Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello All,
New to Tripawds, or soon to be new? My shepherd/ beagle mix Thisbe is 6.5 years old and was diagnosed in November with a mast- cell tumor on her front right paw. She was misdiagnosed with a metatarsal cyst first (ugh!) but we got started on Kinavet chemotherapy in January, did a 4 week cycle with some slight success, around the beginning of week 4, her foot stopped shrinking and blew up. We did a debulking surgery, and found that the chemo was working as the majority of the tumor was necrotic on the inside, but the skin had reacted making it grow, not the tumor. Unfortunately during the surgery, the vet said she wasn't able to get all the mass because it was down between her toes but got a majority of it. So we stopped chemo for 4 weeks for her foot to heal (and many trials and tribulations with ulcerating, 1/2 dozen cones, pills pills and more pills from the histamine release, etc.) The vet was hopeful that with LESS cancer cells to kill, the next round of chemo would get it all. Of course at that exact time, Kinavet stopped being offered in the states. Luckily the equivalent- Masovet- was being offered in the UK, and I was able to get it there and have it shipped there. So, we started the second round of chemo in February and by the second week her foot was even bigger than before. Bigger as before the debulking surgery. When I went in the vet, my normally optimistic vet said "Kendra, I don't like the look of this." And from there we realized that the chemo was no longer working and Thisbe's foot was so big and stretched that it soon began to weep. So, though it feels like a harsh and heart-wrenching decision, I have decided to amputate Thisbe's leg this Thursday. To save her life, and her quality of life. I am constantly second- guessing my decision, wrestling with it and staying up nights trying to tell myself I've done everything I can, I've exhausted other options, and that is my only/ and the right decision. So, here I am; hoping everything will go well on Thursday's surgery for her. Preparing myself for her recovery and to do whatever I can to help her. The tips and such on here are very helpful and I will be ordering her an assist harness and elevated feeding bowls, etc. Any help anyone can offer would be wonderful as we embark on this journey together. Thanks, Kendra and Thisbe Sue
Kendra and Sue, welcome. Your future posts won't require approval so post away.
Don't beat yourself up, you have totally done everything possible for your pup and you're working with a great vet team. Mast cell cancer is a nasty beast, you gave it your best shot to avoid amputation. Now, together, you will all get through this next hurdle with flying colors and Tripawd pride!
If you haven't already be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library. Also, our podcast with Mast Cell Cancer expert Dr. Ann Hohenhaus will be interesting to you too.
Please keep us posted and let us know how we can make this easier for you OK? Your great attitude is a pawesome start!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thisbe Sue! Love your name and can't wait to see your pictures!
Kendra, you jave come to the right place for support, knowledge and understanding!
Yoi, and Thisbe Sue, have been through soooo much! Unbelievable what you jave gone through! Poor Thisbe will be so glad to jave that painful leg removed once and for all! No more further surgeries, no more pai ! YAY! Recovery is no picnic but, compared to what she's been through, it prob won't be too much different for her. She should be able to get along on three legs just fine. It may take a few days, or not, but she'll be able to get along fine!
Remember that Thisbe isn't worried about a thing! She lives in the NOW! With that painful leg gone she will be able to live life to the fullest and enjoy sooooo much loving and spoiling!!
Stay connected! You are not alone!! We will help you through this. It IS the BEST decision you can make for Thisbe! I'm actually a bit surprised the vet didn't .mention amputation sooner.
Take lots of deep breaths, eat chocolate and know that Thisbe is so excited to have this painful leg go e and done with surgeries!!
Love and Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Hi and welcome.
My pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a mast cell tumor back in 2006. Back then kinivet wasn't on the market so my only real option was amputation. Maggie had a tumor about 6 months earlier on her torso which was removed with a lot of skin and tissue. It was a grade 1 with clean margins so I thought we were done.
You can read Maggie's story and about her amp and chemo if you are interested- the links are in my signature below. Maggie's little sis Tani also had MCTs, her's were recurring cutaneous tumors. Maggie's prognosis after her amp was 6 to 9 months because cancerous mast cells were found in lymph node removed with her leg. Maggie hopped happily though life for almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell cancer. Tani left us last February at almost 15 years old. She lived with MCTs for 8 years and even though I stopped treating the tumors when she was about 12 years old she did not pass from mast cell cancer either.
I know amputation seems extreme, I still remember my disbelief when not only my vet but the specialists said amputation was the recommended treatment. Maggie's tumor never ulcerated or caused her any pain, just some stiffness in her knee which I didn't even notice until I knew the tumor was there. I was warned that not doing the amp soon could lead me to where you are now with Thisbe.
