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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Wow you can really see the difference in Day 8! He's most definitely a super hero!
These photos are terrific and helpful. Would it be OK if we shared one or two in our gallery?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi there-
I really enjoyed looking at your photos of Shmagegy and reading about his journey! He is one lucky kitty to have you and your boyfriend taking care of him!
My elderly 14 ish year old cat was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma in the summer of 2015. The vet took his shoulder blade and front right leg. My cat (Jerry) had a few recovery issues such as excessive itching near his incision which caused bleeding everywhere, missing patches of fur, had us on a phantom limb drug for a spell, and even went to get acupuncture, before it was discovered that he just had a raging infection from all that itching. I'm happy to report it has all healed almost 18 months later and Jerry, at 15 is doing awesome. He can do everything he did as a four legger. He eats well, grooms, purrs like crazy, and is playful. He too, has taken over my dog's large crate. I put his litter box in there and his food and a bed, so he can go in there to get away from the dogs if needed.
I know that getting the amputation was the right decision for him and us - he still has a lot of life left in him, and it seems like it is still of very good quality. I took him into the vet's office the other day because everyone requested I bring him in (they love him there- very cool, laid back cat and long story short, he needed an emergency blood transfusion after a bad reaction to a medication one day after his amp surgery. He was "a few minutes from death" when our vet rushed into the office to basically revive him). Jerry got a great exam and vet says he looks awesome for a 15 year old kitty. I hope Shmagegy gives you years and years of joy ahead, too! Take care,
Hattie and Jerry
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Hey Hattie! WONDERFUL to hear how well Jerry is doing!!!! YAAAAAAAAAY!!! 🙂 His story will continue to inspire any kitty facing this journey, especially seniors!! Thanks for the great update!
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!
Sure, you can use the photos for the blog. If it will help someone out one day! I know it helped me looking at photos of other kitties post surgery for sure.
Unfortunately, the biopsy came back as an undifferentiated sarcoma. The surgeon said it's a 50/50 chance it will spread to somewhere else in the body. We were hoping it started in the bone, so there was a less chance of spreading. But it came back it started in the soft tissue, and spread into the bone. He never had a lump or any indication it was there. The surgeon did say he was able to take a wide margin and the edges were clear.
The surgeon is saying we need to start chemo right away, and get x-rays every 3 months. I don't want to put him through the chemo, and I've already maxed out a credit card (about 4,000) and will have a very hard time even affording the x-rays every 3 months (its costs about $500 each time). We've decided to make him as happy and comfortable as possible. It's been very devastating to hear this, and I'm feeling very disappointed the amputation wasn't a more significant "cure". We're looking into starting a GoFund Me for him, so maybe we can afford the x-rays.
I'm hoping others have had the same situation and maybe can shed a glimmer of hope he'll live longer than 6 months?
I do remember that he had full body x-rays about 2 years before the cancer showed up in his bone, so I'm hoping it will take that long again.
Thank you everyone for all your support and kind words!! 
Okay, can't address the "specific" diagnosis of Shmagegy, but I can add this. Around here, we say diagnosis/shmognosis!!!! Also, chemo offers no guarantees one way or another. It's pretty much a crap shoot using it or not.
Shmagegy doesn't give a rip about any ole prognosis! This hasn't changed anything in his world! He's not worrying abput s thing! 'He has NO timeframe stamped on his kitty butt and he sure doesn't count days on a calendar!!!
Stubborn Pug Maggie was given a bad prognostic from her pathology report of only several months. Good thing she didn't listen. Four years later she passed. FOUR YEARS!!
As humans, we do tend to "listen" to reports. So keep in mind, there is also a 50% statistic that he will NOT come back!! This doesn't even take I to account the individual cat...And we all know Shmagegy is quite a unique and determined individual who has a lot of living to do!!
We're cheering for you Shmagegy!!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Just throwing this out there as far as xrays. Unless there is any additional treatment you would do IF something showed up, you may want to reconsider doing them. Goodness knows you are doing everything possible and to continue the stress and expense of tests that would change nothing.....just sayin'
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!
I'm sorry to hear this. Have you asked for a copy of the report from the pathologist? It may provide you with more insight and opinion.
This is a better diagnosis than osteosarcoma. My cat had a fibrosarcoma that could spread. The margins were wide and I like that your cat hawide margins. As for chemo. It may help and may not. Also for some cats it's extremely stressful to go to the vets so that needs to be factored into life quality. X-rays can also be stressful.
As Sally asked, what would the results mean to you and what can be done if something is found.? These are questions you can ask your vet.
Sally has great insight and she's focus on living in the moment. Please remember these are personal opinions.
All the best in your decision. Hugs for you and your kitty.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
I'm sorry your feeling discouraged! Please try not to dwell on statistics they are just numbers! Many animals live way past those numbers!
You got clean Margins thats huge! None of us know what our furture is ,cancer, life, has no rules.
I second Kerren's advice get the pathology report. They don't always tell you everything that is stated on the report.
We always request copies , we pay for them , your are entitled to them!
Live each day to the fullest and do what you believe is best for Shmagegy and what will give him the best quality of life!
Thats all Smagegy could ask for! He is out of pain now and living his new life !
Listen to Sallys advice please! 50/50 chance sounds like good odds in your favor!
Hugs to you both!
We are on Team Shmagegy too!
Holly & Purrkins
I can't thank you both enough for those responses! That's why I love this site, it's a community with people who have gone through or are going through the same thing I am. Helps me keep things in perspective, and not feel so lost during this whole process.
I hadn't thought about the x-ray process being stressful to him. I just didn't want to feel like I was giving up by opting out of the chemo. I may still get him checked out in 6 months, I'll see how he's doing. I would only want to know if he has something that's causing him pain.
True-He doesn't have a time stamp on his kitty butt! 
When you are deciding on treatment options you have to take everything into account, including finances. It would be great if we had unlimited funds but the fact is we don't. And with cancer throwing all the money in the world at it doesn't ensure a cure.
Know that you are doing your very best for your boy and that is enough!
As far as doing more xrays- one of the things that helped me decide on what treatments or tests to do for that stubborn pug Maggie was asking this question: will the outcome of the test change anything that we are doing? As an example: when dogs are doing chemo for OSA it makes sense to do chest xrays because if mets show up then they need to stop the chemo and come up with another plan.
Unless you are one of those people who just have to know maybe consider skipping the xrays?
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Well thanks, we'd love to share those photos, they are great.
Meanwhile, I'm sorry you got the news from the vet. I know it's hard to get a "well it could go this way or that way" answer after what you've been through. Please don't feel guilty. You ARE doing everything you possibly can for him. Chemo is optional, it's not a requirement and it's not for everyone. By keeping his life as stress-free as possible, and yours too, that is the greatest treatment ever. There is a LOT to be said about the role that stress plays in disease and by limiting stress in your household, he's already ahead of the game. What a lucky kitty to have you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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