Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone,
I'm so glad I was able to locate this forum! So far, all of the support on here is amazing.
We took, Drake my 7 year old Bullmastiff "puppy", to the vet a few weeks ago due to a limp...and it actually turned out he tore his ligament but during the x-ray the vet also spotted a dark mass in his rear leg bone and suggested it to be osteosacroma, primarily due to the age and breed.
We underwent the biopsy and the results came back as fibrosis. The vet not believing the prognosis, sent for a second sample to be take and this one was sent to the Colorado Vet School for further diagnosis. Looks like it's some type of sarcoma....either angio or just a sacroma.
So long story short- I'm glad it's not osteosarcoma....we think, but the prognosis is the same. After doing a deep ultrasound which came back clear, the leg has to go.
Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8am.
I plan on doing as much reading as possible, but any tips and advice for when he first comes home?
Of course I'm worried that with his size he will struggle and be in a lot of pain.
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you are dealing with cancer in your boy Drake, but as you have seen this is the best place to be when facing amputation.
If you are going to be reading you can start with Jerry's Required Reading List, or download one of the ebooks from the Tripawds Library. You will find good information on what to expect with amputation and recovery.
It can be challenging to balance the pain meds. Be sure you talk with the vet before Drake comes home so you know what meds he will be on and what side effects you might expect. With today's available meds there is no reason Drake should feel lots of pain. Sometimes there is tweaking to be done on meds and dosage, but Drake should be comfortable.
When Sally comes along she can tell you how her Mastiff Happy Hanna, also a rear amp, coped after her surgery.
Best of luck tomorrow and keep us posted.
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
The next 2 weeks will be hard, but you will get through it. Think now about your home. Any stairs? Hardwood or tile floors? Where will Drake sleep? I moved my mattress (and ultimately my box spring too) down to the first floor, blocking off the stairs with a baby gate . Otis has three Big Barker beds - 2 in the room we are sleeping in and one in the family room. We have hard wood, so inexpensive industrial floor mats and yoga mats all over to give him a safe space to walk. Also moved some furniture slightly to give him a straight shot room to room. We already had raised bowls - some dogs seem to like those while in recovery. Look at some of the post amp pictures on the site, just so you are prepared. You also might want to keep a log book - the med schedule is a bit crazy early on. If you or someone can be with him the first week, would be ideal. And most importantly, get some sleep before he comes home. Best of luck to you and Drake. You will feel great when you start to see the end of the recovery period and he starts looking out the window, hanging out in the sun, sniffing around in the yard, etc.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
i can't add much to what OtisandTess has said. Non-slip floors are really important and having a good quiet area to recover in. If he's crate trained that works really well.
The only other thing I'd recommend is to make sure you talk w/ your vet about how pain will be managed. Most dogs here come home on an antibiotic, Tramadol and Gabapentin and sometimes a Fentanyl patch. The first few days the hospital stuff will still be in his system so you might not see a lot of pain but follow your vet's advice about giving him the pain meds. It is harder to manage pain once it gets going, so the goal is to prevent it.
The big guys and gals sometimes have a bit harder time getting up and about after amputation. He'll be testing out muscles in new ways, so it isn't unusual to see low stamina at first. And yes, the first week or two of recovery can be a real rollercoaster. Don't get discouraged if it seems like he has some down days.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Hi Drake and family!
You've gotten some great support here, welcome. I love that your vet was so proactive in consulting with CSU, that is the sign of PAWESOME care. Don't worry, you and Drake are in great hands. Let us know how we can help make the journey easier OK? Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you so much for the warm reception and the advice. Surgery got pushed off 1 day, until tomorrow as we're think about joining an angio vaccine trial with the University of Tennessee where they make a vaccine from the sacroma and re- inject it into the dog. Anyone heard of this? My vet mentioned that they are showing some positive results, but I'm still waiting to hear about the side effects
Lifted bowls, how did I not think about that! On to the pet store....
One of my biggest concerns is the stairs, we have stairs going into every single room of the house plus all tile floors to boot. The plan is to trap him in the living room, which is the lowest floor and and just leave the sliding glass door open which leads directly outside. I'll likely camp out with him the first few nights as well.
Thankfully we have understanding job situations where we can be a bit flexible and someone will be with him at all times for the 1st week.
I'll keep you guys posted!
- Shauntel
You probably want to add some traction to those tile floors. Throw rugs or runners from a place like Target, or yoga mats work well. Also on the stairs.
I had recently added those rug treads to my tile stairs for a different reason (my Dad's depth perception). It works well for both my small dogs, an older quad pug and a tripawd puggle.
