Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My little dog had his rear left leg amputated on January 22. Thank heaven for this website because I was able to learn what to expect after the surgery. Alex is a poodle mix and weighs about 17 lbs. From the time I noticed he was limping it was 23 days to amputation. When it started it looked like it could be an abcess but within a week, even before the initial biopsy, we knew it was cancer and we would be lucky if he just lost his leg. The final report was "high grade poorly differentiated sarcoma". We decided we would not pursue chemotherapy and have been hoping that the amputation would be enough. Everything was good until last week. Since Friday Alex has been just laying around. He's eating on and off. He used to want to go outside every half hour, sometimes just to stand and look around. Now he's only going out a couple times a day to go potty. I can't tell if he's sore, maybe he overdid it running in the yard last week, or is the cancer back? I massage him all over and he never yelps or pulls away. By the time the leg was amputated the tumor had gotten very large and nasty looking and it smelled. I know it sounds crazy but I still smell it on him. The smell never really went away. The past few days the smell is stronger. Has anybody else experienced a smell like this?
Hi Alexander & family, welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away. I'm in the Tripawds Chat room right now if you want to talk.
Smell is something that really imprints on our minds, sometimes it's just hard to get rid of that association. But if you think the smell is stronger, it will put your mind at ease to take Alex to the vet. Has he been? Your vet can run diagnostics to figure out if the cancer is back in another area. Also, lack of appetite and mobility often indicate some type of pain. Your vet can help assess those symptoms as well, and come up with a plan to figure out what's going on.
I'm sorry I'm not much help here, but I think a vet visit is the best place to start. Meanwhile tell us more about Alex. How old/young is he?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
Your little guy sounds like a CUTIE!
Ditto Jerry! What she said about smell association is so true. If you close your eyes and think about the smell of rotten eggs or a rotting bag of potatoes , you can smell it!!! So I really wouldn't be concerned avout that aspect.
This can be sooooo many things that are easily treatable! Yes, overdoing it can cause pain and give you some of the symptoms you are seeing, as well as so many other non-scary things!
So yeah, go take Alex in for a wellness check-in to get this handled and then everyone will feel better!
Update us when you can.
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!
I do agree about the smell. It can last a while. I agree, the suggestion of a vet is totally appropriate, soon if he's acting off. After all you've been through a recheck is easy stuff to help ease your mind.
If you wouldn't mind to humor me a bit, has your boy been groomed since surgery? Does he have nice fluffy beds and stuffies that he loves? Have they totally been laundered since the surgery? I am not a vet, but I was a surgical tech. Please don't laugh but one tiny drop of anal gland fluid (example) can fill a room until it's disinfected. Pus, infection, the same.
He sounds like something might be going on, but it might not be where your mind wants to take you right now.
If you can wash all of his bedding and toys, and pine sol, bleach, or otherwise scrub the areas he frequents the most might be a good idea. If you cannot wash, replace if it's not a favorite of his. If the smell goes away then comes back it's another clue.
If he's not too painful and you can clean him up a bit (not a full groom right now while he's under the weather) that would also be helpful for you.
I wish good smelling things lasted nearly as long a bad things but it just isn't that way. Eliminating the bad will help you. If you start with a clean slate and the smell comes back it's definitely a sign of something. In the meantime, I would ask for him to be rechecked and make sure he doesnt have some small infection leaking a tiny bit that's not enough to see but enough to smell.
On a more humerous note, I cannot count the times I cleaned infected ears and all I could smell on myself was that nasty yeast infection. Nothing shy of a good shower and clean clothes could ever get rid of it, lol.
I wish you luck, please keep in touch and let us know how you do.
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Alex went to the vet last Saturday. The vet thought he might have pulled a muscle (based on the way he walked). We had the option of an x-ray but decided to try steriods, gambenapin and tramadol first and possibly follow up with rays, depending on how he responded. The first two days we saw a dramatic improvement in his ability to get around. Possible too much improvement - it seemed he re-injured himself although we're not aware of anything he could have done. Yesterday morning he wasn't able to stand up. It seemed like his back half didn't want to work. He was slowly able to start moving around and improved after a couple hours. We decided to have the x-rays done because we wanted to know for sure if this was something that would eventually heal or if the cancer had spread. We went to the vet yesterday afternoon. Although he has some tenderness at one place along his spine, there was no sign on injury on the x-ray. My heart dropped when I saw the views that showed 5 or 6 spots on the lungs. The vet does not think the tumors are the reason he's having trouble walking. We are going to continue treating him for a pulled or strained muscle and hope it improves. The initial tumor on his paw grew at an astonishing rate. I don't know if the same will hold true for the spots on the lungs but I hope not. We are going to keep him as comfortable as we can, for as long as we can. We are heartbroken.
Okay.....deep breaths ! The likelihood that his IS a sprain, or disc issue....VERY, VERY LIKELY! And Im not just blowing smoke! The fact that Alex showed such instant improvement is a HUGE indication of the above! More on this in just a second.
As far as mets, right now he is symptom free and having no issues. And one of the many reasons that's important is because, even AFTER symptoms appear, MANY dogs get a lot of extended quality time. For example, Jerry!! I believe he had Mets for over a year and enjoyed life during all that time. Once things settle down, you can talk to Vet about some options such as metronomics or Palladia.
