Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone,
My name is Checkers but my mom calls me Beauty Queen cause I am one. I am a 12 1/2 year old Golden Retriever.
This is my first time posting here. This site was recommended to my family by my radiation oncologist at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, MA last week.
Here's my story. I was diagnosed with hemangiopericytoma in 9/2012 and underwent 2 surgeries over the following 6 months to remove the tumor. I also received low dose chemo last summer but the nasty thing continued to grow.
Last week my tumor ulcerated and my family was left with the choice of a few sessions of palliative radiation to shrink the tumor and buy me a few months or amputation. After much discussion with my oncologist and visits to this site my family chose amputation. They said that they were not ready to say good-bye to me and I wasn't ready either.
I had my surgery on Mon 6/23 and came home yesterday. I'm having a rough time, I can't get up on my own and can only walk a few steps with the aid of a Ruffgear harness but, I'm eating and drinking and glad to be back with my family. I know that soon I'll be back in my pool swimming. My avatar is a pic of me swimming the night before my surgery. Swimming is my favorite activity.
My nephew Wilson who is also part of my family also has cancer. He has malignant melanoma. He only had to have a toe amputated last year for his cancer. Then received a series of human DNA vaccine last year and he is still cancer free. Cancer stinks!
Thank-you to all of you who post here. We keep coming back for answers to our many questions about tripods and hopefully in turn my family and I will be able to offer support to others who are going through this scary ordeal.
Love,
Checkers
Oh Checkers! You are so very sweet and beautiful! We are glad you joined us to share your story. I'm very sorry you are having a rough time. But gosh, it's only been a couple days, rest up, sleep a lot and gain your strength, you'll get there, I know it! Have you seen our "Size and Age Matters" Discussion Forum? There are lots of great stories in there about mature dogs like you. Although lots of dogs have a rough start at first things DO get better. What kind of pain meds are you on?
You'll be back and swimming in no time, I know it. Hang in there and keep us posted, we're here to help. Meanwhile we'd love to send a Thank You note to your oncologist, who is it?
{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Checkers, you are absolutely gorgeous!! You have to remember, you just had major surgery, so it may take a bit of time before you're "up and about." I too believe that you will be back in your pool before you know it. Like Jerry said, just rest as much as you can. Recovery rates are different for every dog. Be sure to tell your folks to keep posting on the forums when they have questions, because everyone here has been through it, and has really great advice to give!! In the meantime, we'll be sending positive thoughts your way for an uneventful, speedy recovery!! Hang in there Beauty Queen!!
Welcome Checkers and pack.
Three days in is very early in the recovery process. If Checkers is eating and drinking and engaged then things sound pretty good. Our surgeon told us there was no activity except potty walks and getting up to eat for the first two weeks. That part was easy for me as my pug Maggie was a slug after her surgery!
I'm glad the melanoma vaccine is working for Wilson. Maggie lost her leg to mast cell cancer, but I ultimately lost her to oral melanoma. Cancer does indeed stink!
Keep us posted on Checker's recovery, and come here often if you have questions or need support.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Welcome Checkers!!! You are certainly a beauty! 🙂
The first few days / weeks are the hardest but you will get to feeling better and be up and on your own before you know it! Pain meds (like others have said) make you loopy and out of sorts. Stay close to us... we are here to help!
And yes, cancer really, really sucks!
Alison & her SHelby fur-ever in her heart
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Thank-you for your words of encouragement Jerry, Maximutt, Krun15 & Mom2Shelby. This is a very scary and unsettling time for all of us. We know that we need to give this time.
Jerry, Lindsay Kubicek, DVM was the radiation oncologist at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston who told us about this site. We are so grateful that we are within driving distance of this phenomenal facility. We've received the best care. I also feel blessed that we have the resources to be able to help our pets. We know that not everyone can choose advanced care for their furry companions particularly a major surgery.
We're just going to take it step by step (literally step by step) and hour by hour. Thank-you again for your support. We'll keep checking in and we'll post our progress as well. And hopefully Checkers' recovery story will be inspiring to others.
