Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello,
I might be a little confused... Maisie had a MRI which diagnosed a nerve sheath tumor (probably) but has not had any other surgery including amputation, right? And the issues the past couple of weeks are tied to her having problems with recovering from the anesthesia.
Could it be now that two weeks past the MRI she is having pain from the tumor which is keeping her apatite fluctuating? Just a thought.
My first Tripawd was a Pug who was really hard to medicate. If she found a pill in a certain food she wouldn't eat that food for at least two weeks! She also had this ability to hide a pill in her cheek and spit it out way after I was sure she had swallowed it. Pill guns didn't work either!
I hope you watched the cheesy pill video that Jerry linked. My current Tripawd Elly is taking galiprant right now and although it's supposed to be chewable she wouldn't take it, and she spit it out with a coating of pill paste too. The melted cheese has worked every time over the past 3 weeks. I also was able to get her to take tamadol, a really bitter med, without issue 2 times a day for 2 weeks after she had an invasive dental surgery. For pilling my small dogs a critical point is to make the pill (with whatever coating) small enough that they will swallow without chewing. And having multiple blanks that they can see helps tremendously too. I usually feed a blank, then pill, then blank, then blank rapid fire- greed works in my favor!
I hope Maisie feels better soon.
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
Hi,
My dog recently underwent amputation for a peripheral nerve sheath tumor as well. She had the tumor for at least 3-4 months before we got a proper diagnosis, and I can tell you her appetite was WAY off the entire time. This dog used to eat like a full-sized horse; her nickname was "fat potato." The tumor definitely made her lose her appetite, and she lost around 10 pounds (she was overweight to begin with, around 75 pounds, and is a GSD/husky mix). I couldn't get her to eat kibble for a straight month, so it was whatever I could get into her, whenever I could (she still loved peanut butter for the most part - and that's also where we hide her pills). It was pretty distressing but makes sense - when I'm sick I don't want to eat either.
Hope you can get some food into her soon! But just want to offer the viewpoint it's possible her appetite just doesn't come back until the amputation is done and she's starting to feel better. It took a few days after the amputation before Marley was back to eating her kibble (mixed with wet food) and for the most part, is so much better.
Yes, I believe it very well could be the cancer making her feel like not eating. Its just been difficult to dial in as there have been several different things happening all at once. The most logical is yes, the cancer. She did eat 2 fresh hamburger patties last night and some kibble so seems like each day we are able to get something in to her. We are just waiting on the referral now for amp and my thoughts have been once that thing is out of her and she starts to recover from amp that helps her feel well to get back to her normal self. She is drinking water well and consistently now.
OMG we just got booked for amputation this coming Monday, it has been surreal until now...
Ohh I know it's so scary. Try to get your home ready this weekend, and spend some quality time together. Please let us know if we can help OK? I'm in the Tripawds Chat for a bit right now if you want to talk. Is she eating anything now?
jerry said
Ohh I know it's so scary. Try to get your home ready this weekend, and spend some quality time together. Please let us know if we can help OK? I'm in the Tripawds Chat for a bit right now if you want to talk. Is she eating anything now?
Hi thank you, good idea on getting place ready....she's eaten 2 burger patties with cheese today so far...Ill make her some chicken breast later hopefully she'll eat that and some canned food.
Oh YAY for her eating! I'm so happy to read that. Good job!
Yeah get as much traction down as you can, and baby gates are also helpful. See our Tripawds Recovery Shopping List for ideas.
jerry said
Oh YAY for her eating! I'm so happy to read that. Good job!Yeah get as much traction down as you can, and baby gates are also helpful. See our Tripawds Recovery Shopping List for ideas.
Thank you, you are very helpful and compassionate, much appreciated!
Justt catching up on your sweet pup! You have gotten excellent input and are doing an excellent job of caring for her. You have made aome imp in getting her to eat, so give yourself a pat on the back!👏
One thing that may be helpful is a firm dog bed if you don't already have one. A soft squishy one is hard for them to stand up on, whereas a firm one is more stale.
Of course, the bliss of being dog is Maisie isn't worried about anything! She only wants to be pain free and by youruside for more loving.
I had not found this site when my Hapoy Hannah had her amputation. This community is excellent in helping to prepare you for recovery, and definately to help you not feel alone!!!
Will she be staying at an overnight staffed clinic? That is the timemfornuounto catch up on some sleep. Getting to this point can be exhausting emotionally and physically.
Recovery is no picnic for the first week,or two-inch. It's all about SHORT leashed potty breaks and back in for more rest. ,Drinking and peeing are important, but pooping and eating may be off for a bit. Continue feeding her anything goody she'll eat.
She'll probably come home with Gabapentin, an antiinflmmatory like Rimadyl and an antibiotic. Sometimes the pajn meds need some tweak just bas3d on her personal reaction. DO let the Surgeon know about her sensitivity to the anesthesia.
So stay connected! We are here by uour side and look forward to celebrating all of Maisies victories as she moves out of recov and backmjnto being Maisies again!!
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!
I'm glad the cheese worked for Maisie!
I know it's becomes so real and scary when there is a date on the calendar. But since you have chosen this path it's good to get the surgery done so Maisie can get healed up and on with her life!
I'll be thinking strong, positive thoughts for you guys tomorrow! Keep us posted.
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
Little update on Maisie, animal hospital today, surgery day.
Surgery is completed...entire limb removed...there were 2 nerves that were affected by the tumour and it was pushing in to the muscle...he said he was able to get 5 cm around the tumour on all sides and also took lymph node as a precaution...used a diffefent protocol for anesthesia and she is recovering well..put a tube in to better administer local anesthesia in to the wound...she'll stay until wed or thurs. Thank you everyone following along and sending us your prayers and best wishes and your stories. Really, 3 specialists giving their opinions along the way, 1 for amp, 1 against and 1 neutral but ive learned in life people that have walked the walk so to speak afterwards are worth more...knowledge is key and important but the ones that have walked the walk good and bad are where I put my money, so THANK YOU. As extreme a measure as it seems in the mind even crazier is the fact that in this moment, medicated, this could be the first time in 2 months that she's not in pain and discomfort. Now the healing begins.
YAY Surgery is OVER! Maisie is a Tripawd Rock Star now!
It sounds like the vet team did a great job addressing all of your concerns, and she is now getting the best care for her needs. Way to go on advocating for her, you are a great parent.
You are so very, very welcome for the support and cheerleading. It makes us happy to know that she is in recovery now. I do believe you will see a positive difference in her expressions and mobility. Sometimes we just can't see how much our dogs are in pain until it's gone. Our Jerry had night-and-day expressions on his face, the day before, and two days after surgery.
Whatever we can do, any questions we can answer, just bark OK? Keep us posted.
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