Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thinking of you & sweet Annie. 
I know it’s tough being away from your baby. Just remember she’s probably enjoying herself playing & doesn’t have a single worry. That’s the beauty of dogs. They don’t worry & live in the right now moment. Keep us posted!
Melinda
mom2sierra said
...the beauty of dogs. They don’t worry & live in the right now moment.
Exactly! Why we say Be More Dog .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi all,
I'm back home with Annie now and we're going in to see her regular vet tomorrow. The lump is about the size of a coconut now. She is definitely not feeling very well, though even yesterday morning she gladly went for a walk with us through the woods and ran ahead of us. After all day in the car yesterday, she has been resting all today but still can't seem to get comfortable in one position for very long. Each time she stands up she licks her lips repeatedly which seems to me as though she's hurting.
I was searching the forums to try and find other examples of this happening, and I came across "Tazzie 2" - hard lumps starting to show up around 6 weeks post-amp, growing very fast, shown to be subcutaneous osteosarcoma - I think Tazzie's mom referred to one lump as a cantaloupe and Annie's is getting almost that big. I was saddened to read that it eventually did begin to burst out of the skin and we would never want to get to that point!!!
Annie's still eating, which makes us so happy, but not drinking as much water as normal. Didn't want to go for her walk this morning with her sister. She looks at me and seems in a bit of a daze, which could be the meds, but she didn't act like that pre-amp when she was maxed out on meds. Cannot wait to get our vet's assessment...
If we can't keep her comfortable (and I'm sure it's hard to be comfortable with a coconut attached to your shoulder) we may be preparing to let go sooner than we hoped. This photo was taken last Sunday after we got back from the ER vet:
My darlings! I am so hoping for any kind of good news and hope for you all!!!
Dear sweet Annie, you know you are going to be in my thoughts girlie!
Sending massive hugs to you across the miles! Please update as soon as you can! 🙏
Petra, Stewie and his Kittens
Remember...“live in the moment!“ 
Oh sweetie, I am very sorry to hear the news ...
Tazzie was our wonderful Tripawds vet’s dog (unless it’s another Tazzie), you should probably publish a post in the “ask a vet” forum.
I so wish I had good advise but sadly I know nothing about Annie’s condition.
But what I do know is she loves you and you love her back and that is the most important thing in Annie’s life, for sure💞
Sending you a big, big hug and cuddles galore to your sweet girl 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Sometimes the same meds do seem to have a different sffect at different times. Don't kmow why. So part of Annie being a little less active could still be from the meds. I wouldn't rule that out.
I also ahree with Teresa and think it would be a good idea to post under ASK A VET . Our "volunteer Vet" first came here becaise her Mastiff Tazzie had an amputation due to Osteo. She's not the same Tazzie you read about , but she may definitely have some imsigjt.
Womdering if antibiotics , or prednisone , could help with some of the swelling around the "thing". I know of a situation wjere a dog jad some form of tumor where surgery was not an option due to age, etc. It got huge and did open up and burst . It was nasty! HOWEVER, once it burst , it took awhile to get back to that size and it was no longer painful. So some of the lump was the tumor, but some was junk surrounding it. Once that part od the pressure was "teleased", it helped. The area was kept clean and antibiotics kept infection at bay.
We're all cheering for sweet Annie!
Lots of extra hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
eurydice said
Tazzie was our wonderful Tripawds vet’s dog (unless it’s another Tazzie)...
It was indeed a different Tazzie who experienced the sub-q (subcutaneous) mets. Dr Pam is tazziedog.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Admin for the links.
Annie is clearly in increasing pain and discomfort. She mostly wants to lie down, yet she can't stay comfortable for long. She's started whimpering at random moments when lying down, trying to get up, or adjusting position. After seeing her vet last night we maxed her on the doses of all her meds again, and are planning to have our vet come over on Saturday and let her go. She's still eating well, so I really hope she manages to hang on to that bit of pleasure until the end so we can at least make her feel good that way. We have about 55 hrs left and I'd hate to see her get any worse.
The vet last night said she used her ultrasound wand to check whether there were any pockets of fluid they could drain to try and reduce the tension, but she didn't see any. She said it's rare that osteosarcoma would come back in the same location like this, but that is what it looks like. So Annie is just unlucky. Of course, I know this could possibly have been delayed if we also had her doing chemo, etc., but we had decided to take the gamble with the surgery since we primarily wanted to relieve her pain, and the doc said metastasis would be to lung, liver, lymph nodes which would not be painful like osteosarcoma. Well, again, we were unlucky, and worst case scenario unfolded.
Tomorrow is 11 weeks since her surgery, and five weeks since this tumor started to grow visibly. Yesterday morning I drove her and her sister to the park to see if she'd be more interested in walking around since she doesn't seem to want to go on her usual walks. I took this video of my sweet girl and her sister (who continues to seem oblivious to the entire ordeal, at least). So brokenhearted to lose the battle this way. F*** CANCER.
The video is a beautiful treasure for you to hold onto. Annie is having a good moment at the Park and that's such a precious memory, It just shows the ability of great dogs like Annie to live in the moment with no worries and no fear.
