Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My name is Elizabeth and my newfoundland mix is named Sammy. Two weeks ago he started limping and the vet said keep him quiet for a few days to see if things improved. Now, after x-rays and a visit to a specialist he was diagnosed on Monday. I am shattered. I am devistated. He goes in next Monday for his amputation. It is overwhelming reading about the odds, the choices, and going from numb to grief.
Sammy is a character, funny, happy, shiny coat, big smile always on his face. How can this be? He is only 8. I have always had fuzzy faces in my life and have never heard of this before. I feel so lost. People keep asking me whats wrong at work and when I tell them they just give me the "oh, well, he has had a good life" speech. My husband and I just keep looking at each other and Sam and start to cry. I don't know what to say other than I am sorry we are meeting this way.
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
fightingforsammy said:
Two weeks ago he started limping and the vet said keep him quiet...
Welcome and thanks for joining! We're sorry to hear about Sammy but glad you found the Tripawds community. Everyone here knows what you're feeling now.
It sounds like bone cancer, please tell us more. Does Sammy have osteosarcoma? Which leg? How old is he? We can't wait to see some photos, please keep us posted on his progress. Best wishes for a perfect procedure and quick, complete recovery.
If you have not already done so, be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of canine cancer and amputation recovery advice.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome! Tripawds has a wealth of information, as well as many members that have been through this and are eager to help answer or steer you in the right direction for answers.
You'll be surprised at how well Sammy will do after the amputation. He is only 8 years young! The first couple of weeks are rough, but take each day at a time. Get plenty of rest, and read, read, read this site!
Please post a picture of your pup when you can, and keep us posted! Sending you hugs & prayers!
Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe
Welcome to our Tripawds family - although as you can guess, none of us want to be here any more than you and your husband. FWIW, it sounds as though you're finding the problem QUICKLY...vs some of us that have gone months and months trying to figure out what's wrong with our dogs... You'll get rid of that nasty pain for your pup real fast! As Cathy said, the 2 weeks after surgery, can be up and down and trying at times...hang on for the ride but it's oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh so worth it after it's all said and done. You and your dog will will perservere!!! You'll show those "oh but he's had a good life" types what a great life a dog can still have on 3 legs!
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
Welcome to you Sammy and to your family. Yes this is an unfortunate place to have to meet, but a very fortunate place to be.
I can't tell you how much support I gathered from all the pups and their people here. My sweet tough girl JD just went through-limping, xrays, diagnosis (osteosarcoma), amputation (front left), healing (lovely pink stitches), adjusting , playing again, being her old scampy self, starting Chemo. All of this in just the past 6 weeks.
Hang in, ask questions, seek answers and know that you are not alone if you are here.
JD's mom
JD
One Tough Girl
(1999-2010)
-Diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left front leg –
-Amputation July 23 2010 –
-The cancer didn't get her, but she is gone-
-She fought the cancer and loved life till bloat brought her down August 29th, 2010-
Now she watches over her mom and two new sisters, the Quad-Paws Serena and Maya
Your emotional situation sounds a LOT like mine when Jack was first diagnosed. I cried every day, would skip my classes so I could sit at home and research cancer...every time I looked at Jack I would just start bawling. After posting on here, I learned that I was experiencing "anticipatory grief" when it feels like your dog has already left, but in reality, they are just sitting there waiting for you to play with them and give some snuggles. I'm horrible with finding links, so hopefully a moderator or an admin can find the anticipatory grief links - they totally helped change my attitute towards the situation. One important thing to remember is that Sammy doesn't know he has cancer, he doesn't even know what cancer is. He is not going to change the way he is living, and you shouldn't feel that you have to, either. The only thing that will be different will be that he has 3 legs instead of 4 (i accidently just wrote "43" which made me giggle...that's quite a lot of legs!). After his 2 weeks of recovery, there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to do absolutely everything that he can now - the only thing Jack didn't re-learn was "shake, other paw, other paw, other paw" (for obvious reasons...). I know it is very scary, I know the statistics are frightening, but please remember that statistics are just that, and there are always exceptions to the rule. Jack was given 6-9 months and he lived 14 months and 19 days. He was able to celebrate Christmas, his 6th birthday, his 1 year ampuversary, and go for a cross-country drive with me...all stuff I never would have believed would happen. In fact, the past 14 months have felt like an entire lifetime simply because we were all so full of live and getting the most out of it. Our job as pawrents is to give our babies the best life we can so when we look back we can say "he had a great life, and I have no regrets" - if we make our dogs happy, we have done our jobs. Don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with, don't feel pushed into doing treatments you don't want to do, you have to do what is right for you and what is right for Sammy. We have all (well most of us) been EXACTLY where you are right now, you guys are not alone. We are here for questions, concerns, funny stories, sad stories...everything!!! Best of luck in the upcoming days (which will be totally stressful! GAH!), but at the end of the day, you can still hug Sammy and tell him you love him - you can't ask for anything better than that 🙂
<3 Laura and Invisible Jackers
Hi Elizabeth,
Welcome to you, your husband and Sammy. As Tracy said- this is a club that no one wants to join, but you have come to the best, and most supportive place you are ever going to find.
Almost all of us have had to hear and process those words: cancer and amputation, and it is devastating. But- don't give up hope! One of the amazing things about our dogs is that they don't know and don't care that they have cancer. Dogs are live in the moment creatures and as long as the moment is good for them, then life is good! We as the caretakers have to deal with all the stress and worry.
As hard as it is it is important for you and your husband to be positive around Sammy, especially when he comes home after surgery. He doesn't know anything is wrong- but will take his ques from you. If you act upset he will get upset.
There is so much to process- take some time to read and research here. While only one of us here is a vet (and she had a Mastiff tripawd!) we have lots and lots of knowledge and experience to share. There are lots of big and giant breed dogs here who have done well with amputation- so don't worry too much about Sammy's size- how big is he?
You and Sammy can get through this. You can tell those "oh but he's had a good life" people, Yes he has, and he will continue to have a good life!
Ask lots of questions- we are here to help.
Karen
elizabeth, welcome. sorry to hear about sammy, and as all have said none of us want to be here, but 'here' is the best place for us to be at this time. this is such a supportive community - when you catch your breath, check out the required reading list, some blogs, and such...you will find a positive force lives here. we know the statistics are 'ugly'. gayle got 'ugly' statistics...to us they are just 'nostradamus numbers'...they apply to history and not gayle. the 'numbers guys' don't know how much fight sammy has in him (just like gayle)!!! forget the numbers. love that big guy and don't get discouraged.
karen is on point with watching your attitude around sammy. he will key off of you - if you're crying and scared, he'll be scared. suck it up and show him how brave is done at your house!!! paws crossed for successful surgery and a quick recovery. sammy has alot to teach you, he will amaze you, we guarantee.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Oh geez those he's-had-a-good-lifers drive me nuts - just tune them out. It is a rough road ahead, especially for the two weeks following the amputation, and sometimes the cancer can move quicker than expected, but for most, amputation buys quality time that is more than worth the stress of getting through an amputation and recovery. Then you get to show him off an enlighten your corner of the world that life for a dog does not end with the diagnosis of cancer. They can still run and play and enjoy life!
Currently my tripawd is Gerry, and he needed his amputation due to an injury, but before that I had Yoda and he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma last year. If you're looking for more stories or assurances that amputation is worthwhile, you can run a search on his name using the feature above. His story is one of many you can find here that will provide that.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Oh and reading about Oslo (Newfie) might be helpful too!
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Hi Sammy's family. It is always heartbreaking to hear about another dog being diagnosed with cancer and even though these things happen (humans and animals alike), it is how YOU decide to deal with the circumstances that makes ALL the difference in the world. No matter what you choose to do, we will support you 100%. My dog Chloe had a soft tissue sarcoma tumor that was confined to the area on her leg, so amputation to me was the only option that would immediately cure her of the cancer. Leg gone, cancer free. My decision was simple regarding her unique circumstances.
