Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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The one prayer I continually prayed and prayed about is happening. I know everyone has gone through it but I thought we would be the one that actually beat it. But no, my worries were right. If I do nothing it could be 2-6 weeks. They want to do Padilla or however its spelled but with her size its going to be really really expensive. So for now its prednisone until monday when we get the cost for the Padilla.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I'm so sorry, Michelle. I pray for strength for you as you face this part of the journey. If your vet takes Care Credit it may be a way to help you manage the cost. If you decide not to, don't beat yourself up. Fighting this disease is extremely expensive and we all have a limit somewhere. Sassy knows you love her and are taking great care of her.
If you just need an ear to hear you talk, PM me and I'll send you my cell number. Sometimes we just need to know there is someone out there who has been where we are and they will listen.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Thank you. Right now its the tears which I have been trying not to shed but that is all I can do right now.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Oh Michelle, we are sending all our love out to you, this is such hard news to take. I'm so very sorry. How I wish that this would never, ever happen to folks. It just sucks.
I know that your heart is shattered to pieces and it's hard to see through the tears, but take a deep breath and remember, Sassy doesn't know any different. All she wants is for her pack to keep on loving life. That's all that mattered before this news, and it's all that matters now. Do not let cancer rob you of whatever time you have left together, she is still the same dog as she was before this latest turn of events. Prognoses are just guesses. As smart as doctors are, they cannot predict the future, ever. I hope that Sassy defies all odds and makes them look dumb!
And when you feel like crying or screaming, you can come here to do it. Whether we've dealt with cancer or not, everyone here understands the depth of love you feel for Sassy, you can lean on us. We get it.
I'm so sorry.
{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Michelle, I am sitting here in total disbelief and my eyes are filled with tears. I am so sorry. I know how you feel, we all do. I cried my eyes out when we found out about the mets with Cadence. As we were driving home from the vets office, I was so upset and then I got so mad that I wanted to punch something. When we got home, Cadence jumped out of the car, went to the front lawn, and started rolling around. Right there and then, I said to myself, if Cadence is not going to let this get her down, then neither am I. Sassy does not know that the cancer is back. She is going to go on with her business like usual.
Our vet also offered us the Padilla. I couldn't believe the cost of it. For a dog Cadence's size(92 lbs) it was something like $1000-$1200 a month. We just could not afford it. If the vet could have given me a 100% guarantee that it would have worked, I would have robbed a bank, so I could have afforded it. (joke). You have done everything you could for Sassy. Do not beat yourself up if in the end, you cant afford the Padilla. Sassy knows that you have done so much for her already.
Enjoy each and everyday with Sassy. Give her lots of hugs and kisses. Like Jerry said, don't let the cancer rob you of the time you have with Sassy. I cherished every minute of everyday that we had Cadence. Sassy knows how much she is loved and I know that she loves you just as much.
Just know that we are all here for you. PM me if you need to talk. Since we just went through all of this with Cadence, I may be able to answer any questions that you may have.
You are in my thoughts and I'm sending both you and Sassy a big hug.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
Thanks Michele,
I know it took you a lot to write a response. I dreaded taking her today for that x-ray, I knew what it was going to say. I know Cadence's story because of how close we joined, had the amputations & chemo. Then she got her lung mets after 4 chemo's. So did Sassy. kinda a parallel universe. I even talked about Cadence today to the vet techs and our stories. I knew something bad was going on when he listened to her lungs and didn't say much. Then he felt her tummy and said that feels good. Then I sat & sat forever while they "read" the x-rays but really were consulting the Oncologists. It just broke my heart. But after today I swear I wont cry. I know Sassy knows I am upset right now. I am just heartbroken.
Thank you for caring
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Michelle, I am so so sorry. I know this is devastating news. Spend as much time as you can with Sassy. Enjoy each and every precious moment together. As Jerry says, don't let cancer rob you of the time you have left together.
Many many hugs
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Aw, dangit Michelle. I'm so, so sorry.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Michelle, I feel awful about your news and had hoped this wasn't the outcome. As so many wise people on here have said, live the best life with Sassy, and continue to beat the odds. Time is so precious. You and Sassy are in my thoughts and prayers.
"Tahoe" - Our Amazing Superman and Best Friend.
Dec. 01-03 to Aug. 19-14
Diagnosed with Periarticular Hystiocystic Sarcoma Feb 14-13; Amputation March 18-13, and diagnosed with STS April-14. Tahoe touched so many people while visiting us, leaving a massive void in our lives. Always Missed, Never Forgotten!!
I hate cancer! This is awful news. I still say, freak out, get angry, cry, scream, and go crazy. Get it out. Then, let a bit of time pass before you begin to assess and seek clarity. It'll come. Maybe by Monday. In the meantime, I am so SO sad and so SO angry for you and Sassy. I hate cancer!
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!
You know my feelings already, I've told you them all in the chat room .
I'm angry. I'm pissed. I'm sad. I want to punch someone.
F U CANCER. You prove the stats wrong sassy. You are a winter warrior princess. You are Jill's chemo buddy, Sassy girl. You fight this thing.
That is all.
Love you Michelle, Love you Sassy.
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
I know what you mean about the statistics and hoping your dog will be the one... The more time you get, the more time you start unconsciously counting on. I've been (quietly) following Sassy's journey for a while and I'm sad to hear you got this news. Words don't seem adequate to express these kinds of things, but I hope Sassy feels good for as long as possible and that you still have some great days together.
There really isn't anything to say that hasn't been said. Like everyone else, I am angry and sad. Spending time with you in chat last night was good for all of us who were there. This kind of thing is too big to handle alone, so the more you have to help you the better. Try to remember that a prognosis is a guess from a person who feels expected to make one. The often give low-ball estimates because they don't want angry people coming back later. But the estimates or guesses don't matter.
Here is what matters: Every single one of us, regardless of how well our dogs and cats are doing, should try to end each day thinking "this was a pretty good day and if it's my last I'm happy." Even if the only thing that saved the day was 30 minutes eating ice cream with the dog or watching an old movie curled up with the cat. We should never take for granted what we have.
Here are my rules:
*Take care of YOU.
*Do something fun each day.
*Let us help.
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Thank you everyone. I appreciate everything that everyone is saying to me. I am trying so hard to be brave and not cry. I promised myself that I wouldn't cry anymore but I already broke that promise today. I love her so much just as each one of you love yours. My advice to everyone here is just love and hug them today & everyday. As we begin this part of our journey that will be the greatest gift to us.
All you new people joining our group that no one wants to be apart of I want you to know I DO NOT REGRET ONE MINUTE of what I have chosen to do with my Sassy Sugar Bear, weather or not its amputation, chemo or no treatment towards the end. I feel I have done the right thing. Each journey is different for each one of us. I was just hoping that we would beat the terrible terrible odds that this stupid Cancer has given us.
Sassy may have a few weeks or may have more time but I will enjoy every minute of it. She doesn't act any different today than she had on Monday. If it wasn't for the cough that she did the other day I wouldn't even know. She hasn't coughed today at all.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I'm glad to hear the morning is being kinder to you. Those tears will strike you. Sometimes when you least expect it. Just keep fighting through it and enjoying the time you have day by day. Even the days at the end are memory builders. In Trouble's last week, I would just take her out and sit on a blanket outside with her because she loved the sunshine.
Give Sassy a hug for me and maybe a special treat.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
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