Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Since our last post, I appreciated all the advice and I got Vader to the vets. Now the vet told us the moment we signed in at reception that she had watched him walk from the car and had noticed his elbow sticks out a fair bit, altering his gait. I did tell her when I first got him that he was admired for adapting so well, he placed his paw directly in the middle under his chin. So since then, something has caused this to change.
In the examination room, she felt his leg and said it seems to have good muscle coverage so it could just be a bad case of arthritis. She asked me at what points of the day does he appear to walk stiffer, when does he fall over, does he manage the stairs etc. She then asked me to take off his lead and she watched him walk and run about the room for a good 5 minutes. At this point we are unsure if it is arthritis or a possible leg even spinal injury. She said he needed anti inflammatories in his system asap and gave him a jab, this was a 24 hour dose and I was sent home with Metacam for further daily doses on his food. I was advised the usual '3 times a day, 15 minute walks' but to only go on soft ground and to only go if he will leave the drive way, I am not to drive him anywhere new as such as he simply will choose to walk due to 'excitement trumping the pain' and it will give us false readings basically. If the Metacam doesn't appear to work then she has said we will go down the route of X Rays, we are due a call back any day now as she wants to see him a week after his last appointment.
Honestly, it hasn't gone as well as I'd hoped. He's still the same, I get his lead out and he starts bombing around the house as if to say 'I'm so excited for my walk', he starts pulling me to the door, jumping all around... to then get outside and flat out refuse. Think maybe on two occasions, we have made it across the road and back. So obviously I'm starting to worry more, does seem like there is something going on with his front leg. Just can't wait to get back to the vets with him, I'm assuming she will go for X Rays next.
I'm sorry to hear he's having trouble. I experienced the same frustration last summer when Jack was behaving similarly and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. Try to remember that you're doing your best. And to try to let go of expectations as to how far he 'should be' walking. Just focus on watching his signals and finding things other than walking that he enjoys.
If it makes you feel better, Jack has improved immensely since then, but it took a while. I sometimes filmed her walking so I could see improvement over time and remind myself that things were getting better.
You mentioned he gets very excited and moves well when he's about to go for a walk. Does he show this excitement otherwise? How does he move when he's hanging out around the house and not about to go for a walk?
He literally follows me about everywhere, I can't leave a room without him, he's forever under my feet. However, I still live at home and the days when I am at work, my parents have said he's a very chilled lazy lad who will happily sleep on the sofa for hours. I'm assuming he mellows out as he is just waiting for me to get home.
On a typical day with me at home, he barks at me to get up in the morning and feed him, he will be all over the bed rolling and play fighting until I do. He'll continue to do circles and keep up the playful barking until we go downstairs.
Throughout the day if I happen to sit down he will be very clingy and cuddly, always jumping on the sofa to be on my lap and will head butt my phone and get very wriggly if I happen to be looking at that and not giving him 100% attention. This is why I've bought a few very bouncy padded dog cushions that are dotted around the house, as the second I leave the room he's crashing to the floor to be around my feet.
I'd say he's a very bouncy lad on a typical daily basis, he jumps up to nibble my hands and start the typical staffy play, he wants my full attention, seems to be around 8pm he realises its night time and will just settle down, obviously tired after following me about all day. But yes, I would definitely say this is only with me around. He can be very lazy and just want a cuddle. With the grandparents he's a different dog, very careful and gentle around them. The amount of times he's following me and going up and down the stairs, I'd say he's very active for a tripawd, definitely throws his weight around.
Everything you've described is a good sign. He sounds generally very happy (and it sounds like he's crazy about you!). When you're feeling discouraged, try to think about how good his quality of life is overall. It's also interesting to hear how much exercise he gets just moving around the house during the day when you're there - this might be contributing to his lack of desire to move around outside.
I love the way Tripawders share ideas with one another!
Yep, I'd agree that his indoor activity is what might be causing him to be so tired he doesn't feel like walking. You mentioned stairs too, is there any way to reduce his stair use? Stairs are super exhausting for any Tripawd but especially newer ones.
Your vet sounds great and sounds to me like she prescribed the usual routine for trying to pinpoint problems. You can help by keeping a journal of what Jack does all day, and what preceeds his reluctance to go on walks, or what pain signals you think he might be giving off. Keep in mind that even when he's being clingy that it can be a sign of pain.
You are doing great. Don't compare his recovery or pace to anyone else's, he is as individual as you are. He will get there with your good help!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Absolutely ditto Jack and Jerry....let go of "expectations and try not to compare!
Vader IS having a BREAT quality life in three legs! Sometimes being a Tripawd is about "trade-offs". He may have enjoyed one activity earlier on, and now he's traded it for another activity that brings him just as much joy as the other. And dog joy comes in so many different forms! Treats, extra cuddles, frolicking around the house, chilling out on the sofa, all these things bring joy!
And referring to your recent blog, it's not true to let Tripawds basically jave no limits and do what they want. We jave to monitor...or TRY to monitor them to protect their remaining legs and joints. He may have played full out earlier on without giving his joints the care they needed.
Everything about Vader shows he's a charmer, a ham and a stubbornly determined fella'! It's soooo much fun getting to know him!
I know ity be hard, but TRY and get him to slow down a notch or two and give the meds a chance to work and his legs a chance to become a bit more fit.
Thanks for the update!
Sending hugs to all!
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!
Do you always go out the same door? Could it be something outside or with the harness/leash that could be bothering him? If I remember correctly, you said before that if you take him someplace else in the car that he does just fine...that it's just going out the door & down the driveway that he just stops like that. It sounds psychological, like something scared him or hurt him right there and so he doesn't want to go that way again. Our Cassie is being like that about crossing the kitchen all of a sudden - she slipped and now she just can't seem to get across the kitchen without slipping every time! Even if we're holding her collar to keep her slow, she runs into the dishwasher & falls flat on her belly, all 4 legs splayed out. I'm trying to get her past it with treats. She seems fine when she's excited and wants something, so I know she can do it lol
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Oh Don a. That's so funny! Okay..not funny...I don't mean funny! Okay, just a little bit funny!
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!
Thank you for all the great replies. As regards to him slowing down in the house and trying to get him to reduce his stair use, it is just something I will have to focus on, maybe a stair gate? It is mainly me wandering about the house so much, when I am not in he does tend to stay downstairs.
I keep going back and forth, psychological? Physical? I still am to be honest. Today the vet rang me and I have explained to her his behaviour, that inside the house he bombs around, you wouldn't know he had a problem until he goes outside. She still seemed very keen to go ahead with his x rays so I've gone for it and we are booked in Wednesday 17th.
If something shows up then at least we can treat it, if he comes back clear then I have peace of mind and can begin to work out whatever has spooked him. An expensive way to finding out, I know, but he's worth it and then at least I know he's not walking on a painful injury.
Fingers crossed, going to be worrying about my little man next week, on his own for the day.
Just had a craaaazy thought. When he's in the hoise, does he have his harness in or is that just when he goes outside? If just for outside wonder if that is somehow vugging him or pinching, something like that.
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!
He wears his webmaster ruff wear harness , the one with the three straps. I also get him to wear an Equa Fleece Dog Suit underneath it as his armpit chafes badly, he does only wears these outside the house. I'd wondered this too so tried adjusting it, was still no so for now I've just been walking him gently on the collar alone but even this way is no joy
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