Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Wasn't there a dog named Hank, his Mom is a vet in Colorado, who had the osteo appear in a second leg?
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Yes Christine! You are exzctly right! The nlog was titled "something" like "A Vizula Walked into a Bar" I just don't have enough of the words together to find it. Hopefully that's enough to jog your memory, or others, so they can find it.
Unfortunately, there have been a couple this year that have had it where itsw spread to the other limb. While it's supposedly rare, it "seems"'like we're seeing it a bit more often here.
A d the other treatment I was looking for.....again, the spelling is way off so I can only recall a few letters....biophosxxxx. That actually may be a "catch all" name for some of the other treatments I was TRYING to spell out in my other post
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!
Derek I am so sad to read this news about Levi.
Yes it's happened a few times here. Overall it's rare for a dog to get osteosarcoma in a remaining limb but we've seen it since so many members here are coping with osa. The blog that Christine and Sally are referring to is this one, Hank the Vizsla.
Hank did several rounds of stereotactic radiation therapy at CSU. I believe he also had bisphosphonate injections, similar to what Hazel the Great Dane recently completed.
What kind of treatment options did the oncologist discuss with you?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We don't have an oncologist - just our primary veterinarian who did the amputation and administered the chemo back in 2015, and the orthopedic surgeon who repaired his leg earlier this year. They have mentioned the palliative radiation therapy, and he is currently on oral pain killers. Our primary vet mentioned getting a stronger one (like codeine) if he doesn't seem any better on the carprofen and tramadol.
We don't think the radiation therapy appeals to us at this point. It seems like a lot extra to put him through on top of what he's already been through over just the past few months. Like it would be more for us than for him.
He is currently contained to a playpen and short leash walks to go potty. He hasn't cried out in pain since being put on the carprofen and tramadol, though he still seems hesitant to put much pressure on that leg at all. So an improvement, but a small one.
Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd.
I was just catching up on your beautiful Levi and wanted to write and see how he (and you) were doing? I can imagine that having to keep him contained is very difficult - a serious understatement right? How is he doing on the pain meds? I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this but so happy to know that Levi is so loved and in great hands. Hope you are all doing ok.
Love, Amy & Rusty
misterrustybucket said
I was just catching up on your beautiful Levi and wanted to write and see how he (and you) were doing? I can imagine that having to keep him contained is very difficult - a serious understatement right? How is he doing on the pain meds? I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this but so happy to know that Levi is so loved and in great hands. Hope you are all doing ok.Love, Amy & Rusty
He is doing OK on the pain meds. Have been able to walk him to the end of the street and back a couple times, then he has to take it easy for a good long while afterwards. He really hates being confined, but we're so afraid that he'll do something and re-break his leg that we know it's for his own good.
Although our doctor said he thinks it would take a great deal of stress to break the leg, even with the tumor there, since it's so high up on his humerus, we are still being careful. He likes having free reign of the house, which for him means getting up and down off the furniture a million times a day - a definite no-no.
Thank you for your concern and well wishes.
Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd.
Our fear at the time he broke the leg was obviously that it was caused by a new tumor. No signs of it were found at the time, so that was a relief.
Does anybody know of any cases where trauma CAUSES the tumor, rather than the other way around? Not that it really matters at this point, we're just curious.
Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd.
Hey Derek,
I'm glad he's still holding is own and has the spunk to want to jump on the furniture! It's to go be hard to keep him restrained a bit but you're clearly doing a great job. The feedback about the tumor location is hopeful, I'm glad the vet shared the info with you.
Does anybody know of any cases where trauma CAUSES the tumor, rather than the other way around?
It's long been suspected by researchers that hairline fractures in growing puppies can lead to osteosarcoma when they are adults. I'm not sure if that's ever been proven. I'm not sure if that applies to adult dogs though.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
Hey Derek,I'm glad he's still holding is own and has the spunk to want to jump on the furniture! It's to go be hard to keep him restrained a bit but you're clearly doing a great job. The feedback about the tumor location is hopeful, I'm glad the vet shared the info with you.
Does anybody know of any cases where trauma CAUSES the tumor, rather than the other way around?
It's long been suspected by researchers that hairline fractures in growing puppies can lead to osteosarcoma when they are adults. I'm not sure if that's ever been proven. I'm not sure if that applies to adult dogs though.
Interesting. And sad, of course, if that's truly the case. The tumor looks like it almost grew around his surgical implants in this case. There looked to be a little something concerning to the radiologist back in February when the break occurred, but the surgeon was confident it was only osteopenia from disuse. Perhaps it was; we'll probably never know.
Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd.
LEVI!!! THE LEVI FAN CLUB IS CHEERING FOR YOU SWEET BOY!!! 🙂 🙂 CHEERING LOUDLY!!!! 🙂 🙂
Levi REALLY is a strong willed determined boy, and that works in his favor! And you are doing a SPECTACULAR job of caring for him!! 🙂 🙂
The update sounds very promising!
I think o e of the biggest joys of dogs is ever so gleefully jumping up on couches!! 🙂 We even had a member here who had a BullDog named Bruno. If I recall, she cut the legs off her sofa so Bruno could "jump" up on it! If nothing else, maybe you could take the cushions off so he sort of "step up"
Tha ks for the update, but it is lacking something very important...PICTURES!!! :-),, We,'ll be waiti g! 🙂
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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