Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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This is not tripawd related at all, but you guys have such vast experience with all kinds of things DAWG, I thought I'd put it out here and see if anyone has suggestions that would help.
Jasper, Maddie Mae's new foster sister came to us with Kennel Cough, which is par for the course with rescued shelter dogs. However, it has complicated into Bronchopneumonia. The vet took xrays last monday and confirmed it. She gave me Baytril as an anitobiotic, and Temaril-P to help with inflammation. It has beena week now and she still isn't any better. Her temp was lower the last couple of days than what it had been running, but today it is back up to 103.1. She is very lethargic and her cough is very wet sounding. Occasionally she coughs something all the way out, but other times it's just coughing with a rattling sound.
I have been giving her treatments of sorts with the humidifier in the bathroom, so it gets real steamy. Of course the vet is not open today or I would take her in and get them to check her out. Also, this is a dog I am fostering so I can't make all the calls as to her treatment.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could help her for now?
Thanks and I will appreciated any advice you can offer.
Maddie Mae & Jasper's Mama Kelly
Oh Jasper, I'm sorry you're feeling bad. I know some peeps with more experience than I have will be by shortly to offer their insight, hang in there OK? Get well soon!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm not sure with all the infection going on. When Trouble had a severe cough, the thing that finally knocked it out for us was Robutussin DM. She had been to the vet twice, had antibiotics and nothing was working. I called back begging for something different to try. The vet told me to go get the Robutussin, and within 2 doses she was significantly better.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Kelly,
I had the sam experience with Comet when I got her out of the shelter as a puppy! Her nose was snotty yellow and it was everywhere! Her lung was even collapsed (whatever that means). It took several weeks (it seemed like forever, maybe 7 weeks) to heal but it wasn't because it should have taken so long, it was because the antibiotic wasn't working. I think we tried like 3, maybe 4 different ones and the last one finally knocked it out. And when it knocked it out, it knocked it out fast. There was immediate improvement.
I was like you...scared! I'd give the antibiotics and then take her back when they ran out. I should have called after 4 days on each one and told the vet there wasn't any improvement. But this was before computers so I didn't know any better and just did as the vet suggested.
So, my advice is call the vet and tell him the antibiotic is not working and have him switch it. And if Jasper isn't better seeming in 4 or 5 days, try another. They are just using a broad spectrum antibiotic with a hit or miss results. Right now, it's missing or she'd be better. I remember Comet's antibiotic was a rather simple one that knocked it out. Maybe something like amoxicillion but I don't remember.
Comet's pneumonia is the reason her leg wasn't amputated. We took her in that morning to have it amputated as recommended but told the vet she was coughing and he canceled the surgery. Since her kennel cough became pneumonia and took so long to heal, we didn't want to put her through anything traumatic after that. And just never gave amputation another thought again.
Try not to worry!
Good luck!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Thank you so much. I have been festering over her all weekend. Watching her every move and trying to decide what it meant.
I have been mentally going between, is it distemper now, or not. Or is it just pneumonia that isn't responding to the medication.
I feel better hearing of your's and Angel Comet's experience. I feel so bad for her, and helpless because I can't do anything to make it better.
I am taking her back to the vet tomorrow and hopefully will get something that will help her.
Did you do anything else that seemed to help? Humidifier?
Oh and I was giving her Robutussin DM, but I got to thinking that she actually needs to cough to get the phlegm up, so I quit giving it to her as of today. The cough sounds needed, like she needs to cough not just an irritating cough.
I'll give an update tomorrow on her, and thank you so much again. I'll try not to worry too much. 🙂
Kelly, I have no idea at all what human stuff is ok for dogs, and obviously Robitussin is--but you might want to ask the vet about that Mucinex stuff. If it's ok to give to Jasper, it will thin the mucus and allow her to cough up the gunk easier. So you won't be suppressing the cough but instead will be allowing it to come out. Just a thought...Good luck tomorrow and please post back to let us know what the vet said.
Shari
P.S. Mucinex is available as a generic, but it comes in all kinds of strengths and often with other stuff you don't need, so if it's ok for Jasper make sure you get the correct dosage. I think you have to be a pharmacist to make sense of all the choices with this stuff!
