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Does this sound familiar to anyone? (GI Problems)
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Madison, WI
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14 June 2009
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14 September 2009 - 10:33 am
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Friday night into Saturday morning Yoda had a very rough time and the vets and I don't really know what the cause was, so I thought I'd share what I observed in case it sounds familiar to anyone here.  He's back to normal now.  He might be tiring a little easier on walks than he had been, but other than that scary Saturday morning, no dramatic change in his health or behavior since his lung mets were discovered about three weeks ago.

When I took him out on his nighttime walk, by the time we got to the end of the yard, I realized he was hopping super slow.  He was sniffing the ground a lot, but his hop never picked up and I knew something had to be wrong.  So eventually I got him turned around. I couldn't tell for sure if he was resisting because he still wanted to do his walk, or if he was just having trouble moving , but we gradually made it back home.

Once home he couldn't seem to get comfortable.  He'd lay down one place, but get up a minute or less later and try a different place.  He also seemed to want to lay on his side, but then especially he couldn't seem to stay in that position long and would get back up.  Laying on his stomach, with his head on his leg seemed to be the least uncomfortable, but he still kept getting up after short periods of time.  He soon went to the dog gate at the top of the stairs like he wanted to go down, which seemed like a terrible idea given that he was still moving so slowly, but at the same time I presumed he believed he would be more comfortable down there and I wanted him to be able to get some rest.  So I spotted him on the way down and he didn't fall.  He went over to the couch, but just stood there like he couldn't get on it.  I brought his bed down in case he wanted to lay on it, but even upstairs he hadn't tried to, so I also brought down a comforter and laid it at the foot of the stairs where he usually likes to sleep after a walk.  But he continued to get up frequently.  At one point he went back to the couch and did get on it, but that turned out not to be comfortable either.  Later he would go back to the couch a couple times and lay his head on it for a bit, then go lay down on his stomach on the floor instead.

I brougth pillows and a blanket down so I could "sleep" on the chair and keep an eye on him.  I expected him to vomit or something, but he never did and my housemate had been home most of the day and said that he hadn't gotten into anything.

I probably slept from 5 to 8am and I think, I hope, he did as well.  He was in the same position he had been when I drifted off.   I got him in for an emergency visit at the Vet School.  He was still hopping slow when we left the house.  He was a little perkier when we got to the parking lot and walked around the green areas and he did his business, but was still on the slow side.  While waiting for the vet, his difficulty getting comfortable continued.  The floors are hard, but that doesn't matter to him normally.  He could have been getting up because he didn't want to be in there, but he usually isn't that restless.  By the time he was seen by the vet, however, he had been laying on his side for several minutes without getting up.  She couldn't find anything wrong and he seemed to enjoy the massage as she looked for tumors or signs of injury, etc.

The vet didn't think x-rays would be useful, but left it up to me.  I decided to wait, since he didn't seem uncomfortable anymore.  She recommended getting him on some painkillers to see if that helped.  Yoda was to restart Piroxicam that morning anyway, which he had been off for a week due to vomiting, but whether the vomiting was because of the Piroxicam or something else was uncertain.  She recommended Tramadol if the Piroxicam didn't seem to be enough.  I suspected though, that he was already back to normal then and there, without the Piroxicam or Tramadol and was right. As we left he was back to his normal hopping speed and didn't show anymore signs of discomfort  - except that he ignored his breakfast when I laid it down for him at my parents' house (who offered to watch him the rest of the day since I had to work).  That was unusual for him.  We visit them often and he has eaten there many times before.  So I tried hand-feeding him and then he ate nearly all of it, some directly from the bowl too.  He had his Piroxicam with his breakfast and since then his appetite has been normal.  I have not seen any reason to add any Tramadol.

So things are back to normal.  We'll probably go to the dog park today, since there doesn't seem to be any reason not to.  But, of course, I still worry that these mysterious symptoms will return.

Does the difficulty getting comfortable, especially when lying on the side, and/or the slow hopping sound like anything anyone has had with their dog before?  And did you find out what caused it?

Thanks!

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide

Member Since:
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14 September 2009 - 12:17 pm
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Sorry to hear that Yoda was under distress but unfortunately such conditions appear to be far too common.  In March, Cherry suffered a condition that had many of the symptoms of torsion.  Her stomach was bloated as large as a soccer ball, she had slimy discharge from around her mouth, extreme difficulty even standing, extreme diarrea, and an thirst that could not be quenched.  X-rays showed that there was no torsion or blockage.  I took her six weeks to fully recover.  She had a similar condition while in Yellowstone where she had bloating (to a far lesser degree) but was gaging and attempting to vomit every fifteen minutes for more than six hours.  She recovered from this in about three days.  These conditions have not reappeared since the Yellowstone incident in June.

I am not sure that I am helping except to say that such bouts appear to be not unusual.  I think that Cherry's imune system has been compromised during the chemotherapy which means she is not only more suseptable but also that it takes longer to shake any bugs.  This is one reason why I will not take Cherry to a "dog park" and expose her to all the bugs that would not have bothered her last year at this time.  I know that Yoda is in very attentive hands and that is the most important factor.  I know that you will stay on top of any problems.

