Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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As of yesterday, Holly has absolutely no function in her remaining front leg. We went to the emergency vet yesterday, who examined her, reviewed her record, and went over things with her oncologist over the phone (luckily the oncology center also has an emergency department, so it's all in house...and seriously, my oncologist was consulting on her on a Sunday. I just love him.) It appears that she can still feel, but can't really move it at all and doesn't know where it is in space. The vets seem to think that it is a spinal problem...of course, the first thought is mets in her spine. We did an x-ray that didn't show anything. Diagnostically, the next step would be an MRI, but the ER vet thought that she would have to go under anesthesia for it and we don't think that we want to put her through that. Other possibilities that it might show are intervertebral disc disease, some sort of spinal trauma, a fibrocartilaginous embolism, etc. I realize that if it's mets, it's probably over...but if it's something else, is there any hope? I don't think we would be willing to do surgery. Is there anything we could do for any of these? Physical therapy, acupuncture...?
We've discussed getting a cart, but even then she's totally dependent on us in the house - she can't get up etc. if we aren't here.
This morning, we had essentially decided to let her go - even though she doesn't seem to be in pain, she is losing her will. Then, a little while ago, she managed to pee! She can squat with her back legs as long as we are holding on to her harness and supporting her front. She also pooed earlier this morning and is still happily eating. When she does things like that, it gives me hope....even though I think it probably shouldn't. Am I just grasping at straws here and being completely unfair to her?
It's just so frustrating - lungs are clean, blood work is great, she doesn't seem to have any ill effects from the chemo...if this isn't mets, she is doing a great job of fighting off the cancer, yet it looks like we are going to lose her anyway.
I havent got any advise im afraid just wanted to say im so sorry this must be horrendous for you all. I will keep my fingers crossed for you and hope this improves. It really does break your heart when our furbabies aren't doing good. Good luck and we are all here if you need us.
Hugs
Sarah
What in the world could be going on? She was doing so well. So the vet has no ideas without an MRI? You guys have been through the ringer. Then you say she's eating and peeing and pooing so it does sound like she just can't feel her front leg. I am no help here...I will just pray for your whole pack as you guys need a break. We are thinking about you and hoping for the best.
Suzie and Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
Oh no! I'm so sorry about Holly!
Remember when you said she screamed in pain a couple of weeks back and she was then hunched over? Are you sure that isn't associated with what is going on? Maybe a blown disc or may diskospondylitis (or an infection of the disc)? If it's disko, a simple antibiotic (cipro) will clear it up. It's a blown disc, then anti-inflammatories will help. Maybe you can put the bug in the vet's ear?
I know Comet was lame when she had Disko and we recently had another dog here that got Disko and was lame. (I think it was Abner).
Remember.....I'm not a vet - just taking guesses! But Comet was one of those dogs that got the most strangest maladies all the time!
Sending all my best to Holly!
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.
Oh I'm so sorry to read this! That is really a nightmare if the single front leg or rear leg is getting bad. We also keep fingers crossed that everything will be fine again. Hugs and dogkissies to you!
I can totally understand not wanting to put her through the MRI or another possible surgery. Maybe it is worth talking to the vet about the possibilities for a blown disc or disko, like Comet suggested. Maybe it doesn't hurt to try treating for those things??
Wish I had words of wisdom but know that we are sending pawsitive thoughts out to her. The still eating thing sure seems like a good sign.
Jackie
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Oh no! I was hoping for some good news. This is a shot in the dark but the first time Crystal lost function in her back legs it was because her blood pressure was too high. Blood pressure isn't something vets usually check because it's so rare in dogs but it's pretty easy to check. I hope she starts feeling better soon and let me know if you need anything!
Christina
So sorry to hear this, we are in the same boat but for different reasons. Its just all so frustrating and emotionally difficult. We are hoping for the best for you.
Levi was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 7-7-11
Ampuversary 10-14-11
Lung Mets Discovered 1-4-12. Chemo seemed to not be working so we switched to Artemisinin and other supplements. In May, Levi developed a sinus infection and started having seizures. The cancer had moved to his brain. We let him go 6-26-12.
I'm so sorry all of this has hit you both...hard...one diagnosis after another!
My heart hurts for you!
Your situation sounds exactly like one we are in with Elsa. She has lost the use of her back leg and can just manage to do her wees etc but needs to be carried and lifted at all other times but all clear with the blood tests and no mets! We are off to the vets today and I have been thinking this is the end and we will have to say our goodbyes, but she is so happy and still her old self (other than the walking problem) when she is in the house and I just don't feel like she has given up yet and so why should we? Having read your story and other people's replies I am going to mention the possibility of a disc problem and hope the vet will suggest something to help her.
