ugh, I'm afraid I don't have helpful insight to offer, other than knowing how horrible you must be feeling, not knowing what the problem is. Certainly he could have overdone it - that is easy to imagine (Tazzie for one is refusing to move this morning after amazing me with a short run - yes, run - after two dogs yesterday). But it would be nice to see an xray.

When are you next scheduled for lung x-rays (is that done before or after the 3rd chemo?)? I only ask because it is usually cheaper to have additional xrays done at the same time.

Could he be more lethargic just because it is about 7-10 days post-chemo, when blood counts are supposed to be at their lowest and the dogs are supposedly sometimes lethargic?

I am really getting to know 'that look'. I offer food to Tazzie and he 'looks away' in the most dramatic pose possible! I can just imagine Yoda doing the same thing when you offer him a 'car ride'.

Here's hoping you find helpful insight elsewhere and lots of unconditional support in the meantime,

Susan & Tazzie 2

Oh I'm so sorry!  The not knowing and speculating really is the hardest part, and it can make us crazy!!  When we were waiting for x-rays and the diagnosis when this all started, my tummy was in knots literally all day where I had stomach cramps and/or felt like I was going to throw up.  We were supposed to have our next set of x-rays yesterday but couldn't do it financially so will have to do it next week or at our next chemo.  I asked about what our move will be when mets appear and asked about metronomic protocol, but our oncologist said she would prefer to put him on carboplatin.  I think that once we know our little dogs have cancer, we (or at least I do) tend to make every little thing into a cancer issue.  Like, "oh my gosh, he's breathing funny, maybe the cancer is back", but ya know, sometimes dogs just breathe funny!  If you can afford the radiographs I would go ahead and do them just to put your mind at ease or know what your next move will be.  That's the thing about cancer...it sucks, but there are so many options on how to deal with it.  I wish you guys luck because Yoda is Jack's little cancer journey companion 🙂

<3 Laura and Jackers

Hi Yodasmom, like everybody has said, I hope that this is just a temporary setback for his recovery journey. 

Any chance that Yoda had overworked his legs when he insisted on those long walks?   The timing of the vet's discovery of Yoda favoring one of his hind legs coincides with the long walk sessions prior.  Limit his activity for a couple of days, if the favoring of one leg still persists, perhaps more sophiscated scans is needed in order to pick up something which x-rays can't.  Let's hope for the best senario that he just over did it.

Keep thinking positive.  Cheers!

Yoda's Mom.

     I'm sorry you are going through so much stress with Yoda's leg.  Take heart in what Laura and Jack said.  I imagine we all do think everything is related to cancer but sometimes a sore leg is just a sore leg.  The fact that Yoda didn't want to get in the car amd then he was diagnosed is probably just burned in your brain and so you notice that more than you may have before.  You have specialist looking at Yoda now.  Try to have faith in them.  You and Yoda are in my prayers.

Debra (Emily's Mom)

Zeus sometimes stands like a true tripawd....(we had a right front leg amputation), but he OFTEN leans all his weight on his left side...which makes NO sense to me, but hey - what do I know? I'm also "trying not to panic" because he is much slower and less likely to want to walk very far lately...but you know what? It's freaking 95 degrees and the air can be cut with a knife with all the humidity. I don't like to take my long walks in the evenings either and often cut them in half - imagine what they are dealing with...AND all that fur!

Breathe deeply...listen to your heart and wait it out for a few days while limiting activity. You can stretch the legs out a bit and "exercise them" yourself imitating the motion so that the joints get movement...what about some ice? This will also give you "mommy and me" time with Yoda - I love laying on the floor with Zeus and doing this. He's also great at listening to me vent sometimes and guess what...he listens to everything I say!

Try some of everyone's suggestions for a week and if it doesn't improve, think about the next step...

Please keep us posted.

Hugs,

Heather and Zeus

Hi Yoda's Mom,

It's hard not to worry when you have just gone thru what you have, but try not to let Yoda know you're worried.    On a brighter note, Chuy is a lft. frt. amputee and he tends to lean on his right legs, so Yoda isn't alone in that part of it. 

What I do know is that if Yoda overdid his running/exercise/walk, he may have strained that rear leg muscle or possibly have a minor tear in the ACL.  Sometimes they will limp for a day and then it will stop, then start again a few days later, then stop again.   The ACL, when strained, can tear slightly or totally, depending on the amount of stress imposed.  If it were a total tear, Yoda would most likely not put weight on it as much as possible.  Let him rest, shorten those walks and playtime at the park.  He needs to build up the muscles in both his back legs and his frt. leg now.  They are all carrying extra weight that they aren't used to.  You may want to see if you can get therapy for him to help do that.  It really helped Chuy with his muscle building, now we're working on his stamina.

Keep us posted!

Eleanor & Chuy