Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So it's been a rough ride for Miss Rosie. After the Dastinab she had a lot of trouble walking. It got better. But again it's bad! Of course it's the TPLO leg!
We were doing rehab and lots of core strengthening. She had 12 water treadmill sessions with lots of good exercises. Then I stopped going to rehab because of the issues with neutropenia and then the 20+ mets.
We have a dog door. I think she pulled a muscle probably her hip flexor. The problem is the TPLO leg muscle has wasted away. Anyway I have to help her up, feed her by hand. She's still happy, still wags and if it wasn't for the bum rear leg she'd be doing good.
I feel terrible. Like damn I should have kept up the rehab, should have made her walk more. My excuse is week- work 50 hours a week and 2 dogs in Chemo. It's a 3 hour ordeal to get the vet and on and on. I felt like I had to save her life and that we had time to gradually get her strong. Then the mets-and everything g spiraled down so fast.
Braden's neutrophils are at 301. Too dam low. If they get up to a safe level he has chemo next week. I am planning on taking Miss Rosie to the rehab vet and get an evaluation and a 'plan'. Hopefully they can figure out what it is and we can get her better.
Shes on Rymadyl, neurontin and now Codeine with Tylenol.
I needed to lay it all out. Am I putting her through to much?
I need a plan. I need to figure out how to help her given everything else that I have to do. I feel like it's all my fault, but on the other hand most of the rest of my life has been put on hold for the last 6 months. I'm tired. I feel like I can't get anything right.
I hate cancer!!
any ideas? Thoughts?
Gosh, I know this probably doesn't help much but I can't imagine being in your shoes right now. I get so tired myself sometimes trying to make it all work, trying to fit everything in and do the best for my dog and be there for him while working 50 hour weeks. Scheduling his rehab appointments, not getting home until 10pm and then remember that I have not had dinner myself. And we are past the Chemo stage and it's only one dog.
You are not putting Rosie through too much. You may be putting yourself through too much but I know how that goes and I have also learned that our breaking points are farther away than we would have thought. You'll get through this and to take Rosie to to the rehab is a good plan since I am sure they can help you with an educated opinion and they will be able to come up with treatment. Make sure to let them know that a three hour trip is not always an option so they better give you things to do at home.
This darn disease and all its implications make all lives affected so difficult and so uncertain that it is so normal to struggle. You are strong! Don't forget that. Otherwise you wouldn't have gotten this far.
Try asking a friend for help or even just for a sit-in with a glass of wine or two and a good talk. I know it helps me to get it off my chest once in a while even if I need others to push my nose to that fact.
My mother told me the other day that maybe what I should do is go into the woods by myself and just let it all out by yelling really loud 😊 I didn't do that (too many people in the woods around here😊) but the idea is actually not wrong. -just letting it out.
Please feel hugged. I am sure that we are not the only ones here for whom this feeling of being overwhelmed is the new normal but we are strong. We are. You will handle this.
If you need our help get in touch. Really. Do.
Tina & manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
tinsch said
My mother told me the other day that maybe what I should do is go into the woods by myself and just let it all out by yelling really loud 😊 I didn't do that (too many people in the woods around here😊) but the idea is actually not wrong. -just letting it out.
Please feel hugged. I am sure that we are not the only ones here for whom this feeling of being overwhelmed is the new normal but we are strong. We are. You will handle this.
If you need our help get in touch. Really. Do.
Tina & manni
Just love your thoughtful reply. Thank you so very much!!
Online
Yes, ditto Tina!!
You are going through sooooo much right now and it is just plain rotten!!! Glad you came here so we can help support you! No one gets it like we do!!
Okay, first thing we need to do is pull you back from the edge of the abyss! That's a dark place where no resolutions are ever found so we need to get you on firm ground back into the sunlight and back into our plsitive energy field!
Okay, deep breaths......we're tossing you our lifeline on count of three....
ONE....TWO...THREE....BAM!!! Good catch!! Hang on because we've got you away from that edge and back with us, okay?!! Take some more deep breaths....that was hard work...B R E A T H E........B RR E A T H E......
Now, we do have to fuss at you. Hate to do it, but we fuss with "love in our hearts"! From this point forward, DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER say ANY of this is your "fault"!! We will NOT let you beat yourself up like that! Nooe! Won't let you!!
You are exhausted and stressed beyond words. In that state where ojr emotio s are raw and we are constantly on edge and tense, we let stupid thoughts creep in like things being our fault. Nope, we're not gonna let you go there anymore, okay?
