|
|
Post by caron on Apr 11, 2011 12:10:54 GMT
I wonder if anyone has any experience in having a large heavy dog with a front limb amputation? Our 8yo malamute x GSD has been diagnosed with having quite an extensive bone tumour in her front left leg. Vet given us 3 options- PTS when she starts to appear to be struggling or showing pain (at the moment she is limping due to the tumour restricting the joint but no signs of pain) Amputation- he says big heavy dogs don't tend to do well on 3 legs or Chemotherapy tablets OH has been looking into it and research seems to suggest that whatever option we take, the prognosis isn't that good, 4-6 months following amputation and 12 months following chemo. Anyone any experience of bone tumours in dogs? We lost a 4yo belgian shepherd dog to bone tumour 4 years ago, hers was in a vertebrae though, so obviously there was no option to treat, she lost all function from 'waist' down in a matter of days of diagnosis, so we know in her case we were making the right decision, its not so clear in this case  |
|
Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
|
Post by Milliesmum on Apr 11, 2011 12:43:29 GMT
My own gut reactions is, I would go for the chemo tablets.
My MIL had a lab/collie cross who had this in a front leg, she wasn't offered the surgical option, but every morning she would pick up his lead, and if he got up, they'd go for a walk. The day he chose not to go for his walk was the day he was PTS, as he had given up the fight. He did have a happy few months though before he made the decision. xxx
|
|
|
|
Post by 09rebel99 on Apr 11, 2011 12:48:01 GMT
I feel for you caron as what ever descision you make you will always wonder what if? Our dog isn't very well at the moment and has a tumour on her back and the vets have said they want to remove it even though she is 12 they have said it will be for the best so that is what we are going to do.
The last thing you want is for the last few months wether it be 1 month or 12 months for her to be in pain and discomfort and having her life turned upside down by having a leg amputated. Maybe it would be best to just let her live the rest of her life out happy and as pain free as possible and when the time comes you will know or maybe try the chemo?
It's a really hard thing to decide and taking the vets advice is all you can do as they are the experts but they won't make a descision for you.
Sorry if that isn't much help but just having a bit of reasurance sometimes make things a bit easier.
Good luck and I'm sure you will make the right descision!! :-)
|
|
dazycutter
Happy to help
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his Tongue.
Posts: 7,933
|
Post by dazycutter on Apr 12, 2011 10:10:25 GMT
how heartbreaking for you.. only you can make the right decision for your lovely dog.. just remember its quality of life not quantity...
I really feel for you...
|
|
jordan
Junior Member
Posts: 145
|
Post by jordan on Apr 12, 2011 20:17:52 GMT
Hi Caron
This is a very hard decision for you, I used to have malamutes and show them and I am also a vet nurse so have seen many cases like this, Only you can make the decision and what ever you decide im sure it will be the right one.
Please just think about the quality not quantity of life dont let her suffer and spend the last months recovering from a hard surgery which will be hard.
The tablets sometimes dont help and can give them side affects making them more poorly...
You could always ask for strong pain relief and have a good few weeks/months and enjoy the time with her, you will know when she has become tired and its time to say good bye, but please do whats right for her we all never want them to go but at least with our animals we can make a decision not to let them suffer like some humans do...
Big hugs for both of you and enjoy the sunshine together...
|
|
|
|
Post by caron on Apr 13, 2011 11:12:24 GMT
Hi Jordan, I think we are going to take a palliative approach and just let her enjoy life as much as she can for however long she wants. She has already lost some weight and muscle tone, she obviously isn't being as active as she was (even though that wasn't very active anyway, she's a fat lazy moo lol) and struggles even more than she used to to get around and get up off our tiled and wood floors so will sometimes leave her food. However if I get her lead she starts yowling and limping round like mad wanting to go out so is apparently still got some get up and go about her  |
|
|
|
Post by vetnurse on Apr 15, 2011 9:24:08 GMT
my own opinion would be to pts. the reason being you will not buy the dog much time with chemo or leg amputation and with both its not an enjoyable time as they are either having side effects of chemo or need to be on post op rest and then are limited to exercise given breed size and think of the weight on the other forelimb.
