Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi KrispiKritter, I think we met at PetCare on Saturday...I had Ruthie, that hairy black dog with the tongue? Believe it or not she really wasn't feeling well that day. But to my relief, her blood work showed that her kidneys were fine, her liver was better than 3 weeks before, and her white blood count was fine...so we think she just had a urinary tract infection and is now on antibiotics. She goes back Thursday for another round of chemo. They started her out on an IV drug but now she's getting a pill which is the drug they think is working. Thank you for giving me this web site. I didn't think I would actually use it, but there is so much here! I just uploaded Ruthie's picture so I hope it comes out OK.
Ruthie lost too much weight that first week she got home from surgery. I can't remember what the drug was (but was expensive) that they gave her but she just couldn't keep food down...they finally took her off it a week early because she wasn't keeping it down anyway.
Good luck and stay in touch!
Tails wags from Ruthie!
Pat
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Diane,
The stressing is the worst part! Try not to, as hard as that seems!
Don't do like I have done in the past and make yourself nutso! I dealt with having a 2 legged dog after Comet blew out her back knees (her front leg is crippled). 16 weeks of living hell! (8 weeks of keeping her down for each surgery). I was so distraught from carrying her and worrying about keeping the knee safe for 8 weeks, I went into a mental and physical tailspin after she finally healed. I went from doctor to doctor trying to figure out why my feet were always tingling. I had literal 'chills down the spine' every time she got up and walked around. I then developed agoraphobia - afraid to leave the house because I was afraid to leave Comet. I'd have panic attacks in the car when I was leaving. Nothing was logical and I knew it but I couldn't stop it. I went from doctor to doctor. Finally, it turned out to be stress - almost like a post trauma thing. With some meds, I was back to my normal self!
So, that's my advice on why not to get stressed!
Comet's mom
(okay, maybe I'm still a little nutso!)
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.
OH MY Comet's Mom....I can absolutely certainly without a doubt understand JUST EXACTLY how that happened!
PAT AND RUTHIE!!!! How cool is this to see you here...isn't this an unbelievable spot...and to think I had no idea to even look....PetCare knows all about Tripawds now and has a couple of cards so they have website info....I'm so glad Ruthie is feeling better, not that she acted like she wasn't feeling well!! She is a very very sweet girl. Maybe she could call Magic and explain how this all goes and how much better he is GOING to feel?
Well last night was our first night. OMG.....Neighbors got him out of the truck and into the hall and he hopped into the prepared kitchen....I took him down the dog ramp and across the bridge to the lawn where he managed to poop enough for everyone here on this forum .... at the vet he has just had some diarrhea....I totally spaced the fact that he has NEVER in 11 years pooped ANYWHERE but in his backyard...even tho I always carry a bag! I have no idea whether it has anything to do with the no poop tho. So. Here we are. Our two biggest challenges...going down the ramp (out of kitchen into patio) seems to work...coming back up not so much. So last night when he didn't want to try getting up off the lawn and going back across bridge and up ramp, I called my handy dandy neighbor who came over and we didn't carry, but he was able to lift hind quarters with shopping bag and i ran the harness (just the regular dog harness I found yesterday and they said it was ok to use)....we got him back up. The other challenge is getting all the meds down him...gone are the days of pill in meatball apparently and we have been reduced to jamming them down his throat. So we made arrangements for my neighbor to come at 5 this morning and assist me in getting him down the ramp to pee and back up (can't imagine he has much poop left...reminds me i need to run pick it up...he stepped right in it of course with the leg and foot that has the fentanyl patch on)....well as you all know who have done this, not much sleeping was going on for me....snooze, dash down the hall to peek...I started feeling guilty that 5 in the morning was going to be 12 hours without him going potty unless he peed in the kitchen..Nope...not that i've stepped in so far. I got to the point I wasn't flushing the toilet because I was afraid he would feel bad cuz I got to go potty (ok ok, i was working on not a lot of sleep but whole floods of emotion)...couldn't stand it at 4:15 and we went down the ramp...I tried to get him to piddle right there on the patio...nope...so off we go across the bridge and he piddles and back across and now we are at the ramp again and it ain't happening. I moved it down so it rests on the step and doesn't LOOK so steep but would mean he would have about a four-six inch step to go into the kitchen at the top of the ramp. I worked with him for about 30 mins and decided I was just going to have to wait til 5 for Kevin. Then one more herculean effort...I have one hand on the harness, slung the shopping bag under his rear area and HEAVED onto the ramp and didn't give him time to think (have I mentioned that wolfdogs can also be the most stubborn mixture on the face of the earth??) and into the kitchen we propelled ourselves. I thanked my neighbor who said plan on him being available a couple of times a day (after work and at 5 in the morning) to give us a hand all week (Oh thank goodness this wasn't a couple of weeks ago when they were gone to the snow). I asked the nurse if he could sleep outside (Magic, not the nurse) and she said she preferred not because his body temp got lowered because of the narcotics and they wanted to keep the bandage from getting really dirty (too late on that one)...he so so prefers to be outside sleeping no later really than about 2 or 3 am ...in a shed that most people use for things like shovels and such...we had it insulated and when we had two of the furkids, it was wall to wall cushions for their pleasure!!... At 2:30 I gave