Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Oh, man.
I took Caya in today because she just suddenly stopped eating her food yesterday, and today she was very lethargic and just slept on her bed all day.
Well, long story short, we just found out that Caya probably has leptospirosis, which is a bacteria that pet dogs (humans too) can pick up from playing in water or puddles that would have been contaminated with the urine of an infected animal.
And yep, we've been at the two area lakes several times in the last few weeks. Tika isn't showing any of the same symptoms, but with all of the stuff floating in her body, I don't think bacteria would stand a chance. However, we'll see if we should do a preventative dose of antibiotics.
The bloodwork was done tonight and we'll know in a couple of days (oh boy the waiting game) for sure, leptospirosis CAN be spread from pets to humans, so we'll see if we need to be checked out also since we have had to clean up a few accidents over the past weeks.
Right now, I'm just a bit shell-shocked. Caya has her own host of problems and this could affect her kidneys or liver, my poor girl. She's in the vet's office office now until Saturday, she seemed in good spirits the vets said, and they love her to death. I'll go see her tomorrow. So I took my girl in thinking it was something to do with her EPI or that her B12 levels had dipped again and I get whammo, THIS!
Sue, I really needed your post, it was brilliant, Tika duly celebrated Queen Nova Day by having some pizza with mom.
If anybody (hint Pam
) has any experience with leptospirosis, I would sure appreciate hearing it. Even if it's scary.
I'm off to try and sleep now, my brain has just short circuited.
PS--Tika says, I'M DOING OKAY! No nosebleeds just a little coughed up blood.
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
There is a saying that God will not give you more challenges than you can handle...but does he have to get us so close to breaking? Needless to say there will now be one more added to the prayer list tonight. I am especially sympathetic to your situation have had two Standard Poodles (who were litter mates) suffer torsion three weeks apart under totally different conditions. No sooner that I thought I had one well on the recovery path, then the other tries to out-do sister. I also lost them only three months apart approximately three years later. So I think that you can tell, I have walked in footsteps very similar to yours and I know how much it feels as if the world has literaly fallen on top.
We will keep your entire family in our thoughts tonight and until we get your update. Stay Strong with the knowledge that there is an enormous community all praying for some good news for both Caya and Tika.
Bob & Cherry
What are Caya's symptoms? When I lived in Wisconsin we saw Lepto all of the time and it usually presented as acute kidney failure. Some dogs had weight loss only and some were drinking a lot. Often the blood panel will show an elevated BUN and creatinine and the urine will be dilute. There are new vaccines to protect against the new subtypes of Lepto and if caught early it is treatable. Standard treatment involves IV fluids and ampicillin followed by oral doxycycline for 2-4 weeks. People can get this but it is rare, although I would probably give Tika antibiotics if Caya does test positive.
Pam
Oh Kim, we are so so sorry, we can't believe it. Like Bob says, why on earth do we have to get so many things thrown at us all at once sometimes? There seems to be no reason whatsoever.
We hope it isn't Lepto. We have heard of it, and know about the vaccine, but have personally been leery of yet another vaccine for our Wyatt. Pam, thanks for the education (as always). Up until now I thought it was a relatively rare illness?
Lots of love and prayers coming your way. We hope Caya and Tika are out playing by this time tomorrow. Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh geeze Kim and Tika, I'm so sorry that Caya isn't feeling well. I don't know anything about lepto...? as my girls are big old couch potatoes and wusses in the water. But I do know the feeling of having one sick dog then WHAM, get hit with another illness in the "healthy" dog. It just knocks the wind out of you. Right now, both of my girls are relatively healthy although I still have not done the parathyroid tumor surgery for Nova's sister (things are under control for the moment) so am walking on eggshells like we might get hit with something any day.
We are sending lots of love and kisses to Caya and to Tika too of course. Thank you for acknowledging Queen Nova day yesterday by sharing a pizza with Tika, that's awesome!
Thinking of you...