ERASE the phrase "my fault" from your vocabulary right NOW!! Seriously, that phrase no longer exists!!! Now, the phrase thst does exist is I AM DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR MY ROSIE AND SHE KNOWS IT!!!! And another phrase I AM STRONGER THAN I REALIZE!!! MY LOVE FOR ROSIE AND BRADEN IS WHAT MAKES ME STRONG!! You are getting through this far better than you give yourself credit! And you know what? It doesn't feel good and it may not lookmlretty, but you ARE handling this with unbelievable courage and strength! It may not feel like it, but we see it!!!!
As Tina said, the Rehab should be able to give you at home directions! It also may be that she needs to NOT do any rehab for the moment, but just rest that hip muscle.
You may try some massage with a warm towel laying on her. That may help, along with the rest and Rimadyl. We may have discussed this before, but would Tramadol be an option over the codeine, or is the codeine what works best for her?
It sounds like Rosie is happy and isn't in any real pain and is enjoying being hand fed! Yeah, dogs love being spoiled!! The mets can make her tire really easily, but generally aren't painful.
Okay our dear friend, STAY CONNECTED and be as good to yourself as you are to your Rosie and Braden!! Yeah, that's a pretty high standard!
Surrounding you with love and hugs from your entire tripawd family
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah 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!
Oh my gosh you are totally exhausted and who can blame you? That's a LOT to deal with. Please, don't blame yourself as the others here have said. You are doing all you can do and going above and beyond what many would.
You will totally have a plan once you see the rehab vet. Don't focus on the worst now, because you really don't know what you're dealing with. She could be fine by the time your appointment rolls around. Stay strong and get to the rehab center so you can find out what's up. Meanwhile, keep her on R&R and love her up as you are so good at doing.
Please keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Totally understand the dilemma as I have two complicated DaBear cases going on concurrently and both are elder dogs. However, you will know when you know in your gut that too much is too much. And your heart. It does not at all sound as if you or Rosie are there. It is just a bump in the road but the bumps jostle us into deep thoughts sometimes. You have done AHHHHHMAAAAZING things for Rosie!!! Think if she had NOT had all of those treatments! So there is no fault AT ALL. And guilt only helps to wear you out. It is a useless emotion. You are over the bump, have a plan, and things can be adjusted as needed. Good for you and Rosie!!!
You need a break. Everything that Tina ( AND Manni and Sally and her pack) have said is spot on. If there is a way for you to do one thing for yourself, what would it be and who could help you? Whatever it is, try to set a goal of getting the reprieve you need within a set time period. Otherwise, we always put ourselves on the back burner. ( I once got in my truck near midnight and drove for hours with my favorite music on and the windows down until early morning...) Or, as Tina's mom implied and my mom would outright say, " GAIN SOME PERSPECTIVE!!!" ( Thanks Mom...) Meaning step out of cancer world for just a bit.
And, of course, you have the entire TriPawds Nation standing with you and thinking of you. We are great listeners so...I reaally, reaaaaaaaallly think Rosie will be doing much better soon.
Best wishes, hugs, and PyrPaws all around!
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Quite apart from anything else, you must be utterly exhausted and that makes it impossible to think straight. I agree with Sally and Tina. Above all, please try not to be so hard on yourself. You don't need an 'excuse' for anything! You have done all that anyone possibly could.You cannot create more hours in the day. You cannot second guess everything. If I hadn't done this, if I had done that etc. etc.... you will drive yourself round the bend. You are a truly remarkable, committed and loving dog mum. I'm sure the rehab vet will come up with a good plan for helping Rosie and Braden is being well looked after too. But please try and see this from the outside. Would you ever criticise anyone else, the way you are criticising yourself? Of course not, never in a million years. Please show yourself that same compassion. You deserve it, in spades. And our admiration too.
Big hug,
Meg, Clare and Elsie 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...
OMG! Thank you so much for everything. You are all absolutely right. If I were responding to my own post I would have said many of the same things. I did take a break for the morning and did some self care. Yeah me. This is a tiring journey and I am so good at taking care of everything and everyone else that I do forget to care for me too.
Rosie is my youngest daughters service dog. My youngest also is in Europe for six weeks. I so want my daughter here when it's time to say goodbye. It adds to the stress.
So although I am not a nap person, I've been taking naps with the puppies and catch up on sleep over the weekends. It gives me the energy to get through the work week.
Anyway-you are right. Rehab vet knows Rosie well and will diagnose what's going on and give me a good home based plan. She was the one who found the OSA. She is very good.
One dog day at a time.
Thank you so much for letting me fall apart, and helping me get out back together again. It's so much appreciated!!!
kellye and the pack🐕💕🐕🐕
Naps can do wonderful things for perspective! 
Gator and I take one together a couple of times a month and I am not dealing with any of the things you are!
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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