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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I'm glad I found this site, although I think I'm now more emotional about Bauer's upcoming surgery than I was before. I have searched for anybody dealing with a Mast Cell Tumor (MCT), which is what Bauer has. His lymph tests, xrays, and ultrasounds show no metastisis. But the pathology of his tumor (between the toes) grades it as something with a chance of metastisis between 50 and 96% (i.e. it's an aggressive type.)
The specialists have recommended amputation followed by chemo. The location of the tumor would make local surgical removal challenging.
While I read lots of stories about amputation surgery relieving the pain of bone cancer, it will be difficult to take Bauer in next Wednesday, because as of now, he seems happy and healthy.
I objectively know that he'll do fine as a tripawd. It just hurts to inflict the trauma of the surgery and recovery when he's otherwise so happy.
Hey Bauer's folks...the trauma of surgery and recovery is at most two or three weeks. After that, he'll be back to his normal happy self--for longer!
I don't mean to minimize your stress, just to let you know that the trauma part is fairly short-lived.
Keep us posted on Bauer's progress, and remember that this is a good place to share your fears. There are a few Mast Cell Tumor dogs here--hopefully you'll hear from them. (Cemil is living with osteosarcoma)
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Hi and welcome….I think I am sounding like a broken record, but, be sure and get one of the ruff harnesses…they will make your life and his much much easier. They absolutely weather this surgery much much better than we do and you will be amazed. Once you get through that initial couple of weeks, it is just astonishing how welll they do. He will be just as happy after recovery as he is now AND you will know you have done the best thing for your furkid.
Keep us posted and good luck
Hi Bauer and folks,
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.
My pug Maggie is a long term mast cell cancer survivor. She lost her left rear leg to a MCT over 3.5 YEARS ago! If you want you can check out the early story on her blog:
http://maggiesj.....ies-story/
I haven't updated that story for awhile. She has had more cutaneous tumors since then, and is now dealing with a second cancer.
I too was not sure about amputation, although the tumor in her knee was affecting her some, she was not in the pain most of the OSA dogs deal with. But it was the right decision for us and I have no regrets.
Check out Mel's blog too:
http://melsmom......pawds.com/
He is also dealing with mast cell and chemo.
This site is full of good information on what to expect with the amputation and recovery- check out the Tips and Resources forum.
I will be gone most of tomorrow (Saturday) at a local Canine Cancer Walk, but I will try and check back tomorrow night.
Feel free to send me a PM if I can help with any questions about our experience with mast cell.
Karen and the pug girls
What a gorgeous boy! Mackenzie has osteosarcoma and just celebrated her 5 1/2 month ampuversary. We've all had these struggles with this decision (it can be very traumatic) and most of us can say that 100% we have no regrets. Bauer is happy now and he will be happy after his surgery too. The most difficult part is the 2 week recovery but once you're through that everything is so much better and everything becomes normal again. Bauer won't even know that he's missing a leg - our dogs are so resilient. I have to say that if it hadn't been for the amputation I may not have my puppy dog with me now. It was so worth it. So don't worry - you are doing the right thing for Bauer. Wishing you all the best during this time...
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Bauer & Co., welcome. As you can see we have some great peeps here who are ready to help you through this ruff transition. Already you heard back from Amazing Maggie and Karen about her Mast Cell tumor, and we also did a search for other dogs with mast cell tumors here. Hope that by reading some of these stories you find some comfort before the big day.
Many dogs instinctually hide their pain really, really well so even if Bauer looks like he's not in pain, imagine how hard that must be to have something foreign growing in a bone of yours? Bone cancer is an awful, painful condition. Amputation is immediate pain relief even if it doesn't seem like it for the first couple of weeks. But it is. It's not easy to recuperate, but we're here to help. Once he recuperates I'll bet you'll see how much more sprightly and upbeat he is.
Your vet team sounds good, you're very lucky to have them. Remember to ask lots and lots of questions, it's what you're paying them for.
Keep us posted on how things are going and remember that no matter what, Bauer is a special dog and all those statistics don't mean a thing to a dog as unique as he is.
Hang in there OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm going to try to make you understand what you are feeling is totally, completely normal. When Trouble was diagnosed, we had appx 36 hours from diagnosis to surgery. It was the hardest decision I've ever made. The morning I dropped her off at the vet's I cried all the way to work. My brain told me it was the only way to stop the pain of osteosarcoma, my heart told me I was being cruel.
I cried many tears until we picked her up two days later. I was so apprehensive when the day to bring her home arrived. Let me tell you, when that happy dog hopped out to meet us, and looked to us for approval to let her know everything was ok with her new 'look', my heart knew we had made the right decision.
This is very difficult for us humans to deal with, but it isn't such a big deal for the dogs.
Wishing Bauer a speedy recovery, and you peace in your heart.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
bauer said:
While I read lots of stories about amputation surgery relieving the pain of bone cancer, it will be difficult to take Bauer in next Wednesday, because as of now, he seems happy and healthy.
While we are not dealing with MCT, we are not dealing with bone cancer, either. Harley did not show us he was in pain before amputation, he used that leg, what we thought was normally (with very little limping for a step or two, if he did limp at all, which was rare), he could put all his weight on it, he was happy, etc ... It was not until after the amputation that we realized how much Harley was NOT doing before. He started running around the house like a mad man again with his squeaky chicken, roughhousing with our other dog like they were puppies ... he was just his old self. And here we thought he had been acting fine and normal ... now I see what he had been missing out on. He was in pain; he just didn't show it to us.
