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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Good morning all, it has been awhile since I have sent an update on my Rajah. So
what better time to write an update than the 3 week mark since his amp. I could
not be more pleased, and relieved on the outcome of his amputation of his rear
right leg. He has continued to amaze me. While the first week was definitely
tough, and I slept downstairs on the couch for 2 weeks....it was worth it.
NOTE....if you leave the house, and even if you think your dog won't lick his
incision because he has been doing so well.....put the cone of shame
on him! I
learned my lesson....I came home and 5 or a bit more of the staples were lying
around. Sheesh....oops! At least he didn't swallow them. Lesson learned, and the
incision is healing beautifully. And with help, Rajah is able to go upstairs to
my bedroom, and i can sleep in my bed again. He was definitly a bit scared of
the stairs, which had made me nervous for a little bit because he loves to
follow me upstairs. But hes doing it now....yay! Oh! And the biopsy came back as
osteosarcoma...which definitely makes me feel more confident in my decision to
amputate! They also took some samples from his lymph nodes and all came back
clear....good news!
So now I wonder what to do next. I know that with bone cancer, even with the
tumor gone, there is still probably the even C lurking. So now I have to make
another decision for my baby boy....to chemo or not? Homeopathic options? Do
nothing? He is 14 years old. Thank you for taking the time to read this. And
sending positive thoughts to all the dogs going through this fight, and to all
the parents fighting this fight with them.
-Ana
My first suggestion would be to check with your vet about chemo options. My dog Max had 6 rounds of Carboplatin; most dogs tolerate carbo very well, as it has very little side effects (some lethargy, maybe an upset tummy for a day or two). Cost may also be a factor for you in regards to whether or not you choose to do chemo. There are plenty of people on these forums who chose to not do chemo and instead went the homeopathic route, or did chemo mixed with homeopathic remedies. Just remember that whatever choice you make is the right choice. Talk to your onc, do some research and listen to what Rajah tells you. Give your handsome boy a belly rub for me!
Fantastic news and great advice too! We love updates like this, so thanks for taking the time.
As far as what to do next...well, that depends on a lot of things about you and Rajah and your individual situation. Factors like a dog's tolerance for vet visits, logistics and unfortunately finances all play a role in how people decide about whether or not to do chemo. Has your vet offered to refer you to an oncologist? That's the best place to start. You may also want to consider Dr. Dressler's The Dog Cancer Survival Guide; it's indispensable whether or not you're going to proceed with chemo, holistic or nutritional changes.
The thing about chemo is there are no guarantees if you do it. Many dogs go through chemo but sadly succumb to the disease long before the one year mark. And some dogs who don't have chemo last for years! One vet we talked to once said chemo is like taking a bunch of slime, throwing it on the wall, and seeing what sticks! It's a leap of faith, backed by controlled studies that show how long dogs, on average, live with treatment. But every dog is different.
You'll find tons of stories about people who have and haven't chosen chemo. I didn't do IV chemo, but did choose Metronomic Therapy, and at-home chemo regiment, 17 months after I was diagnosed. In total, I survived 24 months without IV chemo. Other dogs like my buddy Eisen are still going strong after four years!
Here are a few more stories for ya:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We are on round 2 of Carboplatin and not experiencing any side effects. We are happy with that decision...
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
Thank you all for the helpful advice. I actually have an appointment with Dr. Kelly today at 3, so I will be asking her a bunch of questions.
I feel like going the homeopathic route is what I would prefer, and I already have had Rajah on artemisinin for about a month now. I just don't like the idea of chemo...even though I know it affects dogs differently then us humans. But I am willing to do whatever is the best option for Rajah.
Thanks so much again for the replies....and tummy rubs to all!
-Ana and Rajah
Hi Ana,
Glad to hear that Rajah is doing so well. Post amp treatment is such a personal decision- for all the reasons that Jerry listed.
I'll just relay my though processes. After my pug Maggie's amputation cancerous mast cells were found in the lymph node removed with the leg which indicated the cancer had spread. Pre-amp all the tests showed the cancer had not yet spread. She was given 6 to 9 months WITH chemo- which at that point was really a palliative treatment. She was also only7.5 years old, pugs routinely live to 13 or 14. Turns out she beat mast cell cancer and lived almost 4 years after her amp. Unfortunately she developed a second cancer around the time she turned 11. Because of other health factors I chose not to do any surgery or chemo.
Maggie's younger sis Tani has recurring cutaneous mast cell tumors, she is up to 8 tumors, some of which have been removed. She is now 11 and has other health considerations. A couple vets have suggested palladia or masitinib which are both drugs approved for mast cell cancer. At this point I have chosen not to do any chemo and am treating her with supplements including K9 Immunity Plus.
My point in sharing my stories is that you have to factor everything in when you make your treatment decisions. I've chosen chemo, and I've chosen not to do chemo. You have to be comfortable with what you decide to do, then go forward with confidence that you are doing what is best for Rajah.
Another thing to consider- if you did choose to do chemo you could always stop if Rajah has intolerable side effects.
Good luck with your consult, and let us know what you decide to do.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Thank you Karen. I had a great meeting with the oncologist, but I am going to mull over this decision this weekend and go back in on Tuesday with hopefully my final answer. I have a good cancer book for dogs that the vet center lent me, so I can do some more studying. There are definitely pros and cons to this. I am so thankful for this site though...such great help from people who are going through this as well. 🙂
Hi sounds like we are about a week behind you, Cholla just got her stitches out today and got to go for a walk!!!
For lots of reasons I didn't feel that Chemo was right for us, though I also didn't think I would do the amputation…
We started Holistic treatment today after a phone consultation with Dr. Hoops in North Carolina (he was recommended by a Holistic Doctor in the DC area and I have also read about him on this site). I can't say it is the way to go but it is what we are going to do as well as a diet change to as grain free (anti-cancer) as possible. I read the Dr. Dressler Cancer book and found it helpful (and was happy to know that many of his suggestions I was already doing with my pup). The treatment is definitely a process but as long as Cholla doesn't have negative side affects I will do it, along with just enjoying our time together.
Rajah actually looks a lot like Cholla (though you can't tell in her stuff animals picture). Rajah is a few years older, Cholla will be 10 next week.
Let me know if you want to chat more about it since we seem to be on the same time table and they have the same diagnosis.
Yay for Cholla! It's a great feeling for both animals and us humans to have the stiches out. Almost a feeling of getting back to normality...almost. Well the book that the vet lent out to me actually is Dr. Dressler's Cancer Book, so tomorrow I will be sitting on my couch reading with my dogs at my side. I feel like the holistic approach is a much better thing for my dog, and me, but I need to do a bit more studying before anything. Did change Rajah's diet as well to a grain-free food. It's funny how all the food I had previously been feeding him I thought was the best thing for him. I'm sure in some ways they were good for him, but after hearing all this info it is definitely worth going grain-free .
I would love to chat more with you about all of this, there is just so much info out there! What kind of dog is Cholla? What a great name too!
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