Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our old rescue Pyrenees / Saint Bernard mix was diagnosed with cushings disease after a battery of tests. She started loosing hair a year ago and the vet did blood work and put her on thyroid meds. We have done CBC periodically but have never seen improvement so we took her to our new favorite vet for a second opinion and turns out its cushings disease. Although scary diagnosis, she is otherwise happy, eating, drinking and enjoying a quality life.
Then Sophie had a seizure the other day. It was the second time we witnesses this is the past three months. The fist one happened just one week after Atlas' amputation and i think we just wished it away saying she was just still asleep and got up too fast. They are mild not grand mal, but scary none the less. They don't seem to leave her with any residual side effects as the video I posted the other day of her playing ball under 'Atlas acupuncture results' was the day after it happened. So we took her to the vet for blood work and X-rays - worried about cardiomyopathy. Tests showed her heart is normal size and all organs look good and nothing abnormal in her blood work. Vet said it leads him to think its neurological and said just to keep a journal on her.
feeling very overwhelmed at the moment.
Not to mention the bank accounts are drained now.
Aww Patricia I'm so sorry to hear this, I would feel overwhelmed too. But as always, the doggies don't care what the tests say, as long as YOU are in good spirits, they will be too.
I've known a few dogs with Cushings, it's pretty manageable these days. Good for you for being so on top of your pup's health. As for Sophie's seizures....yeah, nobody really knows what causes them. I used to get them back when my pawrents didn't know any better and I ate supermarket-grade food. Something in the kibble really set me off. Once we switched to a premium and partially raw diet, the seizures went away! Maybe you want to look into diet changes, but in the meantime, yes, keep a journal, that will help you pinpoint things much quicker.
Hugs to you and your whole pack!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Patricia,
Are you doing direct deposit with your vet yet? You know, your pay check is sent to them and they give you any leftover, sort of like an allowance? I swear that's where I was at one point.
I'm sorry this hit you all at once, I've been there a couple of times with the pugapalooza. I don't mean to make light of your situation, but I seem to default to humor (maybe so I don't say bad words out loud).
I don't have any experience with cushings, but I have lots of experience with seizures. You may remember that quad-pug Tani has hydrocephlus which causes her epilepsy. She started having seizures when she was two, she is now 13. Seizures are really scary- I can't imagine what a dane looks like. It scared the crap out of me when Tani had her first few, all 16 pounds of her! Tani has taken phenobarb for 11 years now and her seizures are well controlled. We do periodic blood work to check liver function. She comes out of her seizures pretty quickly although she is sometimes tired for a day or two. What happens more often now is a lesser seizure that I call a 'little vacation'. She has a faraway look in her eyes- she is not really present. She doesn't fall down or spasm. They only last a few seconds, then she is really happy to see me- like I've been gone. I log all that type of activity on a calendar and update the vet when we go in.
Sending good positive thoughts, and all the extra strength I can spare. You can get through this, let Mighty Atlas be your guide.
Karen
Drat" I thi k you've got a couple of pups over there feeling like Mighty Atlas is just getting waaaaay too uch attentio !! He is a super star you k ow.
Okay, so nere's what we do. A poto shoot of JUST Sophie and Miss Bermard mix (name please). Tell them the potos are being se t to us and they will be starring on a TV show called "Quadpawds.com"
Once you get your mind back on taking pictures, it will help ypu AND us!
Hang in there sweet Patricia! We've got tripawd power surrounding everybody over there!!
I usually pour coca-cola over chocolate ice cream. Have you tried beer over ice cream? Let me know ow that works for ya':-) 
Love to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Jerry - Sophie has only ever eaten Merrick which is supposed to be an ultra premium food. She gets kibble and grain free can food twice daily. In addition fish oil and yogurt and various fruits and veggie supplements.
Karen - It's good to hear about little Tani not letting the seizures keep her from living a long happy life. I hope the same for our Sophie. We are on our way to building our second vet's new building too. LOL! The least they could do is name them the Mighty Atlas or Sophie or Luba wing of their hospital!
Sally - Luba is our rescued Pyr/St mix. Here are some pics for your enjoyment....
Luba loves it when my nieces visit!
11 week old Empress Sophia Long Legs
one of my all time favs when Sophie first came to live with us at 8 weeks old - Atlas was so good with her.
Beautiful Sophie today....almost 4 years old
Look how little she is!! Although I bet she is bigger than my two full grown pugs together. Maggie was 4.5 pounds at 10 weeks.
OK- here is the real test to tell if you go to the vet too often.... when you call do you have to give your name? We got to the point where they knew my voice when I called and the question would be " which one this time and why?"
Karen
Patricia, first thought is: they're ALL gorgeous!!!
Second thought: it sure does seem to all pile up at once. I have a friend who, when I told her about Roxie's OSA diagnosis, just shook her head and said of course she has cancer, and you were meant to see her through it. and I guess somehow we all do. Roxie had diarrhea overnight and my husband thinks quad GSD Smokey had it, too, after I left for work this morning (bless that boy); we think of it as Solidarity 'Rhea. When she came home from ampu in March he started holding a front paw up and ended up in a Solidarity Sock. I'm pretty sure once Roxie is bossing her angel servants around in Heaven, I'll be spending big bucks on therapy for the Smoke.
