Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello,
I originally posted in the diagnosis section, but thought maybe this belongs here.
It has been over a month since I have originally posted. Tess, our border collie/blue heeler cross, has had a couple of visits at the University of Minnesota to evaluate the sarcoma on her left, rear leg, and make sure it has not spread elsewhere. The surgeon there thought he could still debulk it, but it has grown since he saw her two and a half weeks ago. The goal was to debulk it and get her into a new sarcoma immunotherapy study that starts next month at the U. I am afraid it may have grown too much to get her into that, as it is wrapping around her leg. She is going in for surgery tomorrow, and I am not sure if we will be bringing home a three or four legged dog. The vet’s preference was to amputate. If she can’t do the study, then we will probably need to opt for amputation, as the surgeon said it will likely grow back in two months or so, if it is just debulked. (She has had it removed about 6 times since it first appeared when she was 7. The other times have not been near this large. COVID related delays (still) have allowed too much time for it to grow while we wait on appointments.)
My big concern is that she will not be able to walk after the surgery. Although, she is still a strong, active dog and in quite good health, she will be 14 next month. How do I even get her walking again? What if she gives up? What if it ends up being too much for her remaining limbs? I know most of these can only be answered with time, but I don’t even know how to help her, or do what is best for her. I watch her running along the fence right now, egging on our mini mules (who are on the other side, and unfazed), and I don’t want her to lose that happiness. Yet, I don’t think she can go much longer with that tumor growing on her leg, before it causes problems.
Advice?
It's normal to question this decision, it's a big one.
Age is just a number. Yes, 14 is on the older end of the scale but what is important is how otherwise healthy she is, how much life she has left in her. We've had lots of more 'mature' pups here and they adapted just fine. You might look through the Size and Age Matters forum for inspiration.
Another way to look at it... what are your options if another debulk won't work? The tumor will continue to grow until she can't live with it any longer. If amputation does turn out to be the best option then you are giving her a chance for more quality, pain free time with you.
We do often see here that the older pups take a bit longer to get their sea legs after surgery so if amputation is the path you will need to be patient with Tess as she gets used to her new normal.
FWIW- I have a 15+ year old dog, when he was 14 I would not have hesitated to amputate if the situation arose. The dog before him... I wouldn't have done a surgery on her after she was about 11 because she had other mobility issues, she lived to be almost 15. As is said... it's not the age it's the miles!
Best of luck tomorrow. I hope that Tess can keep her leg but no matter what happens we are here to help in any way we can.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Just catching up...and checking in. As Karen said, and has already shown you with her reponse, we are here to help in anyway.
♥️♥️♥️
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Well, Tess is now a tripawd dog. We don't get her until tomorrow. They said she is resting comfortably. I still feel horrible. The tumor had grown so fast the last few weeks that it was nearly wrapped around her leg. They said there was no way to debulk it, and if they tried it would be back in a month.
What have all of you done for rehab? How do you get them moving again? Our own vet clinic has a rehab center, and I have talked to the technician already to get some water treadmill and such going once she is healed. But I am worried about getting her to that point.
YAAAAAY!!! SURGERY IS DONE!!!! And right now she's high as a kite and feeling no pain!
So tonight is a good chance for you to catch up on some sleep. I know you are focused on getting her up and moving and seeing her Sparkle come back. And that definitely will happen. But right now it's all about her recovering from major surgery while adapting to Three Legs. For the next two weeks she needs to do nothing more than rest, rest, rest, and take short least potty breaks and then come back in for more rest. Drinking and peeing are important, but she may not have much of an appetite for a few days and she may not poop for a few days. No worries.
Tess will recover at her own pace and in her own way. You just follow her lead. Rehab needs to start slowly when she does get to that point. You get her thru srgery recovery and the Rehab can show you what to do after that. Simple techniques at first will be going to a sit position, then to a stand position. Slowly at first6 then with more repetitions.
When she does come home you can give her lots of daily massages all up and down her spine, her neck and shoulder area. Oh, and put down non slip scatter rugs for traction if you have hardwood.
This will help from keeping her muscles from getting too tight as she adjusts to her new gait
Let us know qhen she gets home. .Sometimes, not always, they feel a little bit "perky" because they still have str hospital meds in them and then kjnd of crash aroundnday three or four.
Tess will soon be fence running with your mini mules....and we want video!!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Yay Tess! Congratulations! She made it through and you did too! Thanks for starting a new topic here. Step one, down. Now, time to prepare for recovery. You can do this!
As for rehab, I'm so glad you're thinking along those lines. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so make your appointment with the therapist now. Most want to see patients within 10 days of surgery.
Start by taking things verrrrrry slowly. Allow her body to rest as much as she wants right now. You don't need to push her to get up multiple times a day, or extend walks as day goes by. Here's your new mantra: "Rest is medicinal."
When her stitches are in, the most she should be doing is going outside to potty, on leash. That's it.
In the meantime, you can occupy her mind with interactive brain games to keep her from getting bored.
Make sure your floors have plenty of traction , you have raised food bowls, and you minimize her activity as much as possible to keep a seroma from forming or incision from getting irritated.
And above all else, try to stay pawsitive. She will reflect your attitude to make it hoppy and she will get there too!
Let us know how she does when she returns home. We'll be waiting for a pupdate.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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