Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thanks,
Jason and Cooper
I'm so sorry to hear this but am keeping paws & fingers crossed that the experts can figure this out. Stay strong and keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow, you are doing all the right stuff. I'm not a vet , but wanted to send prayers out to you and your sweet Copper. Karl had trouble with one of his back legs 2 weeks after surgery , we had a bunch of X-rays and they checked out fine . It took a while, but he is cruising around now.
Hang in there,
Karl and mom Julie
Were they able to xray his spine? If he is painful then I would rule out a slipped disc, cancer spread to a vertebrae, or diskospondylitis. If he is not painful then it might be FCE (fibrocartilaginous emboli). Unfortunately only an MRI can pick that up but some of the others might show up on an xray. Besides prednisone it might be worth starting cephalexin (for diskospondylitis).
Pam
I will ask my vet tomorrow about diskospondylitis. He is having some urinary issues possibly and I see that is one of the signs. He urinated himself a few times, and when we go outside he tries to urinate but not much comes out just dribbles. So he is having some of those symptoms. The only throwback is his appetite is still good and he does not seem lethargic. As for pain the only time he cries a little is just the initial getting him up then he is fine. He walked all around the yard this morning and I did not assist him as much as the past few days. I still kept grab of the Help Me Up handles though. I am debating trying to get him in the car tomorrow to take to vet so they can check him out for the day any possibly take a xray.
I guess I was partially wrong because Cooper can use his back legs. He just needs my help up. He almost had it earlier on his own. He walks mostly by himself but I still help a little with the harness. I have noticed he keeps trying to urinate but not much will come out. Everytime he lays in a new spot he is wetting himself a little or dribbling urine. So I am really hoping its not the cancer and maybe diskospondylitis. Either way going to somehow get him rested and try for the vet in the morning with a few people helping us up the ramp. Hope he can do it as we need to get some anwsers to move forward even if the end result is euthanizing him.
His bladder may be enlarged so may be dribbling if he can't actively contract the bladder muscle. Even a simple lateral xray (laying on his side) can be helpful. They can test his urine for a UTI or consider adding Cephalexin (the best antibiotic for disko).
Please let us know how he does!
Pam
So they put him on 4 predisone in the morning and evening. We also added Cephalexin. The vet did not have him get out of car so we did not do any xrays. I did finally see him get up on his own once yesterday but then his legs were very wobbly and I helped him in the house. He is pretty much peeing himself when he lays down at any given spot. We just keep putting pads or towels around him. This morning he whined getting up and the whole way out to the yard then when coming back in. I am wondering when I lift up on the back of his harness it is putting pressure on his bladder making him hurt or its his legs/back. Hope we can make it to Friday when we see the physical therapist. If no improvement by next week not sure how much longer my wife and I can do this with 3 kids at home. Plus, I dont want to see him suffer any longer.
So the vet examined him in the car? Did he do any tests at all, any really good physical exam, going up.and down his spine, checking for swelling.in his abdomen, etc. Didn't recommend xrays?
It seems the pain could indicate something going on with his spine. As you said, maybe the harness is causing some pain. Obviously I'm no vet. Jist seems like this can be figured out and treated. Hang in there! Cooper isn't giving up! I know you are mentally exhausted from this whole journey. Hopefully things can get turned around for this sweet boy!
Maybe moreso than a PT appointment right now, I strongly suggest to try and get a second opinion as soon as you can. Just a thought.
Paws crossed to get this figured out and get the right treatment so all this can be behind you.
Lots of hugs to all
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!
They removed a few stiches and did kind of exam him in the back of car. He has been in and out of there so much the past few weeks he was not wanting to get out of car. They said this morning give him a few more days for these meds to see if they start working. Then I am going to suggest xray. My wife is ready to move out and just thinks its time to euthanize.
I'm so sorry you're going through such an emotionally.trying time on the home front. It has ro be exceptionally difficult when one family member sees things.differently.
I can only say from Cooper's perspective this, so far anyway, seems fixable.and doable and just a temporary hurdle.
I KNOW you are doing your best for.Cooper and hanging tough..
Sending you strength and healing energy
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!
Now he just crys everytime I get him up and cant even make it to the back yard which is maybe 10-15ft. Cries the whole walk both ways. Called the vet again and they said let the higher dosage of prednisone and Cephalexin kick in and give another 24 hours as he just started both yesterday. After that then we may have to think about euthanizing. This whole process has been so hard I hate giving up after we had made it so far but dont like seeing our big boy cry and in pain.. plus my family watching all of this as well.
I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. But seeing them in pain is something none of us ever want to face. I'm sure it is breaking your heart. Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure Cooper knows you've only done your best and knows you all love him!
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Geez, Jason, so sorry rhis is happening. You could ask the.vet.about some pain meds. Do you have any Tramadol or Gabapentin left? Maybe.that could help significantly until the Pred kicks in. Of.course, only with vet approval, but.it seems like right now he needs some pain meds.
Did the vet indicate one way or another if he thought spine mets or slipped disc coukd be the cause? Or did he lean more towards the vladder or uti issue. Goodness knows urinary issues could make him feel "whiny".
You clearly have Cooper's best interest at heart and love him dearly. If you could get.his pain managed, I know that woukd help ease your distress. Hoping with all my heart this Pred and the antibiotic can make a difference. The Pred would help quicker, whereas the antibiotic may take several days to show improvement.
This piece of crap disease makes.up it's own rules as it goes along. Shoukd it end up being spine mets, and there is no reason to think that's the case, but .IF it is, that's not giving up. No one could have done anymore for Cooper than you have to give him a.cha at a quality life. You have already giving him.more bonus time full.of loving and spoiling and extra treats, There are just aspects of this s**t disease where we can do nothing but give the gift of release. Hopefully, that won't be the.case.and Cooper will start feeling better.
It sounds like the Vet really wants to give the treatment he's on now a chance to work and I think that's encouraging.
Try and stay positive that this approach will work. I know it's almost impossible.to be "patient" while seeing Cooper crying. It's breaking my heart and I'm.not even there! The entire Tripawd Family is hoping for the best...and that's a lot of hope being sent your way!!
Love to all!
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!
Thanks for the responses. He is on all the other pain meds you mention already and has been since surgery a month ago on Friday. Nothing seems to be helping. He did get in the car yesterday to go see the vet which is the most he has done in a week. I got him to eat his food and pills while laying sideways on the floor. When lifting his head for a pillow he whined. I know were doing what we thought was best for him. We have not even had him 2 years as we rescued him from a Army family who kept him in a backyard with no shade or grass in the AZ heat. So I do know I gave him a better life living in our house with us. I will keep everyone posted how tonight goes... hoping for a miracle and that we see something change. Poor guy.
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