Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
My dog, Stella, is almost 6 weeks post-amp and is doing great. Her lung x-rays were clear as of a week and a half ago. Her "sister" and best friend, Maggie, is diabetic, and based on some recent bloodwork, her vet has suggested we reduce the fat in her diet. I really need to feed the two of them the same food because they won't eat without each other, and I'll drive myself crazy making sure the right dog got the right food. I've had them both on the Wellness Core Grain Free Reduced Fat food for about 2 weeks and they love it. The ingredients seem appropriate for both of their conditions.
My question is this: Is it a bad idea for Stella to be on a reduced-fat diet? I've read the nutrition blog here and see the Wellness Core food is on the list of best dry food, but I'm wondering if I should "up" her fat intake? I'm thinking of maybe adding a topper to her food that might accomplish this (and adding just a tiny bit to Maggie's food since she doesn't need the fat).
I'm also planning on starting Stella on K-9 Immunity Plus, which I've read a lot about here as well.
Any info you have is appreciated!!
Offline
I don't see why that wouldn't be OK. In fact, too many Tripawds are overweight, so we always encourage folks to keep their pups on a lean feeding schedule. At some point, however, cancer tends to make dogs lose weight too quickly, which is when you might want to consider adding something like cottage cheese or other good fats (salmon, olive oil) as a topper. Just make sure Maggie doesn't get jealous!
You are to be commended for managing both dogs' health needs so well. What an excellent dog pawrent you are!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I agree with Jerry...adding something to Stella's diet to increase the fat would be a great idea. From all the research that I've done a high fat, high protein, low to grain free diet is what's generally recommended for animals with cancer. Seems like adding whole milk ricotta cheese (less salt compared to cottage cheese) would be double 'bang for your buck' in that regard (would increase overall protein and fat in her diet).
I just recently had a diet specially formulated for my girl, Lily. She has osteosarcoma too and is almost 3.5 weeks post amputation. Should you want to purse that option, the nutritional consultant I used is outstanding. Her name is Sabine Contreras and her website is http://www.bett.....ogcare.com. Her rates for diet formulation are really reasonable as well. She will help you formulate a diet that you are comfortable feeding (anything from raw, to cooked or kibble, etc..) and that is also within your price point! I too, was feeding cottage cheese to Lily until she told me that it contains too much salt and subsequently recommended whole milk ricotta cheese instead.
Like you, I am also going to add on K-9 Immunity Plus to Lily's regimen. I've done some extensive price comparison for the 31-70 lb wafers and the best price I've found is on Amazon...$37.95 (free 2 day shipping with the Prime membership).
I have also turned to Eastern/naturopathic medicine to help attack Lily's cancer as well. In fact, I just had a phone consultation with an integrative veterinarian in Tucson, AZ yesterday...He recommended adding on the K9 Immunity Plus as well as another supplement called Cell Support. The Cell Support has a lot of different things in it that helps support repair, free radical defense, immune strengthening, detoxification and tissue healing. I ordered some today...it can be found on http://www.2docs.net under the green label supplements. In addition to that, he is going to start Lily on an oral herbal chemotherapeutic agent called Neoplascene as well as something called Artemisinin (an extract of sweet wormwood that preferentially kills cancer cells).
Sorry this turned out to be so long and off the subject but I thought I would share in case any of this will help you and Stella!
Lily is 9 y/o Shepherd/Lab/Pit mix who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 5/26/2012. Left front ampuversary 5/29/12. Eastern and Western medicine used to attack the cancer. Splenectomy secondary to mets 8/24/12. Mets to right rear femur, neck and lungs 9/21/12. Sweet Lily fought hard for 4 months and earned her wings on 9/27/12. Run free and chase those squirrels my love bug!
Thank you so much for the information!! I am going to check out that site and get this ball rolling. I've decided to keep Stella on the Wellness Core Reduced Fat, and last night I found a canned food called Hounds & Gatos. It's grain-free and 98% beef (they also have chicken, salmon, lamb/chicken/salmon combo, and others I think). I mix the canned and the kibble together and she gobbles that right up. I'll start mixing some ricotta in there as well. I've also thought about starting her on Artemisinin , but I'm a little afraid of it...I need to read up more on it.
Again, thanks so much for the information. This site has been a Godsend!
I just wrote up a big long thing for the nutrition blog here on Arte, so hopefully that will be up soon and you can take a look at it for some info on starting it. It's very safe - so is there something specific you a "little" afraid about?
It's kind of a pain to dose - at least it was for us cuz Abby wasn't a great eater, so she'd often eat later than I wanted her to. Since you have to wait 3-4 hours after a meal to give it, I was often staying up later than I liked, just to give her her arte.
Anyway - if you have ??s in the meantime, you can always send me a PM.
Jackie
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!
jerry said
I don't see why that wouldn't be OK. In fact, too many Tripawds are overweight, so we always encourage folks to keep their pups on a lean feeding schedule. At some point, however, cancer tends to make dogs lose weight too quickly, which is when you might want to consider adding something like cottage cheese or other good fats (salmon, olive oil) as a topper. Just make sure Maggie doesn't get jealous!You are to be commended for managing both dogs' health needs so well. What an excellent dog pawrent you are!
Jerry, I appreciate your kind words. I can't imagine not doing everything possible for my girls to help them feel better and live better.
1 Guest(s)
