Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello Tripawd community!
I am new to the site and am so thankful for this community and the much appreciated post and advice I have obtained from it. My pup (Goddi) is 15 days post-amputation of his front left leg due to Osteosarcoma. I really struggled with the decision to amputate but so happy we did now that we see him almost back to his old self.....his new nickname is 'Rocket' since he moves fast like one 
Goddi is a 13 years old 55lbs pit bull and I must first express how thankful I am for the 13 beautiful years he has been able to share with me. I have found it difficult to call him a 'senior' given his personality and energy level makes him out to be a pup trapped in a 13 year old, full of grays, body.........but that is what he is but his personality also allowed us to make the decision to amputate easier.
I am strongly considering chemotherapy and have read many responses on this site regarding your opinions about it however I am concerned that with the chemo and his age the expected quality of life extension from it would not be worth the potential side effects or risk of him to feel ill when he is feeling great after the amputation. I would so very much appreciate any advice, experiences or simply words of encouragement for those senior-pups getting chemo done!
Many thanks in advance and I hope that maybe this post will help someone else out there with this struggle of decision as much as many of your other post has helped me along this journey.
(will try to post a pic soon, still learning how to use this site)
~Ann Marie & Goddi
Hi Ann Marie and Goddi!
Sorry you have to be here AND, under the circumstances, there is no better place to be!
Goddi sounds like a real feisty "mature" fella'! Cannot wait to see pictures of this precious Pittie!
My Happy Hannah, an 8 1/2 yr. young Bull Mastiff, was considered "mature" for her breed when she had her amputation and four rounds of Carboplatin. Like most dogs, she sailed through with no problems! We had THE most glorious one year and two months anyone could ever hope for!
Did chemo give her extended time? I have no idea! Some do not do chemo and live for years....some do chemo and don't even get through all the treatments.....and some do chemo and get great extended time. It really is a crap shoot!
We all understand your commitment to giving Goddi the best quality possible, full of more loving and spoiling than anyone could imagine!
Many dogs here go the holistic approach rather than chemo. Again...a "crap shoot" kind of thing.
No dog jas a time frame stamped on his butt, that's for sure!
Some things you may want to consider, even more so than his age:
*Chemo is done every three weeks with some blood work required in between. Does Goddu like car rides? Does he enjoy socializing at the vets?
*Chemo can ALWAYS be stopped if there are side effects. Generally...not always...if there are side effects it's some nausea, tired, off food for a day or so. The vet gives you meds to combat the nausea.
You know your dog best!! You know yourself best!! Would you always second guess yourself if you didn't try? Would you always second guess yourself if you tried and it didn't extend his quality time? Turst me...you're human...you'll second guess yourself either way!! UGH!
Real l y glad Goddi is doing so well this soon after amputation!!
As you have probably seen....it's all about being more dog from this point forward! It's all about making each bonus day be the best ever!! Its about letting NOTHING rob you of your time together! Itsq all about taking lots of pictures and letting us see some!!!
Whatever decision you make will be the right decision...because it will be made out of love!
Keep us posted and let us know how we can help! Others will chime in with more senior input.
Deep breaths....eat chocolate...and go hug Goddi!!!
((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Hi Ann Marie and Goddi,
My girl, Shelby, was 13 while she was having chemo ... I hated the use of the term "senior" with her too. She was a young 13 Jack Russell mix ... she had a different kind of cancer but chemo none-the-less. She took it like a champ. Did it slow her down for a couple days? Yeah... but I think that's normal regardless of age. She has since passed due to her cancer but it did give us an extra 8 months together after her diagnosis ...
Chemo is a very personal decision and I believe, if it isn't great for them, you can stop. Hope this helps!
Hugs,
alison with the spirit of shelby furever in her heart
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hi Anne Marie and Goddi Rocket, welcome!
Well you sure have a WONDERFUL attitude, and that will take you so very far in this journey! I'm so glad things are going well.
Have you checked our Size and Age Matters forum yet? Lots of good insight there on "mature" dogs and chemotherapy.
The thing about chemo is you can always stop if there are side effects you don't like. Are you currently working with an oncologist?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you very much for the replies and advice. Goddi most definitely loves car rides and likes going to the vet or anywhere different. He is currently being seen by an Oncologist at the same place he had his amputation done so I know the staff is fantastic and feel he is well cared for when there. He is a very calm and well tempered dog, he has converted many of my friends and associates view/idea of "the pit bull" as he gets along with anyone and anything.
I have done a lot of searching from the beginning of his diagnosis and was originally against going forward until I spoke with the Oncologist and understood the purpose of "prolonged quality" vs "completely eliminating the cancer" and didn't know side effects were less in animals vs humans. Goddi has reached his peak of life expectancy and I am ecstatic for every additional day I get but worried I will "ruin a good thing" sort of speak. I work in human medicine and with my knowledge and his current state my gut is telling me to go ahead and try at least 1 round. If I do not move forward with at least trying 1 round I think I will regret not doing it being that I am in a position to be able to offer him this.
