Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
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Hello Everyone. I'm so glad to have found this site. I'm having such a hard time with all of this.
Our boy, Gideon, 9 yrs old, rough coat tri-colored collie, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his front left leg. We consulted with several specialists and it was decided the best treatment would be amputation, then chemo. My heart is so heavy with all of this. His leg was amputated last Friday. He was released on Saturday. He wasn't able to walk and seemed so 'out of it'. He came home, slept a lot and his appetite slowly came back over the next few days. He was able to 'hop' on his own on day 4 and seemed to be more himself. And then everything changed...he was only on rimadyl twice daily for pain, his appetite was poor, he was so sad, ears down, no spark, and he began licking at his remaining front leg. I contacted his vet, he was started on tramadol as well three times daily. This helped, he slept more soundly, started to eat again....for all of a day and a half. He is now back to being mopey, lethargic, and not eating well. This up and down is so difficult.
He is so not the dog he was. Every day, I wonder if we did the right thing. I've found from reading the posts on this site, that this seems to be the norm. That they improve and things get better, that their old selves return. I'm just having a very hard time believing that right now. I didn't expect this to be so hard.
I do believe that we will get to the other side of this. That it will be okay. And that my 'ups and downs' will subside as well as Gideon's. I'm really grateful to have found a place to share my concerns with others who understand.
Hi Dianna, thanks for joining. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
You are definitely not alone, there isn't one person who didn't have doubts about their dog's ability to bounce back. Keep in mind that one week is not a long time. And I think the key to your dog's ups and downs is that he came home without adequate pain medication. Being sent home with only rimadyl is akin to getting amputated and being given iburpophen afterward. Ouch!
I know he's on tramadol now, but it sounds like your vet needs to provide better pain control (even tramadol isn't enough for some dogs). Here's our best pain management tips for tripawds you might want to check out and discuss with your vet:
http://tripawds.....ment-tips/
I have to run now but stay tuned, more will chime in soon and I'll be back. Hang in there and if you need to talk to someone right away be sure to call our helpline OK? 844-TRIPAWD.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow - only Rimadyl really wasn't fair at all! Murphy was sent home on 3 different medications after his surgery. Pain would definitely explain why poor Gideon hasn't been acting himself.
I went through all of those same feelings with Murphy! Back & forth with doubt. He really gave us a hard time about eating (he sometimes still does!). We cooked up some rice, poured chicken broth over it then added some chunks of chicken. Sometimes I would cook up some scrambled eggs for him, anything to get him to eat. He was fine with walking right away, but he had been limping for a couple of months before his surgery. A couple months after his surgery, though, he did start walking funny .. like his back legs were stiff & his back was arched. I was worried again that it was too much for him, but it was mostly that his body needed to get used to his new gait. We help him with massaging his back & back legs, and he arches back to stretch out and it's a lot better.
You're a week through the recovery now, so hopefully getting a little better, especially if they've added tramadol. Murphy was also on Gabapentin, which is great for nerve pain. If Gideon sometimes lets out a sudden yelp, it's probably phantom pain . You can also try ice to the incision a couple times a day if he'll let you. The first 2 weeks are the hardest, so it should be better 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
Hi Dianna and Gideon!!
Two important things to know right now, okay?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE FROM THIS POINT FORWARD!!!!!!!
YOU DEFINITELY DID THE "RIGHT" THING!!!!!!!!!!
Osteosarcoma is very painful. Even though dogs are stoic and try to mask it, without the amputation, the pain would jave become severe very quickly, not to mention the possibility of a fracture...while you were at work! You made a decision out of love and to give Gideon the best ppssible chance at a quality life full of more lpving and spoiling than you ever thought ppssible! THAT is a RIGHT decision!
Like everyone else, it is VERY upsetting than Gideon was not given proper pain meds from the start!! It is still very early in recovery, but trying to recover while in.pain definitely would jave a huge effect on appetite, lack of energy, etc.
The reason he did a little better when he first came home was because he had potent hospital pain medication in him. That usually stays in their system for several days.
My Happy Hannah was on Rimadyl, Tramadol and Gabapentin, plus an antibiotic. And I can tell you, even with all those pain meds all I could think was "What have I done TO my dog?" Finally, around the three week mark, I was able to say, "Wow! Look what Ive done FOR my dog!"
My first post here was....."six days after amputation and I fear I've made a HORRIBLE decision!" I hung onto this community for dear life! They gave me assurances and support and helped me stay strong during this rough recovery period. And yes, some dogs do take longer to recover! I even delayed her first chemo treatment at the two week mark because she just wasn't showing signs of getting her sparkle back! Three week mark, did the chemo, her sparkle came back so brightly I had to wear sunglasses!!
Keep the pain meds consistent...dont let the pain get a head start. Let Gideon rest and just go out to potty. If you know how to take his temperature, I'd go on and check that, especially if your vet didn't give him any antibiotics.
Cook any goodies you think he'll eat...steak, chicken, all tipped with a scoop of ice cream!
Stay confident and positive. Gideon will pick up on your energy.
Stay connected to us, okay? We understand like no others can!
Sending lots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
My Happy Hannah never missed a meal, so that wasn't an issue for her. She did not want to drink water thoug. For several weeks I had to put a scoop of ice cream in her water to get her to drink. Yeah, she trained me pretty well!
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 sooooo much, Everyone!!
Your replies made me cry! What an emotional journey this is.
Gideon started with diarrhea right after I posted. We were able to get that under control. Getting him to eat is still a challenge. He got his sutures removed yesterday and had his first CARBO6 chemo treatment. Now we wait to see if he has any side effects. He goes for a CBC in 12 days to monitor his white blood cell count.
But on a great note...he is coming back!!!
This morning he did not want to come back in after potty time. He chose to sit in the garden and absolutely refused to move! LOL!! Thought I'd share a picture of him enjoying the day!! (He still wears a t-shirt because he keeps licking at the incision and irritating it!)
https://www.fac.....f356a3999b
(Can't figure out how to attach photo...but the link above shows it!)
Gideon and I thank you!!
Dianna 🙂
Thanks for updating us! Soooo glad Gideon is feeling better!! And to have an upset tummy on top of everything else.
YAY FOR GIDEON!!
He does look very handsome in his t-shirt! That's his color!!
Did the vet give you any Cerenia in case Gideon gets nauseous from the chemo? Also, perhaps he can give him an appetite stimulant. Does he seem like he wants to eat but just can't...or no interest at all? Sometimes going through a drive thru and getting a dog their very own cheeseburger does wonders when nothing else wiil.
Thanks again for letting us know how Gideon is doing. He is such a cutie pie! And yeah, keep these pictures coming! He's a very photogenic fella'!
And I love that he's starting to do normal things! Being outside enjoying nature is always a good sign!
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!
He looks great!!!!
We had slight diarrhea after our first chemo treatment too ... they gave us some meds and also suggested pure pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling) to help that ...
Good luck!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart
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
dianna said
Can't figure out how to attach photo...
FYI: Here are detailed instructions for adding photos to forum posts .
Gideon is gorgeous! Please keep us posted on his progress.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I think being outside helps them feel alive again. They don't know what happened but sure know when they feel good in the warm sunshine and fresh air.
Congratulations to you and Gideon for making it through the worst part.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
I second the idea of getting Cerenia for him if he's having trouble eating. That was certainly our biggest problem post-amp. Even the smell of food seemed to turn her stomach and she'd just start drooling and turn away from it. We also found that offering something w/o any smell was much better. For Ellie, that was dry egg noodles!
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
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