Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Tripawds Three Legged Dog and Cat Forums Treatment, Recovery and Oncology Not drinking (much) 5 days post sur…

Not drinking (much) 5 days post surgery

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samthelab

Member Since:
17 May 2014

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13 July 2014 - 2:15 pm

Sam is not drinking much water and I'm worried. I took him to the vet yesterday where we found he was dehydrated. He's just not drinking much at home. Vet was able to get him to drink enough that he had a good pee and perked right up last night but today it's back to the same. He is eating 2/3-3/4 of what he normally eats but just isn't drinking much. Anyone have suggestions? I'll take him back in tomorrow if I have to... But...

Katie, human momma to Sam, a 9 year old yellow lab who stole my heart. Diagnosed with OSA 4/17/14. Entered CycloSam study at University of Missouri which did not hinder tumor growth. Sam fractured his leg at tumor site on 7/2/14 and was exited from the study. Amputation surgery 7/8/14. Lost his battle 9/25/14. Forever in my ❤️
Also in the menagerie:
Fur-kids:
Maizie a 1 year old schnauzer
Luna, 15 year old siamese-mix kitty

Human-Kids:
DD- 6 years old and full of questions
DS 4 years and full of energy

Blogging about this here: http://samthela.....ipawds.com

bcullom

Westminster, MD

Member Since:
31 August 2013

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13 July 2014 - 2:29 pm

Hi, is Sam having difficulty reaching his water bowl comfortably or is he having discomfort while standing? My Polly didn't have this trouble until her chemo made her really sick. Another thing you can try is putting a reasonable amount of water in his food. ......Polly would eat anything I put in front of her, being a Lab, so this may work for Sam if just to get extra water in him.

I'm sure others here will have more insight and offer other solutions.....I hope poor Sam doesn't end up at the vet again for this.

Thinking of him and you,
Bonnie & Angel Polly

krun15

Livermore, CA

Member Since:
18 October 2009

Offline

13 July 2014 - 2:30 pm

Hi Katie,
You could try spiking his water with low sodium beef or chicken broth, some have had luck with the water from a can of tuna. You could also try mixing his normal kibble or canned food with water to make gravey.

Karen and Spirit Maggie

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

Maggie's Story Amputation and Chemo

benny55

Virginia

Member Since:
22 February 2013

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13 July 2014 - 4:24 pm

Gosh yes! I can relate!! Although Hapoy Hannah ate okay (food was like oxygen to her!), she just would not drink!!

Sooooo after a lot of trial amd error, chicken broth, ice cibes etc., what finalky worked for her was......ta ...dum......ICE CREAM IN HER WATER,

My procedure was this......I would have a glob,of iice cream on a big spoon...she would start licking it as I lowered it into her water bowl. swirled it arround some and ..BINGO..BANGO....she drank water!! I think I did this close to two weeks! And most of the time I think I carried her water bowl to her in the bed! I wasn't exactly a "tough love" kind of person!

Try it and let me kmow how it works! Be sure and have him ck frlm the spoon first and then guide his nose to the water with the spoonful of ice cream!

With the IV fluids just yesterday, he may mot feel like he needs mich water today. Dehydratikn will slow him down for sure! Altnough, I think I co fused myself...did he give him IV fluids? Sounds like they would be in order. No temperature,right?

I know we sound like a broken record sometimes, but five days out is sooooooo early in recovery!! I know for at least the first two weeks I thought 'What have I dkne TO my Happy Hannah! By the third week I was applauding myself for doing this FOR my Happy Hannah!

Staynconnected tomus, okay! We'll keep you "glued together" until you start to see the sparkle come back!! And it will!

Hugs and love!

Sally and 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!

samthelab

Member Since:
17 May 2014

Offline

14 July 2014 - 3:35 pm

benny55 said

With the IV fluids just yesterday, he may mot feel like he needs mich water today. Dehydratikn will slow him down for sure! Altnough, I think I co fused myself...did he give him IV fluids? Sounds like they would be in order. No temperature,right?

I know we sound like a broken record sometimes, but five days out is sooooooo early in recovery!! I know for at least the first two weeks I thought 'What have I dkne TO my Happy Hannah! By the third week I was applauding myself for doing this FOR my Happy Hannah!

Staynconnected tomus, okay! We'll keep you "glued together" until you start to see the sparkle come back!! And it will!

Hugs and love!

Sally and Happy Hannah

The vet kept us there for about 1.5 hours checking, feeding water and then coming back. We ended up not needing IV fluids as he was able to get him to drink enough. We were pretty close, though, to having to have Sam stay overnight.

I got some chicken broth to use and went to the natural dog food store her in town and bought a bunch of different types of canned food. He rejected a couple completely, but there was one called "Love Potion no. 9" that I mixed in to his regular kibble that he gobbled down all of his normal 2 cups and more. I went back today and bought the remaining 3 cans. LOL. He seems to be doing a lot better. More drinking, more peeing, more eating, less pacing and panting. The only downside? Runnier poop and lots of gas. PU Sammy!

I love that you guys are here, I really appreciate it.

Human-Kids:
DD- 6 years old and full of questions
DS 4 years and full of energy

Blogging about this here: http://samthela.....ipawds.com

benny55

Virginia

Member Since:
22 February 2013

Offline

14 July 2014 - 4:15 pm

YAAAAAAAY! GOOD JOB AND YAAAAY FOR LOVE.POTION #9. if I c o u l d only get that song out of my head (yep, backin the day'm it really was a song!)

Runny poop or not...he's eating!!!!!!

And we're glad your here too....I mean....we all wishwe weren't...but look at all the love.and fun the rest of the world is.missingout on! way-cool

hugs!

Sally and Happy Hannah and Myrtle

Tripawds

On The Road

Member Since:
24 September 2009

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14 July 2014 - 4:17 pm

Oh I'm glad that he ate that yummy food!

Yeah, canned food can be a GI disaster. If you're able to find it, green or red edible clay will firm things up, as will canned pumpkin pulp or even steamed squash added to his food.

Remember, even adding water and broth to his food is giving him more liquids, so if he'll drink that way, fantastic!

Keep us posted.

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

samthelab

Member Since:
17 May 2014

Offline

21 July 2014 - 11:19 pm

Sam is doing much better. Eating and drinking the prescription Science Diet. Sutures come out tomorrow. He's doing amazingly well. I haven't had to give him pain meds in 4 days. Nothing. It's kind of a small miracle.

Human-Kids:
DD- 6 years old and full of questions
DS 4 years and full of energy

Blogging about this here: http://samthela.....ipawds.com

leland4

Martinsburg, WV

Member Since:
3 June 2014

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22 July 2014 - 7:00 am

That is wonderful news!! I'm glad Sam has finally gotten over the hurdle of drinking and is doing so much better. That's awesome he hasn't needed any pain meds for 4 days!!

Way to go Sam... clap clap clap