Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Just got back from the Oncologist and found out our girl has metastasis to her lungs.
She has been doing so well but today she had a coughing spell that made her gag and wretch. She has coughed on and off from the beginning but her lung xrays always came back clear. So I thought the cough was due to to acid reflux as it seemed to only happen after eating or drinking. Well this could be the case and now it's a different cough.
Well she coughed and gagged so hard today that I checked to see if she vomited anything up. Unfortunately I found what looked like a large blood clot about the size of a quarter. That was it - everything came to a halt and we went straight to the vet. Her oncologist was quite taken back by the clot (in a baggie!) Xrays ensued and the grim results of at least 2 large nodules. When she showed us the xray the largest looked at least 10 cm but the radiologist will look at them tomorrow.
Ugh - I know I have been in denial. She seemed soo well until today. I thought that just maybe she could beat this beast. I'm beating myself up for not doing xrays more frequently. Her vet is worried about the coughing up that bloody lump - she said it could be lung tissue or tumor as it was quite firm. There looked to be some bleeding in her lung. This is only sinking now.
Well Lylee is happy to be back home and we stopped at Whole Foods on the way back and got her favourite treats of ham, beef and salami. We will spoil her rotten even more.
Truly one day at a time.
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Online
Oh no, no, no! She looked so good last weekend at the pawty!
You're in our hearts and prayers. Continue to spoil her, TWP deserve no less!
Your friend, Shelby the P.P.
No, no, no, no, no, no! This makes me so sad. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this. I kind of thought that Lylee was invincible! I hope that she will be one of the pups who continues to have quality time after finding those stupid mets.
Don't beat yourself up about the x-rays! No reason to have made yourself worry if she was well enough not to show symptoms, and I'm sure she appreciates fewer trips to the vet. Not to mention....this is one of those cases when knowledge doesn't actually help you all that much since there's not a whole lot you could have done differently even if you had known about those mets sooner.
Sounds like she will be quite spoiled with that selection of meats! Lots of hugs and pawsitive thoughts to you and Lylee.
Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry to read that. Hope she is loving her ham, beef, and salami! Yum! I hope there are more good days ahead. Sending good thoughts your way.
Oh, no! I hated to see this headline! Not our lovely Tripawd Warrior Princess! She's been doing so well!
I know how hard that is to see bad news on the xray. It was our understanding with Abby's lung mets that the position of the mets has a big impact on how bad things will get how quickly, so I hope they are in a "good" spot at least. I hope you have a LOT of good time left with your girl.
Spoil her rotten. I know you have a lot of wonderful pics of her - but make sure you are in them too!! Please give her some extra lovin's from her Tripawd Aunt Jackie.
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita
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!
Darnit! I hate cancer. And I'm very, very sorry. I know this news feels like a punch in the gut, like getting the wind knocked out of you. But please don't beat yourself up. You didn't get x-rays sooner because you were doing your best to live life without fear or worry, to make the most of your beautiful Lylee's time. And you HAVE so please be proud of yourself. This is what we mean by Be More Dog .
We've known other Tripawds who have coughed up a mass like this, and even so, they still went on to have good quality time left. In fact, when two lung mets were found in me, I had one that was 10 cm and you know what? I went on to have seven more awesome months where I felt good, enjoyed every day and lived life to the fullest.
My paws are crossed and I hope that Lylee also has lots of good times ahead too. How can she not, when she's spoiled rotten with treats from Whole Foods? Lucky duck!
We love you guys, never forget that we're here to lean on. Keep us posted and know you have all the pawsitive Tripawds healing energy coming your way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh, I am just sorry to hear this about Lylee! Our thoughts go out to you! Give her a big kiss from the Comet Clan.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I am so sorry to hear this rotten news. I remember how stunned I was when we got it. Sending you lots of pawsitive thoughts. Enjoy every precious day and do your best to Be More Dog !
We are here for you.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Joann, I am so sorry to hear this about Lylee. For those of who have battled (or are currently battling) this disease, we've been where you are now. We all know in the back of our minds that lung mets (or mets in other locations) are a possibility, but it's still hard to comprehend when it becomes a reality. Please don't beat yourself up about not having done x-rays. I know in my heart that the x-rays would've shown clear if you had done them. Lylee loves you and you love her. That's what matters. And please remember, this doesn't mean it's the end. Her illness is just moving into a different stage now. That's how we tried to think about it with Max. We didn't say the cancer had progressed, we just said it was "different". Please give your girl a good belly rub for me. We're keeping Lylee in our thoughts always.
That isn't what I wanted to read, I'm sure you didn't want to write it. I lurk here, only offering opinions occasionally now that my boy is gone. Lylee is our sweet friend, so reading about this makes it very personal.
Everyone has already said what I think. You didn't need x-rays sooner, it won't have changed much for her anyway. Just take this time to spoil her like you are doing, she is the sweetest of girls! Who knows, she may be one of those dogs that has the stupid mets but beats the odds anyway...
Hugs and sending the best of prayers out for her,
Elizabeth, Sammy's mom
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
I am so sorry to read this news, and wish I could have been at the pawty to visit last weekend. Next one for sure. Let's make sure there is another one okay? All our best positive thoughts and prayers coming your way. We love our TWP Lylee and we will keep her in our thoughts.
All our Best,
Suzie and TWP Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
Thank you dear Tripawd gang for all your support and encouragement. It does knock the wind out of you to get this poopy news. I know this is part of the journey - but I secretly thought maybe we could escape this part and live happily ever after. Well, I actually do think Lylee is living that way - as many of you say 'Be More Dog ". So that's what we'll do. Beach, flying dutchman's, Pawty's and chariot rides.
In fact we went for our usual walk tonight with Lylee royally gliding down the road in her chariot, being regularly fed treats 
I forgot you had big, meanie mint too, Spirit Jerry, okay, we gonna just have to throw the Tripawd juju power thingy at them. Now they are scared!
Hugs and treats to everypawdy
Joanne & TWP Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
I'm sorry about the nasty lung mints 🙁 I know how you're feeling and you have the right attitude: you keep spoiling your girl. She deserves it and has earned it!
Hugs to you and your girl,
Spirit Chili Dawgs pack
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
I am sorry to hear about the mets. Although we all expect it to happen at some point, that doesn't make it any easier to bear. Lylee is a perfect TWP and more brave than most of us could hope to be in our lifetimes. You are right, Jerry had mints, and don't forget that Abby had mints, and, Zeus had a mint even at the time of OSA diagnosis almost eight months ago. Hopefully you will also have much more good, quality time with your girl. Love her up for us!!
Lisa and Zeus
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/
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