Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well, Izzy's foot is about the same. The onco wanted to give the CCNU a second try but I unwrapped her bandage today (her toes looked swollen) and man, it's gooey and doesn't seem to be improving. That said, little miss happy pants is still doing pretty well. I'm waiting for NC State Vet school to get in touch so we can try palliative radiation but at the end of the day, everything I do is just a band-aid.
I know the chances of a second remission are slim to none so I'm just focusing my energy on doing what I can to *maintain* the status quo since that means a happy, hungry dog. I know we'll have to pull her off prednisone if the muscle wasting continues and the tumor will go crazy at that point but today is not that day. This week is not that week. I'm hoping to have her around for some months more.
Here is my happy girl during one of her many naps today. Ignore the nail grinder and missing outlet covers ... I swear, they are unrelated! lol
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
What are they using on her foot? How often are they changing the bandage? When Cassie had surgery & then licked it, our vet had us use surgical Manuka honey on the wound, which really helped a lot.
On a side note - would love to hear any insider tips on Ireland that you have! lol We're taking our first trip there in May.
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
Look at that tail go!! Seeing a dog's tail wag like that is the most beautiful sight in the world! 🙂 Seeing Izzy wag with such ease and such contentment is the most beautiful sight in thee tire Universe!! 🙂
You have a good perspective on where Izzy is on this journey and how the "status quo" (or better) is just fine with Izzy! 🙂
YOU are doing an excellent job of staying focused on what you CAN do to continue to help Miss Fancy Pants keep that tail wagging and keep her tummy full! 🙂 Yes, Izzy will be around for many months to come.......and then some 🙂
I always love seeing pictures of your pups. They are such good buddies. @ooking forward to more of Izzy wagging that happy tail while showing off her latest fashio 🙂
Love and 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!
OMD the tail! Just the sweetest thing ever! 
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Sally, Storm surely does seem to love her big sister. I'm not sure it's reciprocated but Izzy is a good sport. I am a terrible dog mom when it comes to the "new" kid; I am so overprotective of Izzy that I may be alienating Storm. I scold her when she sits on Izzy's hurt foot or knocks into her. I wish I could chill out but it's pretty much not who I am lol
Donna, I relayed a question about Manuka honey and didn't get a reply. It could be that the tech forgot to ask. They've been changing her bandage 2 - 3 times per week but they didn't have room in the schedule for her until this coming Wednesday. I'll probably go to the store and get some cotton wrap and change it myself tomorrow (it was new on Friday but is oozing a lot). I'll try to get her to stand in a betadine solution while she eats because NOTHING distracts her from that task!
I'm more than happy to give you travel advice on Ireland. Not sure if you're on Facebook but I can give you my contact details if you wish!
Izzy is snoring beside me and quite loudly, I must say. I'll have to get some (more) video of that sound as it's pretty much my favorite sound in the world!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Cassie only had a small sore, but we changed the bandage daily. We cleaned it with plain water, applied the manuka honey, put a piece of telfa on it (that's the non-stick gauze), then wrapped it with vet wrap. It took a couple of months to heal.
Yes, I'm on Facebook!!! Lol. Donna Novak Hansen in Michigan...I think the profile picture that shows is Cassie & Max.
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
Amy, give Donna directions for traveling around Ireland.....going through Virginia first She snd zMurphy WERE going to the Virginia Tripawds Pawty but decided o . Ireland instead! Go figure!
Donna probably knows more avout this than I. But do some good research on the Manuka Honey. You want it to have an EMF reading of around 15 or above. KFactor 15 is NOT the same as EMF 15. I couldn't begin to tell you the details behind it other than the higher the EMF the better. If you see a producet with KFactor, while it may be good, not as good as the ones with the EMF rating.
Now, take what I said with a grain of salt as it's just some stuff I found on Dr Google while searching the highest grade Manuka Honey
Storm knows you love him. It's hard NOT to focus more on the one with the health issue. Shhh..maybe Storm could get an extra cooke tonight while Izzy is sleeping.
Can't wait to see you two (or three) at the Virginia Pawty! 🙂
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!
I followed up on the Manuka honey today and they felt that it wouldn't help. We *do* have an appointment at NC State Vet school on April 3rd to see about radiation, so will add that to the arsenal.
The CCNU isn't really working, so will likely switch to just vinblastine. Either way, they said her foot looked no worse and she is happy, hungry and seems to be comfortable. Here's a little aside from the visit, as posted on my FB page:
While reviewing the day's treatment with me, Izzy's oncology nurse confessed that he fed her an entire can of dog food around 4 "because she hadn't eaten ALL DAY and looked hungry". I pointed out that she always has breakfast before arriving, which he admitted knowing, and then went on to tell me that she "usually just gets half a can".
Izzy has failed to mention this little tradition to me, unsurprisingly. It's not because she can't talk - trust me, she gets her point across - but rather, she would hate to get "cheated" out of her dinner. 
😂
I took a video of her on the porch last night, foraging for spilled kibble from her furry sister's sloppy dinner. It reminded me that I nearly named her "Piggy" when I got her as a baby. She would sniff the ground so fervently that she sounded like a pig. I didn't manage to catch it on video last night, but she made the noise more than once. SO FUNNY!
Not sure who'd wanna go to Ireland over Virginia, sheesh! lol That crazy Donna!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Well the assessment sounds pretty darn good!! Nothing is any worse, Piggy Izzy is eating well, very well and she's happy and comfortable!!! Not many thirteen yr old dogs, much less tripawd dogs, can say that at that age!! 🙂
I looooove that Izzy has her Onco Nurse trained to feed her by giving him her "hungry look"! That Izzy knows how to melt hearts.....and get food!
Thanks for sharing that with us! Really made my day!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
You keep on rockin' Miss Piggy Izzy! 🙂 🙂 🙂 We're all cheering for you!
Lots of love
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!
Hey Amy! How so we get to see the video. Even if it doesn't have the piggy sound, it's still a video of Izzy!
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!
lol ....hmm..let's see, Ireland, dream vacation for years/Virginia meeting more of our Tripawd family ...it really is a tough decision!
Murphy's 1st dose of the CCNU I remember them bringing him & the food out to me in the waiting room because he just wouldn't take it for them. I had to feed it to him lol. Murphy doesn't like to take food or treats when he's stressed. I love that Izzy's been sneaking food! lol They sure do know how to manipulate!
Donna
ps - there's a little blue fb thing under Murphy's picture - if you click on that, it will take you to my page!
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
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