Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So it appears that Novak has an esophagitis and its really hard to see him like that. Everytime he eat, he has difficulty swallowing, it seem painfull. At the beginning, I was feeding him laying down, 3 meal at day and it was can food and then I started dry food again and it started from there. At one time, he regurgitated white foam and blood so my vet gave me anti acid and a stomach coating. Its been since thursday night since I started the meds and I dont see any improvement. I will try to feed him laying down next time to see if its different and give him back can food. We stop the deramaxx and all other meds except the gabapentin to make sure it doesnt irritate him more. And last night he had smelly gas and diarrhea and another diarrhea this morning 🙁 He was fine before that, maybe its the new meds? Anyway, I feel really anxious about all of that, the leg/limb is fine, everything else is fine, just that...everytime he eat, my heart stops 🙁
Did anyone had this happened?
So sorry to hear about Novak's latest issues!
A few Tripawds Blogs have posts about esophagus problems and/or megaesophagus.
Here are some related forum topics you may find helpful too:
Search results for 'megaesophagus' (6)
Use the Advanced Search above to refine your search results here in the forums with specific phrases. You can also search all blogs here .
Best wishes, please keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I searched through the web and found multiple articles on that problem after a surgery and more with an orthopedic surgery. Because Novak had a lot of bile regurgitation when waking up and during the night home from the surgery, it seem text book what he's having.
https://www.msp.....rgitation/
http://www.clin.....agitis.pdf
I really didnt know about this side effect of the anesthesia! We learn every day! Im not really happy about him having that, but, we will manage it the best way we can and hope that he will be ok. Im mostly afraid about him developing pneumonia by aspiration. But for now, he doesnt seem to have any other symptom except difficulty to swallow.
Good for you for staying on top of this! It seems like the "cause"'has been identified and you are obviously committed to doi g whatever it takes to see Novak through this hurdle! And it is nus4t a temporary hurdle!!
Because you are doing such an outstanding job of making sure the side effects are minimal, I doubt that any additional complications (pneumonia, etc) will develop.
This journey is ALWAYS full of unexpected twists and turns that we all learn from. Many of these "things" we aren't told about so we learn here because of posts like these. Thank you for sharing this valuable informatuon.
Really glad that "otnerwise" Novak is doing so well!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Just feed Novak laying down with can food and he didnt have a problem swallowing. Maybe thats why in the first days I didnt see nothing wrong, I was always feeding down and with can. Hope it will heal quickly!
Novak is doing too good LOLOL he's back to being full drive dog and it aint always a good thing LOLOL he's gonna learn to slow down a bit on 3 legs, otherwise, he will have a second broken leg isshhhh....
Just saw on the incision where it was always opening, a suture is trying to come out, think its the suture under the skin!! Will bring him back to the vet so she can check that out LOL im laughing, yes, it is so annoying all those bumps...I better laugh than cry...
Is that caused by acid reflux ? I have read post talking about giving pepcid ac or something like that with the medications. To help with stomach issues I guess, but I think its more to prevent them than as a remedy.
Yes it can be cause by acid reflux, in the case of Novak, he had 5-6 regurgitation of bile while waking up from anesthesia and he was laying down still, so maybe the acid bile stayed a bit in his oesophagus and it "burned" it a bit so now its irritated and it hurts when he tries to swallow hard food. Maybe the tube itself damage a bit...we dont know really. But now, he's on famotidine and sucralate to help and maintain the acid down while it heals. If I dont see any improvement, will have to make more test... and I really dont want to go there... specialist and $$$ So send positive thoughts for him and a quick recovery from that nasty side effect.
Ok, update! My vet called the specialist to have more info for Novak's condition and he said that he see that problem once per week during his orthopedic surgery, but they do a lavage and then put them right away on famotidine and sucralfate to make sure it stays under control. SO...... why why did any of my vet thought about it when he was waking up regurgitating 5-6 times, still laying down....all that acid bile that stay there burn him... Im so mad right now...he should have gotten those meds 2 weeks ago! Now, he can have permanent damage!!! It can go bad, very bad with stricture(scaring) and then they have to operate to open the diameter, cause the scaring cause the oesophagus to be smaller so the food wont pass and the dog regurgitate everything. I dont think Novak is there, cause he can eat, he's not vomiting or regurgitating, but on and off he has difficulty swallowing. The specialist recommanded to had metoclopramid, so we are starting that tonight. Novak's diarrhea was under control and then tonight, he had another soft stool. It since the new meds that he has more problem with his stool. So tomorrow, will bring him to the vet to take an xrays of the throat, just to make sure he doesnt have any foreign object or anything we can see, doubt we will see something, but what the h...I want to do everything. We will wait and continue the meds and if no improvement, well have to go to the specialist to have the camera look at it, and it will be $$$$ at my clinic we dont have that equipment and knowledge, that suck, cause I will pay full price at the hospital...
Sometime, I feel like I should have let him with the leg...nothing would have happen...he was fine...I mean, of course he must hurt, but he still was ok and now, it could be life changing... and the hard part is that other than that he's so ok, the mobility he has is out of this world, he's so happy , full of energy!
