Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Oh my goodness- it's so funny to hear you guys say "stuff" that I would be saying to you!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 You've all trained me so well!!
You da' best hoomans in the world!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
No, the Vet didn't really make a "projection" as far as the "good eye". Just said we want to "hold it off as long as possible. She's young and, hopefully, has a lot of food years ahead of her."
I've already been "working" with her and trying to get her to associate "words" with certain things like "steps", "stop", "left", "right", etc. The Bet also suggested using a change of "textures". For example, a piece of carpet on first step. Thinks at thisnpoint she's seeing "contrasts" . If I hold siomething dark and move it in front of of a bright light, she seems to be able to follow it.
She can ALWAYS find the crinkle of a chip bag or treat bag!!!! And she knew ahead of time when I stooped for her puppacino today and started sticking her head out the window and drooling massive slime!! 🙂 🙂 And I stopped at two different Starbucks for her today! She deserved it!!
Because she does so well in the house, up and down the ramp, etc. it wasn't until she was in a "strange environment" (the eye Vet) that I realized how very, very poor her remaining eyesight was. It was very reassuring though to know how comfortable and confident she is in her own home.
Oh.....Here she is begging me to make her another cool dawg pair of shades!
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!
Sally, Linda is right. Look at the love on Myrtle's face. She is such a sweet girl. I know your heart hurts for her but remember she loves you and would do anything in the world for you.
xxoxoxo
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."
linda8115 said
Still gentle and kind...maybe even more so because now it envelops her whole face ❤️❤️ She's seeing you with her heart now Sally...she knows your sweet voice. look at that look of love on her face for you!
Michelle said
Sally, Linda is right. Look at the love on Myrtle's face. She is such a sweet girl. I know your heart hurts for her but remember she loves you and would do anything in the world for you.xxoxoxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
OOOOOMMMMMDDDDDD.....SEEING ME WITH HER HEART
OOOOOOMMMMDDDDDD.....the look of love on her face!!
Getting all choked up ocer here....and it's not from eating my ice cream to fast....it's from these beautiful sentiments!!
Gosh...thank you so much AGAIN everyone!!!
We've got this!!
And sgain, thank goD this isn't that piece of crap disease! We are soooooo lucky!!
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!
Oh amen to all of you!
First of all... In our minds eye, what we see that is different looking may seem to be disturbing. I think that why a lot of blind people wear dark glasses. Hell, look at all of you that have been judged just because your furbaby has three legs.. Different isn't always the worst thing in the world.
Second of all, dogs have like 500% stronger, more sensitive senses that we do. Make anybody blind and the other senses become much more sensitive. Myrtle heard the crinkle of a bag, but her nose knew the rest of the deal 😎
Taste, smell, feel, and hearing will keep her going just fine. And don't forget that psychic sense that they totally excel and shame us in.
Frankie will also look out for her. I know he's a stubborn headed hound but looking at your pictures tells me they adore each other.
Just don't move the furniture, guide her where new rugs or other tripables may lay if she's not used to them, and keep doing what you've been doing.
You are the bestest human for your pups, I believe that with all of my heart.
Xoxoxoxo
PS.... The super glue still has me laughing!!!
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Just in case you have not googled this I found this video a tad long but worth watching she has some good tips.
Article & products on how to make or purchase if needed in the future?
Blind Dogs: Advice & Products to Help Them
https://www.han.....help-them/
https://www.han.....d-dog-halo
You got this no doubt about it!
Lots of love!
Sally, you know i was cluck clucking when you were berating yourself for being the ‘wrong’ pawrent to Frankie and Merry Myrtle, but i do understand where the self flagulation comes from... hehehe, you know i have to find some lighter side to how you were feeling, please know that I am feeling so deeply for you! Like enough already for Sally and Gang! But only you could get through all this with such grace Sally! You have been chosen to be Frankie and Myrtles Mummy, ‘cause you are the best Mum for them!!!!
I mean, come on Sally, look at that big beautiful girl of yours! Do you really think that she could ever have as much fun (and ice cream for that matter!) with anypawdy else?!?! NOOOOOOO!!!! And do you really think that Frankie would have had sooooo much fun through his rehab with anyone else but you cheering him on?!?! NOOOOOOO!!!!!
Those big beautiful eyes are still looking up at you with the same amount of love Sally, but with eyes that are just a little more dulled to the world around us and sometimes that ain’t a bad thing in my mind!! She will always have you and Frankie guiding her along the way and she will never let down Mum!
love and many hugs to you Sally and cuddles to your darling girl and give that handsome fella a good ear rub please!
Petra, Stewie and his Pig Bellied Kittens!
p.s. this is a brilliant video Miss Holly! There are some excellent tips in there!!!
Sally being a bad doggie mom? OOOOOOOOOOK. You're not going to get any of us to buy that load of . You're the absolute best mom for Frankie and Myrtle. They're soooooo lucky to have you.
I don't have any experience with 130-pound dogs, but I have had to give eye drops to 40-pounders. Rocky would get ulcers in his eye and would occasionally need drops. And one of my parents dogs, Ripple, I think has the same issue as Myrtle. He's blind in one eye and they're trying to stave off the other eye going blind, although they've been told it's only a matter of time.
You've probably already tried this, but I always gave treats after the yucky drops were administered. Rocky went from squirming and fighting it to at least tolerating it since he knew a cookie was coming afterward. And Ripple does the same. He gets drops three times a day and while it's not his favorite thing, he doesn't really fight it anymore.
