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.
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Trouble started having bad days in June of last year and didn't come to the end until March of this year. Most of those were good days - until the last few weeks. Stay positive. Have faith. We're with you.
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.
Awwwww Joy, I'm so sorry. It's so scary! It's like we think they can talk when they are feeling great and then when we need them to talk when they are feeling bad, we get mixed signals.
I'm so sorry.
Since I've been through hemangio twice, I can tell you if you suspect internal bleeding, you'll see it in his gums and perhaps tongue. They will go grey. And if his stomach swells even slightly then that could indicate internal bleeding. If his gums are nice and pink, then don't worry too much.
I had one that had a tumor burst on the heart and it was dramatic since the heart couldn't beat. His gums were grey and his stomach was sticking out. And then Comet's was probably the spleen so it was a slow bleed and she hunched over funny. Her gums were grey instantly and she was just sleepy.
Also the pulse gets very low. You can check it - just google how to do it.
I hope that helps.
Sending you very, very pawsitive thoughts!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
We're thinking of you today Joy, please let us know what happens at the vet's office OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for all the thoughts and well wishes...
The vet said his gums didn't look bad, but when he took the blood for the CBC it said it was a little "thin" so he might be anemic...
He also said when he listened to his heart that there was some fluid in his chest, not plueral effusion, but something because he heard an echo or something... Of course, we don't know if the fluid is blood or not...
He said (and I'm not if we HAVE to do it or if it's only if he's not anemic) the next thing would be an x-ray then sample the fluid to see what it is...
Worst case scenario... it's blood and he has a bleeding tumor of which there is absolutely nothing we can do... he said it's not a ruptured tumor though because that would most likely be spleenic and he has no spleen anymore...
Best case scenario (besides basic anemia)... it's CHF... but we can put him on heart meds for this...
CBC is due back tomorrow morning... I guess I'll know more then...
He is doing slightly better today... actually RAN in for his dinner and attacked it more than he has since Friday... still tired though and having difficulty getting up the 2 steps into the house... He'd never had problems with this even when he first had the amputation done...
If he's anemic I think I'm going to buy some liver and cook it for him...
Joy & Champ
Joy and Champ, You've been in my thoughts...I'm gonna continue to send all the pawsitive energy I can muster....big, gentle hugs to Champ....and some liver too!
Anita
Joy, how old is Champ? I have a child with "issues" and I spend a lot of time wondering if it's his disability or his age. Is it possible that some of this is just ordinary age? I imagine tripawd parents wonder a good bit if it's "normal" aging or something else going wrong. After all our dogs have been through, what else can we wonder?
Fluid in the chest can surely tire you out, though. I have a family member with CHF and it just drains her. Can they give him meds to lose the fluid, like they do with humans? I'll cross my fingers and toes that the blood work looks good and hope that Champ is just tuckered out from heat.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Dakota Dawg said:
Joy, how old is Champ? I have a child with "issues" and I spend a lot of time wondering if it's his disability or his age. Is it possible that some of this is just ordinary age? I imagine tripawd parents wonder a good bit if it's "normal" aging or something else going wrong. After all our dogs have been through, what else can we wonder?
Fluid in the chest can surely tire you out, though. I have a family member with CHF and it just drains her. Can they give him meds to lose the fluid, like they do with humans? I'll cross my fingers and toes that the blood work looks good and hope that Champ is just tuckered out from heat.
Shari
Hi Shari,
Champ is about 9... he's adopted. I would have thought maybe age also, but this has come on quite suddenly. I'd like to think heat too but it really hasn't been over 82 the past week or so. He's not even panting.
If we do find out it's CHF the vet said there are meds he can take. I'm really rooting for anemia... lol.
Thanks for the good thoughts... we all love our children so much. It really hurts when we can't just instantly "fix" everything for them.
Joy
Hi Joy,
I'm glad to hear that Champ seems to be doing a little better.
If we do find out it's CHF the vet said there are meds he can take. I'm really rooting for anemia… lol.
This stupid cancer battle sure changes our perspective, doesn't it? So many times on this site one of us posts something about 'hoping' our pup 'only' has....as long as it is not the cancer!
I hope you find something that works for Champ.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Thinking of you guys...and hoping for the best results.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Sorry to hear Champ has not been well , and you had to wait and worry!
We will be cheering for Champ and hoping!
I sure hope that Champ is feeling better soon! Unfortunately HSA can frequently metastasize to the right atrium of the heart or to abdominal organs like the liver. He no longer has a spleen but the mets can bleed slowly and cause a chronic problem like anemia or they could bleed acutely and cause collapse. A chest xray can show mets in the lungs or an enlarged heart but only an ultrasound can see the tumor on the heart and check for bleeding into the heart sac. An ultrasound is also the best way to identify liver tumors.
I would keep him quiet until you get the test results since increased activity can cause increased bleeding.
Pam
Thanks Pam.. and everyone else..
Well, the CBC came back and he is pretty anemic.. so, he got a shot of Procrit today and I am cooking gizzards, liver, and burgers for him for meals for a week... plus his multi-vitamins...
I think we may be dealing with a slow bleed but I've read that this can be episodic and may stop for awhile and the body reabsorbs the blood... then happens again...
He keeps himself pretty quiet so I'm not too worried about increased activity. We don't really do walks or anything...
I'm straying away from the ultrasounds right now. He seems to be feeling better already. I've been giving him high iron food since the weekend and I think it's helping. He has a great appetite and is wagging his tail again and even broke into a little trot to visit the vet today.
Keep us in your thoughts... so far things are improving...
Joy & Champ
Hoorah for improvement. Great appetites and wagging tails are what we all wanna see!
All the best,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I'm glad Champ is doing better! Whatever is going on inside, tails wags always make everything better.
I just wanted to say that Tate definitely cannot handle humidity and heat + humidity puts him in a stupor. This weather even slows puppy Sam down (thankfully...) We're all slugs right now.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
How's Champ doing today Joy?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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