Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well... received "THE CALL" last night. The cytology revealed poorly differentiated mast cells. UGHH! Our vet who is still perplexed continues to reach out to colleges and wants to personally speak to the pathologist to give him the details of Jake's case. Could this be mast cells in a hematoma? Culture is still not ready. CBC with diff was WNL. It is sooo disheartening to have this NASTY CANCER come back so aggressively within 1 month of amputation. Right now I am living in the moment, hoping for a miracle but in my heart of hearts (and the nurse in me) knows what the sad reality is. Currently Jake is eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping. He is not totally himself as he is on Benadryl, ultram, Pepcid and clavamox. He is a little snippy with his brother and sister when they start horsing around too close. Will keep you posted.
Laurie
Laurie,
I'm sorry that Jake is having a rough time right now. My thoughts are with him and pray that it's not cancer.
Sending you and Jake many HUGS!!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Laurie,
I am sorry this is happening with sweet Jake.......I know there are others here that have dealt with this type of cancer and will jump in to offer more insight. My Polly's first cancer diagnosis at aged 6 was mast cell, but we were able to catch it early and it never came back after 2 back-to-back surgeries. My vet always calls this cancer, the "great pretender"......what you think may be mast cell may not be, and vice-versa. His own sweet Pitty just went through extensive surgery recently due to "accidently" finding it while having routine tests done for cruciate surgery. She is currently doing very well since surgery.
While I really don't know a whole lot about this crappy mast cell cancer, please try not to get too down about this, I still believe and hope this can be very treatable. Continue to love on all you fur babies, especially handsome Jake, and take one step at a time.
Sending positive thoughts and keeping you in my thoughts as well.....
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Yeah, ditto Bonnie! So much of this journey is about "expecting the unexpected" and then what turned out to be "expected" wasn't thatt at all!! HUH?? Not sure what I meant either! I think Bonnie's vet described it perfectly, not jist for mass cell, but for all this crapoy stuff! It's jist never what you think it is.
One thing that I really worked jard kn myself about during this journey was, "Unless I found out otherwise, anything that was 'uncertain' or not confirmed I jad a choice....a choice to let my mind go amuck and with the worse case scenario and i terfere with our time togethe, or to believe it wasn't anything horrible at all and adjust my emotions accordingly!"
Easy? Not! But sooooooo often....with sooooooo many people here......when things pointed to a bad outcome, that was NOT the case at all!!
EXAMPLE......The Onco called after my Happy Hannah's leg was amputated to tell me it had gone to the lymoh nodes and was not opitimistic! Rattle me much? I was whacko with worry! When the pathology report came in, I went over it with my regular vet. It said "No lymph node tissue presented"! He called the Pathologist directtly and they cinfirmed no tissue of the node was presented/included for testing!!! I called the Onco, who apparently had not read the report thoroughly, and had given me this grim comment anyway. She then asked the surgeon who said yes, tissue wqs included. I think the onco. was now havkng secknd thoughts, but since the surgeon was in her office, didn't want to question him. Regardless, NO tissue was tested by the Pathologist so no opinion could have been formed! My regular vet and I "believed" the pathologist's version and proceeded withnthe fact that lymph nodes were not involved! And we had wonderful extened time that clearly would not have been as long had nodes been involved!
Jake's reality is right now he feels good! Good enough to eat just fine, pee, poop and snap at his annoying brothers!, Yeah, I'm sure the meds keep him a little "off", plus still recovering from the amp.
I'm really glad you jave such a pro-active vet! When do you think he'll have a cinversation with the pathologist and the rest lf his college contacts?
Stay connected tomus, okay? Cry, vent, scream, AND post more photos of this sweet boy!! Your whole pack jist seems so adorable in your avatar picture!
Follow Jake's lead.....he's feeling good continuing to adjust and enjoyjng all the special loving and spoiling and extra treats!! yeah, its nard staying in the "now? someti es...but just look at Jake, give him a big hug, and he'll bring you right i to his world of tne present not worryi g about any ole' stupid "reports"!
