Cloe's journey

Cloe did great with the surgery and came home last night.  She is an official Tripawd!  It was a little shocking to see her when we picked her up, but then I was amazed at how well she was “hopping” already.  They brought her out to greet us, and she was her usual wiggly self.  She practically ran to the car, dragging my son with her.  Once home, she went right outside to go potty.  She still needs to work on her form for going potty.  The first time she used her face to balance herself and another time she basically laid down.  Hopefully she will master the correct stance for this.  She slept all night without a peep or any restlessness, which I was very happy about.   She tires easy, and I’m not sure if it’s due to the work she has to do now to move about or if it’s because of her pain meds.  We will see how it goes.  She has eaten a little bit of chicken a few times and is drinking.  She seems a little restless this morning.  I wish she could talk and tell me what she wants or needs.

 

 

 

 

Hi!  My name is Karen and this is about my 9 year old boxer Cloe.  Cloe has a tumor on her lower left leg, a soft tissue sarcoma.  We are 2 days pre-surgery for having Cloe’s front left leg amputated.  Cloe’s tumor appeared in 2013, and we have had it removed 3 times with the last being in February 2015.  This type of tumor always returns, and this time it has returned with a vengeance.  It is very large and about 3 weeks ago it broke open.  She also has 2 other small spots higher up on her leg, so it is spreading.  We went to see an oncologist and after checking her out, the recommendation was to amputate her leg.  This type of cancer can spread to the lungs and lymph nodes, so they also checked those and they are clear.  Amputation is the only option to hopefully totally rid her of the cancer.  The other option was to remove the tumor again and then have 19 radiation treatments.  We did not want to put her (or us) through this.  This would only be a temporary fix, as the cancer would eventually return at some point.  So we have opted for the amputation.  Doctor says Cloe is healthy otherwise and should live a normal life for the rest of her years.  I sure hope so.

I am very nervous about the surgery.  I feel like I am doing something wrong.  Even though I know this is the right thing to do and the only option to keep her with us for as long as possible, I’m still unsure.  Part of the reason I think I am nervous (and emotional) about this is because we just lost Cloe’s brother, Brutus, on May 19th.  Brutus was a boxer too, and he was 8 1/2.  He had cardiomyopathy which we discovered he had in September 2014.  He climbed up on the couch that night to his usual spot and closed his eyes and was gone.  It was unexpected, but yet we did expect it at some point.  We miss him dearly, and it is still so fresh.  Cloe has been depressed since Brutus passed, and I’m hoping this surgery doesn’t make her even worse afterwards.

I’m sure tomorrow will be an emotional day, as it will be her last day with 4 legs.  I’m hoping I can be positive and be strong for her.