Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thanks again everyone.
Just heard from one of the vets on the urine tests and so forth...there are some blood cells in urine...nothing pops right out without culturing but we have decided to go ahead with a course of baytril(?) haven't done that one yet but it is because the vet yesterday may have been right...I got him to sleep part of the night on a pad (he seems to prefer the rug lately and I really want him to be more comfy) and there is a spot...and he has been licking at his boy parts (are they still there? little humor here) and I wasn't sure if it was slobber or urine but I am leaning toward urine because I was just brushing him a little and we had a drop on the leg. This is unheard of for him. I made him go out a little whille ago and before that he went in the bathroom and finished one of the two bowls of water. The vet says an infection could absolutely cause him to leak so here we go with another pill.
This is a horrible turn of events BECAUSE I can deal with all the other stuff but not leaking urine all over the house.....(I will eventually have carpets cleaned but not right now).....if the health dept. did a test on my carpets right now my house would be condemned. I CANNOT confine him to the kitchen...how nice would THAT be. So I am getting more plastic covers for the pads and going to try to keep him on them when he is in the house just to try to confine the problem. Hopefully the Baytril will knock whatever it is.
The vet also felt the baytril would be easier on his stomach and that is the reason for not hitting him with the prednisone now either...apparently that would not be the right thing to do especially whille he is having the tummy issues.
again, thanks we will keep plugging along for as long as we can.
The Baytril should do the trick pretty quickly for a UTI, it has in the past for Trouble. Gets her feeling better in no time. Of course you have to keep giving it for the prescribed number of days!
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.
Hopefully the bladder infection will clear up and will stop the leaking. I think dogs like to sleep where it's cooler when they are uncomfortable. If he's a got a bit of an infection, then he may be hot. That would explain the rug opposed to the pad.
Don't feel bad about the cleanliness of your carpet! I can still see a little discloration circle on mine where Rugby threw up! Oh, that was 1 year ago! It's not been left there for sentimental reasons...it's called "I'll get to it one day."! Although I have to admit, I did have a hard time vacuuming his fur and would scoop bundles of it up that were under the kitchen table. I now have baggies of dirt, crumbs and Rugby's fur! 
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.
Hang in there Diane,
Don't worry about the carpet- it can be cleaned, along with most everything else. I am afraid to have people over these days because I'm not sure what my house smells like, and I am afraid I have become immune to the various smells you get when dealing with a sick dog.
Maggie is much smaller than Magic but when she became incontenet (all of a sudden) I was doing a load of laundry every day for bed covers (theirs and mine) blankets, towles etc.
I have lined everything I care about with incontinence pads, I got them at the drug store. (I try really hard to look young, and act like they are not for me at the check out! 
). Magic is so much bigger- maybe try lining things with garbage bags as the leak proof part, and use towels or blankets, or anything washable for the absorbing layer. I have also found the incontinence pads useful to catch vomit, that is when Mag gives me enough warning. I keep a stack of pads and rags in each room of my house right now.
I have found that Power Shot, I'm not sure who makes it, is really effective for spot cleaning. I have light colored carpets so everything shows. The Power Shot has cleaned up results of UTIs, incontence, and vomit.
On the pills- depending on the type of med you might be able to crush and liquefy and feed with a syringe if Magic is more amenable to that. Check with the vet of course, but I think you said you were going to try carafate which in my experience is given with a syringe. My Mag is terrible with pills, but I will not feed her meds with a syringe because I don't want to put her off her food (mostly fed with a syringe now). I really don't like stuffing pills down her throat- but it is the least traumatic and stressful method with her. And like you I have cut the pills down to only those that contribute to her immediate comfort.
You and Magic deserve a break- I hope you get some relief soon.
Karen and the pug girls
Diane;
I buy cartons of "blue pads" from the medical supply stores - and line my sofa with them (at the moment - that is my geriatric cat's favorite place to pee). They are way cheaper bought by the carton - I buy the biggest ones I can get. You could easily use them to line a hallway - or bedroom floor, or bed, or whatever. They are very light, and flat. And very absorbent. Also slippery, though.
And, I know you can buy "doggie diapers" - even if you just used them at night - or when you're not able to be right there.
Just a thought.
Tana and Sophie
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
sophie said:
I know you can buy "doggie diapers" ...
Nothing to be ashamed of there! Jerry even modeled some after his visit to Watson's Pet Products:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Diane,
So sorry to hear the latest news about Magic. My other Golden, Kobe, just got over a UTI - he ended up peeing all over the kitchen floor, our carpeting in the bedroom, on the stairs, on our bed -everywhere! Poor little guy just couldn't hold it in. Then when I would let him out, he would pee for what seemed like 5 minutes at a time. The vet put him on amoxicillan and now he seems to be doing just fine. Meanwhile my floors and carpeting are a hazard to walk on - especially in bare feet! Let's just hope that the health inspectors don't come a knockin on all of our doors... 
.
So hopefully that' s all that it is, a UTI. We will be saying lots of prayers for you and Magic and really hope that things turn around and you'll be reporting some good news about Magic very soon.
Sending you lots of good healing thoughts..... Hope you had a good massage too!
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
How glad I am to have found a goup of people who don't mind living with barf, pee and the occasionally poop in their living quarters!!!!
For OJ, when he lost control of his bladder on the bed, that was my signal that he was no longer himself and wasn't coming back. It wasn't even the little, "quick mom, ABs, I gotta pee infection" that he gave me the week before, this was laying down and letting go.