Just in the past couple of weeks my Nellie ( a four legger) experienced something similar to Alex. Fine when I went to bed. Woke up at 5:00 a.m. to her cries because she couldn't stand. Long story short, a steroid injection and total rest turned her around within less than 24 hrs. Then similar symptoms again....not as severe. Looooong story short, complete rest, more steriod, rimadyl added later and she seems to be back to her normal self.. Vet felt like a combo of disc/back issue as well as leg/hip. These kinds of things can reoccur while they are healing with just the slightest misstep.
Remeber that NOTHING changed in Alex's world with those xrays. Had he not had the leg issue, you wouldn't have known this either because they are not bothering him at all....and that may be the case for a very long time.
Continue to make every DAY THE BEST DAY EVVVVER for Alex, jist like uuou always have!! But including a scoop of ice cream after his drive through cheeseburgers is ALWAYS a great way to ensure each day is THE BEST DAY EVVVVER!!
Extra 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!
I'm so sorry to read this, nobody is ever prepared for that kind of news. At least you have a plan now, and know a little bit more about what's going on. Did the vet offer any suggestions for helping to improve his appetite? The prednisone should help and in addition these Tripawds Nutrition blog posts about dealing with lack of appetite will help give you some pointers:
http://nutritio...../appetite/
You can also try massage therapy, I'll bet he will love that! It's one way to strengthen your bond and just spend quality time together. These blog posts will give you some tips:
http://tripawds.....?s=massage
So for now, move forward with living each day as it comes and making the most of every moment. Alex isn't concerned about what the x-rays said, he just wants to feel good and know that his people are content to live each day to the fullest, and embrace the time you have together. You can do it!
Do you have any photos of Alex that you want to share? Here's a post about adding images to the Forums. Let me know if you'd like assistance, I'm happy to help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry that Alex is not feeling well. I am sure you were shocked looking for one thing and stumbling upon this. I have not had experience with this, but the others have, and most of the stories and experiences that I have read about in here echo the same thing that Sally and Rene have said. I know this is tough, but once you get his hurt fixed up I believe you will have good quality time to spend with him. How long? Nobody can answer that question. But the same is true for you, me, and everybody else we know. I may not have cancer, but that does not mean that something else might be in store for my time to be up. Others here have had similar circumstances yet their furbabies stayed happy, comfortable, and passed of old age.
How old is Alex? Other than this latest episode how has he been doing since he recovered from the surgery? Has he been active and comfortable?
I hope with some rest and medication his leg/back/ part that is hurting him starts to feel better soon so that you can go on enjoying each other.
Jackie and Huckleberry 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
The vet ordered an appetite stimulant which has helped but things have gone downhill fast. Alex is unable to stand at all and he looks terrible. Does anybody have advice on how to hold a dog up so he can go potty? I tried holding him around the chest but he didn’t go.
Hopefully some nutrition will help him regain some strength. Have you tried making a sling with handles on either side so that you can have it around his chest to help hold him up? You can do it with a bag with handles or even a sheet.
Here is the general idea. I have used a long towel, or a sheet, whatever is long enough to go under the chest so that you can hold both ends and give him support. A bag with handles is optimal but really anything on hand can help.
Keeping you in my thoughts,
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Maybe the canvas sling Jackie showed you will help. Wish I had some answers for you. My Happy Hannah basically froze the time or two I tried to use a towel sling.
You mentioned going downhill. Does Alex seem in any bad pain? Is his "terrible" look one of discomfort or just frustrated because he can't stand on his own?
He's still on Tram and Gaba? Maybe the doeses need to be increased...or even decreased?? Just throwing stuff out there. Does he respond in a positive way to massage and maybe a warm towel out of the dryer on his back and hips? I still say the fact that he showed a lot of improvement after his steroid injection is a "good sign" (relatively speaking). And he is eating better so that's good.
Come on Alex, you need to get rocking again! We're all cheering for you sweet boy.
Lots ,of extra 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!
I'm so sorry, I had hoped things would level off for Alex.
The ol' Tripawds Grocery Bag Sling works in a pinch.
Make a New DIY Tripawd Dog Sling
We are keeping you in our hearts and hope that things improve for him. Spoil that boy rotten and celebrate that he is at least eating.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Alex crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday. Things got worse quickly. Every now and then he would perk up for a minute but most of the time he just layed in his bed. He started having trouble breathing Monday night. As much as I didn't want to do it, we had to take him to the vet yesterday.
This is Alex before the tumor
This is Alex on my daughter's lap Sunday:
Thank you all for supplying information, support and encouragement. 
I am so very sorry for your loss. Oh man that is just so sad. I know I can't take away your pain. You did everything you could and it sounds like you did the kindest most unselfish thing that could be done for him. My thoughts are with you.
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Ohhh we are so very sorry. You did so much for him and he fought so hard, as much as he was able. You gave him a great life, and it's all those good times you shared that helped surround him with love during his transition. There is no greater gift for a doggie. Still, I know your heart is breaking, it's never easy.
We see you started a blog for him. I think writing is such great therapy. It may help your hearts heal to remember all the happier days and cuddle sessions you shared, by writing about them and sharing photos of your adorable Alex. If you have questions about your blog please let us know OK?
All our love and deepest condolences to you and your family, we are holding you close in our hearts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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