Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So, my post of Emily isn't doing well is getting quite long so I decided to start anew. First of all thanks for all the well wishes and prayers for Em. She is my precious little princess and even though I am trying to live in the moment the last couple of weeks have been absolute hell.
Back to the visit. Emily had to be taken into the vet on a gurney. I really thought she was dying. It was so sad. All of Emily's x-rays were good, kidney, bladder, spine and lungs. We were sooooo relieved. Her blood work is good. So what is wrong with her? The vet was checking EVERYTHING (I love our vet) when she moved Emily's head to check something else and Emily yelped. Her neck is sore. There has not been any indication it was her neck before but she is really stoic when she is in pain. I had not even thought of it but about a week ago she had started to feel better and got out the back door before we could pick her up and fell down the steps of our deck. They are tall and steep but she didn't use to have problems with them so I guess she thought she could still do them. (My husband and son have since built a ramp.) She got up from the bottom of the steps and hop, hop, hop, flopped like she had been doing so we were just relieved she was fine.
So the Dr. put her back on a new dosage of predisone and by that time Emily was sitting eating dog food out of the vet's hand. She has lost six pounds in less than three weeks so we need to get food in her even if it is McDonalds, which is what she had for lunch AGAIN.
If life is a rollar coaster Emily have spent too much time on the bottom (which I know we can all relate to) and I want her to go to the top again.
I know I am rambling. I think it is the relief to see Emily laying on the floor licking the carpet again. She is a doberman after all so licking is what she does.
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.
So happy to hear that Emily is doing better (I needed some good news today) and your fattening her up. It's always good to hear that life is on a up-swing. It feels so good sometimes just to watch them eat, give her a french fry for me or maybe a hamburger.
yeah, I am starting to know what you mean by a roller-coaster. Well, I think Emily's news today was overall good, although I would have absolutely freaked if I saw my dog being wheeled in on a guerney.
Last weekend, Tazzie chewed on a stick and started to choke. It looked Exactly like his symptoms when he had torsion in June. I thought, okay, this is it. At this stage, they don't have to be much out of whack (let alone on a guerney! I'm sure they do not have one at my vet) for us to assume we will be saying our bye-byes.
I hope Emily continues to feel better and to eat heartily.
Tazzie 2
What a relief! That's awesome that all her x-rays look good, and I hope she gets her neck feeling better (poor puppy!!!). I'm jealous of her McDonald's and Jack is too. One of these days I'm going to buy him his very own hamburger. Anyway, keep up the good attitude, Emily, and be sure to keep eating!!!
<3 Laura and Jackers
OMG! I can't believe all the stuff that's been happening with Emily... but I'm sooooo relieved to hear that it's just because she probably pulled a neck muscle. I know how painful that can be. I have a problem with a pinched nerve in my C-spine that at times shoots from my neck to my shoulder and the pain is incredible! Hopefully the new prednisone dose will help immediately, and also stimulate Emily's appetite and fatten her up a bit. Can't let a dobie get too skinny! 
How about the problem with her back legs... has that improved yet? I can just imagine how horrified you felt when they had to bring her in on a gurney!
Sending you and Emily a big HUG!!
Jake'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!
I am so relieved to read about her clean X-Rays! I can't wait for that day (maybe today ? 
) when you will tell us that Emily ate a huge hamburger. Hope her neck will heal quickly so that she finally can start to go to the top again
Suzanne and Oslo
I'm so glad that the news is promising for Emily. Tika says get her a plain cheeseburger!
Hope everything continues to improve!
--Kim and Tika
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
I can't imagine the last few weeks for you... I know we all analyze each day issuring (at least trying to) quality of life.... Great news through that princess Em isn't dealing with the C word, but sounds more like she made herself all sore. I know well that stoic situation, Sh lost about 8 pounds (total 15 pounds) from her amputation to the day she had the staples removed. Like Em she has a hard time saying no to McDonald's though... 
We just want to wish Em well, and with a speedy recovery. Give her loves from the Shilo family, we look forward to hearing she is up and around soon.... Hugs....
Shilo diagnosed with osteosarcoma 9/4/2009, amputation 9/9/2009. ShiloAnne lost her battle 11/23/2009 where she regained her fourth leg and is patiently waiting for her parents to join her. We will always love you baby girl.
Sorry to hear that things have been so stressful for Emily... but glad to hear that she is starting to eat and feel better! The only good thing about the "rollercoaster" is that there are some highs to go along with the lows. I am hoping you are on a "high" soon!
Toto and fam
And Toto, Too – fighting the good fight against hemangiosarcoma http://tootswee.....pawds.com/ Amputation - 9/21/09 Earned his wings - 7/09/10
Very glad to hear that Emily made a rebound. Sounds to me that predisone needs to be a constant as you go forward. I realize that there are issues with the long-term use of predisone, but there are also issues with constant pain. I would rather take the former rather than the constant pain. Also, I can relate to the weight issue. A few years ago, Cherry got sick while on our trip to the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier. She lost 25% of her body weight (lost 12 of 48 pounds) before we drove 135 miles (one way) to visit the same vet that Jerry used and getting bug under control. It was very scary but she never did show any signs of a long-term effect. Also, after one of your earlier postings regarding McDonald's, I took Cherry for her first such treat. She actually turned her nose up for a while, finaly ate it very causiously, before returning it later that evening. I think that it will be her last. Her iron stomach just is not what it used to be before the chemotherapy.
Please keep us posted regarding Emily's weight gain. At present I try to keep a little more meat on Cherry since her amputation. I want this weight in hand in case she looses her appetite again just like Emily.
Bob & Cherry
Well Emily still can't walk without assistance but her hop is getting longer before she plops so I think that means she is trying to have a longer gait, closer to her walk/hop as opposed to hop and plop. Hey, we take victories where we can find them.
The good news though is that her spirit is back. When I came home on my break she met me at the gate. That is something she used to do but not the last three weeks. She is interested in what is going on around her. I am so excited that she has the light back in her eye.
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.
Thanks for the update. Let's hope the good news keeps up!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Debra and Emily,
All of us take those victories of progress where we can find them. The spirit is extremely important. Jerry will tell you that this is one of my pet inputs - remember to treat the spirit as well as the body. Find something that Emily loves (and can still do) and exploit that love to provide a purpose to her life. Since the 8mile long walks with Cherry are a thing of the past, it became the truck rides. Just past the eleven month ampuversary and I still look for excuses to take her on these trips. Today the two of us went to the West Bade Office of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This is one of the two national laboratories which design and engineer our nuclear weapon stockpile. My motto is anywhere anytime. She was nothing but smiles all the way out and back. I pushed the system but it was definately worth the results on her spirit. Keep that sparkle in her eye and Emily will fight even harder to stay. It is probably one of the main reasons Jerry, Zeus, and Tazzie were so successful.
Still sending those pawsitive thought from the West Coast,
Bob & Cherry
I'm so happy that Emily has the light back in her eyes!!! That means she must be feeling better, right?? What did the vet say? Did they think that she would get a bit better after a while on the pred and glucosamine... or did they think that this was as good as it gets? I wish you lived closeby... so you could take Emily swimming with Jake! I'm not sure she likes the water... but once she would get in... she would see how much fun it is! Plus, no strain on any legs!!!
Jake'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!
Hi Debra,
hope Emily is doing better and that she has many more small victories to celebrate... You are right, the most importat thing is to see the light in their eyes.
It's then that we know how they feel.
Hugs and pawsitive energies,
Cecilia
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
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