Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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If you read my post on the angel exchange, you might have heard that McGwire isn't doing well.
Here's some background since we've not been really active recently. McGwire is an 8 year old golden retriever who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma July 15, and had his left front leg amputated July 29. We had several lung x-rays done in the fall all with no lung mets. 
He's been doing pretty well for a while, started having accupuncture and massage monthly and really doing well with most things. The one blip was a lump that developed in November over his left rear leg. It was about the size of a lime at the time.
Until recently. Brent and I have been out of town for over a week on a much needed vacation (escaped the snow storm of the century and retreated to beautiful sun and sand!) McGwire, Mickey, and my kids were being watched by my in-laws who also have a Golden who is 2. During the 2+ feet of snow, my in-laws let him out to play and he clearly over-did himself. He had stopped getting up except when he had too (i.e. when my in laws got him up and made him go outside.) He didn't seem to be able to get better. On Friday, the vet recommended putting him on pain pills, which we did but since we were out of town, we decided to wait until we got back to take him to the vet. Hopefully, he'll be able to be seen tomorrow. The pain pills seem to have helped, he's getting up to eat and moving around at times. His lump has grown significantly in the last week, even my MIL was surprised how much it grew basically overnight. It's now about the size of a very large orange, if not bigger. He's clearly in pain right now, jumpy when you pet him, eyes sad and withdrawn, energy just not there, and that's with the pain pills 
.
Please keep us in your thoughts tomorrow (hopefully!)
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We're sending positive thoughts to Mac and your family. We'll be thinking of you tonight and tomorrow. Let us know what his doc says.
Di
Have you had the lump tested yet or is that what you plan to do during your vet visit??? We are hoping it is pawsitive news and McGuire is back up and hopping around in no time. Koda and McGuire are so close in diagnosis and amputation. He gave me that little scare last week so hopefully Mcguire is giving you one of those brief scares.
Thinking of you,
Storm and Koda
I'm sorry McGwire is having a tough time. I will definitely be thinking of him today and hope you get some answers from his vet. Try to stay strong, and know that everyone here supports you.
((hugs))
Michelle
I'm sending good thoughts your way for today's vet visit with McGwire...
I hope and pray that it is not anything serious... Please keep us posted!!
Angel Jake'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!
Sorry to here about McGwire, I sure hope that you get good news today. It is so damn unfair that that our dogs have to deal with such a nasty disease as cancer!
Will be thinking of you today.
Shaun & Miss Supai
We are sending super duper extra, extra love, thoughts and prayers from here and from heaven (and you know how special the ones from heaven are!!!)
I hope that McGwire just overdid it a little bit...maybe just a little swelling? Stay pawsitive and know that you're in our thoughts.
Please update everyone when you get a chance.
Love Heather and Spirit Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Hope your vet visit went well. We are thinking of you and crossing all our paws!
Hugs
Cecilia & Spirit Hori
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
We're sending thoughts and prayers your way. Lots of hugs and doggie kisses, too.
Holly and Holly's mom
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Just adding my well wishes for McGwire, hoping for a good outcome, hoping the pain is better for sure.
Ginny & Angel Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Hi Amy and McGwire
Ahh, another July dog. Tazzie's amp was two days before your diagnosis.
Sorry to hear that McGwire's lump has grown and is now causing pain. Obviously I can relate since Tazzie's main problem was a lump that grew over the right hind. They can grow quickly - yours seems to be developing more slowly than Tazzie's did. Tazzie was lucky in that he did not seem to have any awareness of the lump or pain related to that site until it was at the honey dew size. There were no big pain issues until we hit the watermelon stage. (Perhaps the effects of the Power Mushrooms, which we used for the last 8 weeks, masked any symptoms.) His lump was not attached to the bone, which probably reduced pain issues compared with what they might have been if the lump had been in the bone itself. I am pretty sure some other things were present by the very end, perhaps in the spine or other bones, but they also did not make themselves known until then.
I am glad the pain pills are helping. I hope you can keep McGwire comfortable enough that he can enjoy himself. We will be thinking of you today.
Susan
We just want to add our voice of support to the chorus. We want to send all the positive thoughts possible and want you to know that we will be pulling for you. Tazzie was the "King of Lumps" and while we know that it is freightening, try to remain as positive as possible around McGwire. Hopefully the pain pills will help.
Spirit Cherry's Dad - Bob
Amy-
We're sending prayers and good thoughts to you and Mac today...and an Anatolian Lean.
Hoping to hear good news.
Mary and Cemil
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
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