Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I have not visited here for a long time, but felt that I should add an update about our experiences with Oncept. Orlando lost a toe to melanoma two summers ago, in 2017, almost to the day. He received the first year's worth of Oncept, followed by another year of the less frequent booster vaccine. When his toe was removed, he was given a year to a year and a half even if I did the immunotherapy, but he is still here! I discontinued the Oncept last year because of cost...it ran around $900 per treatment....and his Cushings became more pronounced and harder to manage. I do not believe that this has anything to do with the use of Oncept however. All extra money is going into the control of the Cushings and into pain relief for him. While I cannot say that the melanoma has not advanced, because frankly we are not looking for it, I am hopeful that it did not. He would not be a candidate for any procedures even if we found that it had.
Thanks again to everyone who helped us here. I have recommended this group to several people...oddly, all cat owners.
We are jumping for joy about Orlando's great pupdate! Here's to being here, my friend!
Thank you sooo much for sharing his story and all the treatment experience you had with Oncept. This is so helpful, especially for folks who are new to fighting cancer and who might be looking into this for therapy.
All of us are doing the hoppy dance that your boy is doing so well. Thanks for taking time to return and let us know how things are going. YEAY!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just want to let you know that Orlando is still here. He is almost 3 years out from his melanoma surgery and Oncept treatments. His oncologist had only projected one to one and a half years survival even if I did the vaccine, and he has happily exceeded that.
We have no strong indications that the melanoma has metastasized. He continues to fight Cushings, going on his 6th year of Vetoryl. While he had had other issues related to the Cushing's and advancing age...14 in December if he is still here....I continue to be happy that I proceeded with the Oncept for him. The loss of the weight bearing toe coupled with the weight gain from the Cushings has caused some stress to his shoulders and legs and we use a Ruffwear Flagline harness when we go out briefly in the morning. But he is still fighting and still here!
Wow that is sooooo wonderful! I'm so glad you came back to update, and thrilled that Orlando is living a great life on 3. So how old is he now?
I just talked to a woman on our Tripawds Helpline
this week, whose dog was losing a leg to melanoma. I know she will be so inspired by Orlando's victory 
Thank you for for sharing, and if you get a chance to share some photos we would love to see them!
Give him extra smooches and 3-paws up from all of us 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OOOOOM. DDDDD! SOOOOP THRILLED TO READ THIS!!! You have no idea how Orlando is inspiring everyone o this journey right now!!! Orla jas become an official "Rockstar of Hope"!!!!😎😎
Thank you so ,rich for sharing all Jo's successes with is! Keep em coming a
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!
I wanted to let you know that Orlando passed away a month ago. He was going on 16 years old, which is remarkable for a GSD mix. In his last year, he developed some concerning problems including an anal tumor, a mass on the spleen, and a never resolved kidney issue which was not an infection. I realized that I could not allow procedures on all of those issues and we chose palliative care which I believe kept him comfortable until about 2 weeks before he passed. However, the general consensus of his doctors is that the melanoma had probably remained controlled and had not metastasized. While his surgery probably did allow for a clean margin, I just wanted to conclude our episode by saying that it is entirely possible that Oncept did its job as well.
((((hugs)))) I'm so very sorry to read this news. Thank you for finding the strength to come here and let us know. It's not easy at all. Sharing this kind of news is ruff, but it's good to know how things happened and the decisions you made. Then of course, how Oncept did its job.
You were such a good mom to him! Being able to give Orlando a good life and enjoy his remaining time on earth with you as a loved, happy dog, was the greatest gift. This is what our lives with dogs are all about. Being there for each other through thick and thin until the very last day we wear our "earth clothes" as Sally (@benny55) likes to say, is a huge gift, it's why we do what we do as pet parents, it's the whole point of sharing our lives together, to give a selfless creature the life they so deserve. And it fills our hearts with cherished memories, makes us better people too.
So as much as we know you miss Orlando, and our hearts are heavy knowing he got his wings, I have no doubt that he is so proud of his mama, and will always be by your side.
If you'd like to share a tribute in Coping with Loss sometime, please do OK? Once a Tripawd mom, always a Tripawd mom. We are here for you, and are honored to have been part of your life with him in some small way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you so much for your kind words and support that you give to all tripawd pets and owners.
Orlando will always be a Legend of Hope around here. With your lpve and powerfully advocating for Orlando with his gest j Teresa always at the forefront of every decision,
A life well loved and well loved is what weall want for our dogs and cats....and for ourselves. Sixteen years of being loved and spoiled all while knocking down a hurdles that got in his way. He faced his sunset years with the same strong willed determination to make every day count as he did all his life.
And you made sure ro gofehim the gift of release when Orlando could no longer enjoy being Orlando.
Thank you for allowing us the privilege of getting to know Orlando. Through his journey we learned what seems impossible and against all odds, is not necessarily always true.
May the thousands of Happy memories you shared with Orlando help heal your heart....and they will eventually. It takes time.
Surrounding you with Orlando 's eternal bright light...
(((((-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!
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