TRIPAWDS: Home to 22974 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

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!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
We brought our boy home, but got sad news
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Member Since:
5 February 2020
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
7 February 2020 - 2:34 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Well our Kobalt is finally home! He is adjusting beautifully to being a Tripawd and is doing everything he can to cuddle us and love on us. 

Unfortunately we got the news we were dreading this morning. Kobalt has osteosarcoma. Thankfully it hasn't spread to his lungs yet and when the vet did blood tests she didn't see signs of it. But when she tested his leg he was positive for it. 

We have cried lots of happy and sad tears today. We're just glad he is home for now. Now begins the decision process. We probably can't afford chemo unfortunately....so we're gonna be doing holistic approaches. I'm working on becoming an herbalist so this is right up my alley. If anyone has any tips on diet or anything we would be extremely grateful. 

Off topic: when we picked him up from the vet all of the techs and vets were very disappointed he was leaving. One of the vet techs walked back to tell everyone that he was leaving and we heard everyone say "awww man!" So I'm glad everyone sees how wonderful he is. 😊

Member Since:
26 January 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
7 February 2020 - 2:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Congrats on being home, Kobalt! You're doing great!

The OSA diagnosis is a gut punch, for sure. But it's not the end of the road. Plenty of dogs have kicked cancer butt without the help of chemo.

David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)

Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.

He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know. 

Member Since:
5 February 2020
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
7 February 2020 - 3:41 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

It's a relief to hear that. Where can I find that information? I want to make sure we do as much as we can. And thank you. I'm really glad to have found this community. 

Member Since:
4 April 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
7 February 2020 - 4:12 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Brownie has OST. I decided against Chemo because Brownie stresses so badly at the vet. You would think he is having a heart attack. And I can't leave him anywhere. I have had doggie daycare and groomers tell me not to bring him back. Not because he is bad but he has like anxiety attacks.

The vet told me without chemo three months. So I decided to make it the best three months of his life. Well...on the 26th of this month it will be one year since Brownie was diagnosed.

He was eating the diet "Feed the dog Starve the cancer" due to senior issues we had to cut back. You want to feed high protein and no sugar.  He takes a mushroom powder that keeps the immune system strong. I  understand that is important with or without chemo. Brownie also had ozone therapy from his Hollostic vet. I don't know if these things worked, but it did not hurt. veteran dog like people are different when it comes to this disheartening disease.  I would say the most important thing is just lots and lots of love!

My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019.  With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer.  I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud!  He will live forever in my Heart!

Brownie Bubba Bell

04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020

"March Saint"

Member Since:
4 April 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
7 February 2020 - 4:16 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

The book " The Dog Cancer Survival Guide " by doctor Damian Dressler is like our bible. It has a lot of information fighting cancer with and without chemo for pets. It also had some cancer fighting recipes.

I believe I got mine from this site.

My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019.  With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer.  I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud!  He will live forever in my Heart!

Brownie Bubba Bell

04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020

"March Saint"

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
7 February 2020 - 5:22 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I'm so glad your sweetheart is home! Focus on that, he's on the mend and life is pain-free once again. VICTORY! YAY!

Yes, the osteosarcoma diagnosis sucks. It's not easy to hear that news and it breaks our heart. But when you start thinking about it, remember that Kobalt is the same dog he's always been. With or without cancer he just wants to have fun and love life, and thanks to you, he is back on the path to doing it.

Also, osteosarcoma carries a depressing prognosis but not all dogs will succumb to it. We have seen many many dogs who didn't have chemo live way beyond projections, including our Jerry. He lived two years without chemo and every day was the best it could be. We have no regrets, so don't beat yourself up if you cannot do chemo. There are no right or wrong choices and no guarantees with any kind of treatment. Do what's in your heart and you can't go wrong.

