Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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and I thought I had a LOT OF WHITE HAIR...we have NOTHING compared to you!!!!
BEAUTIFUL
djbockman said:
Hello Denalis' mom, if it would help you make some kind of decision, I live down by Seville in Medina county, so you aren't very far from us, we are only about 5 minutes off of 71. If you want to come meet Gus and see what you might be dealing with, e-mail me at cousinpepper@hotmail.com and we'll get together. I can't imagine what he'll look like when they shave him, man, thats alot of hair!!!!Paws up, Gus and Dan
What a nice offer. My Tripawds family is the best - hands down!
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.
Denali is a gorgeous big boy! Sounds like you have quite a pack there. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
djbockman said:
If you want to come meet Gus and see what you might be dealing with, e-mail me
Gus, that is super nice of you. Sounds like a Tripawds Get Together is in order!
Denali, thank you for joining us and sharing your story. You are one very beautiful girl. We're so sorry you got diagnosed, but tell your Mom to remember that there is hope, that you will face cancer like a brave warrior, the way all dogs do. It's the people who have a harder time with it. You've seen the great advice everypawdy has given here. If I can offer a few words of advice for your Mom, they are:
- Life doesn't have any guaranteees; so with or without cancer, the most impawtant thing to remember is, live every day to the fullest.
- Appreciate all that you have today, and not mourn what you lost. A leg is gone, but that means you have a new life ahead of you with lots more things you can learn and have fun together doing.
- Envision the great future ahead of you, but remember to live for this very moment at hand. It's these tiny moments that add up to such lasting memories.
- Keep Denali's figure svelt, the secret to getting around as a Tripawd is to stay slender
- Don't let the amount of information about cancer overwhelm you. Decide where you will focus your efforts, and don't beat yourself up for things you cannot do at this time. There are no wrong decisions, only the ones you feel are best for your pack, and yours only. Nobody here will judge or critique, we're all here to offer support.
This is a hard place to be in, but know that you have a great community full of wisdom that you can turn to anytime OK?
Good luck, keep s posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks everybody for the well wishes and the advice. I'm still at the point where I don't even want to leave my house because I know Denali's time might be more limited. I'm hoping that my boss will be understanding and allow me to work out of my house for a few weeks - he's done it for others with 'human' issues, but he knows that my dogs are like children and I ramble about them ALL the time, so I think he'll at least think about it.
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
AHHH!!! She's too cute! (and so is her brother!). Well, cancer sucks and is really scary at first. I probably cried every day for the first month or so. The things that helped me the most were to realize that our dogs don't know there's anything seriously "wrong" with them! They have no idea was cancer is. All they care about is that their food is there, their mom and/or dad is there, and their toys are there (and maybe treats and a cozy bed or two...). Just keep treating her exactly the same, because she has no idea anything has changed 🙂 It also helped me to realize that we as humans are only so limited...we can't guarantee anything. As long as we have done what we feel is in the best interest of our dog, we have given them the ultimate care and love...that's all our job is. It is not our responsibility to cure anything, to fix anything, to blame anybody, to be mad, to feel guilty, or to demand certain answers - our job is to love our doggies, to treat them as though nothing has changed, to offer them the world, and to allow them to take as much of that world as they are able. We can't do anything more than to let our dogs be dogs 🙂 Best of luck in your upcoming appointments and decisions!!
<3 Laura and Jackers
I agree with Laura and everyone.
It is tough. It's new for me too. It was just Memorial weekend that my Kona was diagnosed. Lots of crying...I too haven't left my pup alone since the diagnosis. I have to admit that I got to a point of total exhaustion, which doesn't help anyone...so now really trying to concentrate on all of us getting through each stage. Kona had her right rear leg amputated on June 4th and started her first of three chemo sessions on Friday, June 18th.
It helps so much, I know it has helped me (I have to remind myself from time to time though...) what the admin said about cancer or no cancer, there's no guarantees in life and to live each day to the fullest.
That's what we are trying to focus on.....each day, that's getting a little bit easier.
Big hugs and hang in there.
Your kids are beautiful and your love for them shows.
Denise
Kona turned 9yrs on April 16, 2010.
Kona was diagnosed Memorial Weekend 2010 with osteosarcoma.
Right rear leg amputated on June 4th. First chemo June 18th 2010
Second chemo July 9th, 2010 Third and final (yea !!!) chemo July 30th, 2010
ONE TOUGH GIRL this Australian Cattledog !
***Kona's journey/fight ended late in the evening of December 22, 2010***
We Love you so much Kona….always
Bella 9yrs, albino lab/aussie shep/pit?(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind (from birth) in one eye limited vision in other.(laid back, ok lazy 73 lbs)
Cotton, 5yrs, albino hound/terrier of somesort/???(abandoned in mts as a puppy) deaf & blind in one eye(from birth), excellent vision in seeing eye. (ball addict…destroyer of Kong balls…yes,etc), high energy 55lbs knots of muscle)
Kona Kai's pup brother and sister as well as her buddy and playmate cat, Shaymous 12yrs (like Seamus), miss her terribly.
UPDATE
The biopsy came back NEGATIVE for cancer. The vet said that he still thinks we're dealing with cancer - but does not want to be too quick to amputate and he recommended a 2nd bone biopsy. (That conversation came about after I said "If this was your dog, what would you do" he then asked if Denali was still using her leg or not - she is still using it.)
My game plan: Denali now has an appointment for MONDAY at Ohio State University Vet clinic for a 2nd opinion on what's going on with Denali.
My vet can get Denali in next day for an amputation. They're a little less expensive than OSU and they're WAY closer.
Still the waiting game!!!
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
hstanek said:
My vet can get Denali in next day for an amputation. They're a little less expensive ...
Thanks for the update! Good luck finding out what's going on for sure, and if you must proceed with amputation be sure you are confident with your vet doing the job. Ask how many he has done before. Ask if the office has 24 hour care to watch Denali overnight. Ask about what type of anesthesia and monitoring they provide during the procedure. Do be concerned if they tell you he'll be able to go home the same day.
We drove six hours (each way) for Jerry's amputation instead of having his "regular" vet do it because UC Davis gave us much greater confidence that he would be in good hands. We always recommend suregeons and specialists over general vet practitioners for such a major operation.
Best wishes, give Denali a big hug for us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My regular vet said that they keep 1-2 nights for an amputation. The vet I was talking to said he just did a front amputation on Monday and went over the medicines and the procedure that he did and that if I wanted the medications for the phantom limb or anything it would not be a problem.
When he called me back to find out what I decided to do - I let him know I made an appointment at Ohio State for a 2nd opinion. His exact words were 'That is probably the best thing you can do for her'. He's ok with Ohio State doing the amputation and him doing the after care - or he can do the amputation. He seemed pretty excited that I opted to go to OSU for their opinion and then admitted that he's shown Denali's X-rays (mind you he's the 2nd vet in the office to have Denali's case as the first one is out until tomorrow) to a few of the other vets. All feel that I'm dealing with cancer, but they're not sure which one.
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
What beauties you have - Denali and Loki are awesome!
I don't have much to add except that we'll keep fingers and paws crossed that all goes well at OSU and they can figure out what it is Denali is dealing with.
Hugs,
Holly and Zuzu and Susan
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
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