Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Okay, that was weird, I lost my post while typing it. It vanished!
I don't want to live in fear, but gosh it sure is hard sometimes.
Comet had the stomach issues as some of you may remember. (and bloodshot eyes) Tests were all fairly normal except I still have a dilute urine sample to redo.
However, I noticed the other day her mouth was drooping. She looks like a stroke victim.
He said it looked like Horner's syndrome. This is the side of her deformed scapula/limb. He did look at her ears and saw some irritation with hair clumps. So she has ointment for her ears and her bloodshot eyes.
I just hope she isn't failing. I can't get brain cancer out of my mind. She started stumbling on her back legs and that was the sign the vet said to look for. I'm hoping it's the ointment in the ears that is causing her to stumble.
I have an email out to her specialist vet to see if we should do a CT scan. I don't want to because it ain't cheap! But I may have to bite the bullet to keep my husband and I from going crazy over not knowing what is happening with her. The not knowing is the hardest part. It always seems I never get a straight answer from anyone with her.
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.
Try really hard not to panic until you know for sure what you are dealing with. It isn't easy, we all fight the fear - if that is any consolation. It sounds like you have a plan, even if it is a really expensive one. Lots of good thoughts for you and Comet coming from us.
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.
I think we n this web site seem pretty evenly divided on the subject of "wanting to know". On one hand would you do anything different if you knew? I am more like you though I would want to know. Best case scenario you worried for nothing. Worse case scenario you know what you are dealing with.
Homer's syndrome isn't anything I have ever heard of. One time in high school though I had Bells Palsy on one half of my face. Because it causes paralysis of the muscles my face dropped like a stroke victim like you are describing. It was temporary and with meds it went away. Maybe it is possible that Comet has something like that and it will be temporary.
My prayers are with you.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Sometimes Horner's can be caused by an ear infection (amongst many other things)... I really hope that's the case with Comet... Please keep us posted!!!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
I don't know anything about Horner's, but I'm sorry that you are going through this with Comet Dog!!! I think that first assumptions are usually correct, so if you feel that a scan is the right thing to do, by all means, do it! It may bring you some comfort. Thinking about you and Comet, out here in WA state 🙂
<3 Laura and Jackapoo (this is my new breed mix...kind of like a cockapoo or a maltipoo, only cuter)
Oh Comet, we are ignorant about this condition too, we wish we could help, other than sending you lots of love. When we saw that video of you on the stairs today, we were wondering how you are doing. We hope you get better real soon.
As far as whether or not to test. . . well that is such a hard one. Of course you want to know that you're doing all you can for your baby, and a test can keep you from going insane and not knowing. But at the same time, there's that little issue about cost, and the resulting costs if treatments were expensive. Agggh! That sucks! I wish we had all the money in the world for all of our animals and that nobody ever needed to think about things like that.
Stay strong and think like Comet does; take each day one pawstep at a time OK? Try not to drown in information gathering just yet until you know what you're facing (or hopefully not facing.
We're thinking of you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you all for your kind responses. The geriatric years are not easy with a tripawd.
Ironically the regular vet called shortly after her taking another stumble today. It was to tell me her urine sample was good. I kinda broke down when she asked how she was doing! She said to bring her in so she could look at her. We did tonight. She felt her front leg was the problem. She is going to call the specialists vet tomorrow for me and go over what we should do.
She tried to reassure us that she didn't believe it was brain cancer but maybe something to do with the diskospondylitis she has. (infection of the neck disc) On a side note, it took me forever to get the disko diagnosis! Yes, it is ...no it isn't. Finally this specialist vet put her on lifetime antibiotics and she responded. So, yes it is. I almost spend $4600 at a neuro center for a CT and other stuff only to find out later that would have been a big waste of money had I done it!
I'm a Type A personality and want to know everything! Thank goodness for vet books on Google books! It's moments like these I sure wished I had gone to med school or had a doctor in the family!
Thanks Shanna for the fight the fear comment. It gets tough to do. I'm glad I'm not alone. You can't imagine the roller coaster ride I went thru when she had her first TPLO recovery. I had no where to turn. Everyone just acted like it was a normal recovery. But I had to carry her everywhere! And by week 4, I was a mess. By week 8, I my lower limbs went numb - thought I had MS. It turns out it was the stress! The second TPLO was easier because we made her a crib on wheels and the anti-anxiety meds helped!
Yes, Debra it is like Bells Pasly. We can't put her on steriods, though. Not with the disko. It just is hard to read her emotions without the normal expressions.
Okay, she is air snapping at me to get off the computer now. She is a demanding! Gotta go....
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.
cometdog said:
Okay, she is air snapping at me to get off the computer now. She is a demanding! Gotta go....
I think maybe you should rename her Firecracker. Comet stories make me smile 🙂
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.
'Firecracker'! or 'Spoiled Brat'!
This is a couple of years back but it is still the routine IF I'm not sitting at on the couch watching TV during prime time TV. Note: Dancing with the Stars' is coming on and I'm on the computer:
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.
Comet is such a cutie! 
FYI: Here are the step by step instructions for embedding YouTube videos in forum posts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks admin for fixing my video!
What's the deal, you can't curse on the boards??????! (winky
wink) You erased my frustrated posts!
Just wait until I have a rant on having to do math!
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.
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