Sue and HRH Queen Nova of Tripawds
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
Oh no! I hope that Caya will be OK! That's the last thing you need right now... Good thing you brought her in as soon as the symptoms began. Hopefully, they'll get right on it, treat her and she'll be fine again. I'll be thinking of you and Caya (and of course Tika!!!).
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!
Hi everybody:
Thanks for your thoughts, I talked to the dr this morning and they got Caya to eat (which is good because that's how she gets her digestive enzymes, without those, she would have had an intestinal bacterial overgrowth to also fight)
She's still pretty mellow, but alert, she's in their main exam area overseeing all the techs right now.
Tazzie: For Caya symptoms, she stopped eating, got really lethargic and was drinking TONS of water. When we got to the vet she had a fever and indication of UTI. Then the blood test came back from the hospital indicating elevated BUN and low platelet count, and there was a few more things, but everything is pointing to the kidneys. So she's getting antibiotics and fluids through IV now while they wait for the confirmation diagnosis to come in. I think we're going to start giving Tika antibiotics to be on the safe side.
I'm getting ready to go see her, Tika seems to be enjoying the house to herself, but she's not having the best of days. The sound of her breathing is just heart wrenching, yet she'll get the energy together to try to steal my lunch.
Take care all, hopefully the worst is over with Caya. I would not be able to handle losing both of them at the same time.
--Kim and Tika (and Caya)
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
Kim, Tika & Caya,
I love four legged dogs, too! Caya, I will add you to my prayers along with your sister.
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.
Lots of healing thoughts to Caya! Get well soon.
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.
Hi everybody:
I just want to let you know that I'll be thinking of you all, but I probably won't be participating in the boards for awhile.
Caya's kidney failure has continued even with emergency care. We are looking into a kidney biopsy and dialysis.
Tika's days are also shortening, and we are in the phase of good days/bad days. The thought of losing them both at once has been incredibly painful and overwhelming. Tim and I have both just shut down. I haven't even been able to get all the thoughts/info down to put on our blog.
Love to you all, I really will be thinking about you. Please call upon every healing prayer you can for Caya, Tika she will be ready when the time comes and we will let her go with peace in our hearts that we had her for so long.
Take care,
Kim, Tim, Tika and Caya
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
Kim, Tim, Tika, and Caya
We will definately be pulling for you here at the Shilo household. We are soooo sorry for everything you are going through. We just lost our other girl in Dec of 2008, hasn't even been a year. I couldn't imagine if I was facing both at the same time!! We will be sending prayers every night…
(HUGS)
Alisa, Shilo, and family
Shilo diagnosed with osteosarcoma 9/4/2009, amputation 9/9/2009. ShiloAnne lost her battle 11/23/2009 where she regained her fourth leg and is patiently waiting for her parents to join her. We will always love you baby girl.
Oh guys, our hearts are sinking. We are so incredibly sorry. Yes, take all the time you need to be with your girls. I can't even imagine what you are going through right now.
Always remember we are here for you when you are ready OK? You have so many people here pulling for Tika and Caya. We really hope all of this love will help bring better days ahead.
xoxo
Rene, Jim, Wyatt Ray
& Spirit Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kim, Tika, Caya, and Tim,
We are so so sorry to hear your news. All we can do is send our love and good wishes.
We are thinking of you,
Codie Rae and the Oaktown Pack
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!
Kim
I am SO sorry to hear this update. From your writing we have a very clear idea what this all means emotionally. To have Caya pulled out while you've been nursing Tika. Both young dogs. Excruciatingly unfair.
I just hope you and Tim find as much support and comfort as you can in this situation. And I definitely hopes Caya pulls through. We and the rest of the tripawd gang will be thinking of your family.
Susan & Tazzie 2
Kim, I am sending my best wishes for both of your dogs. Acute kidney failure can be difficult to treat, especially if the dog is not making urine. Is she urinating yet? If not I'm sure that your vet has already tried diuretics or dopamine. Did you get the Lepto titers back yet? Other causes could be antifreeze toxicity or meds like NSAIDS. I hope that her kidney values can respond to the dialysis.
I also hope that Tika continues to hang in there.
Pam
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