Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello, I have been reading the posts on this site over the last few weeks and it has been very helpful. On 10 Dec 2014 my beautiful 15 and a half year old Kelpie X, Rose, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her left front leg. I was initially absolutely devastated and did not think amputation (or any surgery) was a possibility due to her age and I was also worried about weakness in her back legs and if they would support her as a tripod. After discussions and investigations with the specialist vet (including x-rays to check for arthritis in her back legs and hips) I made the very difficult decision to amputate. The vet was confident she could cope on three legs and I knew she didn't want to be put down. It is now three weeks since the surgery. She came through the surgey well and I have been taking her to physio a few times a week. She was able to get about and go to the toilet right from arriving home, though with little stamina but she has been improving steadily and I'm really happy. She can go up and down the few stairs to and from the garden and can jump onto the back deck without taking the stairs (!). She started her first round of chemo (carboplatin) two weeks ago. She initially had 2-3 days of fatigue and loss of appetite but bounced back. Two days ago she had her second CBC (complete blood count) to check her white blood cell levels and they were significantly low. She is now at home and on antibiotics. Her symptoms are fatigue, weakness and lack of appetite. I am monitoring her temperature for fever but am just so worried, particularly about her not eating as she is a naturally slim dog. Last night I force fed her out of desperation. She took this very well. Has anyone else been in this situation and what symptoms did your dog with low white blood cell count exhibit. Also for how long? Many thanks!
Hello. Sad to know Rose is not feeling well.
Low white blood count is an expected side-effect from chemo. Has she been taking any supplements? For my dog, although he is still relatively young, K-9 Immunity Plus was a blessing through his chemo, keeping his white count in good levels.
Regarding the feeding, have you tried any special wet foods like Royal Canin Recovery? it is highly concentrated and a very tasty paste that you can spoon feed your dog.
regards,
Daniela
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Is low white blood cells like anemia? My girl suffered from that from the chemo so I added some iron rich foods to her diet (I would check w/your vet). I even made her liver bites (my apt stunk for hours!!!!). And they added an iron supplement to her diet (like they would w/people). It did make her stool darker and harder for her to go so we had to add pure pumpkin. I would check w/your vet since that can cause low energy.
Good luck!
alison with the spirit of shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
WOW!!! Rose is an amazing girl...and very well loved!!!!
Three weeks is very early in recovery and it even sounds like she couod be overdoing it a little....especially for a 15 1/2 year young senior!!
Low WBC is somewhat expected sometimes with chemo and, some studies say that means the chemo is working! Usually the count goes back up after a dose of antibiotics, but sometimes it can take a little longer.
I would definitely hold up on the physical therapy a bit until she gets her spunk back. The antibiotics can play havoc with her tummy and make her not want to eat. I'm certainly no vet, but see if he woukd recommend something to coat her tummy. It makes sense that she woukd be feeling a little low with the WBC level, but just double check with your vet to see if symptoms go along with it...I just can't remember. The antibiotics should start helping her feel better soon.
One more thought along the lines of overdoing it. Maybe, with your vet's permission, give her a low dose of a lain med just to make sure she hasn't pulled or strained anything.
I KNOW this is an incredibly hard part of the journey, but just savour and enjoy the bliss of every second you and Rose are together! Remember, she isn't worried about a thing and she is living in the moment...just loving all the spoiling and loving!!!
You are doing great! Hang in there, this journey is quite the roller coaster ride!!
Stay connected! You are not alone! And post pictures when you can! Rose sounds adorable!!
HUGS!!!!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Hello all, thank you for your kind replies and help. It's really nice to touch base with others in a similar situation. Rose Is totally adorable and so smart and kind :). She has perked up today though is still not interested in eating. It is a rollercoaster ride. After only one round I now realise that having Rosy go up and down with the ongoing chemo is going to be difficult. I'll have to continually assess whether chemo is the right path for her. For now I am just trying to get as much food into her as possible.
Thank you for the food ideas. I will try those foods and will get her iron checked. I've looked up the K9 Immunity Plus and it looks like a really good idea! I'll try to get some today.
Does anyone have an opinion on force feeding? I open her mouth, place my left thumb over her tongue and with my right thumb put small bits of food on the back of her tongue. She then either swallows it right away or chews it in her mouth and then swallows. It encourages me that she chews it in her mouth without spitting it out (though spitting it out has sometimes occurred).... She has been on a raw food diet her whole life but due to the chemo I am now feeding her roast chicken, sausages (no onion, or garlic, spices etc), cooked beef , dried liver treats and kangaroo dog treats, but, when she does eat, she only takes small amounts.
I'll ask the vet about lain medication. The physio has largely been massage, limb manipulation and very gentle exercises around sitting and standing, balancing and going over and under things. And her jumping on the back deck is just one 30 - 40cm jump after a little pottering about the garden. Her nature is to be inside where I am. But yes, I have cancelled her physio sessions as at the moment even the outing to the vet would be exhausting for her.
