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I see it happen to other people.... but never thought it would happen to us...
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Member Since:
27 May 2015
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10 September 2015 - 7:00 am
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we went to the vet yesterday for her radiographs and her LAST chemotherapy! We did four rounds of carbo, we were supposed to do a fifth yesterday. 

but we didn't get to.

her xrays came back with quite a few little mets. 

Image Enlarger

we have her on palladia for the month but there's no way i'm going to be able to afford it forever. it's like 700$ a month with her xrays and she needs constant urinalyses and other garbage tests to make sure the meds don't hurt her, but our doc says she's seen this palladia really help some people with mets already. 

but anyway, we're gonna see if it helps. and if it does, i'll make the financial aspect work. if it doesn't help, we're just gonna let her enjoy however much time left she has! i never expected this to happen even though i knew the probability of it not happening was slim to none.

i know there's people in this group who have had their dogs live happily for a considerable amount of time with mets, i need all that positivity i can get! 

(not sure why when i view this page, i can't see the xray but when i edit my post, i can...) 

Norene, TN
Member Since:
21 October 2014
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10 September 2015 - 7:48 am
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Bless your heart. I really don't know much about the chemo and such, and I know the financial stress is not making things better for you, but there will come a day when you'll be able to say with a thankful heart, "I did everything I possibly could." You'll be able to lay your head on your pillow at night and know peace.

No one knows the sacrifices we endure for the love of our fur-babies. But then again, we don't answer to all those folks out there who haven't a clue about a bond as strong as if it were our flesh-and-blood.

Here's my positivity for you - since Harmony's passing (she left us 2 days after her first chemo session), I've changed my point-of-view regarding the time we have with our furries and it has everything to do with this site. Tripawds reminded me that time is relative (sorry Einstein!). When viewed through the eyes of my Meesha and Melody, 30 minutes of play can mean a 24 dog-hour day for them. Just 5 minutes of scratching their ears, translates to 1 doggie hour of pure bliss. I know it's hard to stay positive, but I find if I hold this philosophy close to my heart, I could see me (and them) loving their pains away, or better-yet, curing them. In other words, how can cancer exist when there's so much love crowding it out?

I truly believe that's what kept Jerry going so long. There are so many success stories here where time-frames were scoffed at as our fur-babies proved them wrong. Do you think it was because the attitude of the pawrent changed? We forget sometimes how much power love has. We chain it with chronological logic or financial fears, etc. The truth is, love is so very powerful, we just have to know how to harness and implement it.

xoxo

pam

Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.

"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."

- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey

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10 September 2015 - 8:28 am
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harmony said
Bless your heart. I really don't know much about the chemo and such, and I know the financial stress is not making things better for you, but there will come a day when you'll be able to say with a thankful heart, "I did everything I possibly could." You'll be able to lay your head on your pillow at night and know peace.

No one knows the sacrifices we endure for the love of our fur-babies. But then again, we don't answer to all those folks out there who haven't a clue about a bond as strong as if it were our flesh-and-blood.

Here's my positivity for you - since Harmony's passing (she left us 2 days after her first chemo session), I've changed my point-of-view regarding the time we have with our furries and it has everything to do with this site. Tripawds reminded me that time is relative (sorry Einstein!). When viewed through the eyes of my Meesha and Melody, 30 minutes of play can mean a 24 dog-hour day for them. Just 5 minutes of scratching their ears, translates to 1 doggie hour of pure bliss. I know it's hard to stay positive, but I find if I hold this philosophy close to my heart, I could see me (and them) loving their pains away, or better-yet, curing them. In other words, how can cancer exist when there's so much love crowding it out?

I truly believe that's what kept Jerry going so long. There are so many success stories here where time-frames were scoffed at as our fur-babies proved them wrong. Do you think it was because the attitude of the pawrent changed? We forget sometimes how much power love has. We chain it with chronological logic or financial fears, etc. The truth is, love is so very powerful, we just have to know how to harness and implement it.

xoxo

pam

I agree with this so much! I swear I can love her until they're all gone! I'm hoping all the meds will help, and I have a mutual fund type thing set up for emergencies in my life, so if the palladia improves her quality of life, I can definitely make it happen, it just isn't something I am going to do if I am not seeing results because what's the point of continuing poking her and testing her and giving her all the different pills if there aren't results? 

Anyway, I just am having a hard time because she seems so fine, and I've always put out such a strong message about how her remission was going and how positive we were that she was gonna make it despite the odds, and now that it's back in the lungs without us being able to finish chemo, it's really distressing since she did 4/5 chemos with no mets and doing absolutely fantastic. I just kind of feel like my world is crumbling around me, while I try to stay as happy as possible because I dont want her to be sad! 

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10 September 2015 - 8:29 am
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 good grief i really can't get this photo to work! uploaded it to a third party, used the url, where the hell is my x ray?! woof. 

Idaho
Member Since:
12 March 2013
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10 September 2015 - 9:13 am
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I can see it on my iPad.

Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork

Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!

UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!

On The Road


Member Since:
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10 September 2015 - 9:14 am
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Wow, I'm so sorry. That is not the result any of us expect and my heart breaks for you. (We can see your x-ray).

I couldn't have said it better than Pam just did, thank you Pam.

