So let me start by introducing my pup a little bit, and the health journey that culminated in a diagnosis of that-six-letter-word-that-should-really-be-four: cancer.
Sophie is a very happy, very active almost 9 year old mutt. She’s some sort of lab mix; people have guessed pit bull, whippet, or Plott hound. All I know is that she’s about the size of a German shorthair – 55 pounds of energetic love. She’s always loved people and prefers them over other dogs; she’s also very protective of me. I got her when she was just 8 weeks old and we have pretty much lived alone together ever since, with a few years of separation mandated by my military service. She’s eager to please, one of the fastest dogs I’ve ever seen, and loves to chase her ball, swim, and jump. We frequently go on hikes in the parks around Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire and Sophie serves as the unofficial mascot on my co-ed softball team. In the past few years she’s begun to go gray, but I expect(ed) her to be around for about 12 years. I was/am not prepared for anything less than that, at least not until she slows down.
In the middle of August this year I noticed that Sophie was exhibiting back pain, to the point where she couldn’t/wouldn’t really move. I took her to the vet, x-rays were done of her back, and she was diagnosed with bony growths on her vertebrae. After consulting a doggy orthopedist, Sophie started doggy acupuncture and some pain meds to manage it. The doggy acupuncturist is also a vet, and he recommended Ventri-disc supplements as well. Sophie quickly got better over the next month or so. She was limited to short walks for exercise but obviously wanted to do more.
However, after the back pain subsided (love the acupuncture) she started showing some left hind leg sensitivity. The vet first thought is was an ACL sprain in her knee and continued the acupuncture. She didn’t seem to be getting better in the first month of this new pain, but nor did she seem to be getting worse. We were just at the point when the vet expected her to turn the corner and she stopped putting any weight on the leg altogether. That’s when I noticed the lump on her hock.
I noticed the lump on a Friday night, and it felt hard to the touch. It didn’t seem like an emergency, though, and I had National Guard duty that weekend. I called the vet Monday morning and got her in on Tuesday 11/8. He was concerned and suggested an x-ray. He came back in the room and gave me the news: likely osteosarcoma. On the x-ray her tibia looked like it had gone all fuzzy near the ankle joint. Sophie couldn’t figure out why I was suddenly crying. The vet said that the recommended course of treatment was amputation with chemo follow-up and gave me a referral to Tufts, one of the top vet schools/teaching hospitals in the country. I took her straight there.
After several hours and rounds of test to be sure, the docs at Tufts agreed with my vets prognosis and recommended amputation the next day. So that’s what we did. Sophie became a tripawd on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
This blog will be about the journey Sophie and I are now taking in our re-defined life together.
Welcome Sophie! Sorry about the circumstances that brought you to this site but you will not find a better group of folks here willing to help you through this journey. I’m sure someone will send you the link to Jerrys Required Reading list (I am not good a putting in those dang link things). Is Sophie home yet? How is she doing? Please post some pictures! We love pics!!
I forgot… HAPPY VETERANS DAY!!!!!!
Thank you for your service.
Cancer definitely should be a four-letter word.
So sorry to hear that you’ve joined the club that nobody wants to join. However, a majority of us here have walked the trail that you’re now on, and so you’re not alone.
If you have any questions, definitely post them in the forums. And be sure and post photos of Sophie — we love pictures here.
Good luck through the tough recovery periods, and best wishes going forward.
Micki and Rio
Welcome to Tripawds! No one ever wants to have to find a community like this, but we’ve all been through the exact same thing you’re going through now. This is a great place to be, if you have to be there. I’m glad Sophie made it through the surgery. I’m assuming she’s home with you now. The first few weeks will be tough. The meds she’ll be prescribed can make her loopy, and yoiu may question your decision. Don’t. You made the only decision possible to alleviate her pain. The meds will wear off after awhile, and pretty soon Sophie will probably be doing everything she did prior to losing a leg. Some people say it’s only about 2 weeks or less before their dog got back to “normal.” For us, it was about 4 – 5 weeks, so just be prepared. Stay positive around your girl, and keep us updated on her progress. And post some photos, we love photos!!
So sorry you had to find us. This is the site no one wants to join, but everyone is glad they did. We are here for you! We’ve been there!
Keep us posted on her recovery!! All the best,
Jackie, Abby’s mom
Well written lady. She has a strong heart, I know she will conquer this! Keep the updates frequent, ill definatley be reading up on them.
love you both!
Great job sis! I knew you’d find a good support network!
welcome!! sophie sounds like a wonderful girl, definitely material for a ‘tripawd warrior princess’ member!! stay brave for her, if you act scared or overwhelmed…she’ll see that as a cue for her to be scared and overwhelmed too. we, too, love ‘the needles’ – gayle goes every three weeks and it is such a good therapy! pictures, we need pictures!!
charon & gayle
I am so glad you seem to have found a wonderful support community. Stay strong, I know sophie will not let this stop her for long.
Your Sophie has such a lovely, lively face. I can’t wait to learn more about her…and to see more pix!
What a sweet little girl you have! I can’t wait to hear more about her as well. You have found a great community- for encouragement, support, and for questions. Welcome!
Jenna & Spirit Chili Dawg
Sophie, welcome. We’re so sorry about the diagnosis, but fear not sweet girl, there’s lots of lovin’ and livin’ ahead of you!
I know that cancer sucks but you are in GREAT hands and paws, you can kick it’s butt and keep on loving life, I just know it.
xoxo