Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Chance is 10 months post amputation with osteosarcoma. He did 6 rounds of chemo and was unable to continue metronomics due to a severe allergic reaction to his face and skin, therefore, we were just left to wait and see. He has recently developed a dry gagging/hacking type cough. It isn't often and sounds like he is trying to cough something up. He does have allergies and has always sneezed and has runny eyes. My fear is that the cancer has spread because the cough is new and he gets short of breath a lot faster now after playing. He is due for another Chest Xray, but I can't decide if I would want to know if he has lung mets or be better off not knowing. My husband and I have decided not to go through any more chemo type treatment because I am now pregnant and don't want to take those risks of being exposed.
What are your thoughts? Should I take him to get an Xray, in case it is something that can be treated, or wait and see if it gets worse? What kind of cough did you experience with lung mets?
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
Hey there!
Well.. we always think the worst when we hear a cough after we have had amputations due to osteosarcoma.... but I can only tell you what happened with my guy.. and every situation is different...
Franklin had his leg amputated in December 2012. At that time his lungs were clear... and we did not do chemo because Franklin was 14 and even though they are okay with it.. we didn't want him to have any sick days as we really did not know how long we would have with him due to his age..
Around end of March we noticed that Franklin had a bit of a wheeze.. and when he laid on his side or back, he would gag... and cough. When he went to the vets late March for his shots, I mentioned it to the vet (this was not his regular vet who did the amputation) and he said if he had mets you would hear him wheeze and cough all the time..
Well... it wasn't all the time.. it was only ocassionally, so I was ignorant and didn't think about it. :O( Well... a few more weeks passed and he did start to have a cough.. and I took him back to the vets and we did an xray.. and yes... they were there. Good old mets. *fack* His lungs were full. He was too far gone to do any meds to help slow the mets.. There was probably one little cell that had made his way to his lungs before the amputation.. you never realy do know with this effing disease.
Did it help knowing? Yes... it did. We were able to spend what time we had left as more quality time and we eased his cough with ham mixed with Benadryl dry cough syrup. He loved his ham treats!! He did slow down... and it was about 3 1/2 weeks after the xrays that I let the leash go for the last time. I don't regret knowing...
Am I saying Chance has them? No. But it really does not hurt to know if he does. And if... IF he does.. and they are small. you can start some metronomics , etc to help him. I know that Michelle with Sassy and others have done that and they lived with mets for months and months...
But.. in all honesty.. if I were you.. I would get an xray. Just for piece of mind. And.. if it comes back clear.. whooo hooo!!! Then you know you have some allergies maybe to deal with but not that other crap!
Crossing fingers and paws for you and Chance.. as well as a few other things thanks to old age and gravity!!
Christine... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
First off, congrats on the new baby!
About the cough...it's natural to jump to conclusions, everyone here who has a metastasis cancer diagnosis lurking in the background does it, us included. While most times these symptoms do not indicate that it's "the cough", somewhere down the line it could be. So.....
We wavered on x-rays too. But when we finally decided to do it, it was good to know what we were dealing with. It allowed us to create a plan to move forward, treat the symptoms and give him a good quality of life, while preparing ourselves for the inevitable.
IF it is mets, there are options for treating lung mets holistically, without toxic drugs, here are some links for you:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi taynam,
I do not have experience with lung mets, because my Polly had a different ugly "c", but I thought I would give my 2-cents on the x-ray decision. For me, I would much rather know if and what we were dealing with, and like Jerry said, move forward with plan if it is what is suspected.....if nothing is evident, all the better. This is still so much a personal decision, though, so whatever you decide is never wrong. For a lot of us, we would just rather know. I know others here managed lung mets in their beloved Tripawds successfully for awhile, if that were to be the case.
Keeping you in my thoughts, and keep us updated on handsome Chance..
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
P.S. Also, congrats on your expecting a new baby.....!
Thanks for the help! I think that I will take him to see my local vet tomorrow and ask for an Xray. Hopefully it is something that can be treated. Chancey Boy is still is happy ol self chasing the rabbits around the yard. I caught one in a trap and I really thing he wanted to eat it!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
As we always say....every dog is different, that's for sure!
I did no further testing after my Happy Hannah was done with chemo...did try do go the metronomics
route a few weeks...forvariius reasons didn't continue....uti, etc.
For.me...and this is just.me....it wasn't until Happy Hannah started gettint very exhausted...not just tired...not just low energy...but very exhausted that I decided to n do xrays BECAUSE...if itwas a met, there were many things we could still do pallatively.
Happy Hannah had NO cough...No wheezing...had a great appetite...well, you would have to know that I'never known hetpr to miss a meal...zEVER. They said when she was waking up after anesthesia she smelled food.in the next kennel for another dog...through her drugged state she was trying to scoot over to get the food.
Just my penny's worth....because I've had dogs develop a dry haking cough out of the blue and it was nothing!!! Even dogs who had never had allergies, the vet said sometimes they just develop a dry hacking cough due to "some allergen" in the air somewhere. I think in one case I had to give Bodie a little squirt of codene to settle the cough.
And again...just me...but I think getting tired after playing, or a little short of breath...comes with the territory of being a tripawd for awhile now and the heat of summer real o y affects a tripawd. Unless I saw more definitive sysmptons, consistently, I wouldn't do xrays. For me, I wanted to do whatever it took to stay in the moment and savor every single second staying in the now.
Happy Hannah and I had GLORIOUS YEAR AND TWO MONTHS OF THE BEST LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND FUN IMAGINABLE!!!
CONTINUE TO STAY IN THE MOMENT AND LET NOTHING ROB YOU OF YOUR TIME TOGETHER!!!!!! Chance is having a ball!!!
Love and Hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Just saw your new post.....yeah, that feels right for you and that's what it's all about......I know you'll feel better!
Hugs!
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!
NO METS! The doctor said his lungs looked "normal for his age." The cough is probably just allergies which we can deal with. This is a huge relief and now I'm glad that I took him so that I have comfort in knowing that he may just stick around a little bit longer!!!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
Yayyyyyyy!!!!!! I was so hoping to be reading something great for Chance soon........Oh, happy, happy, day !!!!! And hurray for allergies !!! Only here would we be cheering wildly for allergies and other minor maladies....... 
Thanks for sharing such great news today !! Keep kicking butt, Chancey Boy!!
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
GRRRRRRRRRRREAT NEWS!!!!! And as Bonnie said...YAAAAAAAAA FOR ALLERGIES,!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
Now you and Chance get on with living life to the fullest...Chance sure is!!!!!!!!
SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!
Love and hugs!
Sally and 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!
Hurray! I love when I miss reading the forums for a few days and then there is good news
Tucker also has a dry cough - but it is not mets or allergies - he has some dysphagia in his throat muscles which is not uncommon in dogs with more life experience 🙂 I'm lucky that Tuck did not have osteosarcoma or I would constantly be worried about mets 
given that he has this condition.
Chance and Tuck are both sneaking up on their one year ampuversaries (in September).
We can have a glorious co-celebration!
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Yay, Good news!!! my dog Chandler also has an occasional dry cough. I took him to the vet who suspects that he may have the same thing that Tucker has. Pretty common in older pups. He is 11. He does also have allergies. So glad to hear that is the case with your boy also. By the way, he is so adorable!!!!! Lori and TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Yay awesome news. Thank God. We always can celebrate the great news
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
THAT is a great way to start the weekend! WOOHOOO!!!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
pawsome! Pawsome! PAWSOME!!!
glad you had the xray done.... and glad to hear the great news!!
Keep kicking arse Chance!!!
Christine... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
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