Betty (Checkers Mom)
Sending well wishes to Checkers for a speedy recovery!! Dealing with amputation was a frightening thing for my husband and me. I can't say enough about the ebooks that you can download from the Tripawd site. The information in them put us a little more at ease about what to expect and how to help Leland after he came home. For us the choice was thrust on us suddenly (Leland had a failed TPLO procedure and infection that couldn't get controlled) so it was either we amputate or put him to sleep. Today is 3 weeks and 3 days post rear leg amp for Leland and he's doing well on getting around. He can hop around in the yard and go to the bathroom now on his own. I still carry the belly sling because he does get tired and I'll help him back to the house. We will always help him get up the stairs in our home (we live in a split foyer so there's nothing but stairs) because we want to do all we can to keep his other hind knee from going out with a cruciate ligament tear.
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Betty, thank you so much for Dr. Kubicek's name, I'll definitely send her some cards.
3-paws up to you all, keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just found this fantastic article on Angell's website, an interview with Dr. Kubicek:
One on One with Dr. Lindsay Kubicek
What would you most like your clients to know?
“Radiation isn’t scary anymore. The side effects are now self-limiting, meaning they will go away on their own. We want your pets to be as pain-free as possible.”
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What a great link Jerry. If anyone lives within the greater Boston area and looking for oncology support or even just great vet care, the Angell is renowned animal hospital and affiliated with Tufts Vet School.
Betty
Betty and The Beauty Queen!!
Geez, sorry you have to be here.....but there is no better place to be under the circumstance!
Yes, this is very scary and we all understand that awful feel of fear, doubt and just plain UGH! For almost three weeks I wondered what I had done TO my beloved Happy Hannah (a "fluffy", mature Bull Mastiff"). She had a "slower recovery than some and that scared the heck out of me.
She really started getting her sparkle back around the three week mark and it was clear she was enjoying being free from M pain. I then realized I did this FOR my Happy Hannah! She recently transitioned to the other side of life after over a year of the. Most blissfully happy and joyful time a dog could have! She got more loving and spoiling than we ever though was even possible! It was THE most glorious fourteen months and I have no regrets!
Your Checkers is soo ooooolps very early in recovery. I know how difficult this part of the journey is, but soon you will see improvement.
What meds does the vet have her on? She needs to have her rest and her pain managed, but the meds can make her a little loopy too and not wanting to move much.
You are n on alone, okay? Please stay connected tomus and let us help you in a year we can.
Se ding you hugs and .ove. oh, and don't forget to breathe AND eat lots of chocolate! It helps!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Hi, Beauty Queen, (I love this name so much!!)
Yes, you are a very beautiful girl !! Glad you found this wonderful community, and you are right, this new turn of events in your life is scary, and the ugly "c" does stink.....but there is so much support here, you will never be alone on this journey. As far as recuperation, have no fear, our fur babies sometimes take a little time to get there, and before you know it, it's like they have no idea they are missing a leg. My own sweet yellow Lab girl Polly, bounced right back after her amp. Hers was due to a really aggressive, nasty cancer, hemangiosarcoma. When she had her first leg surgery before her amp, the surgeon was very much hoping for what your pup has, hemangiopericytoma. This type of cancer is generally contained and can most of the time be cured completely with amputation.
Anyway, just want to say welcome, and keep us posted with all the progress of sweet Beauty Queen. Maybe post a few pics as well when you can........!!
Best wishes,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Hello Beauty Queen! Welcome! I'm glad you've found us. It's still early days for you and perhaps with many wisdom years, your recovery may take a little longer. Take it easy. Rest up. Use that harness! You may never want to get out of it; I bet you look stunning in your harness! Good thing it's comfy, huh? If her mood drops, we found it really helpful to have some special people come over for a little visit. Jackson's mood jumped and we saw energy return to him that we hadn't seen for more than a week! Think about that... And, review her meds. Do you think her pain is well managed? You've got traction on the floor for her, too, right? Getting up and down can be tricky, especially right after surgery.
Post more pics of your gorgeous lady!
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Hi Betty and Beauty Queen,
You've gotten lots of great advice already so I just want to welcome you to this kind, caring and loving community.
You will find that Checkers will improve on a daily basis and that he will continue to get stronger.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Welcome Checkers/Beauty Queen and Betty-
Sorry you had a need to comehere, but know that someone is always here to listen, give advice, offer a shoulder to cry on and help you smile when you most need it. Shooter was older and adapted really well to tripawd life. Just being a Golden gives you the best chance ever as I think optimism is in their genes.
Looking forward to hearing updates.
Take care-
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
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