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.
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I am very happy there is a support site for tripaws. We have a seven and a half year old Chocolate lab named Hershey, who has bone cancer. It actually started like others; with a limp and lump on the joint of his back leg. Unfortunately, we were taking to him to a pet store vet and he was misdiagnosed with arthritis and a cyst. They told us it wasn't cancer after taking fluid. He went through 6 weeks of adequan injections and wason Rimadyl. There was a little improvement at first, so we were hopeful, but then the lump got larger and he started limping again. Finally, I took him to the vet our pet adoption agency uses and the doctor knew he needed good x rays and a tissue sample right away. After the first set of results were sent to the lab, we thought surely we would have an answer. However, they could not find cancer cells, so the vet tried a bunch of different antibiotics to rule out any other infections that might cause the fluid build up in his leg. By this time, Hershey has already stopped using the leg and compensated with the other. Again, no improvement. Finally, the vet schedules the biopsy (he was hesitant because the bone was already compromised and he didn't want to risk breaking it). The results came back - cancer, but the vet could not tell what type of cancer cell. Regardless, amputation is necessary. This all started April 24, 2010 and the amputation took place on July 7, 2010. I can't tell you how much guilt we have for not being more educated about dog cancer. The vet did say they found no signs that it had spread, but we can't help thinking about all that time wasted while the cancer grew.
Today, it has been two weeks since Hershey's amputation. He started out normal enough for an amputation. He whined, didn't eat or go to the bathroom, and wanted us nearby always. After four days, he got up and started to act normal. He even wanted to play with the ball! Then, this week, he started lying around looking totally depressed. He doesn't eat or drink unless I feed him human food. When he walks, it is slow and deliberate, and only to use the bathroom or change sleeping spots. On Monday, the vet said Hershey had a fever and probably infection from surgery, so again, he's on antibiotics. We postponed chemo until next week. Unfortunately, there is still no improvement today.
We're happy you found us too, but sorry to hear about Hershey's diagnosis. We're sending best wishes that he gets through this infection and back on the road to recovery soon.
Please don't feel guilty. We had no idea dogs even got cancer when Jerry was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. His original vet passed it off as arthritis, prescribing various different meds for about a month.
Thnaks for joining. Please keep us posted on about Hershey's condition.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi, and welcome to Tripawds. I can say you couldn't have found a better place, these people are amazing.
Sorry to hear about Hershey, but try not to feel guilty. (I know, way easier said than done) Not many people are educated on dog cancer. I certainly was clueless until about 6 months ago. You did what you knew to do to take care of your pup. There's no guilt in that.
My dog, Roxy, seemed depressed after amputation too. I'm not doing chemo with her, I have her on a homeopathic protocol with Dr. Loops (in NC) who I found on this website (I'm in IN). There are some other pawrents on here that are doing the same thing. I told Dr. Loops about the depression and started her on the protocol and her depression disappeared. She perked up very quickly and started behaving like the same crazy dog she was before amputation. You may consider getting in touch with him, just to see what he says if nothing else.
I hope Hershey shows great improvement soon!
Leslie
I am so sorry you had to go through all that and end up at the same place...but of course we all have that hope that the antibiotics and some rimadyl will take care of the problem and in an older dog arthritis is of course suspected. In our case I thought Magic had slipped and the first two weeks we tried just walking it off and using a little rimadyl, the last week the vet suggested rest and up the rimadyl THEN we did the xrays and the bone biopsy...
I can't offer you anything in the depression area, but it sounds like some good suggestions have been made. Come here often, it is a wonderful place to help you through this journey.
Welcome to Tripawds! So sorry to hear about Hershey. So many of us didn't know about dog cancer, but this site has certainly educated me! We're keeping our paws crossed, and sending pawsitive thoughts and prayers your way. Please keep us updated, as we all do care a great deal about each other.
Please don't feel guilty about not being educated about cancer in dogs. I don't think many of us were. Tasha, my Rottweiler was diagnosed with bone cancer in June 2009, was scheduled for surgery, the day of surgery she was on the table when her Dr. inflated her lungs and found suspicious lesions in her lungs, surgery was cancelled and she was sent home on pain meds to help her remaining days be as comfortable as possible. Things got confusing over the next three months, Tasha didn't die and her diagnoses changed to Valley Fever she was treated with ani fungals that made her very sick, long story short in Oct. 2009 she did have her leg amputated, it did end up being cancer. I felt guilty and scared because so much time has passed with the cancerous leg's tumor having a chance to grow and spread. Things did turn out ok for us, today Tasha is still with me, a silly happy girl, we will be celebrating her 10 month ampuversary in a couple weeks.
