Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Tee Hee ELIZABETH........Happy Hannah says "ditto"!
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!
Well thus far that 8 hour chemo seems just like the other ones! Shelby slept through the night just fine (me, not so much, is there such a thing as sympathy nausea? - I felt awful all night and was up and down every hour ... so tired). But like normal, I woke my girl up this morning with snuggles and kisses and she got up, a little slow, and tail was wagging - ready to start her day with a clean slate! God what I wouldn't give to be blissfully ignorant like her! We had a quick walk since I was still feeling icky... she did her business and ate for me. She had some spinach, pure pumpkin and gluten free pasta. I am sure she would have eaten more but I want to make sure she's feeling OK.
Yesterday was one of those days that were a flashback from the beginning of our journey - when I felt sad, scared, lost and alone and yet I came here and that instantly changed so thank you all again for pulling me up and out of my funk!
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
Aww, sweet pictures. They just know when we need a little consoling. I'm glad you're taking on the day with a new gusto (even if you're a little sleepy).
Wishing you a happy day and letting you know I'm thinking of you both.
Amy & Spirit Libby
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
And I can even see her tail waggin' in that bottom picture!. Yes, sweet pictures indeed.
Yeah, things on this journey can throw you back into all those awful emotions you feel at the beginning with no warning at all. To relive that awful emotio al time sucks. Just try and remember...that was then...this is now.....and "that" does not equal "this"!! Say whaaaaat?? It does make sense...you just have to read it over a few times!!
Actualy, I was worried...yep...worried that the chemo and yesterday at the vet was gong to be too much for her and be a setback. So REALLY CELEBRATE that she's feeing better today!! That is where your focus needs ro be!! That IS some great news this morning!!
REMEMBER (and I remind myself of this hourly!), let NOTHING eob youof your time together...ESPECIALLY, while she's feeling good and sympton free!!! ESPECIALLY now!! This is sacred time...good quality time you have now...don't waste it!!
Sending love and hugs! Love that Shelby!
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!
Alison
Glad to hear you are feeling better. Shelby looks adorable in those pics! Relax and enjoy your day
Esther and her Snoop
I love her, Alison, I do. Shelby is a dear. What a face and a pal! She's sure lucky to have you. You come here and vent anytime. The good and bad. We're here.
I was thinking: how about some oatmeal made with chicken stock? Sounds yucky to me, but it's gluten free (which makes US happy), a great whole grain, and should keep her tummy well bulked up. While you're at it, how about a bowl (not made with broth) for YOUR tummy? A warm bowl of handmade oatmeal is comforting...
Jackson has been on metronomic therapy for a year now and he's still here. Is it that that's doing it? No idea, but whatever it is, we're sticking with it.
My understanding is that once the mets arrive, they stay. You can opt for surgery and I did read a success story of that here...but just once. Mets are tough. Viscous. And persistent. Do what you can for your little lady and have no regrets. She's shining now, so relish. We know you are....
HUGS
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
fetchon3 said
I love her, Alison, I do. Shelby is a dear. What a face and a pal! She's sure lucky to have you. You come here and vent anytime. The good and bad. We're here.I was thinking: how about some oatmeal made with chicken stock? Sounds yucky to me, but it's gluten free (which makes US happy), a great whole grain, and should keep her tummy well bulked up. While you're at it, how about a bowl (not made with broth) for YOUR tummy? A warm bowl of handmade oatmeal is comforting...
Jackson has been on metronomic therapy for a year now and he's still here. Is it that that's doing it? No idea, but whatever it is, we're sticking with it.
My understanding is that once the mets arrive, they stay. You can opt for surgery and I did read a success story of that here...but just once. Mets are tough. Viscous. And persistent. Do what you can for your little lady and have no regrets. She's shining now, so relish. We know you are....
HUGS
~ Katy & Jackson
So Oatmeal is safe for them? I can make her some for sure. I'll pick some up at the store when I go out to get her stuff for her dinner. I found a crock pot recipe with ground turkey, yams, apples that I will make for her but I can give her oatmeal in the a.m. (since we need her to take her iron pills then). I don't eat oatmeal (I'm Paleo so that's not on our list) but I am happy to make it for Shelby. She does like gluten free pasta! 🙂
That is my understanding about the mets too and that our hope right now is to stabilize the little f'ers and not have them grow. If there is growth in 3 weeks, we will switch to metronomics . I am not going to put her through a 4th surgery though.. it's too hard on her and she's already anemic w/a heart murmor and 13 years old. It's not fair. And like you all have said, I am clearly doing ALL I can in my power for my best girl and she's happy. She was so happy to see me when I got home from the gym. She's helping me do laundry and being "Shelby". Not at all as sick as I thought she would be from that chemo. I think the stress of yesterday is what contributed to my upset belly ALL night and the power-chugging of pepto to get to the gym!
