Murphy, our 12 year old Jack Russell Terrier turned 12 years old today. He also started chemotherapy today due to bone cancer; Fibroblastic osteosarcoma. He had his left, rear leg amputated on October 1, 2015. We wanted to tell Murphy’s story because the posts on this website have helped us enormously over the past few weeks as we’ve been researching and looking to others on what to expect.

Over the summer Murphy started shortening our walks. He actually sat down on 2 occasions. We thought it was the Tennessee heat, an aging dog, etc. On September 1st, he pulled over a strawberry planter and uncovered a nest of newborn rabbit babies (didn’t eat them.) We noticed he was favoring his rear, left leg and holding it up a lot. We thought he’d stubbed his toe or bumped his leg. We just kept our eye on it.

On September 10th he got a severe case of pancreatitis and almost died. We told the vet about the rabbit’s nest and about his leg wondering if it could be related. She said she wanted to treat him for the tummy and then worry about the leg. He was seriously almost dead when we got to the vet.

After clearing up the belly issue with fluids and antibiotics, we took him back a week later to see what’s up with the leg. She xrayed the leg and said, “Something is there.”

That’s when our true journey began. She said it looks like bone cancer which is more common in larger dogs. After she sought a 2nd opinion, it was confirmed more than likely bone cancer. We opted to amputate so on October 1st, Murphy underwent surgery. She took it off up to the top.

The leg was sent off and the results came back “Osteosarcoma, Fibroblastic subtype, low grade.” Some of the comments were “minimal necrosis and low mitotic activity.” There was a lot of other medical jargon which we don’t really understand.

A few days before surgery we put a twin mattress on the living room floor with the intent of sleeping downstairs with him during his recovery. We were with him 24 hours a day until the stitches came out.

Here’s a breakdown of how well we think Murphy did post op:

Day 1 – Surgery. Came home that night and had a rough night. Wimpering, crying, couldn’t get comfortable. Possibly from all the meds but probably also from pain. Vet wanted him at home because he was so stressed out in their office.

Day 2 – Took a few steps after we placed him in the grass and stood on his own and peed. He glanced at the old rabbit’s nest but had no interest in it. Ate wet food (which we mixed with pedialyte) and drank some water.

Day 3 – Strained to poop but stood and did so on his own. Slowly walked over the the old rabbit’s nest site and sniffed around. Appetite still good.

Day 4 – Went out the door on his own and went straight to the old rabbit’s nest and sniffed around eagerly. Walked around the deck and yard slowly but with interest. We began to mix a Teaspoon of pumpkin into his wet food to keep him from getting constipated.

Day 5 – Getting around much better and quicker. No problem on hardwood or linoleum, but he mainly stays on the carpet. Walks eagerly over to his food bowl when fed.

Day 6 – 2 car trips and a golf cart ride (he loves golf cart rides more than anything)

Day 7 – Ate hard food that stays down in addition to the wet food we’ve been feeding him.

Day 8 – Climbed our wood pile! Couldn’t maneuver his way down so we had to lift him down. More golf cart rides.

Day 9 – Walked upstairs…BaM…there he was! Went down the stairs on his own too. No problem. Had a bath..felt goooooood.

Day 10 – Felt puny. Tummy gurgling.

Day 11 – Barked at the vacuum while mom cleaned the house and bit at the hose while dad watered the yard. Couldn’t tell he had 3 legs. VERY active!

Day 12 – Got the stitches out and got some Pepcid and something else for his gurgling tummy.

Day 14 – He pays a lot of attention to the wound site. Has licked a place red. We use his inflatable cone if we’re going to be gone a while and put Neosporin on the site at night. It seems to help a little.

Day 15 – Sprang up his ramp to the couch!!

Day 16 – Began Carboplatin chemotherapy (he’s there now)

We’re hopeful that Murphy has a good chance at beating the “median survival” times due to his type of cancer (fibroblastic), his normal serum ALP at the time of amputation, cancer was in the tibia instead of the humerus, he’s a small dog, minimal necrosis and low mitotic activity, no evidence of metastasis in his lungs.

We actually printed out a post about a dog that was 4 years post amputation and 17 years old as our inspiration to keep up hope. It sits on our kitchen table.

We’ll update as we continue on our journey in the hopes that it will help someone else who has questions about what to expect just as we had. Our prayers go out to everyone who has experienced this with their fur babies and for everyone currently experiencing it now. Thanks so much for this website and for the support it offers! It’s been a lifesaver over the past few weeks!

Happy 12th Birthday Murphy! And here’s to a speedy recovery!!

Love, Mom and Dad (Heather and Scott)