I hope that soon Hershey's depression will go away and he will be able to be a happy dog enjoying life to the fullest and amazing you everyday. Best wishes.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
Thanks to all the quick responses. I feel a lot better already, and I am sure with all the suggestions, so will Hershey!
Welcome to the family. I know that feeling of wasted time, we thought Gus just pulled a muscle so had him on Rimidyl for a couple weeks, no change, did the x-ray, saw an abnormality in the bone, he didn't have a lump but was limping when we first took him in, then stopped using the leg all together, front left. We had even sent our x-rays down to Ohio state for reading, and they felt cancer. Did the biopsy, it came back negative but felt we were dealing with cancer so did the surgery. I hate hindsight, knowing now what we do I wouldn't have even messed with the biopsy, but his x-rays showed a clear chest at the time but about 2 months after the surgery found he had lung mets so we have him on a metronomic therapy. I had decided from the start I wasn't going to do chemo and I don't regret that decision. Once healed gus has has a great life but I think the cancer is progressing both in his lungs and he has a lump on his neck, but he hasn't had to deal with any of the side effects chemo may have, and that was my goal , quality of life for him. Sorry you got the run around, I hate to say it but I wouldn't recommend that first vet you had to anybody, and when your on this journey, you need a vet you can trust, so I hope you are comfortable with this one. Is the incision oozing anything that looks like puss, is there what you would feel to be an abnormal amount of swelling any where, do you notice any kind of bad smell around the incision. We had trouble with Gus on tramadol, he acted loopy, restless, no appetite, once off that he did better. We had Gus on gabapentin and Rimidyl, I know each dog handles these drugs different, could be the meds making him like that, but I would surely watch and keep in contact with your vet to watch for infection. This place is a Godsend, it makes this journey tolerable. Don't be afraid to ask anything, experience always gives the best answers. And don't feel guilty, you did what you thought was best, your not the one that screwed up. Good luck and Paws up, Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
tomkatetem said:
I feel a lot better already, and I am sure with all the suggestions, so will Hershey!
That's exactly why we started this web site!
If you haven't already, be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots more dog leg amputation recovery tips and advice from the past few years of the Tripawds News Blog .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awww Hershey, we're sorry you had a setback, but if it's any comfort, it happens to lots of Tripawds. You have a great vet and pawrents, we have no doubt you'll heal up just fine.
What a cutie you are! Welcome to Tripawds my friend, thanks for joining.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome! Although we ALL would rather be elsewhere…but this is THE bestest place to be for dealing with amputation/cancer situations with your pup!
Please have NO guilt regarding not knowing and the time lapse of getting a correct diagnosis. Your story sounds sooooooooo similar to my very own dog's last year.
My dog started a low grade fever and off her food 5 days after amputation. Many med changes occurred…taking her off NSAIDs, switching her antibiotics to a stronger one, trying stomach nausea meds…none helped or fixed her low grade fever and lack of appetite. I treat my dogs as holisitically as possible, so used Belladonna homeopathic, which is traditionally used for fevers. I also had the vet put a bag of fluids/VitB drip thinking it would "push out" all the crap Maggie had probably lingering in her system…anesthesia, meds(she'd been on pain meds of Tramadol and Gabapentin for a long time prior to surgery as well)…. after putting her on Belladonna and the fluids, her fever started breaking and she started eating on her own! What a relief that was!!!!
Keep your chin up and prod your vet(s) to get to the bottom of your dog's issue of not eating etc…. We have to be our dog's advocate!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Like everyone else, I don't think any of us knew anything until it hit us in the face.
We thought that our Kona had tweaked her leg (I know, very technical lingo) then we thought that there was some arthritis....and then when we went to the doctor, we felt so stupid for not having gone in sooner...I guess that's the pawrents way...guilt
I just know that this is a bump in Hershey's road. Here's to getting over this infection, and onward to lots and lots of happy pup days !
Somehow we've all booked passage in this ship of fighting this dreaded disease!
Here's to the fight!
hugs,
Denise
Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010 Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !
***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***
We Love you so much Kona….always
Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)
Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)
Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.
I hope you're feeling better real soon Hershey! I don't think any of us were thinking cancer when our pups started limping. Just be assured that you have always done the best for your friend. I hope you have lots of good days ahead!
Spirit Ruthie's Mom
Hershey, how are you doing? We are thinking of you and hoping that you're doing better. Please let us know OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm sorry about everything that Hershey has been going through... My Jake also had limping for several months, on and off, before he was diagnosed with his bone cancer and had his front leg amputated... I also thought it was just from old age... you know, arthritis... Cancer was definitely the very last thing on my mind... boy was I ever wrong...
I hope that Hershey is feeling better now... and that his infection is under control. Keep us posted on his progress!
Sending you a big hug!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie'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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