Let us know how the weekend goes. If you have any questions, we are here to help. 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
8 February 2020 - 6:11 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

KOBALT IS HOME!!!!   You know when all the staff came to help send Kobalt home, absolutely  melts the hearts of everyone  he meets!!❤

Be sure and download Be More Dog book.  It will really, really, really help you to live in the now.  Sure, it's a kick in the gut to.  hear the "diagnosis".  As the Admin Guy say,s, "diagnosis--schmognosis"!   Nothing has changed In  Kobalt's world!  He didn't  hear a thing the Vet said.  He doesn't  count says on a calendar  and he certainly doesn't  have a timeframe stamped on his butt!!

Kobalt just wants to get on with being Kobalt and soaking  up all that loving and spoiling  you bestow kn rhis handsome boy!😊   Don't  wast ine aingle second worrying about the tomorrows.  Kobalt sure isn't! Just stay fully present in the now!  That's  the best "treatment" we can ever give our dogs and cats on this journey. 

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS. Check out K9 Immunity , Apocaps , mushroom therapy, statis breaker..there are lots of alternative routes to investigate. FYI, there are no guarantees with chemo one way or another, okay?  

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!

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
8 February 2020 - 7:15 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

My Pug Maggie was dealing with a different cancer, mast cell, I went into the amp surgery thinking it would be curative.  A few days after her surgery I got a call from the oncologist with the devastating news that there were lots of cancerous mast cells in the lymph node removed with her leg (really bad for mast cell as lymph system is where the cancer mets).  Her prognosis was downgraded to poor with 6 to 9 months left with chemo.

I'll be honest- I spent a lot of the next 6 months regretting the amp and expecting the worst outcome- in hindsight wasted time!  If I had looked for that date stamp I wouldn't have found one.  Maggie lived almost 4 years and did not pass from the mast cell cancer.

As far as chemo- I did choose to do chemo right after her amp.  But later she developed a second cancer and for lots of reasons I chose not to treat it at all although surgery and chemo was recommended by our oncologist.  And Mag's little sis Tani had multiple mast cell tumors over her life and I turned down chemo for her.  Chemo, for whatever reason, isn't always the right way to go.  You do what is best for your family.

I went the holistic route with Tani, I did a diet recommended by our holistic vet along with some herbs.  I also gave her K9 Immunity plus, a mushroom based supplement.  I can't say for sure if it helped with her cancer but I know it helped with her energy level.

You can find lots of ideas for diets and supplements in our Nutrition Blog.

I'm sorry you got the diagnosis- we always hope for better news.  Take you lead from Kobalt and make every day his best day.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
5 February 2020
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
9 February 2020 - 2:03 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thank you everyone! smiley4 your replies have all warmed my heart. We've decided to go the Natural route with his treatment because, as a giant breed, chemo is out of our price range. I'm feeling a lot more optimistic after starting my reading of "The Dog Cancer Survival Guide ". We've learned tons of stuff and have really embraced: Be More Dog . We're just enjoying our weekend with him while we get excited about making the next undetermined amount of time the best we can. 

He is healing BEAUTIFULLY and is having no problems hopping on his three legs. We're trying to make sure he takes it easy (despite his enthusiasm hahaicon_lol) so he continue healing effectively. 

No matter what happens we're remembering he is always going to be the same dog we love. sp_hearticon2

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
9 February 2020 - 4:37 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

lolamontez21 said
......and have really embraced: Be More Dog . We're just enjoying our weekend with him while we get excited about making the next undetermined amount of time the best we 

No matter what happens we're remembering he is always going to be the same dog we love. sp_hearticon2

  

A standing  ovation to Kobalt's hoomans!  You got it!  You got one of rhe biggest  lessons of this journey!  Living in the NOW!!! There are many ways to best this piece of crap disease, and getting excited  about whatever time you do have together!  Yes, get excted and continue to be amazed at all the ways you can spoil Kobalt and all the fun uoj xan hace as Kobalt continues  to be Kobalt..Kobalt the same dog you love!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.

And remember....more pictures!!!!

Hugs 

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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!

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online: Edward_1
Guest(s) 295
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17735
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256809
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG