Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I’m a bit worried about Meg, as she has started chewing her rear feet. Its something that has increased over the last few weeks. At first, I thought she was just chewing the mud off, as her back feet always seemed to be muddy. But now I have finally realised (Duh!) that the reason her feet are muddy is because she keeps chewing them so they’re wet and then walking in the flower beds etc. (It’s been really dry here).
Its the tops of her feet that she is chewing, and she is also licking her wrist on the front leg. I’ve examined them closely and can see no sign of skin irritation etc., so my fear is that she is in pain, or at least discomfort, from arthritis in her toes.
Unfortunately, her rehab vet is away until the middle of the week after next, when we are seeing her. Meg is seeing her regular (three-legged) vet on Tuesday and she will obviously check her out. The thing is she’s on a considerable cocktail of pain meds already (Metacam, Amantadine, Gabapentin and Paracetamol/Tylenol) as well dasuquin, turmeric, fish oil, acupuncture and laser. So if it’s coming through all that, I’m worried that there may not be a huge amount more we can do 😥 Adequan isn’t licensed for dogs here. Cosequin is, but in the view of her rehab vet, this wouldn’t help her (I don’t know if anyone has experience of it. I think it’s licensed in Canada too). Galliprant has (finally!) been approved, so that might be something.
Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts, we’d love to hear them. Or alternative suggestions as to what it might be, though unfortunately I think I know what it is.
Thanks!
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Just so you know, my first thought alao was, "Of course her feet are muddy and wet! Meg is ALWAYS muddy and wet head to toe!"
Frankie does some paw gnawing sometimes, as well as leg and paw licking. It's not a non stop type of thing, but when he does it, it's with Huston and lots of spit! Because his attitude is so RockStar awesome and, although I know he has arthritis, I just sort of "accept" it goes with the territory.....sort of. .You have gone above and beyond in doing EVERYTHING possible for Meg....far more than I have for my Frankie! Shhh....dont tell him though!! You are such a good Mom!
Sometimes when Frankie does the gnawing/licking, I think maybe his leg or Jo's paw has "gone to sleep". You know, that tingling, numb feeling you get qhen thst happens? The other thing is (or st least I've told myself this), it's their way of sort of massaging their arthritic joints. With my arthritis, I find myself massaging my knees a lot to try and take some of the ache away. Doesn't work worth squat, but do it anyway.
Oh, and one more thing! I wouldn't discount allergies. I know foot gnawing is often a sign.
I know some people swear by the CBD oil for arthritis for dogs and people. Haven't tried it, but something to consider.
How is her attitude? Other than "this", is she still her sassy RockStar bloomer growing self?
Lots of love to you dear Clare❤
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS.......A post without a picture????? Have you lost your mind????? Not too late to redeem yourself!!!
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!
Wait, her other vet has three legs? Wow! 
It's great to hear from you even if it is about a worry of yours! And you know you can come here anytime, happy, confused, worried, however you feel!
Ok, if it is some kind of pain signal, then fear not, there are lots of things her vet team can do. Pain medications can be tweaked, adjusted, replaced and managed differently as a Tripawd ages. For example, last year Wyatt had muscle soreness pain that we addressed with Methocarbamol (I believe it's also known as Robaxin in the UK). At his last visit, the PTs determined he doesn't have muscle pain any more so we took that away, but we upped his Gabapentin and added Amantadine (at night) into the mix and it's working well for him.
If you haven't already I highly recommend a copy of Dr. Petty's Pain Relief for Dogs. It's got the whole gamut of pain relief options for any situation and may make you feel better about her options until you meet with her team.
We'll be waiting for a pupdate!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I also wanted to add that it's the time of year when people are doing all sorts of things to their lawns and gardens. Is she walking on neighbors' grasses and soils? If so, is there a chance they are dousing it with some chemicals that may be causing her irritation?
(I remembered this thanks to Kaiserin's adorable canine cancer campaign!)
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks, both for your kind responses, as ever.
Sally, I don't think it can be her feet going to sleep. She's really doing it a LOT. I mean many times a day. I like the idea it could be self massage and maybe it does help them feel better. I actually have pain in my own toes sometimes. Perhaps I should try chewing them...
I agree with you both that allergies or a reaction to some sort of pesticide is possible. I would like it to be that. I don't use any chemicals in my garden (a bit of seaweed extract on the plants sometimes) and I'm certain there's nothing where we walk but I suppose it is possible that something has drifted over if they've been spraying the fields. We've got parsley in the field by us this year, which we haven't had before, so they may be treating it with something different.
She does already take CBD oil actually. I forgot to add it to the list...
As for attitude, well she's her high maintenance MegaStar self, sassy as hell, voluminous bloomers, ordering roast chicken non stop and beating me at Scrabble. She didn't want a walk today or yesterday though and when she does walk we don't go far at all and she still takes loads of breaks.
Here's a pic of her last week on the way to swimming.
Rene,
Thanks. I do have Dr Petty's Pain Relief for Dogs, but haven't actually consulted it on this, which is a bit daft. I'll have a look. I will talk to the vet about maybe adjusting her meds and/or changing the timing of them. She takes the Amantadine in the morning at the moment and the Metacam at night. The gabapentin and the paracetamol she takes both morning and evening. We call her the three-legged vet because she had a three-legged dog herself as a child, and that's why she wanted to become a vet. Then at vet school, she wrote her thesis on the gait of three-legged dogs. She does have a real name, Charlotte, but Meg calls her the three-legged vet.
