Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I posted previously about Major the Great Pyrenees that has his front left leg amputated due to osteosarcoma. His recovery has been pretty rocky from the gett-go. None of our research has prepared us for how slow and difficult this would be, however, about 2 or 3 weeks ago things begun to look up a bit. He was still wobbly and slow, but finally begun to take regular (albeit very short) walks. He actually was doing so well, that we were beginning not to use his harness as much. He wasn't lying down whilst out on his walks, anymore. Things seamed to be getting back to normal.
About a week and a half ago, things changed. He suddenly wasn't as enthusiastic about going out. Once out on a walk, he would cut it short by turning back homeward. This is very unusual. He normally would have to be forced to turn around! Finally, he started to plain refuse to go out. His 3 walks a day dwindled to 2. Then he tried to make that 1. The only reason we continued going out on 2 walks per day was, because I insisted.
This morning was disastrous. He could not get up off his bed. I helped him, but then he could not walk. Every time he took a step on his front leg, he would sink down. I put his harness on and tried to help, but even with assistance, he can not bear weight on his front leg.
We went to the vet. He had x-rays. Nothing whatsoever showing in the leg or shoulder, or the stump of the amputated leg. No other injuries. He winced when the vet manipulated his shoulder blade of the remaining limb, but there are no obvious injuries. His bloodwork came back fantastic. His numbers are better than before surgery. His lungs are clear. So apparently, we have the worlds healthiest dog, and we should be celebrating, except he is unable to stand at all, crying in pain, and the vet hasn't really a solution.
Major is already on maximum Rimadyl. He is also on Gabapentin, and as of last Friday, on Adequan. The vet upped his Gabapentin from 300mg 3x per day to 600mg 3x per day. I just gave him Tramadol, but so far it has not helped, and to be honest I am a bit reluctant to go Tramadol-happy with Major, because it tends to makes him even more wobbly than normal. At this point, I am at my witts end. Neither I nor the vet can think of anything else. I had to take a loan out to cover Major's treatment, so even if I could come up with yet another magic pill or potion, I probably can't afford it. I am loosing hope. If anyone has any words of wisdom to share in this situation, please do. I feel just horrible.
Hi Major's Mom,
I'm sure you're worried sick about Major. I'm so sorry it has been this hard! It is just heartbreaking.
The only thing I can think of is some PT or rehab. We feel like we waited too long trying some PT w/ our Pyr mix Ellie. The PT said she was exhibiting "guarding", which as I understand it is when the muscles are so strained by the extra effort they sort of bunch up (giving them a bit of a hunchback look). It can be very painful and being a front amp (which is always harder on the big guys) I wonder if something like that is going on? The exercises and massage were quite simple and I'm sure they helped.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Okay, I know you are frustrated beyond words, not to mention scared and emotionally drained. But now is the time to get refocused and grounded. All this has to make you feel vulnerable...but that does NOT mean you are powerless!
Relax...breathe in deeply...hold it...let it out....now loosen your shoulders....we are here ro help you and MAJOR!
The fact that ell of his check up showed a healthy dog is really good!! Thos is in no way the e d of the road!! Another hurdle, yeah, but o e that, once the cause is properly identified can be treated. The Adequan may take a bit to kick in. The Gabapentin seems like a pretty high dose, so I can certainly understand not wanting to give him the Tramadol too.
Assuming he has no other underlying issues and because he, slowly but surely, was doing so well, sou ds a whole lot like a Rehab specialist is badly needed.
I know Jerry will chime in with help on that. Check out the Rehabilitation Donation that has been set up uner the Maggie Moo Fund
. Major woukd be a perfect candidate.. These specialists are able to identify these ki ds of issues when regular vets cannot. Did the vet go up and down his spi e thoroughly and look for any pinched nerves or disc issues.
?
Kathi, Murphy's mom, also is a bit proponent of rehab/physical therapy and can offer I sight too.
O e more thing to check out, acupuncture.
I guess the vet has said very limited movement and then with a harness for potty breaks.
There is no reason whatsover this can't be figured out. I know it takes patience and persistence. Right now you probably feel pretty low on both. Lean on us...use some of our positive energy we are sending you.
Hang on, Major isn't giving up! He's enjoying all the loving and spoiling waaaay too much!!
Sending lots of 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!
Definitely, definitely, definitely look into physical therapy/rehab for Major.as far as I am concerned, a good rehab vet can be a wonder worker.