Thank you again! We are doing WAY better than the statistics and today we focus on that!
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
I just adore Shelby's big brown eyes! I'm very relieved to see that her day is going better than last night.
I think about you both many times throughout the day. If only pawsitive thoughts could help your baby girl...
MANY hugs to you both....
Samantha and Abbee
I thought of something! How about you boil off a load of liver for Shelby? Use the water that it was boiled in for oatmeal. Mix in the AM some of this liver-juice oatmeal, chunks of liver, and then add in some bell peppers and/or kale, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broc for vit C (these items have more vit C than a serving of orange)? Vitamin C + iron makes for better absorption of iron! And the oatmeal could help couch that iron pill when it comes down.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
fetchon3 said
I thought of something! How about you boil off a load of liver for Shelby? Use the water that it was boiled in for oatmeal. Mix in the AM some of this liver-juice oatmeal, chunks of liver, and then add in some bell peppers and/or kale, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broc for vit C (these items have more vit C than a serving of orange)? Vitamin C + iron makes for better absorption of iron! And the oatmeal could help couch that iron pill when it comes down.~ Katy & Jackson
Blech ... LIVER! My dad lived on liver and onions when he was sick and the smell of it turns my stomach... my mom suggested that too. I don't even know to COOK liver - let alone know when it's done as to not give my girl food poisoning. So far I can't convince her to eat brocoli but she loves spinach and brussels sprouts. I didn't make her take the iron pill this a.m. since I wasn't sure how much food I could get into her belly. I still haven't gotten to the store to get dinner for her so she's probably getting some pre-cooked chicken I have here w/her spinach. I'm going to try her on bell peppers tonight... interestingly enough, today she is loving strawberries... wouldn't touch them for weeks and today, when I was eating them, she wanted them. Silly princess!
What I don't get is why they have to shave BOTH her front paws - my guess is that they couldn't get the IV in one arm so they had to try the other but her legs are pretty raw still. Thankfully, I've only see her lick it once. She is definitely zonked out on my floor for the past 3 hours. I'll let her rest. I bet she's exhausted.
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
sjstark said
I just adore Shelby's big brown eyes! I'm very relieved to see that her day is going better than last night.I think about you both many times throughout the day. If only pawsitive thoughts could help your baby girl...
MANY hugs to you both....
Samantha and Abbee
Thank you!!! She does have pretty eyes! And thank you for your support here! It means a lot to both of us! I am glad Abbee continues to heal so well.
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
That's too cute! I remember it was Jackson's arm that was more bothersome to him than his amp site. It was raw and razer burned. Poor thing. I bet 1 arm was fluids and the other was the chemo. Or, you're right, they needed both veins for the chemo.
Strawberries have a load of Vit C in them too! Way to go, Shelbs!
Boil liver. It's that easy. I bough chicken liver and cow liver once. One of them didn't smell. They were well submerged in the water. Boiled for maybe 10min. I think it doesn't take long to cook it and that's why so many have probs with it - they've only ever eaten overcooked liver! But a doggie might not care. Well, if you ever get up the stomach for it, I'd be curious how it'd work for her.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
You could probably also try chicken livers. They come in a little tub at the butcher section and when boiled, they basically cook down into a thick liquid. I used to use them when I made dog biscuits, back before Gus developed his chicken allergy. Or how about baby food liver? You wouldn't even have to cook that.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
LOVE the picture Alison! That is contentment, pure contentment!
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!
I'm going to pick up some 'livers' for her today. Everything I have read is that they are really rich and should be considered more of a treat. So far today she's had some gluten free pasta and spinach to take her meds ... not a ton of protein in there but it will do the trick for now. Despite the 5.3 earthquake(s), we slept fine. I did camp out on the floor with her for about 4 hours just to be safe. Funny - right before the earth started rolling, she came over to me to snuggle ... she knew!
I also have switched her iron pill today to this a.m. with her cerenia to try and mix up her pills... hopefully this dissipates any belly issues. She seems to responding to this chemo better than I thought - no real nausea as far as I can tell and her poop is good. Fingers crossed for an easy weekend for us ...
I'm making her sweet potatoes, ground turkey and apples in our crockpot for dinner! Fingers crossed! Happy weekend all!
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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