Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So we saw the rehab vet yesterday and Meg had put on ANOTHER 200 grams. This means that since Pie died on 9th February, she has put on a whole kilo (which is 2.2 pounds, for you trans-Atlantic’s).
HELP!!!!!!!!
I was pretty shocked, to be honest, as she had put on last time we went, three weeks ago, so i (thought) I had made a major effort to cut back. I would have been disappointed if she’d stayed the same, to find that she’s gained again is very concerning.
I am only too well aware of the importance of Tripawds being skinny, and for a dog like Meg with problems in her remaining front leg, this is even more important. We’ve never had a problem before. She put on weight in the year of inactivity and hospitalisation when we were trying to save her leg, but she lost it easily and has held steady at 15kg/33 pounds for at least a year and a half.
So is it just comfort eating/feeding? I feel it can’t be coincidence that this has happened since Pie died. For what it’s worth, I have ballooned as well. I’m sure I’ve put on at least the equivalent in human terms, ie a LOT.
We have also had a long period of damp/wet weather and this certainly affects Meg’s activity levels.
I am obviously going to be EXTREMELY strict and see if I can get that weight off. I find I can’t help worrying though that there’s something else going on. It just doesn’t quite make sense to me. I am feeding her much less than I was at meal times and yet she is still gaining weight. She’s also drinking more, or I think she is. I am doing quite a few food puzzles etc. in an effort to keep her entertained but I only give her small bits of chicken breast or else super low cal treats. And we used to do them with Elsie anyway.
Might be time for some blood tests. Hell.
Btw, I’m sure this is unrelated, but just in case it rings a bell for anyone, she is also having problems in her eyes. The pressure is low and there is excessive watering. They can’t seem to get to the bottom of it. She’s just finished the latest two week course of drops, so we shall see...
Thanks,
FatsoClare and the MegaBlob xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
So, rereading my post... I’m now wondering whether it IS in fact a coincidence that this has happened since Pie died and that this has stopped me seeing what’s going on. I’ve assumed it relates to that, and to a change in my behaviour, but maybe it doesn’t. Thyroid problems come to mind. I’m going to have to get blood tests. The vets think I’m totally paranoid, but frankly...
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
I would take Meg in for blood-work. Why not ease your worries.
But I believe it does have to do with the loss of Miss Pie!! I have had the same issues with the weeping eye in Purrkins; his is a blocked tear duct and herpes virus I was told common in cats, not like herpes in humans. Also, allergies can be to blame.
Never hurts to take her in and get looked over if you can! You can get your thyroid checked too but I suspect chocolate might be to blame and cake etc. 😉 Just saying and I have no doubt you will get the weight off Meg. It is a constant battle here with the boys, so I hear your frustrations. Weather changing will help you both!
Take Meg in and ease your concerns or you will likely spiral! Frankly who cares about paranoid if you were there every day etc. ok but your not and the loss of Miss Pie yes, ease your worries, please! I would rather be told nothing is wrong and come home then not go and fret!
Lots of love and let us know, please!
My vet checks the thyroid levels of ‘senior’ patients (over 5 for the big guys, over 7 I believe for smaller dogs) every 6 months. And, a change in activity level can have a huge impact in a dog’s weight. One of our cats has gained, and the vet said to try to encourage active play for 15 minutes eat day (and not to reduce food in this case). But for you? I just finished a week of ‘fitness bootcamp,’ and, ta da, gained one pound. Ugh.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
It could have to do with Elsie being gone and also the cold. I know mine weren't as active as much since it was cold. Now that it is starting to warm up they have been out a little more.
Snickers put on a few pounds this winter (as did I). With my hours changing at work thinking I am going to take her and myself for a walk (that is if I can ever get my arm to heal up LOL). Well that is more for handling Snickers it doesn't affect my walk.
I agree it doesn't hurt to get blood work done. My vets also do Sr well checks starting at 7 for bigger dogs. So it just never hurts.
Oh Bosch has low pressure in his eye too. They consider it the opposite of Glaucoma. We just keep a real close watch on it.
Sending my love to you & Meg
xoxxoox
Michelle & Angel Sass
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
megstamum said
FatsoClare
First off i would never call you this my darling lovey lady
and the MegaBlob xx
and secondly, Meg-Our-Blob you will always be beautiful to us! Are you trying to become a horse after all?!!! Hehe, you need a longer mane love, can you borrow one? There are miniature horses that are as big as you I swear!!
But seriously darling, please listen to Mummy and try to keep yourself a little trimmer please!! Is it Pie-in-the-Sky that is dropping her extra kibble for you?? Tell her thankyou, but spring is on it’s way and Meg-an-Actress needs a lighter trot! 😉
Keeping you in my thougts Clare and Meg-Our-Star and sending you tons (as in lots of lb’s not 💷’s!) of hugs and kisses!
Petra, Sleepy Stewie and his floppy bellied Kittens
Remember...“live in the moment!“
Thanks everyone!
Interesting re the blood tests. Meg's vet doesn't do routine tests that frequently, but armed with this knowledge I am going to insist.
Holly, yes... I'm afraid I don't need to look to my thyroid to explain my own weight gain.... Packets of chocolate from Michigan, well....
Meg is a different matter, and even though I think it may well be behavioural (both mine and hers), I will take her in and get her checked, and I will, of course, let you know.
Christine, interesting re the thyroid checks. Meg is something like 9 and a half, so she should certainly be having that watched. As for the bootcamp, well I admire you even signing up for something like that. I bet that pound is muscle. I bet you lost inches. Just saying...
Michelle, thanks for your insights. Much appreciated, as always. We are focusing on upping non weight bearing activity, though to be honest, she is VERY active, unless she isn't, if you know what I mean, like with the weather. Today she spent the whole morning hurling herself in and out of the river. That's got to burn some calories, surely...? Very interested to hear about Bosch's low eye pressure. It isn't a problem in itself so far as I know, but can be an indication of problems. I'm now wondering if it might be a Rottie thing? Meg's Rottie genes seem pretty strong. Maybe they just tend to have lower then normal eye pressure. I don't know. It's the same in both eyes, and the thing is I don't know what her normal is, because she'd never had her IOP tested, until they were trying to find a cause for her watery eyes. I don't know if you use the same measurement system, but hers is 12 in both eyes.
Petra, lovey, you crack me up. The MegaActress is now officially on a diet, and eating, you guessed it HORSE food. This is her reaction to my offer a green bean to snack on just now... You can lead a horse to water, but...
Hugs to you all!
C, M and AP xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Oh my gosh Clare don't be so hard on yourself or Meg, you've been through a lot and dreary weather doesn't help. Who doesn't gain weight during winter?!
Yes, I agree that some labwork is in order for her and it couldn't hurt to have a thyroid check yourself. Take advantage of your healthcare system there, I wish I could here!
As for the brain games and such...good job 🙂 One tip to keep Meg's weight down is to actually feed her portions of her daily meals when you play the games. For example, I only use kibble for Wyatt's brain game sessions and it's always a portion of his daily meals. To keep his routine consistent I do put the remaining portion of kibble in his bowl, which he eats at dinnertime.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Clare,
The watery eye symptom is a symptom of low pressure as is redness in the eyes. That is how we knew Bosch was having trouble was his eye was red. I can't remember the technical term my vet gave it.
Hahaha it must be the Rottie thing about the green beans. Mine hate them. I can't even hide them.
Oh and don't you dare call yourself names not allowed
xxoxox
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
With all this GREAT advice and brilliant knowledge, I cannot beIeve no one memtioned this:
. CLEARLY THE SCALES ARE WRONG!!!
And if it's not the scales, it's the BLOOMERS!!
Well......maybe not bloomers in your case!
I am serious about the scales veing off though, depending on exactly Meg positions herself each visit. I know when I was taking Frankie for Adequan shots twice a week, I would put him on the scales each time just to see how much they varied.p (for my own piece of mind.....and yes, they varied!).
I hade Myrtle to the Vet awhile back because of her increased thirst. Nothing showed up. Good blood, good urine. It was probably less than a month later that I took her urine back in as I coukd see the color wasn't right. A UTI showed up then. So don't know if the excessive drinking was a prelude or not. The UTI has cleared up, but she still drinks a lpt!
And as far as "paranoid", tell the Vet that's what we do around here....but with good reason!! We've earned the right!
Shhhh.....Meg.....trim those bloomers before the next Vet visit of your Mum is fping to put you on a diet!!
Love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
You can’t make her eat it Clare, but she looks bloody sweet saying... “what the heck is that that you dare offah??!!”
Hehehehe
When I first tried green beans with Elly she wouldn't touch them. I used the canned kind as the pugs have a history of just swallowing without chewing so I use soft food. She eats them now everyday- they get them for treats and are pretty excited.
I used to pray for thyroid issues in the pug girls... but alas it was always me overfeeding 
. Of course not really...but Tani especially was always on the 'fluffy' side as Sally would say. Tani was one who would eat anything she found if she was hungry- including little rocks and bugs. I tried often over the years to get her weight down but I didn't until I took her off kibble as her main food source. Using a dehydrated mix I could give her a more generous quantity of food for less calories- with lots of green beans.
