Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So Tuesday I took Baxter into the vet's to have a second tumor removed. The first one took his front left leg. This time, it's on his neck.
Prior to the scheduled surgery, the vet took a chest xray at my request and found that the cancer has spread to his lungs.
He estimates 2 months until the cancer takes him.
He's already unable to walk as far or for as long.
However, his spirits are up. He's a happy dog.
I'm terrified that I won't know the right time to take him back to the vet's, that he'll go on suffering needlessly.
What should I be looking for? What behavior?
What should I expect?
Any advice would help.
Thanks
Darren
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Darren,
Thank you for coming here. We are so sorry to hear about Baxter, and hope we can be of some comfort somehow.
In this forum, you'll find an excellent discussion about Letting Go, and as sad as it is to read, I think you'll find a lot of helpful information from others that have been through it with their beloved pals.
Keep in mind though, that a prognosis is just an educated guess. Sometimes, vets are way off, through no fault of their own, and the actual survival time can be shorter, or much longer, like in my case. I don't want to give you false hope, but just want to keep things in perspective. It's not written in concrete, you know what I mean?
You and Baxter have a special relationship. After the time you've spent together, I'll bet you can read eachother's minds, right? So I'll safely assume that when Baxter has had enough, and is ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge, you will know it.
Yes, there are physical signs to look for. Slowing down is par for the course. I am much, much slower these days, but like Baxter, still tail wagging and loving life with my peeps. I promise to tell them when I'm ready.
There are so many ways that those last days can start to become obvious. I could go on with different scenarios, but instead I would love for you to focus on the moment, on the quality time you have left together, instead of focusing on when you won't be together.
Briefly though, physical signs can include an inability to walk, unwillingness to eat, and bad lethargy. Don't take them as "the" sign if they happen, but if they do, seek help right away.
For now though, be sure to prepare yourself for the inevitable, and make sure you have your ducks in a row for that time to say goodbye (i.e., make sure you know how your vet will help end any suffering Baxter is experiencing, where it will occur, etc.). We are grateful that Sandra, Luna's Mom, recently shared their goodbye story with us, I think you will find it very helpful.
Hang in there Darren, it's not an easy thing to experience, but as part of the bond that you two shared while helping eachother through life, you will find the strength to help your best friend cross the Rainbow Bridge when the time comes.
We send our love out to you. Please keep us posted, and remember we are here to talk when you need it.
Your friend,
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Darren - I completely understand where you're at right now... but the most important thing is: However, his spirits are up. He’s a happy dog.
I wish I had some advice... but I haven't come to the point yet to where I need to make a decision. Smokey is the first dog that's been mine. I've never been without a dog, but it's always been a family dog so my parents have handled every situation we've come across.
Ever since that horrible day on June 19th when I found out Smokey has cancer, I constantly play the what-if game and ask myself questions every day as to what I would do when a certain situation would come up.
The best thing though, is that Baxter is happy! That is the most important thing. Today I've been a bit worried - just because Smokey seems more tired and we couldn't walk much outside... but I know we have our bad days, just like our pawrents do... and every time we catch each other's eye, he wags his tail and that's all I need to see and hear.
To add on to what Jerry says - I really do think Smokey and I read each other's minds... everyone I've interacted with has told me that when he's ready to go, I'll know. And of course I think that no one is as close as Smokey and I are, but I know everyone on this site is as close to their dog as I am to Smokey.... we have to be, or else we wouldn't be on this site to begin with.
Smokey and I wish you nothing but the best... if you need anything, we are all here for you...
Hello Darren and Baxter, I think that Jerry and Smokey have said it all. As long as Baxter is feeling happy, he will let you know and for make sure to enjoy those moments. We hope that you two get to share lots of moments together and like Jerry said, sometimes the vet tells us this long and we surprise everybody including ourselves....look at Jerry. Just NEVER GIVE UP!!! We wish you the best and we are here for you....
Kellie
Thanks everybody.
It's been a rough couple days. Baxter has been able to walk less and less. And he stopped eating. He threw up a few times as well.
I tried to keep some sort of hope. And today he ate!
Still, he's not walking much. But he still gets really excited to go out. He is a little lethargic. He lays down while he drinks.
And he has a rougher time getting on the couch.
So I'm hoping he's just a bit sick, given that he gained his appetite back this afternoon. Maybe his energy will come back a bit more. We'll see.
I don't really know what else to say right now.
Take care, everyone.
When our dog Puddin was approaching the end it came about pretty suddenly.She went from getting better and recovering from her front leg amp to us having to relieve her pain within a four day period. She was losing the loss of her rear legs. I would pick her up and take her outside to use the bathroom and would help hold her and she would go and I would bring her back in. This started happening on a Thursday and by Sunday she couldn't get up at all on her own. She also quit eating, I could hand feed her a little, some canned rabbit we ordered her that she normally loved. She still did drink water though. She started whining a lot more than she had been and we increased her pain but we knew the end was near.
