Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ugh. I was sitting in the floor with Zeus at lunch and the way he was laying made me notice a rather large lump on the inside of his back left knee area. It is squishy and moves all around as if it is not attached, but I can't help but panic a bit.
Honestly, he has many, many lumps all over that he developed with his old age. After the first few were tested and came back as fatty, we just quit testing them because all the needle biopsies seemed to be so hard on him. We are constantly petting and massaging him, so I'm not sure how we missed this unless it just came up so suddenly. It falls into the skin when he stands so it really isn't visible unless he is laying in this one specific position. I don't know why this one worries me more - maybe b/c it's larger or maybe just because of what we have gone through the last few months....
Anyway, just needed to vent (for lack of a better word).
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
My heart sank when I read this, but I am pawsitive it will turn out to be a harmless lipoma or other B9 mass. Try not to worry, but get it checked out as soon as possible so you won't have to worry. No medical training whatsoever, but squishy and not attached are both good things, I think. Sending hugs your way.
Catherine
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
Mr. Zeus, Cadence and I both have our paws crossed (well I have my arms crossed) hoping this is nothing. I know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see or feel a lump. Yes it is true that dogs do get these as they age, but if it would give you peace of mind, especially since it is bigger, I would have it checked out. I went through this with Cadence and had thought about just ignoring it because it had defined edges and was the size of a pea (most likely a cyst), not attached to anything. I jumped on here freaking out and asking advice, but I don't think I could have rested unless I had it checked out, especially since this was her first lump since the cancer diagnosis. I really do hope it is nothing.
Cadence's Mom
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
Oh dear!
Sending good, good, good thoughts that it's just a "freak mom out" benign mass!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Oh Lisa...I know how yucky that heart-stopping moment is!
But it does sound a lot like the old fatty cyst thing. I would get it checked out too, but not panic.
Is there anyway your Vet would be comfortable just making the "feely" diagnosis....or do they insist on the aspiration each time?
I am always hesitant to do things that will stress them too ...unless there is a compelling reason.
we say get a needle biopsy and have the knowledge. it's hopefully a lipoma and benign.
B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9
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B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9
B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9
B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9
B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9 B9
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Thanks everyone - I knew you would understand.
Karen, we lived in NC when he first started getting the lumps so we had a different vet then. They would always say it felt okay, but can't be certain without a needle biopsy. Fortunately it always came back okay.
I'm a bit hesitant to do anything about testing this one for several reasons - the stress it causes him, the look and feel of the tumor, we are already undergoing chemo, etc, etc... Honestly, my biggest fear is what happened to his brother Merlin two years ago. He tore his ACL and we had TPLO surgery to correct. Within two weeks he was deathly ill (spent two days in an oxygen chamber) and all of their testing pointed to probable cancer, but he was WAY to sick to survive being anesthetized to undergo a biopsy to confirm. We lost him a month later. The vet told us it was likely that he had "an underlying cancer that was dormant and then reared it's ugly head while his body was weakened by the surgery" Knowing that Zeus already has one lung met (that we know of), I'm terrified of putting him through any kind of additional surgery afraid that it would weaken him and the OSA tumor cells would go bonkers. So, even if we tested and it came back concerning, I just don't know if we would be able to remove. Gosh, does this even make sense? I feel like I'm just rambling on and on... Sorry.
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
I remember the swelling we found on Baby was pretty hard and warm to the touch. Squishy sounds more like the fatty lumps to me. Good luck... let us know how it checks out.
Hugs and Wags,
Judy and Baby
Perfectly ok to ramble when you are worried about your pup. (Although it didn't sound like rambling.)
Squishy and movable definitely sounds like the not-to-be-worried about type of lump. If you don't want to put him through any more unnecessary stress, I think just keeping an eye on it is fine. Our beagle had many lumps in her old age. The scary pre-cancerous ones would change in size quite quickly - sometimes even getting smaller again. Our vet told us if the lumps are squishy and you can get your fingers all the way around them, they are usually harmless. It's the hard, attached and/or changeable ones that you have to be concerned about.
Sending B9 thoughts your way!!! Zeusy, don't scare us all!
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
B-9! B9!
Ok, you have every right to worry and you can ramble here anytime (which you're not doing).
You have to ask yourself, what will drive you crazier, knowing or not knowing? That's how you can decide what to do next.
It can't hurt to have your vet look at it next time you're in the office. I'm betting it will be one of those "let's keep an eye on it" situations. Why not just take things one step at a time, just like Zeus?
{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm voting for B9.
So- if you don't want to put him through the stress of another biopsy or surgery ask yourself this- will knowing the lump is cancer (or not) change what you do now? If it was cancerous would you then decide on surgery? If you will change your approach then you should find out what it is. If you would not change your treatment plan then I would leave it alone, assuming you can deal with not knowing.
I don't remember if I told you about Sprirt Tri-pug Maggie's little sister Tani. Tani has recurring mast cell tumors, over the years we have removed 5, and I know of 3 more now. I am beyond removing them, and so now am not testing them. But it is sometimes hard... I have to keep reminding myself that I have factored everything in, and it does not benefit Tani to do more needle sticks.
Tani is not a cuddly pug, and does not like to be handled, so vet visits can be tough on her. I took her in last week for her annual and we spent a lot of time working her legs to asses mobility issues. Well, after that Tani was done with being touched- they took her to draw blood and she fought off two vet techs.... this is a 16.5 pound, almost 12 year old, arthritic, weak legged pug! I need to keep the vet visits to a minimum so she doesn't hurt herself.
This is the place to ramble!!! It helps me sometimes to write things down, think them through.
Let us know what you decide to do.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Karen is right...knowing or not knowing...how does it change what you will do next? And I am a firm believer in the evil impact of stress. It has taken me sooo long to understand that my stress is THEIR stress...maybe times ten.
Do what brings YOU calm and peace....that will ultimately be the most calm and peaceful thing for Zeus too.
Love and hugs from Buffalo! <3
Ive got to agree with Karen on this she has said it best.
B9 B9 B9
Zeus stop scaring us!!!!!
And ramble all you want we'll still listen.
Sarah
Definitely B9. You can tell that to the lump directly from me too. (That's what I'm betting on anyway)
As so many have said soft and squishy are the type to least be worried about. (But of course we all worry about any lumps)
Zeus - you are such our Tripawd Warrior Hero Dude God King!
And you have the Best Mama!
Hugs & wags furever
Joanne & Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Tell Zeus we are counting on that wonderful grin for a long time to come. B9 it is! We have taken a vote!
Really, the cyst sounds like a typical fatty cell. I agree about the impact of stress has on both you and Zeus. The question is: what stresses you more? Personally, I am the type of person who worries incessantly about "what ifs?" I deal better with cold, hard facts. On the other hand, if it doesn't change your course of treatment and your vet can give you reassurance based on a physical exam, sparing Zeus the trauma of another needle biopsy may be the kindest way to go. One thing we know about our babies, they sense stress no matter how we try to hide it.
I know I haven't said anything new here, but I just wanted you to know we are sending many pawsitive thoughts your way. Keep us posted.
Beth and Spirit Smilin' Sammy
Smilin' Sammy, March 16, 2004 – Dec. 5, 2011
Golden retriever, diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2010 — right front leg amputated November 2010. He fought valiantly to stay with us; but a second diagnosis of osteosarcoma, this time in his left front leg, was more than our golden warrior could overcome. He loved his pack — and everyone else he met.
We loved him even more.
Thanks for the pennies, Sammy. They helped.
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