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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Wobbly, hard to walk 3 months post amp
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PA
Member Since:
12 March 2015
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20 June 2015 - 5:40 pm
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 Homer over the past week has had difficulty walking around all of a sudden.  Back legs splay out, front paw gives way and he falls.  He seems happy enough, but his mobility has taken a sharp nose dive.  

We took him to Univ of Penn for a second chemo opinion last week, and he was fine.  They did a full ortho exam and he passed no problem.

We are going to take him to his primary vet hopefully monday, and he will see a rehab specialist Thursday - BUT THIS FORUM is the most experienced with some of these strange things.

Of course, I fear the worst - but maybe this is something other dogs have gone through?  He had been fine but lethargic - but now can barely get around at all, happy as he seems.

 

Thanks for any HELP.

On The Road


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20 June 2015 - 8:01 pm
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Oh poor Homer! OK my first thought is that he's getting too much activity and overdoing things. What is a typical day like for him now? How much walking is he getting? Playtime?

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

PA
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20 June 2015 - 8:19 pm
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Hi jerry 

He doesn't get much activity at all. Ever since the chemo started he would only go about a couple of blocks each morning which over time has become less and less. Now he won't even go 10 feet before plopping down. The lethargy we hoped was chemo related but it's been 3+ weeks since the last carboplatin and he's clearly taken a turn for the worse. Now he can barely get up and walk at all. He's so unstable. 

I wonder if this can be a delayed reaction to the chemo? I can certainly ask his oncologist about that one.

We are a bit stumped and nervous  

Michigan
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20 June 2015 - 8:59 pm
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That's probably about the time that Murphy started having problems walking... he was all hunched over & kind of shuffled his back legs, like they were stiff.  His exam was fine, his patellas maybe move a little bit they said, like a 1 out of 4 (I think).  Nothing that would require any intervention.  I thought about a chiropractor, but there's only 1 around and she's not close and she only sees dogs 1 day a week.  What we started doing is when he's on his side we massage his back really deep, and down into his hips & back legs..he arches his back and moans & groans lol  I think he likes it smileyIt seems to helps relax his muscles for him.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Virginia







Member Since:
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20 June 2015 - 9:36 pm
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Yeah, these kinds of things worry the heck out of us and always make us think awful things! So much easier said than done, but TRY not to think "awful things"! It may indeed be something minor, something as "simple" as a pinched nerve or, as Murphy had, bad knees. And trying to walk around with those issues could certainly wear a dog out!

And it could be something chemo too.. How about his temperature, does he have a fever? And I'm sure they were checking his blood in between chemo and his wbc was normal?

Homer seems happy, right? Eating? Drinking? Pooping? Peeing? No signs of pain? Certainly you can always go to an ER if you feel he's worsening quickly.

Is he exposed to ticks where you live? So.e of their diseases can play havoc on mobility and energy levels

Just throwing things out there.

PLEASE KEEP US POSTED! We love this little guy and we are all cheering him on!! And remember...HOMER IS NOT WORRYING ABOUT A THING!! Stay in the moment...in the present! The vets will get this figured out a d get him back on track. In the .meantime, I bet taking him through a drive thru and giving him a burger with cheese will cheer him up! PUS...ICE CREAM!!! My Happy Hannah had me convinced ice cream was a nutritional supplement!!

How ' bout some more loctures of this cutie pie!!! You know we love seeing his pics!!

Sending lots of love and hugs!!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!

Lea
6
20 June 2015 - 9:51 pm
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I have the same issue with my 13.5 year old Springer Spaniel Vegas.  He had his right front leg amputated third week in April.  He is not walking very well and is falling a lot.  I don't know if it is an issue of weakness or coordination.  I have been taking him to rehab every week after removal of staples (three times so far as he had a setback and had to have the wound resutured) and they had him swimming but last week we couldn't go.  He lays around most of the time and he can get up on his own but mostly won't.  Not even for a treat (but I know it can be an issue of me picking him up originally and him barking for me to pick him up instead of getting up himself). He was able to jump from the house to the porch and now he can't and splatters - the step is little higher than ordinary clearance.  When we go for a walk he will hop OK and all of a sudden splatter on concrete.  I mostly walk him on grass but we have to cross the street to get there and even though I am trying to be careful he always falls when I least expect it.  He was very strong before the surgery and that was the main reason why I decided to go for it.  I am really sad and depressed because it breaks my heart to see him flail and fall.  He had a terrible time at the beginning for about 10 days.  He was extremely frightened and depressed.  At first he could not even stand on his own - three days.  Then he started to hop a little but it was still quite bad emotionally.  After about three weeks he perked up and everything started to look up but it seems like a set back now and I am scared.  I would really like to hear advice that you get because I need it too.