I haven't been able to insert a photo into this text, but will try to create an avatar. She really is a special little soul. 
Mum to Rose, welcome! I just now caught up on your story. She is truly an amazing pup! And you are a great mum for giving her a chance at a great quality of life.
We didn't go through chemo but I can tell you that in our years of this community, we've seen many dogs bounce back from a low white blood cell count. It's not uncommon at all. Others can provide better feedback about it than I can but in general you should see improvement very soon.
As for force feeding...well, I would ask my vet for an appetite stimulant and anti-nausea medication first. When dogs are feeling crappy they just don't want to eat and that's OK, they're saving their energy for healing. If it continues for more than a day or two let your vet know, they can prescribe something to help her want to eat. Here are some posts about stimulating appetite when a dog doesn't want to eat.
Here are instructions for adding images to the Forums. If this doesn't help let me know, i'm happy to post some for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello! Is Rose an Australian Kelpie? I thought your blog said Kelpie. My new rescue, Jasper Lily, is a Kelpie mix so I am now obsessed with this breed!
I was thinking about the lack of eating thing ... my tripawd, Shelby, who has since crossed the bridge, had issues w/eating too. I also put her food in MY dishware and she would eat from that. Her vet told me that a couple days w/out food was OK and that if I could get her to eat things like baby carrots, or veggies, those were 'comfort food' items to her. (I wish that was 'comfort food to me').
But I would talk to your vet about an anti-nausea med too. Good luck! Rosie is going to be great!!! BTW - my Shelby was 13 when she had her amp... took a couple weeks but her sparkle DID come back!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hi, Mom and Rose....my Dobe Nitro just finished his 6th dose of chemo. He also had issues with low white counts; we had to stretch his doses to every 4 weeks instead of every 3 to give his body time to recover. That seemed to do the trick. He also was less enthusiastic about eating the first couple of days after. I didn't push it too hard, but I would spoon yogurt down his throat for his allergy meds. And if all he wanted to eat was some of his special treats, than that was what he got. Good luck to you both - you are amazing!
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
My Lab boy TY also suffered from low white counts. His actually got so low, we did a transfusion at one point. One of the biggest signs I noticed along with fatigue was white gums. His gums had little color and did not change if I pressed on them. There is a med called Cerinia which helps with nausea and Mirtzapine can stimulate appetite. I too am a fan of the Royal Canine Recovery. Scrambled eggs were a hit also. I fed them off a paper plate I held. Wet cat food, baby food meat, cheese all work to try to get a bit of something in there. Ice cube can work if she isn't drinking. Someone on here had a recipie for doggy Popsicles made from peanut butter and other yummy goodies. Keep us posted on how she is doing. You have found a great source of support here. We have or have been on the Rollercoaster ride. Hugs from, Lori, TY, Chandler, Lucy and Daryl
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.
Thank you all, they are some more great ideas with foods! We will be trying them. What a fantastic resource this page is! Thanks Jerry for all of your hard work.
It's comforting to hear that a low white blood cell count is fairly normal. I will also ask about getting some appetite stimulant from the vet when we go for the next round of chemo. Her appetite and energy has returned for now and we are (white blood cell count pending) set to go for the second chemo in four days. Now that I know what to expect I should be more prepared and less worried. Thank you for all of your responses because I was quite concerned and am glad now that I reached out on this site.
mom2shelby - yes she is part (mostly) kelpie. She is my second "kelpie" and they are such great dogs! Loyal, smart and energetic but know when to be calm. She went deaf at around age 13 but up until then she understood so many sentences and phrases and was so responsive to commands. Since then she's kept learning now and knows a few hand signals. Amazing dogs!
mumtorose said
mom2shelby - yes she is part (mostly) kelpie. She is my second "kelpie" and they are such great dogs! Loyal, smart and energetic but know when to be calm. She went deaf at around age 13 but up until then she understood so many sentences and phrases and was so responsive to commands. Since then she's kept learning now and knows a few hand signals. Amazing dogs!
YAY ... I had never heard of "kelpies' until I rescued Jasper. They told me she was a basenji that didn't bark! Ha ha!!!! So. Not. True. I think she's only part Kelpie since she's smaller than what I have read but your description, loyal, smart and energetic is spot on! I am amazed by how many words she actually has learned. Especially since she came from Mexico and English was not her first language! This is my "kelpie" - 
I saw your blog! Rosie looks great!!! She is very lucky to have such a loving mom! I, too, am very bonded to my animals - Shelby (my Tripawd) was my soulmate and I had no regrets over her journey with cancer. Lori gave you some great tips! Scrambled eggs worked wonders. Hugs !!!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
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