Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey Sally, sorry to hear Merry Myrtle is hurting again. She could not have a better mama to take care of her. She looks so sweet with Frankie leaning on her. Oh, Mona just read Frankie's thought:
I hope your regular vet can give you the answers you need.
Sending you kitty cat snuggles.
Kerren and Tripawd Mona
Myrtle, Myrtle, Myrtle! What are we to do with you? I agree, Sally, that you need to see your regular vet and have a blow by blow scenario in hand, so that the doctor who normally sees Myrtle knows exactly where things stand.
BTW, dark chocolate pairs very nicely with red wine.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
MONA KITTY!! I think your thought bubble is spot on!! 
That was adorable! Still chuckling!
I feel like she's gotten past without any issues (noticeable) from the Rimadyl/steroid fiasco. I "assume" any side effects would have been showing up by now....? So with GREAT restraint, I'm trying not to call her regular doctor. He'll be back on Monday and she and I will definitely get in to see him then.
I am completely perplexed and really do feel like this is NOT the leg issue like before....not even sure now if it's leg at all!
She did "fairly" well during the night once she settled down with her tramadol. But her fear of moving...so weird....and the way she does move...again, kind of phantom limb like behavior. Once she tries to run away from it, she'll just freeze and whimper for me to do something. Tugging at my heart strings much???
She has held her pee incredibly long since the all started happening...guess just the fear of moving.
FINALLY got her outside to pee and ppop (knock on wood...seems normal) after holding it about 18 hrs! She did the sa.e the night before too! Yeah, I was googling expressing the bladder like crazy! So mich for frequent peeing as a result of steroids.
Thanks so much for letting me just ramble....a good purging is a good thing....but wait...there's more!!
Soooo...I put her harness on to try and help budge her...her Puppy Latte harness. FINALLY got her outside still semi frozen and tail tucked between her legs. Tail starts wagging a little, she starts walking on her own with a pretty darn normal gate, starts seeking out cat poo....and I am thrilled!!! Got her all excited about heading inside for her breakfast...then the "whatever it is" kicks in again. At least I got some food and Tram in her.
Okay...I'm all purged out!
Thanks for letting us hijack your thread Dr. Pam! I'll update Monday after the vet appt. I'm gon a have him do a really good check.
Much, much love to everyone!!! And thanks again for everybody's support and insight! It's invaluable!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Oh uyeah...I've been eating the chocolate! YUM!!!
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!
Dang! Wow I'm just now catching up, you've both been through the wringer this week, I'm so sorry. Has she eaten anything? What are her poops like? I'm thinking a dog her size shouldn't be too affected by what happened but it's good to keep an eye on her.
I'm with Pam, get a second opinion from an ortho doc. This sounds like it's more complicated than Rimadyl. Is there any way you can get her to an ortho?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
FYI dexamethasone is a very short acting steroid so it should already be out of her system. If she has weird pain in her back end then it could be anything including inflamed anal glands, a pinched nerve in her spine, or lumbosacral disease. It is hard to say which drug to use without an exam or xrays since dexamethasone is better for spinal things but Rimadyl would help musculoskeletal pain or inflammation. Tramadol is fine and is safe to use with either drug or by itself.
If she is eating and moving around okay you can wait until Monday but if she won't move or has no interest in food or water then I would take her somewhere sooner.
Pam
Awwww, Sally!
I am so sorry Merry Myrtle is hurting and that you are going through this. Poor 'lil girlie, it's just one thing after another, isn't it. I have no advice except to remember to stay in the moment and don't go traipsing down the 'what if' trail. Oh yeah, and to quote a certain somebody, BREATHE and eat LOTS of chocolate! I second Kathi's thought that red wine pairs most excellently with chocolate! Go with your gut instinct, if this does not feel like the last "issue" then be sure to let your vet know.
Sending you lots of love and tripawd strength to get through this. You know I am on the helpline on Monday so CALL if you need to talk, OK????? I'll be there
xoxoxo, and give Myrtle and Frankie big kisses too,
Martha
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
Sally, so sorry your sweet Myrtle is struggling. Sending many prayers that the vet appointment on Monday will give you some answers as to why and how best to treat.
