Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi,
I am new here. I browsed this forum when we decided to amputate my English Mastiffs front leg due to osteosarcoma almost 6 months ago. His name is Joey, he is 4 yrs and around 155 lb.
2 months ago, he started getting goopy eyes. The vet thought it was conjunctivitis, we treated it, but it keeps coming back. For those of you that are dealing with osteosarcoma, I have heard that the goopy eyes can be a side effect of possible lung mats and histamine being released from tumors. I have also read that the goopy eyes can be a symptom of mast cell tumors.
He is still eating, drinking water, and going to the bathroom consistently. But he does get a hacking cough every so often, and he is having more and more trouble walking with his back legs.
We have him on meloxicam daily and joint supplements, but his back legs definitely are getting weaker.
We have not x-rayed him yet, but I am pretty sure due to the hacking cough every few days and the goopy eyes that it is probably in his lungs. But as long as he is still eating, drinking, going to the restroom on his own, and cognitively aware, we will let the lung mets take its course.
Are concern right now is the walking and getting up on his own. Do any of you have experience with corticosteroid shots? I am wondering if it is worth doing that. The other part of me thinks we should check for the spread of the cancer first, but my husband, Even if cancer has spread, refuses to put him down if he can still eat, drink, go to the bathroom on his own, and is cognitively aware. So he says it doesn't matter what the x-rays say, we should treat the sore hind legs.
Sorry for the novel length post. I'm just looking for some help from others lived experiences.
Thank you!
Welcome, Tina. Your future posts will not require approval.
You have some very good questions. Unfortunately, I don't have the experience to answer them. I'm sure someone else will have some good info for you soon.
Tina, welcome and thanks for posting. I'm sorry Joey is dealing with cancer. It's a tough disease and we are always so on edge about everything! It makes us hypervigilant, but that can be beneficial because then we can help them be comfortable and pain free.
It's hard to say if the symptoms you are describing are mets. It could be allergies, or something very treatable. Has your vet seen him yet?
The only way to tell if it's mets is to do an xray or CT scan. It sounds like you and your husband are on different wavelengths about whether or not to do that diagnostic, and that's not unusual. It is good though, to know if it's mets you are dealing with so you can do things to keep him more comfortable. Doesn't mean you have to commit to expensive treatments, just to things that will minimize the hacking, clear up his eyes, etc.
Are concern right now is the walking and getting up on his own. Do any of you have experience with corticosteroid shots? I am wondering if it is worth doing that
I agree that the x-rays are important to know what you are dealing with at this stage. X-rays don't commit you to anything. It's just information that can help you decide how to manage the cancer. If it is mets, you can have a plan to help him be comfortable for as long as possible. Without a plan, it's just shooting in the dark and never really knowing if you are helping or hurting. Dogs are so stoic, they will do anything to not show weakness. Eating and being mobile isn't always an indicator that they are not in pain, they are very good at waiting until things are really bad to show us they hurt.
As for steroids, they are a temporary aid sometimes but they don't cure or remove symptoms, they just mask them. They can help a dog be more comfortable but sometimes the side-effects are difficult for us and them (excessive thirst and urination usually). Did your vet recommend the steroid shot?
Having Joey evaluated by your vet would be the best place to begin right now. Hopefully you and your husband can agree to at least do that, and then take it from there. Please keep us posted.
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