him ONE tram. and at 5 after getting back in I gave him one more. I am going to try to stagger the pills....I only have one more dose of flagyl, but lots of those three pills twice a day antibiotics....and the pain meds....I can start rimadyl anytime but haven't yet. FINALLY I got him to eat some raw rocky chicken (freerange...local small store makes it into pet food mixed with liver and grinds it all up) off my finger but now he looks with suspicion at anything in my hand! I am hoping the Ruff harness provides a little more support than the regular harness I'm using now, but it is still quite a bit better than just the shopping bag. Did I mention that after I got him inside I was able to get him to eat this low fat crunchie little chicken circle thingees whatever they are...first food I saw him eat!!..THEN mommie went and got the ice blanket for the back and the heating pad for the shoulder, took HER drugs and laid down with the bitching kitty (who is used to getting ALL the medical attention) and actually slept a little bit for about 90 mins...it was LOVELY. I have gotten the book Without Regret (came yesterday) and will be perusing rapidly today (in between doing the tax organization thing)....now...from the stuff I said do any of you have some suggestions for me? Should I make him get up and move around consistently like every hour or so? Should I let him pick his own movement schedule? A little later...probably noon time in case I can't get him back in, I am going to take him out again (oh dear oh dear) I just shudder when I tug wrong and he whimpers a little...I'm sorrying all over the place and feeling awful. I heard him whimper maybe twice early this morning which was when I had to think he really needed to pee...so far the pain seems under control and luckily at this point (can it start later in the process?) the phantom pain thing hasn't yet been an issue...but nothing is impossible but I'm hoping for the best.
Again sounding like a broken record...thank you all so much, what a privilege to have this website and the support here and the people who I think I said before have been there done that got the collar....you folks ...well I just can't say enough. Don't know yet when chemo will start, need to make an appointment for Sunday to get the sutures out since neighbors will be home then....I'm afraid to use the bridge from truck to house yet because he is still a bit of an uncontrolled hopper...but we are...five days out if we count surgery day so I need to be patient I am sure. And most likely all go at their own pace...Ruthie was used to running all over and being very active (I am using Ruthie as an example because I just met that sweet girl) while Magic's activity was limited to infrequent short bursts of play with animal friends and a daily 45-1 hr walk.....thank goodness we had done at least that much or I'm not sure his legs would have been strong enough.
there ya go...suggestions? Slaps on hands?
tired but willing
diane
do any of you have some suggestions for me?
Should I make him get up
and move around consistently like every hour or so?Should I let him
pick his own movement schedule?so far the pain seems under control and luckily at this
point (can it start later in the process?)
Diane, all in all it sounds like a relatively normal homecoming. To answer your questions:
Basically play it by ear. When he has to go, he will go. Dogs are so much stronger than humans in situations like this. Unlike humans, who have to be forced to move around after major surgery, a dog will do it on his own time. Unless you suspect that he is having extreme physical difficulties or pain, play it by ear today and see how it goes. What he wants more than anything right now is to be in a quiet space where he can rest.
We have heard of phantom pain starting later on. It all depends on the dog. Some dogs don't get it at all. We hope Magic is one of them.
Keep focusing on the things he can do (like potty...that is GREAT!) and say a prayer of gratitude for all of the little achievements that he reaches. Pretty soon they will all add up to a complete recovery.
Oh, last thing is just keep an eye on the incision and make sure it's not leaking, red, irritated or swollen.
Good luck! Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Diane
What's between the kitchen door and the lawn? Could he try to do it (by himself) without the ramp? Might be easier on him. And you.
Cemil took a liking to lying on the cold concrete, and a human doctor explained to me that it's like a cold compress and probably feels pretty good. After the temperature thing is over, that might be a nice treat for Magic.
Hang in there. It gets better.
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Diane,
You are doing great! Honestly, Magic sounds like he is doing good, too!
I'm with Mary on the ramp. Comet can't do ramps but she can do a step or steps or stairs. Physics would tell us that gravity pulls them backwards and there's not enough grip in the front leg to pull the body weight up it. I believe it's easier for them to spring off the back legs than try to use 1 front one to grip.
It's funny how we worry so much about the potty time! I wouldn't worry about it that much. Jerry is right, rest is what will heal him. I read once that dogs can hold it way, way longer than we can! I know in normal times, my guys potty 4x times a day. I could set my clock to it! After breakfast, 2pm, after dinner and before bedtime (bedtime is a forced potty by me).
Also be sure to start the Rimadyl! Our resident vet here, Pam has made a point to tell us to do so for at least 10 days to 2 weeks. It's an anti-inflammatory and will help in the healing process since everything is so swollen internally. It will help with pain a lot. The tramadol is good for only masking the pain temporarily. I'm sure you know all about pain and anti-inflammatories with your own situation.
Keep us updated!
Good thoughts coming your direction!
Comet's mom
P.S. Just a reminder about the fentanyl patch - be careful (since you had to clean the poo) and not let it come off or get exposed! I'm sure they warned you about it. It's an opiat drug! I would hate for mom to get addicted by touching it!
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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