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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Charon summed it up beautifully.
Kate, our thoughts are with you as you struggle to make this excruciating decision.
Beth and Spirit Smilin' Sammy
Smilin' Sammy, March 16, 2004 – Dec. 5, 2011
Golden retriever, diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2010 — right front leg amputated November 2010. He fought valiantly to stay with us; but a second diagnosis of osteosarcoma, this time in his left front leg, was more than our golden warrior could overcome. He loved his pack — and everyone else he met.
We loved him even more.
Thanks for the pennies, Sammy. They helped.
I, too, think Charon put it best. I thought about this over the last hour or so, not knowing exactly what to write. I do know that if Jack were 3 or 4, your decision might be different than they are at 10. All dogs are different, of course, but a dog of 10 is going to have more difficulty adjusting and coping. Maybe it's asking too much of him.
I know so many people here ask who they're doing things for, themselves or their dog. I think it's an excellent idea to sit down and maybe even write out the reasons you'd do A, B or C. Then maybe you could gain some clarity. And perhaps remember that there is a huge difference between living and enduring.
I wish you only peace with whatever you decide. You will find no judgment here, no matter what you do. As long as the guiding reason was love, we will support you 100%.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Tripug Maggie's second cancer was not treatable. She lost her leg to a mast cell tumor, but later developed a melanoma tumor in her mouth on her upper palate. She had other health issues at the time of diagnosis of the melanoma tumor- her liver had lesions from the mast cell and she was in the early stages of kidney failure. She had lost weight and was a bit fragile so aggressively treating the melanoma was not possible. Like you I had the resources to fight it, but there was really nothing I could do. It was a helpless feeling in some respects, we had fought so hard against the mast cell cancer and seemed to be winning. But when I came to grips with the fact that I was not giving up on her, I was making the decisions for her I was able to make peace with the circumstances and focus on her life quality.
One of the things that helped me at the end was defining Maggie's minimum quality of life. When we crossed that line I knew she would be ready to move on. For us, pain was the driver. Maggie did not tolerate narcotic pain meds very well, we tried several and they either made her sleep, or freak out. With the compromised kidneys and suspect liver we would not be able to do meds for long anyway. So I had decided when Maggie needed strong pain meds to get through the day we would be at the end. And it was very clear to me- during the last night she gave me a look that I will never forget. And I don't remember it as a scary look, or a bad thing. It was a gift, from her to me.
Please don't think that I am trying to say that you are wrong for trying to manage Jack's pain, I just wanted to share my thought process from my experience with Maggie, and for us pain management was the tipping point. What I wanted to share was how helpful defining Maggie's minimum life quality was for me. Defining in my mind the minimum life quality, and what the treatment stopping point would be, made the decision clear.
It is clear how much you love Jack, this part of the journey is not easy. Look into Jack's eyes and listen to your heart, you will find the answers.
We are here to help and support you.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
You've gotten a lot of great advice. The only thing that I can offer is that if the tumor is in the lower part of the leg and it is micro-fractures, you can try having your vet cast his leg to help alleviate the pain with weight bearing. A member of Bone Cancer Dogs (Lisa) did this with her Angel Xanadu for 6+ months. Xan had to get the cast changed out weekly or biweekly because it softens with weight bearing, but he was able to walk independently (lab) and without apparent pain (he remained on pain meds). He eventually needed an amp because the micro-fractures were multiplying and he was in too much pain even with the cast on.
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!!! ♥♥♥
Just wanted to add my 2 cents. I recently lost my big Pyr boy to OSA-front leg. I chose not to amputate as he also was not a good candidate due to some early arthritis in his back leg. I kept him on pain meds until they stopped working for him. The day he stopped eating he also refused to go on his walk. I knew it was time. I see-sawed once at the vets before thinking I would say goodbye but once we got there he was trying to play with other dogs in the waiting room so sobbing and going over it with my vet I ended up taking him home. It's the hardest decision to make. I have to echo what everyone else said -it's about quality of life. If he's unable to do the things he loves anymore then you need question yourself -am I only keeping him here for me. This has been a great site for support and I hope you are at peace with whatever decisions you make.
