Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Vicki,Blazer and Kimber
Thanks for the lovely compliments. I am a realtor in the Seacoast area in NH. I would like to make this situation into a positive. I am exploring a couple of things. Maybe when Titan is a little more recovered I would like to train him to be a service dog maybe for kids with cancer. He such a big goofball I think he could help raise their spirits. I would love to find out about a couple of bigger hospitals in Boston. We are not very far from there. I am working on my website with ReMax so I can put in area about pets and cancer. I have alot of clients who are animal lovers. They have given me a lot of support with Titan. I am very lucky. I will keep you updated on what Titan and I will be doing.
Thanks
Heidi and Titan
Hi Heidi & Titan!
First of all, I get upset with my self when I miss some of the stories on this site and Titan's story is as big as he is! I would have liked to have been there to root you on and offer solace and what I did was: I started concentrating on the stories that were the most current, instead of the other way around.
I'm so glad Titan is doing better and I know you must have been scared to death when he went through his seroma ordeal.
You are a great pawrent and mom to your wonderful dog and I love that you have shared your stories with us. I'm now on track and have subscribed to your entries, so I'll be on top of the game.
Now, I have to read about Zeus and some of the other tripawds. I'm glad that you understand that not only am I new to blogging, but I really came across this website not too long ago.
I will pray for you and Titan every day. Thanks for your kind words.
Love, kisses & slurps,
Blazer, Kimber & Vicki T
Hi Heidi & Titan,
I totally agree with everyone about your mistreatment by your vet. I checked all my doctors out on the website
American College of Veterinary Surgeons http://www.acvs.org/
and also, you can check the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). They have a listing of oncologists. I just made sure that all mine were at least diplomates and well recommended.
Bonnie and I have been blessed with a great team of doctors from my local vet on. I cannot be more content with the service and help we have gotten. I live in PA outside Philadelphia so we have a good network of U of Penn graduates. I can recommend in this area and probably find out if they have connections wherever you are located if you are still interested.
Either way, we are rooting for you. I am thrilled when Bonnie moves on her own, but we are only 5 days past surgery. She isn't the go-getter that Titan sounds like he is.
Love and Kisses from both of us
chris-bonnie
Titan wasn't always a go getter. When he had the seroma
and it burst I thought he was giving up. Bonnie will get there. I know she will. If you have any suggestions you can recommend for vets in the seacoast (portsmouth) area in NH. I would love to hear them. The oncologist team is great. The vet so-so I mean when he broke the news about Titan he basically told me there was no hope and he would have 3-6 months. He sent me on my devastated way with a bottle of tramodol. So I now think he didn't even believe in Titan. Not every dog is the same. Not every osteosarcoma case is the same. I did my own research and we decided to not just sit here but to give Titan a chance. The surgeon was nice but communication was 
a thumbs down. He was highly recommended but the owners who had used him had hip surgeries and other types of surgeries. Any follow communication, oh wait, there was no follow up communication to me from him. Even when I called him to let him know the staples weren't holding and I could see inside of Titan.
I just want our next vet to see how much I care about Titan and understand that. I guess that is too much too ask of some vets and surgeons. It is pretty sad. I think about it like real estate. I am a realtor. If I treated my buyers and sellers like it was just another transaction and had no compassion to each situation then I would be out of the business. I guess expecting good customer service and compassion is harder to find these days..........It makes me very very mad and sad. I hope no one just gives up because their pets vet basically tells them too. Do the research you need to do before making any decisions.
I want to say THANK YOU to EVERYONE (especially my man Jerry and his awesome pawrents) on this website. I think we are all very brave to take the time to share our experiences, to offer support and advice to each other. I think the people who have lost their animals are amazing that they still offer us support on here. I found alot of comfort with the ups and downs with Titan physically and me emotionally. What a great bunch of people. I don't even personally know any of you and you have offered alot more support than the people in Titan's life who should be supporting us with medical advice and support. I will try to help anyone in this situation.
Vicki don't apologize there are so many great stories and people on here. It's hard to keep up. I did a couple of late late nights because I couldn't pull myself away.
TRIPAWDS ROCK!!!!!!
Heidi and Titan
I do know of the center Veterinary Oncology and Hematology Center - Norwalk, CT. This is the one that did NBC's Jill Rappaport's German Shepard Jack's amputation and chemo. I researched them and considered the drive if I was not happy where I was. Luckily I had spectacular people within a 20 minute drive. That would be more like a three hour one for you. I am sure that if you call them, they would recommend a local oncologist and surgeon for you though. I will ask my team when I am in this week and see if they have recommendations also.
