Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Just wanted to reach out and say hi. Toby is a very handsome boy, big fan of pitties now that I've met a few that just have won my heart 
My coworker's wheaton as diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year. She ended up cooking for her as Zoey lost interest in her normal food. Lupe and I had our own version of the huner games just before and just after her surgery. Has your vet giving Toby an appetite stimulant? Sometimes they need a jump start to get them going on a more normal eating schedule. My suggestion is to keep trying different things and as Jerry said, the stinkier the better (cat food, liverworst, other forms of meat in canned dog food, liverwurst and hey if McD's works, go for it..just make sure no onions).
Any sort of cancer diagnosis is devistating. Its okay to cry and be mad, try to do it in the other room (I spent some quality cries on the bathroom floor). Around Toby, be happy and love him up...its amazing how they can sense our emotions and you want him to be calm, relaxed and happy as well.
Take care & keep us posted,
Kori & Angel Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
Hi- I just posted on your blog- I'm glad you found your way to the forums.
My Tri-pug Maggie developed kidney failure a few years after her amp- I completely understand how hard this part is. Mag went from about 17.5 pounds to less than 15 pounds. She looked like a skeleton! I could just imaging what people who saw her thought- 'why don't you feed that dog!'. Pugs just don't get that skinny.
It was really frustrating with her- one memorable time I offered her chicken, which she refused, then offered her turkey, which she gobbled down! I don't know that I have any tricks to offer- it was a game everyday. Sometimes if I hand fed her something she liked, like chicken, then put some in her bowl that would get her to eat on her own. And sometimes putting some food on her tongue got her started. I ended up syringe feeding her most of the time- pureeing food in the blender and feeding her on my lap. Oddly, she would only eat one specific food that way, but she almost always ate it.
I learned to never get stressed if she didn't eat- that made it worse. I got frustrated one time when she wouldn't eat and she went out into the backyard. Also make sure there is nothing on your hands- no scented lotions or soap. Actually I couldn't use lotion at all while feeding Mag. And I stopped hiding her meds in food. Mag was the type that if she found a pill in food, say cheese, she wouldn't eat cheese for weeks- wouldn't even taste it! I resorted to pill stuffing- just putting them down her throat.
Here are a couple pics of my dad feeding her- included here for a smile! Hang in there with Toby, you are doing the best you can.
Karen and the pugapalooza
hugapitbull said
I don't want to take away from tripawds, but I have a forum - k9cancer.org (linked in my signature) and there are folks there who have written about lymphoma. I know there is Linny and Sophie if you just want to do a search. I'm sure Linny was treated only with homeopathic medicine. Sophie may have had chemo also. I'd have to go back and refresh my memory. Those two may give you some ideas on options.
Duh! I totally forgot to point her to your forums Shanna, thanks for letting her know. It's good to get all the information we can get when we're in a situation like this. Peace of mind is everything.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Breathe in breathe out breathe in breathe out...whewwww... feeling bit calmer today.
Toby's still not eating - of course today is Sunday and I can't go see his vet. I am very concerned, as from what I read online prednisone makes most dogs ravenous. Not my boy. I'm upset with myself for not asking the vet to give me some meds in case Tobs needs them (appetite, more pain pills etc.). Realizing how much I'm learning at Toby's cost makes me feel like a really bad pawrent... no need to dwell on that though.
I appreciate everyone's food ideas, unfortunately after trying everything I could possibly think of (well haven't tried ice cream yet) he still refuses to eat. I am only able to get him to eat very small amounts at a time, two-three handfuls, and that's practically me putting food in his mouth, not him eating. Not giving up. Food ideas are endless.
His water intake also decreased, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing, even though his constant drinking earlier drove me nuts...
Today so far I managed to get two snacks in him, and both stayed down - fingers crossed. Toby seems to like junk food lately, after yesterday's McD's (still guilty) today he ate a hot dog, followed by my newest culinary invention: ground beef patty steamed in fish broth (failure to feed him steamed fish earlier) mixed with cat kibble, tuna and enough beef baby food to make it nice and mushy. Yummm! lol. I had to pretend it was my lunch for him to get vaguely interested, but he ate about half cup worth.
