Hi, my dog’s name is Samson, he is a 12 year old male Shetland Sheepdog and he is about to undergo leg amputation due to a Myxosarcoma (cancer) in his front leg.
He had surgery back in April 2014 to try and remove the cancer, but they were not able to get it all and the grew back again. It has now grown so aggressively that it has burst through his skin. It is so bizzaire as he doesn’t seem to be in any pain, even though he has a open wound, which we keep bandaging.
It was a difficult decision, but the cancer is aggressive and has not stopped growing since discovering it in Feb/March 2014 and it has now burst through his skin, where
I want to share his journey to help others in the same situation. Surgery to remove the front leg is schedule for next week, will keep you posted.
Will try to upload some video footage (when I figure out how to do it)
This is my first blog, so I’m learning as I go.
Thanks for reading.
Catherine & Samson
Catherine,
Thoughts and prayers are with you guys! We have a 10yr old male Sheltie named Kota. He had aggressive malignant melanoma of the front paw that has been brewing for quite some time. After a 2 digit amputation in August, the margins were still dirty, along with the cancer busting through the wound. Same day we received that news we had to make the decision to amputate his left front leg. He went in for a bandage change and came home the next day without a leg:(
It was an extremely painful decision, but the docs said it was his best shot. We are happy to say at 2 months post amp, Kota is happy, personality is back, and he has adapted beautifully. He just mastered going down the stairs again all by himself!
The first 2 weeks post amp, is NOT easy, as everyone will tell you. Kota’s healing was compromised by an ecoli infection of the surgery site, but we got it cleared up thankfully. Know there is a light at the end of the 2 week tunnel!
Kotas treatment has been the melanoma vaccine. He just finished the series and we take him back in a month for a chest xray.
If you ever have any questions let us know.
From one Sheltie lover to another, Best of luck and know you’re not alone!
Prayers and Hugs!
Amy, Pete & Kota
Thanks so much Amy, Samson came home yesterday. It was a shock to see him, as they had to amputate above the shoulder. He cried on the way home in the car, it was heart breaking, both my husband and I were holding back the tears, but he settled down once we were home and is even standing and hoping a short distance and wagging his tail.