Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Cali has been acting pretty darn normal, eating/drinking well, micro-managing the other dogs, etc. She sleeps a lot, but she is also 14. Anyhow, I was sitting here tonight and looked over and she had blood in her fur and on her bed. Bright red, sort of frothy looking. She has a laryngeal tie-back (1 yr ago), so she coughs all the time and is "normal" for her. Stool & urine look normal. No temp, gums look good.
Of course we are leaving town tomorrow for the weekend. Not sure if this is something urgent or something wait-and-see.
Anyone have any ideas? I am worried about my girl! 
Hi Cali and family
I am not a vet (wrong Tazzie here - you want tazziedog). Several dogs with lung mets have had incidents in which they coughed up blood when a lung met burst (e.g., Tika, Yoda, I think Caira Sue more recently). It seemed they were feeling back to normal once they coughed it up and splattered it across the living room (people on this site are great with these details, aren't they). I can't remember - is Cali a bone cancer dog or did she have amputation for a different reason? You kind of preceded us on this website - we showed up in July 2009.
How is she feeling now? (I've never heard of a 'laryngeal tie-back')
Cali had/has soft tissue sarcoma. Her amputation was Sept 07. The laryngeal tie was done after she developed laryngeal paralysis causing breathing problems, sort of common in older dogs. I looked over the house and found another blood splat, so sometime between when I got home from work and now, she has coughed up blood twice. She seems to be acting normally otherwise. Not coughing at the moment. I just never know how much to worry, and it seems these things ALWAYS crop up either when you are going out of town or headed into a holiday! I swear they plan it that way...
TC, I'm so sorry. I wonder if it is due to the tie-back, since as far as I remember, her type of sarcoma doesn't metastasize to the lungs right?
Hey where are ya going, on a run?
Try not to worry. She's made of iron, nothing can stop Cali! Give that pretty girl a big smooch from us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm afraid I can't help. You could send a PM to the people I listed above, but their dogs all spat blood due to mets, and it does not sound like that is the case for Cali. A quick search on the web makes it sound like you should treat it as an emergency and call a vet - do you have an emergency vet in the area to call? Of course, depending on the place that may or may not be a good option. But I think you probably should find out what is up before you leave, although that might ruin your plans. Maybe she just didn't want you to go . . .
It is great that she has done so well - I read about her journey now and then since being on this site. Well, good luck with this. I hope it works out.
Hey Cali
Tika is on-line. She is our El Primo blood-spitter! You should try to talk to her, although of course her blood spitting will be from a different cause so her advice might be useless (ha, no offense Madame Tika). At the minimum, it will be entertaining!
Good night!
Oh Cali! Yuk, don't do that to mom. Our humans do not like it.
Tika had her first bloody cough up in September, it continued until she passed in November. Now here's something interesting, and probably not a good commentary on my housekeeping skills, but in my defense, I've had some other priorities. This week I found old dried bloodspots in odd places, so our girl had been hiding out during the day hacking. It was pretty bizarre when I realized what it was, I thought, goodness, I have K9 CSI: Lawrence Edition going on.
So, as many times as we witnessed blood being coughed up (sometimes dramatically), it was going on a lot more than I realized. However, Tika still was going strong to the best of her abilities. She still did her walks, her trips, a few overnights in the RV, and one overnight in the kennel (at vet's office, tho)
Our oncologist seemed not concerned about the coughing up blood, our personal vet was, but he was concentrating on her comfort level, but he observed she didn't seemed bothered by it. We still started Metacam SubQ because Tika had developed a fever.
We noticed, that even as gross as it was, if Tika had a coughing fit that ended with something gross and bloody, she seemed almost relieved, like thank goodness I got that out of my system. She would then drink some water, grab a 'baby' and return to business.
I guess my thoughts are, listen to your vet's experience. Cali is SuperDog, beyond tough, after everything she's already conquered, a little hacky coughy blood thing is probably, eeeh, big deal. Right????
Good luck, I think you'll be fine this weekend. I'm convinced Cali will outlive me!
--Kim and Spirit Tika
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
By the way, Mr. Admin, if you multiply the math instead of adding? You get bonus points, correct?
Ugh. Need sleep now.
Take care all!
--Spirit Tika and her mathematically challenged human
PS--oh, boy 1 +1, no helping me! I got it!
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
Well, thanks guys. Not sure what the cause is. Her sarcomas aren't supposed to metastasize rapidly, BUT our vet always seems to like to check lungs "just in case". She seems to be content at the moment, so I will plan to call the vet in the am and see what she recommends. If she has trouble tonight, we can go to the 24 hr hospital. But this weekend we will basically be off-line, out of phone range and in the woods (literally). Got a race and big plans to show some younger cocky mushers how it is done! I KNOW Cali wants to go - she saw her harness come out and got really bouncy.
So, keep us in your thoughts and I'll let you know what happens. Maybe she just has something lodged down there (magpie?) that she is working out.
Tikaani said:
… if you multiply the math instead of adding? You get bonus points, correct?
Only if the answer is the same, as in 2+2 or 2×2. 
@TC: So sorry to hear about Calpurn! But if she has no fever, and seems otherwise normal, I'd go and keep a close eye on her … assuming you're taking her with you. Thanks for asking, and best wishes.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh yea - she goes everywhere with us. She is the canine coach! We just have to figure out how to fit everything/one in one truck: 2 sleds, 3 people, 23 dogs (ours + fosters + friend dog), food, gear, etc. Yikes.
Dogs that have had surgery for laryngeal paralysis are at an increased risk for pneumonia, although most dogs with pneumonia feel poorly and aren't eating. Does she have an elevated temperature?
Anytime a dog is coughing blood a chest x ray should be performed ASAP to rule out heart failure, pneumonia, or cancer. I would do it as soon as you can! I hope that she is still feeling well today.
Pam
Thanks, Pam! I was just on the phone with our vet talking things over.
Cali hasn't had any further episodes, and is acting normal this am. Ate a good breakfast, took a bone away from one of the foster dogs, and is now standing by the door because she knows we are going somewhere. She has no fever, gums are pink and wet and refilling well, still acting herself, etc. So we decided to go and keep an eye on her (I have a list of vets in the area). When we get back, she will go in for a xray to see what is going on in there.
Her coughing is and has been an upper airway thing more than a deep lung thing. Sort of clearing her airway. Since she has to do that all the time to protect her airway, it sometimes gets irritated. Vet is thinking that this is probably related to that. I am starting her on clavamox this am.
Spirit Tripawds please watch over my girl while we are on the road. Send her your healing energy so she and I can enjoy another adventure together.
Thinking of you Cali girl! Hope all is well.
You bet every Spirit Tripawd will watch over you. Be strong!
Pam, you are so awesome, thanks for your expertise again!
Cali, I know all our pups are looking out for you. Be good while your Momma and Dad are away, they'll be back before you know it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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