Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Po's are actual yelps 🙁 I called the vet and he called in a Rx for gabapentin. I wasn't home much yesterday but I didn't hear any yelps (crossing my fingers.)
Benny55, it is just random and he can be laying down or standing up. I can't tell what is bothering him. He is drinking fine, eating fine, and seems happy in general. Although he is getting a little down that we haven't been able to walk cause he gets so tired so fast 🙁
Read about phantom pain and i am not sure this is it. I just don't know.
thanks guys for the support. I have to say it has been a ride since his amputation...
I'm just catching up. I've got to say I love Po. Quite the character. After her amputation, my cat Mona decided she loves car rides because it means she's going for a chiropractic treatment which she loves. And, you made a comfy bed for Po in the car! What a great mama you are.
Since Po's activity level has to be kept to a minimum you might want to try some games to exercise his mind. I know I've seen suggestions here but can't find them. Suggestions anyone?
Hugs to you and Po,
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
again thanks guys for the encouragement and positive vibes. I haven't hear Po yelped since that one time but I am at work most of the day. Yesterday a baby bunny came into our yard!! drama drama drama!!! Po tried to eat it. He was so tired afterwards :/ I was a little worried. Today he seems fine. I cross my finger it keeps going....
I hope the medicine keeps the pain down for you guys. How was he after the bunny chase? Did he seem painful?
Hugs,
Jackie and Huckleberry
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
I haven't heard Po yelped once since saturday and he is not on gabapentin. I am confused but will take whatever blessings i can get. He was exhausted after chasing that baby bunny, but no yelping.
I thought the baby bunny showing up in my backyard was a little odd. My wall are high and there isn't much room under the gates. Come to find out my cat is bringing them in. He brought another today LOL..
Today we went for his 4th Chemo and super bad news. Despite chemo, Po's cancer has metastasized in his lungs. I am a mess and devastated. I am not even sure what to do at this point. The vet gave me 4 options: a different IV chemo, an oral chemo, the vaccine, or nothing.
Both chemo have very little chance of succeeding since the first chemo did nothing.
The vaccine is super expensive, has major side effects, and it is a long shot as to whether it is gonna work since he is not in remission and his cancer is super aggressive.
do nothing and I will loose him as soon as in a month or a couple of months.
He is so happy right now. it's been a shitty day!!!!
thoughts? advices?
I am so sorry to hear this and I know how devastating the lung mets news is 
. I don't have much useful advice other than to try your hardest to enjoy every single good day. Whatever you decide will be done out of love, and you have the love and support of everyone here.
Tracy & Warrior Angel Zatoichi 💓
Zato was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October 2016. He triumphed through radiation and amputation with dignity and grace. After living a life of love and happiness, Zato earned his angel wings on February 19, 2018. Read his story here.
Not the news anyone wants to hear. I know you feel defeated, kicked in the gut and panicked. Too many of us understand that initial shock and helpless ess AND hopelessness-
And we also understand that, after that initial awful shock you WILL find that there ARE things than can be done to continue to give Po extended quality time!!
Sassy Sugar Bear, Jerry, and my Happy Hannah, are three who come to mind who got great quality extended time after mets were found. It is NOT the end of the road for you and Po!! He could care less what an xray showed....he is HAPPY and shall continue to be happy for a long while to come!!!
Once you catch your breath, you need to ask about Metronomics, Palladia, Cannabis Oil, Prednisone, Luekeran, just to mention a few that can possibly slow, or stop, the growth of tumors. There are sooooo many factors that can, indeed, give Po "the edge" over this "diagnoses". Location, size, Po's health otherwise, etc. The fact that he is basically sympton free is HUGE plus. I say that because, even when sysmptons do start to show, there are a lot of tools that can be used for comfort.
You said something sooooo important!! PO IS HAPPY!!! PO DID NOT LOOK AT THOSE XRAYS AND THEY MEAN N O T H I N G. TO HIM!! ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING!! Po is focused on the NOW and the NOW feels good to him! He is happy, he is spoiled, he is loved and he has NO worries about anything!! PO IS BEING PO!! Take Po's lead and just continue to make every day the best day ever!!
Others will come on and give you some good links for you to follow up on. I've never been good at doing "searches", or pretty much anything "computer related"!
Sending lots of 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!
sunshine4209 said
He is so happy right now...
That is all that matters.
For what its worth, Jerry loved life on three legs for another 9± months after we discovered his mets. We contribute that to his metronomics and K9 Immunity .
The Tripawds News blog has various related posts you may find helpful. Search all blogs here and use the advanced search above for lots of helpful feedback, and don't miss this topic for many more helpful links:
Metronomic Therapy for Canine Osteosarcoma Metastasis: Jerry's Experience
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry to hear your news. I know it must be devastating to you BUT you've gotten some really good news and information here from people that have been in your shoes. I cannot advise anything because I have not gone through this journey with any of my furbabies. I am just here to support you and tell you that I have seen several go through this and still have some good quality time left. Po needs you to stay positive. That will help him to stay calm and content. It's another chapter of your life opening up. Just try to love him and spend good quality time together while you decide what is best for your pack. There are no wrong answers, different people have chosen different paths and have had good results. Our thoughts are with you and your support team will be here any way we can to listen and try to help.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huckleberry ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Sugar pie 💕
Like others said, life is still to be enjoyed after lung mets are found!
In Eurydice's case, we did change IV chemo (she had carboplatin initially) to doxorubicin, after we tried metronomics (a combination of antiniflamatory, chemo and antibiotic drugs) and briefly Palladia.
Cortisone and diuretics came further down the line and were absolute miracle drugs for my girl.
We also went the holistic route, acunpuncture and osteopathy and health supplements.
She lived much longer with lung mets than foreseen by the vets and she enjoyed every single day and was a truly happy, happy girl 💕🐮💕
I know it's really hard to get those news, it feels like a gigantic punch in the stomach but Po doesn't know and he will continue to enjoy life with you in the lead ☺️
Carpe Diem, sweet friend, seize the day and build but wonderful memories, tons and tons of wonderful memories with your baby 💗
Sending you and Po and avalanche of kisses 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 :-)
Hi there, I just caught up on your whole story and I really feel for you. Like others said, the important thing is Po is so happy right now. You've been able to bring him back to that happy place. I hope you'll be able to take each day as it comes and really do everything you can for both of you to enjoy the time you have left together! Keep spoiling him and drawing out that happy face. Take care of yourself too. So sorry you're going through this. 
Rocky was in a similar situation. He was 5/6 of the way through his Carboplatin when his cancer spread. His went down his side rather than to the lungs. We switched to Palladia (an oral chemo), which worked for about six weeks. His oncologist said there's a 50/50 chance of Palladia being effective. We were told it could give us an extra 10 months, though we weren't that fortunate.
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
Thanks guys for the kind words. We are trying doxorubicin for one treatment and taking chest x-rays again in 3 weeks. 🙁 I am still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. Not sure if continuing treatment is even worth it but i am just not ready to let him go. Prayers are appreciated.
1 Guest(s)
