Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ami is 10.5 years old great dane, it has been 4 years since her front leg amputation due having osteosarcoma. We thought that after 4 years she has beaten it but we were wrong... We found some lumps on her mammary glands and results came back as osteosarcoma in mammary glands 
And being quite rare I can't really find anything about it, I know this is proparly going to be it for her but would like to know how long I'm looking at. She had bloods yesterday and she is booked in for xrays on thursday.
Devastated is a understatement how I feel at the moment. We thought that we only have to worry about her getting old now, she's loosing her sight a bit, little bit arthritis but nothing major and she's still doing everything 100 miles an hour. Only thing is that she has started to pant quite alot which makes me think mets in the lungs
I am so sorry for the bad news. News of metastases is gut-wrenching at any point, but I imagine it is especially so after Ami has done so well and you have let your guard down.
As you well know from having a dog that at four years post-amp has completely blown the statistics out of the water, every dog is different. But there is hope after mets are found. I cannot speak to mammary tumors, but Zeus had a lung met and a 'suspicious spot' on his liver at the time of his OSA diagnosis. Prognosis was really poor (vet's best guess was 6 weeks) and we almost didn't amputate. We decided to try and went forward with the amp. Zeus lived ten months after the diagnosis. And, the lung met never really grew or spread. There really can be good time even after mets have been found.
I hope you get good news with the upcoming x-rays. Please let us know how it goes.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
I know this diagnosis is a kick in the gut for you, but Ami has beaten the odds at 4 years, don't give up on her resilience now. You already know how important it is to take one day at a time. Just keep making those beautiful memories and enjoy each day you are given.
Sending you good thoughts as you face Thursday.
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.
Oh, how devastating after four years in the clear. She is obviously a fighter and I hope you can find some treatment options and she can continue fighting.
Enjoy every moment with her. She is a beauty!
Jackie, angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I can empathize, although it wasn't mets that took Maggie. She had made 3.5 years past her amp for mast cell cancer, and I was just starting to let myself believe that she had beat it when she was diagnosed with a second cancer.
I agree with you- devastated doesn't adequately convey how I felt. Like Ami, Mag was about 10.5 years old.
What I did was really take all those lessons to heart that Mag had tried to teach me after the first cancer. Live in the moment, appreciate EVERY day. Be optimistic until there is a definitive reason not to be.
I have no idea what kind of prognosis mammary tumors have, I didn't ask for a prognosis for the oral melanoma. Because of other health issues I could not aggressively treat the melanoma, I figured our time was short and I didn't want to be watching the clock. I made that mistake with the original cancer, she supposedly had only 6 to 9 months.
Good lick with the X-rays, let us know how she, and you, are doing.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Oh wow, it's so great to hear from you but I'm sorry about the bad news. When you first joined that seems like a million years ago. It's awesome to think that she has beaten the odds for so long, so I can imagine that it's doubly hard to hear this kind of news. When you get so much bonus time, you get to a point when you almost forget about the cancer ordeal, then whammo. I'm so sorry, I know it's hard.
Another thing to try to hold near and dear is, statistics are often wrong. Ami's proven that. I have all my paws crossed that she will do so again. She is one amazing girl.
Please keep us posted, we're here for you to talk to OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you everyone. Not really looking for to thursday (xrays). I just try to think that we were only given year after amputation but here we still are 4 years later.
Sorry if I create pain by resurrecting this. How's Ami?
Dogs: Friends for life, faithful and true.
Courage is being scared to death... but saddling up anyways.- John Wayne
bikeintime.wordpress.com (will soon have Hank story)
hank said
Sorry if I create pain by resurrecting this. How's Ami?
Sorry that it has taken me so long to answer this. Ami is doing fine. Xrays were done and nothing was found so we made a desision to remove lumps. They were sent off and came back as mixed mammary tumours so lots better than first thought. She still has some off them left but fortunately these don't seem to be growing as quickly as the removed ones.
Couple weeks after that she had a bit of a set back with her back, she got so bad tha she couldn't stand. Turns out that she has arthritis in her back and she also had a little pancriatitis moment. Now on physio and pain relief and doing fine but it has started to look like age is finally catching up with body wich is a shame as she is still so puppy like.
I just caught up on this. Wow, 4 years post-amp from osteo! Way to go, Ami! You are an inspiration. I understand age and some more lumps (yey! Not osteo!) and some arthritis are getting you down. Sorry to hear that, pup. You're doing so well and we're so proud of you. I hope these new meds help you out a lot and get you back to your puppy play!
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Just found this awesome story of Ami. What a gift! Although the new diagnosis was not what you had wanted to hear ,the X-ray results are a bit of a relief. I however am so astounded to hear of the wonderful 4+ years you've had to spend with her since the initial diagnosis. I can't wait to hear more about your story together. We had Bruno longer than doctors predicted and were grateful for every moment. You and Ami are blessed to have so much time that others could only wish for. Good luck and best wishes. What an inspiration!
Maricela and Spirit Bruno
Maricela and Spirit Bruno
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