I know clinical trials are few and far between but does anyone know of anyone that participated, how they participated or how the results went?
I am quite skeptical after a person I know passed away due to a clinical trial they were on, the risk I feel are much higher but then again I guess it depends on the stage of research it is in.
Sorry I have't post a picture yet when I click on the "insert/edit image" and input my image a empty box shows up. Could it be my browser?
Thank you again everyone! 
You jave done an excellent job of assessing your options and why you should, or should not, pursue chemo.
You've made a decision knowing you can stop anytime. And Goddi loves vet visits and car rides! Sounds like a good plan to me!! My Happy Hannah had four rounds...some Onco' s suggest five, some four. As I mentioned earlier, she sailed through each one.
Cant help you as far as lpading pictures...very computer challenged. I do know you have to go to something like photobucket first and then post from there.
Look forward to those photos! He sounds like o ne of those dogs that just melts your heart. In fact, even without the pictures, he's melted mine!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
annmariski said
I know clinical trials are few and far between but does anyone know of anyone that participated, how they participated or how the results went?
Scroll down the Tripawds Resources page for lots of links about clinical trials!
Review these Tripawds News blog posts:
Dog Cancer Clinical Trials Help You, Help Others
Dog Cancer Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know
And don't miss these posts about Jerry's clinical Trial for OSA metastasis metronomics treatment:
Fighting Osteosarcoma with My K9 Immunity Clinial Trial
My K9 Immunity Clinical Trial Results
FYI: In addition to searching the Forums above, you can search all blogs here .
Sorry I have't post a picture yet when I click on the "insert/edit image" and input my image a empty box shows up. Could it be my browser?
More likely an invalid file type. You need to enter a valid URL for an image file when using the Insert/Edit Image button. Here are detailed instructions for adding images to forum posts.
Hope this helps!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello. I hear ur cycle of thoughts going round and round...should we shouldn't we,,, what if.
i was exactly the same...we want the best for our fur kids & we don't have certainty behind any choices we make which makes the decision process that much harder.
I didn't want to put Sandy through anything that may knock her as she too is a senior but I signed up to the amputation knowing I just had to give it a try to give her the best start at this. So we did...Sandy has just finished her fourth chemo session & she has been amazing on it! NO REGRETS!
Every pet is different & side effects are there for some but not all. I told myself-what needs to be weighed up is what is better for sandy, what would she want...managing the risk of possible side effects or not giving it a go & wishing I had tried if it took her life too early.
I am a proud pawrent!
Good luck with what you choose...it has to be a personal choice.
Hi All!
Thank you Dawnie for giving some insight to your decisions for Sandy. I actually decided to go forward with the chemo and we are on day 3 after his 1st chemo treatment......no side effects so far and he is still his energetic self, no loss of appetite, no vomitting and no major changes in his bowel or personality so I am one happy camper and so is he!
Now who's to say if he will have any side effects with the next round or the one after but after much "soul searching" for an answer I felt that I would of regretted and continously kept in that cycle of "what ifs" until I just did it! Given his physical state and no signs of mets on radiology and lab work was good........I figured.....if he has ANY side effects what so ever I will deal with it then and stop the chemo if need be.
We were in the same dilemma with the decision to amputate his leg but now that it is done and over with (3 weeks post-op) we are so very happy we did it, he gets around so much better and no pain at all compared to when he had his cancerous leg. To think when I first found out about his Cancer I was not even considering the amputation or treatment cause of his age and the fact that the first vet (who originally diagnosed him) told me it would not be "worth" doing since he is a senior. Very happy we went with our gut, got a second opinion, did some research and found this site which has really help tremendously during my decision process. Absolutely no regrets!
Hugs & Kisses,
Ann Marie & Goddi
Soooooo glad to hear Goddi is doing well! Seniors rock!!! And second opinions do as well!!
HAPPY THREE WEEK AMPUVERSARY GODDI!!! And here's to a gazillion more!!!,
And YAY for SANDY too!!
Sending hugs!!!!!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Hey Ann Marie & Goddi, that's fantastic news!! So pleased it has started so well...long May that continue! We had to delay a session here & there due to blood counts being a little lower than usual but was no big concern & a week later we were back on track, so don't be concerned to much if the oncologists delay a session. Best to be safer than sorry. It was on our final chemo session we had a little upset tummy but only lasted a short while on a bland diet...its a build up of chemo in their bodies the vet said. As long as you have that open dialogue with your vet you'll be sailing through making the best choices only you can make with your pooches eyes telling you it all!
keep going with that positive outlook you have! It'll take you far together. Only YOU know your pooch inside out & having this knowledge u will know what's right & not to call it as you see with a vet you trust.
Sandy sends sniffs to Goddi!
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