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.
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Bailey, a 15 day post amp. has been throwing her food out of her bowl like she eats it and comes back and lays down. I have never seen her do this prior to her surgery. She actually takes her nose and shovels it out like she's not happy. But she eats about a cup for breakfast with chicken and a cup for dinner with chicken? Losing a lot of weight! Anyone?
Is she still on any medication? Is she doing chemo? That can affect their taste buds for sure. Shelby would pick certain things out of her food right after her treatments (things she always liked to eat before). How long has Bailey been doing this? Is there a way you can mix her food with something she does really like to get her to eat more of it?
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
How is Bailey doing-did they ever figure out what was causing the black stools? I've been thinking of you and Bailey and hoping all is well. Maybe more chicken with her food for awhile--so hard to figure out what's going on.
Joan and Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Bailey ate real well the first two days home. Chicken and rice and a little kibble. Then she stopped and quit drinking too. So we have been on a roller coaster in and out of critical care. Her staples came out on Thursday. But after the second day home she was just hitting her bowl hard and then flipping it out with her nose. She won't eat just chicken or hamburger cooked, pasta, rice or anything. She has a raised feeder. We have tried everything. She ate a cup this morning of chicken and kibble mix but tonight didn't eat much but a few bites... so confused. The weather has been nice so she has been out on our deck enjoying the warm air. I just want her excited to eat like she use to be and counter surf! 
Joan and Lily,
Bailey is doing better. The vet called today and the results from her biopsy were what they had thought OS. They never really gave me an answer to her black stool other than there was no blood in it. She had a UTI infection and was on so much medicine. She is currently off all of it. I just wish she would eat, started at 138, then after surgery 125, then Sunday when we brought her to critical care 121 and this past Thursday 119. She is drinking water more but it's like sometimes she forgets... I think se is depressed.
Thanks for thinking of us. Sounds like Lily is kicking butt!
Thank you so, so much for the update!! It sounds like things are starting to improve
I remember someone telling me to mix tripe (I think it smells a bit) in with Lily's food if she ever lost her appetite. Also, beef or chicken broth for liquids... Please keep us updated. Give Bailey a big hug for us.
Joan and Lily
Our beautiful Lily was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her front leg on 12/14/11 at age 8 and had amp on 12/16/11. She completed 5 rounds of carbo. She was so brave and kicked cancer's butt daily! She lived life fully for 4 years, 3 months, and 15 days after her amp. My angel is a warrior princess. I miss her so much.
Keetah wouldn't eat 2 days post amp, I had to hand feed her. she would lick it out of my hand. She would take antibiotics if I put it in a small piece of chicken wiener. held a different piece in front of her to keep her distracted/focused. Then annoying her stitches. So cone on. so again not eating. She weighed in at 68 lbs a 3 yr old great Pyrenees, always been thin, even when pregnant with 10 puppies, never looked pregnant. so now rear leg post amp raised food dish, she is eating. no more cone, she also started eating a small bit with her cone on. Now doing really well, jumping off and on sofa, laying on blanket on floor, but not indoor trained, did nature break in garage on shavings, when she had cone on and first week post amp. Now, not at all. does it on her blanket on the floor. doesn't whine any more to tell me either. Too cold out side for her and she has been accustomed to warmth of indoors, always been an outdoor dog. Vet said attached, non heated garage too cold. hhhmmm, at some point she is going to need to either be house broken or out side again, at least in the garage on matress/blankets.
NOW when to get her spayed?
Suggestions on all issues, house broken, moving to garage, spayed?
Bailey is not eating and had maybe 40 licks of water. She did get sick yesterday evening which it was the little bit of chicken she ate and a yellow thick liquid. I'm just not getting this she was so excited and eating her first few days at home.
jmcdougall said
NOW when to get her spayed?
Suggestions on all issues, house broken, moving to garage, spayed?
Hi jmc sorry I missed you in the chat this morning. Please start a new topic so we can help you and Keetah and your story won't get lost here. Thanks for joining us, your future posts won't require approval.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm just now catching up on how Bailey is doing, I'm sorry about the roller coaster and the diagnosis. My first thought is just that she was so full of medication right now that her taste buds are just meh. It can take a few days for antibiotic side effects to fade out. She's not on them anymore right?
Decreased appetite is not unusual especially when a dog is dealing with post-op issues. It's hard because we all want our dogs to eat, but dogs instinctively know to save their energy for healing and not digestion. As long as she is eating something now that's good, but I'm concerned about the vomiting. Have you talked to your vet about an anti-nausea/ appetite stimulant? I'm sure you must be so sick of pills right now but they do help.
Here's a few posts that also might help you, I hope they do and I hope she eats today.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
so darn sorry Bailey is shavng such a rough recover.....I know it's very worrisome but not too unusual..
I know we've mentiined this before but PLEASE go get a second opinion. Black stool, brown urine,frothing, sneezing, NOT "normally" found to be part of a"normal" slower recovery......not drinking and not eating can be part of the recovery process. I'm sure the vet checked Bailey's temperature, right?
My Happy Hannah didn't want to drnk water either.Try this...it did work for . Give Bailey a spoon of either vanilla or chocolate e cream. Let her start licing it then put remander in a little bowl of water...stirrng it up up some and that should do the trick!
The weight loss could be just not weighing her properly on the scales, slong with the weight of the leg. Now, here I go again thoug...PLEASE take her to another vet for a second opinion
AND, you know you had us all on pins and needles by not re-posting again 'til today! We're cheering you and Bailey on and walking by your side on this journey. We understand your frustratiin and your fears. These first two to three weeks are rough to begin with. When you add so e of this additial challenges it can almost throw you over the edge! But stay attached to us...we won't let you go!
Hang in there! It does get better!
Hugs to you and Baiey (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
We're craving more details! Such as: does she still have black/dark stool? Have you changed her kibble? Have you changed vets????
Important questions!
I love Sally's idea and know that it worked: ice cream! Another member here, Karma, her senior pup will now only eat out of a plate, no longer a bowl. How about trying a new place and/or surface for yours? A glass bowl? A plate? A dining room chair? Get those fancy, no-fail foods and try: cheeseburgers, ice cream, cottage cheese, hotdogs, cream cheese, sardines, various veggies, bananas, Frosty Paws. Have someone over who's a good friend of hers and get her jazzed! Maybe on a nice day, take her out and hand feed her? Maybe instead of trying to have her eat her regular 2 or 3 meals a day, let her graze. Offer her snacks all day long.
Keep us posted!
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
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