Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Well first, thank you for letting me share as it's therapeutic and maybe someone out there has a similar situation who can provide any information to help us out. I'm sorry any of us need to be here but given how life goes I'm just happy there is a place to share.
So.....about two weeks ago after progressive limping that we thought was related to a foot injury we found out that our adopted Canaan dog Patches (aka Minerva Jane, Mimi, Mama) had a tumor at the top of her left shoulder that looked like osteosarcoma. I was in shock and a healthy bit of denial. I was referred from our general practicing vet to a veterinary oncologist who looked at her films, took blood work and recommended amputation or radiation for pain relief. Given that Patches looks and presents to be about 10 years old and is in good health in general and well spirited we opted for amputation and follow up chemotherapy for a "suspicious" spot on her lung. Her surgery was on August 27th and as of yesterday we was digging joyfully with her one paw and running to play with her friend. She seems to be doing well, is sleeping so comfortably (snoring actually) and eating like a champ. We have a consultation next week regarding the chemotherapy. Here is my heartbreak.......the probable metastasis. We are doing a chemo regimen of carboplatin if tolerated and I'm researching as many other options as I can to see if there's any way to give her an extra long and loving life with us. I know that once the OSA has spread to the lungs there is little to do but slow down the growth and cherish every minute but I'm not one to sit on something if there's an off chance I can really fight it with little down time or pain/suffering for my dog. Does anyone else have experience here? Patches is happy and her brother is happy to have her back and is helping her every tri-legged step of the way. She had a very rough start in life, being found in a hoarding house with 40 other dogs, with 5 puppies, she and her pups covered in feces and she having broken teeth because there was never enough food and she had to fight for it. She came to us sad, in poor health and scared. With consistent love from us and her brother and an endless supply of duck jerky and any kind of fresh meat we ate for dinner plus soft beds and fun toys she went from sickly and sad to healthy and joyous. It breaks my heart thinking that she will go out the way she came in and I'll be damned if this dog will suffer even for one more minute while on this planet.
Thank you all in advance for anything you have to offer even if it's just a read and a prayer.
Sincerely,
Debbie
careygram said
Does anyone else have experience here?
Yes, you've come to the right place! Sorry to hear about Patches, but search these forums above, or search all blogs here , and you will find many helpful articles, videos, and podcasts. Bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for LOTS of helpful links, ore consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns. Of course, you can always feel free to pop into the Chat Room or call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline if you just want to talk.
When we discovered Jerry's metastasis, we put him on metronomics and K9 Immunity . Read this forums topic for details and many replies from members. Others have reported good results using Apocaps . Below are a just a few other search results you may find helpful:
Tripawds Survey Gives Glimpse of Cancer Metastasis in Dogs and Cats
Everything You Need to Know About Osteosarcoma in Dogs and Cats
Metronomic Chemotherapy News Podcast on Tripawd Talk Radio
Mushroom Therapy Basics to Fight Dog Cancer
Please keep us posted. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
WHOA!!! DEEP BREATHS!!! Really!! Inhale sloooooowly.....exhale slooowly...B R E A T H E.....B R E A T H E!
There's so ething I HAVE to mention right off the bat: "this" does not equal "that"! The way Patches came into the world by no means is the way she will exit out of her earth clothes!!! To "grieve" for what hasn't even happened uet (and won't for a LONG time), prevents you from focusing on all the wonderfulness of the here and now! So erase that thought from your mind!! From the day Patches chose you as her "heart human", she has been loved and cared for and spoiled beyond anyone's imagination...that is sooo apparent!!!
In addition to all that love, you have given her the incredible gift of having a pain free QUALITY life! Patches isn't counting days on a calendar and she could care less about any ole silly diagnosis. All she cares about is being with you and enjoying the bliss of living in the moment!!
Our Admin Guy has given you plenty of great links. It used to be that vets didn't want to amputate if there were mets. But because they realized it not only took the pain away immediately (recovery lain from surgery is different), many dogs got GREAT extended time in spite of the mets!! And that's what we all want! It's what Patches is now going to have....more quality pain free time for spoiling and loving and tummy rubs and duck jerky, fresh meats, more soft beds, a gazillion more toys and more snuggles with her brother!!
