Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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After seeing our holistic vet, it was determined that today was not his day to leave us. He had stopped coughing for the most part and the bloody discharge was gone. He walked into the clinic under his own steam and got onto the scale. He’s down to 62 lbs. though. 75 lbs. was a good weight for Hunter in his better days. The doctor said it’s the lung mets breaking up. It pooled overnight. She gave us some liquid to coat his throat when he starts to cough again. It will probably happen again. Maybe then he’ll tell us that it’s his time to cross over the rainbow bridge. Until then we’ll just have to take each day at a time. Has anyone else had any experience with this?
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
I'm so sorry to hear Hunter is having these troubles. Fortunately, our Max never coughed up any blood. I can only imagine how scary this must be for you and your husband. So I don't have any advice or experience in this area. I can only tell you what you already know: take things one day at a time. Hunter will let you know when it's time. I'm glad it wasn't today. You have such a strong, brave boy. Sending positive thoughts and well wishes to Hunter.
Awwwww. Super Dog Hunter decided he's not going anywhere yet!! Good choice Hunter!! We love your decision!
I know others will, chime in as they have had this type of experience....the coughing/blood coming and going....and I "think" some actually used some over-the-counter cough medicines that helped. I also recall that quality time still continued for awhile-----even though some of those "episodes" weren't pleasant, they would eventually dissipate and plenty of loving and spoiling time was made available:-) 
I think k......no.....I'm really certain.....we need to see another photo of Hunter "styling" in his handsome SUPERMAN SUPERDOG CAPE! Please! It gives him super strength! That's the problem, he hasn't been wearing it because it's too hot!
We love you Hunter, you are our Nero too! And your Mom......she's a SUPER DOG MOM and we love her too!
Now, just in case you can't get on the web, so e of us put our email addresses under "Anything goes...." so we can stay in touch and always be there for each other! So there you jackass hackers!!
Look forward to a picture of that boy-------one that makes you grin ear to ear when you see it! Can't wait!
Sending you love, support and serenity,
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 don't have experience with it either....yet. I just want you to know we are here and sending all our love and support to you and beautiful Hunter.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Oh guys I'm so sorry. This is ruff.
We didn't personally experience it but other Tripawds members have in the past. And I will tell you that like you, some members thought it was their dog's time when these symptoms started; for some it was, and for others it was weeks away. You just can't tell at first so all you can do is be hopeful that it will stop.
As you discovered, there are things to you can do to ease the coughing. I hope that whatever it was that your vet gave SuperDog works for a long long time. Out of curiosity what did he get?
Lots of love and hugs coming your way tonight.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What a tough time for you and Hunter, I'm so sorry it has come to this, but really there is no telling how much time he has.
My own dog, Mrs Kulo, had primary lung cancer, had a lung lobectomy and was treated with chemo. After chemo I stopped taking chest X-rays because, really, there was nothing I was going to be able to do if there were mets (this was before metronomic therapy was an option). Well, ~13 mos later, I happened to take xrays of his abdomen for an unrelated reason, and caught a part of his lungs on the X-rays... they were FULL of mets, he had more tumor than normal lung tissue. I think it was a few weeks after that that he started tiring and coughing up blood if he was a little too active (not that he was running any marathons at that point!). I started giving him hydrocodone, which helps suppress the cough. I just wanted him to be comfortable and happy for as long as he had. It's hard to remember the timeline exactly now, but I'm guessing it was a few more months before I felt that his quality of life was an issue and that I had to let him go to be in peace.
My heart goes out to you. Extra big hugs for Hunter tonight.
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
Hugs to Hunter and you. He is such a strong boy and he knows how much you love him. We will be thinking of you.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
I don't have any experience with lung mets at this stage but just wanted to send you lots of hugs. It's difficult as you get further along to this part of the journey. I hope Hunter will let you know when it is time.
Thinking of you.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Peda never got to the point of coughing up blood, but she did have a bit of a cough going on with her lung mets - which increased over time (presumably as her mets spread). I was on to it pretty quick as I didn't want her to rupture anything through coughing.
The vets prescribed codeine tablets (a fairly lowish dose) which actually seemed to work really well for her as a cough suppressant. Not sure how hard it is to have codeine prescribed in US. The university hospital here were quite comfortable prescribing it for her.
Hope it settles for your boy (and you)! Each dog takes this part of the journey in their own way ... and it is a difficult part for us pawrents to navigate with them.
Thoughts are with you ...
Kirsty and Spirit Peda
Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for your experience and well wishes.
Hunter did ok last night. We left him sleep in the kitchen and put down some beddies for him.
Ironically we had just had our carpets cleaned and we didn't want him to see us cleaning it so we avoided that situation.
We did hear him cough throughout the night but woke up to find only one pool of blood and it wasn't as concentrated as it was yesterday.
The soothing liquid from our holistic vet is called Marshmallow Root. I believe she said it can be used up to 4 times a day.
I forgot about using hydrocodone for his cough. We have some on hand and may give it to him before bedtime.
Each day is a gift with him now. When I took the pup for a walk last night, hubby sat outside with Hunter and had some quality time with him.
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
Awe....Hunter. I don't have experience with lung mets or words of wisdom, just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you and Hunter and sending all pawsitive thoughts your way!
Pat & Mighty Atlas
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
Superdog,
We are sending you lots of kitty kisses from NY.
All our love,
Erica & Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
labsrus said
The soothing liquid from our holistic vet is called Marshmallow Root. I believe she said it can be used up to 4 times a day.
Ohhh I think I've heard of this for humans, good to know it can be used on dogs too. Thank you for that information, I need to put together a blog post just about things that can help alleviate coughing systems.
We so know what you mean about each day being a gift, especially now. When I got to this stage of my cancer battle, it was tough on my people, but every second of those days was so precious and so extraordinary, that now they look back on them with a bittersweet fondness instead of tears. It's difficult to experience when you're going through it though. We send lots of hugs to you all.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
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