Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Really hot here in the Chicago area. I have had to lower the A/C to 68 degrees, which is way too cool for me (72 is our normal). Otis just really seems to struggle with heat. Upstairs does not get as cool and he lays in bed panting and panting. (Which of course, with osteo, means I am panicking and panicking). Even early in the morning, it is too hot to go for walks or hang out outside. We might need to do another "poor cancer dog" pet store run today for some stimulation, and of course, free TREATS!
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.
Hi there 
We also had a heat wave in the UK and Eurydice was panting like mad and i (of course) was worried sick just like you ...
We don't have AC so all doors and windows were open whenever possible to have a little draft coming through.
I found the best solution was to apply a wet towel on her head and another on mine 
Going to the pet store seems a great option, I bet Otis luuuurves it !
Sending you a big kiss and cuddles to Otis and Tess
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Hang in there Otis!
You'll find various ways to keep cool in the Tripawds Blogs ...
Cool Tripawds Dig The Chilly Mat
Keep Your Dog Cool with the Swamp Cooler Summer Jacket by Ruffwear
Chill with Hot Deals on Canine Cooling Gear
More Fun Ways To Keep Dogs Cool
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh we know what you mean. It's so hard to imagine wearing a sweater in summer!
Have you seen the cooling mats that are available? Do you think Otis would like sleeping on one?
Scroll down on the Tripawds Beds page to see some ideas.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok, just ordered the Chilly Mat. We'll see how he likes it.
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.
Oh Otis! You are a very, very loved pup! Yep, if you have to play the "poor, pitiful me" to get extra treats at the pet store, do it!!
Summer heat temperatures with humidity too, really, hard on our dogs, three or four leggers! My Merry Myrtle (four legger...knocking on wood it always stays that way!), pants so hard the bed shakes!
We all undersand the "panic" that simple panting causes, we forget that high temperatures do the smae thing!! My vet told me one time that, during heat waves, he sees a rise in "heat exhaustion" symptoms in dogs.....even dogs that stay inside can become overheated just by being outside for fifteen minutes!
I got one of those "cool pads" for Happy Hannah. It wasn't as effective as I had hoped, HOWEVER, it was mlre because I don't have ac and it needs to be in a cooler environment than I had in order to stay cool. Make sense? Anyway, with a 68° cool environment it should be very effective. You, of course, will need a sweater! 🙂
@ots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. One of the first things Merry Myrtle does when she goes to Petco, is to lay on their cool floor by the cookie bin and wait for the staff to come over and give her tummy rubs and cookies!
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!
I know of a great dane that wears a cooling jacket. He serves a little girl who loves to swim and go to the lake or beach. He watches her from the shade and if he's on the shore is wearing the cooling jacket. He's also learned to like wading in the water.
Hope your dogs find a way to cool down. I like that Teresa also remembers to keep herself cool too!
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Took Tess out for a walk. Vet wants her back on her rehab schedule so that her knee function continues to improve. Otis and I then hopped to the end of the driveway and sat down for a while. Once we got back, Tess cooled down with some frozen banana pieces. Otis has one too, but he is smart enough to know that dogs do not eat bananas. But he sure is guarding it to prevent Tess from getting it. And yes, at 68 degrees I am wearing a light sweatshirt when I am downstairs!
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.
Yes, my dogs are not fond of the heat, but especially the humidity. I got them each a "Kool Collar" at FillMeWithIce.com
When outside, you can fill the sleeve with ice cubes, and for indoors there is a frozen plastic insert to use. I have 3 of the chilly mats, and NOBODY will lay on them! Except me, of course, cuz they are kinda nice when the bed is hot 🙂
Also, Kodi has what I call a "belly wrap" that you soak in water and the crystals inside expand and cool. He has to sleep with this every nite, or nobody gets any sleep.
While this weather is kinda miserable, I just keep thinking of -20 winters ahead of us!
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Poor Otis! I know the humidity makes the heat so much more unbearable, hopefully it'll cool off soon. Sheba likes having an ice pack held on her head and sometimes we buy a giant Slurpee to split between the 4 dogs.
Cynthia and Sheba
Right rear amputation 6/30/16 due to osteomyelitis of fungal origin (Aspergillus Penicillium).
Final diagnosis - systemic Aspergilosis Penicilliosis, being treated with long term itraconazole.
8/15/16 - Probable spinal involvement, loss of appetite, neurology consult in the works.
We're blogging at: The Ongoing Adventures of Sheba
Hot here too. I have the cool mats and Bosch and Jasmine love theirs. Not sure about Snickers. I got some at Petsmart that were 22 dollars and work pretty well. I have even slept on one. Kept me cool all night.
Mine hate this heat and humidity. All week has been hot even at 6 am so they haven't been getting much excercise. Only out to potty & back in. So far 5 days at above 100 and 115 plus heat index.
hugs
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."
Otis is taking a cue from Sheba. I was cleaning out my freezer and one of the items I removed was an old tub of half eaten ice cream. I left the room for a minute to get a trash bag. You all know how this story ends - one very happy dog eating ice cream.
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.
Well done Otis helping mom with her fridge cores, that's a very, very good boy 
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Very smart boys you've got there Christine! They know what they like and unlike most men how to serve themselves 😉😉
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
Sadie is tolerating the heat well -- probably better than I am! Of course, "her" room is the one with two air vents, which helps keep it warm in winter and cool in summer. Menawhile, I get migraines from the heat. Due to hot pavement, we haven't been taking walks, just running around the yard. Even that lasts about 5 minutes and we're both ready to go in.
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