Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I agree. It sounds as though she's tweaked something. My Meg suddenly started falling over six months post amp, right out of nowhere. Turned out she'd pulled a muscle in her shoulder. When did you stop the Rimadyl? Not a vet, but it sounds as though she may need an anti-inflammatory?
Have you seen a rehab vet? Meg had laser and acupuncture on her shoulder and it helped enormously and immediately. Some laser on her lower back might be really soothing. And I'd definitely restrict her movement as much as possible to give her a chance to rest.
Try not to panic (easier said than done, I know. I was panicking like crazy). It's Sunday now (here anyway!) and you can speak to the onco tomorrow, but my feeling (for what it's worth) is that this is muscular, or perhaps an irritated nerve, and he'll be able to reassure you.
All best,
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Murohy had a painful lower back at times. A trip to the rehab vet for acupuncture and cold laser therapy made him feel much better. Perhaps this is something you could check out.
Kathi
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Thanks so much, guys. Athla's oncologist is actually attached to a rehab center, so once monday rolls around that might be mighty helpful.
She was alright last night - only two grumbles while she switched positions, but no sharp yelps. I'm holding off on the presidone til I talk to her vet team, even though she won't be on an anti inflammatory until tomorrow.
She was thirsty and hungry this morning, and after breakfast I gave her tramodol. I'm going to wait to give her metronomic chemo until maybe this afternoon - don't want 80 drugs in her at one giving. Blake just took her out - (I couldn't watch I'm a disaster about this aha) but he says she moved around fine - pooped, peed, no discomfort vocalizations. She just came in and got on the futon (We're camping in the office on the main floor - no stairs) - and laid down just fine.
So I'm reeeallly hoping you guys are right - just a pinched nerve, muscle thing, etc etc. For her to lose the ability to walk is one of my big fears - because I can't carry her 🙁
ANYWAY happy sunday, friends. Athla seems to be doing ok - still smiling.
Definitely something to do with the mechanism of sitting down. Getting up is fine, walking is fine, but when she sits down, she yelps a mighty painful thing. And this was on 150meg of tramodol!
I wrote two pages of notes for the Dr and emailed it off. Now, I just wait and try to keep her from making it work until tomorrow. THE WORST 🙁
Okay, time to BE MORE BLAKE!!! Sounds like he and Athia have things under control and improving! Not getting any worse, esting, pooping, peeing, drinking, all real good indicators that this is a "tweak" of some sort.
I know tomorrow can't come soon enough. Keep on with the Tramadol which, btw, could make her vocalizations a little louder and a bit whacky if she's a vit druggy.
And look at the picture!!! OMD!!! She is so darn cute!!! Such a unique and wonderful pup!
Hang o ! Help is on the way!
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!
actually she's gotten a lot worse 🙁
Can't even touch her lower back - can't lay a heat pad on it, she just goes totally nuts and starts shaking, and that lasts 10 minutes.
Seriously considering taking her to an emergency vet - we're not even sure she can walk at this point - we were going to say heck to it and give her a rimadyl for it's anti inflam and she won't take it.
Hi Laura, Blake and Athla❤️
Can you not call the emergency vet and see if he thinks he should see your girl straight away or does he think it can wait until tomorrow?
If not possible to get the vet on the phone and as she seems to be so uncomfortable, I would take her to ER today.
Much love, hope your girl will get better real soon 🐾❤️
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
This just stinks!
Probably for your peace of mind, and pain relief for Athia, an ER trip may be in order. Based on what you've said it's gotten "worse" in that shenis now sore to touch and the pain is no longer confiuned to just the action of sitting.
I KNOW you'd much rather wait to see the vet who kmows all.of her history. If you aren't comfortable with anything the ER Vet says or tests he wants to do, you don't have to stay. They'll probably want a couple of xrays of her spine, etc. Not sure xrays show cartilage or muscle damage though.
Let us know what you decide and how she's doing when you can. We're all sending positive energy and fast healing solutions!!
Love and 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!
Ohhh Athla. I'm sorry you feel crappy. That sounds terrible.
Yeah, I would definitely suggest a trip if she's that painful and it will ease your worries a bit. The only thing is as Sally referenced, ER vets aren't familiar with her case, so there's always a degree of uncertainty there when you do get info from them. If anything though they can prescribe a painkiller for overnight, say a Fentanyl patch, that can keep her a bit more comfy till she sees her regular vet.
We have our paws crossed this is not serious. Let us know what happens OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I AM SO CONFUSED.
She just got up - went to the door - went potty in all ways outside, no squeaking, no pain - came back in - VERY gently set herself back down.
No crying.
I almost took her to the ER - but we waited for those reasons above, not knowing her case - now the plan is to take her tomorrow morning ASAP to her vet team. Will let you know XOXO. She sends you all kisses.
We all know how hard this is, and will be thinking of you!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Good girl, Athla. Here's hoping for a good night's sleep.
Kathi
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Wonderful that she has improved on her own for now. I just suggested you take her to ER because she seemed to be feeling so, so rotten💩
Let us know what the vet says today.
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to your gorgeous girl ❤️🐾😘
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
We just had an issue similar last week with Murphy. He was scheduled to go to the vet for a dental cleaning, I wonder if he was just trying to get out of it! lol He was perfectly fine when I went to bed at midnight. He was fine when my husband got up & let all 3 dogs outside. 15 minutes later when he let them in he said that Cassie was looking back like she was watching for Murphy, and Murphy came in the door then laid down right in front of the door, wouldn't move & started whining. He tried to get him to move, but he cried so he came & got me. Of course my thought was that he hurt his front leg. I poked and prodded, but couldn't figure out exactly where he was hurting, so I gave him a Carprofen and held some ice on his leg for a bit. I went to bed and when I got back up he was still whining and not wanting to walk. I was trying to feel around more and feel up at his shoulder and when I tried to turn his head out of the way, that's when he yelped. So I wondered if maybe he tweaked his neck somehow? So then I massaged his neck, shoulders and down his back pretty good. I debated about his appointment, but I figured that I would at least take him in and if they didn't do his cleaning they could at least look at him. By the time I left he was able to walk out to the car and get in mostly by himself. They vet wasn't able to find anything wrong, so they did his cleaning (and extractions). Now, he's perfectly fine! I'm sure a couple of days of pain meds has probably helped, too.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Thank you sooo mucch for your thoughts!!
Good news - her team examined her for osteosarcoma in the spine and hips and didn't find any painful sites via palpation- they believe she pinched a nerve as opposed to having tumor pain. (We didn't think she had or could get another tumor, so that was scary) We will hold off on X-rays and see if a non invasive drug therapeutic works. Going to start her on gabapentin and keep her calm and rested.
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