Sending you love and hugs and looking forward to pictures!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Hi again Laurie!
I just wanted to add something after I saw your post on Snoops thread. Snoops did get a bit more quality time....the day they released him was when the test finally showed a mass in the pelvis had formed as well as the "other" spine issues for which they were treating him.
Make, from everything you've mentioned is not in pain and certainly has some spunk! Make has had some "challenges" in his recovery and, under the circumstances with all he's had to deal with, he's STILL somewhat early in his recovery. I KNOW this part of the journey is sooooooo exhausting. This is where we say "...give me patience....hurry up.....I need it NOW!"
You are so strong and sich a wonderful advocate for Jake! Just take it day by day and give your wonderful vet time tominvestigate things and Jake time to get over this rotten recovery period!
Continuing sending healing energy and lots of hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thanks- No call yet from the vet. Like a cat on a hot tin roof. Jake is a little mopey but is eating drinking pooping and peeing. Think he is a little more relaxed this afternoon as I stopped boo hooing! Thank You All! I will keep you posted.
Laurie
Yeah, the waiting for results is the pits. I called every day to check on Ty's. They probably saw my number come up and said oh no her again. His culture for what turned out to be MRSA took 5 full days. I was a mess. I just knew that was what we were dealing with and wanted it treated yesterday. Don't be afraid to call and check on results if you don't hear anything. Try to breathe as Sally says, I know so hard. 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.
Laurie I'm sorry to hear that, dang. But whatever it is, it's been caught now and you can come up with a treatment plan to deal with it. Mast cell is tricky but it can also be very manageable over the long term from what I understand from The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, which has a lot of great info about it. Try not to think the worst, mast cell is different for every dog and so it may be something very treatable.
For now he isn't in pain, he's getting better with each new day, and he wants you to join him. Try to focus on today, not what may or may not happen tomorrow, that's all he wants is for you to be there with him in this moment. I know it's very hard but you can do it.
Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Still waiting... The surgeon is off on Sunday and Monday. But I did get a pic of Jake up on my avatar. Must confess that my 15 year old daughter did it for me lol. Jake's energy level is much better today... he even played his old game of walking back and forth through my legs so I could rub his butt and tell him how handsome he is. Yesterday he was rolling in the grass. Taking it as it comes. I truly think he is acting better because I have returned to treating him normal again. Hopefully tomorrow I will get a better picture since the surgeon wanted to have a 1:1 conversation with the pathologist. I was inspired by Rio's story and feel better that a hematoma is not soo far out of the question a month after surgery. Thank You all, will keep you updated. Maybe soon I will learn to upload pic's for myself.
Laurie
Keeping our fingers and paws crossed that you will get a wonderful update from your vet tomorrow.
Glad to hear that Jake's energy level is better - he's totally showing us how to "Be More Dog ".
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
GRRRRREAT AVATAR PICTURE!!! It shows an incredibly happy dog with A positive outlook on life! It's a perfect picture. Of course, with a handsome subject like Jake it can only turn out magnificently!
Jake is clearly tuned into your energy. I'm really glad you are in a much better space right now. Remember, all you have to do is let Jake be your coach on how to live life! It's wonderful that his sparkle has started to come back! That makes everybody feel so much better!
Jake doesn't care about anyone stupid report or what the vet says, he has every intention of getting on with living his life to the fullest every single day!
ROCK ON JAKE! You're a ROCK STAR!
Cheering for you non-stop!
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!
Surgeon just called. The mast cells aspirated from the mass on Jake's groin area are in fact mast cells. The culture came back negative. They have suggested a combined consult with MD and Surgeon to review options. She stated that Palladia and/ or prednisone could be an option. Any one have any input. I quickly read about Palladia (while at work lol). They know that I am opposed to chemo and that quality of life is my goal! Currently he is happy and doing well.
Laurie aka Jake's Mom
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