Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello Everyone,
We are 9 weeks out from diagnosis and 8 weeks from amp surgery. She had and still has a clear chest xray, but we noticed a lump on the back at 5 weeks post op. Now that it is obvious that we are just living one day at a time - spoiling her, I am second guessing myself for not doing chemotherapy. On one hand - if she had mets already that quick, it wouldn't of matter, but if we had done chemo -maybe it would of slowed down. My vet isn't so sure - cause sweetpea's alk phos was 1250 pre op and 800 post op, so if we had done more scans, even though everyone focus's on the lungs - it could of already been to the other area it currently is at. My apologies for going on- but I'm worried- maybe we didn't do enough - has anybody else felt this way? Thank you for any reply!!!
I'm so sorry, I know you're really dealing with so much right now, don't feel you need to apologize for venting here. We get it.
It's easy to question your decisions and it can make you nuts. You have to know; no matter what you do it's never "enough." You could have all the money in the world and spend endless amounts on chemo, but the cancer will do what it's going to do. Some dogs are luckier than other but unfortunately, cancer has a mind of it's own, and with or without chemo, there are no guarantees. We have seen many dogs go through chemo only to succumb to cancer shortly thereafter.
Whatever happens next, always know that Sweetpea loves you for the decisions you have made, because you had her best interests in mind. You have unselfishly given her the life you felt she deserves, and she will forever repay you for being so respectful of your needs.
Put those doubts aside: that's cancer robbing you of your time together. That's really the only way it can "win," by convincing you that spending time questioning everything is important. It's not. All that matters right now is the time you have together and making the most of it.
And after all, isn't that what life is really all about anyways?
Hugs to you, we are so sorry your'e going through this.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Those doubts and second guessing decisions are really horrible. I imagine that most of us have had those feelings. I still get them sometimes and it's been 12 weeks since we let Magnum go. There are two things that help me when I'm feeling that way.
1. I loved the movie "Sliding Doors" with Gwyneth Paltrow. If you haven't seen it I thoroughly recommend it. It shows that just because we think things would have worked out better if we had followed a certain path it isn't always the case. When things go badly for us it is very human to assume that if we had made different choices things would have been better. It's not always the case, sometimes the outcome would have been worse. Eg, I have lots of guilt issues regarding Magnum's late diagnosis and what that may have done to her life span. But, I then remind myself that the timing of her diagnosis and therefore her amputation was uncannily perfect to ensure that she was given the best possible care during recuperation. Given the sort of dog she was (and refusing to wear the cone of shame ) she may well have done something really stupid to her incision if left alone during those first few weeks.
2. As Jerry says, every dog is different and every cancer is different. We make our decisions based on the info we have at the time and our gut feeling. When we make our decisions with love in our hearts they will be the right decisions even if we don't fuly understand them on a conscious level.
No matter how much time we are given with our furbabies it isn't enough time. I'm sorry you are going through this. I know it's hard but try to Be More Dog and enjoy the time you have with Sweetpea without thinking about the past or worrying about the future.
Thinking of you and sending you 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/
Many members have found the book Without Regret helpful for coping with the human emotions you're feeling. We sure did. And there is a discussion of regrets about chemotherapy where many have chimed in about doing or not doing chemotherapy for their dogs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I think it's only natural to think "what if". We did chemo w/ Abby and once in a while I think "what if" we'd just started the holistic stuff right away instead? It's natural to let those questions come to mind, but then try to forget about them. It doesn't do anybody any good.
Hope you have some more quality time with your girl.
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!
We can only make decisions that seem right for us at the time and unfortunately we can't go back in time to do something different if we knew it would turn out otherwise. Its part of life and a hard thing to deal with. I feel your pain and frustration (read below). Please hang in there!!!
While I am not dealing with Chloe's cancer anymore, we have been facing this weird 'gulping' issue. She ended up getting a foxtail wedged under her tongue and when they put her under, they found and pulled out a couple 'pods' from her tonsils. We thought that it would just need time to heal and it would be all over, but a month later, it was getting worse, so I made the decision to 'scope' her to see whats going on internally (if something more serious was going on). Good news and bad news. Good news is, all the biopsies indicated she didn't have any disease or cancer, bad news is they found inflammation and don't know the cause. She's been on steroids, pepcid (acid reflux potential), and a handful of other things to 'cover' the bases.
Some days she gulps alot, some days she doesn't gulp much. Took her in for a check up and our options were limited: Do I spend $1500 on an MRI, do I spend about the equivalent on a surgery to have her tonsils removed since they are a bit swollen, do I have her scoped one more time just in case, do I take her to a neurologist if this is a neurological issue, do I wait till it gets worse? Can I live with myself if I do nothing?
I have been feeling guilty for letting her eat grass that might have led to all of this inflammation/foxtail issues in the first place, but I also wonder because it begs the question as to what came first: the grass eating due to stomach issues or persistent inflammation because she likes to eat grass with foxtails in it, or is it something else entirely? I've also felt guilty that I can't afford to do every test known to man or have every procedure done to 'cure' this problem. Plus Chloe is 11 yrs old, I don't want to put her through more anesthetic procedures at her age and I cannot financially afford more tests that only MIGHT give an answer.
It has taken weeks of back and forth internal arguing, but I have finally decided that since Chloe is (1) happy (2) healthy in every other respect (3) enjoying life (normal spunky self) that I will continue the course of the meds she is currently on since her symptoms have improved to a less frequent state (they were much worse 2 months ago) even though they are still occurring.
We hope that you can find some peace in your mind. It is so hard when you can't talk to your animals to know how they feel or what they can handle (or not handle). It is also hard when you realize that you can't magically fix everything when you wish you could take their pain, so they could be free from it. Sending you hugs and kisses
Love, Nicole and Chloe
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Late in Maggie's Tri-pug journey she was diagnosed with a second cancer. I considered all options, including her overall health, and decided not to try and treat the cancer. Three months later she was gone. Sometimes during those three months, and periodically since she has been gone I start down the 'what if' path. I think it is in our human nature to wonder. Here is how I deal with it- I walk myself through my decision process. Why did I choose not to treat? And every time I come to the same conclusion- I did the right thing.
I'm sure you had reasons for choosing Sweatpea's path- hang on to that. You made the best decision you could. And the fact is that you never will know the answer to 'what if'?
This part is really hard, you need to focus all your energy on your girl. You are doing the best you can, and that is enough.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
I think we all do the second guessing at some point in time and then begin to feel guilty about what we did or did not do. The responses you've received so far have said it far better than I could have. I know it's hard but try to trust your judgment.
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/
Oh Sweetpea, I'm so sad to hear that you aren't doing well. Make sure you give your pack as much love as possible!
Feeling guilty, having regrets and going through the 'what ifs"...we have all been there. I've read so many times that we need to be "more dog" and just enjoy what we have, while we have it. Its not an easy thing to do but its something we learn from them.
Spoil her rotten, love her too much and thank her for all that she has given you...and know that she feels the same way.
Take care,
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/
If you noticed a lump this soon then it was probably already there and chemo would not have helped much. Unfortunately only a pre-op bone scan will tell you for sure and that is not very practical. You did the most important thing which was to amputate to relieve the pain.
Pam
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