So be aware of that condition, spread the word, if it can prevent a dog from going that horrible path...
Wow! The Ortho Surgeon sees this abput once a week. Then this is quite as uncommon as one would think! Thanks so much for making us. more aware of this issue a d its treatment.
Try not to jump ahead to worse case scenario. It sounds like you have eeverything under co trol and are certainly doing everything possible to get through this and move on! This is just a temporary hurdle. Try a d focus on hiw well Novak is doing and how happy ne is! Nothing is holding that boy back!
The medicine will help and he'll get through this just like the champ that he is!
Hang in there! You've been through a lot! You're stronger than you realize!
Lots of hugs!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Aww poor Novak, that's gotta feel lousy! I hope he's on the mend this week. The good thing is it sounds to me like the vet knows the best way to deal with this and he's getting the treatment he needs to heal.
Take this one day at a time, don't panic OK? He's healing right? Look at that sparkle of his! He's not letting this stop him, so follow his lead and you'll both get over this hurdle in no time at all.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Update:
Im going to the vet university tomorrow morning, this morning, after 3 bites of food, Novak began to have difficulty swallowing again and then regurgitated 3 times with blood, more blood than last time and then, he vomited(with abdominal effort) 2 times and he was like choking, I thought he would die right then, he threw up more white foam and blood. I panicked, started to cry, big time, felt overwhelmed, scared that it was going worse then ever and then got a panick attack, yep...I was so much crying that I did hyperventilate, good job Sandra LOL I took him again at work and we did xrays of neck and chest to see the lungs at my request, just to make sure. Nothing visually wrong at the xrays, physical exam normal, no fever, gums pink and ok. She added omeprazole, she said that that one seem more effective for oesophagus problem. It was a different vet than usual, she's replacing vacation. That vet suggested the endoscopy, but said that even with that, if its ulcer, the treatment would be the same as im giving him and it can take time to heal. She suggested smaller meal several times a day and to put it more soft(it was already in puree) but now, its more liquid. She suggested a low fat gastro food.
This picture is from last thursday when he regurgitated white foam and blood for the first time
Since then, no vomiting, he had on and off episode of difficulty swallowing, but it was "ok" and then today, this what weve got:
After talking to Novak's breeder, she really insisted that I go see a specialist, so tomorrow morning Im going and maybe they will have to do the endoscopy and that mean general anesthesia again!!!! Im glad that I will have a specialist consult, Im still hoping that its just time that we need to heal him and nothing more serious. Im still mad about my team at work, each vet is saying a different thing, each with different meds and why why they didnt give him stomach coating and anti acid while on deramaxx. Just learn that deramaxx can be very dangerous. At the university, I will have the complete care of a team and they will treat me like a client and not an employee. I love my work, but now, it makes me untrustfull a bit and Im not sure how to handle this.
Other than this, Novak is still full energy, active and happy, he's sure is tough, cause it must hurt like hell. Will update when I can after the apointment.
Pkay, some deep breaths and let's keep thing chunked down.
First things first. Give yourself a HUGE pat on the back p! You are far stronger than you realozq! I think this would have scared the heck out of all of us! Panic attack, crying, we can understand completely!
As far as not feeli g very confident avout the vets where you work, that's certainly understandable. I'm sure it's not intentional, but being an employee can possibly interfere with your proper client// vet relationship As hard as it is, try and push those emotions aside right now and use all your energy towards ppsitive and confident thoughts.
EXCELLENT plan to go to a specialist!! A new set of eyes with a completely open mind to all the possible causes and treatments can bri g some really good solutions! I think you'll feel more empowered to as a "regular client" who is a strong and vocal advocate for Novak! Don not hesitate to ask questions, to express concerns, to voice yiur dissatisfaction with the confusion you are feeling as a result of the different opinions of the other vets.
We'll be looking forward ro your uodate tomorrow! We are all sending the healing power of the Tripawd Universe to Novak! And that's a lot of healing power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fact rhat Novak feels fine otherwise is REALLY IMPORTANT!! I think that's a really good sign!! 🙂
Lots of love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Positive energy coming your way from his Tripawd Triplet Milo and me.
I've watched the videos of Novak running around with his pack. He seems happy and strong -- and faster and more agile than Milo ever was even when he had 4 legs! That's a huge positive. That's why you had his leg amputated. In the video I saw, he didn't look like he was in pain.
Regarding the esophagitis, I have little to no insight. I know of various human cases that have similarities, but no experience with dogs. It sounds like you have a plan, and I hope someone figures it out. The other part to keep in mind, is that each dog is different. 93% of dogs handle Metacam just fine. Mine doesn't. Mine also has the rarest form of osteosarcoma, and to ice it, I may have the first dog to get a fever from Tramadol. Duromaxx may be chewing up Novak's stomach and esophagus. Or it could be another drug.
Best of luck. Peace,
Jenifer & Milo
Sometimes when there's been a lot of vomiting, you can break a blood vessel in the esophagus - I would assume that's the same in dogs. That could explain the blood.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
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