Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Krista,
You are doing a great job with your pup!
I wanted offer a couple of suggestions. One is that you might consider keeping a journal or log of Dexter's progress. Sometimes you can't see the progress day to day- but it might be more apparent if you keep some notes.
Another is a suggestion I got from a friend of mine here to help my older quad pug Tani. Tani has neurological issues combined with arthritis which sometimes make it seems like she doesn't know where her back feet are. Not to the extent that you describe with Dexter- but she does fall occasionally because her back feet end up in the same place. I was told that squeezing the feet gently a few times a day may help her body 'remember' where her feet are. I actually squeeze and massage her back feet whenever I can. Don't know for sure if it helps, but it doesn't hurt, and she does seem to fall less often.
Looking forward to more positive progress reports on Dexter.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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I've heard that about squeezing paws too Karen, read it in a book about canine rehab. Great advice!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So I took Dexter to a different vet and he did a full examination and said that he has paralysis in his back legs its not total paralysis its the first thing to go, which is the perception I guess is the best way to describe it. He can still feel his feet and move his feet but the nerves are firing the way they should. They took X-rays and found a small injury on his spine that I guess happened with the initial trauma but it didn't cause any problems to begin with. It is now infected and inflammed and I guess that is what has caused the paralysis. There is a small chance that getting the infection under control and the inflammation down could restore the use of his legs, but nothing is guarenteed.
Even with just one dose of medications I have seen improvement but Dexter still can't walk on his own, he still can't stand up on his own. Things are looking grim. I'm at a loss of what to do. He is happy and healthy aside from missing a front limb and can't use his back legs. If I put my hands between his legs in the rear to support/balance him he can take steps, his feet don't always land right though, I would say 80% of the time they land the right way and 20% of the time his toes are curled under and he doesn't correct it. I am praying for more improvement soon. Its been almost a week since he started the antibiotic and he has another week left of the meds. I am taking him the end of this week for a follow up. I'm so scared that he isn't going to walk again and I am going to have to put him down. If he can get a little better with his back legs a rear end wheelchair might work, but if the back legs aren't functioning enough to push him forward, I am afraid with only one front leg he won't be able to move forward. Also I don't have the money right now for a wheelchair . I am so indebt with all of his surgery/treatments. If you believe please say a prayer for Dexter!
Poor Dexter. I am sending out pawsitive thoughts that the antibiotics will help!
Come on, Dexter!!! You can do it!
Jackie, 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!
Oh!!!
I'm so sorry! How awful. What a terrible thing you an baby Dexter are going through.
Sending lots of healing wishes.
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.
So another update, I followed up with his original vet 1 week after the paralysis diagnosis, she took x-rays and after looking at them she felt Dexter would never walk again. I decided to stick it out longer since we were trying the antibiotics. Well today was Dexter's last dose of antibiotics. Two days ago, we were cleaning the house, Dexter was laying on a pillow in the living room and we started vacuuming. We didn't see him do it but some how he ended up all the way to the end of the hall, inside our bedroom and he was standing there with his head poking out the door. So I took him out side and stood him up. He tried to walk and fell over and then stood his-self up for the first time (that I have witnessed) he even took a squat to pee and didn't fall over. He took a few wobbly steps before falling. He repeated this a few times before he finally quit. Later that day I took him to my moms house and he was so excited he wobbly walked/hopped all over the place. It was so amazing. I am so excited. I will keep you all updated and I will get a video to post here shortly. Thank you all for the support!
hope springs eternal!!! what a great update. we're sending our best ET JUJU to dexter, hoping he is turning the corner and will continue to improve!!! so happy for you guys, this has been a hard fought battle, we know.
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
dextersjourney said:
I'm so scared that he isn't going to walk again and I am going to have to put him down. If he can get a little better with his back legs a rear end wheelchair might work, but if the back legs aren't functioning enough to push him forward, I am afraid with only one front leg he won't be able to move forward. Also I don't have the money right now for a wheelchair . I am so indebt with all of his surgery/treatments. If you believe please say a prayer for Dexter!
First, congratulations on seeing some progress!! Regarding your quote above, please, please, please watch this video:
feature=player_embedded
These dogs are at Best Friends in Utah (largest animal sanctuary in the U.S - almost 2000 animals reside there on any given day). Best Friends has a "Guardian Angel" program which accepts dogs that have major medical issues and they have two young dogs, seen in this video, that remind me SO much of your Dexter (one of them has NO use of ANY of his legs - and this video shows how happy he is!). The facility has a HUGE outreach program and they are usually very eager to help with guidance on therapy, etc., even if you aren't looking to surrender your animal. If you can't open the video here, PM me and I will send instructions on where to find it on their website.
Bless you for trying so hard for this baby and keep us updated!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Wow, this post definitely brought a big smile to my face!!
You have done such a great job with the little guy, I hope he keeps getting better.
I guess you should have tried vacuuming earlier! I know it always gets my dogs to move!
Karen and the pugapalooza
Oh wonderful!
You know we've talked to rehab vets who didn't give up on dogs that traditional vets said would never walk again, and they got those dogs walking on their own after lots of hard work and dedication. It's clear that you have the same determination, as does Dexter! We hope that he continues to make progress, keep us posted with pics and videos, we'd love to see them.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Woo hoo! Good for Dexter!
I remember reading this before, where a dog is not doing that great (though not as bad as Dexter), and then they do something really FUN and EXCITING and then they surprise everyone. Tate was kind of like that, he was doing "okay" after his amp and then we took him to the cabin and he did great, so much enthusiasm and just ran all around and up and down the hill like nothing ever happened.
So I highly recommend continuing visits to Mom's house! Anything that gets him so excited he forgets his problems (and the poor little guy has had a lot of them.) Heck, we're all like that, that's why they invented roller coasters.
ANXIOUSLY awaiting a video.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Hooray for Dexter!!! Keep it up little buddy!!!
Vacuuming as pup therapy! It's worked at our house too. (Not in quite such a dramatic fashion, but when Abby was first diagnosed w/ her H.O. and was sooooo lethargic I was all depressed and thinking "is this how it's going to be??". I started vacuuming and she didn't come running right away to attack the vacuum like she normally would so I started to cry. Well, next thing I know she comes hopping around the corner, barking at the vacuum like usual. She's been way better ever since!)
We'll look forward to seeing a video!
Jackie, 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!
https://fbcdn-v.....1319_t.jpg
video of Dexter, he has done alot more walking and moving than this I just didn't get it on camera. Will try to get a better video shortly
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