Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, I am undecided what to do with my beloved cat Tanka. She is 15 years old and has bone cancer in her front leg. From her bloods, she has OK kidney and liver function. The vet says that assuming it hasn't metastasised into her other organs, that amputation is a good option. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to amputate to give her the best chance of a pain free life if she was younger. What I don't want to do is put her through an amputation and a potentially slow recovery (given her age) and then find she only lives a few months.
Tanka is an indoor cat full time and she is very sedentary, at the moment. For the last year she has spent her time between the cat pole near the window next to our bed, where her food is, to being with us on the bed, or really only leaving the bedroom to go to the bathroom for her litter tray.
My other options are to try and get the best pain management possible for her bone cancer - hopefully better than at the moment, with her daily pain meds (where she is not weight bearing on her leg), or euthanasia.
What are your thoughts? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks from Tanka's worried Mum.
Hi Tanka's mum, welcome. I'm sorry you are dealing with this diagnosis but very glad you found us, you've come to the best place for support!
Amputation is a tough decision made tougher when a senior animal is involved. The important thing is not to get hung up on her age and focus on her personality. What do you think she wants? Do you think she has the energy to make a good recovery, go on to do what she loves, even if it's only lounging and catching sunbeams? Take all that into account and don't let anyone tell you what to do because only you know Tanka better than anyone else.
Also, don't get hung up on the prognosis. Remember, cats don't keep calendars 😉 Bone cancer in cats typically doesn't metastasize the way it does in dogs, so there's a good chance she can go on to live far more time than anyone expects. We don't give false hope here, but we also know that many pets with limb cancers outlive their prognosis. And even for those who don't, their humans report in our Tripawd Cats Quality of Life Survey that they were still glad they went ahead with amputation because it gave them more days of a pain-free life together.
There is a member here whose story you may want to check out: Pittens. It's a lonnnnng one but read it if you haven't seen it OK? Our other Trikitty stories and articles are also helpful.
I hope this helps. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your support and advice.
I live in an isolated part of Australia, a fair distance from a vet. A bone biopsy has been taken but the labs close over Xmas, so I will get the result in the New Year, and make a final decision then. Meanwhile there is a lot of food for thought, and listening very carefully to what I think Tanks would want....I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again, Tanka's Mum
Welcome from Down Under! We've had many Aussies join us over the years, it's nice to have you join us (sorry you had to!).
It's a bummer you have to wait through the holidays, I'm so sorry. Yes do keep us posted and keep having those heart to heart talks with your sweet Tanka, together you can figure it out and come up with a decision that works for both of you.
Let us know if you have any questions at all, we are here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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