Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Max isn't having a great day. Nothing massiviely alarming, but it's obvious he isn't feeling his best. He hacked a little bit around 4:30 this morning, maybe five or six times before he went back to sleep. We're not sure if it was a cough or not. He seemed very tired this morning and wasn't really interested in his food. He got a little excited when we took him and Linda to the pet store, and was happy to hop around there. We could have taken him to a park or something, but we didn't want to push it.
What's bugging us more than anything is his breathing. He's not panting or even open-mouth breathing, but it seems a little more rapid than normal. When he's laying on his side, he's taking more rapid shallow breaths instead of the long slow ones he normally takes while he sleeps.
We know it's only a matter of time before he starts showing regular symptoms. So for those of you who have been there before, how serious is this one? Will it pass, or should we be thinking of taking him to the vet to get checked? He just had blood work last Sunday, which was totally normal. He hasn't coughed again, although he sneezed a few times (no blood visible).
Hmmm… well they can have such different symptoms at this stage from what I've read in forum posts. Don't think the worst after I say this, but for Yoda, he didn't pant until his second lung met burst. BUT that was after he had some pretty serious coughing fits, and not until I got him into the Emergency Vet several hours later. (Max does have lung mets at this point, right, or am I mixing him up with other dogs?) Unless Max's gums are pale, I wouldn't think this sounds like a lung met burst. That's the only personal experience I have with panting though, so it's all I can offer.
I probably would have tried to get Yoda seen for something like what you're describing, but at least 50% of the time, if I took Yoda in, his symptoms would disappear by the time we got there. Though, hey, that's one way to take care of it and put your worries to rest!
More thoughts and prayers are coming your way!
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
Based only on our experience with Jerry, you might expect to see such difficulty come and go, eventually getting more frequent (and worse) over time. But it was a couple months from the first signs of Jerry's heavy panting to when he seriously started his downward spiral. Oftentimes his breathing would get worse after laying on his side with the lung that was being overtaken by the mets. He would get up, pant, lay on the other side and calm down. Not pushing it is a good thing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Max has at least two mets on his right lung as of Nov. 28 (his last x-ray), but we don't check that anymore. We look at the mets as pretty much a verdict that's been read, so we decided to stop regular testing and just let him be a happy dog for as long as we can. I assume the mets have grown since then, and probably multiplied to some extent.. We knew about the pink gums, and his look fine.
Thanks for the quick replies. We're kinda nervous parents, and we're not used to seeing symptoms yet.
Awe, good thoughts for Max (and you) this morning.
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.
Prayers for Max. Emily's cancer went to her spine first so I don't have any experience with lung mets. Sorry I can't help. Please give your guy a hug from me.
Debra & Angel Emily
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.
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