Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Online
Poor guy. Could it be the heat that is bothering him?
How is he doing now? Is he drinking water? Spiking his water bowl with some no-salt broth, gatorade, pedialyte, etc., may help him want to drink.
Here are some appetite tips that might give you some ideas to help him perk up:
https://nutriti...../appetite/
Remember that those side effects you see listed for any medication (for people or pets) are often rare and not always the cause of what's going on. Plus, he's such a large dog, that the chances of Flagyl making him feel crummy are probably minor. Just a guess. Before you stop the med let your vet know if you can reach them today.
Offline
I'm so sorry Honor is having a bad reaction, I hope the adjustment fixes all the issues.
For what it's worth, Ellie's oncologist sent her home from her amputation with cerenia and metronidazole (which I think is just the generic form of flagyl) because she had nausea coming off the anesthesia. and this is at CSU one of the leaders in all of veterinary medicine who a lot of clinics look to for the gold standard for care so I hope you aren't too hard on your vets or lose trust in them because of this.
but that's not helpful to your puppy at the moment and I get you just want him to feel better! I remember Ellie having what I thought was a UTI going into a Friday afternoon and I was so frustrated trying to get a hold of anyone, and not able to get any of my questions answered because her urinalysis was fine and the only other way to diagnose was to do a culture which takes a week all while my poor dog is peeing all over herself it felt awful and you always blame yourself because somehow you should have known better. So here's my gentle reminder that you are doing absolutely amazing by Honor this disease is the worst and is going to test every bit of you so please try to give grace and hang in there I'm really thankful that you continue to use this forum even just as a venting escape- I hope we can continue to help.
To add on to Jerrys comments if you're worried about water intake, I've used the broth trick with great success but I also already had a pupsicle for Ellie and it is seriously the best investment I've ever made at least in terms of dog 'toys'. I love that you can make any type of healthy treat (and lots of them) you want with the molds, the pupsicle itself is super easy to clean. For me it was a really easy way to make sure Ellie was getting a little extra fluid in a tasty treat while also providing some mental stimulation (sometimes I would use it without the top on so it was a glorified ice cube if I really wanted her to cool down/drink).
Yes, thanks Whitney. Those pupsicles are the best things ever! I far prefer them to Kongs. I wish my dogs wouldn't keep losing them out in the yard because they are not inexpensive though. And thanks for letting me know CSU also prescribes those meds. They do seem to be very commonly used. This Dr. has been really good and responsive to all my questions so I don't want to start doubting her.
Whatever strange thing was going on with Honor yesterday seems to have resolved. He hasn't exactly been active today but he has been drinking, eating and more alert than he was. I even got him over to the lake this morning. Unfortunately, he is still hobbling and favoring his good leg. When he first got up this morning, he was even lifting the bad one off the ground some. I'm sure some of the issue going on is pain. She gave me amantadine to add to his other meds. The Galliprant upsets his stomach so much that he's only getting 60 mg of that every other day. So, really, at the moment his only pain control is the gabapentin. Getting the amantadine started tonight with his dinner. She said that one takes awhile to start helping though. Not sure how his stomach will do with this one.
I was able to get an appt. at UF on the 16th with their surgical oncology. I hate taking him to yet another appt. especially since he'll have his 2nd chemo 2 days after that, but I'd really like to hear what they have to say on cementoplasty (haven't been able to find anyone to do it), limb sparing surgeries, if he is a solid candidate for amputation and if there are any immunotherapies we could still take part in if we end up at amputation after he had radiation. It's also a good idea to be in their system as a patient because, if a problem comes up, there is a much higher chance of getting him in quickly that way. I'd like to have a couple options for specialists if we end up at surgery where he's a patient and they might get him in more quickly.
So, I'm struggling with some things and I don't know if this is normal and you all went through this. For one, Honor has always had perfect bloodwork. I know, with chemo, there is a good chance it may deplete his white blood cells etc. I am struggling with feeling like I am giving him something that will harm him. I feel like that with all these medications, the chemo, the possible amputation.... I know it may not be rational, but I feel like I'm doing stuff to make him feel poorly and he might be wondering why do I keep doing these things that aren't making him feel better? The happiest moment I had since all this started was last Sunday morning when he was walking like normal and seemed like himself. I felt like the radiation really helped him and I made the right choice if it bought us some months like that.....but then the incident just later that same day and things going downhill ever since has really plunged me into doubt.
Can you reframe your thinking so that you are doing this FOR Honor, not TO him? Cancer sucks. The path to getting better often means a period of feeling worse.
It's also ok to decide that you don't want to continue with chemo and persue another option. I know you've done an incredible job st educating yourself on the options. There are pros and cons to everything, and no single right answer.
Yes, I do need to start thinking about it differently. I know it’s this cancer that has left me limited options to help him..and all having some risk but the potential for longer good quality of life too. I had figured I would stuck with the chemo for as long as he tolerated it ok and could stop at any time. I don’t think his sickness the other night was due to the chemo….just now wondering what we’ll see when we get to days 3-5 since they said that’s when chemo side effe ts typically show up when apparent. Ugh. The good news is he had a better day today than yesterday so will just focus on that for now.
A better day is a good sign, I'm so happy to see this. I hope tomorrow is even better.
