Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All,
Thanks so much for all of your care and support since I joined this site just a week ago. It's been a super stressful and heartwrenching week but you all know exactly what that is like! On Wednesday Ruby had her amputation scheduled but we needed to do an ultra sound of her heart first to make sure it was clear and it was! I was super happy about that and then it was decided to go ahead with the amutation. Her surgery was really long. They finished at 4:30 pm and I was getting her in my suburban at 6:00 pm! So we gently carried her in the house on a sheet and it worked great. The first night was not bad, she didn't really cry and the next night was pretty good too. She surprised me by getting up on her own and just coming and finding me! But day three was like she hit a wall.
I was really afraid for Ruby. She just didn't want to eat or drink or get up and lots of panting, heavy breathing. I think things are better today on day 5. But she is pretty much sleeping and getting up maybe to go potty and that is it. Lots of love of course and the kids go in and sit with her, they like to read to her and just be by her. She refuses to let me use the sling I made from a fabric shopping bag :/ and also refuses to sleep on the amazingly nice dog beds I bought her. She jumped up on my bed before I could stop her and now that is all she will do. She is obviously happier there so I'm just making sure to be there to help her up and down. It's not too high thankfully.
I have been having the moments of doubt and fear and wondering if she'll get back to her normal self. But overall those are just brief moments and I'm thrilled that we are on the next step of recovery. I feel really good about it all and I really feel in my heart that she is a fighter and we will get through this and she will kick cancers butt! What are your opinions of K-9 Immunity Plus?
Thanks for the advise on the booties and gear. I am looking forward to getting her out when she's ready. I really can't tell you all how much this site has saved me from complete and udder despair. I feel so encouraged by your stories and photos of your dogs all healed up and enjoying life 🙂
Blessings,
Sabrina and Ruby - woof! 
I figured out how to add photos but they are big! These are of Ruby Pre-op and I'm excited to add post-op 😉
Great photos. So far, your recovery sounds absolutely normal. You will need to continue to watch her for pain signals . Sleeping and short leashed potty breaks is perfect right now. You will be amazed once the staples come out - most dogs improve overnight!
If you are going to do chemo, your oncologist will likely tell you to hold off on new supplements. We started the K9 immunity after chemo 3, but stopped after a week due to tummy issues and frankly, Otis did not like it. The oncologist said that there hasn't been evidence of it helping osteo dogs, but that it is perfectly safe and not a problem if we wanted to try it. I started it again a little over a week ago, first with one tablet, and now we are at the dosage of 3. Now that the chemo is out of his system, he actually thinks they are a treat!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hi Sabrina and Ruby,
So lovely to hear from you and to know your girl is back home !!!
Don't worry too much about her slowing down and losing her appetite, it is all normal, you have to remember she went through major surgery and her system is full of drugs too.
I remember too well the panting and restlessness, sometimes I felt like my heart would jump out of my mouth just by looking at my girl feeling so strange and uncomfortable and feeling powerless to help more.
But it all gets better !!!! Hurrah!!! The first couple of weeks are the worst but you will see little progress everyday, baby steps and a lot of breathing required from us, moms !
How much is she eating and drinking now ? Everything is pretty much allowed right now, the important thing is you keep getting food and water into her. My girl was quite partial to hot dogs and eggs in the first week but I could see after a while her appetite was coming back and now she eats the same amount as before (our butcher is thrilled about it)
Water is very, very important, so if you feel she is not drinking enough do not hesitate in giving her water with a syringe, ask your vet how much she should drink and then make a note of the amount you give her until you reach what Ruby needs daily. The vet told me if we let time go by our fluffies may eventually get used to drinking less and less, so, not good ....
I am not surprised at all she prefers your bed, clever girl, that's where mummy is and nothing compares to sleeping by mom's side! I bet you snuggle together too 
We haven't tried any supplements yet but now that Eurydice is eating her normal amount we will be asking the oncologist on our next visit what she should eat specifically and which supplements she should get.