So glad she is eating and yoi can feed her any forbidden food she wants!! The drugs may make her too loopy, but it even looks like she could handle another walk in the park.
The whining may be more an expression of momentary discomfort when she first moves around, as opppsed to strong pain. You are doing a beautiful job of watching over her.
It breaks my heart to kmow this is happening . This effing disease is brutal and barbaric and cruel and completely unpredictable!!! Itmos rare ifmit comes back to another limb, vut really, really rare to come back like this. Chemo would NOT......would NOT..have changed a thing. This nasty piece of s++t disease had already plotted it's course.
I'm shaking my head in disbelief and know there are no words.
As hard as it is....as hard as it is.....continue to stay fullynpresent in the moment. Make each moment count. Do not let that poece of s××t disease rob you of yoir precious time together. It CANNOT break your bond....it CANNOT touch her Spirit.... Annie is srill showing she's Annie, so FU s××t disease!
Surrounding you with all our love and our strength and wishing you a peaceful heart
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
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!
Annie, dear sweet beautiful Annie! Seeing you in the park is a beautiful thing! You don’t have to think about anything, but which lovely tasty treat you that you are going to get next, or when the next cuddle will be and just how much you Ruv your Pack!! Just be one hoppy loving girl and stay close to your Mum, she is going to need you over the next few decades!!!
Mum, I agree 100%... this is a s**t ass disease! You can not be guaranteed that chemo would have changed your outcome!!! Please believe this!!! Stewie’s Dr Bill told us the same thing when we were deciding as to whether or not we would go ahead with the chemo... he had done chemo on a dog and he only lived for 4 months. Then the little dog that he didn’t do chemo on survived a year! I know that these words do nothing to help your bleeding heart right now, but please know that this s****ty disease has its own agenda! We just have to know that we are doing everything we can to give our fur babies the best quality of life and you have done this and more for Annie!!
l I do wish you could have more time with your girl! I’m sorry that her physical self is only with you for just a very few short hours, but her soul will be with you forever and eternity!!!✨💫
You have given and continue to give Annie an incredible chance at life! The pain you are feeling at this moment is all of the love and more that you have for your dear girl! She feels it! She is going to give you every ounce of her being, in your time together, just as she has her entire life!
Please know that we will hold you in our hearts at this very heavy and difficult time! Please give your girls, but especially Annie a massive hug from me!
Lots of love coming your way from
Petra, Paul, Stewie, Spike, Chester, Miss Lily and Teddy
Oh no! My heart is breaking for you. F****** cancer. I’m so sorry. Treasure each moment! I know you will. We are here for you. Sending lots of love your way.
Melinda
I am so, so sorry to hear your news 😔
This 💩 disease is so unpredictable and does as it wants, when it wants.
There is only so much we can do to contain it 😔
I couldn’t open your video but I’m sure you will treasure it and Annie truly appreciated being in the Park with her family.
Our adored pets master the art of living in the moment and she is doing it, squeezing all happy moments in her heart so when she gets her beautiful silver wings these will stay with her forever.
She will never, ever leave you, she will only change form and will become a beautiful, beautiful Angel, the brightest star in the sky shining just for you 🌟
I so wish you had a way to keep her with you for longer, sweetie ...
Sending you the warmest of hugs and cuddles to your beautiful baby 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
There's nothing that makes us swear like a sailor more than news like this. We are stunned, and so heartbroken for all of you.
I'm so glad you posted the video. I loved watching her go go go, and it was beautiful to see that she still has a look of joy on her face despite the tumor and how it's making her feel. She is an amazing girl, and her tenacity is a gift that will stay with you (and all of us) forever. When life gets hard, all we have to do is picture her in the moment, loving the beauty of nature, her sister and her pack. We will all remember this lesson.
It's incredibly unfair and crappy that you guys got the short end of the stick with this damn disease. I'm really sorry. I hope that in time the joyful moments of these last several weeks will keep your heart in a good place, and comfort you in some small way to know that you did the best you could with the information you had. Whether or not chemo would have made a difference doesn't matter. You made the best decision for Annie and the pack, and that's what she appreciated the most. She was able to love life and be out of the pain of her leg and enjoy her family a bit longer.
My heart goes out to you. If you want to talk, we are here.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Stewie and I are thinking of you all and sending massive hugs your way! I can assure you that Annie is staying close to you in spirit my darling!
Hello all -
I can't thank you enough for your words of support. Your generosity with your time, and your kindness, are invaluable and so very appreciated.
We said goodbye to Annie at home on Saturday. Despite the tragic circumstances, her passing was as peaceful as we could have hoped. She went outside when the vet arrived and greeted her with wagging tail. Her "grandpawrents" also came over to visit in the morning which made her so happy. At the end we all got on the floor with her and gave her kisses as she relaxed on her favorite bed.
During the past few days I have gone through all our photos and collected as many as I could of Annie, and some of her with her sister too. This has helped so much, to focus on the love and on her happy years with us. We brought her and Haylee home on 17 Nov 2012 and she left us on 19 May 2018 - almost exactly 5.5 years. Half of the time we lived in Seattle and the latter half in Baltimore. Here's our photo tribute to amazing Annie, aka the Poker, poker face, "face," pupoose, Annie-foo, Annie-fannie.
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