TRIPAWDS: Home to 22969 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

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.

JUMP TO FORUMS

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!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon-c
Nutritionist developed Food & Supplement Plan - Thought I'd share!
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Clearwater, FL
Member Since:
30 July 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
18 August 2015 - 3:02 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Hi everyone!

Well, today is 3 weeks post amputation for us (left forelimb) and my Zeus has OSA. We start our first round of Carboplatin this Thursday, so I am nervous for that!

However, I've already met with a nutritionist at the University of Florida (where we're having everything done) and he is going to work side by side with us during chemo and will modify the plan every two weeks. Whether it's before, during, or after chemo, I think this plan and supplements are awesome. The goal is to get his immune system to 150% and use cancer killing natural supplements. 

He charged $160 for the consultation and plan. I would be happy to share this with anyone who can benefit from it and save you some money! (check my notes at the bottom of this)

Here's the plan: (this is copied and pasted)

We discussed home-prepared diet strategies generally. We would advise that you start with a specific recipe in order to assess his tolerance to the specific nutrients. After a week or so on the diet, we could change the ingredients included within the diet while maintaining a similar nutrient profile. The following is the daily recipe which we recommend. We have calculated his calorie requirements at about 1,200 per day. (Zeus is a 55lb pit bull)

PER DAY (I divide into two meals)

12 ounces of chicken breast cooked with skin (measured before cooking)

4 ounces of salmon fillet (can be canned if necessary, measured before cooking)

1/2-1 cup of mixed vegetables (focusing on carrots, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, cauliflower, green beans)

4 ounces of sweet potato

1/4 cup of brown rice (measured dry)

2 tablespoons of butter

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

1 teaspoon of calcium carbonate powder (you can use oyster shell calcium or purchase a pure calcium carbonate from NOW foods or similar brand)

1/2 teaspoon of iodized salt

1/2 tablet of Source Naturals Mega-One vitamin (available at amazon.com and other retailers)

You can make multiple days worth of food and freeze as necessary.

 

Medication Recommendations:

Please continue to give carprofen (Rimadyl) as needed.

Please continue to give all other medications as directed by the oncology group.

Supplement Recommendations

Natural Factors Curcumin: 600 mg capsule

Give 1 capsule by mouth twice daily with food. This supplement is a natural anti-inflammatory without any known contraindications for concurrent use with carprofen (Rimadyl) and chemotherapy agents. Side effects are rare, and generally limited to vomiting or diarrhea. Call us if these occur.

Artemisinin: 100 mg capsule

Give 1 capsule by mouth twice daily with food. This is an extract from a plant which has been shown to have activity against canine osteosarcoma cell lines. The clinical trials are still pending. The product works by causing damage to the cancer cells, and it should have a synergistic effect with chemotherapy. However, we have used this herb in other cases of osteosarcoma with few side effects. Some sensitive animals, however, have vomited shortly after administration of this product. Call us if this occurs.

Mush Medicinal Mushroom Blend: Powder

Several varieties of mushrooms contain sugar-like compounds which stimulate various parts of the immune system. We recommend that you give 1 teaspoon of powder twice daily mixed with food. Side effects have not been noted in our experience, but if they were to occur they would likely be diarrhea or vomiting.

Boswellia Extract: 500 mg capsule

Boswellia (frankincense) contains compounds suggested to reduce inflammation in arthritis. It may provide a natural alternative to long-term carprofen administration. Please give 1 capsule by mouth daily.

 

*** I have also added Essiac Tea (Caisse's tea) twice per day on an empty stomach. I mix 1oz Essiac Tea with 4oz chicken broth (left over from cooking the chicken) and give it 30 min before breakfast and 30 min before dinner. 

 

TIPS: 

Zeus is a 55lb pit bull. He was 61 lbs prior to amputation. I am giving both Zeus and my other dog, Pennie, this meal plan everyday. I've been giving it since Friday. I have it split into two meals, use a food scale and quart sized ziploc bags for everything. I add the butter (I'm using organic ghee), coconut oil, salt and supplements all at meal time. Just the food is pre mixed.

When buying the supplements, look at whether they are tablets, liquid, or capsules and the strength so that you can give one tablet versus two. I bought a pill cutter/crusher and that is helping a lot. The curcumin I open up and  sprinkle on his food. The artmeisinin and mushroom blend (by host defense, called Stamets 7) are both liquid. The boswelia, multi-vitamin, and rimadyl (Rx) I crush and sprinkle on his food as well. The calcium carbonate is also called Bone Meal Powder and that's a powder form. 

Also, this past weekend Whole Foods was having 25% off of their supplements and I purchased a discount card for $40 that got me an additional 20% off supplements, so I got 45% off! I bought double of everything. They did not have the mega one vitamin, artemisia, or calcium carbonate (bone meal powder), so I purchased those elsewhere.

This sounds overwhelming at first, and believe me it was, I cried on Friday trying to do it all. I can give you more tips if you'd like, just let me know. 

