Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Hi....It has been a while since told you about Barney's problems and want to update you in case anyone out there is in the same situation!
Barney has bben diagnosed with Histiocytic Sarcoma in his front leg with a further 4 centimetre mass in armpit/lymph.
His chest has been shown to be clear.
He runs around and is a typical 'bouncing beardie' and all the vets and specialists are astounded, as his MRI scan shows a very large tumour running down and all around his leg, and he is still running around as if there is hardly anything wrong!!
The tumour has attcked the bone and is probably holding his leg together.
Barney has had his first course of chemotherapy and is on painkillers. He also went on a drip today today to administer a drug to increase calcium levels and help his bone that is being attacked.
All the experts looking after him are unsure which route to take. If it wasn't Histiocytic, then they said they would amputate, but their worry is that it may have already spread somewhere else in his body.
If he develops terrible pain or if his leg swells excessively or the bone disintegrates then the amputation decision would be an easy one, but otherwise we are worried about the trauma Barney would have to go through and then him getting cancer elsewhere afterwards.
At the moment we are awaiting a decision by the radiologist as to whether radiotherapy is an option, but it may not be ok if the bone has been attacked.
Barney is very happy at the moment and enjoying a great quality of life, but the very sad thing is........his prognosis is terminal. He has been given 3 to 6 months........ I cannot bare the thought of life without my Barney, but am making what time we have left to be the best ever!
It is a very confusing time.....I keep thinking if his leg was amputated, the cancer may not have spread and he may be ok......but am told that this type of cancer is very aggressive.....................
If anyone is in or has faced the same dillemma I would love to hear from you.
I will keep you updated.
Sue and Barney
Offline
Never look back. There are no regrets allowed here. And thank you for sharing Barney's story here. It is important for others to see the results of the different decisions and treatment plans we all make for our furry friends. Please try to focus on quality of life, not quantity. Thanks again for the update and give barney a big hug for us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hang in there Sue, and take the 3 - 6 month timeframe you've been given as a blessing. It is time you are gifted to spend with Barney. Of course my other famous statement (the one I live by) is that no one knows when the end will be. Vets can only give estimates based on statistics. They have no way of knowing for sure.
Wishing you and Barney many happy days ahead.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Sue….I am sorry you got this diagnosis, but I'll echo what hugapitbull and Jerry's human says - whatever time any of us or our dogs have left is a blessing. And I'll add - all life is terminal, and you can probably learn from Barney how to live each day in the present moment.
You're right, it's overwhelming and can be confusing. Many of us got the same timeframe and diagnosis…bone tumors are aggressive and unpredictable. I'm no vet, and my dog doesn't have the same type of cancer, but I am so far very glad for the two months of pain free and pretty good quality of life the amputation has given him. (Still going strong!)
I made the decision to amputate for one reason only, to stop the horrible pain my dog was experiencing. I knew it wouldn't cure the cancer. I am sorry the decision isn't so clear cut in your case, but it sounds like you're a caring owner with a good vet team….keep us updated please and wishing you strength, and most importantly keep having fun with your bouncing Beardie! 
Sue,
I am so sorry about your prognosis. But please try to remember - no regrets. Our Wrigley was given a 4-6 months prognosis after our amputation if we did nothing but the amputation. We tried chemo, alternative treatments- everything we could. However her osteosarcoma was so aggressive she only lived 3 months after the amputation- less than what they told us in the first place.
BUT. I would not have changed a thing. I am forever grateful for the 3 months we had with Wrigley. It was bonus time as it is often referred to here. And that bonus time was the best time of our life. We learned so much in that 3 months and enjoyed life more than we ever have before. I can't imagine not having that time we had.
Shanna is right- we never really know when the end will be. Many dogs outlive any vets expectation by months, years. So please try and enjoy each and every day- live in Barney's world living in the moment and never looking back or worrying about the future.
And yes, when the time comes, it will be painful- but you will have these memories to hold you together- forever in your heart.
We wish you the best.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Many thanks for everyone's very kind thoughts. The tears rolled down my cheeks whilst reading them all.
Barney is still doing very well and has all the vets baffled by his agility and use of his leg, seeing that the tumour is holding it together!
He is still very happy and showing no signs of pain.....the tablets must be working!
We are taking him to Cornwall next week, just for a few days. It's his favourite place...lots of beaches and seagulls! He also likes going to the Cornish pubs, where they always have dog biscuits behind the bars!
He is going to have a great time and I will report back afterwards to tell you all how he gets on.
Sue and Barney x
Thanks for the update. Have fun at the beach! And don't forget, if you register your posts will appear immediately without requiring moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
