Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone! It's been awhile once again. Have not been posting very much but I do read thru the forums daily to keep up with everyone.
Daisy had been doing really great...until around Nov. 8th. She was feeling really good that morning. Later in the day she started stumbling (she does that when she is in pain or tired). We had our regular annual checkup on Nov. 14th. I suspected she had another bladder infection since the stinkpot doesn't drink alot of water (even though I try to encourage her). She had started walking around with her back end kind of hunched over. Her urine sample showed high levels of protein and a little blood so vet went ahead and gave us antibiotics.
She has not improved at all but has gotten worse so it wasn't an infection causing her mobility issue after all. Last nite when she slid down off the sofa she refused to put her back leg on the ground (kept holding it up). That's the leg she had knee surgery on *sigh*. Gave her a tramadol and she was much better this morning and was using the leg again but still kind of stumbling.
First appointment I could get with the vet is Monday so we'll see what may be going on. I just hope it is not her bad hips getting worse. She has been bone on bone with arthritis in her hip joints even before her amp. She's coming up on her 2 year ampuversary (Dec. 9th) in just a couple of weeks.
Keep on hopping!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Hi Marla and Daisy! It's ALWAYS good to see thst sweet face up n the avatar!
Okay now Daisy, we need t have a talk! Amputation, knee surgery, walking around on two legs.......are you not getting enough attentinor what??! I kow that's not the case! You are ne very loved pup!!
You are a strong-willed and determkned girl, so we ow you'll power through this too! Just need to get the right solutio s for you.
You may have to use a harness for awhile...or even a doggy stroller til we can get the treatment kicking in! I kow you're a big girl so I dn't thi k yojr momma can go arou d lifting you very easily!
Cant remember Marla.....have you tried acupuncture.....Adequan shots......laser therapy? I know a whole lot of thi gs are out there now that weren't available earlier.
I guess for now, its the good ole' stand-by tramadol! !
You'll come up with a plan and it will work. This is Daisy!! You two are such a great team! Whole lotta' devotion between you two!
Hugs!! Lots of hugs!!!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Marla I'm so sorry to hear this but like Sally says, you are two strong, amazing women who have the power to bounce back from whatever this is! After all you've been through I'm sure this hurdle is something you'll conquer in no time at all.
How is she getting around? Are you having to hoist her up and help her get out to potty? Does she do OK with your help? She's such a determined, independent girl.
Do you have any painkillers for her while you wait for the vet? Maybe you can pick some up to hold her over and keep her comfy till Monday? Hope so!
Hang in there and know that we're thinking of you. Think PAWSITIVE, and we are too!
xoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the support guys! Daisy is on her usual daily dose of meloxicam and Dr. Greg gave me tramadol at the Nov. 14th appointment to have on hand for days she is more painful.
I use a sling to get her in/out our backdoor. We have a couple of steps and I have been doing that since she first tore her ACL. Stairs are really tough on knees so I just kept doing it. She goes potty ok by herself I just have to help her get over to the grassy area. Since the tramadol last night she will use her leg a little for weight bearing so she doesn't fall over. She will get up on her own -- stubborn girl knows when I am coming to help her up and she tries to beat me to it!
I guess I'm just feeling a little down about it. Every time I think out loud to myself that she is really improving we'll have a set back. I guess I gotta quit doing that 
We are keeping paws and fingers crossed over here that it is something really simple that can be fixed.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
Hey, Daisy, you quit scaring your Mom like that! Here's hoping it is just a little wrong twist that started this. My daughter's Rottie had his second knee surgery in a year recently. He did the same not wanting to step on it a couple of weekends ago and scared her out of her skin...and he's a quad. Fortunately, it only took a couple of days on anti-inflamatories and he was back. We are pulling really ard for Dasy to have the same bounce back.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Those two words should be "hard" and "Daisy". Looks like Sally's computer gremlins got into my iPad.
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
You are such a pro at this Marla. Who can blame you for feeling down, I know I would have a hard time right now too. Time to dust off those recuperation skills that were just going into dormancy! Sorry you have to though. Just remember that Daisy is just such a strong girl, she can get through this. Follow her lead, you can't go wrong! Glad she'll be well medicated till Monday, if necessary. Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
When will I ever learn to quit getting all panicky -- Daisy's mobility has been getting better since Friday (phew). She's putting weight back on her knee again and not stumbling around.
She went out to do her morning doo-dee and for the FIRST time since she blew her knee she actually used her back legs to "scrape" the grass! Woo-hoo! And she was sniffing and hopping around the yard. Maybe the cold weather has something to do with it. Shes absolutely loves the cold weather (it's only 12 degrees this morning).
I think I would go crazy without you guys!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
Daisy had her vet appointment yesterday afternoon and O-M-D! It was a terribly impacted anal gland! Wow that was really nasty. She was really sore last night and not wanting to sit on her right side and she moved around very gingerly.
Dr. Greg also took new xrays of her hips and there is further arthritic changes from the ones taken a year ago (no surprise there). She was diagnosed with arthritis almost 4 years ago so I know they will only further degenerate. He is really amazed that Daisy is even able to get herself up with as bad as they are.
We've now added Tramadol twice a day to help her with the arthritis pain. The Meloxicam is doing pretty much all it can to help her.
I'm going to have to give her extra turkey Thursday for being such a trooper.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
DAISY!!! You are an amzing, A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. girl with an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G mom!!
So cold weather is a good thing for you, huh? Well, you should be feeling exceptionally good now that the winter is coming!
I'm sure with the tramadol AND the "expressed" anal gland will make you feel better! Love that you were scraping the grass wityour back leg after your 'bidness"! That's a true sign you've got this handled!!
Thanks for updating us! Heck yeah....TURKEY for Daisy...and gravy!!
Surroundng you both with love! We appreciate you so much!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Yay for impacted anal glands!!!!! Wow who knew? That's a first here, I'll be sure to keep it in mind next time something like this happens in the community.
Oh what a relief for everypawdy, this is super duper pawesome news.
I can't recall, is she on Dasuquin for her arthritis?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I actually am not surprised it was an anal gland issue causing her pain. She has never had issues with those glands but my previous dog, Barney, had a really bad time with his. Once his were so impacted that he started walking funny with his back end and refused to jump up on the furniture they were so painful.
Daisy has been taking Dasuquin since she was diagnosed at age 5 with arthritis so almost 4 years now. It doesn't do anything for her hips since there is no cartlidge left but I keep giving it to her to protect her other joints.
And Sally I think I will add gravy to her turkey and maybe sweet potatoes, too!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
Oh ok I thought you had said she was on it.
I just never realized those anal glands could be the cause of such pain. Ouch! Glad she's on the recovery road.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just no turkey skin or fat. We don't want to have to deal with pancreatitis on top of everything else!!!@
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
I think we talked about this before- I've had really good luck with adequan. Quad pug Tani has terrible arthritis (diagnosed at 6, now 13). I was starting to consider her quality of life last December. It doesn't work for all dogs, and it is expensive. Most use it once a month, but I give Tani an injection every two weeks. It was not available last summer, but the company who makes it is up and running again.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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