Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Is he on codeine or some other pain med?
My heart aches for you. Just know tHat we are all here for you.
Oh gosh....even though those moments in the snow are brief, they are BEAUTIFUL!!! I love how he went after the coffee! Jumped up on the table...climbing stairs...tail wagging...eating....and then he gets pretty exhausted. I always reminded myself exhaustion wasn't painful and it wasn't particularly uncomfortable.
Talk with your vet about the Pred, but 10 mg in am and 10 at night is NOT exceptionally high, especially if tapering down shortly. I am NO vet so please discuss with your vet. But you may even try him on one 20 in am and one 20 in pm for a day...or even two....then back to 10 twice a day. As bizarre as it seems, I do feel like I n oticed a change I. Happy Hannah's bone sturcture...in her face and down her spine and back...not weight loss...just "something" different.
Now here's a "Catch 22" for ya....the Pred. can sometimes .make them pant and restless. Yeah, crazy!
Some of what you are going through reminds me of my Happy Hannah.....eating, drinking, tail wagging, enjoying life, just with a whole lot of exhaustion. I knew there was no "getting better" at this point and I wanted to keep her happy as long as possible...keeping her happy...my number one priority! Happiness is who she is...it's what she is all about. It wasn't about how long she walked, or anything too much related to physical endurance...it was just about her happiness...even if that was laying around being hand fed treats and told non-stop what a good girl she is...she LOVED hearing that!
Then the scales started tipping out of her favor a bit. It was getting harder for her to sleepl. I was by her side sleeping with her and I would notice she just wasn't resting well. It seemed that no matter when I sneaked a peek at her, she was awake and usually panting. I would always give her a treat just as a "test" to see if she wanted it. Of course she did....my Happy Hannah NEVER, EVER missed a meal! She would go out to potty and then just sit in the yard...still happy...still wagging... but very exhausted
Prior to this, I "thought" I would be able to "guage" when it was time by her not eating, or not wagging, or even showing a bit of lain, or the "look" in her eyes. She never gave me the look,she never stopped eating and she never stopped wagging. For me, and because I know my Happy Hannah so well, I reaIzed that, once she showed me any of those things, I would have waited a day too late. It was becoming more of a struggle for her to be happy. She didn't need to be uncomfortable anymore just so she could have more treats, or more "good girl", or more deer poop. She spent a lifetime having those things with no effort. Now there was effort.
The experience I wanted to remember as she was preparing to leave her earth clothes was seeing Happy Hannah be as happy as she could be under the circumstances. Every case is different and not everyone is able to make the decision of release before it gets to a point of pain and suffering. I made it as celebratory as possible....plates with steak, ice cream, M&Ms, stinky liverwurst, and a scoop of deer poop! I applauded her...gave her.a standing ovation for a job well done! She liked that!
Didn't mean to ramble, just hoping you could find some morsel of something that helps you.
One thing I want to yell through the screen and beg you to do as best as possible...and it's hard...STAY IN THE MOMENT...put off grief and replace it with the fullness of the life that Marshall has in him now! And from what you've described and from that video...MARSHALL STILL HAS LIFE!! It takes seconds for his energy to cross over and, up until that point, his energy is alive in his earth clothes!
I actually made little notes to myself and stuck them all over the house..."Be More Dog " "STAY IN THE PRESENT" "STAY IN THE NOW" "MY LOVE FOR HAPPY HANNAH WILL GET ME THROUGH THIS" Everytime Happy Hannah wagged her tail I used that as an anchor to stay grounded in the moment.
You are doing everything possible for Marshall....and doing it with incredible strength...INCREDIBLE STRENGTH!! The video is so full of love AND Marshall is HAPPY!! I agree with Alison, he still has zest!!! He doesn't seem to be in pain, just tires easily.
Se ding you kove and hugs a d a "knowing" that things will unfold as they should.
Sally and My Eternal Light Happy Hannah
.
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 for what sweet Marshall and you are going through. When you mentioned the bones in his face being more pronounced it made me think of my Leland. Leland started losing a lot of muscle in his head and neck. His vet indicated he was dealing with an autoimmune disorder and placed him on prednisone. Apparently, the disorder wastes away the muscles (the body in essence begins to attack itself). The prednisone is to suppress the body's immune response that is messed up so it stops attacking itself. Leland wasn't dealing with cancer so it's hard to say whether Marshall's muscle wasting is from the cancer or possibly an autoimmune disorder.
I just want you to know that I'll be keeping Marshall in my thoughts and pray his health turns around.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Thanks for showing us Marshall in the snow - dogs just wanna have fun.
I had a cat with cancer that had likely spread to the lungs and he would just do a little cough every now and then. You'd notice it because cats don't usually cough. I can't remember if there was panting.
As for pain, I remember the day of Mona's amputation the vet mentioned that after the surgery when Mona was awake that her heart rate went up so they gave her more pain medication. I've always wondered if that is one way we could monitor their pain level at home.
Wishing you and Marshall more happy moments. Hugs to both of you.