Magic has never had a bladder infection and you can see him jump, then lick the area (then kiss his mommie) and I got a couple of zip covers for the foam pads and I have lots of goodwill sheets (and plastic zip covers to protect the foam)...I have done three loads today but it wasn't all his stuff. IT is my understanding this AB acts pretty fast so fingers crossed. I don't think he would leave a diaper alone. I really want him to sleep on the pads because it is more comfy and probably cooler than the rug if he was looking for cooler. I also closed the gate to the living room.
I have to be very careful about putting down plastic or anthing I could slip on or stumble over...not only am I clumsy but that artificial hip has been knocked out a couple of times and last time had to have replacement parts and there is an artificial knee on the other side. If I go down everyone is in trouble.
my psycho fish was still acting like fish on speed and now I don't see him so he may have died. I am SO over the fish.....going to try to give the fish away then the aquarium.
Jerry was such a good boy, I think Magic would make it the night's work to shred that diaper.....If I can just confine things to certain places it makes it easier to clean up...i do have one of those spot cleaner machines and two years ago I bought a bissel proheat carpet cleaner thing..i have used it one time and not very successfully. Maybe since it is going to rain this week I should just do the hallway..nah, probably not!!
I just want a day that it doesn't rain and isn't Wed so Ruthie and Magic can have a little time together!!
Good heavens woman ! A fish on speed (or... not so speedy anymore - I've had a few of those - so I know exactly what you're talking about !) - your dog shredding diapers - washer and dryer on overload - artificial hips and knees - carpet cleaners on automatic drive....
I hope you had a FABULOUS massage. You have definitely earned it ! And I hope Magic enjoyed his, too.
When my older dog, Keaton, was getting so that he couldn't go up and down the stairs by himself at night - and I was afraid that I wouldn't hear him if he had to go outside in the night (I take meds that knock me out) - I got some a thing that is like a patch of fake grass with a rubber "well" underneath it - so dogs can pee (or otherwise) "on the grass" and it collects in the rubber container underneath. It comes with this attractant spray - and also a de-odorizer so as not to make you flee the room. Then you can empty it in the morning. And, I closed my bedroom door - so that he wouldn't wander anywhere else in the house. Since I wasn't getting up in the night - I put down lots of covers on the carpets, too - and the infamous blue pads as mentioned above. It was a bit like setting up Fort Knox each night. We had a bowl of water - and a litter box for the cats, too - who had to be in the room with us as well overnite. EVERYBODY has to be in the bedroom with mom overnite !
Anyway .... long story ... it worked for us ... if Keaton had any accident during the night - whether that was vomiting or otherwise - it usually stayed off the carpet - and sometimes even made it to the fake grass.
Step carefully, Diane !
Tana and Sophie
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
sophie said:
I got some a thing that is like a patch of fake grass with a rubber "well" underneath it ...
Like the Pet A Potty? Or something similar ...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
okay I did it again....tried to post without the math....
sigh. Okay, now you lucky people get the short version....no pee drops anywhere he was laying from last night to 9 this morning....I am now wondering if that was why he was throwing up and not eating...maybe it was the onset of the bladder thing...it all happened within maybe 36 hours
The grass thing cracks me up, but because Magic's problem was just those drops rolling down his leg, that wouldn't work (but look, even a fire hydrant)
Magic will pee places (not the drop dribble we had) outside (never had anything inside except after surgery when I cleverly leaned on his bladder trying to put on the harness...little stream that he immediately shut off) and will NOT poop anywhere but in his back yard...which is convenient on walks but not so hot for him if he has to go...he waits til he is home...I don't think he pooped when he was at the vet and when we got him home after the surgery (four days) he must have pooped (puddled) four or five times as soon as he got his butt out in the yard which was about 30 seconds after getting home.
I think he is eating more than I thought at least now...I am changing my feelings from "he didn't eat his dinner in the bowl" cuz he is getting four or five chunks of meat (I even tried a couple of times nuking it slightly in case it was upsetting his tummy...think he likes it raw better) with every pill dose....and he is taking that stuff three times a day and two things once a day! We did get some baby food (turkey/rice) scooped up with Bob's Miracle Biscuits(!!!!) (Okay, the Hills prescription hypoallergenic biscuits)...he STILL loves those biscuits so I am going to take a chance and go buy some more (hope he doesn't decide he hates them....my neighbors are recipients of all the mistakes)...So we will go with the all day noshing way of feeding!!!! (I wouldn't do that with a healthy dog, probably bad habit, but Magic can eat when and what he wants at this stage)
There. I think that is it. (except it is raining....did I somehow sleep through spring?)
Mmmmmmm... all day noshing! 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Diane, if he likes raw meat, just nuke it 5 seconds or so to kill the bacteria. I really can't imagine him telling if it was nuked just to kill bacteria?
When I make cake frosting I have an easy and fantastic recipe with raw egg whites - so I nuke them just few seconds to make sure no one will get salmonella! (okay, just me - since I'm usually the one eating it! 
)
You have to buy one of those potty portables!!! I can see that being a whole other topic we can chit chat about for a week
!
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.
OK - laugh if you will !! 
I know I am....
Our version of the fake grass - potty stop - did not come with the fire hydrant - or the nice fence. It was a utilitarian model...only sold in Canada, I guess. Sheesh.... you try to help ...
So - how about that weather??
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
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