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
I just love reading all your comments EVERYBODY!!! So full of insight, love and humor!!
And Holly, that video was chock full of great tips!! Some very logical inpit like wrapping sharp furniture corners with bubble wrap, putting bells on the other animals in the house so she knows where they are if they come up to approach them, etc. As well as great suggestions, she was so full of compassion. Wonderful video. Will check out the other links shortly. The Vet also gave me the name of a book to check out.
David, wishing the best for sweet Ripple
One thing I'm trying now as far as the drops is rotating my various "techniques" to provide an element of "surprise" as opposed to the expectation of "here we go again". I wish I could video all the different techniwues tried.....certainly a serious matter, but watching her avoid the frops is funny and quite genius on her part!
Okay, gonna go "mediate and visualize and communicate" again....for the millionth time....how perfectly her next drops will flow effortlessly into her eyes!
Again,so grateful Myrtle's situation is NOT that piece of disease. We are so lucky....knocking on wood
Love to each of you!!
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!
You could ask your vet if there is an ointment version of the meds MM needs for her eyes. It's a long shot but worth asking- in my experience ointment is easier to get into the eye than drops. I could try and get a vid of me doing Obie's eye meds, but since they are both ointments it might not help you.
I'm going to assume that all the 'not a good mom' stuff was blowing off steam and you picked the right place to do it! You have a couple hard and frustrating issues to deal with.
And because it's not cancer doesn't mean it's not hard, frustrating and life changing! Allow yourself to worry, cry, and eat copious amounts of chocolate with wine chasers without feeling 'guilty' because others are facing different challenges.
OK- enough lecture!
Obie sends a 'woof out' to his sister in hazy vision!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Oh boy, PRICELESS!!! And so well stated
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Karen, I thoroughly enjoyed your lecture!!
And I sheepishly (where's a picture of a sheep when I need it) agree with Holly......very well said Sage Karen!!
And the picture of OBIE!!! OMD!!!! Myrtle is going to be soooo jealous of his cool dawg shades!!! Gotta go sunglass shopping to try and keep up with her "hazy vision" pal!!!
A d yeah, I did ask about ANY alternative (I have ordered some supplements on line that Teri's holostic suggested. The Eye Doc said I could try them, but he'd never seen any results. Still gonna do it anyway) O e of Myrtle's original meds from the "refular" Vet was a gel and it was easier to smear.
One quick chuckle. The eye doc was "showing" me (yet again) his "perfect" technique with Myrtle.
It started with,.... okay get eye level with her on your knees. At which point I interrupted him..... , even if I could do that with these kness, I'd never get up!
He changed positions a bit and said, try it this way. He had his assistant step aside so he could "show me" (again) how to do it with one person. BTW. I have really small hands. . He has big hands. He put one hand in one position under her chin and told me he was going to place his fingers going up her jowls a little bit. He commented what a big head she has and maybe not to worry trying to get my fingers to go up around her jowls. (he couldn't either). He then placed the other in another position sort of on top of her head over her eye while holding the bottle and trying to raise her eyelid.
She tightly squeezed her eyes shut. I did NOT laugh out loud.
He continues to talk to her soothingly and tries again. The drop went on her head. I did NOT laugh out loud.
He did finally get the drop in though, so he gets applause for that!
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!
Myrtle... you are becoming a goggles HOUND!
No doubt Frankie will be next.. not wanting his beautiful companion to out DO him...
Before ya know it.. the mailman won't come to the door.. he'll be thinking there's biker dogs that moved in Ain't NOPAWDY gonna mess with OUR human...
Hugs... you gave an awesome description... omd I can just picture her pretty hard head moving just in time for the drop to hit her head instead of her eye... omd lololol...
That's a great idea Karen... if there is an ointment it might make it a lot easier to smear into her eye.
Hugs
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Sally sweetheart, sweetest of hearts 💗💗💗
I really feel for you, it must be the hardest thing to deal with your baby girl loosing her eyesight on top of Frankie's long recovery back to life on three legs ...
You know it wasn't your fault as everybody pointed out quite ritghfully and of course sweet Myrtle will be as happy as a grossly oversized bunny with Mom and Baby Brother.
She knows you're there for her, Frankie is there for her and she has all of her other senses to compensate for the weak one.
There is NO better human, NO better Mom than you in the whole world.
You are what each one of us aspire to be, an example to follow, a ray of sunshine into all of our lives.
I was always told we are sent animals with problems because we will not let them down and will do everything in our power to give them a wonderful life.
You sure are a strong woman, Sally, you are a rock for your babies and have unlimited love to give them.
I am, yet again, inspired by your heart and resilience sweet friend and hope with all my heart one day I can meet you and your beautiful babies in the flesh.
I am thinking about you and them and send an avalanche of kisses and hugs and cuddles across the sea 😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
In jist a matter of less than a week since my last ppst, the tiny bit of some form of vision she had in the "good" eye was gone. And I was getting the drops in mich better too!I have an appt Friday and am srill hoping for a miracle. She's having a really, really rough time.
But this is MERRY Myrtle and we're gonna get her MERRY back! So nothing cheers a gal up more than shopping and a new outfit! So I took Myrtle on a tour of the gear shop. She picked out a great oitfit! She picked ojt the color vecause it had some BLUEin it to match her eyes (sadly).
Check out this BLIND DOG ROCK STAR!!
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!
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