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I have been mentally going between, is it distemper now, or not. Or is it just pneumonia that isn't responding to the medication.
OMG! I did the same thing! I had it in my head it was distemper and I was going to have to put her down! That is what sparked me to go back to the vet. I told him and he was for sure it wasn't distemper. I think that is when he took xrays of her lungs (mind you, this was 12 years ago, so I don't remember all the details).
I think, the vet told me if I didn't see improvement within a few days to a week, to come back for another RX. I'm pretty sure I did that a couple of times. But once she got the right RX, she improved within days. She was lively even tho her nose was still very snotty but the yellow was better. Comet was a puppy so it was easy to see if she felt better because she wanted to play and run around.
Cosmo aka monkeybaby had kennel cough also when we got him in February (all of my dogs that I get when it's cold outside have kennel cough) and his vet put him on Clavamox. But he just was coughing. I got 10 days and ended getting more because, the self-medicating mother that I am gave a few to Rocket afraid he'd get it. The vet gave me more to be on the safe side. Cosmo's cleared up within 12 days completely.
Ironically that ordeal with Comet made me sort of panic when Cosmo didn't stop coughing within a couple of days! Hence, better safe than sorry so let's give Rocket some too! But all was well and this will end well with you and Jasper too!
Now that I think about it, maybe it was ampicillion that pulled Comet out.
Keep us updated!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
cometdog said:
I got 10 days and ended getting more because, the self-medicating mother that I am gave a few to Rocket afraid he'd get it. The vet gave me more to be on the safe side.
Ironically that ordeal with Comet made me sort of panic when Cosmo didn't stop coughing within a couple of days! Hence, better safe than sorry so let's give Rocket some too! But all was well and this will end well with you and Jasper too!
Glad to know that I am not the only self medicating Mom on here! 🙂 lol
Did Comet get real weak and shaky when she would try to go from laying to standing?
That's probably got me more worried than anything. She actually fell face 1st into her water bowl this morning…
However, she doesn't have any of the other symptoms including the most prevalent where distemper would be a worry.
Her weakness is probably due to a high fever on and off for day's along with the obvious breathing issues associated with pneumonia.
I have a 3:15 appt today so we can see what's going on. I'll update later.
Dakota, I'll also ask about the musinex to see if that would be helpful and something she could take.
Thanks again 🙂
Hey Kelly--I can't quote here, either! I always make it look like the whole thing is a quote. Maybe Mr. Admin can educate us!
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I fixed the quote thing.
The way I make it work is to type my first line in my post, then hit enter. Then go back and hit the "quote" button above the post I want to quote. I'm sure admin guy can explain it better.
You could also copy and paste just the text that you want from a previous post. Then highlight that text and use the " button above the text box, it is the 6th button from the left, called blockquote. But then you don't get who you are quoting.
This probably just added confusion.... you're welcome 
.
Karen
uuhhh, yeah! lol
Thanks for fixing it. I'm the forum Moron obviously 🙂
Copy and paste sounds easiest to me....
Dakota Dawg said:
...the whole thing is a quote. Maybe Mr. Admin can educate us!
Karen did just a fine job explaining! By default your cursor is placed below the full quoted post. Sometimes editing the quoted content down to what you're replying about (which we recommend to avoid complete duplicate posts) the cursor ends up within the "blockquote" style.
kellyr2011 said:
I'm the forum Moron obviously
The fact that you use these forums, proves you are no moron!
Now that we're completely off topic, if anyone needs further clarification, please feel free to ask in the Tech Support forum .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Holy cow, I think I may stick to summarizing! Kelly and I are certainly not morons, but I think she and I may both be much better at other things than quoting in the forums! At least I am...
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
How much of her lungs are involved on the xrays? I usually use Clavamox for treating pneumonia although some dogs do need doxycyline added (for Mycoplasma). I rarely use steroids (Temaril P) unless I suspect lungworms since the prednisone can depress the immune system.
Steam therapy works well (put her in a steamy bathroom) in addition to coupage (gentle patting actions on the side of the chest to break up areas of consolidation). I rarely use a cough suppressive since that inhibits the body from getting rid of the infected mucus, etc. In severe cases I will add theophylline (a bronchodilator).
Depending on how the rads look many cases need treament for 4-6 weeks.
Pam
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