Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Dang I'm so sorry to hear that. Ginger is such a strong girl though, and sure she's been through a lot but my guess is that her super duper immune system will help her overcome this next hurdle.
At least you caught it now, and you acted quickly on a plan. You have options, and a backup plan just in case. You are ready for anything and there's a lot of peace of mind that it will buy. No, it's not easy to be in the middle of a situation like this, but all the steps you have taken so far are lining you up mentally and emotionally to be strong and hopeful for your girl. She really couldn't ask for better humans.
Like Sally mentioned, we got lots more quality time with Jerry after we discovered mets, and many others have too. It's all just a big crapshoot, those prognoses are educated guesses but they don't take into account Ginger's health and amazing ability to bounce back. Stay pawsitive and remember she is her own girl, with her own story.
We are sending lots of pawsitivity that she has no side effects from the carbo. Let us know how she's doing OK? (((hugs)))
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just a quick update on Ginger.
We're past the three-legged issues now - she's doing very well in that regard. Has trouble getting in/out of cars and can't get up on the couch or bed anymore, but we've all come to accept that.
Ginger has multiple large tumors in her lungs.
Two rounds of carboplatin seemed to slightly reduce the one large tumor that was visible 6 weeks ago, but another tumor grew to be significantly larger than the original "large" tumor. So, the carboplatin had no effect on that one at all - it grew from not even visible 6 weeks ago to "very large" now.
None of the tumors appear to be interfering with her airway. She still has no actual symptoms of this cancer. If we weren't doing these x-rays we wouldn't even know she had any issues with her lungs.
We tried one round of Adriamycin last week. She had a little low energy the next day but showed no other adverse effects (gave her anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea mediation which could have masked any effects). We're taking her for a blood test tomorrow to check her blood cell counts as a final check. (The blood cell count barely changed with the carboplatin.)
Since she had no adverse effects, we'll probably give her another round of Adriamycin next week (two weeks after the original) and then take more images two weeks after that to see if this drug is doing any better than the carboplatin to decide if we should continue with treatment.
If the chemotherapy continues not to work, the doctor believes she will start to experience symptoms in around 2 months (maybe 3 but that estimate was before the second large tumor was discovered).
It's hard to think that we put her through all of this if she won't even make it for a year past her original diagnosis. But, they told us in September she wouldn't even be walking anymore by now if we hadn't done the amputation. So, that's some relief that at least we bought her a little more time to enjoy her sniffing tours even if we can't buy her too much more time.
Julia and Ginger
Julia I'm so glad you came back to update. What you are going through isn't easy and feels defeating I'm sure. Cancer is so effing mean. But as hard as it is, I know you can find a way to focus on the pawsitive. For starters, she's all healed up from the amputation itself, and that is HUGE! 
She's had no ill side effects from the chemo: double win! And she's doing sniffing tours (love that phrase!) that make her day. YEAH!
We as humans have a hard time with, well, time. We measure it. We obsess over how much or how little we have left. We fret about the future and aren't happy with the past.
But dogs, cats and other animals? Time is non-existent. Sure, they can recall things from other time periods, but they don't put a marker on when something happened, or might possibly. They live in a perpetual state of Now, and they know a truth that we as humans have a hard time accepting: all we have is right now. So, let's make the most of it!
Ginger is doing her best to show you this truth. Follow her lead, and you will have no regrets.
Hey you forgot to share a photo of your wise leader! Photos please 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Julia,
I am sorry to hear that you got bad news and that your heart is hurting. Our furbabies mean the world to us! I am sending you pawsitive thoughts and prayers for Ginger.
Have a good evening,
Pam
You have good path forward and have covered your bases. You got rid of that vum lev snd uou arr, indeed giving Ginger some good quality time. The fact that Ginger is sympton free and enjoying herself is what's important to her. She doesn't count days on a calendar and doesn't pay any attention to prognosis--schmognosis.
jerry said
They live in a perpetual state of Now, and they know a truth that we as humans have a hard time accepting: all we have is right now. So, let's make the most of it!
Ginger is doing her best to show you this truth. Follow her lead, and you will have no regrets.
Hey you forgot to share a photo of your wise leader! Photos please 🙂
Continue to make every moment count, just like Ginger is. Do not let that piece of. 
disease inter6 with one second of your time together... not one single second. NOW is all we ever have. Ginger is happy and completely immersed in the now. As Jerry said, follow her lead.