Apologies that we haven't been around much these last months and thanks, as always, for making us feel so welcome.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Cool, I think you are set.
It's hard not to worry. Whenever Wyatt has an off day (he is also 10) I tend to imagine the worst. But then I have to remind myself that I'm not always 100% "on" myself, so why should he?
Glad you have the book!
I would LOVE to read your vet's thesis. Any chance you might be able to mention that to her when you see her? I know you'll have far more important things on your mind but if you remember, let her know she's got some fans over here! She is definitely someone whose work we would like to get to know better.
The photo of Meg is wonderful! It's her pawer pose!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMD! That picture of the Diva in her Royal Highness pose...as Rene said, her pawer pose...LMAO😂🤣
And you, Ms Clare, write THE most fun posts, full of wit and MegAStar sass and humor, even when you are a worried Mom!! Of course, with a dog like Meg, there is no other option😎
With Meg still beating you at Scrabble and still being her high maintenance self, I kind of tend to lean towards some sort of paw "contact allergy", maybe as opposed to arthritic pain...mayve??? Now, what that would be, I have no clue. Any new cleaning product in the house used on the floors.....something like that?
As far as Meg taking more breaks on her walks, I think part of this is the result of being a tripawd sll theee uears, the arthritis and "maturing". Okay, Im not sure about "maturing" being anything furever puppy Meg would ever understand, so we'll say "aging"..
Frankie lays down to eat now. Prefers drinking water while laying down. Oh, he'll still chase something up and down the fence, or howl at something he "trees" up a tree. But he will spend a lot of time laying down any inbetween rime. Even when cou ter surgie g and getting his prize, he lays down on the floor to chew whatever it is he's not supposed to have.
Paw chewing aside, guess I'm saying some 'slow down"...some days not feeling like doing as much as other days.....just goes with the territory of being an "aging" tripawd.
Seems like Rene posted an article/blog about dogs "self regulating" their activity. Can't really remember the take away. Seems like it tended to think self regulating was due moreso tompain as opposed to a conscious effort to take things slow kn any given day. May be waylay off base, but seems like that was the thrust of the article. I DO believe Frankie "self regulates" and, on some days, choses not to expend as much energy as others...just because nothing is interesting enough to do so. Rambling...not making any sense.
Guess trying to say wouldn't be worried about Meg having an "off" day, or taking lots pf breaks on walks. She's doing what SHE wants in her way, when she wants!!! Nothing new about that sassy attitude at all!!!😎😎😎
Now, how bout some pictures of her beating you kn Scrabbble??😉
Love always
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Hey Clare,
Love that pic of Meg. I see all the photos you post on FB- love them all!
Is there any chance that she is having an allergic reaction to something? Quad Pug Obie is allergic to grass (if not physically then mentally!) and when he spends any time on grass he chews and licks his feet.
I actually have pain in my own toes sometimes. Perhaps I should try chewing them…
I would be quite impressed if you could make this happen... I think I was 2 years old the last time I could have done this 
.
Any way you could be some heat on her paws? I know heat makes my hands and knees and... feel better when they are sore. I'm not sure how to do this- with booties somehow? My fingers do feel better when I flex them and massage a little- so maybe if she would tolerate that.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
So we saw the three-legged vet today and there's basically good news and bad news.
The bad news is that I am officially an irredeemable IDIOT.
The good news is basically everything else. Meg is doing really well. The foot chewing is the result of some mild dermatitis between the toes on her back feet, caused by grass seed irritation. There were actually several grass seeds between her toes... I mean I KNOW about the dangers of grass seed, and I do check her coat and ears and feet, but somehow missed these between her back toes, even though I was actively looking for the source of her irritation. I think I was so convinced it was arthritis that I didn't see what was literally in front of my eyes. There is actually no sign of any arthritis in the toes of her back feet, which is great news.
So idiocy apart, I am very pleased indeed. Meg is taking antihistamines and I am bathing with saline and CHECKING FOR GRASS SEEDS...
Thanks Sally, René and Karen for your support and suggestions.
Here's a pic of the Munchkin, doubtless relieved that the penny has finally dropped...
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
GRASS SEED?????? YAAAAAAY!!!! So glad this got figured out!!! I'm surprised she hadn't started growing grass between her toes as wet and muddy as she stays!😎 PIe in the sky mist ve laughing her vutt off😂
Grass seed between the toes? Still shaking my head. Meg, only Meg wou6 accumulate these little prizes. Maybe she was saving them as a little snack for later. Seeds and toe jam...yummy!🤣
Idiot???? Noooo waaaay!! Well.....actually.......hmmm....let's revisit that. After all, we are dealing with "the genius of Meg". And with her smarts she can make us all look like idiots anytime she decides to!!
Realky glad this got resolved with such a great outcome 😎
And especially glad we got to see another great picture of her smug self! Love this dog...and her hooman!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
OK- did you recently trim her bloomers? Perhaps she usually keeps her grass seeds tucked into her bloomers but if they are too short she had to find somewhere else to keep them.
I think 'idiot owner' is one of the best diagnosis' you can get all things considered. I dare anyone who has had pets for a long time, especially any kind of special needs pet to claim they have never qualified for that title!
Hummm... that might make an interesting forum topic...
Seriously though- glad to know she is OK and no arthritis in her toes is a great thing to know.
Karen and the Spirit Put Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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