Livermore, CA




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20 June 2015 - 10:33 pm
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Hi Lea, welcome to Tripawds.  I'm sorry Vegas is having issues post op.

 

Please consider registering as a member- it's easy and free.  That way you can take advantage of all the resources on this site and your posts will not have to wait for approval (after the first new member post).

 

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

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo


Member Since:
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20 June 2015 - 10:49 pm
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krun15 said
Hi Lea, welcome to Tripawds.  I'm sorry Vegas is having issues post op.

 

Please consider registering as a member- it's easy and free.  That way you can take advantage of all the resources on this site and your posts will not have to wait for approval (after the first new member post).

 

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

I registered, thank you.  Sorry to hear that you lost your Maggie to oral melanoma.  I also lost my Boxer mix Nike to that cancer in 2008. 



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21 June 2015 - 1:40 pm
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Hi, it seems there are two threads here, one for Homer and one for Vegas (Lea, you might want to start a separate thread for your specific concerns). There seems to be a common issue - legs giving out.

My cat had her leg amputated last year and I took her to a holistic vet who does chiropractic work. She did a treatment and showed me how to give Mona daily massages to keep her aligned. More importantly she showed me strengthening exercises. Mona lies down doing her exercises and I thought how could she possibly get stronger by lying around and moving her remaining front leg? Well she did get stronger and I saw it monthly. She even does what I call sit-ups for her food (developing her core). Now Mona had bursts of running energy but has to stop for a break more often than before the amputation. But that's okay, being a tripawd is more work so they need more breaks.

You might find a visit to a rehab vet will help your dogs. There you will learn gentle but effective exercises. Here are some links about rehab: http://download.....m/?s=rehab

Also, Jerry says that short walks more often in the day are better than long walks and that generally the rehab should focus on strengthening before they start swimming.

Hope this helps and the real dog experts chime in.

Kerren and Trikitty Mona

On The Road


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22 June 2015 - 9:52 am
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homer630 said
Hi jerry 

He doesn't get much activity at all.

Drats, I was hoping too much activity was the problem. OK, I know Thursday is a long way off but please hang in there. I'd love to know what the rehab vet has to say and their recommendations so keep us posted. Meanwhile are you able to assist him with a harness or canvas grocery bag sling?

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

On The Road


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22 June 2015 - 9:56 am
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Lea said
I have the same issue with my 13.5 year old Springer Spaniel Vegas.  He had his right front leg amputated third week in April.  He is not walking very well and is falling a lot. 

Lea, welcome. I'm sorry that Vegas is having difficulties. Again, please start a new topic in "Hopping Around" so we can follow your story there. Meanwhile, it's great that you are able to take him to rehab. What are their recommendations for helping him get strong? Are they doing any other PT beside swimming?

Stay strong. Remember, a 13.5 year old dog's body is a lot different than an 8 year old dog's. They can definitely have a great life on 3 but it takes time sometimes and lots of patience. The stronger and more pawsitive you are, the stronger your dog will be and have the confidence he needs to start being mobile again.

And if you want to talk in person, please feel free to call the Tripawds helpline at 844-TRIPAWD OK? {{{hugs}}}

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

PA
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22 June 2015 - 1:46 pm
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jerry said

homer630 said
Hi jerry 

He doesn't get much activity at all.

Drats, I was hoping too much activity was the problem. OK, I know Thursday is a long way off but please hang in there. I'd love to know what the rehab vet has to say and their recommendations so keep us posted. Meanwhile are you able to assist him with a harness or canvas grocery bag sling?

He has the tripawd harness which is terrific! 

Homer went to our primary vet today who thinks it is neurological. Possibly a cervical disc. Maybe he herniated something with all the changes of becoming a tripawd.  He suggests we talk to a neurologist and so we will go back to penn and see them. 

One good note is that he doesn't seem to be in any pain so he didn't really entertain metastasis as a cause and didn't think X-rays would help. 

I will update once we see rehab and then neuro. It will be good if this is treatable!

Virginia







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22 June 2015 - 5:46 pm
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Sorry to do this "scrrenshot" of what I just tried to reply...but it's easier a d less stressful to do it this way than the Queen kf Typos trying to type all over again!

Screenshot_2015-06-22-19-33-31_zpst7tsyfdp.jpgImage Enlarger

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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