Interesting Trial- let us know what you find out.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
For what it's worth, Otis was able to do 2 stairs to get outdoors as soon as he came home. (In fact, the first thing he wanted to do when he got home was go outdoors and do some business). The day his staples came out, he was able to jump into and out of my car when I was alone with him (although he stills makes my ex husband lift all 100 pounds of him in and out). I ordered one of the Ruffwear harnesses that you can see in the gear blog on this site - it came yesterday and fit him perfectly. I am hoping it will help him to do stairs, so that I can sleep in my bedroom on the 2d floor. Also will help with the in and out of the car, especially if at some point in the future he is less able. My one regret was not ordering it sooner. I waited until I felt he was ready, and then had to wait for the harness to arrive. If I was doing it again, I would have ordered the harness the first week or two after surgery, so that I had it when I felt he was ready (and had it ready to go as soon as the staples came out). I hate to tell you to spend money on something that you won't need in the first two weeks (and during those first two weeks, you might be wondering if you will ever need), but they are reasonably priced, and for the larger dogs, I think valuable. Otis would not move with a sling or towel under his belly - just stood there. My oncologist mentioned something about a vaccine too - she thought it might be a possibility for Otis once he finishes his four chemos. Let us know what you find out.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
telly032 said
Thank you so much for the warm reception and the advice. Surgery got pushed off 1 day, until tomorrow as we're think about joining an angio vaccine trial with the University of Tennessee where they make a vaccine from the sacroma and re- inject it into the dog. Anyone heard of this? My vet mentioned that they are showing some positive results, but I'm still waiting to hear about the side effects
Did I say I love your vet?!
Could it be one of these trials?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry, I don't think so....but I'll find out tomorrow for sure. The vet, who is actually not my full time vet, but the ortho surgeon has been fantastic through this for sure.
Otis and Tess, I will order him a harness right away, I have one of the Ruffwear carrying bags and it fits him perfect, so I assume the harness should as well. My room is upstairs as well and I know he will be confused and upset if he can't make it up the stairs after some time. He's extremely emotional like that.
Not much to add. The floor traction is a must. We found great pricing at Menards (I'm sure Lowes and Home Depot have them too). They were runners that were on a giant roll and we just cut the amount we needed.
I wish we would have just taken our mattress to the floor for those first 2 weeks. Our Rocky did great recovering but he gave me heart attacks wanting to jump up and down from the bed.
A harness is another must have. At the very least, it helps with getting in and out of my truck or my wife's car. We got the Ruffwear webmaster plus (it comes with the under belly support). It really helps and Rocky doesn't mind wearing it at all.
Also, I'm sure you already read about it, but try to mentally be prepared for the first 3-4 nights or so. Rocky cried and howled like a wolf all night the first night (Rocky came home the same day as surgery) It will break your heart to listen to but just know he is not in any pain, just all doped up on strong pain meds. Rocky did have a rare reaction to the sedative our Vet sent us home with. Instead of knocking him out, it made him active. Once we took him off of it, the Tramadol pretty much kept him sleeping.
Rob, Laura, Rocky and Baby Hayes
Online
DRAKE! SHAUNTEL! Sorry you find yourself here but, as you can tell, its a great place for support, information and understanding!
AND...from one BULL MASTIFF lover to another, big tripawd dogs rock!!
My beloved Happy Hannah was 125 lbs at the time of her rear leg amputation (osteosarcoma). Recovery from the surgery itself was no picnic, but she was handling walking in three legs almost immediately. She spent one night in the hospital, walked out on her own. I have porch stairs outside ro her yard. I already had a ramp built for her prior to surgery. I have another entrance used used also with deck stairs. She could go down just fine. Going back up was not something she ever mastered. Some rear leggers, not all, have trouble getting enough strength out of their remaining back leg to go up. Front leggers often have trouble going up, but problems going down sometimes.
I basically moved downstairs with a mattress kn the floor so she and I could continue sleeping together. I think it was important to her...I KNOW it was important to me!!
I did try a sling towel the first night home, but she would have no part of that. Many dogs need no help at all. Nkw, that said, every dog is different! Some larger dogs do take longer ro get their mobility issues worked out. You'll just have to play it by ear with Drake.
You've gotten great advice so I don't have much to add.
One suggestion for when you pick Drake up. Don't even bother to look at his incision, he sure isn't! Just look I to those wonderful Bull Mastiff eyes and kiss his slobbering mug and tell him what a good boy he is!! And donbe prepared, surgeons love to shave a lot of fur!!
Just stay connected and know you are not alone! This can be a scary time and we are all right here by your side!
Can't wait to hear more about Drke! I already know he's a big cuddle bug...he's a Bull Mastiff and that's what they do! Pictures, can't wait for pictures!!
Sending lots of 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!
Is today the day? Thinking of you both.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Howdy and welcome! Just checking in for any updates. Would love to hear more about this trial you spoke of and of course . . . pictures!!!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
My Meekka, a 130 lb English Mastiff had her rear leg amputated exactly 1 week ago. Besides putting down extra rugs on our hardwood floors, I noticed that she has a hard time backing up and going backwards, so I've had to change the location of her food and water bowls so after she's done eating she can just move forward to get to where she wants to go.
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