Dropping Harley off at the Hospital the morning of his surgery was one of the hardest things I have had to do; I just wanted to keep driving. It's hard. I'm sorry you are having to go through this. We are here for you whenever you need us.
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
I don't have any wisdom to add at this point, just wanted to say welcome to Tripawds, it's good to see you're getting great tips from the others. Hang in there and keep asking questions!!! We'll all be thinking of Bauer and your fam.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Welcome to the Tripawd family...although I'm sorry you have to come, obviously. My dog, Maggie, had soft tissue sarcoma on her left rear leg/knee. Don't know exactly what type..the pathologists had to finally give up trying to figure it out... Maggie was in a great deal of pain, however, before her surgery.. So it was easier to decide to amputate...there were two choices..the amputation choice was a FAR better choice!
I went thru what you're going thru. After surgery, that night after seeing Maggie, I said to my husband..."I hope we made the right decision".....he said to me, of course we did...the other choice was NOT an option! He was ABSOLUTELY right...but amputating a leg, at least for me, was a tough pill to swallow....more after I saw her with the leg missing.
But I'm here to say I have NO regrets...Maggie is now pain free...and is living a relatively normal life...doesn't get as much exercise as she used to...she can't tolerate it...but she's just fine with that! She does most things she ever did and the best part...she's PAIN FREE and still here with us!
Good luck and keep us updated!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
As others have said, dogs are very good at hiding their pain. Jack was limping on and off for 8 months...the vet could not find anything wrong (he had no visible tumor). He was depressed...so we got him a puppy to play with (it didn't work). It wasn't until the tumor (osteosarcoma) grew large enough to see and we had his leg amputated that I knew what his problem was. I like to say that he "regressed back to puppyhood". He started chasing squirrels, dipping his toes in the water, jumping into bushes, up walls, and exploring foliage all on his own...he didn't even do these things or act this hyper when he actually WAS a puppy!!! I didn't realize how miserable he was, until he no longer had that darn tumor. I hope all the best for Bauer 🙂
<3 Laura and JackAttack
Bauer - you are one stunning guy!
Tell you mommy to not worry. You'll be fine.
Best wishes!
Comet
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.
Welcome Bauer and pack to the Tripawd family. I must say though, it truly saddens me each time our family grows.
Fortis like Bauer showed no visible signs of pain prior to his diagnoses. He was as happy and full of energy as when a pup. I took Fortis to the Vet for his shots, check up and a very unremarkable limp. Long story short I was told Fortis had osteosarcoma and I would probably need to euthanize him in as little as two weeks. I was in shock. I never dreamed my boy was ill. The decision to amputate was a very hard one for me to come to terms with but it was the choice I made. It's only been 3 months since his surgery and although there has been lots of ups and downs we have created more lasting memories in this short time then we did in years prior to the surgery. The only regret I have is that Fortis and so many other pups have to suffer from this horrible disease.
I made a short video of Fortis and I sitting in front of a fire the day prior to his surgery. I just wanted something to remind me of what I was feeling at this very unsure and emotional time. I have replayed it many times when feeling down or sad. It has really been a big help for me. If you can't tell Fortis is the strong one. Our pups never look back only we do.
I'm truly sorry that you are having to deal with this. Please know that you and Bauer are in my thoughts and prayers.
Fortis' Dad
Hi Bauer's pawrents!
Welcome to our Tripawd's family... I'm so sorry to hear about Bauer's diagnosis... I know how difficult a decision it is to have the surgery done.
In my Jake's case... he fractured his leg because of his bone cancer (we had no clue anything was even wrong). While we were waiting for the bone biopsy results, my husband and I were trying to decide what we would do... Did tons of research, read tons of posts on Tripawds.com... It was either do the amputation and alleviate his pain, or put him to sleep. We were not ready to let him go, since he was so full of life before this all happened. He was 10yrs old... but a young dog at heart. Even when we first brought him home right after his surgery, we had some doubts... but the next day, when he smiled at us and ate and peed and pooped... we knew we had done the right thing. Within 2 weeks of his surgery, Jake recovered nicely and was able to go swimming and play with his younger brother Wolfie... He had a good quality of life after his surgery, except that it ended too soon. His cancer spread to his spine and he lost his battle around 8 weeks post-amp. But that is not the norm for the majority of dogs... even those with MCT.
I wish you and Bauer all the best for Wednesday's surgery... that everything goes smoothly... and I look forward to reading all about his progress!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Bauer had a setback this morning, one day before his scheduled surgery. He had thrown up three meals, so I took him to the vet yesterday. He was a little skinny but otherwise reasonably energetic. She game him something for the vomiting and he enjoyed a chicken and rice meal last evening. He willingly jumped into bed last night as spent most of the night with me.
This morning, he refused breakfast and simply lay in the damp grass shivering. The vet found a tender abdomen and evidence that perhaps he had eaten something that caused him to become blocked up (his littermate sister has done this twice before). An ultrasound found free fluid in his abdomen that had a high white cell count. He's about to undergo surgery for this. It won't be clear until the surgery whether he perforated his intenstines due to an obstruction, or whether due to ulcers that can follow mast cell tumors or the Deramaxx he'd been on after his first diagnosis. His amputation is now delayed, and of course, dependent upon what the surgeon finds in his abdomen.
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