may be off for a few days, so just get any yummy foods that work! ,Poop may take several days.
STAY CONNECTED!! Let us know how it's going!
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!
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