Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Otis' cooling blanket arrived. I have seen him on it twice. Too early to tell if that is a preference or a coincidence. Will be interesting to see if he sleeps on it tonight.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
We might have to invest in one ... Jasper is a quadpawd but we live in Southern CA at the beach so thus ... no AC. These 80+ days are brutal for the little black dog. I have lots of fans and our windows open but I definitely notice a difference in her energy levels during summer. Even at night when it is cooler at 70, I have to drag her on her walks!
Let us know if this helps!!
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
100 pound Tripawd in my bed panting. Cooling mat on the floor. For what it's worth, the cooling pad does feel cooler. I just do not want it in my bed. Actually, I'm kind of stressing - it is still hot, but not as hot and he is panting so heavily. He was pretty active about 20 minutes ago, so maybe that contributes?
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
That probably does have something to do with it.....I've felt the same way with Nitro; but remember, they do have to work harder getting around than a quadpaw, and if you have any of the humidity that we do, that's huge. It's funny that you say the cooling mat is on the floor and he's not on it. I mentioned that neither of my dogs will use the ones we have; so I've started laying on one in bed, and wouldn't you know, Kodi suddenly thinks it's the greatest invention ever! He gets so restless when it's hot, but since he discovered the mat, he's been sleeping like a rock.
Try to remain calm with the panting. If it were 20 below outside, maybe there'd be a reason to be concerned. I will try to remain calm as well.
Paula and NItro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
I can alllllmost guarantee that this panting is something he has always done on hot and humid days.....he just wasn't being watched 24/7 like this crazy journey makes us do!
Right now Frankie is stretched out on tne floor not panting. Merry Myrtle is stretched out in front of the fan panting like crazy.....a dvery she's the quadpawd! AND, a storm just cam throughand dropped the temperature to lpw 90 and that's fairly "cool" right now!
The heat...and especially the humidity just zaps the heck out our pups! We can come in, drink ice cold drinks, take a cool shower and feel a bit cooler, at least for a few minutes. They just have to keep panting to try to expel the heat.
Ltis wasactive twenty mi ites ago? Craaaaazy boy! No wonder!
Hugs...and ice cubes 🙂
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!
Christine even with the air on Riley will still pant in front of the fan after being active. And he's not a Tripawd so I imagine it's way harder on a Tripawd. Let's all hope for some cooler less humid weather soon!
Hugs, Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
I wish I had the answers but I really think it's heat, being a tripawd and that fur coat!!! It was only 76 yesterday when we did our pm walk and Jasper stopped and refused to move. She is a healthy quadpawd but she was panting up a storm and simply done. I didn't think it was that hot but I was also in shorts and a tank top so I can reduce my layers where she cannot....
Hoping you get a cool front soon!!!
Hugs!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
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
Moved the chill mat onto my bed last night (not a surprise that I am still single. . .). Tess was immediately on it, and slept with her head and upper body on it most of the night. Otis was on it a bit in the morning. So, jury is still out. They might like it, but clearly not enough to sleep on the floor.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hey mom! Sleeping on the floor is SO uncivilized! And I see nothing wrong with sharing my bed with dogs......my hub knows he'd have to leave it before the fur-kids would - and he's ok with that 🙂
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
That is such a WELL trained husband, Paula !!!
In our case, my partner moved to another bedroom as it was us or the dog ... and the dog won 
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Chill mat got kicked out of bed when I woke up one night squeezed into the top right corner of the bed, Tess on the bottom right, Otis on the top left, and the chill mat all alone in the lower left quarter of the bed. I have seen both dogs on it from time to time, although not so much that I can say it is preferred over the sofa, tile, dog beds, etc. Fortunately temp has dropped some. We still get some panting after the 30 minute period of extreme silliness which takes place each night after I get home, but it is less extreme and sounds more like "I'm tired" than "I'm gasping for air."
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
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