Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all
Not sure if you have a new member page, so sorry in advance if in wrong place.
My big boof developed a limp in his left foreleg and took him to the vet last Monday, booked in Tuesday for X-ray under anaesthestic, then after getting the news back on Thursday for an amputation - osteosarcoma in his shoulder. Oh my gosh.
Well it is now 5 days later his wound is clean and dry (it is huge), anyway he is getting around not to badly. He needs to loose about 22 pounds so am trying to work out a food regime for him.
Titan is about 6 and 1/2, he is Dane x mastiff weighing in at about 140 pounds minus a leg. He has the most wonderful personality, and I am keen to give him what he needs.
I have ordered the K9 immunity to get his immunity optimal. The vet is talking about chemo. Not sure what path, I want to travel.
Was recommended to this site by Dorla from K9 immunity , so any input would be appreciated as I want to give Titan a good quality life.
I will post a piccie when his wound heals more.
Karen 
Hi Karen and Titan, nice to meet you! Sure, you posted the right place, we're here to help any way we can.
Titan is a big boy and you're wise to start focusing on keeping him lean. It will make getting around sooo much easier for him. I always recommend checking out our Tripawds Nutrition Blog and Eating Healthy forum for good input on staying slim and eating well, there are tons of great ideas waiting for you.
You can post pics anytime you'd like, we'd love to see him (hey we're not afraid of scars 
Giant breed Tripawds are especially inspawrational, I'm so glad to hear he's doing well. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Karen and Titan, sorry you had to find us here. We've seen lots of big dogs do well here, but, yes, losing some weight is a great idea to help him get around more easily.
We did chemo with our pup, Abby, but as I just wrote on another post, I'm honestly not sure if I'd do it again. (She did fine on it, I just can't help but wonder what if we'd gone another route...) You could also go holistically. I would recommend Dr. Dressler's book "The Dog Cancer Survival Guide " (a bit misnamed, in my opinion - but it's a great resource for rounding up/explaining all the options for both traditional and holistic treatment).
Jackie, Angel Abby'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!
Welcome to Tripawds.
My tripawd was on the other end of the size scale- Maggie was a little pug weighing in around 17 pounds minus the left rear leg.
I never really had trouble with Mag's weight post amp- but her little sis quad-pug Tani tends to the roly-poly side. When her arthritis got really bad I got serious about her weight loss. The first thing I tried was the green bean diet- around here we call them Trouble beans. You sub the beans (no salt added canned, or fresh) for some amount of the regular food. They are very filling so Tani didn't get too hungry, and very low in calories. Easy to use for snacks too, and the pugs love them. Next I have eliminated kibble from their diets (for other health reasons) and I found I can feed more quantity without the calories. I use Honest Kitchen Preference as my base. But for now you probably need to get Titan through recovery! And be cautious changing diet if you do go the chemo route. If Titan does chemo and doesn't feel well, and he is on a new diet, it would be hard to tell why he is feeling ill.
And I wanted to give you a couple of blogs to check out- a couple of my giant breed friends. Queen Nova is a Dane 4 years past her amp for OSA!! And my local friend Cemil is a 150 pound Anatolian Shepard almost 4 years past his amp for OSA!! I see Cemil every couple months and he is doing great. Nova's mom Sue, and Cemil's mom Mary don't post all that often, but they are still around the site.
Of course not everyone is so lucky, but it does happen. There is still hope with a cancer diagnosis.
Looking forward to pictures. Keep us posted on Titan's progress.
Karen and the pugapalooza
My Mastiff Tazzie weighed 185 pounds or so after amputation. We did the carboplatin chemo injections with her as well as Power Mushrooms and fish oil. I tried the metronomic chemo after the IV injections were done but she kept getting bladder infections so I stopped. We did artemisinin and she lived a total of 14 happy months.
Pam
Thanks guys for your support, and thanks Tazzie for being a big fella, gave me more hope with my puny 140 lb boof.
His is doing very well 6/7 post op.
I have been searching diets and supplements like crazy and have ordered some bibs and bobs.
I am in Australia so getting some things are proving a challenge but Titan and I are up for the challenge.
The most amazing thing I have discovered is that I have to back off a bit and let him do things himself.
He certainly told me in no uncertain terms last night when I caused him more pain than he does to himself.
A lesson learned, and he still loves me all is forgiven as I give him his regular massage which I have done from when he was a pup.
He even had a short burst of fast walking last night. So all is good.
Thanks again and I will post a piccie soon.
Cheers everyone Karen
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