Well Sabrina we were already in love with Ruby without even having seen her but now that you posted those gorgeous photos it is official !!!! She is a gorgeous, gorgeous girl no wander your kids make a fuss about her !!!
Stay positive and happy, sending you a cloud of kisses and an avalanche of cuddles to Ruby
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Sabrina & Ruby
I am glad the surgery went well. Sleeping is what she needs the most and the pain management part is the hardest of all of it. Like others have said once the staples/sutures come out you will see a big difference.
Sassy never like the K-9 immunity but she was picky about what she ate. I gave Apocaps , salmon oil and Dasaquin (for joints). The Apocaps were after the chemo because some supplements do mess with that and some oncologists want you to wait.
Ruby is a beautiful girl.
hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
GRRRRRREAT PICTURES!! OMD!!! RUBY IS BEAUTIFUL!! And what a scenic place for Ruby to live life to the fullest!!
Yep, rest is good! It is still so very early in recovery from MAJOR surgery. I know itsw nard to be patient and you feel like surgery will last forever. Her sparkle will come back slowly but surely. Just like her determination to get back up on HER bed...that's a glimpse of sparkle!!
It took me about three weeks before I coukd finally say I did this FOR my Happy Hannah and not TO her! It was a great decision! We had THE most glorious extended bonus time for more loving and spoiling than I thought possible!
Stay in the moment and savor each precious second...And take lots more pictures and share with us!!
I had Happy Hannah and k9 Immunity Plus and she thought they were yummy treats. Did they help her? In her case, I did feel like she had more energy when she was on them. I didn't always give them as consistently as I would have liked. She was a 125 lb Bull Mastiff and, unlike little dogs, had to take a lot of whatever and it coukd get a little pricey! I also gave her Apocaps and had not issues with those.
We have a couple of members I. ALASKA! One is Barret's mom and another is the Calpurnia ...okay...never mi d...nkt even close to spelling that right!
Hang in there! It gets better!
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!
Awe, I love that the kids are sitting & reading to her! That's awesome That first couple of weeks are such a roller coaster of emotions. We definitely doubted that we had done the right thing, but she will turn the corner and things will be better soon. Murphy pretty much existed on rice & chicken broth with some chunks of chicken thrown in, and a little bit of peanut butter with his meds lol. Murphy is pretty stubborn, too. We tried to block him in the family room & I was going to sleep on a cot with him, but he wouldn't settle down. When I finally gave up & allowed him to go down the hall to our room he was so much happier. He's never really liked being forced to do something. Hang in there!
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
Ooooh love the pics!
I'm thrilled things are going as well as a recovery goes. Your family is giving her the best medicine there is, all that love and care is helping her heal!
Most dogs do experience a post-op crash as you described. All of a sudden their body catches up with their brain and whammo. It's not a big deal, just watch her to make sure she's eating and eliminating. Don't worry about her activity level, just let her rest, it's great medicine. Once she's healed there will be plenty of time for fun and games!
Thanks for the update! We've all been wondering how it was going.
Oh and sorry nobody was in the chat last night. Sometimes we have West Coast members in there as late as 9 or 10 Pacific, but usually you'll find members like Michelle and Karma in there around 6-8 Pacific.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Sabrina and Ruby
I just read your post to Max now, so Ruby is refusing water ?
My girl also stopped drinking a few days after amp and I started using a syringe to make her drink. I just put it to the side of her mouth and press very gently, refill and refill until I can see she really doesn't want any more.
After about a week of this, she didn't even want to drink from the syringe so I called the vet and he told me to get something called Oralade (apparently tastes like chicken) so I gave her that. She loved it, so drank quite a lot.
Over time, I started mixing Oralade with water and eventually she would drink just water.
Her amp was almost one month ago and in the past week she started drinking water by herself again (hurrah!) not enough for her daily needs, but something. Hopefully I won't have to give her water with a syringe soon.
Maybe a good idea to ask your vet how much water your girl should drink per day and then try and get her to do it.
Sending you lots of hugs and cuddles to gorgeous Ruby
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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