Wishing you the best and a quick recovery.

Bob & Cherry

Madison, WI
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14 September 2009 - 3:07 pm
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Thanks for the input, but he didn't have any other symptoms, bloating, vomiting, constipation or diarhea with his discomfort.  The vet felt his abdomen and said that felt good.  But I suppose it could have been a bug from the dog park (or wherever) that just passed quickly.  Yoda will usually mind me when I tell him to leave the communal water bowls at the dog park and will take from his own that I bring for him alone. 

I also remembered another change that happened on Friday (early in the day, before any other symptoms) was that he was going down the stairs differently.  Usually he does both his back legs together, but he was doing one back leg at a time.  If that offers another clue.  It made me think that his discomfort and slow hopping was due to some sort of pain in a leg, either due tumors growing or an injury.

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide

zoes4life
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14 September 2009 - 3:27 pm
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Hey Bri,

I have noticed Zoe doing things too that she has never done before, she used to have to lay on a rug or bed, now she is going to hard cold surfaces, places in the house she would never have gone before.  I have noticed that when Zoe has been in pain, she does seem antsy, like wonders around trying to get comfortable. But I think alot of it is too is that we have all been through so much and we are just bracing ourselves for the next shoe to drop.  The cancer is in the back, more like the front of your mind all the time and you try to read something into what may be normal, maybe he's having a day where his wagon's draggin, just like us humans on Monday morningsSmile

Member Since:
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14 September 2009 - 3:44 pm
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I don't have anything to add about what it could be unless it was just muscle ache, especially since he like the massage from the vet.  There is so much extra strain on the other legs that he may have just been sore.  Anyway, Yoda is in my prayers.

Debra

Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.


Member Since:
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14 September 2009 - 4:09 pm
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 I agree with Bob that this sounds like GI pain, even though the stomach was not hard or bloated. The stomach in deep-chested dogs is entirely under the ribcage so gas buildup is not obvious unless the stomach is severly distended. It is not unusual for these dogs to sit sternally or to get in a “praying”position to try to relieve the pain of reflux or gas. The fact that he did not eat and has been on Piroxicam would also make me suspicious of a stomach problem.  These dogs can get better fast, too once the gas passes or reflux stops.

I would be careful with the Piroxicam since this drug is a big source of GI problems and ulcers.  I would have Carafate on hand and consider adding Pepcid daily.  Also watch for dark stools, decreased appetite, or vomiting.

Pam and Tazzie

Madison, WI
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14 June 2009
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14 September 2009 - 6:30 pm
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Thanks Pam.  Yoda was off the Piroxicam a week before that night that he couldn't get comfortable and I didn't restart until after this problem came and went.  Are there other tests I can ask the vets to do to help determine whether this was a GI problem?  I certainly don't want to let it go on or get any worse if it's going on, but so far there are no symptoms - no vomiting, dark stools, or decreased appetite and he's been back on the Piroxicam 3 days.

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide

Oaktown
Member Since:
16 July 2009
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14 September 2009 - 8:30 pm
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Codie Rae has a brother, Smokey.  Mom always thought Smokey's "mixed breed vigor" would mean he would have very few health issues compared to the pure bred Codie Rae. Hah!!  Smokey has earned the nickname of "Bloat Boy."  We believe he has a good percentage of boxer in him that gives him an exceptionally deep chest for a 58 pound dog. Several months after Smokey arrived he bloated severely.  Over the nest several months he bloated about nine times.  He never did torsion, although the x-rays of the first incident suggested the possible beginnings of torsion.  We learned a lot about how to deal with the digestive tract problems. We have more to learns Finally we had Smokey's stomach tacked so he should not torsion.  When the surgeon got in he found Smokey's stomach was shifted to the left side, and his gall bladder was on the wrong side of the pylorus.  There was also a biopsy done of his intestine that indicated possible irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  Since the surgery he has bloated, and earlier this year there was a bad incident where I took him to the emergency and had X-Rays.  They showed significant gas in the intestines.  I have started to believe that with him the problem is in the intestine, and the stomach problems are a result of the intestinal backups. 

We now have a treatement program that has reduced our need for trips to the vet.  Early on it appeared part of Smokey's problem was a motility issue, so we give him metoclopramide before every meal.  At the first sign of a problem, which is indicated by apparent discomfort and eating dust bunnies off the floor (the first severe bloat he consumed a lot of grass that clogged up the system for days) we start by giving liquid simethicone.  We keep giving it until we see some result, which can take an hour or more.  Recently I have also given him some acepromazine to help calm him down and reduce the anxiety.  I typically give Smokey the simethicone is about 120 mg doses, and I will give as many doses as are needed (typically three or four).  My understanding, that needs further confirmation from a vet is that simethicone cannot cause an overdose or subsequent negative reaction. 

We have been using the simethicone for babies that you can get at the drug store in a small bottle with an eye dropper.  Recently I also found a product called "Bloat Buster" that is liquid simethicone and costs significantly less per dose.  About three weeks ago we started the dogs on Dogzymes, a probiotic type of supplement, and it appears to make a difference in the digestion of the dogs.  It appears food is more thoroughly digested.  If Smokey never bloats again than the stuff is a miracle.

