Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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HI, Everyone..Ok, I know I have mentioned this already, but tomorrow I'm taking Happy in for his appointment to start radiation. He'll go for 20 straight days on the weekdays, I will pick him up each day, and then home on the weekends. We found a cool place to stay in the country near the vet school, which is a plus. I want to be sure to put something on his skin to soothe and maybe prevent it from getting itchy and leathery..will the vet supply that or should I bring some aloe/vitamin e, or is there something else? I am sure the vet will fill me in, but just wondered what your experiences are with this intense of radiation..
Yay for three weeks, Happy!!! We're happy you found a nice place to stay while you're going through your treatments.
Our onco gave us silver nitrate cream to put on Rio's radiation site. It's an anti-fungal, anti-microbial cream which is supposed to retard infection and speed healing on burned tissue.
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
I have no experience with radiation, but just wanted to wish you all the best! Please keep us posted on how Happy is doing.
Sending you lots of golden hugs,
Cathy
Good luck Happy. Hope all goes well!
Abby sends that handsome Happy kisses!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I don't have any experience either with radiation as Daisy's amp was due to severe arthritis. Just wanted to say "YAY HAPPY" on his three week ampuversary.
Best of luck with the radiation treatments.
Marla Jackson
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Hi Happy!!! Good luck with the radiation. I know I told you we're almost never down to Austin but we will be on Sunday. I'm glad you'll be home getting rest and lots of love from mom! Lucy has to stay home Sunday but her dad and I will be visiting relatives. We're praying for you and your mom. Good luck!
Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
Aw! Thanks so much you guys. I really appreciate the well-wishes and I know Happy does, too.. he is having a CT scan done tomorrow to detect the pins they put in place when they did the surgery..to align the radiation ray gun thingy.
On a different subject, I think he pulled or strained a muscle this weekend. We were kind of excited to be at 'grandma's' and such, and well, 'ran the fence' a little..We probably just overdid it, but I feel bad he was having trouble today..his opposite back leg. I hope that is sort of common and we can just rest and call it 'lesson learned'. I just want him to run and have fun.
If Happy has been pretty quiet during his recovery, then started doing some running he could have strained or pulled something. It is not uncommon, I think because many pups don't self regulate. It is important to build both strength and endurance slowly. It's ok for Happy to run and play, but he needs to build back up to it. There are some great exercise and fitness ideas on this site, go to the Gear Blog
to check them out (sorry I can't make a link from this iPad).
.
Happy must make you smile every time you look at him!
Good luck with the rad treatments.
Karen and the pugapalooza
We've all had the "lesson learned" experience, it takes some time to get into the "new normal."
Yes, do check out these videos from the animal rehab experts at CARE and our Gear Blog fitness page too for tips about hopping around on 3.
I wish I had some advice about what to use on the treatment area but I've never had them before. The docs should be able to tell you and as you can see others have experience with radiation therapy and can share tips here too.
Good luck Happy, we're cheering you on!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good luck with radiation treatments! It does sound promising!
Like Karen said...gotta watch out for overdoing it. Muscle strains can happen so easily on a tripawd! And it's a booger to get rid of since they are already overworking their remaining legs and body!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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