Fingers crossed for Elsa and Holly xxx
I had the same issue with Tazzie but it was her hind legs and she was painful so I elected to let her go. If your dog is not painful I would do a prednisone trial and see if she improves.
Pam
Thanks everyone...this is just a living hell. Yesterday afternoon we went to my regular/holistic vet, who thinks there's probably a 50/50 chance it could be a disc. We did acupuncture and, although it didn't restore any function, it definitely improved her spirits. She fell asleep during the treatment and was actually so deeply asleep that she started dreaming - kicking with her back legs and moving her ears. 
Even though she has just been lying around for a couple of days, that was the first time that she had really gone into a deep sleep, so that must have made her feel better. My husband carried her out to the car, and when she saw her car, she squirmed and wanted to get to it herself, so he put her down and let her "help" jump in with her back legs. When he started to get her out when we got home, she wagged and tried to sit up and help getting herself out of the car. Just that small boost in spirits made me hopeful.
Then, today, she is down again. Seems depressed, and we haven't been able to get her to pee. She's still eating but hasn't wanted to drink much. It seemed a bit like when we tried to take her out, her back legs were weakening again. It's so hard to tell if she's just tired in general, if she isn't trying, or if there is really a problem developing back there.
We so, so, so don't want to wait too long and put her through too much...but I would like to give her a few days to see if the acupuncture (and the out-there Chinese herbs my vet is having her try) can help at all.
Comet - I am hoping that that scream was a disc...I wish the vets or I had had that thought sooner so that we could start treating for it, but we were so absorbed by everything else going on that it didn't occur to us.
I'm interested to hear how Elsa's vet appt. went.
Dr. Pam - to do the prednisone, she would need to be off Rimadyl, correct? For how long? What about the MSM?
Oh sweet Holly. I hope the accupuncture and herbs can help and that it's just a disc problem.
Thinking of you guys.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Holly's mom -
You have to off of Rimadyl for a week before starting Pred.
It really does sound sound like a disc issue to me. Disko is hard to diagnose and although Comet got better it wasn't a great improvement just treating it alone. I went down this path for months with Comet. But keep in mind, I didn't have a cancer dog and she was already 3-legged so other issues didn't play into my thinking. One minute she was mobile, the next she wasnt. One minute she seemed like a young dog and the next she seemed like an elderly dog. My vet and two Neuros looked at her and everyone just scratched heads. UGH. (in hindsight, it makes me angry) It was so frustrating. I saw an ortho and he said to treat it as disko and if it gets better, then it may very be.
So, for immediate relief in Comet, I did heat therapy with a heating pad on her neck and back. I put a damp dish towel in the microwave to warm it up and then put a heating pad on top with heavy bath towels to hold it all in place. (i also stuck a fan on her to keep from getting hot) It gave her relief. I massaged her neck and back muscles. She also was on a muscle relaxer (also Rimadyl and Cipro).
Having had a cervical herniation, I now know how painful they are and it makes your arm numb and weak and it just flat out hurts. Only prednisone can make it better. But had I known for Comet I probably would have done ice therapy and heat therapy. Ice makes the pain stop from the pinch nerve. (the gooey part of the disc usually is touching a nerve root going to another area of the body - ice helps take away the inflammation) Heats relaxes the spasmed muscles that are so tense from the pain.
If it were me and knowing what I know now....I'd be way more assertive with my vets since none of them really understood a three legged dog and the problems it caused on their body from hopping. Like my regular doctor said, we as humans are one sneeze away from a blown disc! So, can you imagine the stress of three legs on a dog.
As for Holly, I'd ask for a muscle relaxer and I'd tell my vet to treat it like disko and/or blown disc during the time you are waiting to get on pred. Cipro is a cheap antibiotic and causes hardly any side effects. There is nothing to lose and it won't hurt her. I'd go off the rimadyl (so you can get the pred) for a week and give tramadol and massages, heat/ice therapy for the week while on the antibiotic and muscle relaxer. If you see a dramatic improvement in the week on an antibiotic, it's disko - if not - then get prednisone and treat it like a blown disc. She will see immediate relief with prednisone. But if it's disko, you can't treat with prednisone but you can go back on Rimadyl.
I hope that helps! (not proof-reading so good luck on the writing errors I'm sure I made)
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.
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