Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I guess this is one of those "it never rains but it pours" stories. We didn't get out to do anything yesterday (well I stayed in and cried) because of the rain....so there was no romping and big exercise.
This morning I gave Magic two ham slices (lunch meat) and a chunk of venison jerky (I am trying to get him over his suspicions of me handing him stuff so he has had no supplements other than dasuquin in a week). He ate the jerky and finally nosed the ham around and ate it too.
THen he did the little chokey thing (month or so ago vet thought maybe nausea...added prilosec to regimen...he did this long before cancer diagnosis) and this time up came a small about half inch blob (like the liver when i cut it up...but he didn't get liver this morning) of blood. I couldn't even talk myself into it being half digested ham. I wish I had given him liver so I could have talked myself into that.
His vet isn't in til 10 and I did email Rene to see what she could tell me. But I'm putting it out there...anyone who has had the lung mets...what does this mean....are we in deep trouble at this point?
Jerry lived a happy life for months with his lung mets, until they took over an entire lung. If it was blood – and if you're looking to talk yourself into something other than the mets – it may just be due to a laceration from the jerky. Also, some metastsis forms as air bubbles in the lungs that can burst. This can cause temporary bleeding, but not indicate the beginning of "the end" by any means. Besides if it was more of a "chokey" thing and not really a "coughy" thing, it's doubtful the blood came from the lungs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Diane,
My heart is breaking for you this morning. The loss of OJ *and* this *and* crappy weather. 🙁 Raven had lung mets extensively, but they weren't the reason for "the end". He lived with them and would cough a bit now and then and get more winded quickly, but that was the extent of their impact. In the necropsy, his lungs were about 35-40% tumors. But my vet explained that dogs have a huge surplus of lung capacity in comparison to humans, so he did okay with that. If you look at raven.tripawds.com I put up his xrays from the first few mets, to a couple months later when he was riddled with them, so you can see how bad it was. So, I can't tell you any more than Raven's story, but he did fine with them. YOU will know if they are upsetting to Magic. Let us all know what the vet says! You will be in my thoughts and prayers this morning. 🙂
Dawn
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
i am probably just all fingers and stupid this morning, but I can't find Raven's blog.....I looked through them (I wish they were alphabetical so I could have missed it...) tried searching....I will keep looking but I would be every so grateful if you could post a link...when I tried typing in raven.tripawds.com I got a message that it was a broken link. I would like to see the xrays.
It is hard to know if it is a chokey or a coughy thing....that was why I was surprised when the vet thought nausea back a couple of months (or centuries) ago. I wonder if it is a burst bubble...the lung mets certainly look like little bubbles...maybe they will all pop and go away. Yeah....I know.
krispikritter said:
I can't find Raven's blog...
dsimas said:
If you look at raven.tripawds.com ...
Here's a link to Raven's blog.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
THANK YOU THANK YOU...omg, Raven is absolutely gorgeous just gorgeous.....reading some of your descriptions on the blog....running thru it really quickly, I shall go back and read much more carefully...I have a hard time with xrays ... except I can clearly see on Magic's and I can clearly see on the last one of Raven's. Those round circles. Those blasted horrid round circles
I can so identify with what I read..up, down up down, imagination working overtime, maybe. maybe not. I hate this roller coaster just hate it.
I now wonder because that chokey coughy thing was there before the amp...and I don't think we ever did exrays other than chest and legs....I am now wondering if there is something elsewhere and if there is any benefit in further xrays of other body parts?
Diane - take a deep breath and repeat after me: DO NOT PANIC. You are having a really rough spot here, but hang on until you have all the information you need. As pointed out in the other posts, Jerry and Raven had lots of good days ahead after the diagnosis.
Big hugs and slobbery slurpie kisses headed your way!
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.
Diane, as I mentioned in my email, we've had other coughing episodes with Tripawds who've had lung mets. I don't know if this will help or make you worry more but here are some examples. They may be different or similar to what Magic is going through. Please keep in mind that all dogs are different in how the mets affect them.
Wiley coughing blood, has lung mets–is there still hope?
