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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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New York, NY
Member Since:
3 December 2012
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1
27 April 2014 - 9:33 am
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I wasn't even going to share this.  But you guys are our tripawd family...and I am panicking.

Last night I found a lump on the side of Jill's chest.  My friend is here visiting from out of town and I had her feel it and confirm that she felt it too just to make sure I wasn't crazy and she definitely feels it too.  It's very small, about the size of a pea and feels exactly the same as the metastasis she had in her leg 16 months ago, not squishy like a lipoma.  The second my fingers touched that lump, my heart and stomach dropped the same way it did when I felt that met.  

I emailed her oncologist in a panic and as always, she's so amazing and emailed me back on the weekend.  I wanted to bring Jill to the ER (of course this isn't an emergency I'm just freaking out) and Dr Hohenhaus suggested that this is an emotional emergency, not a medical one and her doctors that know about her should see her and she calmed me down a bit.  So I will be taking Jill to her regular vet today at 1pm for a needle aspirate and chest x-ray.

I just dont know...I have a terrible feeling.  Jill on the otherhand is running around and playing.  I wish I could be more cat........

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

Member Since:
18 September 2013
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27 April 2014 - 9:38 am
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Hi Erica

Sending you hugs and lots of pawsitive support right now.

Tuck has tons of lumps....some feel like regular lipomas and other are lipomas but don't feel like them...so I understand your stress.

Try to keep being more cat......I know from your posts that you have excellent vets.....

Hugs

Linda and Tucker

New Haven, CT
Member Since:
27 December 2012
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3
27 April 2014 - 9:48 am
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Damn.  Damn.  Damn.

I know she's getting great care and getting it checked out!  And if it turns out to be something, it's operable!  That's a huge deal, Erica.  I know, not comforting.  We wish these things would never return.  Ever.  EVER.  This damn disease....

HUGS

~ Katy & Jackson

ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12.  Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ!  No side effects.  We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments.  He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors!  Our love. Our funny little guy!

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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27 April 2014 - 10:37 am
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1. You should always feel like you can share.
2. Dr. H is awesome.
3. Several bad words and exclamation points.

Very weird, I heard a song this morning that made me think of Jill and Belle. It was a happy song so I'm going to say its a good omen. My gut feelings are usually right, I hope yours is wrong.

Find out what you are dealing with, knowledge is power. You can deal with whatever this is because Jilly Bean needs you to. I hope I log on to good news tonight when I get home.

Karen and Spirit Maggie

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Virginia
Member Since:
26 January 2014
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27 April 2014 - 10:39 am
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Sending LOTS of positive thoughts and hope your way. Its awesome your vet could get you in today and it sounds like your oncologist is awesome too (emailing you back on a weekend!). Jake had some lumps and bumps on him that were just plain lumps and bumps. Of course, we always worry when they have had cancer that each one is the big C word rearing its ugly head again. Saying lots of prayers today for Jill that the bump turns out to be nothing!

 

HUGS 

Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”  

      





Member Since:
16 October 2012
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27 April 2014 - 10:39 am
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Ok, Breathe deep.  I am thinking about you.  Prayers that its nothing major.  Just keep breathing.  Sassy is with you guys in spirit, Hannah too, Dakota & everyone else is with you too.  They are watching over Jill.  Postive thoughts Erica.  Breath.  Call me if you need to you have the number. 

 

Remember the x-ray and how Jill always coughed to freak you out.  Just keep positive. 

 

Hugs

Michelle & Angel Sassy

sassymichelle-sm.jpg

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."

Fort Wayne, IN
Member Since:
25 January 2013
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7
27 April 2014 - 11:09 am
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I'm adding my calming thoughts too , Erica.  You're doing everything you can and all our paws are crossed that it's not a big deal.  You are strong and that's what Jilly needs.

We love you dearly and are all with you in spirit.  Hang in there.

Hugs,

Amy & Spirit Libby

Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13.  Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14.  She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self.  Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14

Orrtanna Pa.
Member Since:
25 January 2014
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8
27 April 2014 - 12:22 pm
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Praying for Jill also. It is scary. I am so glad your vet would come in for you today. It is so hard to wait. Hoping for good news this evening. Sending love: Lori and Ty Guy

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. 