And btw, the Vet's prediction about symptons snd blah, blah, blah. Many dogs have remained symptom free longer, as well as had great extended quality time even once sysmptons showed up. Plus, there are noni invasive things that can be done to get dogs comfortable even after sysmptons show up.
Without question, Ginger is grateful that you DID proceed with amputation. She very much is enj rhis extended rime full of spoiling and loving , tummy rubs snd treats.
Extra hugs....and remember pictures!
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!
We let Ginger go yesterday.
She was still our happy, sweet Girl. Coughing occasionally, but no other symptoms - took a long walk Monday to her best friend's house (we go where she wants).
But, on Wednesday she had a seizure and a yelp (she never makes any sounds unless there are coyotes in the driveway). She was scared - so we were. We weren't expecting anything this soon. Didn't even know that seizures were a possibility.
We took an x-ray. Another large tumor had grown from not even visible to larger than the two others in only 12 days. One rib was starting to dissolve.
Another seizure and yelp on Thursday - but she was still our Girl - ate a cheeseburger and even asked for her late night ice cream.
Another Friday. They were scary - she didn't know what was happening - we couldn't do anything to help her - just had to wait what seemed like forever for them to end.
We didn't want her to be in pain - or be scared. We let her go.
I wasn't ready, but she was. She was very brave.
We left flowers from her favorite tree at her favorite sniffing spots along her favorite route.
I'm starting to breath again. I love her. She was scared and in pain. We let her go. No more scaries - no more pain. I love her.
Thank you for all your kind words, thoughts, and suggestions.
Julia
Oh Julia, our dear, dear Julia. No, we were not expecting this either. I am so sorry, so very, very sorry. This piece of s××t disease is so brutal and vicious and cunning.
No one could have done more. You DID give Ginger extra bonus time for loving and spoiling and extra oce cream. It's never enough time for us hoomans, but dogs don't look at it that way. They do feel cheated like we hoomans do. Ginger just felt so happy to be loved by you.❤
FWIW, a friend of mine had seizures and she told me she never felt any pain, or fear, nothing at all when they happened. There was some confusion she first came out and she felt tired. She said it was a "good tired". Obviously, much harder on the observer than the person going thru it. But I hope that helps a little.
The void and change in routine will be hard. Your heart is shattered and the grief comes out of the blue and hits you like a ton of bricks. The only way through the grief is to not fight it and not to put a timeframe on it. We can all tell you...and we promise this....the happy memories you and Ginger shared will eventually push through the sadness and help your heart heal. And that's what Ginger wants. She wants you to remember the happy times because, in her mind, happiness is all she ever had by your side😊
I'm glad you took some of the flowers from her favorite tree and sca them at her favorite spots. That's a very life affirming act. Those flowers will turn into mulch and nutrients for the soil. And that rich soul will soon grow a living grass or shrub. Be on the watch for it. Be on the watch for a lot of signs from your Ginger. She WILL connect with you. That's another promise we can all make to you.
Unfor, we had some other of our beloved family members head to The Rainbow Bridge the past several weeks. I can only imagine how happy they all were to gather rogether as all the other Bridge members welcomed them back home. They felt free and fit and healthy! They had a feast of cheeseburgers and ice cream waiting for them. Ginger ate her ice cream first, then the cheeseburger, then more ice cream!
P,lease stay connected and, when you can share more memories of this very, very special strong and brave girl with us. With pictures of course. We enjoyed getting to know her and were so touched by the bond you shared. Ginger will always be remembered here.
With love
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!
When you mentioned spreading the flowers for Ginger, I kind of envisioned how the Angel's at rhe Bridge laid out a beautiful path of flowers to help guide her as she ran free to the Bridge.
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!
Oh Julia, I'm really sorry. We never get enough time together with our pets, and when cancer is involved, it makes things feel so unfair.
I wish we could ease your heartache. Only time, and more serene walks along Ginger's favorite path can help with the healing. As time goes on I am picturing such a beautiful scene of your scattering those flowers from her favorite tree, year after year. No doubt she will always be right there walking alongside you, saying "Don't worry Mom, I'm not going anywhere."
Listen for your special guardian angel, watch for Ginger's signs. Her beautiful energy will always be there.
We send our love and condolences to you and the pack. If you feel up to it, consider sharing more about her life with you in our Coping with Loss Forum. We would enjoy getting to know her life story better.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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