Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sorry I've been so absent lately. Life has been a little crazy lately and there hadn't been much to share. But I think Kender's days with us are numbered. I realized it all of the sudden on Monday evening, but then I realized there had been other signs I hadn't given much thought to.
She started shedding a LOT a couple weeks ago. I chalked it up to the coming change in seasons. Then I noticed her head and upper chest area seemed a little more bony. But her ribs still had lots of meatiness to them and her abdomen was still chubby feeling. End of last week she hardly ate any of the tuna I had been giving her at night with her grape seed extract. I thought maybe she was getting burnt out on it. She vomited a couple times a few weeks ago, but it was after eating grass outside so I thought it was just from the grass. This past weekend I noticed her food bowl was staying pretty full. She hasn't pooped since Saturday night. I gave her cell salts in a little milk yesterday morning...she only drank maybe a teaspoon of it. Refused them in tuna juice last night. When I gave Kender her homeopathic remedy last night, she threw up twice a min later...all yellow bile. Her food looked undisturbed this morning and there was only one pee in her litter....there'd always been at least 2 by morning. I called the vet this morning for an appt but the soonest I could get in is tomorrow morning. I debated on taking her at all. But want the confirmation that it is actually the cancer causing this (highly likely) and not potentially something else that we could treat (highly unlikely).
So many what ifs going through my head.... I'm so horrible about that and need to stop. The negative energy isn't good for anyone.
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
Okay Melinda, we are all right here with you, sending you every ounce of ppsitive energy and strength the Tripawd Universe has to you and Kender.
Right now, Kender is with you, right by your side and that is, indeed, all you need to focus on. You love her so much...I KNOW you will not let anything rob you of your time together....and no one knows how much time that may be.
The fact that she hasn't pooped since Saturday night could indeed be causing some of her issues right now. And your assessment of her vomiting, the shedding all could be accurate. The yellow bile may indicate a liver issue and could easily be treated...even related to her not pooping. Guess I'm trying to say that....unless...and IF..a vet tels you otherwise, it's possible these issues may be totally separate from that piece of crap disease!!!
What you do KNOW for certain is that Kender is with you right now. And that's all that matters in Kender's world right now.
Really, really hoping the vet can get these issues under control and get Miss Kender back to feeling better.....and that's certainly in the realm of possibility, okay?
Sending lots and lots of hugs and love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
Hi Melinda,
We will be keeping you and Kender in our thoughts and prayers tonight.
Try not to let the "what ifs" get to you - spend the time loving Kender!
Many hugs
Linda and Tucker
Melinda,
Saying prayers of comfort for Kender and your family. Hopefully the vet will have some news and you will be able to rest and Kender will go potty and feel better. Keep the faith and never look back.
Love and tight HUGS,
Tracy and Bailey
Melinda,
Humans need to learn with animals and worry less about the future and the "what ifs", because it's not in our hands to interfere. All we can do is give our fur babies the best care we can, and all the love we have to give, and live one day at a time, with no regrets.
Hugs and positive vibes,
Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Thank you, everyone, for the prayers and positive thoughts. Hoping for "good" news tomorrow, but also trying to not get my hopes up either just to be devastated. Unfortunately, my 19 month old has come down with something and woke up from her nap with a fever and being very clingy. So my time with Kender has been limited 
But she's snuggling Daddy now that he's home and I'm attempting to entice Kender with some butter in a desperate attempt to get calories in her. In her quadpawd days, she used to jump on the counter to lick the butter if we left it uncovered. She isn't as interested today
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
Saw this earlier but didn't have time to post until now.
Hoping for the best possible report tomorrow. Sending strong, positive thoughts to you and Kender.
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
Hoping for the best tomorrow-please keep us updated...Sending hugs to you.
Joan and Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Melinda-
I'm so sorry to hear that things are not well. I'm sending you lots of hugs and positive thoughts for today - keep us posted!
xoxo,
Erica & Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Lots and lots of hugs coming your way Melinda, I'm so sad to read this today. We hope with everything we've got that the vet has some good news for you and Kender. Please keep us posted and we'll keep sending pawsitivity your way. {{{{hugs}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well nothing definitive No obvious masses on xrays, but she said lymphoma sometimes causes lots of tiny tumors that you can't see on xrays. Kender's pretty dehydrated and jaundiced though...so some sort of liver issue. She was also pretty unhappy about having her abdomen palpated. Waiting on blood work and u/a results. Her urine was brownish tinged They gave her some subQ fluids to help with the dehydration. Blood work might be back this afternoon...tomorrow morning at the latest. I got her some Fancy Feast in gravy to see if I can convince her to eat, but not holding my breath. Putting my youngest down for her nap now and then will try feeding her. The vet mentioned a couple different things it could be, but given her history she highly suspects metastasis. Even the other things don't have a great prognosis and would require daily treatments of meds, possible force feeding, etc. We could do an ultrasound of her abdomen to get a better idea of what's going on. But at this point, even with a diagnosis I don't think I'd want to put her through all of the treatments just to buy a couple more weeks to a couple months
I'm going to think it over a bit more, but while pondering it all during the drive home I think I'll just see how she does through the weekend. If she starts perking up after getting hydrated and starts eating then we'll keep going with things. But if she continues like this through the weekend, I think the best thing for all of us is to let her go :'(
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
Melinda,
So sorry to be reading this about sweet little Kender, my heart goes out to you.......This journey can have so many ups and downs, but when things get a bit more serious, it is very heartbreaking for sure.
Keeping you, your family, and Kender in my thoughts and prayers,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Awwww I'm sorry you didn't get better news. My heart hurts for you.
You may want to check out MoMo's story. Read through it all if you can. His condition was chronic renal failure and people thought his time was up too but after a lot of love & care this kitty just pulled through and as far as I know today, he is still loving life. I hope his story comforts you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I typed out an update earlier after talking to the vet, but my phone ate it when I tried to post it! Now it's midnight and hopefully I can remember everything.
Blood work and u/a don't look good. Her platelets are pretty low. Her liver enzymes are elevated...not as high as she suspected they would be given her jaundice and bili count, but definitely raised. Her kidney values were awful and phosphorous was high. Urine had blood, protein and epithelial cells in it...likely from the kidney issues.
She hasn't looked good all day...extremely lethargic. I've been feeding her by syringe throughout the day and giving her water that way as well. Every now and then she'll take some water on her own if I put the dish up to her mouth, but she won't take food on her own. I considered getting fluids to do subQ at home to try to help. But early this afternoon I noticed her front leg was swollen and kinda puffy in the armpit area. Kender was NOT happy when I tried to feel it. I gave her about 3/4 a dose of Buprenex to try to help (I had discussed this previously with the vet for general comfort measures for Kender). It didn't make any difference...whenever I put even the lightest pressure on that area, she was very unhappy about it. Spoke with the vet on the phone about it. She said sometimes subQ fluids will gravitate downwards into limbs and cause swelling, but the pain puzzled her and by now all that fluid should have been absorbed. Her now-amputated leg was far more swollen and she never expressed this level of discomfort. So I decided against fluids today in case that was the cause. But by now I'm really thinking it isn't :/
It's horrible seeing her like this. A couple times she tried walking and between the painful front leg, only having 1 back leg and probably general weakness from.not eating, she would fall over and just lay there...not lift her head or anything She peed in the litter box a couple times earlier today. Then this evening she went again, but just laid in the box afterwards until I took her out and cleaned her off :'(
I'm not 100% sure yet, but I really think if she's still alive and doing this poorly, that it's probably time for us to let her go :'(
~Melinda and Tri-Kitty Angel Kender
Follow Kender's story here
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