Hello everyone!  We are back now after a two month absence.  We had decided for a while to manage the pain as much as we can.  But in recent weeks we noticed, as expected that Jewels seemed to be in more pain.  Her tumor was "stable" for a while growing ever so slowly, but in recent weeks it started to get larger and lumpier.  We are now financially in a position to have a surgeon specialist (very expensive) do the amputation.  We know it is time to do something more for Jewels so that she would no longer suffer.  Her blood sugar levels checked out normal this time!  So we are cleared for surgery.  I took her in this morning for the surgery and will find out in a few hours how it went.  Now we've just got to prepare ourselves emotionally for her homecoming.  Jerry's pack, I'd thought you'd like to know that we see Dr. Kelly of Santa Fe as our Oncologist.  I believe Jerry was one of her patients?  She is awesome!

Thanks Jerry!  Just got off the phone with the surgeon and everything went smoothly with the surgery.  Yes, I will be sure to let Dr. Kelly know you send your regards.  And yes, would love to meet with you if you ever get around to New Mexico to interview Dr. Kelly (we are in Albuquerque). 

I love this website and the support that it provides!  It's such a wonderful resource for families like ours with tripawds.  I appreciate it!!!

I am so very happy to report that my Jewels is doing awesome!  It's been over two weeks since surgery and now that she is recovering very nicely, I see now that she is now feeling great and pain free!!!  It was definitely the right decision.  The first week or so were hard for me, staying up at night with her worrying about how she is doing and watching her to make sure she doesn't do anything crazy to injure herself while still healing from surgery.  I am amazed at how her pain is gone.  She is definitely happier and back to her old self.  Now I will go ahead and take advantage of all your great suggestions for providing her with a great diet so that she can live the rest of her life happy and as healthy as possible.  She is adapting well.  At first she would get very tired hopping around, but now she is building strength in her remaining front paw and can get around pretty good now.  Even slowly but surely she can get in and out of the dog door on her own!  

I look forward to becoming an involved member in this great tripawd community.  Thanks so much for all your support, words of encouragement and great advice!