He may not have any side effects at all so try to stay pawsitive! Keep us posted.
just now wondering what we’ll see when we get to days 3-5 since they said that’s when chemo side effe ts typically show up when apparen
As you already know, worrying about outcomes is a waste of energy. IIF he has side effects YOU WILL DEAL WITH IT THEN....no biggie. .. As Jerry said, he may not even have side effects. Some do, some don't. And as Mischief said you can always stop.
Wish we had s magic wand that could give you every answer you needed with 100% guaranteed certainty that it would give uou the peace of mind you want so badly. At some point you'll have to find that peace within yourself and realize research and options could be endless, but none have guarantees.
Glad Honor seemed to feel better today. Hoping with all my heart is pain is handled.
((((((Hugs)))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thanks Jerry and Sally. And, yes, Sally thanks for reminding me to worry when and if it happens. Please feel free to keep reminding me! It's a goal of mine and will serve me well in all aspects of life, but it's difficult to break old habits.
Last night, I was listening to a podcast on Anticipatory Grief and the grief counselor (who suffered her own loss of her heart dog due to cancer) said she got in the habit of, every morning, saying in a happy voice to her dog "We get to have another day together!" or something to that effect. I realized that I've been spending a lot of time thinking "this may be one of the last days we get to spend together" or dwelling on holidays and how he might not be there with me, having panic over the actual day I'll have to say goodbye etc. So, from now on, I'm going to just focus on "we get to spend another day together", be thankful for that gift and try to use it wisely by not thinking too far out in the future.
We went over to the lake this morning. While he is still favoring his good leg (putting weight on the bad one but doing the head bob while walking), his mood has seemed more alert and interested in things today. I have noticed it always seems worse when he first gets up and better after he walks around a little but I have no understanding of why that would be. That makes sense with something like arthritis but not understanding why it would be the case here.
Please feel free to keep reminding me! It's a goal of mine and will serve me well in all aspects of life, but it's difficult to break old habits.
You got it!
So, from now on, I'm going to just focus on "we get to spend another day together", be thankful for that gift and try to use it wisely by not thinking too far out in the future.
YES! That is a really great way to reframe your point of view. Can you share the podcast link in Coping with Loss? Would love to give it a listen.
I have noticed it always seems worse when he first gets up and better after he walks around a little but I have no understanding of why that would be. That makes sense with something like arthritis but not understanding why it would be the case here.
Probably just that he's focused on all the new and exciting things dogs fill their days with, even in a situation like this. They are so good at making the most of every walk, every new chance to be out in the world or even just nosing around the house.
I remember that head bop with Jerry when he was in a lot of pain. It still hurts my heart to think about it. I feel for you my furiend, so sorry you are going through this.
I’m not sure how to post a link to the podcast episode but, on Apple Podcasts, it was Episode 74 on “The Long Leash” podcast. The Episode was called
I Miss You Already: Anticipatory
Grief with Nancy Gordon
I was just catching up. I’m sorry that it’s been a rough week. I hope that the chemo treatment went well. Ophelia struggled with her first dose and ended up getting sepsis but her second went well. I’m not sure that she had any side effects at all.
Honor is such a handsome dog, btw.
Hang in there.
Give yourself credit for starting to embrace some of the lessons of Be More Dog .....Be More Honor. Living the now is all we have so we might as well make it a "now" that empowers us.
We get to have another day together!"
Feel that in yoiur being. Believe it in every fiber of your Soul Celebrate the miracle of having a other day together.!!!! How does it feel when that empowering emotion is the filter with which you see every aspect of your day?
Now, compare that feeling of celebration to this:
"this may be one of the last days we get to spend together"
Wajt does that do to your "being"? How does that start your day off? Gloom and doom perhaps? How does it feel when that is the filter with which you see every aspect of your day?
but it's difficult to break old habits.
Yeah, we get that ! We can all relate. We spend a lot of time building that "worry muscle", building that muscle that takes us round and round up and down that rabbit hole of negativity.
A couple of fun solutions you might try.
First thing to dp when that "worry muscle" starts to take over is do something outrageously physical. Change your physiology! Seriously! If you are sitting in a chair all humped over, shoulders down,etc and then say I'm happy....nope.. not gonna worked. Gotta' hop out of that chair, jump up and down (for example), do a silly dance and then say "I'm happy!" Put a big silly grin across your face! Huge grin! You are rewiring your brain and you are embodying that feeling into your being.
Does that make any. sense? Even of it doesnt, try it!!!!
Another thing to try is....eliminate the word "try" from your vocabulary. "Try" gives you permission to fail. "Trying not to worry,, etc is a weak effort. Change that to I am DETERMINED, I am COMMITTED to not worrying. You have not given yourself permission to fail..you have given yourself per mission to be strong and determined!!!
One more thing to COMMIT to for building that "We get to have another day together" muscle. So, put a rubber band on your wrist. A strong sturdy one. Everytime a "negative" thought starts going round in your head...ZAP YOURSELF REALLY HARD!!! The "ouch" will snap out of that negative thought before it takes hold. So do it hard! Do it so it hurts! You'll find yourself stopping that disempowering thought on your own pretty quickly!
We'll be "watching " and looking forward to hearing about the results!! Hopefully your wrist wont betook battered while building that pawsitive muscle 😉
You're doing great! Keep it up!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Just checking in to see how everything is going.
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
How is Honor doing? Has Honor had any noticeable side effects from the chemo?
Take care♥️
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
1 Guest(s)