i would also strongly stress that it is a hard decision when to pts as you can never tell how long the dog has left however most bone tumours will eventually cause the bone to fracture and this is extremely painful and will result in immediate put to sleep anyway. i would want to avoid that pain if it were my dog at the expense of me not having a possible 1 day, 1 week, 1 month with my pet.
|
|
|
|
Post by teri on Apr 15, 2011 10:06:07 GMT
Hi Jordan, I think we are going to take a palliative approach and just let her enjoy life as much as she can for however long she wants. She has already lost some weight and muscle tone, she obviously isn't being as active as she was (even though that wasn't very active anyway, she's a fat lazy moo lol) and struggles even more than she used to to get around and get up off our tiled and wood floors so will sometimes leave her food. However if I get her lead she starts yowling and limping round like mad wanting to go out so is apparently still got some get up and go about her If she is leaving her food as she finds it hard to get up on the wood floor, couldn't you buy a rug to put down in her area. I have a 12 year old dobbie who finds it so hard on our wood floors we brought rug runners for each room so he can get around. Just an idea. Really feel for you, they become such a massive part of the family. At least you can do what is best for an animal, no suffering, not like people. Big hugs |
|
|
|
Post by caron on Apr 17, 2011 1:58:53 GMT
Thanks Teri yes we'll have to get her a rug, I think she used to have an old duvet that the dogs lay on but I'm sure one of them puked on it and she always used to lie off it anyway but maybe she will lay on it now she's not so well  Spoke to the vet on Friday and he (and his vet nurses) agreed that no aggressive treatment is the best way to go, they said they were relieved that we didn't want anything doing as none of the treatents are pleasant and don't buy that much time. She's been given Prednicare tablets twice a day and we'll see how she goes. We certainly won't let her linger, would rather she went when she's still able to walk etc, our poor little BSD didn't have that oppurtunity, I can remember taking her to be pts and she dragged herself along into the surgery by her front legs with poor back legs trailing uselessly behind her and the other people in the surgery were sat watching her and whispering, it broke my heart but I couldn't even pick her up as she was in pain, couldn't wee properly so it hurt if I tried to help her and she would bite if anyone tried to lift her- it was awful but she went downhill so quickly we couldn't do anything any sooner  |
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Apr 17, 2011 6:36:24 GMT
I now usually ask the vet if he/she will pts in the back of my estate car, which works well. Started with our old collie who really hated the vets so I didn't want her having to go through that at her end, but the car was her territory. Some will come out to you at home, but doubtless charge for the privilege!
|
|
|
|
Post by CarolineNelson on Apr 17, 2011 13:29:18 GMT
I now usually ask the vet if he/she will pts in the back of my estate car, which works well. Started with our old collie who really hated the vets so I didn't want her having to go through that at her end, but the car was her territory. Some will come out to you at home, but doubtless charge for the privilege! At risk of sounding like a parrot, I have, in the past, done the same. My breed is Dachshund and they all have, without exception, adored travel and their car. One dear old lady went to her final sleep in the tackroom one day when the vet was on the yard. When I was a child we had a massive dog, an Alsatian x Bull Mastiff. He actually lived at the yard and that is where we put him to rest. Hopefully you'll have a kindly vet who will support you when the time comes. |
|
|
|
Post by caron on Apr 17, 2011 20:50:19 GMT
I think she has had enough- poor girl She was poorly yesterday, throwing up all day, we were hoping maybe she'd managed to get into the bin and eaten something that disagreed with her. She has tolerated some water today but she will barely get up unless we lift her which we are only doing to let her go out and pee, she won't even lift her head, she has lost loads of weight suddenly(or so it seems) and back legs giving way when she does stand. I think we will be taking her on her last car ride tomorrow to the vets |
|
Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
|
Post by Milliesmum on Apr 17, 2011 20:52:54 GMT
Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that. But if her quality of life has gone it would be the kindest thing. xxxx
|
|
nerja
Full Member
Posts: 276
|
Post by nerja on Apr 17, 2011 21:20:48 GMT
I really feel for you its heart breaking I have just found this
A SALFORD doctor is pioneering prosthetic limbs for pets.
