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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Quick synopsis:
Limping in September followed by multiple vet visits and finally a referral to an ortho specialist who did a biopsy.
May 2, amputation. Diagnosis--histiocytic cell sarcoma (a "nasty, nasty" cancer according to the ortho vet and the oncologist). Spread to lymph node.
May 10 first round of chemo. 2 weeks later, I dose him the oral chemo.
June 10 third round of chemo. 2 weeks later, I dose him the oral chemo.
July 11 fifth round of chemo. Lab tests are wonderful! His white cells are up. His red cells are up. He has experienced no vomiting, no diarrhea, and no loss of appetite. His oncologist wanted him to gain weight, and gain he did--he's up to 74 pounds (although I think he looks better at 70). But the oncologist said that if he loses weight it usually means the cancer is winning.
Next appointment is August 10. Keep your fingers crossed for another good checkup. Perhaps he'll outlive his prognosis (which isn't good). The oncologist said he's seen only one dog with this cancer survive as long as a year. He said people that get this cancer are given only 90 days. Chico has passed the human survival period. Let's hope he passes the oncologists other patient.
Yay Chico!!! You know those statistics are just that - statistics. There is nothing that says every dog has to follow the same path and hopefully Chico will show them exactly what to do with their silly numbers! 
(By the way, Zeus had a lung met at the time of diagnosis - poor prognosis, maybe 6 weeks- and we just passed his seven month ampuversary. I can't say that we haven't had some setbacks but overall he has done remarkably well. My boy is not a statistic and neither is yours!!)
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Hooray for a good update! Here's to kicking those cancer stats to the curb!!
Keep on keeping on, Chico!!
Jackie, angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Yipee! Sounds like he's got some magic on his side, just like Barney B ., our other histio long-term survivor (four years and counting, see our blog for details!) Paws crossed that he continues to make those statistics look silly. Thanks for the update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