Sounds to me like you have tried everything possible to save the leg- so don't second guess yourself. Amputation is a big surgery but as we have seen here over and over dogs adapt so well- they leave all the stress and worry to us!
Good luck on Thursday and keep us posted.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Welcome Kendra and Thisbe Sue! Sorry you have to be here but I think Thisbe Sue will be much happier getting rid of that darn ole leg that's causing her hurt and discomfort. You've done everything you could do for her so now it's time to listen to your vet and fix that problem for good. We'll all be sending healing thoughts to you and Thisbe Sue on Thursday. Stay connected to us we will all help you get through this part of the journey. Hugs,
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
Thanks so much everyone for the warm welcome! All your support has made me feel much better. A specific question occured to me... are all of your known forelimb amputations all the way to the shoulder or did anyone receive a humourous cut instead? Pros or cons?
ps. how do you add pictures?
Karen- After reading Maggie's story (sorry I couldn't figure out how to reply on your post), I think its definitely worthwhile to have the lymph node removed. The vet said she couldn't feel anything while palpating, but I think the best bet is to remove it. So sorry about your brave little Maggie, what a trooper!
darby44621 said
...how do you add pictures?
Here are detailed instructions for adding photos to forum posts . If you do not already share photos online somewhere, you can start a free Tripawds blog anytime and upload them there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi again Kendra,
I've only dealt with rear amps personally, but I would think leaving any part of the humorous is asking for trouble. A stub on the front would get a lot of banging and she might try to use it. Most front amps here have the entire leg removed and many have the shoulder blade removed as well.
Maggie had a mid-femoral amp but really only a little piece of the femur was left. It was wrapped with muscle and you couldn't see it unless she moved it.
Did your vet do any lymph node aspirations and an abdominal ultrasound to make sure the mast cell isn't lurking?
As far as adding pictures: Here is how to add photos to your post.
And thanks for your nice words about Maggie. She was quite an inspiration to me and really taught me a lot of important lessons.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hey All,
Sorry for the delay in replying after Thisbe's surgery, as I've been also taking of my grandfather with Parkinson's and now pneumonia- but he's on the mend!
Thisbe is doing great after her surgery! The first night was really terrible, I slept on the floor next to her in her recovery crate (her lavishly and snuggly decorated extra- large crate) and she cried all night. I was scared to death I made a mistake, but by the next morning, she was already better and got better every day. Tomorrow will be four weeks since her surgery, her stitches are out, she's healed and jumping and playing like before all this started. She was unwell with her mast- cell tumor since around October and it is so good to see her adapting so well. She loves to swing on the porch swing with me, and drink from the hose, and I can't wait to throw on her lifejacket and take her back in the pool for playing and therapy.
The only big difference I see is that she has to take a lot more breaks and rests more than she did, but that is a small price compared to the alternative. Thank-you everyone for helping me make such a big decision. PS. The assist harness I purchased from here (EZY DOG CONVERT HARNESS) helped a great deal especially at the beginning to aid her in moving around.
Kendra and Thisbe
PSS. Since I don't have a blog I can't share pictures, but I changed my avatar at least to show a pic of her in the pool last summer.
I'm just now catching up. yeah Thisbe!
If you upload your pictures to photobucket, you can share them 
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
What a great update! I'm so glad the surgery went well and Thisbe is back to her old self.
You have had your hands full, I'm glad your grandpa is on the mend too.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
YAAAAAAAAAY FOR THISBE SUE...AND KENDRA TOO!! GRRRRREAT JOB!! 🙂
Soooo glad to hear how well Thisbe Sue is doing...and it still gets better!
And I absolutely love her avatar picture!
Yes, being a tripawd, especially a front legger, takes a lot of energy and they do get tired much quicker. If a dog sits down to rest, not only are they smart, but they also realt they've already overdone it a bit and need to monitor their activity. Thisbe is a very smart girl! Use those rest periods as a time to just sit and chill with Thisbe and enjoy how happy she is just smelling all the scents of nature. They really teach us to stop and smell the roses!
This update made my day! Huge grin on my face!! 🙂
Love to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...someone will give you the link for adding photos. I've been here over three years and still haven't done a blog! It took me months to ppst photos! All I know is you need something like photobucket first, and then you transfer the photo to here from there.
And an extra big hug to Grandpa from all of us!
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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