Madison, WI
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14 June 2009
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14 September 2009 - 8:54 pm
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Oh jeez this is the problem Yoda has been having over the years with eating grass apparently.  When he's inside, he'll lick the floor, dust bunnies, etc.  Generally, getting out to eat grass and vomit seems to fix the problem for him.  He hasn't had it in a long while and I would report this stuff to his regular vet, especially when he would lose his appetite until he ate the grass and vomited but they always said, "dogs just eat grass sometimes"  and as long as he doesn't go more than two days without eating, no big deal.  Thanks for the tips FTE.  I'll work on getting the vets to look into the possibility this is a bloat/torsion issue.

Thanks everybody! 

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide

Madison, WI
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14 June 2009
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14 September 2009 - 10:01 pm
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Is it possible for a dog to rid himself of bloat, or a mild case of bloat, by making himself vomit?  Or, if it were bloat, would he not have been okay without being treated by a vet?  Because the symptoms, as described by FTE, sound exactly right for a couple episodes Yoda had in the past.  And Yoda is a dobe mix, with what I'm pretty sure is considered a deep chest.  In fact, when I've heard people discuss bloat before and how big the stomach gets, I've thought to myself - "but Yoda's rib cage sticks out pretty far to begin with - would I be able to tell?"

Tomorrow morning when I can try to get some answers from Yoda's oncologist can't come soon enough! 

Alright, I'm going to keep reminding myself that currently Yoda is perfectly fine, that I can hold the Piroxicam for sure for now, divide his meals into 3 instead of 2, and he should stay fine until I can get some answers, so I better get some sleep!

I am rambling now, there's no denying it.  Thanks for being here everybody!

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide


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15 September 2009 - 12:15 am
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I just typed a long answer that disappeared somewhere so I will make this one short.  Esophageal reflux is much more common than bloat but harder to diagnose.  Gas from bloat easily shows up on an xray, but only endoscopy can diagnose reflux.  We have a Dogue de Bordeaux who has reflux, food sensitivity, and a motility disorder secondary to hypothyroidism.  He has to take 20 mg of famotidine (Pepcid) twice daily and can only eat California Natural Lamb and Rice Reduced Fat dog food (dry and canned) or he regurgitates.

As you can see there are many causes for GI upset so the first thing I would do is ask your oncologist if he should continue the Piroxicam and also ask about adding Pepcid or Carafate.  I would not give any other meds unless you have an xray that confirms excess gas, since what works for one dog might not be necessary for another.

Good luck!

Pam and Tazzie

Wesley Chapel, FL
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13 September 2009
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15 September 2009 - 4:41 am
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I also started adding Pepcid AC to Jake's Previcox and Tramadol meds, since after being on them a few days after his fracture and bone biopsy, he started to vomit. After 1 day with the pepcid... all was back to normal again with his tummy. After his surgery on Thursday, the vet may also add Carafat to the mix. Also, putting his meds in his favorite cheese is no longer working... and I'm now using peanut butter...

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!

Madison, WI
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15 September 2009 - 6:43 am
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Thanks again, Pam!  I have reflux esophogitis myself.  I can see why it would be very hard to diagnose in a dog, since if I don't tell anybody about my sore throat and such, no one would see something was wrong. 

My oncologist had told me she would recommend Pepcid if he vomited after Piroxicam again.  He hasn't vomited, but we'll see what she says when I explain what happened this weekend.  She also had made it sound like if Yoda had any GI problems from Piroxicam, we would try something different rather than keep him on it with the Pepcid long term.  I'm just a little concerned that Yoda's lack of symptoms since Saturday is going to make it harder to get him whatever treatment he might need.  I want to believe he's just all better on his own, but that seems practically impossible.

I'm curious, if Yoda ever had bloat, would there be any signs of that now?  Would you still expect to see some gas in an x-ray if the dog was prone to it? 

Gonna go not worry right now as I wait for Yoda's oncologist to call me back.  Really... not worrying...

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide


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15 September 2009 - 8:13 am
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I really don't think it sounds like bloat because he should have been gassy on the left side and the vet should have been able to feel it that day, even if he was starting to feel better.  But no, an xray now would not show if he had bloated before.  It would just show if there is any excess gas today.

Pam and Tazzie

Oaktown
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15 September 2009 - 9:39 am
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Pam is so right about how difficult it can be to sort things out.  The one thing you mentioned that does not sound like bloat is that Yoda will vomit when he has the problem.  When Smokey bloats he cannot vomit and get it out.  Everything is trapped in his stomach and the gas builds up making his rib cage expand. One of the diagnositics I use to determine if he is having a problem is looking down on him.  When he bloats the left side of his rib cage extends farther out than the right.  I believe every dog is different and you have to work through all the possiblities to figure it out.  We now have two and a half years of going through this with Smokey, and we finally seem to have a handle on things.  That being said two months ago we went through another session where he had the problem two or three times over a two week period.  What we have learned is how to react and treat the problem, and prevent it from requiring a visit to the vet. 

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