Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I haven't posted on here in a long time. I have a question. My now 8 yr old greyhound had a spontaneous fracture of the right front humerus on December 5, 2012. Her bone was shattered, so her leg was not able to be saved. At first the vet told me that she showed some signs of bone cancer on the xrays, after he amputated the leg he said the bones looked normal. He never sent anything to be biopsied to confirm cancer. Its been almost 10 months since the amp. I have wondered everyday if she has cancer or not. It's to point were I am constantly worrying about her. Are there any tests that I can have done to check for cancer. I am thinking about having a chest xray done on her. She acts like her normal self, doesn't seem ill at all. I just don't want her to suffer because I believed the vet that never had a biopsy done. I feel horrible about all this. I am going to call a different vet tomorrow a see what my options are tomorrow. I am going to a different vet not only because of the biopsy thing and she is very afraid of my current vet. She totally freaks out in his office to the point she cannot stand up on their floors. I just need some opinions from people who understand.
Thanks
Jennifer
Proud mama to Socks, a 7 year old greyhound. Became an amputee on 12/10/12. Once a racer, always a champion.
Jen,
There are no certain tests. I mean if it was Osteoscaroma they can do x-rays of the chest. I am very surprised the vet didn't send the leg off to be biopsied after it was amputated. If you are worried I would do a chest x-ray but that isn't a definate diagnosis tool. I am so sorry I can't be of more help. I would call and get any x-rays & medical records if you are going to go to a 2nd vet so they are prepared and can look at the x-rays before amputation.
I am sorry I couldn't be more help.
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Honestly, if I were in your shoes...I'd let it go for right now.
If she isn't showing any signs of illness, no other obvious lesions or pain on the long bones, no wheezing, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, or lethargy, etc....IOW, if she seems as hale and hearty as can be, and is getting her normal vet care and feeding and everything, I'd just go on with our lives (easy to say, hard to do, for sure).
There are some tests that they can run that might show certain things that can go along with cancer...but that's a lot of mights and cans and correlations. It's not like there's an OSA test that comes back positive or negative (aside form a biopsy sort of thing). COULD they do Xrays, yes. But even "clean" chest films aren't necessarily definitive. And then what would you do if they showed nothing? Keep worrying? And if the vet visits are stressful for her, is it worth doing X-rays when she seems okay otherwise?
(DEBBIE DOWNER MATH ALERT...) Plus, and odds are just odds, so take this with a grain of salt, but...if she had her amp done 10 months ago, and not had any treatments of any kind, if she HAD OSA, chances are...well, chances are you'd know it by now. MST for dogs with amp alone is somewhere between 3-6 months, depending on which lit you're looking at. And while yes, there are certainly dogs who go longer...it's not the norm.
So that's my 02--she doesn't look sick, act sick, or appear sick in any way shape or form. By all accounts, she is healthy. I'd probably not look a gift horse in the mouth, so I'd ASSUME she IS healthy, and say "Whew, we dodged a bullet there" and be glad for it.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
jengrey1 said
Are there any tests that I can have done to check for cancer.
Proper scans or x-rays of the chest and internal organs will identity metastases if cancer has spread.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We found a lump on Cinnamon shoulder. We did a biopsy and it showed to be osteosarcoma. But there were questions on the biopsy report. We have done x-rays on the tumor and her chest to watch for growth and we do blood work every 30 days. Finally after two rounds the tumor showed conclusive signs of being cancer. We are deciding what to do now. So, do find a vet you are comfortble with. Get x-rays and blood work so you have a starting point. Good luck. It's hard.
Jennifer,
First, do find a new vet. You always have options, you never have to go to a vet you're uncomfortable with. Dr. Kay's book, "A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect from Your Vet" is a great place to start learning about what to look for in another practice. You can also check out our interview with her on Tripawd Talk Radio.
You can get a CT scan of her lungs to find out if there's micrometastasis but that's about the best we have right now as far as diagnostics for osteosarcoma. Some other dog cancer tests are on the market but they're not for osteo, and even those put out very iffy results. It's just not perfect yet.
But I have to agree with Megan's advice. If she isn't acting odd or showing signs that something is wrong, run with it. One of the things cancer teaches us is how to live life to the fullest each and every day. Most of us don't learn that lesson until cancer enters our world. If you have the opportunity to learn this and she doesn't have cancer, wow, what a blessing. When it comes down to it nobody really knows how much time we have left, with or without cancer, so if she's feeling and acting well, thank the Universe and have a ball together.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
And yet aother ditto to Megan and Jerry.
This is the old' you can't unfing the bell" scenario......"it is what it is".....and, "it is what it isn't".....just made that o e up, guess you can tell!
Yes, get on with enjoying your relationship! You are letting regrets that you had no control over and "what if's" that don't even exist, rob you of the joy of being together now! Let go of that negativity energythat's depriving you of enjoying the gift of every s gle day youhave with your sweet girl.
And PLEASE know I'm coming from a place of love and care for you! I'm a huge worry wart myself and I feel like I can pass on this "observation" because I really do understand! I just want you to have the very best time possible with yiur sweet girl! You are a wnderful advocate for her!
Please come here anytime and voice any concerns. We understand and kow how you only want what's best for your girl. Would love to see more pictures of her. So let's put time and enrgy iinto focusing on continuing to make the best memories possible every second of every day, okay?
You jang in there and be good to yourself! You're doing a good job.
(((((((BIG HUGS TO YOU))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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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