Hello All!
A little of our background. Bailey and Bentley are my 7 1/2 year old pit mixes.
They were about 6 weeks when I found them. Stumbling down a busy main service road. Tripping over each other and having me nearly cause a 4 car pile up while stopping to save them.
I was 26 and stumbling through my own life at the time. I knew a dog was not what i needed, never mind 2! I’d never had such a responsibility as an “adult”. But i scooped them up and continued to Walmart for my weekly shopping. My list changed forever.
Parked in the lot, looking down at the most adorable pups i’d ever seen. I lifted Bentley’s head and he stared directly to my soul. I was his instantly.
Bailey was a trouble maker and honestly cuter than her brother. She chewed and destroyed and could care less about discipline. A total high maintenance princess. Bentley adored her and never left her side. Through puppy school she was always causing trouble. Stealing toys and chasing flies. Their instructor suggested separating them and possibly rehoming one. We quit school that day.
Bentley started learning commands and Bailey followed suit. She couldn’t stand her brother getting all those treats! She started maturing first as most girls do. But Bentley just never grew out of 8 months old. He plays, and romps, and gallops just as he always has.
Last year Bailey had a full reconstructive ACL surgery fusing the joint. The recovery was hard and long and she slowed quite a bit. I call her my old lady girl and just knew she’d be the first to go.
In February Bentley began having some lameness. His regular vet said it was simply a soft tissue injury and sent us home with Rymadyl and Tramadol. It seemed to get better for a few weeks. Then consistently worse. I went for a 2nd opinion. May 19th, my 33rd bday, Bentley’s bone biopsy confirmed Osteoscarcoma. My world collapsed.
I have no kids of my own except them. They have been with me through 3 moves, 3 jobs, a wedding, and a divorce. Bentley has been a shoulder to cry on, someone to dance with, and by my side longer than most humans. Although I know a dogs life span is relatively short, I just can’t picture life without him.
Good news is, his chest and organ scans came back clear. So i cling to hope that we caught this early. Today is day 3 after amputation. Chemo starts on the 17th. Bentley is ok so far. Moving around and hopping out for potty. But I can tell his spirits are down. It makes me feel guilty. Like I mutilated him selfishly. Maybe letting him go with dignity on four legs would have been better.
I miss my boy so happy and full of life. And I watch videos of other tri’s for inspiration dreaming of a day he will run and romp again. But will it come?
Attached some pics of my little pack. This is a long one. If you read it fully thanks. But even if no one ever reads this, it helps to write it out. Any advice is welcomed.
Love From Atlanta,
Jamie, Bentley, and Bailey
Welcome Jamie, Bentley, and Bailey, to the club nopawdy wants to join. Now that you are enrolled though you have come to the right place for support, love, and info on all things tripawd. Pretty much whatever you are feeling or dealing with we get it!
Its early days yet so its not surprising that Bentley may seem a little down. But hey, if he is eating and pottying, and hopping around a little then he is already ahead of the curve! Pretty much all he should be doing for at least two weeks is sleeping and eating and pottying anyway, so it sounds like he got the memo 🙂
The drugs often make them out of it to begin with as well. PLEASE try not to feel like you were being selfish in having the amp done. You did the best thing you could have done for Bentley, you removed a source of pain that would only have become worse with time. By doing so you gave him a chance to enjoy life longer than he would have if you had not done the amp. No one wants to hear an osteosarcoma diagnosis but it is great news that is lungs and organs are clear. There are many dogs around here that have defied the statistics and gone on to enjoy life for years post-amp.
Most dogs do great on three legs. He will get his sparkle back, just wait and see! In the meantime, take a look at the Tripawds Required Reading List – https://tripawds.com/2010/06/01/first-tripawds-required-reading-list/- for the answers to many initial questions you might have. Also, check out the Resources drop down menu at the top of most pages on the website. There is a ton of info there. You can also hop on over to the forums and introduce yourself there for more support and information or ask specific questions, the blog posts can drop off the roll pretty quickly if alot of people are posting. And if you want to check out the chat room, most folks are there in the evenings or you can also call the Tripawds Helpline (1-844-TRIPAWD) for one on one support.
I hope this helps. You are not alone! Hugs to Bentley <3
Martha, Codie Rae, and the Oaktown Pack
I just love your pups. They are the definition of adorable and you are the best mom! My cat Mona had her front leg amputated and she did not read anything on diagnosis or recovery. She was a terror during recovery and even escaped from the house for over 24 hours. This was her response to the pain meds. Bentley is having a more typical response and you will see his sparkle again. I had Mona’s leg amputated to save her life and give us more time together. And you did that for Bentley. So as they say, be more dog, live in the moment and enjoy your dogs. Call the helpline if you need to because there is someone there for you!
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
Oh, I had all of those doubts and more for our sweet Murphy! Those first 2 weeks were so, so hard. What bothered me the most was the fact that his leg was laying on some pathologist’s table while they cut it apart trying to figure out what kind of cancer was trying to kill my baby. Having Murphy become a tripawd didn’t bother me at all. It took almost 3 weeks for them to decide it was histiocytic sarcoma, a highly aggressive cancer normally found in organs (this was after having to wait weeks for an inconclusive biopsy). Murphy’s odds weren’t great – with chemo we might get lucky and get another 12-18 months with him. And the lymph node they removed was positive, so that’s not good, either.
Well here we are, 2 years and 2 months later and Murphy is still hopping around – chasing squirrels, jumping on the bed, barking when we come home being his same old goofy self! He’s 9 years old and beating the odds. We know that every day is a blessing, and we cherish each one. This place is the best for support! Whether you have questions, comments or just need to vent, someone here will have an answer or shoulder to cry on 🙂
Donna
You are not alone! Our golden retriever, Molly, is two days post-amp (left hind leg after an osteosarcoma diagnosis as well) and I found myself wondering tonight if we made the right decision. I have remained optimistic and positive through the process thus far, and deep in my heart I know we made the right decision, but tonight I was remembering how Molly loves to roll on her back in the grass and how she would always “kick off” from the couch when we were wrestling in the family room… And I wondered if she will do that again. But- I have to keep telling myself that no matter what, the cancer would have continued to cause her pain, and that pain would only get worse, and eventually that pain could be the reason she leaves us. It will get better from here, we just have to have faith. 🙂
Your Bentley is just gorgeous (Bailey too!) and he is lucky to have a mom like you. I know exactly how you are feeling so please don’t be a stranger — it helps to talk through it with others in this community!
Love,
Kirby (& Molly)
Thanks so much! I’ve been following your Molly’s story too. Not the same leg but i think the same day of surgery. She’s beautiful and so happy it seems!
It’s kind of like adrenaline has been pushing us this whole time and now that he’s home from surgery its all really setting in. The shock has worn off.
Thanks for the support! This community has truly been amazing
welcome to the community! i’m fairly new here but as someone who had a diagnosis just a little bit after yours, i can say this new journey is so terrifying but these tripawd parents REALLY have helped me keep calm! i’m gonna read your two other blog posts, but Bentley is so sweet and cute! I’m sure he’ll be feeling better in no time. People take MONTHS if not years to feel normal again after an amputation! Eva had her right hind leg taken off after a gigantic osteosarcoma popped into her knee in about a week’s timespan. She had tons of lameness before and JUST LIKE YOU we thought we had a soft tissue injury because we couldn’t even see anything in scans, because eva’s three, they never thought cancer. Bailey was such a beautiful little baby! What a great pit parent you are 🙂 makes me happy to see!!!!