Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Anyone else have issues with BUN levels* being elevated during routine blood monitoring? In Lexie’s case my onco said there could be kidney issues, and I may need to look at NSAID and/or Tramadol alternatives, or compromise the kidneys further. And of course we're hoping it's nothing more ominous.
Situation: Lexie is almost 14, lung mets aren’t growing out of control yet; post amp she developed arthritis and hip issues, and she is having physical discomfort due to a lot of stairs in our home, being a front leg Tripawd, etc. On the plus side: she still wants to attempt to chase squirrels, go for walks, go outside to the back yard, etc.
We’re doing physical therapy at home and seeing a PT vet monthly and except for some muscle spasms she is still enjoying life very much with the help of meds noted below. I'm asking about Roxicam for that, btw. Blood panel results:
CBC: no anemia, platelets fine and white cells normal range.
Ht 42.9%, plt 390K, N 6.76K
Chemistry panel: elevation of BUN, concern that is is caused by NSAID: renal disease vs GI irritation, risk for possible intestinal perforation if GI ulceration worsens- recommend stopping Rimadyl and giving he carafate to help her intestines heal. LIver values and creatinine fine.
Glu 85, TO 5.9, ALb 3.5, Glob 2.4, Tbil 0.1, GGT 1, ALT 29, ALP 28, AST 25, BUN 54 (high, but better than last month), Creat 1, Phos 3.4, Mg 2.3, Ca 10, Na 146, K 4.8, Cl 113
Meds: Gabapentin 100 mg 2-3x/day; Tramadol 50mg 2-3x day (sometimes half-dose); Rimadyl 25mg 2x.day; Pepcid 10mg 1x day; Trilostane (for Cushings disease) 55 mg 2x/day; Yunnan Baiyo herb as needed; K9 Immunity Plus; GlycoFlex III for arthritis (1/2 tablet).
Her Cushing’s disease, along with pancreatitis, are both well-managed. We feed her grain-free high protein low fat kibble + chicken or turkey.
Our oral chemo treatments are noted in the signature. Of course I'll post in Ask a Vet, too, but welcome input from anyone else who has dealt with this. TIA!
*Good article on what BUN is and impact on kidneys here via VetStreet.com.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
LEXI!!! Quite scaring our mom!
DEB! You are SUCH a powerful advocate for your girl!! You are attentive, thorough, astute and, of course, so very, very loving when it comes to your girl!
It'll be interesting to see what Dr. Pam says, but couldn't the raised bun level could just as easily be a case of "senioritis", "Mature" dogs are often burdened with kidney issues as they age.
If that's the case, you can certainly do sub-q fluids at home, as well as nutritional and supplement solutions.
"Agile Cow Dog Maggie" has some very informative blogs on dealing with kidney issue and was pretty darn successful at keeping things under control for quite awhile with Maggie.
One of the computer geeks can give you her links
Did the vet recommend any "treatment" or is she just convinced it's drug related?? Also, on the link you gave (which was very good.....I like "simple"), it noted lethargy as a "sympton". You mentioned Lexi had been pretty wiped out recently. Of course, she jad also been a very busy girl!
Lexi is STILL able to climb stairs??? That's hard for many amputees, let alone a 14 yr. young with arthritis and hip problems who is on pain meds!!! Do you use a sling - harness (which she probavly would not like), or try and carry her little independent self?
You know we're all cheering dor you! We love this girl...and her momma!!!
Sending virtual (((((((((((hugs)))))))))))
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!
Computer geek at your service.
Update on Maggie’s kidney disease….
A different kind of battle……..
Give her a big smooch from me.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Won't help the kidney values, but Ty had gastro issues form Deramaxx and slight when he took Rimadyl. We used Carafate and Pepcid. Makes for a crazy med schedule as the Carafate has to be given 2 hrs before or after other meds or food and the Pepcid 1 hr. This helped his intestinal issues a lot. He was also vomiting along with extreme lethargy. I used small Ziplock ( portion bags) or they sell small bags at pharmacy. I put each dose in a bag and put them on the fridge with a magnet hook. As I gave each dose, I would move the empty bag to the back. Otherwise, I was always 2nd guessing. Hope this turns out to be minor stuff. She sounds very perky for 14. Love from, Lori and TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Sorry, just saw you are using Pepcid. I did give it 2 x per day when he was really bad. The Carafate did wonders.
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Sally, I knew you'd know whose posts or blogs to check! And thanks for the quick service, Rene Computer Geek -- and thanks in advance to Maggie's mom.
Lori and Ty, we may add that second Pepcid and will do Carafate again -- had been doing it on and off during some of the earlier med regimens and you're right -- goofy dosing schedule, but great stuff. Thanks and hugs to all!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
My Maggie also developed kidney failure one of her first symptoms was lack of apatite. I started treating with special food (which she hated) and did sub-q fluids every other day. By the time it was diagnosed she was pretty far along and we were not able to reverse it. If you have caught it early and it is being caused by one of the meds you are probably in pretty good shape.
I would stop the anti-inflams if she can handle it. On the other hand keeping her comfortable is most important. I'm a big advocate for adequan, but it is expensive and does not work for all dogs. Quad-pug Tani has terrible arthritis and adequan injections have given her more time. It is given by IM injection and I don't think it puts as much a load on the kidneys as some other anti-inflams.
I stuck with pepcid for Maggie. My onco suggested carafate but by that point the only way I could get food into Mag was with a syringe (which she actually seemed to enjoy) and I didn't want to turn her off to the syringe by squirting carafate down her throat.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi, all! Just an update...Lexie has been more like herself the past couple of days. Whew! I just need to become comfortable with the reality that up and down, good days, bad days (rinse, repeat) is the new normal.
Karen, thanks for chiming in with Maggie's experience. You girl had some issues! I can't imagine attempting to force that nasty stuff down with a syringe. The only way I get Lexie to take it is by putting a little bit of chicken water (from canned chicken) in with it in a tiny bowl.
Can't stop the NSAIDs, unfortunately, due to quality of life tradeoff. I'll see what her I-med vet says next week.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Oh, pretty goodupdate then? YAAAAAAY Lexie!
Yeah, once you get used to the ups and downs as the new normal it's not frightening.....just "normal"
You are such a good partner for Team Lexie!! Such a good mom!
Alwwysing cheering for her.....always!
LOVE!
Sallymand 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!
That's pawesome news. Go Lexie!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