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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9
27 April 2014 - 1:18 pm
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I know how scared you are!!!! Sending you lots of calm and healing energy .... Shelby also had lots of lumps and bumps her WHOLE life that meant nothing- had nothing to do w/her cancers. It was part of the aging process. 

I will be checking later for a full report and know that NO matter what it shows... Jill doesn't know. Jill is Jill and she's having fun and playing and getting lots of love from you all.

Sending you lots of love~

Alison and her Shelby fur-ever in her heart

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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10
27 April 2014 - 1:37 pm
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Stay strong my friend, I know it's scary but you know that there are SO many times when we find a lump and it turns out to be nothing (more often than not!). We are all crossing paws, tails & fingers, so keep us posted on what's going on.

Eye of the tiger! Be more cat! You can do it!

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

New Jersey
Member Since:
25 May 2013
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27 April 2014 - 3:57 pm
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We all have paws crossed this us nothing but a lump. I know the scare, we went through this with Snoop on his lip last month. Had a needle biopsy and was just a benign growth. Our thoughts are with you and Jill.

Esther and her Snoop

New York, NY
Member Since:
3 December 2012
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12
27 April 2014 - 7:12 pm
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Hi Everyone-

Sorry I'm late updating, I got home from the vet and went right to take a nap because I was just exhausted! Thank you all so much for your support, it's much appreciated and as always, when I'm at these appointments I feel all the support behind us.

First what we know for sure, Jill had a chest x-ray and her lungs are still crystal clear, so that is great news. The other thing we know for sure is Jill's still getting fat.  She's up to 12.1 lbs up from 11.8 in February.  Jack and Jill are both on diets and both gaining weight so.....not quite sure whats going on!!!!!

Now the lump...Dr Tan (Jill's general vet) felt the lump and definitely agreed there was something there, now what it is, hard to say.  She suspects it might be glandular, it's very close to where glands are in the armpit area (but its not a lymph node).  Of course, if it is a swollen gland or in a gland, it could still be something, but she definitely didn't seem as concerned as she was when Jill had the met 16 months ago.  But it still needed to be aspirated, because there is a definite lump there.  So now we wait.  The results should be in by Wednesday at the latest.

The lump is so very small that Dr. Tan had to come get me when she brought Jill to "the back" to aspirate it because she couldn't find it again!  She really was like "I can't believe you found this in the first place".  I wish so much I could have video taped Jill for you all when I went back there.  A vet tech had her on her back, holding her arm back in a vulnerable position and she was kneading and purring away.  Dr. Tan and I massaging around for that lump and then sticking needles in her for the aspirate, it was as if Jill got a $300 massage. Even with the needles being stuck in her, her paws were going a mile a minute.  Definitely my girl telling me to "be more cat."  I'll never get over how she handles these situations and it makes me smile so much how everyone gathers around to look at her.

So I got to watch them do the aspirate, and for those of you who know me, know that was a treat for me - even though I wish she didnt have to have that done.  I love that type of stuff.  The first slide she took she said looked very fatty to her naked eye, the second she said was hard to tell.  

Now I will try to remain calm for three days.  It's hard.  I've been here before waiting for these results and its never easy.  But I know I can do it.  And in the meantime, Jill will continue to calm me down and teach me to relax and "be more cat".....she seemed to know I really needed it today:

http://i1289.ph.....06dd08.jpg

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

Fort Wayne, IN
Member Since:
25 January 2013
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13
27 April 2014 - 7:31 pm
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Aw, sweet pic!  Ya know, that all sounds pretty darn good to me.  The waiting sucks but let Jill keep reminding you to be more cat.  I loved the visual of her getting her $300 massage :) .  Continued good thoughts coming your way.

Hugs,

Amy & Spirit Libby

Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13.  Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14.  She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self.  Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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14
27 April 2014 - 7:34 pm
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I've been stalking this post ALL day. Thank you for checking in. Totally get how exhausted you must be but it sounds like good news... sounds like it's small and probably nothing!!! Will be holding you in my heart strong till results day!!!

 

Sweet photo!

 

LOTS of love! 

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife

Atlanta, GA
Member Since:
12 February 2013
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15
27 April 2014 - 7:42 pm
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Sweet Jill.  That is so cool she was so relaxed at her appointment.  Especially for a cat.  All positive thoughts for ya.

Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury.  Her amp was on 10/1/12.  She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera.  We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.

PitaPata - Personal picturePitaPata Dog tickers

 You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
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