I hope this helps anyone struggling with what to feed their Tripawd!:-)  

Heather

Heather

Pit Bull Mama to Zeus (10 year old Tripawd :-) & Pennie (5 year old) 

Zeus became a Tripawd on 07-28-2015 and surgery was done at the University of Florida. He had a sarcoma in his left elbow joint and amputation was done of the entire arm and shoulder blade. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 08-12-2015. Secondary cancer - Adenocarcinoma - in anal gland diagnosed and removed in October 2015. Finished 6 rounds of Carboplatin on 12-21-2015!!! Woohoo!!!!

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
18 August 2015 - 5:10 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Heather - wow... this is SO helpful! Thank you for sharing ... I don't have a larger dog but I know others will greatly benefit from this! 

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

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
18 August 2015 - 8:38 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thank you Heather, what an awesome plan, we appreciate your sharing it. Zeus is definitely gonna kick some butt! And Pennie too 🙂 It's always terrific to see what options are out there and learn how others are staying healthy with and without cancer in the picture.

Just a standard disclaimer here for anyone reading this . . . before embarking on any kind of nutrition plan, it's always best to discuss your ideas with a nutritionist as Heather did. All dogs are different and what works for one may not work for another.

For more great tips about choosing supplements and holistic-centered care please visit the Tripawds Nutrition blog and check out this recent Tripawd Talk Radio interview with Dr. Judy Morgan, holistic-vet and author of "From Needles to Natural."

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
3 September 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
21 September 2015 - 12:48 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Thank you Heather! We just got our OSA diagnosis today, 10 days post-amputation. Levi is just about the exact same weight as Zeus, so I'm going to use this recipe until we can get an appt with a holistic doc of our own. Thanks again!

Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd. 

Clearwater, FL
Member Since:
30 July 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
21 September 2015 - 12:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

That is so great to hear! How is he doing? Zeus is a week shy of 2 months (on the 28th) post amputation and you wouldn't believe how different things are. People ask me if he was born like that! The hair is completely back, he gets around perfectly, it's incredible. We've now done 2 rounds of carboplatin with very mild nausea and that was it. He had no complications healing from the surgery and so far chemo has been easy too. If you're at the 10 day mark, things should be improving for you a little by now. A week from now, you'll be amazed at how much better he will be! 

 

Let me know if you have any questions, they've been eating that meal plan for a while now and they love it. Do you have a Fresh Market (grocery store) near you? They have all natural, hormone free, boneless skinless chicken breast every tuesday for $2.99/lb. Just thought i'd share, you'll be buying a lot of chicken! 

 

Best wishes to Levi!!

Heather

Pit Bull Mama to Zeus (10 year old Tripawd :-) & Pennie (5 year old) 

Zeus became a Tripawd on 07-28-2015 and surgery was done at the University of Florida. He had a sarcoma in his left elbow joint and amputation was done of the entire arm and shoulder blade. Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 08-12-2015. Secondary cancer - Adenocarcinoma - in anal gland diagnosed and removed in October 2015. Finished 6 rounds of Carboplatin on 12-21-2015!!! Woohoo!!!!

Member Since:
3 September 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
22 September 2015 - 9:43 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

He's doing very well, thanks for asking! Our updates are here, in case you're interested:

tripawds.com/forums/share-your-story/levi-tripawd-to-be/page-4/#

I don't know of a Fresh Market nearby, but I'll certainly look into it - thanks for the tip! I cooked everything up yesterday and fed him some for dinner and some for breakfast today. I ordered him the Naturals Mega-One and Calcium Carbonate yesterday.

What do you do for salmon? That seems to be the most expensive item...I got 6 cans of boneless/skinless by BumbleBee, at $1.83/can. They say they are 5 oz cans, but that must be WITH the water, because when I drain it and put it in the food, it's just short of the 4 oz that I need. Normal canned salmon (the bigger ones) have the bones still in them, but you can eat them - is that OK to use? Wasn't sure if your nutritionist specified or not.

And sweet potato? I got full ones yesterday, but I was thinking about canned. Then I saw that the only ones canned at the store I was at were in that syrup, which is obviously a huge no-no due to the sugar. Perhaps I can find it canned without the syrup though.

Levi was diagnosed w/likely osteosarcoma at 7.5 years old in 7/2015 and became a Tripawd on 9/11/15. Loved life until he broke one of his front legs on 2/12/17. As x-rays showed clean bone, we decided to repair the leg. He recovered well, but in June of 2017, started to limp on the same leg. X-Rays showed return of OSA in the front leg. Levi crossed the rainbow bridge on 7/20/17, after over 22 months as a happy Tripawd. 

Member Since:
8 October 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
17 November 2015 - 12:30 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

This is very helpful! My dog is currently on the same dog food and is currently diagnosed with the same cancer and is taking the same chemo medication. The only difference is she is 136 pounds....so I will have to adjust this recipe a bit. LOL. But thank you for sharing! 

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 205
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17731
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256797
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG