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
Libby had her amputation yesterday and she's truly amazing. We had a rough night, but today was soooo much better. She's eating, drinking, peeing and resting. She'll hop along to do her business outside and sniff the air. I let her lay in the sun a little bit today and she really enjoyed that. The toughest hurdle was her figuring out how to lie down on her bed. Once she figured that out, she's been completely content.
But, ... waiting for the test results is agonizing. I can't stop researching online, and it's horrific. It makes me question every decision. How did you pass those agonizing days? Is it better to stay off the computer or be informed?
Libby was treated for her mast cell tumor with prednisone (for one week) before her first surgery, which was a mistake. The prednisone shrunk the tumor down to be completely unrecognizable. Pathology didn't find cancer at all after the first surgery. Upon the tumor's return (within a month), we're not really sure if we ever got it the first time or what the stage and grade is. But, since we had to assume the tumor "returned," amputation became the only option.
After the vet removed the leg and Libby was in recovery with me, my vet looked in the leg. He didn't see a mass and assumes the tumor was in the muscle (it may have even originated in the muscle -- since it always presented as a "bruise" under the skin ... it never ulcerated). He also said the lymph nodes looked clean (yay!) But, it will all be sent to pathology for full and complete results. And, given that her blood is clear, the ultrasound was clear and aspirates on her spleen/liver indicated no mast cells present, I keep thinking we'll get good news next week.
I guess what I really needed tonight was to vent ... and share ... especially with people who have been in my shoes. This is all new to me and I'm still in shock (it was only Tuesday when my vet recommended amputation after aspirates of the new bump indicated mast cells.) I decided to move quick, given that it hadn't spread yet.
Thanks for listening and reading. This entire community has been an immense comfort to me. I was reading all the positive comments and notes of support while sitting in the recovery room with Libby yesterday. (I read some of them to her aloud, telling her she's going to be my amazing and special girl.)
Hallie & Libby
Hi Halli and Libby!
Yeah, we get it! It's kinda' like being stuck in a nightmare and you can't wake up! I sobbed...the gasping for air kiind of sobs for weeks before the decision and a couple of weeks afterwards. I researched til I thought I would go crazy!
This community is what pulled me back from the edge. I rely on it heavily for information and support. People here understand every nuance of this crazy journey. I stay connected to this site like.....like.....chocolate syrup on vanilla ice cream!! This is my lifeline! STAY CONNECTED TO US! That is how you get through the rough spots
My Happy Hannah is six months past her amputation and doing great!! Knocking on wood over here!! Ut for the first three weeks after srgery I was thinking had made a noeeible mistake!! She had a little rougher recovery and a little slower than some and I was freaking out! Ut the triawd community stayed with me and promised it would get better! It did!! Best decision ever! She and I are living in the moment and enjoying every single second we jave! It is pure bliss!
Always remember, Lilly doesn't know she's sick, she doesn't give a rip about any ole' stupid diagnosis and, a theme that's well known around nere....Libby doesn't have a time frame stamped on her head.! She is NOT a statisric....she is Libby and Livby will do just fine!
For nlw, just chunk it dlwn.....put research aside for a week r so and merely focus on ner surgery recovery. You have plenty of time to decide on a course of action....and even change your mind a few times! It is all soooo overwhelming right ow....too much to dealith all at once! Let's just get Libby's recovery on track for now, okay? Make sense?
You will learn to be more like a dog....stay in the present...no worries.... focus on the gift of each day together. Just love and spoil and love and spoil and love and spoil and enjoy the bliss of ow!
We are here for you! You are not alone.
Now go look at Libby and do so ething to make her tail wag! Did it make you smile?
Now, go do so ething to make YOUR tail wag I eat ice cream! So e people dri k! Some pur wine over their ice cream!! Whatever works
You are very strong and doing a great job! Take a deep breath, relax and eat some ice cream.....or drink....or both
Hugs to you and Libby!
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!
Thank you, Sally. You said exactly what I needed to hear tonight. And, I'm going to stay very optimistic that Libby will beat all of the odds. I love that you mentioned her tail wagging. She started wagging it a little today (awesome ... since she just had surgery yesterday) ... and it gave me the biggest grin to see my girl slowly coming back.
Welcome Hallie and Libby-
Wonderful to hear how well Libby is doing. Shooter's cancer is also Mast Cell. It is one of the unusual types and kind of a wild card. Maggie the Pug was also a long term survivor of MCT and lived a long life. I feel that the dogs with OSA have the more difficult road due to more pain, but every one of them don't know they are sick and battle on to beat the odds. Shooter had no lymph node involvement, but was a grade 3 and has had a tumor appear on the amp site. He is now nearly to his 7 month ampuversary andstill fighting. He has been treated with pred since the beginning and is the standard drug for this. I expect he'll be on it the rest of his life.
If you get a chance take a look at blogs for Maggie the Pug, Rio and Shooter to get an idea of how their treatment was handled.
Sending good thoughts your way. Keep us updated.
Luanne and Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Hallie & Libby,
Well first of all I'm so glad to hear the recovery is going well. That is HUGE.
One of the things you can do while you're waiting is to hang out in the Tripawds Chat room! Open it, scroll down till you see the box. There's usually some great Tripawds folks in there especially during evenings and it's a fun way to get to know one another. If you don't see anyone in there, post something like "hello" to let folks know you're there and leave the window open while you're logged in, that way a visitor knows you're sticking around. I try to be in there most days but I'm working a lot of hours until Labor Day so I can't be there as much as I'd like. After my summer job is done I'll be in the chat a lot more.
Meanwhile, yeah, it's a fine line between being informed and getting information overload. Dr. Google is not always right and putting so much information in your brain can be overwhelming. Something that might help is to only research within a given time limit. Set a timer and then agree to stop, focus on spending time with your pack and remember that's what's really important.
Also, keep in mind that it doesn't do any good to worry about things you have no control over. I know it's been said a million times, but it's so true. Focus on what you have right here right now, which is a beautiful, brave Tripawd who is doing great and a walking lesson in life on 3 paws.
Time for me to run to work. Keep us posted and let us know how things are going OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, internet research can be dangerous. My Dad was feeling out of sorts once and spent time on line trying to self diagnose. After several hours of research he confidently announced to my Mom that he had PMS...
It is really hard not to get caught up in the stat and prognosis info. Mast cell cancer is the most unpredictable cancer- that's what our oncologist calls it. I'm 7 years in now with two dogs, and very little of what I have seen lines up with the stats.
What I would recommend is that you spend the time on-line educating yourself on possible options and some of the meds available. Also give some thought to what you are willing to do, and more importantly what you would not do. For example before Maggie's amp there was some talk about radiation therapy- after looking into it I decided I would not do that for Mag. It is right for some, but I decided it would not work for us. So when we started talking options I said that was off the table. Knowing at least some of the options, and knowing what questions to ask will give you some sense of control no matter what news you get from the path report.
I kind of though Maggie's amp would be curative and honestly I felt a little rushed deciding on chemo. I don't regret it- and it turns out to have been the right decision, but I could have been a little more educated. There are also two meds out now that were not available when Mag was diagnosed. Both were approved for mast cell in dogs but are used for other cancers: palladia and mastinib (or kinivet).
Here is another blog you should read: Roxy's New Life. Roxy is 3.5 YEARS past her amp for a grage III MCT and did not do chemo. I gave you a link to my Maggie's Blog in the other thread.
And remember no matter what news you get Libby doesn't know and doesn't care. And she is with here with you now- so don't let internet research or worry take you away from enjoying your girl.
Hoping for the best news for you!
Karen
1 Guest(s)