Caira Sue is coughing up blood
Yoda coughing blood – will see vet soon
For these pups, the coughing often bothered the humans more than them. I know there are drugs like Prednisone and Albuterol that can control the coughing but I don't know if anything can be done about the blood itself.
Please let us know what the vet says OK?
xoxoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Dearest Diane, Magic, and Spirit OJ,
It may be raining in Northern California, but it appears to be pouring on you personally and for that we are very sad. Through tears of anxious sorrow, we can only provide support and encouragement at this time. Jerry has provided a great reading list above. Miss Cherry never suffered the blood or extreme coughing episodes that have been described by others. We never went in for additional x-rays to watch for those lung mets. However, she did have a very large growth on her kidney at the time of the initial diagnosis. Miss Cherry rallied many times from bouts that I would swear would be taking her. These started just a month post chemotherapy and we were blessed with many more months together. For us, it was not the coughing or the blood, but rather it was in the eyes that we knew that we had to let our little girl leave her ravaged body. As long as there is still a sparkle of joy in Magic's eyes there will be hope. We all have lived for that hope.
We will be praying for a rally.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
Oh Diane. I wished I were there to give you a big hug. You certainly could use one.
Since I have no info on lung mets, I'm just going to leave it at that until you find out what the vet says.
Sending you a big super giant virtual HUG.
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.
Oh Diane,
I have no advice either on the lung mets. but just know I am thinking of you way over here in Maine. You've been thru WAY too much lately!
XOXOX
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
damn if you guys are not STILL the best (even since YESTERDAY) you outdo yourselves.
The vet isn't counting him out yet...she said it could be several things...I liked one she said best....now I don't know if she was making this up or not and I did NOT ask. She said perhaps the chemo is working on the mets and he is coughing up dead ones...okay, I'll go with that even if it has no chance in hell of being a true statement.
I just took all of OJ's left over stuff in to the vet...I was glad to find out there was an animal there that needed the epogen and family was financially strapped and I had a brand new ($82) bottle that I had taken off the cap but never put a needle in...they never give you money back (I just paid the bill from the "emergency euthenasia" GOOD GRIEF) but that and the left over appetite pills will go to help someone else. And I have a friend who can use the prednisolone for her kitty so OJ is helping others now.
Everyone is pulling for him, we went to FOUR parks and could not find ONE OTHER DOG for him to sniff, hump or chase. But he was still willing to go all over the park and wear out a little energy...now he is collapsed behind me.
He has always panted even when I thought it was cold (which is an unusual occurrence, believe me) but I do think he breathes a bit heavier. The awful thing is (and I KNOW you all have been through this) every little thing has you jumping to conclusions even when I try NOT to. The blood really really threw me, especially this week. Who am I kidding .... last week, this week, next week, next YEAR it would do the same thing.
THanks for posting some resources...off to read and thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers and crossed fingers and paws...I really feel like I'm sucking up a lot of prayer resources this week. Ruthie is at the vet now (I asked) but hasn't had the xrays yet so I don't know how the temador worked for her yet. I'm praying she has a WONDERFUL outcome.
krispikritter said:
She said perhaps the chemo is working on the mets and he is coughing up dead ones...okay, I'll go with that even if it has no chance in hell of being a true statement.
Now I really like that explanation! That's our story and we're sticking to it.
You can use as many prayer resources as you want. You're been a huge help to people here and now even Spirit OJ is continuing to spread the love. What an amazing pack you have there.
{{{{hugs}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I like that explanation, too!
Okay, here's something you can do to take your mind off of everything...
A LIVE KITTEN CAM from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
http://www.best.....ttens=true
Just click the link and you will see the kittens live at the sanctuary!
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.
of course when I LOOK, no kittens. Oh dear, there are adoptable animals...can they put stamps on their foreheads and mark them "hand cancel please" and ship them?
Off to the store before reading....more meat for Magic...little tri tip seems to make him happy (and I was actually able to get the prilosec in one piece...sneaky mama) He is asleep. No dogs, but lots of hopping and hoping so it tired him out.
Back to read shortly.
THanks again all of you. (and I LOVE BEST FRIENDS)
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