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.
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I've been a lurker on this site since Webster was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma & had his left rear leg amputated November 2012. It was followed up with chemo which he handled very well. Last weekend he had difficulty raising himself up from a lying down position was immediately seen by his oncologist. Bottom line he now has a torn acl along with severe arthritis in his remaining rear leg and 2 lung mets. Dr. Wants him to start on Palladia and we are also considering surgery to repair ligament. Apparently he can not be on Palladia until after leg heals. My question is do I delay leg repair & get him on Palladia ASAP to determine if he will even tolerate it or do I opt for surgery to give him more quality of life.
Oh boy. This is a really tough call. So much depends on how aggressively the cancer is growing and also whether it is elsewhere (other bones, organs). While some dogs get many many more months after lung mets (Jerry and Zeus being two who come to mind) many others (like Magnum) don't. Each dog and cancer can be so different.
I'd be having a heart to heart with your oncologist. As you say, quality of life is the most important thing to consider.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
lbaron said
I've been a lurker on this site since Webster was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma & had his left rear leg amputated November 2012. It was followed up with chemo which he handled very well. Last weekend he had difficulty raising himself up from a lying down position was immediately seen by his oncologist. Bottom line he now has a torn acl along with severe arthritis in his remaining rear leg and 2 lung mets. Dr. Wants him to start on Palladia and we are also considering surgery to repair ligament. Apparently he can not be on Palladia until after leg heals. My question is do I delay leg repair & get him on Palladia ASAP to determine if he will even tolerate it or do I opt for surgery to give him more quality of life.
Hi.........,My Dane is on Palladia ,she had to heal before starting also...I would suggest waiting Palladia will slow healing because immune system will lower on it.
Hi Toolie- thanks for posting in the forums. Your future posts will not require moderation.
Karen
lbaron and toolie, welcome. I'm sorry I just now saw your posts. lbaron, you might want to check out this blog post and article about conservative mangement for injuries like a torn ACL before you make any decisions. Good luck and keep us posted.
"Conservative Management to Leg, Knee and Hip Surgeries for Tripawds"
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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