You are correct about Jerry and this site. Bonnie and I would be lost without them. Since I posted on her topic, she has gone to the bathroom again, ate enough to fill me up and absolutely made me the happiest person in the world. My husband stated it well when he said that they do not make a diamond big enough to duplicate the look on my face when I say her go to the bathroom.
All my dogs are great, but Bonnie is the best tripawd in my world!
TRIPAWDS does ROCK!!
chris-bonnie
Anything Titan does whether it's big or small puts a big smile on my face. It has put alot of things in perspective for me. We went for a little walk today. Titan wanted to keep going but I wouldn't let him. Baby steps. You tell Bonnie Titan and are sending her hugs and lots of kisses. Tell to just keep going and she will. I remember feeling we will ever see the light at the end of the tunnell. You will. I know it seems a long time away but she will be doing so much better when you get to 2 weeks. Any vet recommendations would be great but don't worry about that right now. I appreciate it but you needed to concentrate on Bonnie.
Heidi and Titan
Thanks Heidi.
You and Titan sleep well with hugs and kisses from me and Bonnie.
I will talk to my vet tomorrow because she calls once a day to check up so I will ask her then. I know I am blessed to have her and hopefully we can find you an angel like her.
XOXO
chris-bonnie
OMG she calls you once a day!!!! That is so great. Maybe Titan and I will just move near you. I am so jealous what a great vet. I want one like her......Tell her just hearing that makes me appreciate what a wonderful vet she must be. That is so wonderful she is an ANGEL!
Titan and Heidi
You know, Heidi, you may be right! You should move closer to Chris & Bonnie just to see her vet! I have a great vet, too, that helped me when my last dog became very ill (a tumor on the parathyroid gland) and he even gave me his home phone number. Alas, I live in Oregon. A long ways away from you!
Heidi.
You are always welcome to stay with us if you need it. We have three dogs and had four until the dad passed away last year. I spoke with Dr. Cabell yesterday and she does not know anyone in your area. She said she would ask around, but suggested the ACVS also. Also at http://www.loca......yahoo.com you can go to your town and see reviews of vets or post a review of your vet. It sometimes helps me.
My vets are fantastic, I agree. Dr. Cabell is not calling every day now and will not check in again till Thursday, but it is great to know that she is always there.
Bonnie is doing really well, but I have not left her alone yet. It is 7 days post amp, but it is still scary for me. I am trying, but those loving eyes and wagging tail just keep me home. I am not sure when I will feel comfortable leaving even for an hour.
Seriously, if you need to come down here, feel free. We are here to help. Let us know.
Hugs and kisses to Titan from both of us
chris-bonnie
Hi Chris, I was just on local.yahoo.com and check veterinarians in the Portland, OR area. It has the possiblity of being a great resource, but when I saw a certain hospital had 5 stars and I had nothing but trouble with them, I made sure I wrote my review to explain the problems I had. It also gave me the chance to say something nice about the vet I now use, so it's a start, but not necessarily helpful for people who have pets with serious health issues.
Blazer, Kimber & Vick
Heidi, Thank you for providing the photos of Titan's seroma . I just now saw them over on Jerry's Blog part of this site. They should help people to understand what a seroma is and the explanation that was provided (by Jerry?) as to what causes them and what they are was very helpful.
We're all hoping Titan is doing better. He sure looks cute all "konked out" on his bed! Nice and comfy!
Slurps & slobbers,
Blazer, Kimber & Vicki
I am happy to report it has been a month today for Titan's amputation. He is doing AWESOME! We have mastered the up and down the dog ramp into my Tahoe. I am amazed how well he has adapted so quickly. I will try to get a video together so people with big dogs can see they CAN do it.
By the way Vicki that's our new couch not Titan's bed.....he's spoiled but hey he deserves it. We tried to keep him off by putting an ironning board on it. But the first day I left him home for a few hours alone(he hadn't tried getting on the couch and I didn't want him to try to do it while I wasn't home). I came home and the ironning board was on the floor upside down. He's a handful but I am happy to have the handful back.
Titan started chemo last week and he handled it like a champ. Friday he gets a bloodtest to make sure his counts are good. Are paws are crossed!!!!
Thanks Chris for the info and invite. We are going to start looking for a vet once Titan is a little more recovered. I just can't see going to a vet who doesn't believe in Titan. He basically told me it was aggressive and he had 3-6 months. Then sent us on our way with a bottle of tramodol. Well we showed him WOOF! And we are going to keep showing him!!!
Hey Jerry what did you have to do to become a therapy dog? My mom is thinking she would like me to go visit kids with cancer and wants to get me certified. We live about an hour from Boston's Childrens Hospital and Dana Farber so maybe Boston visits will be in my future. I have never been in the city before.
Titan and Heidi
We got Titan's blood test results and they were great. So we are ready for our next chemo in 2 weeks.
Heidi and Titan
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