Doctor Glyn Heath from the University of Salford is going into business manufacturing artificial limbs for animals in a venture that could save the lives of thousands of family pets.
He is setting up a unique service designing, manufacturing and fitting prosthetic body parts - including false legs for animals as large as horses or as small as mice.
Prices will vary from £400 up to £1,200 depending on the level of amputation required and the size of the animal involved.
The ex-zoologist has successfully fitted a limb onto an amputee dog as part of an initial research project and even solved a paraplegic rat's mobility problems by building a wheeled 'chariot' for it to push itself along in.
Dr Heath says his expertise also extends to orthoses which are external supports for animals that have problems moving and are similar to "the old fashioned type of callipers they used to put on children."
He is now in discussions with the veterinary industry alongside the university's Academic Enterprise unit, with a view to commercialising the concept.
He said: "What we're able to do is a feat of engineering and completely unique in Britain.
"Helping disabled animals to walk and move about again has the potential to improve the lives of pets, preserve gene pools and support breeding programmes for animals like race horses."
Dr Heath said the lack of coverage of his work and current veterinary practices are stopping him from helping to get animals back up and about - a situation he is desperate to try and change.
"It is very satisfying work when we get to do it but very few people know the service is out there." he said.
"Also, vets usually amputate through the shoulder joint or hip joint meaning there's no room to put a prosthesis on so vets could do with looking at their operational procedures as well."
Dr Heath's service - called Lacerta - is currently only available through referrals from veterinary clinics but Glyn is hoping to make contact with any vets interested in offering this service to their clients
|
|
|
|
Post by 09rebel99 on Apr 18, 2011 8:03:50 GMT
Thinking of you today caron!! Sometimes I wonder why we put our selves through this but they give you so much love and happy memories. Such a shame thoughts are with you :-( xx
|
|
|
|
Post by caron on Apr 18, 2011 13:11:58 GMT
Crikey, imagine a horse with a false leg  Sounds interesting for those that are suitable for that kind of thing. Poor Sukes is booked in for 3.30pm to be pts, nurse on the phone said its quiet at that time, they have all been so good with us, lovely practise and so understanding- doing us lots of treatments at cost price as well as OH not able to work and being self employed isn't getting any income at all after his run in with sis in laws new pony. She has been poo-ing blood this morning and is still just lying there not even responding when we speak to her, if we stand her up she can walk a short way to go out and pee but won't get up of her own accord |
|
|
|
Post by brindlerainbow on Apr 18, 2011 13:21:54 GMT
Really feel for you You are doing totally the right thing though, she has no quality of life and is ready to go Will be thinking of you at 3.30 |
|
|
|
Post by CarolineNelson on Apr 18, 2011 13:27:40 GMT
Really feel for you You are doing totally the right thing though, she has no quality of life and is ready to go Will be thinking of you at 3.30 I agree with Brindlerainbow. A very sad day for you, but she will be grateful and she wil be out of pain. Remember her as a young and happy dog. xx |
|
|
|
Post by beachbum12 on Apr 18, 2011 13:31:33 GMT
Thinking of you all Caron xxx  :-*she will soon be running round happily with Fox in RB XXX |
|
|
|
Post by caron on Apr 18, 2011 23:09:31 GMT
Suki went to sleep for the last time at 3.45pm It was very peaceful and she's not suffering any more RIP Sukes |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2011 2:22:39 GMT
Oh gosh I'm so sorry, I have been keeping up with this thread and was tempted not to open it today. I'm so sorry you did right by sukes, Hugs xxx
|
|
Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
|
Post by Milliesmum on Apr 19, 2011 10:53:59 GMT
RIP xx
|
|
nerja
Full Member
Posts: 276
|
Post by nerja on Apr 20, 2011 20:44:22 GMT
My Heart goes out to you ......... R.I.P Sukes xxxx
|
|
dazycutter
Happy to help
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his Tongue.
Posts: 7,933
|
Post by dazycutter on Apr 26, 2011 17:51:11 GMT
just caught up with your last post.... RIP brave girl.. XX
|
|
Sounds interesting for those that are suitable for that kind of thing.
:-*she will soon be running round happily with Fox in RB XXX