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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Little Tessie amputation tomorrow
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Member Since:
16 October 2018
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1
16 October 2018 - 5:38 pm
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Just joined and am so relieved to find you. Taking a peek, what a loving community! All best to everyone. 

I discovered a BB-sized bump on sweet Tess' left flank while snuggling a couple weeks ago that quickly grew to 1 cm - vet visited, palpitated and made immediate referral to an oncologist, who did thorough systemic testing as well as aspiration and yes, it's vaccine-related fibrosarcoma. Labs okay, lungs ok, no spread. She thinks she can get sufficient margins without going into the hip too much. 

Warm thoughts, prayers, vibes, and any love you can send is so appreciated. I'm freaking out, my husband is solid, and Tessie's hunting in the house. Love with you all.  

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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16 October 2018 - 7:14 pm
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Hi Carol and Tess, welcome. We are so very sorry you needed to find us but are glad you did. It breaks our heart knowing another kitty is losing a leg to an injection site sarcoma! But we hope we can make the journey easier for you. It's pawesome that your vet has already referred you to an oncologist.

We absolutely send a million good thoughts for an easy surgery and uneventful recovery. Please keep us posted, and be sure to check out our Tripawd Cats Forum discussion area, as well as our new e-book, Cool Tips for Tripawd Cats, for answers to many of your cat-specific questions.

Let us know what questions you have, and how surgery goes!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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16 October 2018 - 7:48 pm
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Hey Carol!!  Just got off the phone with you and BAM!  Your post has been "moderated" and Jerry has pointed  you to those kitty links we talked about.  Is this a great site or what??

Love your Tess's avatar...such a sweetie.  Can't  wait to see more pictures.

The clinic in Atlanta sounds top notch.  She'll be in good hands.....and you're  in good hands with us.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!  We have some of the most knowledgeable kitty members here and there isn't anything kitty related that they can't  answer!

Update us when she's  out of surgery.  Grab your chocolate and try and get some rest.

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!

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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17 October 2018 - 12:11 pm
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Welcome, Carol and Tessie

We are sorry you have to join us & are dealing with a VAS!! Great you talked to Sally I hope she settled your nerves some!! Get as much rest as you can before Tessie comes home. Stock up on some enticing wet food the stinkier, the better worked for us. Prepare a recovery area for Tessie to come home. Some people have used dog cages, tents, Purrkins recovered in a spare room in the closet his choice;) If she is going to recover where there is a bed if at all possible take the mattress off the frame and put on the floor. Given the opportunity, she will head right under the bed.

Great news the surgeon can get sufficient margins, and all looks ok. Husbands are great at being solid! Channel his energy ok. TRY!!

You will be amazed to see how Tessie will adapt after recovery.
Cats do great on three legs. Purrkins is a front leg amputee he lost his leg from soft tissue sarcoma two years ago. He can do all things on three that he did on four. We have provided pet steps for him to get to his favorite lookout spots we cut the litter box out for him to get in and out of easier.

Let us know if you have any questions or if we can help in any way.

Just in case you did not see this there is a forum on VAS Kerren started her trikitty is Mona she is a VAS survivor I believe four years now.

Vaccine Associated Sarcoma - Fibrosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma

We are sending warm thoughts, prayers, great vibes & love for an uneventful smooth surgery for Tessie. Update us when you can!!
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins❤️

Member Since:
16 October 2018
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17 October 2018 - 3:38 pm
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heartCan't tell you how much your encouragement, positivity, listening ear, and tips & ideas mean to me. So specific, so caring! What a blessing to just have discovered tripawds.com yesterday! I have no words for the gratitude. 

Everything (discovery, vet, diagnosis, and surgery) happened so quickly - and during short wait for onco appt, dealing with several deadlines and the shock/grief of likely aggressive surgery at the same time. Big hug to you! Of course, Tessie was running around and snuggling as usual. 

She made it through surgery okay! The surgeon said she got great margins, etc., etc. And Tess is recovering and stable right. Now will get supplies out of the trunk and get things situated and Rest some more - coming home tomorrow or day after if all goes well. She has a special prescription diet for skin/stomach sensitivities but also a really good appetite generally. 

Being prepared and also living day by day. I will try to channel my husband's steadiness! 

Virginia, Purrkins, and Jerry, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll likely be hanging in the VAS forum. 

P.S. Thank you for the Cool Tips booklet! Great help!  

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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17 October 2018 - 4:32 pm
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Excellent news surgery is over, Tessie is stable and great margins!! clap

The meds can mess with the appetite if she has any issues. Hopefully, she does not you can warm her prescription food to stimulate her senses.

Thanks for the update, get your supplies out of the trunk and get some rest you will need a reserve for when Tessie comes home!

Keep us posted, please.
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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17 October 2018 - 4:49 pm
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YAAAAAAAAAAAY FOR TESS!!!  SURGERY  IS DONE AND TESS IS SEEING PRETTY PINK ELEPHANTS !!!!   AND HOOOORAY FOR GREAT MARGINS 😀

Yes, TRY and get some good rest tonight.   And DEFINITELY  stay connected, okay??   Whether you realoze it or not, you are exhausted  emotionally and physically!  Now is the rime to take care of yourself , and then you can take better care of Tessa!

We are right by your side the whole way!!  Looking forward to celebrating  first poop!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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17 October 2018 - 5:06 pm
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Carol that is GREAT news! I'm so happy to hear that. 

Just FYI, did you see in the Tripawds Angel Exchange that Samba's person is giving away her baby onesies?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Schofield, WI
Member Since:
13 August 2015
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20 October 2018 - 8:52 am
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Great news!  Such a relief once surgery is over and you know everything went well!  Thankfully you have great kitty experts here to help you through the next stage here.  Sending hugs!

Member Since:
16 October 2018
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22 October 2018 - 4:57 pm
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Thank you Linda, everyone! 🧡 Coming up for air... recovery’s going smoothly - she’s moving, sleeping, sassy, eating, and as of today using her litter box in Every Way. She needs lots of supervision & snuggling so my husband & I are tag-teaming it. Thank goodness I’m on a work break now. Most important is keeping her comfortable and feeling loved. Big hug! Onesies were adorable... her incision is real far back. (Today’s the first day she’s not gone wild with the soft cone) xo 

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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22 October 2018 - 6:54 pm
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Excellent news!! Yaay Tessie!clap👏🏻👏🏻
Great job you guys!

Scratches to Tess, please!
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️

Member Since:
16 October 2018
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30 October 2018 - 12:09 pm
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🐱~~scritch scratch~~🐱

Popping back on...

1) The great: incision healing wonderfully - little blip due to her quickly ripping cone off and going CHOMP (thank goodness for your Microcin rec), responsive to appetite & laxative meds, no pain, snuggly, feisty, walking well, scratch padding. It’s been a sacred time sleeping next to her on the floor. Vet says we can slowly expand her domain, then de-cone Friday.

sleeping like a rock! healthy! both! 

2) The hard: today, pathology indicates an aggressive malignancy that microscopically may have spread beyond the wide surgery margins. That said... from family and prior 🐱 experience, prognosis does not necessarily correlate with actual time. 

So we’re both conked out now... she’s snoring and I’m absorbing the news. Love and comfort are all that matters as we go forward and make decisions as necessary.

so thankful for y’all. 

~ C & T

Michigan


Member Since:
11 July 2016
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30 October 2018 - 12:33 pm
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EXCELLENT recovery minus the chomp and thank goodness no infection!

This journey is sacred YES!heart

Yaay for decone day Tessie will be thrilled to be a kitty again!! You have a fantastic attitude Carol I know that news is not what anyone wants to hear. Absorb it and think about it. Prior experience? Oh no!! ((BIG HUG))

But your right there is no timeframe stamped on anyone's rear end.
You can decide to do radiation and chemo or do one or do nothing more.
We 100 % support you either way. Most importantly you got rid of the pain and Tessie is hopping on.

Tessie you are rocking recovery girl keep that up, and maybe we can have a picture or two:)

Great Job Carol. Keep up the great attitude!! That will carry you all far on this journey!

Love and comfort are all that matter, and that will also carry you thru as it has already!!

Thanks for the update!

XO

Holly & Purrkinsheart

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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14
30 October 2018 - 3:23 pm
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Just remember,  Tess doesn't  give a cat's meow about any ole' path report!  As Admjn Guy says, prognosis  schmognosis! 

As you can tell, Tess is doing remarkably well, and it's not even two weeks out from surgery! WOW!! And it gets better and better!!!

We'll look forward to celebrating  CONE-B-GONE DAY!😁😁😁

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15
30 October 2018 - 7:02 pm
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Carol you do have such a terrific attitude, it really does make all the difference. Tess is rockin recovery even with that pesky cone, and that is such a big reason to celebrate!

And yep, with or without cancer, there are no guarantees that anyone will even see tomorrow! Prognoses are just educated guesses and they don't take each individual animal in mind. Tess is her own girl! So follow her lead and appreciate every day as it is, The Best Day Ever!

I'm so glad the Microcyn was helpful and incision is healing again. Thanks for for the great feedback on the book! We send an extra round of applawse to Holly, the book wouldn't have happened with her wisdom and cheerleading 🙂

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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