Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We noticed a small lump about the size of a marble on her shoulder. I sort of felt like a fatty lump and she despises going to the vet, so we took a wait and see approach. Seemingly overnight, but was actually about a week or 2, this thing doubled in size. It was apparent a vet trip was needed. A needle aspirate was done and it came back as inconclusive, but probably a Perisarcoma. We went back in again to see if there would be enough skin to close the wound. Appears so. Surgery was scheduled on July 21. Last night when she jumped up for her nightly milk treat, I noticed that the tumor had actually popped out of the skin. Kind of looked like a very small heart. It had never really healed right after the aspirate. Got all bald andd had an ulcer. It actually seems a bit smaller now that it is outside. Chandler went for his well child visit today and I took a picture on my phone to show vet. Surgery is now scheduled for this Friday. They are suggesting biopsy of the lump. Probably would be a good idea to know. I know we won't be going the Chemo route, but I have thought of the mushroom therapy. The pony that boards in our barn was supposed to have passed months ago, but she is still fiesty as ever. She takes the mushrooms. We are guessing Zoe to be around 13. She was a drop off at our house many years ago. It was a cold snowy night and I couldn't bear to let her outside. I brought her in and she has been our ever since. Other than the tumor and maybe a bit of weight loss, she is acting totally normal and eating like a champ. I know these things sometimes come back, but right now removal of the tumor is what I am comfortable doing. Hubby is not even thrilled about that. I can't put her down, she has too much life in her. So we remove this beast and take it from there. Any other holistic therapy ideas are welcome. Also, Chandler has been having episodes of heavy panting. After a thouroughly checkup, vet thinks pain or anxiety. He also incessantly licks his feet. He has always done that though. He prescribed Tramadol. After the 2 50 mg this morning, he was in lala land. I mean really spaced. He went outside and kept shaking his head. Slept a lot this afternoon. By this evening acting normal, but no panting. I gave him 1/2 of a 50 mg tablet. Anyone ever have bad side effects form Tramadol? Also, should I be giving my cat some? She does not act at all like she is in any pain, but.....Thanks for any advice, Lori, TY & Gang
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.
What is a perisarcoma? My cat had a fibrosarcoma caused by a vaccine injection. If there is any chance that Zoe's lump is a fibrosarcoma then it should be removed with wide margins. Since Mona's grew so quickly the vet recommended removing her leg since he suspected it was cancer. The leg biopsy showed he was correct.
Mona's tumour did not hurt her but she did start bunny hopping down the stairs. Pain meds weren't needed until after her amputation.
Cat's livers metabolize drugs differently than dogs. Please contact your vet before giving your cat Tramadol. Mona is now on Power Mushrooms to support her immune system.
I hope Zoe's lump is benign.
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
I hope so too, but my gut says it is not. Actually, I got the name wrong it is Hemangioperisarcoma. I am not convinced it isn't a vaccine sarcoma. I cringe now at those 3 year Rabies shots I let heR get. I am learning, had titres done on my 12 year old dog again today instead of just re vaccinating him. This is the 2nd year I have done that. Funny, it costs more to do that than to give the shots. Zoe will not be getting anymore.
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.
Darn Lori, sorry Zoe is dealing with this
. Her quality isn't bothered though and she doesn't seem to even notice it's there...so that's good. And as you already know, Zoe certainly is the least bit concerned about anything...other than getting her nightly milk treat!
Yeah, pretty sure Tram is a no-no for cats for the reasons Mona noted. They give them something that starts with a "B" for pain after surgery.
Removal of the "beast" and the mushroom therapy sound like a great way to go. Do t have much input as far as treatment for kitties. I would loke your address though. I'll post it at the end of my property so I can detour all cat drop offs to your house!
Is Chandler afraid of thunderstorms at all? If so, he could be hearing them way in the distance and reacting. Just throwing that out. But if it's his arthritis,the tram. should help. Yeah, the 100 mg. tramadol was probably a bit too much all at one for Chan. Cutting it down like you have should do the trick. Usually, not always, the side effects of tramadol look a lot like the signs of pain...restless, whining, ears pinned back.
I'm glad that Chandler had a good check up. The licking of paws..and even the bouts of panting..could be allergies. Often allergies will show up in dogs as they......shhh......."age"..., even though they never had them before.
Sprry, not much help...just sending you lots of love though!
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!
Oh dang I'm sorry. I looked up "Hemangioperisarcoma" but are you sure you don't mean "hemangiosarcoma"? I hope that's not it 🙁
Definitely talk to your vet before giving any pain meds to your kitties, they are so sensitive and I wouldn't even want to guess what the right ones would be for Zoe.
I'm glad you got Chan evaluated. If the Tram doesn't help there are other pain management methods you can try that may work better. Acupuncture, massage, all that good stuff.
Yay for you for doing titers. It is crazy how it's more expensive but in the long run, so much better not to over-vaccinate our pets.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hemangiopericytoma....I will get this right. The aspirate pointed in this direction, but was not overly conclusive. She is going in on Friday instead of the original date of Monday. She has licked it open. It is popped out of her skin. Looks awful. she seems her usual self, eating, drinking, having her AM milk. Taking her sunbaths. She is not crying, nor does she seem in any real pain. I don't think it is in an area that taking her leg will help, but I told my husband if it took the cancer away, I would agree to amputation if it was suggested. Vet had mentioned it in passing the first time he looked at her. clean margins help the tumor to not come back as quickly. They usually do recur. He said I am collecting Tripawds. He seems to think I am cruel to put the old girl through surgery. I think our last experience pretty much jaded him. She has never been a cuddler, but she is still very sweet and cute. If she was laying around sick, I would lean that way, but she is acting so normal. Chandler's titres came back today and he is still, for the 2 nd year immune and needs no revaccination. Amazing what you learn on this journey. I do have him on Heartworm preventive as he will be headed South soon. Plus we have had so much rain here, Mosquitos are worse than usual. The Tramadol seems to be helping his panting and licking. I am giving him 25 mg 2 times a day. He is not at all drugged and I figure, less is better. Anyone give Milk Thistle for Liver? Thanks, Lori, Ty & Gang
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.
Poor little Zoe cat. I don't blame you at all, lumps need to come off. I would be doing the exact same thing, and trying the mushrooms too. I had planned to use those as an additional treatment with Rosco. Some people have had good results (like the horse). We have a holistic vet here that works with the oncologist. When I pulled up her website she lists "vitamin C therapy" as something she offers and there was a success story about a dog with hemangiosarcoma. Im not sure what all it can be used for, I don't know anything about it other than that. You can't go wrong with keeping little Zoe comfortable, whatever makes her feel better 🙂 I had a cat that lived to be 20 and I stopped getting him vaccinated at 13/14 yrs old, the vet said he didn't need them.
Please give Chandler hugs and kisses from us. Jake did not do well on tramadol. He stared at walls, showed his teeth at me, paced around etc. It's an opiate so it can make some dogs not quite themselves. You can always try something else and see if it makes a difference.
I too will be doing titers when Tanner comes up for his shots. He had the 3 year rabies last year and I wish I would have done it then instead. Both Rosco and Jake had tumors at their shoulders. As far as the money, Id rather pay for that now then pay it all to a psychiatrist later! F'ing cancer.
I will say a prayer for both Zoe and Chandler and sending you lots of 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”
oh no poor zoe! Jill's tumor also popped out of her skin and it was so awful....if I am thinking of the same tumor, I believe hemangioperhoweveryouspell it is a slow moving tumor, so removing it with good margins should be good. My friend's dog had this type of tumor and they removed it and got good margins and she is now doing great.
On the tramadol, I am not sure...cats can NOT have nsaids, but I'm not sure about tramadol...I know cats mostly get buprenex after amputation, that's what Jill got, so I would think no on the tram.
Keep us posted!
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
Oh Hemangiopericytoma sounds way better. Whew.
Sounds like they're both doing alright considering. If that dosage is working for Chan, super! As for milk thistle I know others here have taken it for liver support (if you search the forums & blogs you'll see examples) but I'd check with a holistic vet to make sure it can be used safely with him. Giving supplements without guidance isn't always the best idea so double check OK?
Yay for those titer results! Here's to not giving unnecessary vaccines!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Zoe is in surgery now. All of her blood work looked good. I refused the chest X-rays. Not sure it would make a difference as I would remove the tumor either way. They said tumor is not attached to the muscle which may help. The vet was telling me he has a3 legged cat. Zoe also needs a dental cleaning, but that will wait a bit. I did okay the biopsy as that will tell them if they got clean margins on the tumor. Also extra fluids as I think she may need those. They actually asked if I wanted pain meds to take home??? People actually don't??? They are $8.00. If that is why people are not getting pain meds after surgery for their pets and it is a cost thing, vets need to include that in the price of surgery. Oye! Lori, Ty & Gang
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.
Oh my goodness, the poor animals if people aren't getting pain meds for them! Sending lots of prayers up for Zoe and hugs to you. Please let us know how she's doing.
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”
We're thinking of you both and hope she has a speedy recovery!
It's hard to believe that the necessity of pain meds would even be in question after surgery. I wish more people would equate the pain they feel after procedures with the pain our animals feel. We all feel. We all need pain relief. Sheesh.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well, considering the circumstances, it sou ds like things are looking pretty good...pretty stable.
'Like your attitude about the xrays. Regardless, it wouldn't change you plan of action so why bother. And there's NO reason to think there's any problem anyway.
Hopefully, because the vet has a tripawd, he'll be extra caring towards Zoe. But as far as pain meds being an OPTION...hard to believe that kind of mentality!
Look forward to hearing how she's feelin.
Sending love to all!
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!
The only reason I had a lung xray done for Mona was to determine if I would go ahead with the amputation or not. She wasn't in any pain from the tumour and I may have reconsidered the amputation if the cancer had already spread to her lungs.
It is strange that the vet asked if you wanted pain meds for Zoe. Mind you, I must admit at times I wondered why I bothered trying to give a cat meds... if it was liquid, I usually ended up wearing it; if it was pills, many times I'd find them in their fur and on the rug.
I hope Zoe cooperates with the pain meds and that both of you get a lot of sleep.
Hoping for HUGE margins.
Kerren
Yes, it sure is a struggle to get them into her. I think I wore some tonight. My regular vet, who has the Tripawd kitty did not do the surgery. He was scheduled to do it on Monday, butwhen the thing busted out of the skin last Tuesday, we both thought sooner rTher than later. Since he was not scheduled for surgeries on Friday, we had another vet in the office do it. He was in the loop with her though. Glad I did not wait, it was smelling sort of bad. Think it was getting an infection. I have learned that vet offices are pretty much a business venture so to speak. It is a big company who then hires the vets and basically tells them how it will be. I think that is where the pain med thing comes in. Was not the actual vet, but receptionist who asked. Along with, did I want pre op blood work, yes, chest X-rays, no, microchip, no, biopsy, yes, etc. then the bill was totaled. She was able to get really big margins in back of tumor, not quite as big in front. That is where it was anchored. Was not in muscle, so maybe that is good. I know these things can come back. Got her a tshirt today, the cone of shame was not working at all. She seems to be doing pretty well all in all. Lori, TY & Gang
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.
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