Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello! I have an almost 8 year old Great Dane who had his right front leg amputated 1 year ago. His diagnosis was high grade 3 Chondrosarcoma. Over the past day or so I noticed him not looking at me quite like he used to. He is sleeping more and today I for sure noticed that when I went to give him a treat he was reaching for it about 3 inches from where it was, same with grabbing a toy etc... Also has been having a horrible time with stairs. Anyone out there gone through this? He doesn't have cataracts and he had a check up about a month ago and everything looked fine. My biggest concern would be a metastasis to the brain or eye??? Anything will help!
Nikki And Rio
Hi Nikki and the STUNNINGLY HANDSOME RIO!!!
Such a good looking avatar picture!
This could be soooo many things completely unrelated to that piece of crap disease. The fact that he is "slowing down" could merely be that, because he is having eyesight issues, he just feels more confident not doing too much wandering around. Whatever is going on with his eyes could make him uncertain in his gait too which could interfere with goingnup and down stairs.
Yeah, a vet visit with a thorough eye exam would be in order. He can probably evaluate anything neurological or if there has been any retina damage, etc.
I know to say "try not to worry" is futile...but TRY NOT TO WORRY! This journey always makes us think the worst, when most often it's something simple and treatable!
CONGRATULATIONS on a ONE YEAR AMPUVERSARY!!! Stupendous job!
Keep us posted! And stay innthe present with Rio! Rio isn't worrying about a thing! And when you can, please ppst more pictures of Rio! We love pictures!
Sending hugs and lpve!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
nikkiweber said
Anyone out there gone through this?
Be sure to browse Nova's blog!
Nova was truly inspawrational three legged Great Dane who survived osteosarcoma for nearly five years, and going blind half way through her Tripawd journey.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What do you mean having a horrible time with stairs? Is he stumbling or does it appear he can't see them?
Does he have any other signs that might be neurological? In my experience with neurological issues I've seen paw knuckling, lack of balance, short periods of non-responsiveness while awake up to full blown seizures.
And having pugs I have lots of experience with eye issues. Do you have an animal eye doctor in your area? It would be worth a visit to rule out eye problems, there are many eye problems beyond cataracts that affect sight. A normal vet usually can't do a full eye exam. It would help perhaps to narrow the possibilities if you can rule out some eye problems. He is not squinting is he? Squinting is a sign of an eye injury- also if the white part around the iris and pupil is red or his eye lids are red and swollen.
Sorry, I don't feel like I'm being much help. I think an eye doctor is in order unless you think he is showing neurological signs.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks everyone!
I will be visiting the vet for sure about this, just the suddenness is worrisome. A week ago Rio would be fine going down stairs now it does seem he has forgot so-to- speak how to do them, I am sure he is just uneasy if his vision is impaired. The only difference in the eye itself is his third eyelid is more prominent then the other, no bulge or redness. I texted my DVM and she is going to look into it and get back to me. I also have an appointment a week from today with a Rehab facility for a consult and to see what else I can do for him.
I will have to check out Nova's blog for sure! Although Rio has a different type of bone cancer that effects the cartilage rather than bones itself I believe, it is a better prognosis than Osteo but his high grade 3 makes it worse :/ of course....... But he made it a year and they weren't giving him that!
Benny it is always good to hear from you! I will be posting more pictures very soon! He is doing great and really enjoying life lately (well besides this little set-back lol) Just o sad to see him uneasy with things, like smacking his head on the stove! Poor Guy, just comes running to Mama too!
Be in touch soon!
Thanks!
Nikki and Rio
Update on Rio
So a few things... Went to our RDVM and they could not fully diagnose him, said it was almost a mix between Horner's syndrome and vestibular disease but not definitive of either. So we are going to a neurologist tomorrow for a consult and CT Scan I am assuming.
His symptoms are as follows: on and off appetite, occasional vomiting of small bile and/or foam, very wobbly after laying down or walking slowly throughout the house, unable to go downstairs unassisted, very restless at night, photophobic in his left eye, his left eye where the third eyelid is very prominent along with the head tilt has restricted pupil contractility and Saturday I noticed some greenish nasal discharge from his right nostril...
Later I found (and by found, I mean pulled out) a large amount of what honestly looked like a booger with some dog hair from his right nostril thanks to Rio's patience and tolerance of me poking in his nose! Was about an inch and a quarter long.... GROSS! I at first hoped OMG this could be why everything! But no.... Symptoms are still the same. The weird thing is, is that he can run like his normal self and not be wobbly its just when he slows down and is in the house etc...
RDVM is leaning towards brain tumor secondary to his Chondrosarcoma... We will find out tomorrow! ;(
Keep us in your prayers that a metastasized brain tumor isn't the case and we get some answers!!
Thanks everyone!
Look at that stunningly handsome boy in that avatar! That's a real kissable mug!
I don't have any insight into the specif possibilities that coukd be causing Rio's challenges. I know the vestibular condition does cause wobbly walking a d "dizziness", loss of balance. And all that can certainly cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc.
And for whatever it's worth, I was owned by a Bull Mastiff named Hostess Twinkie. She had a nose tumor that eventually caused her muzzle and eye area to be somewhat misshapen. She didn't have discharge but did have bleeding from her nose off and on. Just want you to know she continued having a good quality life for quite awhile and we had some great bonus time. If I recall, she was i n Prednisone. Can't quite remember, it was many years ago.
We all know that everyday in this journey is a bonus day. And right nownyou have having some good bonus days, with some challenges, but overall pretty good. You are doing an outstanding job of not letting anything rob you of enjoying these bonus days! Because you love Rio so much, and Rio knows that, you will be able to celebrate every moment together cramming in more loving and spoiling than you could ever imagine possible!!
Sending all the healing love of the entire Tripawd Universe...and that's a really good thing!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
What a lucky pup to have you for a pawrent! He has so many people on his side and making sure that whatever it is, the cause is pinpointed so he can keep on rockin. He's getting the best care, and we hope that you get some pawsitive news tomorrow from the experts, so please keep us posted OK?
(ok the pulling boogers out is true love! Gross, but love!).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks guys! I'd do anything for this boy! I can't stand not knowing and especially not doing anything or being proactive... Hospice care is going to be soooo painful!!! Ugh.... 🙁
Will update everyone tomorrow!
So MRI was done today there was NO BRAIN TUMOR!
Chest X-rays were also done and they were BORING!
So happy but we still don't know what the issue is... They took a sample of his spinal fluid to check for inflammation and infection. There are a few things that could be causing it, all scary of course, but hopefully it is something we can treat and he will be back to normal so he can live his glory days running through the cattails and watching mama fish this summer!
He is staying overnight tonight and I will pick him up tomorrow, they will also have the results back from his fluid analysis. They are assuming it is some type of either brain disease or encephalitis... A lot of encephalitis cases the cause is unknown which scares me... I just really want to know if this has anything to do with his cancer that was in his leg...
Talk soon!
Thanks for the update! Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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