As it is for our animals, it's not about time or prognosis or what the x-rays show. This is such a hard concept for us humans. We want estimates and guarantees and certainty and with all the technology and medications we have, we still don't get it.

So, what would your mindset be like if you hadn't seen those x-rays?  Happy, knowing how well she's feeling and getting around? Take a look at Eva, look into her eyes, and that's what you can strive for.

I know when we finally got brave and did x-rays on Jerry, 17 months out, and found out he had mets, it changed a LOT of things. But we refused to let the results change how we had been feeling all along -- grateful for every single happy day he'd had so far, and thankful that at that moment, which is all we really have anyways, he was still doing great. Heck, he couldda had those mets all along, we just don't know. And I'm glad we didn't know. We held onto the feeling we'd had all along from day one, happy for his joy, and went forward with it, one step at a time, every day.

{{{{hugs}}}}}

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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10 September 2015 - 9:50 am
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Very well articulated Pam! Harmony is so proud that her life lessons she taught you are being used in a way that touches others in a life affirming way.

Couple of deep breaths, okay? You are a wonderful advocate for your Eva!! And there still are options!!

Jerry made some excellent points (as always) and it's really important that you let NOTHING interfere with your time together! Nothing has changed in Eva's world and that's the mindset you need to mirror. Eva is feeling great and that is HUGE!!

Of course continue to check out options and continue with the supplements, metronomics , etc. Palladia does cause side effects in some dogs, certainly not all. For whatever it's worth I can tell you that many dogs here were just given four rounds of Carbo. as that's the protocol many Oncos use. My Happy Hannah did four and I did NOT do xrays after that. She was symptom free and we just were getting on with life without vets!

Again, for whatever it's worth and without filling in too many specifics, it wasn't until her "symptoms" were becoming somewhat noticeable that she had an xray. The vet felt if it was a met at that poi t we could treat with Prednisone and a few other "tricks".
Well, it was a met alright...he said it was the size of a baseball!! No, I didn't look. I didn't need that image stuck in my head. Here's the point, obviously it would have been seen in xrays a long time before but would not have changed anything I would have do e...except cause me more worry and take me out of being in the moment with my Happy Hannah.

Even after that big piece of crap was found, we had GREAT extended time...and I'm being so honest! We really did! So clearly she had that thing probably about six or seven months months before she even started showing symptoms! And even then her quality wasn't compromised too much. Being a couch potato and getting tummy rubs and ice cream equated to good quality in Happy Hannah's world!

We are all right here wirh you, okay? As you already have been doing Eva's whole life, make everyday count. Lots of pictures and extra treats!!

Remember, NOTHING has changed in Eva's world a d she's feeling great!

Love a d 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!

Schofield, WI
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13 August 2015
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10 September 2015 - 11:44 am
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Beautiful Pam!  And so true.  Take each day and make precious memories with Eva.  As Sally always says no time frame stamped on their butt.  One day at a time one step at a time.  We'll all be sending healing thoughts too!! 

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27 May 2015
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10 September 2015 - 12:26 pm
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benny55 said
Very well articulated Pam! Harmony is so proud that her life lessons she taught you are being used in a way that touches others in a life affirming way.

Couple of deep breaths, okay? You are a wonderful advocate for your Eva!! And there still are options!!

Jerry made some excellent points (as always) and it's really important that you let NOTHING interfere with your time together! Nothing has changed in Eva's world and that's the mindset you need to mirror. Eva is feeling great and that is HUGE!!

Of course continue to check out options and continue with the supplements, metronomics , etc. Palladia does cause side effects in some dogs, certainly not all. For whatever it's worth I can tell you that many dogs here were just given four rounds of Carbo. as that's the protocol many Oncos use. My Happy Hannah did four and I did NOT do xrays after that. She was symptom free and we just were getting on with life without vets!

Again, for whatever it's worth and without filling in too many specifics, it wasn't until her "symptoms" were becoming somewhat noticeable that she had an xray. The vet felt if it was a met at that poi t we could treat with Prednisone and a few other "tricks".
Well, it was a met alright...he said it was the size of a baseball!! No, I didn't look. I didn't need that image stuck in my head. Here's the point, obviously it would have been seen in xrays a long time before but would not have changed anything I would have do e...except cause me more worry and take me out of being in the moment with my Happy Hannah.

Even after that big piece of crap was found, we had GREAT extended time...and I'm being so honest! We really did! So clearly she had that thing probably about six or seven months months before she even started showing symptoms! And even then her quality wasn't compromised too much. Being a couch potato and getting tummy rubs and ice cream equated to good quality in Happy Hannah's world!

We are all right here wirh you, okay? As you already have been doing Eva's whole life, make everyday count. Lots of pictures and extra treats!!

Remember, NOTHING has changed in Eva's world a d she's feeling great!

Love a d hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

it's really good to hear how long you had happy hannah before she started showing symptoms. Because if I can stunt her met growth, we'll be a long way out from symptoms I think. Eva is EXTREMELY active and wild and crazy, loves to play nonstop, and none of that has changed. Like how Jerry said how would my mindset be if i didn't see it in the X-rays, that really stuck to me. Because I wouldn't be treating her any different! So I guess I shouldn't! I just never wanted this to happen to us. I love her so much, I want to keep her happy and healthy for a long life! She's only three and it breaks my heart. 

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