Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I am a newbie, so bear with me...my 8 yr-old Bernie/Hound mix had his leg amputated two weeks ago after x-rays revealed a tumor that was very likely Osteosarcoma. We just got results back today that it had indeed spread to the lymph node in the amputated leg, which means really bad news for my beloved Tucker. I feel like I’ve been in a nightmare for the past couple months as he was also diagnosed with adenocarcinoma about a month ago. Both of these diagnoses are extremely rare and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. We meet with the oncologist tomorrow, but the surgeon (and from what I’ve read) said the prognosis was pretty poor and chemo might not even be worth it. Im desperate for some help here. I know I don’t need to go into detail on how much heartbreak I am over this. If anyone has any insight or experience I would be SO grateful.
blueisthecolor said
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut...
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Hi Tucker and family 🐾🌸
So sorry to find you here but please rest assure we all understand and will help as best we can.
One think you need to know right now is statistics mean very little.
We have many, many, many cases here of dogs ands cats who blew statistics out of the water, Bruce being one of them, at over 2 years after amputation and no mets anywhere!
Of course, osteosarcoma and many other cancers have very poor prognosis but that does not mean your Tucker cannot beat the odds and survive cancer.
It is rare to get total remission but it happens, so why not him?
Live the day, sweetie, that is how your boy lives too.
Enjoy your time together and think pawsitively, that's the secret to beat cancer.
As for treatments, get as much information as you can, bearing in mind there are no 100% guarantees and once you chose a path keep going.
You will both be fine, you have all os us rooting for you and that is saying a lot 😌
Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Online
OMD!! I looooove Tucker's avatar picture!!! So handsome! So cute!!
DEEP BREATHS!!! Getting to this point in the journey is exhausting, mentally and physically! Of course you feel gutted. This journey does that to you..... at first!!! Then you join this community and find that we have seen time and time again where dogs blow statistics out of the water!! And I can just tell Tucker is all about blowing statistics out of the water!!!
And Teresa is exactly right, statistics don't mean much around here! Other's far more capable of doing searches here can find treatment options, specific cases,etc.
I can tell you this from my own experience with my Happy Hannah. According to the surgeon (I guess by visual observation???), the osteo qas kn jer lymph node. The Onco told me that "changed" her prognosis. When rhe Path report came back, it said no tissue was presented. Onco talked to Surgeon. Double checked with Path...not tissue sample presented. Surgeon said something along the lines that node was so bad, it basically was not able to be seen by Path. Something along those lines.
ANYWAY, thankfully Happy Hannah didn't listen to a single word those Vets said. Around here the Admin Guy says prognosis schmognosis!! I proceeded with four rounds of Carboplatin and Hapoy Hannah and I shared glorious bonud time of over one year and two months!!!
Sounds like Tucker is a fighter a d has ,its pf spunk! He doesn't read medical reports and he doesn't care about days on a calendar! And he certainly does not have a timeframe stamped anywhere on his butt!!
So stay connected! Continue those deep breaths!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Thank you so much for the responses. They truly are so helpful. We’re gonna give the metronomic chemo a try and just ordered the K9 Immunity Plus. We also had already purchased ten sessions at a canine rehab center and are gonna utilize the acupuncture and other therapies they offer. Just praying for some quality time. I’m a stay at home mom with a two year old and it’s so tough giving him the attention I wish I could!!!!!! We just restarted him on Stella and Chewy raw pattie but he’s got a sensitive stomach so is having some loose stools, I’m hoping this is just him adjusting. I’m reintroducing slowly, mixing with the chicken and oatmeal I’d been giving him, hope this is a right move. Again, thank you everyone for all the kind words and encouragement.
Sounds like you have a great plan moving forward! Good job! Glad your Rehab Vet has some good options for you too! I used K9 Immunity Plus too and felt like it was good for my Happy Hannah.
You can ask the Vet about Sulfracate (sp), or maybe Pepcid, to help with the tummy.
And Im sure Tucker is getting plenty nif apoiling and plenty of attention! Clearly he is a very, very well ,loved dog!!❤❤❤
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
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