Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Please think good thoughts for my little Susie. She has an ear infection, and either a return of cancer (to her lungs this time) or pneumonia throughout both lungs. She's on three antibiotics and cough meds and has become very weak (since she has refused to eat since Thursday). She is miserable, and I am so worried about her. She's the sweetest little soul I've ever known.
I took her to the emergency vet in Topeka over the weekend because of her coarse breath sounds, coughing (hacking), and refusal to eat. The vet put her on Amoxicillin and cough meds. This morning I took her to the first vet in my town (Lawrence, KS) who could see her. The vet diagnosed a bad ear infection, and then took a chest X-ray. She said the X-ray looked "really rough"--that Susie either had pneumonia everywhere, or the cancer had spread throughout both her lungs. (She didn't see actual nodules, though.)
She's on Amoxicillin, Baytril, Mometamax (for the ear infection), and cough tabs. I gave her all the meds just now, and she promptly hacked up a sea of white foam about twenty minutes later, and then vomited a few minutes after that. (I'm hoping so much she didn't regurgitate all the meds, but I don't want to give her more and risk an overdose.)
I can't get her to eat anything, not even bits of cheese or hot dog (which are usually special treats).
They did a blood test, but won't get the results back until tonight. She's supposed to go back on Friday for another chest X-ray.
I can't stand to see her suffering like this.
Awwww . . . poor sweet baby. It is very difficult to see them when they're sick. Hopefully she'll start showing some improvement from all the meds. Give her a smooch for me.
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
I would add an antiemetic to help her not immediately throw up. And, perhaps. prednisone to help with inflammation and appetite. Despite what may or may NOT be apparent on the x-rays, she should be more comfortable which truly can only take place with the correct symptomatic medications.
If she is not eating, perhaps it is because she cannot smell well and does have some "feeling full" or "under the weather" issues. Am not a vet but would suggest antiemetics, prednisone, and perhaps, if she has fluid building up, draining the fluid.
Best wishes, HUGE hugs, and PyrPaws all around. (She is BEAUTIFUL!!!)
Poor Susie! I'm so sorry, what a ruff time. I do agree that an anti-nausea medication will make a world of difference. All of those pills can definitely cause nausea. Ask your vet for some Cerenia to see if that helps. Don't forget to spike her water with Gatorade or low-sodium broth to help her drink and stay hydrated OK?
Keep us posted. We have you both in our hearts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Also, the Hill's Diet A/D canned food( which is a CRITICAL CARE food fed after surgery, etc.) is easily fed as a slurry or syringed and can be ordered from Amazon (you do NOT need a prescription).
I am so sorry that Susie has taken this turn. Hopefully, it is something curable and not a return of the cancer. And although this doesn't make it better, if it is the cancer, you guys had a great run. I am thinking that you are well over a year post-amp? And I know you posted a lot of great photos of your visits to PetSmart and your time together. We will be thinking about you and Susie, and hoping that she overcomes these hurdles as well.
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 poor sweet Susie! I do hope this responds to the antibiotics and that she feels much better soon.
Thinking of you and sending hugs,
Meg, Clare and Elsie 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...
We are here to help sulport yiu so really glad you updated us.
Everyone's given good input and some good suggestions. The antibiotics certainly would play havoc with her tummy and make her not want to eat. And, of course, you have to have the meds with food ro coat the tummy! Ugh!!
The suggestion of an anti nausea drug and the Prednisone are, in my non Vet opinion , both really good ones! Also, a good dose of fluids can pften help mlre than anything!
So yeah, I think a few more things can be done for comfort, if for no other reason!
Oh, and one more thought. The Vet can give her an injection, or an IV of a antibiotics for quicker results, especially if she can't keep her pik@s down.
A d remember, watching your sseet Susie not feeling well is harder on you than it is her. She's just laying kow and dealing with it and not thinking anything bad or scary! She may be thinking that she's just not up for shopping today, but nappy just staying home snuggling with you.
We'll all be waiting for an update and we'll all certainly be sending you lots of pawsitive healing energy.
Oh, and rey some stinky liverwurst. Make sure you hide the pills inside a ball of it without yiur hands getting any pill scent on them...use tweezers
Hoping Susie is feeling better soon
LOVE AND 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!
Oh sweet Susie!!!! I do hope you get to feeling better soon.... maybe some rice for her belly?
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Oh Susie! 
I was going to say the same thing as Sally, that the vet can give her IV fluids if she needs them. Remember that when we're sick like that, we often don't feel like eating. Rest is good for her, too. Hopefully those antibiotics kick in soon!
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
Check out the link below to HoneyBear's blog. She ended up having fluid in ner lungs, but it ended up being a staph infection. Aybe e tirely differe t, but some thi gs sounded similar to Susie so just thought Id tbrow it out there.
http://honeybea.....a-miracle/
We're all sending you love......
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!
Thank you so, so much, everyone. It is just so hard to see her suffering so much. The vet called tonight and said that she'd gotten the blood tests back, and Susie's white count is very elevated. She said that could mean either pneumonia or cancer--infection or inflammation. I asked about Pepcid, and she agreed that it would be beneficial, so I'm now giving her 5 mg. twice a day. She also said to try putting low-sodium chicken broth in her water--a very small amount, at first. (Susie IS drinking lots of water.)
She also said that, if the Pepcid doesn't work, she will prescribe Mertaceteen (sp.?), and I could pick it up at my human pharmacy. It's an appetite stimulant prescribed for humans, but she says it works great on dogs, too.
She's still not eating. I even bought chicken and tried to tempt her with a piece, but she wasn't interested. Her breath sounds are still coarse and very rapid.
I was amazed at the similarities between HoneyBear's symptoms and Susie's (in HoneyBear's blog). Thank you so much, Benny, for the link to it! It is giving me hope.
I had a Yorkie who died after just one night of having aspiration pneumonia, so I know that, even if this isn't cancer, Susie still is fighting a very tough battle.
Actually, the drug she mentioned may be "Mirtazapine." Has anyone had any experience with it with their dogs?
Was thinking about you when I read Honeybear's blog too! Hopefully, you also get a happy ending.
Otis was on Pepcid for quite a while. The chemo left him with a bit of indigestion, especially when his tummy was empty. It worked, with no adverse effects.
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.
NOT A VET but...if pneumonia, dogs should cough and not be on cough suppressants, so...there is that.
Balancing a steroid (prednisone) with a low WBC count is tricky but usually not in the short term. Would be very cautious about adding appetite stimulant which has side effects that MAY or MAY not compromise heart rate/breathing/sedation...In general, any "benzo" is a suppressant which is not ideal for breathing well...which is the last medicine you mentioned-please read regarding side effects:(
I would seriously ask for prednisone (both an anti inflammatory AND an appetite stimulant).UNLESS the WBC count is concerning enough not to prescribe:Would think having a medicine with a very large safety margin that treats TWO issues would be a better choice..
HoneyBear's story and wonderful outcome is fantastic but likely she had pyothorax which is an infection in the chest cavity and not the lungs. Is quite deadly so the fact that she recovered is ,really,really, wonderful and fantastic!!! Much more serious than mets or pneumonia:(
And Susie will recover as well;-she really will. She is too fantastic of a dog not to and too stellar of a character to hang on and not do well despite the long road of recovery. You got this, Susie! You always have!
Best wishes and huge PyrPaws all around!
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