Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I, too am so glad you got the advice of another vet that you are comfortable with. That, in and of itself is a great load off your mind!
Paws crossed it is not OSA!
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.
Paws crossed for great news! Sounds like she's quite a trooper. You've been (and still are) on quite a roller coaster. Breathe - try to get rest.
Hugs and Slobbers
Judy and Baby
Thanks for the update. Well, it's great you went for another opinion. Someone who is really looking hard at all the different possible diagnosis it could be. Sending positive thoughts for a good as possible result.
Hugs and wags
joanne & lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
We haven't got the official vet pathology report back, but our friend, the human pathologist, looked at the slides. She thought it was a bone producing tumor. She said that if it was a human specimen, she'd go with osteoblastoma, but as that's not really known in the dog world (or at least, not anywhere near the midshaft of a tibia), she said her second guess would be a really low grade osteosarcoma.
So it doesn't look particularly promising, but it's good to know. And presumably a really low grade osteosarcoma is better than a really high grade one?
As for my concern about pain after a biopsy, it was unwarranted. I guess my puppy has a high threshold for pain? She's happily running around without any concern.
I'm looking forward to the veterinary pathology report... hopefully we'll get a clearer picture. We'll do an amputation as soon as possible (probably tomorrow or Tuesday). I'm also going to look into clinical trials of chemo drugs once we have a confirmed diagnosis.
Sorry to hear that it's probably Osteosarcoma. But, glad to hear that she is doing well after the biopsy! Did they do a fine needle aspirate or an open incision biopsy?
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/
I assume it was an open incision biopsy because she has two sutures -- apparently he was able to get some good core samples. I gave her rimadyl and tramodal after the biopsy, and half a rimadyl yesterday... but she's done just fine without pain meds today (other than being annoyed I'm not letting her run and chase deer today).
Wow, that is impressive after an open biopsy! Good luck with the amputation.
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/
Thanks for all your support -- we're still waiting nervously for the official pathology report. I'm so full of questions -- why would the lesion be in the middle of the tibia? Why on a dog so young... and not a 'breed' particularly predisposed to cancer? Did the cancer come first or the break? Why would the bone have broken if it wasn't frail from cancer? But then why did the broken bone heal so quickly and form a bony callus if it was all cancer-ridden? Could it be something else like a bone cyst? But then why would the human pathologist have thought it was a bony-producing neoplasm? If it's low grade, does that mean that it might not be so deadly? Did we catch it early? Catch it late? How aggressive is it? Will this extra week of waiting change her outcome?
I wish I could just turn off my brain and wait patiently...
What you're wishing for has a name around here. It's called "being more dog." The usual prescription is to go outside in the sunshine with your dog and snuggle on a lounge chair, or walk to an outdoor cafe and share an ice cream, or go to a playground and watch the children play, or...Be More Dog .
I guarantee you that in six months you will be more patient than you've ever been. You will be more accepting of the unknown than you ever thought possible. You will have a quieter mind than you've ever had. You are now the student, grasshopper. 
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/
Oh... I don't know if I really want to "Be More Dog
". She has a lot of questions too... Only her questions are more along the lines of: What was that noise? Is someone walking nearby? If I bark will they go away? Will they come and play with me? Hey, what's that smell? What's that other smell? What's that other smell? What's that noise? Who's that? Would you like to take me for a walk? Can I go outside? What's that smell? What's for lunch? and so on...
Your questions are fantastic. One way to calm your mind is to write them down in a journal and ask the vet when you meet. Then, come back here and report your findings, we'd love to hear more.
I'm so glad she's doing so well after the biopsy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your update on the aftermath of biopsies. I have Kali scheduled for a muscle biopsy (probable Mast Cell Tumor embedded in her shoulder muscle) on Tuesday and I was concerned about the pain. You've helped me to feel more at ease. She is currently on Metacam and Tramadol so it sounds like, from what you're saying, that will be enough. My surgical vet has also indicated that we have the option of adding Gabapentin if necessary. Keeping my fingers, and Kali's paws, crossed for a non OSA diagnosis for your pup.
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.
We are also in the PNW and had our amputation done in Kirkland. It was $3500, they didn't take the scapula. I found out later how leaving the scapula on is a less invasive amputation, but in the long run it made it hard for him to sleep on his amp side because the bone sticks out after the muscles deteriorate.
I wish you luck in having it be something other than osteosarcoma, and hopefully your young boy will recover nicely and live a wonderfully long life.
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.
tai09 said
Thanks for your update on the aftermath of biopsies. I have Kali scheduled for a muscle biopsy (probable Mast Cell Tumor embedded in her shoulder muscle) on Tuesday a
Oh my gosh! Please keep us posted. We're rooting for B-9!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am very interested to hear the results of the biopsy. You are right; your dog is not the typical breed or age for osteosarcoma and a lesion mid-tibia is more common with other bone tumors like hemangiosarcoma but that is also rare for small dogs. I am glad that the biopsy was not painful!
Pam
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