Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Nancy, this is heartbreaking, we are so very sorry. I wish I had a magic pill to make him feel better and make those nasty lumps go away. I also wish I had some more information or something that can help here but I just don't, I'm sorry.
I hope Opie and you can feel all of our love and hugs from the lower 48. We are thinking of you. Please let us know how we can help OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Mom told me to answer since she is crying too hard...Opie...we are new buds....I want you to feel better and I am sending all kinds of slobbery licks...remember we are tryng to beat this crap together....I have a bunch of lumps too, a new one just recently but it is a fatty tumor my doc says.....You rest today and when the pain pills kick in and you feel better, you let me know and we will have a virtual romp..remember Opie...we are beating this shit one day at a time you and me bud....you and me
Hi Nancy
I am so sorry to hear the mets are affecting Opie in many ways. I always meant to write an aftermath for 'what I woulda done if I knew then what I know now", but it wouldn't really be relevant to your situation. We did go through the bunch of grape stage with his SQ met, but eventually they merged into the grapefruit, etc.
The thing that is troubling is that Opie seems in pain. Tazzie was a happy camper until one night, when the met was just too inflamed or perhaps something was growing on the spine. I just wonder if something else is there, perhaps by the spine or bone.
Are any of the mets hot to touch? That might give you an idea if they are inflamed. Tazzie's lump was very warm by the end, when it was inflamed.
I'd try to increase the Gabapentin to 300 mg, 2 to 3 times per day (I did that and then my vet said it was fine that I did it) and see how he is. It might make him comfortable, but you probably don't have anything to lose. As Pam says, it is pretty safe (I am only saying this because she said it - I have no vet knowledge whatsoever).
Opie - we are ALL thinking of you guy. I love seeing your frosty-faced mug,
Susan and messenger Tazzie
My heart is aching for you and Opie... 
I know how much it hurts us to see our babies suffering...
As for the Tylenol3... we have never used it in our vet clinic... especially when there are better pain meds for dogs such as tramadol, fentanyl, even torbugesic (butorphonol) mixed with Pet-Tinic (a vitamin-mineral liquid supplement). Also all the different NSAIDs like Deramax and meloxicam, etc... but you never want to give NSAIDs while on predisone.
I don't know how much pain Opie is in... usually SQ lumps don't really hurt unless they are really huge and/or if they are also growing in the muscle or nerves, or especially bone.
I really don't have too much great advice to give you right now... I just hope that your vet can give Opie something to make him more comfortable for now... until you have to make that final decision. We would always tell our clients that when their dogs were no longer having a good quality of life and were in pain without any relief... that they should start thinking about doing the humane thing... I went through it myself with Jake... as long as he was happy and able to swim and eat and play... I felt he was OK. But in the end, when his cancer quickly spread to his spine and he could no longer get up and was in extreme pain that could not be relieved with any pain meds, that is when we made our final sad decision. I'm not saying that's where Opie is right now... but it's something that you should be prepared for. 
I hope and pray that it is not yet Opie's time... and that a different pain med will make him feel much better and he will be happy for another couple of weeks, or months. There have been several dogs here that had lung mets and lumps all over, and they made it for several months longer... So, there is always hope!!
Sending you and Opie a big fat loving hug!!! You are both in my thoughts and prayers!!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
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