Sorry that Jack is having these problems. We are thinking of your family during this difficult time and sending warm thoughts your way.
So sorry you are facing this tough time. Thinking of you and hoping that whatever decision you make you are at peace with it.
All the best,
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
We made the call to the Vet and set up the final appointment. He goes in today at 1:00 pm.
My husband and I have slept on the floor by his dog bed every night this week, scared at his every movement and listening to his constant panting. We moved up the tramadol to very 6 hours, but we really can't step any higher with the other pain drugs. The pain made the decision for us. Jack can't stand without one of us holding onto his harness to guide him. Sometimes he seems to want to get up and so we help him up and then he flops back down because whatever he wanted is just not worth the effort. He is having a hard time standing to go to the bathroom. He's not drinking as much as he should- a double problem of not wanting to spend the effort to go to his water bowl and it being to much effort to figure out how to pee without lifting a leg (I have seriously wondered if his male brain knows how to squat since balancing on 3 semi good legs is so hard).He can't get comfortable to sleep and just pants all day/night long. Jack is a food vacuum, but his dog food isn't tempting him anymore. It used to be I could hardly get food in the bowl before he was gulping it down. This week eating is an ordeal and I have to coax him to the bowl and hold it for him. I can still get him to eat people food, so last night he ate pizza.
As I weighed all the options, pros and cons, quality of life and pain- I decided going to CSU would be a painful ordeal for Jack (7 hour road trip one way and we couldnt get in for a week) and would be keeping him here longer for me. His quality of life is gone and his only breaks from the pain are the moments when the next round of pain pills kick in and gets a brief respite.
Thanks to all of you for weighing in and giving advice and getting that he isn't just a dog. It helped. I hope when Jack crosses the rainbow bridge later today, your dogs are there to greet him and show him the ropes until we meet up with him again some day.
I'm so very sorry. This last gift to Jack is the hardest of all to give but the most valuable. Thank you for finding the strength to help him on his journey. I have no doubt that he will be enthusiastically greeted at the bridge by all of our Tripawd heroes. I have asked Tai to keep a special look out for him and show him all the best spots to lay in the sun, chase squirrels, swim etc. My heart goes out to you.
Laura, Angel Tai and Kali
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
I am so very sorry for you. Jack is a beautiful boy and a real hero to all of us who "know" him. Please give him a big hug from all of us Tripawd lovers and tell him we love him. I wish you peace and strength during this difficult time.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
we guarantee our gayle will be at the bridge to greet him - telling jack it's really true, four good legs to run around on like crazy!!! jack will be off on his next adventure, but his spirit and all of the great memories you made together will be with you forever. love never ends.
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
You are putting Jack's needs first, and that takes a lot of courage and shows a lot of love. Jack has no other advocate and you're advocating for him brilliantly. And it is hard. Knowing it's right for him and that he would ask for your help if he could speak does not lessen that.
I hope you gain some peace knowing Jack won't hurt anymore. And he will check in on you from time to time. He won't really be gone. As Elizabeth says, she felt her Sammy go into her heart when he left his body and she feels his heart beat with every beat of hers.
You and Jack will be in the hearts of many today.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Thinking of you on this difficult day. When we take their pain away ours is just beginning. But he will always be with you in your heart.
We're here for you! And Abby will definitely be there to greet him. He'll have many tripawd heroes for buddies and they will show him where all the best spots are.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Thinking of you and your husband on this difficult day...
Tracy & Maggie
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Jack's current state brought back a lot of memories for us, I'm so, so sorry you are going through this.
Please take comfort in knowing that you are doing right by your courageous boy's side. This is by far the most difficult, devastating part of the journey but it's one where you are not alone. The Tripawds community is thinking of you today, and sending lots of love tonight.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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