I also checked K9 boards, lots to read there, thanks for pointing me there.
So many awesome dogs are struck with this nasty disease it makes me sick, I need to be careful with what I click at.
I'm grateful I've read euthanasia warning, though it breaks my heart you had to go through it with your puppy.
Did I mention I'm resenting Christmas this year? It means vets will be closed when I need them the most.
Hi agasaugrs, My pup rock wasnt eating while he delt with this process, but we cooked him lots of veggies steamed them , mixed them with chicken we actually grilled it chose not to boil due to bland taste and i personally think nutrition loss from boiling .But we just found different food human foods that intrested him but high in protein for his healing .Needless to say you have to be strong,our pets feed off of out state of minds give him lots of kiss's and lots of hanging out time together . Rock has had an amputation and chemo (4 treatments) his x-rays came back as clean .I am very pleased with how this bad situation turned out .Never fault yourself or ask what you could have done different .Just give them quality treatment they will never love you any differently.I hope all works out and he will be in my prayers.
Best,
Charles & Rock
Rock!
What a cute pit face! I just love pitties, they truly are something else.
Thank you for this positive story, I'm happy to hear your pup is doing better!
Please don't feel guilty about getting junk food into Toby. If that's what he'll eat and keep down, then that's what he gets. (I had that horrible all-day barfing with my first pregnancy, and I gestated that child on Pop Tarts. He turned out fine!) There are worse things than McDonald's burgers. Lots of folks here have good success with canned fish, like sardines and mackerel. They're pretty potent in terms of nutrition, so if he were to eat a few sardines and quit, that would be some good stuff.
It is very difficult to watch a dog lose weight so quickly. But keep in mind that you are doing what you can, and you can't do anything more than that. Don't hyper-focus on the teeny details and forget to be with Toby, emotionally and physically. If Toby can't get well, then you want to know that this time was special. I've seen several people work so doggone hard on maintaining some semblance of health in their dogs that they forgot to enjoy them. So make sure to be there for Toby. That's what he really wants.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Oh but I do enjoy every moment with him!
Thank you for making me realizing it's just been all negative since I'm writing here. It's not.
He still goes crazy when I say to go get his leash, although he's not strong to give my special happy dance today, maybe he will tomorrow. I do something special for him every day - a car ride, a walk, new chew toy - whatever it takes to make him smile. It's not easy with all the snow, I really wish we were still in Florida - he had his favorite beach and parks all year round. I have to cut walks short because of the cold - even in his jacket Toby shivers after few minutes, but he really enjoys car rides, and that I can do. Being a smart cookie he must know something is up - he sleeps in bed with us now, and we didn't even comment on him peeing a little in it, gets whatever he wishes and does whatever he want, so... he knows he's being treated in a special way. Opening up about our situation here on tripawds made it easier for me to keep it up today. He's still my baby Toby. Cancer doesn't define him. I'll be sad when the time comes. I cried only few times today, I don't expect myself to stop completely, but I put lots of love and care in everything I do, especially around him.
I need appetite stimulant at this point. Nothing works. Tried canned fish. Tried so many things. Today was not a good day.
One other thing that worked for Maggie for several days was chicken from KFC, who knows why.
You are doing great with the situation you have. This is a good place to come and vent and get some of the negative stuff out. I know for me it helped just to tell the story of how hard it was to deal with Maggie to a group of people who didn't think I was insane for going so far for, in their words, a dog.
I hope tomorrow is better.
Karen and the pugapalooza
I didn't mean to imply that I don't think you're enjoying Toby now. Not at all. I only meant that cancer can be so all-encompassing that it's easy to let it grow and take over in so many ways. Balance can be hard to find, but it's really necessary so you don't lose your mind.
