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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Time to put our tripawd down?
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Member Since:
11 August 2015
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11 August 2015 - 12:10 pm
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Our dog Dixie has been a tripawd for 6 years. We guess she's about 11 or 12 years old. For the past 4 years, peeing in the house has been an occasional problem. However, in the past month, she's started peeing in the house every day, even though I take her out every 2 hours. For the past 2 years, she's occasionally let out little poop balls in her sleep. This weekend she was standing by her bed, and poop just started falling out of her butt. I'm a stay at home mom, so I have flexibility in my schedule, but her bathroom needs are taking over my life. It's hard enough chasing after my 1 year old… Now our house constantly smells like dog pee.

I've recently read about cognitive dysfunction (CD) in dogs, and she definitely has this. Without me pulling her up by her harness, she can't get up from her bed half the time. She gets lost in small places. She's gotten more timid (but not aggressive). She doesn't seem to enjoy life like she used to -- we bring her with us whenever we'll be out for more than a couple hours, and she just doesn't seem happy. She doesn't eat a ton. She's also started panting/stressing out in the evenings. She licks and chews like crazy. We cannot afford the $110/mo CD medication, and of course there's no guarantee it will even work.

I just don't know what to do. Is it time to be put down?

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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11 August 2015 - 12:19 pm
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emmybeu said
I just don't know what to do.

So sorry to hear about Dixie's trouble. Everyone handles this differently, but it is clearly a Quality of Life Decision—both hers and yours.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

MIc
3
11 August 2015 - 8:36 pm
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When a friend told me "you'll know when it's time" I wanted to punch her...but she was right. When Maggie could no longer do the things she loved like run for a ball, when she soiled herself and seemed ashamed, when she had more bad days than good I realized the most unselfish thing that I could do for her was to love her out of this world. We have two important responsibilities regarding our animal babies: 1. Give them a good life. 2. Give them a good path out of it.
You will know.

Member Since:
15 December 2012
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11 August 2015 - 9:58 pm
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Well put Mic, funny I also had a Maggie and I hated it when people told me I would know when to euthanize her. Jerry has a "pennies in a jar" way to evaluate when it is time but basically when she has more bad days than good. And how do you want to remember her when she leaves, that was my big concern. I had in the past waited too long and I felt terrible later. Sounds like Dixie has had a great life and I'm sure you will do the right thing by her. Good luck.

Penny and her Gang  

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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12 August 2015 - 12:20 pm
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I'm really sorry, I know this is a tough time. Well, here are my first thoughts, take 'em for what they're worth considering we've never had the honor of having a senior dog to care for since Jerry passed on at age 10:

Yes, her condition is very normal for an elderly dog and it reminded me of the journey in this book:

The Last Walk Helps Us Face Hard Questions About Aging, Death

It sounds like you've had her evaluated by a vet but did you discuss the money situation? It's a hard topic to approach, but vets don't like to see any pet euthanized because of financial needs, so I would definitely mention your situation and see how they can help.

Also, have you tried doggie diapers? They work well for situations like this.

I'm so sorry. My sister is going through this same thing with her old gal and it's tough. She has hardwood floors, which makes it easier to clean up the mess but it's never easy.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Columbia, MO
Member Since:
10 December 2011
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12 August 2015 - 2:00 pm
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I'm so sorry you are going through this.  I was in a similar situation just 5 weeks ago.  It is not an easy decision.  My Daisy was only 10 years old and a tripawd for 3-1/2 years (due to arthritis).  I agonized for months on if it was "time".  It was becoming increasingly difficult for Daisy to get up or to even lower herself down.  Her poor back legs would shake trying to hold herself up to go to the bathroom.  I had to help her about the house. I finally realized that even though she was always her happy self that her life these days consisted of laying either on the floor in the house or laying outside watching the world go by.  It broke my heart remembering all the things we used to be able to do and how slowly it all slipped away.

I decided she needed to be released from her body before she lost the ability to rise on her own or go to the bathroom on her own.  I wanted her to go while she was still Daisy. It was one of the most painful things I have ever had to do.

We will be thinking of Dixie and your family.

Marla, Biscuit and Spirit Daisy

My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy

Martinsburg, WV
Member Since:
3 June 2014
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13 August 2015 - 1:38 pm
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When we were faced with the decision to let our Leland go (he was 4 1/2 yrs old) one of the things we looked at was his dignity.  Our boy had a lot of health issues come up after his amputation and his health declined fairly rapidly (we let him go 4 weeks after the surgery).  One of the things that started happening was urinating on himself in bed while asleep.  Also, his knee ligament went out in his remaining hind leg and it took both my husband and I to get him outside to pee.  Plus his belly was so bruised since we had to use a belly sling to hold him up while he tried to poop since he couldn't put any weight on the remaining hind leg.  Our boy was just becoming a shell of his former self and we couldn't continue to let him suffer (even though he would have) just to keep him here with us.  He was too dignified of a boy to live like that.

This is truly one of the hardest decisions pet parents have to make but it can also be viewed as a precious gift for the fur baby.

Sahana and her Angel Leland and Lucian too

Leland

November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014

May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!

Raleigh, NC
Member Since:
29 April 2013
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15 August 2015 - 9:35 am
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I know this one too well.  I will actually be writing about Miss Kitty today as it is 5 years today that she went to the bridge....but she was 14.5, had spinal stenosis, extremely low proprioception on her right side to the point of walking knuckled over most of the time, some difficulty getting up, spay incontinence that we treated with phenylpropanolamine (PPA) and diethylstilbestrol (DES), and then she started to develop cognitive dysfunction (CD).  My entire downstairs was wall to wall piddle pads because I have carpet and she would just get up and pee or poop anywhere she wanted even with a person right in the room with her.  But she often was leaving a trail of urine or feces behind her and was completely oblivious to it.  The medications were no longer helping her when she slept and she sometimes would loose her entire bladder if she was sleeping deep.  Baths were multiple times a day.  At that point, she only got confused when heading out doors but would insist that the door opened the other direction and then appear irritated with me when it would open on the other side.  Her behavior was off and she was starting to act old.  I now know she was in pain but at the time, we couldn't find the source of it. 

It is very hard to let them go when "they're just having accidents in the house" but if we're honest with ourselves, there may be more going on that we're not emotionally able to process.  Take a deep breath and really look at your girl.  You may have access to a pawspice vet who can come to the home and help evaluate where she is and if transitioning to supportive care is right for your situation as you prepare to say good bye.  You never know when that perfect moment is going to be but you're going to try to find it.  For me, I have only my first horse was right at the elusive spot of not too early or too late. 

With Kitty, the decision was really taken out of my hands.  Three days after the CD diagnosis, Kitty broke her left hind leg.  It was Osteosarcoma and xrays showed it was already in her lungs.  With her age, her lack of proprioception , severe incontinence, and the beginnings of CD, amputation was not a realistic option.  I really wish it was but that would have been for me, not for her. 

There are no easy answers for this.  No matter when you make the decision though, you know we'll be here for you.

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