Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I've noticed that Holly's coat is thinning - not nearly as thick as it was last winter. She's on the metronomic therapy (low dose chemo), fish oil, pepcid ac and glucosamine. Does anyone have any ideas for other supplements I can give her that might help her thicken up her coat? I remember my mom used to give our golden an egg once a week for her coat, but am not sure if that really does anything (although I did give Holly an egg this morning to try!). It's getting cold here in Illinois, and I have a fleece coat for her to wear outside on the really cold days, but was just wondering if anyone has any ideas for helping her to thicken up her own coat so she won't need her fleece as much.
The food she's eating is mixture of Evo chicken and Blue Wild formula. I haven't switched her off of Evo yet... was thinking I would do that at some point.
Thanks!
Susan
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
That's strange!
Her blood work was fine so you don't have to worry about it being medical. Maybe it's just coming late? Comet sheds almost year round so I can never tell. Rocket's hair is a mess 365 days a year and doesn't seem to change after he grew some adult hair.
I'm into 2% cottage cheese with their Blue regular kibble. Call it a coincidence but she has felt so much better since giving her cottage cheese. Except I made the mistake of buying the Kroger brand once and after one bite both of them spit it out! They prefer Walmart's! (I agree with them, Walmarts is better!)
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.
Trouble loves the Kroger brand! She eats it every day.
I prefer it myself, when the mood strikes me.
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.
Jerry never had any fur issues during his metronomic therapy. He also ate cottage cheese (and flax oil) as part of his canine cncer diet and supplements and always had a full, soft, shiny coat.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just some thoughts....she is eating grain free now right? Maybe a little grain might help her coat. I know a few years back when I switched Maggie to a BARF diet that didn't have any grain in it, her coat got skimpy and her energy level got lower(Bravo Blends raw).
You could also try adding Missing Link to her diet....that may help her coat. I use that on my girls and their coats are soft and full.
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
Trouble loves the Kroger brand!
She won't if she ever gets a taste for Walmart's! She'll be spitting out that Kroger stuff, too!
I'm a, load up the cottage cheese with black pepper person myself. I like a little cottage cheese with my pepper!
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.
Hi Holly and Susan
Tazzie did have fur issues. First with the high-dose chemo and then again with low-dose. I think our low-dose was about twice the amount used by some other dogs around here (same as Maximutt, more than Jerry). Having said that, his coat had not really recovered from the former before we began the latter. I can't remember – was Holly on regular chemo and in particular doxyrubin (Adriamycin) before now?
One thing that seemed to help was when we began the power mushrooms. I think tazziedog said the same thing about her Tazzie, although she is not around to confirm that (heck – we can put any words in her mouth this week, can't we Comet?!?).
Winter coats are probably the way to go. Sometimes I left a fleece sweater on Tazzie when he was indoors, but he found that too hot.
Thanks, Susan! She did have regular chemo - 6 rounds of carboplatin. And I think you're right, although I hadn't thought about it - her coat hadn't recovered from that before we started the low dose chemo. I will look into power mushrooms - that's worth trying! I am also thinking I may let her hair grow a little longer before she gets her next trim - I think when she was on IV chemo I didn't brush her as much because she wasn't feel well for alot of the time so her coat got matted and the groomer went really short with it. We kept it short through the summer and I never told the groomer to start letting it grow long again. That may help, too.
Thanks,
Susan and Holly
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Hi Susan (it feels like we are talking to ourselves!)
Carboplatin is not supposed to result in hair loss the way that doxy does.
However, from your last post, it is obvious that Holly has evergrowing hair (like a terrier or poodle of course!). Evergrowing hair is supposed to be more likely to fall out. They always say that definitive hair (the kind most dogs have, which stops growing at a certain length) won't fall out. That is not exactly true, for Tazzie's hair did (and I'm sure others have). But that may explain why Holly seems to be more susceptible then some of the other tripups.
Having said this, Tazzie's hair issues were far most pronounced to the places that were growing back after surgery, which meant the hair follicles were active, so I suppose it would be somewhat similar to an ever-growing hair that way. The tail hair tended to fall out even though that of course had not been shaved.
anyemery said:
I will look into power mushrooms - that's worth trying!
FYI: We compiled a bunch of links about Power Mushrooms here, and also wrote this Tripawds Nutrition blog post about Ganoderma.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks everybody! I bought some cottage cheese yesterday, and will order power mushrooms (and remember to link through tripawds!) today. Holly's always loved cottage cheese, so that one is a no brainer. 
I'll aslo look into Missing Link - I don't know anything about that!
Thanks!
Susan and Holly
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
anyemery said:
I'll aslo look into Missing Link – I don't know anything about that!
Missing Link is a supplement meant to replace anything that may be missing from the diet. It was first developed for horses, but has since blossomed into just about every area – dog, cat, birds. Go directly to their website to start your research. There are many formulas to choose from – some vegetarian, some with glucosamine, some vegetarian w/glucosamine, and the original with (I think) liver derivatives. You can choose the one that best suits your needs. I ordered my last through Only Natural Pet Store (click through from this site) at a significant savings. I did discover when I got it I had ordered the vegetarian without glucosamine, but since Trouble gets a daily glucosamine anyway I didn't fret too much. Petco carries a limited variety – two, I think.
I've had Trouble on it since she had her non-mobility issue in June, and so far haven't been affected again, may or may not be related to the Missing Link, but in my opinion it doesn't hurt.
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.
Thanks, Shanna! I will look at that link (to Missing Link) and try that also.
Susan - I forgot to mention that Holly's coat is hair as opposed to fur. She's a terrier, and doesn't shed. What you said makes good sense to me - her coat is probably acting like the area where Tazzie was shaved. I've got some great suggestions here - now have to get ordering!
Thanks again!
Susan and Holly
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
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