Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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I wanted to welcome you also, and echo what has already been said. Making that chemo decision is a tough one, and one we all make for a different reason. My fear was having an already sick dog (my thinking at the time was cancer = sick) feel even worse with the drugs. Most, not all, sail through chemo with few side effects. Trouble was a little nausiated for about 12 - 24 hours and had some chills with a couple of the treatments, but overall it was not a bad experience for her. We went into the chemo with the understanding that if she did not tolerate it well we would stop.
Wow, Laura, what an awesome story. That just really made my day - just shows us all there is always hope.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I agree, thank you for that story Laura!!
To everyone else thank you for the support and help with supplements. We did buy some organic food this weekend. Max hasn't really been into eating his normal food, I think he is getting used to people food because of getting it with his meds. We are probably going to start doing some homeade to put over his dry.
He had a rough weekend and ended up back at the vet. He wasn't able to urinate and then he had a couple of accidents. She was worried but we think it is just a UTI and she put him on some new antibiotics. Hopefully today will bring a change for him. We also changed his pain meds because they made him so drowsy that he was barely awake. It was scary thinking it could have something to do with the cancer.
He still seems very bummed out. Is this common??
Beth, Max's Mom
Hello Beth,
I must have missed your first post but I want to respond now because Cemil (Anatolian Shepherd) was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 3 and had his left front leg amputated. They also did a biopsy on the lymph node and it was clear of cancer cells, and his lungs were clear. Chemo was not an option, so I went with an alternative treatment, Hoxsey, and supplements. The vet recommended vitamins A & D together, ImmPower, which is AHCC, and fish oil. I also added freeze-dried acai berries (anti-oxidant) and probiotics (the daily one that Flint River sells) and put him on grain-free food. His lungs were x-rayed at 12 months and they were still clear.
I have learned that the lymph node being clear is huge, but cancer can still develop later. So far I've been lucky. I hope the same for you and Max. I'm sorry that anybody has to go through this, but you've come to the right place for help and support.
I think the bummed out thing is fairly common. He's not feeling too good and is taking medication, plus having to learn a new way to do things and use different muscles in the process...makes me want to take a nap. I hope the antibiotics work and he can can get on with healing.
Mary and Cemil
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
bethieb said:
hasn't really been into eating his normal food, I think he is getting used to people food because of getting it with his meds. We are probably going to start doing some homeade to put over his dry.
He still seems very bummed out. Is this common??
Try to think of "people food" as "real food" and since Max is a real pup, there's no problem at all with him eating real food as long as it's pure and without sweeteners or preservatives and is lo-carb (carbs feed cancer). We are big home cooking / raw food advocates for dogs (cats too!), and I know once you see how easy it is to make, you'll feel so good about doing it and Max will thank you a million times over in so many different ways. Adding it a little at a time to his kibble sounds fine to us, although some schools of thought say it's not a good idea because they have trouble digesting it. But, we always say, do what works for Max and you. Every dog is different.
Be sure to check out our Tripawds Nutrition Blog for recipe ideas, books, etc.
I'm sorry to hear he had it ruff, we hope he's feeling better now. As for seeming bummed out, yeah, it's common and remember he's going through so much right now. As Mary said, once he gets over the meds and learning how to use his body, he'll start bouncing back. Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I also missed your initial post. I don't have much to add, except that your decision will be made with lots of love for Max, and we'll all support you! He looks like an awesome pup! The first few weeks post-op can be a roller-coaster. We found that things really started improving once Holly's stitches were out and she was able to stop the pain meds. We'll keep fingers and paws crossed that Max has more good days than bummer days and that he is back to his old self in no time!
Holly's now on Evo and Blue Buffalo dry foods - both are grain free (or at least low carb- but I think grain free ). We mix that with either some canned food (again - grain free ) or some chicken or beef or fish that we cook up for her. We have learned that Holly loves fish!
Hugs,
Holly and Holly's mom
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
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