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
Thanks everyone. We have tramadol if needed but he hasn't had any recently. I read about Jerrys final days lots of tears. Thank you for sharing that!!!! I love the popcorn video!!!! I appreciate every word and insight you all have for us. It helps more than you know.
Also I do feel like if I wait until Marshall doesn't want to eat that will be too long. Marshall lives to eat
Ty was on 20 Am and 20Pm. If we went lower than that, he would crash. He also lost muscle tone. He got what I called a dinosaur head. He lost weight though. A lot and quickly. I am still not sure what the real problem was. Supposedly, like Leland, he had an autoimmune disorder. That is why the Prednisone. I struggled so hard with the " right time" question. It is just so individual and personal that I have to say, just go with your gut. I looked at a picture of TY a few days before he left and he was looking over my daughter's shoulder at something. I now think he was seeing the bridge. Thinking of you! Lori, Ty and the gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
We are going back up to 10 in morning and 20 at night tomorrow. When I was petting him he was very tense and was trembling. Pain?
Wouldn't hurt at all to give him some tramadol just in case their is pain. Should help him rest some too. He could have some soreness and muscle strain just from all the effort of hopping throught the snow.....and trying to jump up on tne table to get Steve's coffee!!
Just ro clarity...it's 10 mg. of Pred in am and then up to 20 at night. Just curious why vet wouldn't keep it a consistent 20 in am and 20 at night
Sending hugs and holding you in our thoughts
Sally and My Eternal Light Happy Hannah
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!
They had him on 10mg in morning and 20mg at night but then switched him to just 20mg at night but I'm going to increase it to either 10mg in am 20 mg in pm or 20 at both times. I feel so bad for him. I feel sick thinking about what's going to happen.
Maybe upping the Pred. like you said will help...remember, we are not vets...disclaimer done!
Also perhaps the tramadol will help too if there is pain.
I soooooo wish we could help make this easier for you. Getting to this part of the journey just plain sucks. I remember my vet told me almost always, every single one of his clients either thought they did "it" too soon...or did "it" too late. The "decision" itself is just not one we as humans can feel good about. The thing he always reminded them was that they made the decision out of love and that's all that matters...not the few days too soon, or the few days too late.
If I can help in anyway, please do not hesitate to reach out...please. sometimes you just need someone to help get you through the "next five minutes" and then you can get back to being calm and relaxed around Marshall and not worrying about anything. 804. 551-1799.
Hoping for a better tomorrow and hoping switching the meds up a bit helps. You'll do what's right for Marshall...you always have and you always will.
Love and hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah
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!
Thanks Sally!!!! I appreciate it. I'm googling like a lunatic trying to read about some loop hole in this whole thing where Marshall gets to live and this disease goes away but obviously there isn't any. When we amputated we had hope when we treated him with homeopathy we had hope now there is no hope there's just this poor puppy that doesn't feel well.
This is so $##*#$ hard...my heart just breaks for you AND everyone on here "gets it"....
How bout this....just for now....put Dr. Google away...give yourself a little break...perhaps a steaming hot bubble bath...or just a snuggle with Marshall (unless he's sleeping!) This stupid piece of crap disease mmkes its own $#&$?# rules and does what it wants. It CANNOT invade Marshall's soul and it CANNOT interfere with your time together now! There are just some things it cannot do! And it cannot lredict what tomorrow will bring. .Marshall will decide that!
This stupod computer is not charging and its getting a really low battery....just keep my number and know that I'm just a phone call away.
Heck, .Marshall may just need a good cup of coffee in the morning to go with his Pred! I love that viseo of him trying to get that cup of coffe! Such a delightful boy!
Now think about that nice hot bath.....or a glass of wine...and if you don't drink...consider starting now!!
((((((((((((((((Hugs]))))))))))))))))
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!
My heart goes out to you. So many of us have been there, and I'm sending you lots of hugs today.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
I am so very sorry that you are going through this. There is always a possibility that this is just a bump in the road. But, I always appreciated honesty on this site so I will tell you what we encountered.
If you truly believe that Marshall is declining and that the mets are causing this, then don't worry about using the Pred. and any pain meds that you need to to keep him happy. Zeus was on Prednisone after we learned that the cancer had spread to his abdomen. He was weak and would very easily get out of breath, but like Marshall his appetite was still great and he seemed happy. I was initially concerned about "long term" use and our vet was very straightforward. He advised that problems from long term use meant months and months, even years, of use like when dogs are dealing with genetic diseases like Addison's disease. He said that the tumors in his abdomen were advanced and that it was not a matter of true long term use for us and that we would not make it long enough for the Pred. to cause the problems they worry about with long term use. He said the goal at this point was maintenance and quality of life and to forgot about Pred worries as long as it was working. The turnaround was big and we enjoyed several great weeks with Zeus before the cancer became too strong.
My advice would be to call and have an honest talk with your vet to determine if there is another reason for Marshall's issues. If he believes that the Pred is the right thing, then give it to Marshall without hesitation and enjoy every single second.
Our collective thoughts are with you. This community is teaming with knowledge and compassion and we all understand. We also have very strong shoulders, if you need us.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
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