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
Had a "routine" visit to the vet today to get Nova's big monster talons cut (it takes an army, she does not like her tripawd foot touched) and also for a CBC and chemistry panel (we need to get them ever few months just to make sure she's not having kidney troubles by being on Piroxicam for so long). Usually these visits end with my vet walking in with a big smile on his face to announce "This bloodwork is AWESOME". Not today. He didn't seem super alarmed but said her white count was up from last time (November), I think it was 7.4 now is 17.8 (or thereabouts). I don't know anything about what those numbers might mean, so I ask him and he says it indicates infection or inflammation. I ask, "could it indicate that something has spread?" He hesitates for just a second too long. "It could, but she could just have an infection. Dogs get infections just like people, Sue." Crap. I was sooooooo close to telling him to take her in the back to do chest x-rays "just to see", but I just couldn't do it. I just don't wanna know right now. I'm in school right now and I know I would have a total meltdown if I saw anything on there. I promised myself that I wouldn't do x-rays again until I saw visible signs: coughing, appetite problems and other weird stuff. Nothing. She's just the same ol' couch potato, nappin' Nova. My beautiful big girl Nova.
He's sending the bloodwork over to the Oncologist. I know she'll just tell me to get the x-rays done.
Whaddaya think? Should I worry?
Sue
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
I just don't wanna know right now. I'm in school right now and I know I would have a total meltdown if I saw anything on there. I promised myself that I wouldn't do x-rays again until I saw visible signs: coughing, appetite problems and other weird stuff. Nothing. She's just the same ol' couch potato, nappin' Nova. My beautiful big girl Nova.
Sue,
If someone says 'don't worry' would it do any good? 
You know this path can only lead to one place, you've known it all along. She has done so well, it is hard to hear about anything that might be 'a sign'.
The question is have you changed your base line?? If you haven't seen any signs then do you need a x-ray?
Another question to ask yourself is if you did an x-ray and saw something would you do anything different for Nova because of it? Or would it just make you worry more.
I know how hard it is. I am struggling with the 'limits' I set for Maggie in light of new developments.
When I doubt my plan I look at Maggie for guidance. She is happy and feeling OK, so we are going with that for now.
Karen and the pug girls
Jeepers! Nova, stop scaring your mommy! After our move to WA, I decided to forego any further treatments or x-rays. I know what's coming (maybe?) and knowing when it spreads won't change anything. As long as Jack is happy, annoying, destructive, jumpy, and snuggly, he's still Jack. For me, paying attention to his personality and interest in life is more important that paying attention to tests and radiographs. Should you be worried? Only if you want Nova to suspect something is fishy around here 🙂 If you need to know, than get the x-ray done...just think about how knowing yes or no will affect the future. Tough decisions!!!!! You will make the best decision for you 🙂
From one Michigander (sort of...) to another,
<3 Laura and DestroyerJack (my friend sent him a valentine's day toy that he got about 5 minutes ago. it's dead now)
Karen couldn't of said it any better, Sue. I agree w/ her.
FWIW, I am not doing the regular chest x-rays that is typically recommended...because, as my sister put it(who is a Tech btw)...what are you going to do if it has spread to her chest?(nothing). So there is no sense in doing the x-rays.
There is only so much I will put my Maggie thru....she's been thru so much already..
Tracy
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Awww Nova...gosh... If we all promised to do all the worrying for your mom (silently), do you think she could enjoy a totally worry-free, rational outlook. Nah, probably not. Love doesn't work tha way, but it would be pawesome if we could help out like that.
I didn't really give getting x-rays a second thought with Yoda. He was coughing some then, but I had remembered being told to expect lethargy as a sign of lung mets well before a symptom like coughing presented. And he hadn't been lethargic. So I was almost surprised when they asked if I agreed to x-rays to check for mets and just said yes. But that is what I would have preferred even with more thought. I'm the kind of worrier who does better with facts, but it's definitely a personality thing. As long as you wouldn't be looking into changing Nova's treatment in the event of lung mets, I can't think of a practical advantage to checking yet. I think it's very wise of you to consider whether now would be a bad time for you to have a lung met meltdown. It is intense.
And after all that serious talk, it could be an infection that will clear up no problem. Wouldn't that be pawesome.
Black-spotted tongue kisses to Nova and you from Gerry.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Yes dogs get infections like everyone else... but then again... when you have cancer, every little thing makes us worry. Hoping that its nothing serious... Keep us posted!
Give that beautiful giant Nova Queen a big kiss from me!!! 
