Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thanks again for the support and all of your inspiring stories! We have decided to take Lily to an orthopedic specialist in Grand Rapids next Tuesday--the day can't come soon enough! He also has an interest in rehab and physical therapy, so we are hoping to get a thorough evaluation of her back legs and further recommendations for treatment. We have to make a decision soon because I think that her leg is bothering her more. I've upped her Tramadol, which seems to have helped and I hope it continues to do so until we can get her seen in G.R. I have another worry that I don't know if anyone can help with.....Our local vet did a chest x-ray when she first diagnosed the osteosarcoma, which was negative at the time. If the G.R. vet repeats the test and finds mets, should we proceed with amputation for pain management ? Does the lung cancer tend to progress more slowly? I'm a hospice nurse and have a lot of experience with people, but not dogs, so I don't know how things tend to progress. My main concern is pain management and your stories have given me hope that amputation is not out of the picture for her. I will keep you all posted. (I don't know how to post a pic of her....I'll have to ask my son, lol). Karen
Glad you were able to get that appoi tment for Lily! I kow it's not quick enough.....a lot of this journey is "hurry up and wait"----as well as "give me patience, and hurry up, I need it now"!!!
Jerry is an excellent example of a dog who lived life to the fullest and for quite awhile with lung mets! Others will chime in with their specific stories
The following answer to your question may sound pretty daft but, for now, jist take one hurdle at a time. If the xrays were clear three weeks ago, hoefully that probably won't have changed. Guess I'm trying to say, for now,try not to worry about that "what if" and just keep it chunked down to one step at a time. Right now, focusing on the best way to alleviate the pain and give that sweet Lily the best quality possible.
This is quite a roller coaster ride ki d of journey. So just stay buckled in tight and connected to this site and we won't let you down! We are by your side!
Really look forward to your update next week You've started a plan and you ARE making progress! Stay in the moment with Lily and enjoy watchingher lap of the love and wagging that great big tail:-)
Hugs to you oth,
Sallya and Happ Hannah
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 Karen,
First of all let me say "thanks" for doing the incredible work you do as a hospice nurse. I am always in awe of the special people who do this important work.
And Amanda, thank you so much for being here and sharing your valuable insight.
So Karen, I'm glad to hear you found the ortho specialist, that's a great idea. When it comes to x-rays and lung mets, keep in mind that when diagnosing osteo with a prelim x-ray, the mets are usually still there only they are "micro mets" and the x-rays can't pick them up yet. What will pick them up is a CT scan, which most people don't do because of the cost. But if you decide to proceed with at CT, and mets are discovered, most doctors will not recommend amputation because the disease typically (but not always) progesses quickly afterward and sometimes too fast for the dog to even enjoy life after recuperation. However, if mets are found, do keep Zeus' story in mind: this boy went on to live almost a year after diagnosis:
X-rays vs. CT Scans for Canine Bone Cancer Staging
Senior Dog Zeus Living Large Against All Odds
Other dogs, including myself, lived several months after mets were found, so you just really have to weigh the odds and how quickly you feel your own pup can recuperate after surgery. But don't go there just yet: take things one day at a time and we will do our best to help you through it.
Good luck this week. We are thinking of you both so feel free to post any questions or concerns.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I forgot to mention that Porthos was on Meloxicam as well, I believed it really helped with his mobility.
Like Jerry said just take one day at a time.
We will be here for you.
Amanda & Angel Porthos x
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Hi. Just also wanted to add that our nearly 10 year old dog (groodle - standard poodle cross) is a medium to large sized dog with a similar story. He was being treated for osteoarthritis when his limp became much worse and a lump on his front paw was diagnosed as osteosarcoma. There were similar reservations about whether an amputation should be undertaken due his "large" size, previous arthritis and the fact that it would be a forequarter amputation. I can categorically say that the amputation has improved his quality of life significantly. Unequivocally, he had significant pain relief post amputation. He seemed to be laughing post amputation, even initially with a recently amputated and then traumatised stump. And no it wasn't the drugs as he required similar doses of tramadolol compared to preop and they were completely stopped within a few days of surgery. He was running and jumping up and down stairs day 2 post-op. We believe that he was probably experiencing far more pain than we realised pre-operatively. The contrast post-operatively was so marked which we would not have imagined.
Rach said
...he had significant pain relief post amputation.
Thanks for the feedback Rach. Please consider registering to take full advantage of these forums and other resources this site has to offer.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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