Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone
I'm not sure there is a point in posting. But I guess Tazzie 2's situation (now christened Lumpy) is unusual, even for an OSA dog. Is there not anyone out there with this form of mets??? Hello . . . Anyone???? Maybe a dog with a different type of cancer (HSA, mast cell?).
I normally am not brave enough to carefully check his lumps and look for new ones. There probably is no point if we cannot do anything, other than monitor their growth (ideally a lack of growth). Today we went to the vet for basic lab work and did a lump update, and I just did more of that at home.
We removed the subcutaneous lump in the area of the right hip 4 weeks ago, 2-3 weeks after it was found. A lump is now growing at the same location, plus it has at least a few friendst, above and to the side of the initial lump, with some of them located more directly over the hip. If they are only in the skin, no problem. But the original one had anchored into the muscle (which is why the vet did not remove too much tissue) and these lumps are probably anchored in the muscle as well. I wonder if they will eventually grow into the bone.
There is a small, soft, round pea, mobile lump on the other side of his body. It does not feel hard and evil the way the others lumps do, but it might be. I mean, why else would it happen to show up.
I assume there is nothing more to do than we are doing, which is metronomics (and I will start Artemisinin this weekend - I waited to get today's blood work done).
Because of a seed my vet planted when we chatted today, I wonder if we should look into the appropriateness of radiation for this one area (assuming nothing has shown up elsewhere - by now there might be more lumps internally that we just do not see). I would have to take him to a place with an oncologist and radiation if we went that route, and probably could not do that until the xmas break (closest place is 10-12 hr drive). Anyway, maybe some of you can tell me if it is ridiculous to look into that possibility or appropriate.
Mostly I just want to have a good time with him and don't want to focus on treatment excessively. But if something can buy us a couple of months of quality time, it might be worthwhile.
He did take a few bad tumbles in the house today, but I think it was because he was feeling good and overly excited and not because of a brain tumor or anything. 
Susan and Lumpy (Tazzie 2)
Susan and Tazzie,
I know that this must be driving you right up the wall and your vet is really the only one who can examine the lumps and discuss what is happening. However, Cherry has had very similar lumps appear. The first that we removed was "a small growth on the inside of her mouth, on her right side, at the lower gum line. It appeared to be approximately "pea" size with a small attachment." (Thank goodness for that journal I have kept online for my memory may not have been as precise.) It actually was attached behind the tooth and if I had not been brushing her teeth three times daily to help remove the chemical taste of the chemotherapy, I may not have found it. In the end, this and another similar growth were removed from the gum line. Cherry also has a large growth just below her ear canal, and numerous smaller ones covering her back and neck. I honestly do not believe that this is the Osteosarcoma returning in some strange form, but I am more worried that this more indicative of a little girl whose ability to fight cancer as at an end. If Tazzie's lumps do grow, then radiation would probably be your best choice.
I know that you will keep us posted and try to not focus on the lumps. (Like that is something that I can do - NOT.) Give her a long distance hug and tell her that she needs to make the one year mark too just like I tell Cherry.
Bob & Cherry
Hi Cherry
Thanks for the support. I think you were away at the time that we know these are OSA lumps. Apparently they can show up subcutaneously; it is rare but it happens. I told you Tazzie was special!
The original one grew from ~1 cm to about 3 cm in 2 weeks, was removed and its evil identify confirmed. The new ones are covering quite a sizable area, more like a bunch of brocolli than grapes or peas. There is just one separate one that feels more innocent and pea-like but that is not the worrisome one (having said that, if that one is not evil than all the bad ones might be confined to one main area). They are hard and bony to the feel, so they do not feel like other lumps I've felt.
Did you get Cherry's lumps (on her ear and neck) checked out?
It is not driving me nuts now. I went through that the last month when I first found the main lump. We took that out, although the vet did not want to cut more of the muscle which might be why these are returning, and are now on a routine of metronomics . I had not really considered the idea that it would return, along with its friends. Although I can live with this (easier to say on a decent day than a bad day), I do not want to fail to look into a treatment option if there is a reasonable one out there.
Susan & Tazzie 2
Oh Tazzie, why do you have to be so special all the time, huh?