Angel Jake's MOm
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Should you worry? Of course not, worrying does nothing but make matters worse. Is there reason to be concerned? Perhaps. Wait and see what the oncologist says. My prescription is a nap on the couch with Nova!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Of all the worrisome news we could get, I'd take "white blood cells are up" any day! Heck. They could be down or there could be clear signs of "C". She is probably just fighting a little infection. I have not really heard of WBC going up as an indication of mets, but I guess your oncologist will fill you (and us) in. Until then, hakuna matata, okay kiddo?!?
Sue,
I'm sorry that you are concerned about your girl. As hard as it is, try not to worry. Either it will be good news and you will have worried for nothing or bad news and worrying won't have helped. Personally, I try for the Scarlet O'Hara method of 'I'll think about it tomorrow". Not always good at it but I try. You should, too! I will be praying for you and for Nova.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Dane Mom said:
She's just the same ol' couch potato, nappin' Nova. My beautiful big girl Nova.
You're right. And whatever the results, she's still going to be Nova.
You can't help but worry, that's normal. And it's hard not to wonder "what if????" But like Karen says, anyone who has a dog with osteosarcoma knows what the eventual outcome is. What would change if you found out she had mets? You're doing so well at staying true to what you feel is right. Keep walking that path and you can't go wrong no matter what the test results say.
Keep us posted. Nova the Queen is being sent lots of love from us, and we send you lots of wishes for inner peace too.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sue,
Hang in there until you know all the facts.....give her a huge hug from me! I'll be thinking good thoughts for Nova.
Ginny & Angel Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Queen Nova, we're here praying it's just a little inconsequential thing and your mom is getting scared for no reason. But we'd like to know what the doctor says too. It's hard not to be scared.
Hugs and a Big Dog Lean...
Mary and Cemil
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Oh, Nova! Stop scaring your Mommy!! Sending lots of good thoughts your way!
-Gwen & Harley
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
Sue and Nova,
Not realy sure why I decided to log back on rather than attempting to go to sleep, but I guess that my Spirit Cherry told me that there was something that needed attention.
Telling us "not to worry" is like asking us to stop the tides. It is so not going to happen. Now for some real facts that should help. We have all seen how compromised their immune system becomes after an aggressive chemotherapy regiment. Miss Cherry had serious bouts with some type of "bug" last March, June, and again in November, and that is not counting the number of times we had sour tummies (bad vomit) or diarrea. The last two conditions were to numerous to keep track of but I did put down more than a dozen in my on-line journal. Each of these conditions could result in an elevated white cell count and many in fact did. They were never really indications of a pending end.
Regarding additional x-rays - Cherry's last lung x-ray occurred just before her last chemotherapy treatment, nine weeks after the amputation. When she had her bad spell in March, we did additional x-rays primarily in the intestinal region looking for any blockage. However, we did get a partial look at the lungs. I made a conscious decision not to do additional x-rays, not to examine if it had spread into the lungs, but live every day to the absolute maximum. But this is not the full story, and the full story has never before been posted. The initial diagnosis was on Friday, and we met with the oncology and surgery team on the following Monday. During the exams that day, there was definate indications that there was growth on Miss Cherry kidney. They wanted to do a second surgery to explore the growth, but since it was clear that one kidney was no longer functioning and it was the good kidney that had the growth, I felt that the potential for complications were to great. I did not want to loose her looking for more trouble. Approximately five weeks after the amputation, the growth burst and Miss Cherry dumped blood into her urine for a week. It is quite clear that either she had a second cancer or that the osteosarcoma had already metastasised when she had her amputation. Why do I finally mention it here - after facing something as bad as what I just described at the time of the amputation, Miss Cherry and I had 405 days of happiness together. Queen Nova is strong, a fighter, and will continue her dancing in the snow for you.
You both and your entire family will be in my prayers, and will be a constant in my thoughts as you go forward. Remember my #1 suggestion - remain as positive as possible with the Queen. In addition to the rides, I used to sing to Miss Cherry as we arose in the morning. While no one would ever mistake my voice as being good, my rendition of "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain, did lift Miss Cherry's spirits (and thus, mine.)
Give the Queen a big Hug from Sunny Warm California,
Bob
Sue,
It is so easy to scare yourself at this point. It isn't uncommon for them to have issues fighting 'bugs' and have the white count rise. Your vets hesitancy for that one long second could simply have been him processing the 'odds', and let's face it, the odds say Nova and Trouble shouldn't be here now. But they are, and so far they are happy and strong. Stay positive, live for the day, know I am with you each step of the way.
Lots of healing thoughts for our queen, the beautiful Nova. Get well soon, sweetheart.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
1 Guest(s)