The intensity of getting to this point is just awfu@! Emotions are off the chart! But nkw that surgery is over and you are going forward with a plan, you can really concentrate on letting NOTHING rob you of your time together with Patches!! She sure isn't!
BTW, many, many dogs get splendid extended time after mets are found. My Happy Hannah did! Jerry sure did! Sassy certainly did! The soo er you can stop counting the days on the calendar and start counting the moments of joy, the more blissful your time with Patches will be!
I LOVE that Patches is already digging with her paw!! She really is an amazing girl! You really are an amazing human and you are a terrific advocate for your girl!!
Now we MUST have pictures! We love pictures around here!!
Sending you all sorts of love and a bunch of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Ditto everything above and I just want to say too that Patches is definitely not going out the way she came in. Cancer sucks, but nothing can beat love and you obviously love her very very much. Patches has no idea she's sick, she is enjoying every minute she has in that moment. It's hard and we've all been there so you have definitely come to the right place. Hang in there, lean on us, and we'll surround you with prayers and love.
HUGS
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Thank you SO MUCH! Wow, what awesome information and support. I feel better already. I have been researching like crazy and this site is by far the best for information and support. I have printed out a LOT of information for our oncologist and will be talking to her about the Metronomic therapy, inhalation therapy and more. She is such a wonderful veterinarian and the entire time we were in her office she (and all of her colleagues) kept saying how cute Patches was and how adorable her personality is and how they wanted to do the best thing for her. I'm happy with the vet and I know she will listen to and entertain everything I have to say. I will be reading a lot again today and with hope and and a feeling that no matter what Patches will be happy and pain free while she's here. I am spoiling her AND her brother and enjoying every minute I have with them. It's been so cute seeing her do all her "happy" things without a thought to her being down one paw. God I love her and her brother. I will post updates. She gets her stitches out today and has her consultation next week. I really can't thank you all enough for your kind words, reality checks and amazing information.
As for pictures........as soon as I figure out how i promise to post pictures. God knows I have about a zillion pictures of my dogs and only a million of my son lol.
Hugs and love
Debbie
careygram said
...as soon as I figure out how i promise to post pictures.
FYI: Here are detailed steps for adding photos to forum posts . If you do not already share pics somewhere online, start a free Tripawds blog and you can upload them to your Media Library.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I hope this works. Here are two photos, one of Patches relaxing in the yard post surgery and one of her and her brother pre-surgery.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
[Image Can Not Be Found]
Drats, I'm sorry the pics didn't show. Where are they currently being hosted? Photobucket? Facebook? And are you posting from a laptop or tablet? If you still have challenges go ahead and email them to me and I'll put them up for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well I just created a blog so maybe this will work. If it doesn't I will email. Thank you!
[Image Can Not Be Found]
Hmmm. Are you right clicking and choosing "Copy Image Location" then pasting it into the little photo icon window that pops up here?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm copying the URL but i don't have the option to copy the image location just the URL. I emailed a few pics and will continue to try to figure out what I'm doing wrong. Sorry 🙂 and thank you for the help.
Well I think we just discovered a temporary photo hiccup with Chrome, so thanks for letting us know about this! If you can use Firefox in the meantime that would be great. Sorry.
Here are the ADORABLE photos!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'M IN LOVE YET AGAIN! Patches, those eyes, those beautiful eyes are just melting my heart over here!!
And your brother is a very handsome fella'! What's his name?
I keep scrolling back up to look at your pictures because you ar soooo pretty...and smoochable!!!
Lots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
LOL thank you! She is as sweet as she looks. I cannot tell you how adorable her personality is. Her brother is a golden retriever chow mix named Rooster and both were rescues from the Trenton Animal shelter. He may be the nicest dog I have ever met and he is completely useless as a guard dog because he loves everyone. She on the other hand takes care of guarding everything and everyone. I will be posting a lot more pictures and am in the process of creating a blog.
Thank you for your kind words. We love our babies so much and it warms our hearts to hear that other people like them too. Hugs to you and your furry children.
Debbie
ROOOOOSTER! Perfect name! You can see the gentleness just oozing out of his knd eyes.
All that sassy -take charge attitude of Patches will be plus in her recovery!
We'll be watching for more pics and her blog!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
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