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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
It breaks my heart into a million pieces to tell you that an ultrasound this morning showed that the cancer has spread throughout Zeus' abdomen. Unfortunately we have very, very limited time with our boy. Of course Dr. R cannot predict how long, but based on Zeus still having a VERY good appetite he said it would likely be between two weeks and a month.
His RBC count had dropped even more and that is still taking a toll on his breathing and energy, so we decided to proceed with at least a couple of Epogen shots to increase the RBC level and hopefully give him more energy/breathing relief during the time left. We are also starting Prednosone for the same reasons.
Today is his eight month ampuversary. Please grab your pups and have one hell of a celebration in honor of the strongest, bravest dog I have ever known. 'We are going to celebrate for the next few weeks. I love you my Little Gentleman.
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/
Damn. Not what I wanted to hear. I'm so sorry Zeus has come to this stage of the illness. He is an extremely brave and strong boy, and an inspiration to Tripawds and Tripawds-to-be. Keep him close and love him up everyday, as he will to you. Sending our thoughts and prayers your way.
Not at all what anyone wanted to find out, Lisa. Your choices are to mourn in advance or to make the most of what you've got left. Zeus is still very much here and you are going to give him wonderful days. He can eat whatever he wants, jump as high as he wants, leap off of the bed, go adventuring and get filthy--whatever he wants. Make sure to get down and dirty with him.
Keep us posted, please. I've rarely seen a dog with a fan club as big as Zeus's. I don't have as many friends as he does! He has much love right here, as do you and Greg.
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 forgot--today is Zeus's 8 month ampuversary, and I'm not going to let this other news overwhelm and overshadow that!
Zeus, you've done an amazing thing. You've had a lot of rough patches, and you've kept plugging along. You have a quiet, dignified iron will and you aren't afraid to use it! You may not have gotten great news this morning, but never-ever-ever forget that you are a warrior and a conqueror. We cannot overlook the fact that you already won. I know what your prognosis was. And you won!
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/
Lisa, I am so very sorry to hear this. I teared up but when I read Shari's post about "mourning now or . . ." she is so right, there is a time for everything and now just love your boy. And Happy Ampuversary Zeus!
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
Lisa...my heart is breaking in a million pieces for you. Please know I am thinking of you constantly. I simply don't know what else to say right now.
Oh Lisa I am so sorry 
everything I was going to write Shari already wrote.
Sending you hugs
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.
Lisa - you had so many encouraging words for me when Baby was going through her fight. I wish I had words that could help you now. Just know I'm thinking of you and wish you some great moments together in the time you have.
Hugs and whines
Judy and Giant MBToby and angel Baby
Oh Zeus!!! My heart aches for you right now Lisa. He is an amazing dog with an amazing smile. He inspires us and so many. Love him to pieces as he has been such a brave and awesome warrior. I just love his expressions!
We are thinking of you...
All of our Best,
Suzie and 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
Hi Lisa....I have only been here a week and I have shown my Odin Zuess's picture to motivate him in his own recovery. Zuess is still around and he will continue to motivate us!!!!
With each of Zeus' bumps in the road I was a little worried about the outcome- but he has always just bounced back. I was so hoping that this would be just another bump.
Our friend Laura (mom of invisible Jack) said when they got to this part of the journey- at least there are no more treatment decisions to make, no more bad news to absorb.
Even with this sad news Zeus's avatar made me smile today. I hope the coming days are filled with smiles for you and your family.
Sending strong and peaceful thoughts your way.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Such horrible news and I've been staring at the screen trying to process this. Zeus has been such an inspiration to us all and Lisa your support and kindness are never ending.
Celebrate his 8 month milestone and then celebrate every day you have with him. Spoil him rotten (aren't all of our tripawds anyways?), let him do whatever makes him happy (even if its rolling in stinky stuff) and just love him up.
I will be thinking of you all and adding you guys to my nightly "please watch overs".
-Kori & Angel Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
Lisa,
I'm sorry about Zeus' not so good news. Zeus doesn't know he is sick because he is too busy living in the moment.
Happy 8 Month Ampuversary Zeus!!! Today is a day to celebrate and maybe your mommy made you a yummy cake!
Have a Zeus Day everyday, spoil him even more rotten, make a bucket list and do some of his favorite things (or something new....Charley says he would want to get a burger from a drive thru), make lots of memories and take even more pictures (make sure that you are in them too).
Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to Zeus as well as strength, courage and peace to you and your family. Please give your warrior lots of hugs from me.
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!!! ♥♥♥
Oh, I too am so sorry to see this bad news. I so hoped he'd get some good news in honor of his ampuversary and also in honor of Abby's 3rd birthday.
But you have the right attitude - spoil him rotten and make the most of whatever time is left.
Take lots of pictures - and make sure you are in them! I had TONS of pics of Abby, but some of my favorite ones are the ones taken just a week before she died that have all three of us in them.
There will be plenty of time to be sad later. (I know that's easier said then done.) But like Karen said, there is a certain sense of relief that comes at this point in the journey. (At least that's how I felt.) Celebrate the heck out of his 8 month ampuversary - like Abby, he's come so far and done so well with a stupid lung met the whole time! He's amazing and will always remain an inspiration.
Hang in there,
Jackie
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!
Oh Lisa I am so sorry. I know how your heart must be breaking. But hold back the tears and mourning, you have plenty of time for that later. Now, just live and love life with Zeus and make every day count. Lots of photos and video if you can (we didn't take enough video!).
Lots and lots of hugs
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/
1 Guest(s)
