Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hey all I just wanted to give everyone an update on Cholla. She's doing amazingly well after her initial amputation recovery. I am now happy to say I have no regrets about doing the amputation. She is like a puppy again with her energy and desire for walks and playing with all her toys she hadn't touched in years. She was doing well before so I can't believe the change we have all noticed.
We are just trying to enjoy our time together and from her behavior it seems she is cancer free I am always a little on edge when this will change. I decided to not do Chemo and have been using Dr. Loops and his homeopathic remedies as well as changing her diet to grain free and adding cancer fighting supplements. Though I can't compare how Cholla would be doing with Chemo, I have to say this seems to be working amazingly well for us. Since we haven't been doing Chemo there hasn't been a need for more x-rays so I am not sure how I will know when she has lungs mets and I am not sure I want to. I wanted to let other folks know who may be wondering what route to try and I also would like to hear from others who have taken the no Chemo route. Wondering if I should be looking out for any particular warning signs or any other helpful hints from those before me.
I can't thank this venue enough for helping us get through this difficult time. We are back to being positive and enjoying life for now but think of the other dogs and I have a hard time coming on and seeing the dogs whose fights have ended. My thoughts are with you all.
Thanks for the great update! We also chose not to do IV chemo or frequent x-rays after Jerry's amputation. When we did discover his mets after about 16 months though, we did put him on K9 immunity and a regimen of metronomics.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad to hear your good news. Our Callie had her amputation back in July. Like Cholla, her energy levels bounced back to her younger days very quickly. She was 7 1/2 years old at the time of amputation, so before we knew she had cancer, we just assumed her lack of energy was due to getting older. Its amazing what a difference the amputation made for her! We too decided against chemo and switched her diet to a grain free one. She has done mostly well since the amputation getting around...she does have a little trouble every now and then getting up. It seems to be worse with the cold weather, so I think its just joint issues. Callie started coughing back at the beginning of December every few days. It was like she was trying to hack something up, but nothing came. The coughing started picking up as time went on, and she even coughed up a small amount of blood twice. We finally took her in for xrays last week and got confirmation that the cancer has spread into her lungs. We knew this was a good possibility before deciding to do the amputation, as I'm sure you were aware too. She has several large mets, but she is doing amazingly well for now. She is on pain meds and steroids to help reduce coughing and ease breathing. These have made a big difference...she has barely coughed since getting on the steroids. We can tell her breathing is a little labored, especially when she lies on the side where the largest tumor is. It just seems like she is breathing more rapidly and taking sharper breaths. She hasn't gotten to the point where she is restless, panting or tired after little activity, but it is my understanding these are signs for us to look out for to signal she going downhill. For now, we are enjoying everyday we have left with her, however short or long that may be! Could be days, weeks, months...no way to know.
My brother also had a dog years ago who had amputation after OSA diagnosis and went the no chemo route. His dog lived for 7 years afterwards!! Definitely not the common prognosis, but it does happen, so maybe your Cholla will do the same!
I also am leaning toward the alternative route. I am hoping to have Winston's leg amp next week. I'm still waiting for biopsy results that was done last Friday. I am very interested in how it is going for you guys on the homeopathy route. I have an excellent vet that I used when I lived in Santa Cruz that I have been consulting with and am going to use for his treatments. Keep us posted on your experience!
EXCELLENT news on Cholla! Toy playing is always a great sign!!!
Keep up the pawsitive attitude and you'll enjoy every day!
Sending tons of good, toy playing thoughts to Cholla!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
There are statistics that an oncologist will tell you and then the stories you hear on this website. Our oncologist told us that without chemo lifespan is around 6 months after diagnosis of Osteosarcoma with amputation. With chemo, the statistics increase to over a year. But some stories here are amazing and I have heard of other dogs whom have lived much longer like Callie's Mom's Brother's dog as mentioned above and of course Jerry. It all depends I think largely on the individual dog.
In our case, as the oncologist predicted Jewels survived just a little over 6 months after diagnosis. We decided the no chemo route for a few reasons which you might want to consider here: finances, age (Jewels was 11 years old) and concern over side effects. Financially it would have cost us at least another $3K to do the chemo. We had just spent all our extra savings on the surgery, so we didn't have much left to spend on the chemo. This is something that many of us who adore and love our dogs don't like to talk about, but it's unfortunately a reality that most people have to consider given individual circumstances. Our oncologist didn't think the side effects would be too bad for Jewels especially since she had no other organ problems. But since Jewels is considered "geriatric" for a large dog, we knew that she was already at the dawn of her life. We wanted to have her out of pain most of all and to have her with us for just a little while longer so that we could cherish our time with her.
I did follow similar protocols that others here have done when going the no chemo route by supplementing her diet with Artemisinin , Power Mushrooms, and a grain-free diet. She lost some weight to her advantage so that it would be a little easier on her three legs.
Do as much research as you can at this website--it is a treasure trove of information. This way you can be very well informed of your options. And then make the choices that work best for you and Cholla. Whatever decision you make will be the right one. We are here if you need us.
Spirit Jewels' Mom Geraldine
Jewels was a gorgeous Lab-Shep mix that found us at the pet rescue when she was just 3 months old. Born June 2000; Diagnosed OSA on June 1, 2011; L-front Amputation September 12, 2011; Crossed Rainbow Bridge December 30, 2011. My "baby dog" will always be in my heart. Now she is running fast and free on all four legs after the rabbits and squirrels! Jewels was loved by her crazy-busy mom, even-keeled dad, pesky twin human brothers and monkeydog sister Aspen. Read about Jewels' Tripawd Journey here.
So Happy to hear that Cholla is doing so good!! I also chose not to do chemo. My Great Dane Valentina had such a long hard recovert that after she was well again I did not want to do anything else to her. Also the expense of her recovery was just as much as the actual surgery itself so we had no money left to do chemo anyway. But the main reason was because when she finally did recover she was doing so well I didnt want to chance making her feel awful again. Even though I know that not every dog has bad side effects I just wanted to let Valentina be. She is now 7 mos. post op and doing wonderful!! I have had her on a high quality grain free
diet since her surgery and I also supplement it with fresh cooked vegetables and turkey or chicken. She is happy and doing great. I am so happy that she is still here with us and I am so glad that I opted for the surgery. I wish you continued luck with Cholla and many happy healthy times ahead!! 
Great news that Cholla is feeling like a puppy again! Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers for many many many more months and years!
Hugs and chocolate labby kisses,
Ellen & Charley
Charley's Blog: CHOCOLATE KISSES
DOB: 3-29-08, male chocolate lab
Dx: OSA L proximal humerus 10-19-10
Amputation: L front leg & scapula 10-28-10
Chemo: 5 rounds of Carboplatin
Video (12 weeks post amp):Tripaw Charley Playing
♥♥♥ Lots of supplements and love!!! ♥♥♥
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