If your vet(s) don't advertise it, they may still offer GE Care Credit. Helps in a crunch; they offer interest-free payment plans for (I think) charges over $250. Can be used for vets, dentists, laser eye stuff; I keep adding charges and paying it off, adding charges and paying it off. At least spreads the financial pain out a bit.
Hugs to you and yours,
Liz and Princess Roo Roo
oh heah! LOVING THOSE PICS!! Lulu is beautiful!! That 'head shot" needs to be on the cover of Bark Magazine, or, even better, Rolling Stone! She's a rock star!
Cannot belive Sophies....or Atlas, were ever that small!! Great comparison pic!
Okay, and then certainly goes in the 1¢ worth. I had an acquaintance who had so e seizures every ow and then. She said when it was actually happeni g tht she felt nothing...no pain...no fear...nothing. Same thing when she came out other than "co fused" and maybe a little shakey as a result of the cofusuion. As ti e wore on, she was more "at peace" with them and didn't react very much anymore at all after she had o e. Just for whatever it's worth.
Soooo glad you posted those pics!
Liz your comments on the soldarity thing see s so true! If o e is getting too uch attention, the other will co e up with some issue and demands special tretment AND treats!
Want to smooch Sophie and Atlas and especially that gentle ball of fur, Lulu! SOOOOOO SWEET! LOVE THAT PRETTY FACE!
This to shall pass Patricia!
Love to all Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
And to put a cap on the evening, Okey Dokey Smokey just barfed up everything he ate in the last 2 weeks. Which is a lot because we can't keep any weight on him and he's been cleaning up Roxie's bowls the last few days. Rox had a bile attack Monday morning, so this must be his delayed Solidarity Barf. sigh.
I keep trying to remind myself to stop and b-r-e-a-t-h-e. I haven't gone to yoga classes in a couple years, but the conscious breathing always does help get thru the moment. And that's usually enough.
BTW, I have been promised a new wing in our name for the 30+ years we've been with our vet. I'd be happy with a sign on the restroom door. But I know he appreciates us every time he goes to Pebble Beach and plays golf (we're in CT, remember).
Hang in there, breathe, and love those pups!!
-Liz & Roxie
Patricia-
Your family is beautiful. I certainly hope Luba is feeling better and it sounds like you've gotten some great advice on here. I had no idea dogs could get Cushings ( I knew horses could).
I can sympathize with the whole vet bill thing. Between horses and dogs I think it would have been cheaper to pay the vet school tuition only I'm not smart enough!! Guess I'll just have to leave it in the hands of the people with brains!
Hang in there and keep us updated.
Luanne and Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Luba is just a sweetie! I meant to ask you his name, thanks for sharing.
Sophie was small once? No way! I figured she eats pretty well, but thought I'd throw that out there about diet & seizures. I hope she doesn't have any more, I know how scary they are.
Liz, you are so funny 
!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Feeling better today. I finally got around to acceptance. There is nothing I can do to make Luba's cushings go away, we just have to learn to live with it just like Atlas' cancer diagnosis. It's just learning to adjust to the new normal. All I can do is be the best guardian I can and make sure they have quality lives while they are here with us. And if we never figure out why Sophie is having seizures we may just have to learn with that too.
Karen, I passed the test, there is not only one vet's office that knows me, but two now!
Liz, you are too funny. I must admit, the solidarity thing did cross my mind about Sophie. Those two Danes are crazy connected. Can't stand to even be in another room from one another. When Atlas was in the hospital for 5 days, she all but shut down. But then I thought, no that's crazy, but then how crazy is it that Smokey held up his paw when Roxie came home!!!! Wow! I hope all the barfing has stopped and the pups are feeling better today.
And thanks for the reminder about breathing. Marc and I just signed up for a Yoga class on Tuesday mornings....we are really trying to keep our mind, body and soul in good shape in light of some of the stress we have encounter lately along our journey. I've even started working out 30 minutes a day on my elliptical machine! Imagine that....it's not just a coat rack! LOL! And we are going to the lake 1-2 times a week to swim with Atlas and Sophie.
Thanks Luanne, Sally and Jerry for your kind words.
And may present yet another Zen Master.........PATRICIA!! You are an excellent teacher reminding us of the many different ways we can benefit from "acceptance".
This site s about soooooooo much mre than tripawds. It gives us an opprotunity for soul's growth like no other journey. Of course, a little less "soul's growth" from this "trip" is just fine sometimes too!
Love,
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. It sounds like your head and heart and physical self are getting back in balance. That, and all kinds of support, are what gives the strength to get through all the stuff. As well as laughter, of course. Gallows humor sometimes, but we have to work with what we've got.
I'd been doing yoga and spinning classes at work and it's been work that's kept me away. Boy, do I miss those. Just can't get out of the house early enough to do classes and try to keep my head above water with the job. Which is why I'm loving the agility classes with Smokey. Neat that you're doing the class together; really nice to have the same goals.
Sally I'm so with you on the enough growth thought!!!
-Liz & Roo
I think one of the hardest things for pet pawrents to deal with is when docs can't find a cause for a certain medical condition. We went through that last year with Wyatt Ray , when even the brilliant docs at Texas A&M couldn't figure out how he got a horrible bacterial infection. After all that we just finally learned to accept that sometimes there just are no answers. And in the end, Wyatt didn't care one bit, he just wanted to get over with the healing and get on with life.
As a yoga fan I'm gonna bet that will help you cope so much better with things. Have fun and enjoy. xoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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