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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Our great dane was recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma- looking for advice, experience from others
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On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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15 May 2015 - 8:18 am
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pursey said
So we're having trouble with Pursey not eating...

Sorry to hear that! Consider the many appetite boosting tips in the Tripawds Nutrition blog.

Many members have also discussed appetite here in the forums and provided various tips of their own.

Hope this helps! Please keep us posted.

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

Michigan
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2 April 2013
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16 May 2015 - 12:23 pm
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Murphy didn't eat well, either.  I cooked up some rice (even though it's a grain, but I figured, whatever, just short-term) and put some chicken broth over it, then added some chunks of chicken to it.  Of course he loved that!  lol 

Normally we free-feed our dogs.  We have 1 food dish & 1 water dish....even the cats drink from the same water dish.  One big happy family!  It's funny when everyone wants to eat at the same time, they take a mouth-full, step away from the bowl, drop it on the floor and eat it, then come back to the bowl.

Now that Murphy is on a grain-free diet, we feed him separately.  So every evening we get a bowl of his food for him but he won't eat until Max or Cassie is near him...but when they come near he growls and acts all mean .. what a toughie lol He sometimes will lay there for half an hour and not eat until one of them comes close, then all of a sudden start chomping down.  Other times I catch him deciding he wants to eat the 'regular' food so we tell him to come on & eat his own food.  Some nights he won't eat no matter what we do ... if he does that for more than a day or so I'll cook up some eggs for him, maybe throw in some shredded cheese.  Of course I have to make sure that there's enough for everyone, otherwise it's not fair lol.  I know he won't starve, that he's probably eaten some of the other food, but still.

I think right now for Pursey, it's mostly the medications.  For Murphy, he's just spoiled!

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

Member Since:
2 May 2015
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20 May 2015 - 4:01 pm
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Hey guys- sorry its been a few days since our last post. We are trying to get back into the swing of things with both of us returning to working/school this week. We are still having issues with Pursey- we're afraid she has given up. She has a flat affect and unless we're walking her to use the bathroom, she is either sleeping or sitting/lying with a blank stare. She will only eat and drink when provided to her by hand. She's rail thin. At this point, we're not sure amputation was the right decision. We are supposed to start chemo tomorrow but I doubt that will happen if she isn't eating. This is horrible to say, but its like we've already lost her. 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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20 May 2015 - 6:27 pm
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Whoa! Deep breahs right now! Really!! I hale deeply....exhales slowly....repeat several times....B R E A T H E ......B R E A T H E....

This is what, 12, 13 days after surgery??? Pursey is a great big dog and great big dogs sometimes take a little longer to recover than others! I delat giving my Happy Hannah (chunky Bull Mastiff) until after the third week because she was havi g a slower recovery too. So delaying Pursey's chemo several days until you see more sparkle and appetite come back is a great idea.

Now, a few questions:

Is Pursey on pain meds? Two opposing thoughts come to mind. She either needs MORE pain meds OR she needs ro be tapered off some. My Happy Hannah had her lain meds extended into the third week and that helped her a lot.
Was Pursey's incontinence issue ever addressed? Has it stopped?
Have you taken her temlerature? No indication her other legs atpre vothering her?
Giving her a bid dose of fluids at the vet can make a BIG difference. Even if she doesn't appear dehydrated, I would ask the vet to give her some fluids as they can perk her up and lerk up her appetite.
Do you have a friend she likes who coukd come over...ring the door bell..act all excited...bring ner a McDonalds? We've seen this strategy work many times over! Try this asap!
Perhaps taking her to a different vet tomorrow for a second opinion and o e who will check her out thoroughly and be open to fluids, etc. would be in order.

Pursey hasn't given up. We must need to continue to evaluate what's going on so we can get her back on track and get you back into your strong confident pack leader energy. She will mirror your energy. Of course you are frustrated and worried. But I really think she nust needs a few things tweaked in her recovery and she'll start feeling better really soon.

Looking forward to your update when you can. I mist keep feeling like adjustment of pain meds, maybe some fluids, etc.maybe all she needs (after fever, uit, etc. ruled out).

((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUBS)))))))))))))))))))) Lots and lots of ((((((((((((((((((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!

On The Road


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20 May 2015 - 6:35 pm
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I'm sorry guys, I know how difficult it is to see the light at the end of the tunnel when all you see are major changes in your pup that you didn't expect. You are not the first person who has felt this way, I guarantee you. And you know what? Rarely, and I mean rarely, does the dog ever not bounce back. I'm talking less than a handful of times, if that, since we started this community in 2006. And when that happened it was because of something else, not the surgery. So stay strong, and get that thought out of your head, she is still Pursey and she's in recovery mode. This takes time and sometimes longer than anyone expects.

But I second all of Sally's insight. First, are these things that you have discussed with your vet? If so what is the vet's action plan? Remember if you don't like what the vet is saying, you can go elsewhere.

