Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well, we had a follow up today with Alexander's oncologist. ALL of his doctors think that the appetite supression and lethargy are from A) Medications and B) He's tired!
So, basically, I am being a worrywort mommy, panicking because he got SO lethargic. The docs took him of the rimadyl completely, as well as the Cephalaxin. He was prescribed Gabapentin today due to the act he seems to still be having pain. He gets panty and tremors once in a while. The drugs still keep him pretty sedate, but the vet said he looks good overall.
All of the techs were absolutely amazed at how well he is getting around! I kept hearing "Alex, you act like you were born with only three legs!" That made me feel awesome, especially after the first ortho consult when that surgeon told me he wouldn't do well.
As for the Thrombocytopenia, his platelets are back to perfectly normal. No worries there, could have been a bead draw, an off day or the Rimadyl. Thank goodness!!!!
He is still not really eating. He wouldn't even eat a McDonalds cheeseburger or chicken nuggets yesterday. He did have some peanut butter last night. When I was at the vet today, she gave me some canned science diet I/D, he gobbled that right up today....so, hopefully we are on our way back to eating...I just wish he'd eat his RAW diet, rather than commercial dog food. We had problems with allergies before we went RAW....
Alexander's first Chemo treatment is scheduled for next Wednesday, as long as bloodwork that day is good, as well as a physical exam. Everything is moving so fast!
I am anxious to have my Alexander back, I want to see him living, not suffering. I knew these two weeks were going to be hard, but I was not ready for the emotional impact! I could not even fathom the sense of panic over some weird breathing, or the sense of joy over a poop. I know logically that we made the right decision for Alexander, I can feel it in my heart. I can doubt myself during the tough times, but I know what we are doing is right.
Question/Poll: Has anyone used acupuncture, if so, did you see benefits? Was it expensive? Would you recommend it?
Thanks for ALL the support, tripawds.com is the first page I go to every time I get on my computer now!!!!
Alexander The Great Dane
Suspected Osteosarcoma July 12
Diagnosed Officially 7/16/2010
Amputated 7/27/2010
Became Spirit Xander 2/20/2011
xanderdane said:
Question/Poll: Has anyone used acupuncture, if so, did you see benefits?
Thanks for ALL the support, tripawds.com is the first page I go to every time I get on my computer now!!!!
We highly recommend acupuncture for amputee dogs, both to help ease pain and maintain good posture. Don't miss Jerry's dog acupuncture video! If you search the forums for "acupuncture" you'll find more input from others.
We're happy to hear you find Tripawds helpful! It is the support of this community that make this site what it has become. Please make the Tripawds entry in the .com contest the second site you visit every day! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yay! So happy to see this post, I have been worrying about xanderdane. Don't fret, he WILL get his "normal" personality back, in bits and pieces over the next couple of weeks and then all of a sudden you'll realize that he's all back to "normal." Really. I was a doubter, but if you've been following my pposts you'll see that I was wrong.
Re the panting - we still have more of that (at day 15) than we did before surgery. Vets say he's tired, he's hot, etc. I actually think that he is just a little bit anxious in certain circumstances -- kind of the way your pup might pant before if he was standing on the edge of somethign high, or at the vet if he doesn't like it there, or in the car if he doesn't like that .... it freaked me out but when the surgeon removed the stitches day 10 she said not to worry about it. So we have seen it for a while after he moves around (he's working hard, after all!) and also when we have introduced him to new situations for the first time on 3 legs. I would say that the panting alone, without other symptoms, is not as bad as it seems to us.
Can't help you re food as I have a Labrador. That means that I could give him a box in which a McDonald's hamburger once lived, 10 minutes after surgery, and he'd eat it. That being said, he did lose his lunch once or twice during the first 2 weeks, but it didn't slow him down.
Good luck!
Happy 1 week ampuversary Alexander!!
Glad to hear you're OK... just a little tired...
As for Xander's appetite... I remember when I worked at the vet clinic (I worked part time as a certified vet tech for many years) we'd give our dogs and cats that had gone through a big surgery, or a bad illness... Iams Maximum Calorie canned food for a little while (few days to a week). I know that you feed raw... but the Max Cal should be OK for his recovery... and you can give it in addition to his usual raw food. Just a little extra something to help him till he gets his appetite back... And for the panting... well that can be due to so many things... his medications, pain, discomfort, anxiety, stress, etc... After all, he has just gone through a big surgery... Hopefully the gabapentin will help... One more thing... if his tummy is upset from his meds... ask your vet about giving him some pepcid AC or cimetidine or suralfate to help coat his tummy... I did that for Jake when he started to vomit a few days after starting his NSAIDs and it really helped.
Other than that... looks like your baby is doing so well after his surgery. Sending Xander a big fat hug!!!
