Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I rescued an 8-9wk old puppy early July of this year. We took the puppy in. He's a Terrier mix. Exactly 7 days he started showing symptoms of Parvo (bloodiness around the eyes, bruising ears, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dehydrated.
I rushed him to the Emergency vet hospital. They diagnosed him positive with Parvo. They started him on outpatient treatments that night. The next morning I took him back into the vet for the 2nd treatment. An hour and a half after the 2nd treatment, I found him what I thought was dead. He was basically in a coma and borderline dead. The vet thought it was a severe Parvo attack. He was hospitalized. He cam back to almost normal the following Monday (3 days later) he was released back home.
3 days later he started limping pretty bad. I took him back to the vet. They said it was Vasculitis. They started him on antibiotics. This past Monday I took him back in because his legs started looking bloody. His walking was worsening.
They kept him overnight on Monday.Monday they took blood, his liver levels were HORRIFYING.
Tuesday morning, the vet called me and said, "It's best to put him to sleep and stop the suffering." I rushed in. The doctor that told me that had already left for the day. I spoke with another doctor. She flat out said we're faced with only 2 opportunities for the dog. 1 being to put him to sleep. The other was to try a Steroid, keep him on pain medication, and keep him on the anti-biotics. We said let's try the Steroids.
Since, the bruising has gone away, the swollen legs have gone away. They took blood work yesterday and his liver count was at the count where a normal dog should be.
He isn't able to walk on his hind legs although he is trying.
He is eating minimal on his own, the rest we're "force feeding" him orally.
He is actually drinking water, not a lot though.
He is moving his back leg. (When he wants his belly rubbed, he'll lift up his front leg and back leg so you can rub it).
He can sit up
He just can't walk.
He is not dehydrated. He is urinating and having bowel movements.
He does have creams on his legs to keep the skin "healthy" it's an antibiotic cream.
I'm scared so much for this puppy. I am looking at what alternatives we have with this puppy. Does anyone else know more of what we could do for this puppy? Does anyone know or have seen this before? etc.
Any advice or anything would really help.
If you don't have any, please keep little Oscar in your mind.
A friend is hosting this image for me, he's the one that referred me here. This is our pup when we first brought him home.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
I'm sorry, I don't have any experience dealing with Vasculitis but I'm sure others here do and will respond soon.
I just wanted to say how bad I feel for you and your little Oscar. He is such a cute little boy and he's lucky to have you guys.
Sending prayers and positive healing thoughts your way.
BH
Oh what a darling!
I'm so very, very sorry about Oscar. This is such heartbreaking news.
We did have another little one a while ago have vasulitis. I'm sorry to say, it wasn't a good outcome but it was also fighting heart worms.
Here is the topic in which our friend, "tazziedog" or Dr. Pam is a vet and gave her advice:
http://tripawds.....8;search=1
My heart goes out to you and this little guy.
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.
What an adorable baby - I am so sorry you are going thru this and I so hope everything turns out ok with him....
Sending prayers and pawsitive thoughts your way.....
KaCee & Riley
Oscar is such a cutie! Have no words of wisdom, but want you to know we are sending good thoughts for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted on your little sweetheart.
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.
The vasculitis is probably secondary to the parvovirus and the good news is that most dogs that live through the initial parvo infection do just fine. Steroids should help him feel better quickly and the vasculitis should resolve. Make sure he gets a parvo vaccine every 3-4 weeks until he is 16 weeks old then booster 1 year later. I have seen pups get parvo more than once if not properly vaccinated. Your vet will probably want to wait at least 2 weeks for his body to recover before starting the vaccine.
Pam
FYI: Pam is a vet.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Steroids should help him feel better quickly and the vasculitis should resolve.
OH that's good news!!
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.
admin said:
FYI: Pam is a vet.
Maybe we could encourage Pam to add DVM to her signature. Then we could all stop following her posts with an addendum.
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.
hugapitbull said:
Maybe we could encourage Pam to add DVM to her signature.
Great idea, been there, tried that. We'd add it ourselves but can't edits users' forum profiles without changing their passwords.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you everyone. We're having a little set back. This morning he was walking around about 7:30. I took him into the vet for his daily soak, they put a medication on his legs it's like a cream I believe with insulin in it. They gave him pain meds, antibiotics, and his steroid (all pill forms).
Usually about 4 hours after his treatment he starts coming back around to normal. Today he isn't. Our doctor had me pinch his toes, he didn't show any reactions. She had me pinch his tail, he did react to it. They ruled out neurological issues. He is moving around in his bed but not sitting up. But I do sit him up to feed him so he eats okay. He sits up just fine. He's trying so hard to pull himself up so he can stand but just can't which is a bad sign of course since this morning. He's eating and drinking like a horse. The only problem is this hind leg problem.
His legs aren't bruising, red, or swollen.
I'm a bit concerned but haven't heard back yet from the doctor. But for the most part he is showing an improvement from 3-4 days ago except for this set back 🙁
Thanks guys!
Just got back from the doctor that's been treating him...
The toes - I didn't pinch too hard in fear to hurt him. The doctor did and Oscar screamed. Everything was fine.
The conclusion of today's problems were that when they gave him his steroid injections this morning was that the injection "fluid" wasn't soaked all the way in the skin so the doctor injected it into his muscle.
INSTANTLY, Oscar sat up, he perked up, shook his head, moved around.
Now Oscar is just really tired.
My fear, one big fear of all this is... Would Oscar be on steroids his entire life? The doctor says, "I don't think so." I asked him, "Can the Steroids cause serious side effects?" I ask the doctor if Oscar will be able to walk again and get out of this suffering? The doctor says, "I'm very optimistic that he'll make it."
I feel like I need a second opinion.
With this matter, I'm not worried about the costs of him pulling through or the vet bills. Luckily, the vet developed a payment plan with me. I had to promise them $50 a week but I've been paying more than that. It's in writing. But also, we're already at just under $3500 in Oscar's treatment.
If anyone can answer my above questions, it would really put my mind at ease.
jjruch said:
If anyone can answer my above questions, it would really put my mind at ease.
We're optimistic that Oscar will pull through fine too! If you don't get an answer here, consider posting for Pam in the Ask A Vet forum. I remember her saying something about steroids being best used for the short term, but I am no vet.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said:
jjruch said:
If anyone can answer my above questions, it would really put my mind at ease.
We're optimistic that Oscar will pull through fine too! If you don't get an answer here, consider posting for Pam in the Ask A Vet forum. I remember her saying something about steroids being best used for the short term, but I am no vet.
Thank you!
This morning I was wokened up at 8:00AM by Oscar screaming and crying in pain. I called his one vet doctor (no answer), I called his other doctor, she said to meet her at the vet at noon but take him in immediately for a buprenex shot which is for pain.
I went back in at noon and just got home.
He is having a bad side effect of the steroid. Before I continue, he's survived the Vasculitis!!!! What a relief! The problem we're faced with now is bacteria in his rear left elbow joint.
They took him off the steroids today. He's on 3 different antibiotics and pain meds. He's also on the A/D canned food. His joint is swollen, feels like a hard knot. So... they're treating this now. As long as it doesn't spread, he'll be fine. She said if it does spread, we'll have another problem.
She did say that once he overcomes this, he'll have a healthy life but everything is still at 50/50. Right now they don't have a plan of what to do after his joint stops swelling or gets better.
So this is where we're at. Some fantastic news! Some really bad news! The best news is that he fought off the Parvo and Vasculitis!
Thanks guys!
Still sending good thoughts for the little guy.
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.
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