Cancer does not play fair. It writes the rules of the game and one of the rules is that it gets to change them whenever it wants. And once you've been snagged to play the game, you don't feel much control any longer. But you're right that this does not define Toby. That's something cancer can't do unless you concede. Cancer tries to trick you into thinking it can change everything, but it can't.
Keep on enjoying him, and keep on trying different foods. Just because something doesn't work today doesn't mean it won't work tomorrow. If not McDonald's, maybe Wendy's. Or KFC. Or a blue plate. Or a yellow bowl. In other words, be creative and whatever works, celebrate it. Then share it so we can celebrate with you. We all hate this awful disease, too.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Are you on Facebook? There is another pittie there who has lymphoma--maybe his mom would have some good advice for you?
http://www.face.....thLymphoma
You guys even look like you could be related!
Hope you feel like eating tomorrow Toby and hang in there mama. We'll be thinking of you here in Oaktown.....
xoxoxo,
Codie Rae and the OP +1
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
You guys are wonderful. Thanks so much!!! Being here helps tremendously.
Tobster is doing better today. I was right, he needed some help with pain and irritated tummy. I rushed to the vet first thing in the morning and after explaining everything to her in detail (his usual vet was at the other clinic, of course) she's added Tramadol for pain, Prolosec to neutralize stomach acid and Sucralfate to coat his belly and prevent any further GI tract damage - Prednisone is known to cause side effects like Toby's. Wish I've known that sooner and saved him a night of pain. After administering all pills he is a little dopey, but important thing is he's relaxed and his breathing is normal - was very very labored last night, he seemed very uncomfortable and hurting.
He enjoyed the ride to the vet and back, we stopped for his burgers on the way (wasn't interested in them till later, after tummy pills kicked in), and to occupy his mind with something we went to frolic in the snow for a little bit. I usually wait for him to let me know when he's done playing, so I really froze my butt today, but it was well worth it in the end - he chomped two double patty burgers (left some bun), basically vacuumed down a can of tuna and finished snacking with some roast chicken breast. Whew!!! He's eating again!!!
The bowl psychosis continues... I wonder what's going on in that little brain of his. Right now he does best either hand fed or just eats of the floor - any kind of dish makes him freak out, giving him broth is quite a challenge now. Oh well.
Toby takes his meds almost without any resistance now - maybe he figured that's what makes him feel better. I just tell him to open up his snout and he does. I'd rather put pills in his throat than lose his trust hiding them in food, he gave me a very dirty look after this one time with the burger, a look I'd rather not receive again if you know what I mean...lol. I love his personality.
So true about rules changing daily - fish works one day, but not another - same with other foods, if they work at all. I'm hoping he'll continue to eat, hopefully pacing himself next time, I was really afraid he'll barf it all up but it all stayed down. Merry Christmas to me, to me! 
And Merry Christmas to you guys, and all your fur babies out there, big and small
Oh what great news! Best. Christmas. Present. Ever!
I'm so glad to hear your vet was open and able to help out. The med combination sounds perfect.
Yeah, the cancer thing is a roller coaster ride but as long as you remember to embrace the good days, it's not so emotionally tough. Sounds like you're both doing really well tonight, I'm so happy to hear that! Keep us posted and Merry Christmas to your pack.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This is really happy news, isn't it?! Good job, Toby!
The bowl psychosis is a funny thing and reminded me of something that might make you smile. My parents used to take in a friend's little Shih Tzu when the friend went on vacation. Her name was Shelby (the dog, not the friend) and she was a prima donna. As she got older, she got a bit wonky and slightly senile. One day the friend was leaving Shelby with my parents and said "Oh by the way, Shelby won't eat out of her bowl now. The only way to get her to eat is to put her food in a small line around the edge of a place mat on the floor." I could not believe that my mother consented to do that. Shelby would mess up the line of food and would sit and wait till my mother fixed it back in a neat and tidy line around the edge. This is the same woman who used to tell me I could eat it or starve.
Merry Christmas to you and Toby!
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
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