Well, your lumps may have spread, but not as much as your awesomeness has. Clearly it has rubbed off on your mom, empowering her to take these speedbumps in stride. Keep having fun, Taz - that's your very important job, cause it keeps her mind off the cancer (and it's good for your health too).
If Tazzie starts playing with thin air, Susan, don't worry, it's still not a brain tumor - Yoda is just visiting.
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
Hey Tazzie, well you certainly have to keep your mom running don't ya?? I wish we had something more to offer in the way of information. Be strong Tazzie, keep being original (maybe in a good way - psst no more lumpys k?)
Hugs -
Shilo & Alisa
Shilo diagnosed with osteosarcoma 9/4/2009, amputation 9/9/2009. ShiloAnne lost her battle 11/23/2009 where she regained her fourth leg and is patiently waiting for her parents to join her. We will always love you baby girl.
Susan,
It seems you and Tazzie are just getting put through the ringer and it's not fair. I'm yelling at the universe tonight, "Enough already!" You're such a good mom to Tazzie and he's such a trooper. I'm just angry for you and for him.
My old terrier is getting strange lumps on his legs now, one with a nasty looking sore that will not heal. He's also got a very hard lump on his underbelly. We are taking him to the vet next week. I'm really starting to hate lumps, a lot.
Hugs,
Mel
It is hard not to obcess over every little difference. Trouble woke up yesterday coughing and scared the pejabbers out of us. You and Tazzie hang tough. Check out the radiation if you think it is something you would like to consider. As always, we're pulling for you.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Susan, you amaze me! It's good to see you are coping better with Tazzie's little setbacks as long as they are "only" physical.
Radiation is said to be a good option, but... a 10-12 hs drive might be stressy both for you and Tazzie and might take some of the special time you have left.
Hori had a couple of little lumps way before osa came... pathology said they were only "good" tumors, but now I start to wonder... anyway, it's too late now.
How is the fur progress coming along?
Send Lumpy my love and have a good weekend.
Cecilia
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
Oh special Tazzie indeed!
Well Susan, only you can decide if pursuing the radiation is worthwhile. I agree with Cecilia, that's an awfully long drive. Do what makes you both happy and everything will work out as best as it can.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well, so far the broccoli bumps are just starting to emerge. Check with me about my frame of mind once it has fully emerged from the soil in a few weeks.
I have assumed that radiation has nasty side effects like nausea but have not looked into it. I doubt it is anything we'd consider until xmas break when we could turn it into a roadtrip, and maybe we'd look into a fancy place like CSU if we did consider this route. Given we have to drive a day or two for him to even see an oncologist, what difference is a few more hours? At this point, radiation is in the realm of idle speculation because I don't know enough about it nor have an oncologist's opinion on this lumpy matter.
As for hair, we seem to resuming active hair loss since putting him on low-dose Cytoxan. We will definitely be shopping for a winter coat this weekend! Thankfully my neighbours have a rather wild orange and red hand-knitted doggy sweater (knitted for their dog, not for Tazzie) he uses for pj's.
The other day at work, these two yellow labs (or were they golden retrievers?) came in to visit. While I was petting one of them, I noticed weird lumps all over his body. I asked his owner about them, and he said that the vet informed him that if the lump was squishy and movable, it was nothing to worry about. Apparently, something in the breed (whichever one it was) causes these lumps in dogs every now and then. I have no advice, I just wanted to share the story of another lumpy dog 🙂
<3 laura
Hi Susan,
I don't know anything about radiation or have any stories. I just wanted to let you know I am still praying for you and Tazzie. I am glad you can still keep your sense of humor, on a good day anyway. It sounds like Tazzie's spirits are still up and that is so important.
Debra & Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Hi Susan,
My Jake had soft small SQ lumps ever since we adopted him at 5 yrs old. They slowly increased in size over the years. We had one aspirated a few years ago, and it came back as a lipoma (benign fatty tumor). I worked part-time as a vet tech for many years, and saw that alot in older dogs. Now, Jake's lumps have gotten alot bigger over the past year or so... but we aren't going to worry much about them unless they start causing him pain. He is a senior, and if I start aspirating or biopsing every single one to see if it's a met, he's going to be one sore dog!
But if Tazzie has never had any lumps before the diagnosis, then probably it's a wise thing to have them checked out. I hope it's nothing more serious than lipomas...
Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
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