I just joined this awesome tight-nit community a mere 4 weeks ago and already find myself wanting to do more to give back, to help others like yourself and to help keep this site running full steam ahead. And so, I would like to extend this offer to you (as I have to everyone on this site): I would be honored to write Sammy's name on the back of the Tshirt I am making for a K9 Cancer Walk in October. Chloe and I would love to walk for you, sammy and all the other dogs named on my shirt who have been diagnosed, are survivors, or have crossed to doggie heaven. I have a forum topic on this if you would like to see what my shirt looks like on the front and the back. If you allow me to put Sammy's name on the shirt and I get an additional name (the 20th), then I will post an updated photo with all the new names!
Best of luck and we are ALL here for you.
-Chloe's mom
To access the forum topic click here! (might have to back track to first or second page to see the 2 different photos): http://tripawds.....r-names/
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Welcome. My mini poodle, James, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma just over 3 weeks ago. Today is his 3-week ampuversary.
I was totally shocked when I got the news. I cried for 2 days non-stop. Somehow or other, I learned the amputation was a good option for relieving the pain of osteosarcoma and I decided to go for amputation right away. Then I found this group.
I have absolutely no regrets about the amputation. My boy was up on 3 legs the morning after the surgery. Last night (day 20) he was hopping all over the place at a park and enjoying his birthday.
James is 17 yrs old (yesterday) and most of my friends rolled their eyes at the idea of my "putting my dog through amputation". I got the "he's old" and "He's had a good life".
Well, he is going to be OLDER and will have had a BETTER LIFE!!!
I am lucky that James is small and I have been able to carry him around a lot. Get one of the harnesses. It will help you and Sammy move around. For the first 2 days after surgery, I used a towel under James' belly to help him stand up and go outside to pee. I have also seen photos of slings that would be very useful for a big dog.
You will be amazed at how well Sammy will adapt to being on 3 legs!
Nancy and James and the rest of the poodle pack
James the poodle had his left front leg amputated due to osteosarcoma on Aug. 4, 2010. He is currently doing chemo.
Hello again everyone.
Wow, thank you for being here. I had to figure out how to log back in. This site is great but a little confusing. I am so thankful that you all have posted replies. I was feeling so sad yesterday and so alone. You are right about not mourning yet, that makes perfect sense. I thought Sammy was as upset as I was, but I guess he is just upset because I am. I will be changing that right now!
The specialist I took him to told me it could be nothing else but osteocarsenoma. It is in his right front leg by the ankle joint. He weighs in at 105 lbs. His x-rays are clear for everywhere else with no heart or kidney issues. I found this all out Monday and have been looking on-line at the dismal statisics. I am so glad to find a place where we can talk about this and get understanding. I am a dog fan with 3 large dogs at home. I don't have children so of course these are my kids. I have a mastiff, a newfoundland mix (Sammy} and a sheppard mix.
I am going to read the required Jerry's list after this post but I want to really thank you for being here. I feel like you have thrown me a life-line and I was in way too deep. Thank you.
How do I sign in? I went back to the e-mail sign up to get in... Is there another way? I hope the picture I posted is showing up as the avatar. That is my charmer, my sweet funny boy, Sammy being a goof ball!
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
To Idillon81,
The specialist I am taking him to is in Kirkland. Did your boy get his amputation done in Kirkland? I like the doctor I met there, he seems to really take the time to explain things. My vet said because of Sammys' size that he needs a specialist to do the amputation. I am (as of this morning since I read your post) going to try and be really upbeat around Sam. It makes sense. I was trying to explain to him about his leg and the surgery. I don't usually talk for that long to him so he was getting upset with me. It is definately hard to try and explain about cancer, usually we have talks that consist of, " want the toy?" "Want to go with mama?" "Here's a nummy..."
43 legs... that made me smile for the first time since I got the news.
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
To Chloe's mom,
We would be honored to have Sammy's name on your shirt. It is now the cause that is closest to my heart. Thanks for the offer and I will be looking forward to seeing your posts about the walk!
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
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