From what you have told us, he is doing so well otherwise. Now it may be time to call in a specialist. Be sure that you find a certified rehab vet. There is a list on this site. I'm sure Jerry or one of the other more tech savvy members will be able to point you in that direction.
Don't give up on your boy yet!
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
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!
Try not to give up, even situations like this are often resolved with rehab therapy. We've seen it before and it's amazing what some treatments can do, and they don't need to cost a lot either. In fact if you can get him to a qualified vet therapist the Tripawds Foundation will reimburse you for your first session. Please see:
http://tripawds.....bursement/
See if you can make an appointment asap, let them know how urgent this is. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Things went downhill since yesterday. Major deteriorated further. He was in a lot of pain. Unable to pee or poop. He refused all but a tiny bit of water and a little turkey. We just couldn't watch him suffer anymore. He went to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. He has all 4 legs once again.
While for many other dogs amputation is the right choice, for Major it was probably the worst decision I could have made. He did not recover well after surgery, and his last few months were pretty miserable. I also believe that in effect, I actually shortened his life. All I can do now is beg his forgiveness.
My heart and deepest condolences go out to you and your family I am truly sorry. Please know that Major knew you did all you could for him, he would never hold anything against the people who loved him most. You did the best you could by helping him out of his pain, nobody could have predicted the outcome. I am so sorry.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so very sorry. I did try to be hopeful in my first post, but I too worried that things were near an end with Major. His symptoms seemed too close to our Ellie's. And of course you must make the decision to end their suffering. I know that everyone says that it almost always goes to the lungs, but I suspect too many of us have the terrible misfortune to have it spread to other bones.
Please try not to feel like you need forgiveness. You don't know where the path not chosen would have take you. One thing we know for sure is that the pain would have become unbearable for him as the bone decayed away. And if you had decided not to amputate, perhaps Major would have suffered a pathological break when the bone became too diseased. That would have also been terrible---making a decision while your dog is in agony.
Of course, you could also be completely right that amputation was not the choice for Major, but you know that only in hindsight. You made your decision to amputate out of love. I'm sure Major knew that. None of us ever gets a crystal ball to tell us the right thing to do. I'm so sorry for you and for Major.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
My deepest sympathy. Every choice you made for your beloved Major was made out of love...that is the best any of us can do...we never can predict the outcome...no forgiveness is needed. May you take some peace from knowing that Major is now out of pain and his spirit is free. He was very blessed to be so dearly loved during his time here on earth.
Trini and Sketchie
My sincere sympathies on your loss..... but please don't beat yourself up. Every decision you made for Major was one of love and with love, there are no mistakes. Major knew - always - that he was SO very loved and he is running free again healthy with all our angels. Don't beat yourself up. We all send you love and support and peace ...
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
I am so very sorry for your loss of Major. Run free, sweet boy. You have many Angel friends waiting for you at the Bridge.
Kathi and the Turbotsil April Angel...and the Labradork
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!
I agree, don't beat yourself up. I know it is hard, I did it for a long, long time after Inlost Ty just 10 weeks after amputation. He was pretty sick that whole 10 weeks also. I can now look back and see that even with all the trouble, he was probably in a lot less pain without the cancer ridden bone in his body. Know that every decision you made was made with love and caring for your sweet boy. Thinking of you, Lori, Ty and Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
I'm so sorry to see this. I know how hard this is but Major knows how much you love him and you did everything you could to make his life long, happy and healthy. We all do our best and there are times we feel like we didn't make the "right" choice but the truth is that you went to extraordinary measures to keep Major comfortable and happy.
To comfort in the fact that Major spent his last weeks 100% sure of your love devotion ... there is no greater gift you can give any living thing.
Hugs,
Amy and Izzy, too
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Thank you everyone for your kind words of support. They are much needed and appreciated. I am trying to be positive about this horrible situation, so I have listed some items in the exchange forum in hopes that someone else will use them and have a better outcome. If any of you need any harnesses, boots, or DogLeggs, or know someone who does, please check to see if any of the items would be of use. Later on, I will be heading to the local animal shelter to donate Major's food and maybe some other items (depending on what they need).
BTW, this is how I want to remember Major (he is the slower, bigger one):
What a beautiful video! Those are the memories that will remain in your heart forever, they are more powerful than cancer or anything else that happened afterward. Hold them close and know that Major wants you to remember him that way.
Is Daisy your other dog? If so, how is she coping?
Thank you for donating in the Exchange, that is so sweet, I know it's not an easy thing to do, especially right now. {{{hugs}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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