I know you have played food games for a long time so you know to subtract the treats from the daily quantity of food fed. I play lots of games with Elly too, she gets about half the food at meal compared to Obie and they are about the same size (and Elly is way more active too). When I first got Elly she would not go downstairs with my dad in the morning for breakfast- I get up later than him. It was actually nice because I could feed her breakfast an interactive toy. After about a year she got brave enough to go down for breakfast so I cut out the morning food game. She started to gain weight with just that little change.
It's hard as they get older and less active- or less able to be active. When I finally had to insist Tani use the stroller I cut a little bit of her food quantity and added more beans.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Clare and Meg!
It has been a long crappy winter.. I don't know if yours is normally this long but I am feeling the pain of it right now! I think we have all gained weight here (I am like mama bear in the winter, I hibernate)
Are you sure you didn't have Meg's wet bloomers on when she weighed in? Clare, the Pie stepped on the back of the scale just after you got on it I bet she had a good hoot when she saw the expression on your face 
We all get heavier in the winter, unless we are the lucky ones that actually LIKE working out 
so SO sorry, that is not me. Maybe if I was rich and had a gym at home, ... then again maybe not.
I don't think it will take much more than a couple of digging sessions at the beach and then Meg will have her girlish figure back! You chasing her and worrying about what she will get herself into next will take care of you
As a lifetime weightwatchers member (I am on the wrong side of THAT one right now!!) cut yourself some slack, please 🙏🏻🙏🏻 we all know what stress and loss can and will do to us. Wait until it is a bit nicer out, take that beautiful Star out for some walks (and queen waves), get some fresh air, and the rest will fall into place. You need to be good to yourself right now and give yourself the grace to be a little "un-perfect" for a moment 💞💖💞
Lots of love and hugs 💕💕💕
Jackie and Huckleberry 💓
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Thanks everyone!
Rene, thanks for the suggestions. I do give her a large part of her daily food in puzzles, but I do sometimes give her chicken etc as well (some of her puzzles have sort of hidden compartments she has to move various things to get to, so I like to give her a special reward when she manages it, but maybe...)
Michelle, Meg doesn't really have red eyes, just very watery and also a lot of mucus. Else used to get eye infections regularly when she was younger (she had in-growing eyelashes) and hers were a really angry red. Meg's really aren't, which is what's so puzzling. I don't really know if I should be worried or not. They were talking about referring her to the optometry specialists, so that'll be another mortgage... (bitter lol)
So, Sally, you are now advocating a bloomers trim? I'm with you on that. They have reached ludicrous proportions. You know, this is barmy but... I actually put Meg's collar on her rather than her harness for her last rehab vet visit, as I figured it would weigh less... (like who am I trying to kid????
) I'll keep a close eye on her urine, thanks for the tip.
Petra, she does look sweet, I agree, but just remember, looks can be deceptive...
Karen, thanks for the info re Tani and Elly. I don't really want to change Meg's food unless I have to, as it seems to suit her really well, or has done up until now. It's a special low cal/satiety/joint support one, which is prescribed for her by our rehab vet, and I mix it with a very small quantity of home cooked stew (including a LOT of cavalo nero, which she tolerates..) . It sounds like a similar idea anyway, in that I can feed her MUCH more than I could of her previous food because it's less calorie dense. The weird thing is that she is gaining weight despite my having severely reduced the quantities. She was eating 180 grams a day, and this has now been reduced (step by step, not all at once...) to 100 grams per day and yet she is still gaining weight.
Jackie, what a very kind and compassionate response. Thank you ❤️ I'm sure you're right, some better weather will just naturally have us being more active. I might do some day hikes in the forest too. Now that we have the stroller, Meg can do as much as she wants and then enjoy lots of mental stimulation as I push her along. The beach beckons too...
Big love to you all,
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Well....if the "forced choice" is between cutting back on food or the bloomers.......afraid the bloomers may have to go!
Looooove going with the collar instead of the harness to make her "weigh less"! You're my idol!!
Okay, I really, really, really doubt there is anything "bad" going on with Meg's eyes. In humans, watery eyes actually are called "dry eye"....has to do with tear ducts or stuff like that. Anyway, drops are used for that. The mucous could be related, dunno. If it's not bothering her, no squinting eyes, face rubbing, etc and the Vet isn't concerned, wouldn't worry. Her eye pressure is okay, right??
Did the Bet try any antibiotics for the gunk?
HOWEVER, and this is where my paranoia comes in. for your peace of mind, you may want to have her checked out by an Ophthalmologist. And nope, not cheap! In Merry Myrtle's case, I think it would have made a difference had I gone ti the Specialist earlier and gotten a proper diagnosis. I'm ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN Meg's czse is not like hers in zny way, shape or form. Ijist feelmlike in Myrtle's case, her blindness could have at least been delayed. Glaucoma is not curable, but it can be delayed.
Much, much ove
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!
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