Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Day 6 evening update:
Beija is similar today. Similar movement, similar sleeping, eating, and drinking.
Movement is really hard on her old muscles and bones. Ambulating is very labored. She tends to lean on nearby objects if she stands. One of her rear legs seems to drag sometimes. I noticed this before her surgery and it was part of my concern with taking her leg.
I've been massaging her muscles for quite a while, more than a year, to help keep them healthy and working to the best of their ability.
I have not read the e-books. I'll plan on reading them. Should I read both or mostly just 1 at this point? I will be making an appointment to see a PT in the morning. I found a recommended PT through the maggy moo foundation search.
Hi Beija and Dad 🐾
Sorry about her difficulty hopping around, you are doing the right thing taking her to see a PT.
After her stitches come out you could consider hydroteraphy, this is a brilliant way of working muscles and coordination without adding any stress to their ligaments and joints.
Angel Eurydice did it a few times and they mentioned doing a few lengths in the pool was the equivalent of walking for a few miles ... safely.
Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
beijasdad said
I have not read the e-books. I'll plan on reading them. Should I read both or mostly just 1 at this point? I will be making an appointment to see a PT in the morning. I found a recommended PT through the maggy moo foundation search.
"Three Legs and a Spare " is most useful for dogs who just had surgery and how to help them (and you), "Loving Life On Three Legs " is more about life after recovery.
Glad to hear you found a PT. Let us know how that works out. I hope she starts to get some sparkle back today. We are cheering on Team Beija!
P.S. How did she get her name? I'm curious about it, it's lovely.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Day 9 update:
Beija's appetite has dropped off yesterday and today.
I make her hop back and forth across the living room twice a day for exercise.
She is scheduled to get her staples out Monday.
The surgeon called to check on her a couple days ago. She said that Beija should no longer be in pain, so I've stopped giving her the galliprant (it was actually done but I had some extra galliprant leftover from her diagnosis) , and I've cut her gabapentin dose in half. I'm wondering if her loss of appetite is due to pain.
Okay, on day five she showed you some of her old habits were still there. You attributed the bit to the fact that you upped her Gabapentin, because ou had reduced her Gaba dose a say or two before thar.
And now your Vet has told you a couple of days ago she "shouldn't still be in pain" and to stop the Gilliprant . So that would maybe be day sevenish???
Seems to me , she feels better when she's on pain meds consistently. When they are cut back, then she's a bit more "off.
I know you are between and rock and a hard place because not her kidney issues, but most everyone here will tell you she needs to be on pain meds consistently for a bit longer. My Happy Hannah was on them for three weeks, with some reduction during the third week. The Galliprant is good for her senior joints, as well as a food anti inflammatory for the surgery. Seems to me it would really benefit her to stay on that even after recovery from the surgery.
This early on IS exhausting and I'm sure her breathing is labored as she exerts herself and tries to walk on three. Someone suggested one time we try hopping on one leg for a few minutes and see how exhausting it is! Not exactly the same, but they made their point.
I know we all sound like broken records, but slow and easy and lots of patience is what it's all about right now. And then add another dose of patience because you are dealing with a senior. Just like senior humans, recovering from anything...a cold ...a sprained ankle...a minor surgery, or big surgery....all take longer to heal. And when trying to heal when in pain is even harder!
Okay, enough of my 2 cents worth.
Give that sweet gal a good tummy rub for me. And give yourself a pat on the back for xontinuing to stay focused on getting through recovery! This recovery stuff is ruff!
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!
You are doing a good job staying on top of this and trying to help her feel better!
One thing to keep in mind is that like people, each animal's pain tolerance is different, so what works for some may not work for others. She may need to be on pain meds longer, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as it's under the guidance of a vet who has a good understanding of the latest veterinary pain management protocols. Also, some dogs need a few weeks of pain management , and find even greater relief through things like acupuncture and rehab therapy.
Please remember the Tripawds Foundation will pay for your first rehab visit as long as you take her to a licensed practitioner. One of these experts can do wonders for a dog, but especially senior ones. We are big fants!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Day 12 update:
Beija's appetite is good and stable. I'm still not using the leftover galliprant, but I give her a reduced dosage of gabapentin. It seems i've found the sweet spot.
She got her staples out today. We're going to the lake the next two days to get some end of season swimming in. It should be great exercise for her. She's been walking more than 100 steps (daily total) each of the last few days. Yesterday she climbed up 16 stairs. She's slow and awkward but getting better. Swimming should be a great way for her to really get a full range of motion in her legs, with lots of reps, but without the high impact of hopping.
She is afraid to go down stairs. I imagine that is common with forelimb amputees. We'll be getting into PT sessions soon and I am also interested in giving acupuncture a try. A friend of mine is sending me some cbd oil from out of state. I'm excited to see how it works with her.
She'll also need to start chemo soon as the biopsy from her leg came back positive for osteo.
Aww I'm so happy that Beija is finding her sparkle again! YAY! Can I help get the image posted? Please let me know, you can PM me.
Also, I need to say this, and I'm not a vet, but based on what rehab therapists have told us during interviews I have to throw this out there..
Please do not take her swimming yet. It's very soon, and could put her at risk of injury, especially considering her age and the challenges she's faced during recovery. Open water swimming is something that needs to wait until she's been assessed by the therapist. We've seen many dogs overdo it and becoming injured after getting in the water too soon, we would hate to see that happen to her. Please see this blog post for details, specifically the section "Water Treadmill Versus Open Water Swimming for Tripawd Dogs."
Texas A&M Vet Rehab Tips for Tripawd Dogs
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad she is doing well. Stairs may be tricky for a while and take lots of patience. My dog is a rear amp and so although he finally good at going down the inside stairs we are still working on up but he is making progress. Give it time.
beijasdad said
Day 12 update:Beija's appetite is good and stable. I'm still not using the leftover galliprant, but I give her a reduced dosage of gabapentin. It seems i've found the sweet spot.
She's been walking more than 100 steps (daily total) each of the last few days. Yesterday she climbed up 16 stairs. She's slow and awkward but getting better.
WOW!!!!! YOU GO BEIJA!!!😁😁😁 AND YAY FOR STITCH REMOVAL!!😎
"Slow and awkward " is a beautiful sight! All those stairs...beyond remarkable!!
This update PLASTERED a huge grin on my face😁😁😁😁😁
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!
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