Some of your description of Myrtle's behavior reminds me a lot of my little rescue Pommie boy's behavior when he hurt his spine last year. He would just sit and shake refusing to move and when he did move he would often scream out in pain...then there were times when suddenly I would think he was getting better only to go back to the shaking and pain again. Total crate rest, preds and Robaxin got him back to normal movement in about 3 weeks.
I hope the rest of the weekend won't be too bad...it is so devastating to see a dog you love struggling and not know why or how to help her.
Many hugs.
Sketch's Mom, Trini
Sally.... I am so sorry you are going through this ... I can only imagine how scared you must be right now. I am so sorry!!! You still have my number, right? Feel free to call anytime!!!
Love to you and Merry Myrtle!!!!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
I don't have any wise words, but just to let you know I'm out here following along. Hope you get it all sorted soon. Don't you just wish they could talk?
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie (and Toby Two-Toes too!)
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
Thinking about you and sending many hugs and much healing love to you and Myrtle today and tomorrow!
Linda & Max
Oh Sally, I have not been on here for awhile. Poor Myrtle! Something to consider along with whatever pain meds you go with, try adding Dasaquin. Daryl has pretty bad hip Dysplasia and was on Metacam. After a few months on the Dasaquin, I was able to take him of the NSAID. I have not heard him yelp in months. I am not against using it again at some point, but figure since he is so young, I would try to delay it. I agree with the others above on maybe getting a 2nd opinion. It is so hard when our babies are hurting and we don't know exactly how to help them. Myrtle says that a Puppy Latte will help a lot. Sending hugs to you my friend, Lori, Ty & Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Thank you everybody sooo much!!
We always wonder if offering words of support and comfort to others can help. Beng on the receiving end of your love, advice, HUMOR does indeed help!! Trust me! It does! Thank you...each of you!!
Knocking on wood, we, hopefullu, have .made it through the week end without me feeling like I need to do an ER visit! She seems to be ..hmm...holding steady..no worse..YAY!! Eating, pooping, drinking, peeing. YAY! Ive actually been able to get her up and moving a bit more without her taking the "not budging" position as much. YAY! Played with one of her favorite big stuffies! YAY! Still has those painful episodes. Until I see the vet though, I'm just givi g her tramadol and holding back on the dex. until the vet can better pinpoint what's going on. It may lead to an ortho consult referral. There aren't many choices close here.
Dr. Pa., that was really helpful the distinctions you made for the ues of Rimadyl vs Dex.
Sketchie's mom and Max's granny...it was nice of you to offer support while you're in the midst of focusing on continuing through recovery and just getting on with a wonderful life with your pups!!!
A d yeah Sketchie,, it does sound like it could be a spine owweee. like your little Pommie.
Myrtle will be so confused. She'll be getting Puppy Latte on a Monday (as well as a Tuesday)! Actually, she always gets one on the way back from the vet and that makes it all worthwhile!
WITH A WHOLE LOTTA' LOVE TO EACHNOF YOU LITTLE LIGHT BEAMS!!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I'm just now catching up too and can tell you, just like the others, I don't know what to tell you about her pain or behavior, but I can certainly empathize with the worrying. You're handling it so well! I would be a total basket case. Heck, all it takes for me is Meesha to slip on the wet concrete and my whole weekend is ruined!
Keeping you and Myrtle close to my heart!
xoxo
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Sooo....her regular Physician that I've been waiting evvvver sooo "patiently" (NOT!) to see is off today!! Grrr
He's taking this "getting-ready-to-retire thing" a little too seriously!! Going in Tuesday now. Tuesdays for Merry Myrtle are supposed to be for Starbucks and PetCo..not vets!!
And Pam...Meesha all better now?? And watch out for wet concrete!!
Lori...good advice, thanks. I had forgotten Daryl had similar symptons.
Mucho lovo!
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!
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