Welcome Onyx!

I'm so sorry about the diagnoses of your fur baby.  But we are glad you are here!  Please consider registering with us so that your posts will automatically show up and do not have to be approved first. 

The next two weeks are going to be ruff  but it will get better!  Your pup will go through some major healing and it can be trying at times.

Here is a good place to start reading to help you along.  You'll find out what to expect: Jerry's Required Reading for New Tripawds

Plus, we are here to help you!  So, don't feel alone in this journey.  The recovery is daunting but after that it will be smooth sailing - er... I mean, hopping!

Comet's mom

Oh I hate welcoming new people because of the reason....but you have come to the place that will save your sanity.

Here I go with my two suggestions:  Get a Ruffwear harness to "help" save your body and help your furkid in and out of cars and up stairs if necessary.  It is almost an essential!  Get non skid runners for any slippery places, lino, tile, in your house.  Also look at your exits to where he will go potty and see if ramps are necessary or can he do steps just fine.

The first two weeks are hell...no question about it.  But come here often and you will get support like you have never dreamed of.  Good luck on this journey and keep us posted!

Sometimes the pain meds can make them a little "strange" but if that happens, talk to your vet about changing the med.  Also talk to your vet about when you can use the harness, some vets want to wait til staples are out.

Welcome to our little group.  We would prefer all our new members not have cancer, but if you do that's ok, 'cause most of us do too!

The recovery period is not fun, but you will be amazed how quickly the new tripawd will adapt.  Don't forget to get plenty of rest.  It is easy to get caught up in the happenings and you find yourself watching them sleep instead of napping while they sleep.  You need ot be rested and strong.

Hang in there, you guys will be fine.

I don't know if welcome is the right word, but I can at least say that I am in a similar situation.  My 8 year old black lab was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma in the right rear leg, along with some other things that "might" have been mets.  We decided given the low risk of the chondrosarcoma spreading, and the fact that he wasn't in pain, to wait the recommended month to confirm that the "spots" in the lung CT were not mets, and to remove the other growth that they thought (and now confirmed) was benign.  Good news, no spread - bad news, we are now at the point of making the amputation decision.

Our doctors have presented definitive radiation as a viable  alternative, with only a "small" increase in the risk of metastases over the amputation.  Probably similar to your situation, the preferred treatment would be to remove the tumor, but because of the location they can't get margins without amputating.

Anyway, based on our relief at the "no mets" confirmation today, I don't know that we'll be able to live with the increased risk presented by radiation only treatment, so are likely to amputate next week.  You're a little "ahead" but maybe we can start a Black Lab Rehab post ...

Best of luck - if all my research is right, your guy should be up an playing in not too long ....and I don't know about you, but my fur baby prefers not to move if its over 75 degrees and 50 percent humidity - so try not to get too upset about this recovery period, I think they know when they need to rest.

Wishing you the best!  (we're in NYC, where are you?)