Please call the Tripawds hotline, 844-TRIPAWD, you can talk to one of us and we can help you get through this. We can even do a conference call with all of you OK? You are not alone and we are here for you.

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


Member Since:
22 August 2008
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20 May 2015 - 8:20 pm
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My Tazzie took 3 weeks to recover before she could have chemo and that is not unusual for the giant dogs. What is your drug protocol right now?  Some dogs need pain meds (especially NSAIDS) longer than others and some dogs get weird and anorexic on Tramadol.  I would review things with your vet before giving up.

Pam

Michigan
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21 May 2015 - 10:58 am
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Oh my gosh...I totally felt this way the first few weeks!  I waffled back & forth..did we do the right thing?  Especially when Murphy wouldn't eat, ugh, he's so stubborn!  He still is!  lol  Some days when we go to feed him, he just won't eat, and I worry and stress, but then I find him sneaking and eating the regular food that's out for Cassie & Max (he just did this last night when I was getting ready for bed), and I remind myself that he's not going to starve.  Sally is completely right, dogs tell us but we don't always listen, so we have to try to figure it out...just like with newborn babies, it's trial and error.  Either more pain medicine or less.  I was told to have Murphy weaned off his meds by 2 weeks, and if she's on tramadol, that one's the worst for making them feel woozy.  Maybe some fluids would help, it sure wouldn't hurt. 

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

On The Road


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21 May 2015 - 7:17 pm
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Thank you Donna, it's soooo helpful to hear your story too.

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

Member Since:
27 May 2015
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22 June 2015 - 8:32 pm
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My dog got Cerenia before her amputation and it made her super sick during that entire day. She was completely gone and withdrawn, it was like she wasn't even there. We've also had problems with Eva eating out of a bowl and only wanting hand feeding. The problems started a little bit before the amputation, as she was in terrible pain. However, about three weeks after her amputation when things started to mellow back out, she eats out of a bowl again. We switched foods a million times although now that her appetite is fully back, she'll eat her old food again. BUT the point of me saying all this is to say that I think a huge factor was instead of Cerenia for nausea, my oncologist gave us Zofran. It made Eva eat out of her bowl I swear the very first day I gave it to her. 

As it's been suggested, basically all I'm saying is the medicine might be an important thing to look at. I hope there's an update to this thread! 

On The Road


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22 June 2015 - 9:05 pm
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mushyeva said
my oncologist gave us Zofran. It made Eva eat out of her bowl I swear the very first day I gave it to her. 
As it's been suggested, basically all I'm saying is the medicine might be an important thing to look at. I hope there's an update to this thread! 

Thank you for mentioning that, I agree it's worth looking into, I've heard the same thing about it.

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

Ana
56
1 December 2016 - 9:09 am
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I stumbled onto this thread in search of answers for my furbaby, Abe, who has just been diagnosed with possible OS in his front leg.  We are struggling with all the same emotions and questions you went through last year.  I noticed there have been no updates since just a few weeks after the amputation.  I hope Pursey has recovered?  We are preparing ourselves for this journey and would love to hear some encouraging experiences.  Thank you! 

On The Road


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1 December 2016 - 10:53 am
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Hi Ana,

We're sorry to hear about Abe. All of us here totally get your emotions and concerns. We'd love to be able to help you more so please consider registering as a member (that way your posts won't need approval after the first one). And of course start a topic that's all about Abe. Have you had a chance to peruse our Forums? Also check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library for lots of tips.

P.S. We haven't heard back from Pursey so we're keeping our paws and fingers crossed that all is good.

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

Member Since:
2 May 2015
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1 December 2016 - 11:23 am
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Hey guys! I was surprised to see these posts come across my email this morning! Life was so hectic after amputation I guess we forgot to keep you guys updated! 

Pursey is doing okay! She completed chemo October 2015 and has had clear lung films every since! 

Her remaining back leg is starting to show signs of increased weakness and so our goal now is to keep her as comfortable as possible and let her tell us when it's time. We're very lucky that we've had close to two years with her since diagnosis. Who knows how long we will get in the future, we're just grateful for our decision, the lessons we've learned, and a relationship we've developed with this Dane that one could never imagine. 

I am currently at work and will be glad to discuss her progress, treatments, etc. and try to answer all of your questions. Please don't hesitate to contact me!

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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1 December 2016 - 11:50 am
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OOOOOOOMMMMMMDDDDDDDD!!!!!! PURSEY RECOVERED A DD IS STILL ROCKIN'LIFE ON TNREE LEGS!!!!OOOOOOMMMMMDDDDDD!!! THIS MAKES US SOOOOO HAPPH!!!! 🙂

Okay, just so you'll know, not hearing from you we all assumed the worse!!! Not trying to make you feel bad....okay....maybe just a little!!! winker The last post you made really made us think you were ablut to "release" her before ner time!!!

Sorry it took another new member's post ro get an update, but I think she'll fi d it very helpful to know Pursey is still enjoying being loved and spoiled!!

YAAAAAAAAAY FOR PURSEY!!!! 🙂

Hugs!

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!

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