Angel Jake and Wolfie's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Glad to hear that the blood count is back to normal, but being one who really struggled with the appetite, I know that it can worry one. I also agree that the medications are probably the major culprit for this problem. Miss Cherry started her chemothearpy just hours after the amputation and as the chemicals traversed her body, her appetite shut down. Even I could taste the chemicals when I kissed her good night. Bottom line, I have many things that I used with varrying degree of success during the two months of chemotherapy. Just PM us if you need them.
Many of our community do not have any problem at all with chemotherapy, so I would not worry but go into that as optimistic and upbeat as you can. It will help Alexander.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
Hi Alexander's Mom,(dad?)
I feel your pain! Literally! My dog went off her food 5 days after surgery...she, too, is raw fed but she got whatever she would eat then! Dry kibble, canned food, fried eggs, MacDonald's cheeseburgers - oh, do I remember partying so hard in the parking lot of McD's when she ate a whole cheeseburger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Just get some food into him...whatever that may be...he'll get back to his regular diet later...
My dog suffered a low grade fever(but didn't have an infection) for 2 weeks....homeopathy(specifically Belladonna remedy) got her thru that...as soon as that broke and went to normal - she was back to eating.
One more week and you should be seeing a llittle more light at the end of the tunnel!
Hugs,
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Yes, yes, yes for acupuncture. The initial visit was a bit pricey but the ultimate outcome of seeing a happy, comfortable dog was well worth it.
So hoping Xander has better days.....my 1 month Tripawd Shelby sends her love! xoxoxo
Hey if the vets thought it was necessary to take him off all the meds he was on then you weren't just being a worrywart! They agreed with you that something was off - well done. The trick is knowing when something's off and doing something about it without letting it totally freak you out , which I totally suck at, so can't really offer any advice there. But I wish the best for you (and me) in one day figuring out that balance 
Hurray for normal platelets!!! Rhoohoooooooo! Good boy, Alexander 
I have not tried acupuncture, but am interested in the future, when I have enough leftover cash. So, good poll. I'll be watching the results too.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
glad to hear alexander is doing better! gayle and her older sister jane both get acupuncture - every other week. we HIGHLY recommend it, if it is available in your area and if the cost isn't prohibitive. our acupunture vet, dr. mili bass, works alot on gayles front remaining shoulder, her back and on her immune system. gayle LOVES it, (we were not sure she would). jane is 14 and a half, and get treatments to help with her back and hips, and with general mobility, she likes it too. so, sounds like i'm a needle salesperson, but definitely give it a try, i think you will be happy with the results.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
I think I am definately going to look into the acupuncture. I have heard great stories regarding the effectiveness.
I cannot wait for this "rough" period to be over!! Alex got up a couple times to go pee last night, and decided to plop in the yard, at three in the morning, and not want to get up....155lb, I can't lift him....so I had to wake my husband up, get him up and in the house. He then wanted to go again two hours later!
He still does not want to eat. Yesterday he ate one can of wet dog food and I was super encouraged, but didn't want anything last night or so far this morning. He did get his drugs this morning, so I'm hoping that once he comes down from his "high", he may try some more wet food.
The vets gave me an apetite stimulant Rx, but the last thing I want to do is add more drugs to his system....
Other than the not eating and being stoned, he's doing okay....I can't wait to get past this!
Alexander The Great Dane
Suspected Osteosarcoma July 12
Diagnosed Officially 7/16/2010
Amputated 7/27/2010
Became Spirit Xander 2/20/2011
Hi Alexander's parents,
Sorry I missed your post from a few days ago. I'm slow and have a hard time keeping up sometimes 
. In any case it sounds like Alexander is doing much better. The first couple of weeks are so very stressful! Hang in there and before you know it your Alexander will be back and enjoying life as a dog!
sending positive thoughts your way for a thumbs up visit with the vet next Wednesday...
Fortis has had several acupuncture/chiropractic treatments. Rene and Jim had recommended them and so I gave it a try. I feel there has been a benefit. Fortis who has had some serious issues with his remaining leg seemed stronger after each subsequent treatment. I know his spine was shaped like an S. The chiropractic treatments have really made a difference here. We will be going in for another treatment within a week or so.
If I remember correctly the initial visit cost a little over $200. But within that amount was a prescription for meds, and overall check-up. The following visits have cost around $100. I'm sure this amount will change based on your location.
Well that's my two cents. Keep us posted.
Fortis'Chump
xanderdane said:
I think I am definately going to look into the acupuncture. I have heard great stories regarding the effectiveness.
And here's one more:
My Visit to the Animal Acupuncture Doctor In Colorado
As for the not eating part, it sounds like there is some appetite there, but he just wants to eat on his terms? Hope he starts eating soon too. The pills are a necessary evil sometimes but they are a short term thing, they're not forever.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I know you are still having some trouble, but I'm glad you are getting some of them behind you. We never tried accuncture, but I've only heard good things about it.
Maybe it's time to try a drug that will get Alexander stoned AND stimulate his appetite! Hee Hee...nothing like the munchies.
You're doing a super job!
Spirit Ruthie's Mom
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