We had an appointment at Auburn University that Tuesday I called to see if we could bring her on in. We had a 4 hr drive so we headed out. Halfway down we stopped for her to use the bathroom I sat her down and she went then actually started walking back towards our truck. I picked her up and we headed on down the road. They met us at the door at Auburn and as they rolled her away to get her on an iv Puddin stood up on her front paw as to say here I go again. They were supose to call us about 7:30 the next morning and transfer her to oncology. I called to check and they said they would call us back soon.
We didn't hear from them so we went ahead and went on to the vet school. the dr met us and said that Puddins condition had worsened and she had got hypersensitive and was in a lot of pain. at that point we knew what had to be done. they was never able to do a scan but the vets think the cancer had either gotten into her brain or spinal chord for her to get into that type of pain so quick.
They brought her into a private room my husband and I got to say our goodbyes and I remained with her. When they brought her in she was on her left side which she never layed on which was her amp side. I asked them if we could move her to her good side and they helped to do that. I wish i hadn't asked because between them moving her and lowering her gourney to the floor she got very anxious. She was trying to stand and they had her on a towel and it was sliding around and I was trying to hold and love and comfort her. My husband walked on out I couldn't stand seeing her in this shape. I nodded my head and told them to do it.
It happened very quickly and her pain was ended. We were hit with so much that morning we didn't have a lot of time to process things. We thought she would be taken to oncology they would probably find more cancer we would take her home and have more time to watch and take care of her. needless to say we were overwhelmed by what they had told us. i've been having trouble getting those last few days out of my head and focus on the 11 1/2 wonderful years we've had with her.
the only thing i would have changed about those last minutes if i could do it differently is not to have moved her even though i knew she didn't like to lay that way and waited for her to get calmed down but looking in her eye. (she only had one it was removed when she was 3) you could see she was in so much pain she wasn't really there.
I hope my story helps others facing this awful situation. hope i haven't rambled on to much i'm hoping talking about will help me through this. she passed away Aug 18th and it still hasn't gotten any easier.
Dawn, thank you so much for sharing Puddin's story. We know that wasn't easy for you, but hope that you'll take comfort in knowing that by doing so, you are helping so many of us out there to cope with the inevitable.
You're right; focus on all those good years, and don't be so hard on yourself. Be sure to read Doug B And The Brothers too, I know it will help you in the grieving process.
We send our love out to you and your family, please know we are thinking of you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Darren and Baxter said:
Thanks everybody.
It’s been a rough couple days. Baxter has been able to walk less and less. And he stopped eating. He threw up a few times as well.
I tried to keep some sort of hope. And today he ate!
Darren, we are so sorry to hear this, but let me tell you one thing: that hope is a powerful drug. You know that now. We dogs are just full of surprises.
Check out my blog post today.
We send our hope, encouragement and love out to you and Baxter. Hang in there OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Darren & Baxter, I, too, am very sorry to hear about Baxter's decline. I, also, agree with Jerry that you will know when it's time to help Baxter cross over to the "Rainbow Bridge". I knew exactly when it was time for me to help my little wirehaired-dachshund, Drucy, to end her suffering and pain. I didn't want her to go through more tests, surgeries and poking and prodding; she'd had enough of that and it would have been selfish of me to even think of doing that to her. I have never regretted my decision and was actually quite proud of myself for being able to give her that relief. It still didn't take away the pain of losing her, though, as I went into a very deep depression for many, many months until a good friend of mine begged me to take in a little poodle that was going to be sent to a shelter and labelled a "biter". I didn't feel I was emotionally ready to take in another dog, but I agreed to give Blazer a one week trial. On day 5, I told my friend that I just couldn't keep him, but a funny thing happened that night. I sat down and made a list of the pro's & con's of Blazer's behavior and I could not find one thing that I didn't like about this goodhearted little dog. The next morning I told my friend to forget what I said, that I WAS indeed going to keep Blazer and we just celebrated our 5th Anniversary together on Sept 26th (he's 9 years old now). We have had 5 wonderful years together and while I still miss Drucy dearly, I discovered that my heart was indeed big enough to love 2 dogs in completely different ways and with just as much love as I've had for all the animals I have ever had in my life. Your friends, Vicki T, Blazer & Kitty Kimber
You should expect a lot of pain. Your dog was your friend, and it is always hard to let go of loved ones. I myself just remember the good times I had with my dog Ben. To do otherwise would be an insult to his life. I don't believe in the Rainbow Bridge thing, I think that's just what people make up because of their fear of death. When we lose a loved one, whether it be a pet or a human, it is part of our identity, and their death cause us to lose a foothold in the world. Once our dog was strong and beautiful, and then as our pet's health deteriorates, or as age creeps in, we are forced to realize how fleeting it all is. Because it is all so temporary, we need to get past the pain and go about living and loving again while we still can. Our dogs would want no less.
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