Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So, Zack has proven he has an iron stomach. He has not lost his appetite/had any nausea at all despite the amputation, medications, chemo treatments – not that I'm complaining.
BUT……he is waking up earlier & earlier each morning ready for breakfast. He was getting breakfast around 6:00a and dinner around 7p. Then, a Greenie treat around 10:30p. But, he's been getting up as early as 4a and whining for his breakfast. We've held firm at not feeding him earlier, and have had to endure 2 hrs of whining!!!
To try to combat it, we've been feeding him a little less at each meal, giving him his Greenie earlier, and then right before bed, giving him a little kibble mixed with some veggies – hoping it would help keep him full until the 6a breakfast time. But, so far it hasn't helped.
Any advice for a low-calorie, stomach-filling food we can try?
Zack, King of Dogs, 1996 to 2010
Zack lived a full 14 years, even to the end.
The joy and memories he provided us will last a lifetime.
Surviving him is his sister, Izzy, a 12-year-old boxer mix quadpawd.
And the latest addition, Zula, an 11-month-old pit bull mix tripawd.
When you get the answer to this one, I'll be taking notes. Trouble does the same thing! She starts the lick/whine somewhere between 3AM and 3:30AM. If I get up with her and give her a treat (green beans or carrots), she will settle for a little while, but just prior to the alarm going off at 4:30AM she's back at it. She gets breakfast between 4:30 and 5 and dinner about 12 hours later. I've tried feeding dinner later, and it helps a little, but not much and not consistently. And besides when I get home at 4PM, she thinks it's time for potty break and dinner.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Interesting dilemma...is this because your dogs are on Prednisone? I'm pretty sure Trouble is? Is Zack?
Will Zack eat raw carrots maybe?
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
The only med that Zack is taking right now is an acid controller with breakfast and a vitamin with both meals. I tried giving him a Milkbone this morning at 4:30 when he was up whining for his potty break, and he did eat it, but he was still hungry at 5:30 or 6. He is just not the kind of dog that can be ignored when he wants something, either...
He's a little stinker, but we love him, and if waking us up at 4:30 is the worst thing we have to deal with, I guess it could be worse.
maybe the greenie is actually making him hungry. It's wheat gluten right?? I know white rice and other high glycemic stuff actually raises your blood sugar really fast and triggers your body to think you're hungry ( this website covers it http://www.calo.....ugar.php ) . Maybe try reversing the pattern give the greenie at 7pm and then dinner closer to 9pm.
Tombi is right. Any foods high in fillers and starches will create hunger. Milk Bones and Greenies are akin to eating cookies, they do not fill you up and are nutritionally empty. The same goes for kibble; ensure that his kibble is a quality one with enough protein to fill him up. Many kinds of kibble out there are filled with empty fillers instead of real food. You can compare his kibble to others here in the Dog Food Advisor's website.
Is he getting any kind of real meats with his food? Boiled or raw (if you're comfortable with it) chicken, beef, turkey are all foods that will add bulk to a dog's diet and fill them up.
I would go for low-cal, whole food treats with more fiber in them, because fiber creates a sense of fullness. Maybe some steamed sweet potato with cooked oats (both are OK for dogs with cancer in limited quantities, according to Dr. Dressler, the Dog Cancer Vet. Check out his free diet book for cancer dogs, it might have some ideas for you). Most of the kinds of high fiber human foods we are all told to eat and feel satiated from will also apply to a dog.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMD! I think Comet has a tape worm growing in her! She can't stop thinking about food! From 8pm to 930pm, ever 10 minutes she has a "get me something and get it now!" fit!
I have video proof! This would be funny if it didn't happen ever night for the last 12 years!
I am of no help, because I give in and get her something!
If there are fresh donuts from the bakery in our house, she'll wake us early to get her one! We made the mistake of buying them from a 24 hour donut shop on Saturday nights when she was younger. It's her favorite treat. (mine, too) And then a friend of mine would come over and bring her donuts so she'd be nice to her. Comet assumes donuts were invented just for her!
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.
Aww Comet is such a cutie.
Chloe eats more because she exercises almost as much as she did on 4 legs... so I do not know what to say that hasn't already been said. Sounds like you already got some good advice!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
The quest for world domination continues on three legs. Comply minions!
http://ritables.....ipawds.com
Read about my big sister Shelli who just passed away to the lymphnode sarcoma
http://bellesgo.....press.com/
I swear Trouble and Comet could be evil twins. Trouble just pitches a fit if you don't get up and get her something. She starts out with a little whine. It escalates to a little woof, then to a yelp, then kind of a stomp/snap/yelp.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I wouldn't be able to refuse Comet anything either and Trouble's face would do me in too.
Don't have any advice to help with Zack's demands for food at such hideous hours of the morning. No experience with that at all.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
MONKEYBUTT get off the site!!!!!!!!!
Geeze - he stole my line - I was going to tell you Mousie how cute you were and monkeybutt beat me to it! 
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.
Does Zak need to watch his weight? Or does he have trouble keeping weight on despite being insatiable?
Tazzie was always a 'food-motivated' dog (to be polite), but the desperation for food became out of hand at some point during out "C" journey. One thing that helped reduce him to "food-motivated" as opposed to pathetically desperate for anything edible or inedible was the Power Mushrooms. They helped in many ways, keeping him energetic even as the "C" progressed. I don't know if this is relevant to you, but thought I'd mention it.
Comet is just adorable! I would find it hard to say 'No' to that face!
And, I think Zack & Trouble could be twins. Your description sounds all-too-familiar - almost exactly what Zack does.
Mousie is too cute. I laughed out loud when I read your description, coupled with the picture.
To answer some of the prior questions, we mix chicken in with both his breakfast & dinner (which is Nutro Natural Choice Lite dry kibble - only rated 3 stars on dogfoodadvisor.com, but it was also the only food that worked to bring down his weight, which we tried for years to do...) A few years ago, Z was up to 85 lbs, and for the last 2 years or so, he was down between 70 & 72. Since his surgery, he's been maintaining between 66 & 68 lbs. So, we definitely don't want him to gain.
And, the Greenies aren't used as a supplement to Zack's diet - they are just a treat he thoroughly enjoys - we call them 'doggie crack' because he knows and reminds us exactly when it is time for one - even waking from a sound sleep on the couch to whine for it. I will definitely look into the Power Mushrooms - thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the other suggestions, too. I think we'll try switching his normal dinner & late-night snack up a bit - maybe a ligher dinner, and then more chicken/veggies closer to bed. If that doesn't work, maybe we'll have to try giving up the Greenie for a few nights (although I'm not sure we're equipped to deal with a crack addict going through withdrawal 
)
Zack, King of Dogs, 1996 to 2010
Zack lived a full 14 years, even to the end.
The joy and memories he provided us will last a lifetime.
Surviving him is his sister, Izzy, a 12-year-old boxer mix quadpawd.
And the latest addition, Zula, an 11-month-old pit bull mix tripawd.
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