About

Thanks for visiting my blog!  My dog’s name is Spencer.  He is a 4.5 year old red doberman (a rescue).  We got him when he was about 7 months old and he has become a real part of our family.  In August of 2011 I noticed a large lump on his left shoulder.  Took him straight to the vet, had a biopsy done and a week later his left front leg was amputated.  The biopsy came back as a grade 3 fibrosarcoma.  I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about fibrosarcomas since then.  I have also learned more about chemo than I ever wanted to know.  Spencer is doing chemo due to his tumor being a grade 3.  If it had been grade 1 or 2 the oncologist said that we could assume the amputation was a curative surgery; but with a grade 3 we have to assume that the cancer has spread at a cellular level.  We have also discovered that Spencer has decreased heart function, which is making his treatment a little more complicated.  But though everything he has continued to maintain his amazing attitude and has been an inspiration to nearly everyone who knows him!  I can definitely say that I do not regret the amputation for a second!!

 

2 thoughts on “About”

  1. Hello! I was just reading your story! My dog is also an oversized Doberman. He had his leg amputated yesterday due to Osteosarcoma. We will be gin Chemo in two weeks. I know my Doberman Loves/Needs his exercise. How has your guy adjusted to the amputation? Thanks!
    Erica

    1. Erica – he has adjusted amazingly well! His amputation was on Wednesday, we picked him up on Thursday, by late Friday he was getting along some on his own with out the sling and by Saturday I put the sling away and have not used it since. When I picked him up on Thursday he was already able to get up on his own. We are coming up on 2 months since the amputation (well, about 9 days away from it) and he gets around with little to no problem. He is cautious still on steep steps that don’t have a wide tread; but that is generally his only heistation. He jumps into my mini van with no help and has been doing that since about 1 week post op. For chemo, he just finished his 5th weekly dose and is starting to have some minor stomach issues; but nothing big at all. Good luck with your recovery, I bet he is going to amaze you with how fast he bounces back! Oh, I did swap Spencer to a grain free diet and it really helped him to drop the extra pounds he had put on so he is now a healthy size. I also think it helps his stomach with the chemo. He has thrown up a few times now and most of those times have been after he ate something with grains in it. Could be a coincidence; but I’m thinking not…

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