Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everybody, long time no see. I am sorry that it has been a long time since my last post. My mom has been flying back and forth to Puerto Rico to visit my ailing grandma so I have not had a chance to log in. My mom got home from her last trip yesterday and hold and behold she found me in very bad shape. I need some advice as my mom is very worried about me and does not know what to do. I am feeling very down and cannot walk. My back legs do not obey when I want to do and I just cannot move them. At first we thought that it could be my arthritis but after some rymadil and warm pads etc I am not getting better. So when she got back and saw that I was actually worst she sent me running to the vet with my dad. They took x-rays today from my chest and my spine and could not find anything wrong. The next step was to give me a steroid shot and take some blood which we will know the results tomorrow. For some reason my front leg is also very stiff. I am just sleeping all the time and can hardly move. In order for me to eat, my mom gets on the floor and feeds me some of my favorite foods so that I can get some kind of nutrients in me. She is also going to check on a holistic vet that can do some acupuncture and take me to see if I can get some relief. Neither one of us is ready to give up. Unfortunately, lately I am just not feeling like myself and not doing very good. My mom also read about cetyl myristoleate or CM...also known as miristin....Jer have you heard about this natural product? I know that this site has always given me lots and lots of advice, suggestions and most important of all ---encouragement to carry on. Please keep me and most of all my Mom in your prayers as we are starting another challenge.
Hope to hear from you soon......
Kellie
Hi Kellie,
I am sorry to hear that you have not been doing well, hope that your vet will find out the cause very soon. Sometimes x-ray cannot tell much. Perhaps there is a need for some sophisticated exams, e.g. bone scan, MRI,...
- About how long ago was it when you first started to feel trouble in your legs?
- Do you have any difficulty controlling your bladder?
- When your mom helps you stand up, are you able to wag/lift your tail?
I think acupuncture treatment will definitely help you relieve some discomfort.
At home, ask your mom to massage along your spine. Do circular motion on the muscles on both sides of the spine, from the back of the skull all the way down to the tail bone.
Try this dog acupressure points chart.
Try the acupressure points: BL54, GB30, GB29, ST36.
(tell your mom to do other points if she sees suitable to your condition)
Please keep us posted.
I'll be thinking of you and your mom!
Hugs.
Kellie, we are so very sad to hear about everying you and your family are facing. What a hard time you and your Mom must be having. I send lots of love and licks her way, and to your Grandma too.
Now, about those legs of yours, I know you won't give up! You are such a fighter.
Definitely try the acupuncture. It brought a lot of relief to my bum knee, and fast. But be sure to tell the acupuncturist about the steroid shot, as steroids tend to mask the pain and do a very good job of hiding the underlying issue. I know it will help you feel better now, though, so rest up.
I think an opinion from a holistic vet is a good idea.
That is a fantastic acupressure chart, Genie, thank you! My Mom is already studying it for ways it can help me with my issues.
Please let us know what the bloodwork results are, and what the holistic vet says. When are you going in?
We send our love your way, and hope you feel better soon Kellie. You are so spunky! NGU! NGU!
xoxoxoxoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I knew I could count on all of you. I am already starting to feel better or at least spirt wise. My dad took me out but my legs just don't seem to work. My paws are like limb and instead of standing on them they just roll over...cannot describe too well what it feels like. The steroid shot seems to make me feel a bit better. Thank goodness for the Ruff harness it has saved my walking and my tumbling and falling as my mom and dad make sure to hang on to me. As for the bladder control so far so good. I did pee on my blankie a bit but not much. My pawrents are pretty good about taking me out to pee and do my business.
This started like 2 weeks ago and it is not fun! Funny you ask because when I get up I do not lift my tail and do not wag it either. No matter what they tell me or if I want to wag it, it does not work too well either. I do thank you for the chart as my mom already started massaging me and hopefully it will bring some relief.
My mom is going to call the holistic vet tomorrow and make an appointment as soon as posible. She also checked out the website for EHP Products and order me some of that CM supplement (Cetyl Myristoleate) and see how that works (will let you know)...
Thanks again for your support and I will keep you posted. Lots of licks to all of you.....
Kellie
Oh Kellie, I'm glad we could help somewhat. We all hope the massage helps you feel better.
I forgot to ask; has your vet considered a referral to a neruologist? Your condition sounds like a visit to one might be a good idea.
xoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kellie
Titan and I are so sorry to hear you are having a tough time. I agree with Jerry I would look into a neurologist. Hang in there!
Titan and Heidi
Hi Kellie,
Sorry you are having such a rough time. I know how scary it must be. Totally agree with the advice already given (acupuncture, holistic vet, neurologist). Hopefully the things your mom and dad are doing will help you to feel better and get you back on your feet soon.
hugs and scruffles
Connie & Radar
Hi Kellie...we are thinking of you and praying really, really hard. I don't have any advice to add to the already wonderful advice given here.
We will continue to pray for you and send good doggie energy your way. PLEASE keep us posted as we are very concerned and upset to hear that you're not feeling well.
Much love,
Zeus and Mom
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Hello Gang! So glad to hear from all of you and thanks for all your well wishes. I have good news. Today I am feeling much better. I am still a bit under the weather but the clouds are moving on and the sun is shining through. I guess that steroid shot (and all the massages and warm pads I got) are working. The vet called today and said my bloodwork was normal. So, the search goes on. They also gave me some dexamethasone (if you can pronounce that). I stood up by myself today and actually walked for a short distance...woof woof woof! That is a good sign (i hope). Besides that my mom got home today with even greater news. She found me a holistic vet close to the house and I have my first acupunture session on saturday. My mom says she sounds like a great person but that she will definitely check her out on Sat. (yep that is my mom alright - always looking after me and my brothers). I will let her know about the neurologist and see if we can go to one. Hopefully the acupunture will work miracles and I won't need to see anyone else.
Like Jerry says.....NGU!!!! Love to all of you and thanks again for your support and all your advice. Licks Licks xoxoxoxoxoxox
Kellie
Oh Kellie, your attitude is so beautiful! And so are you!
I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better. Take it easy, don't overdo it, and let us know how the holisitic doc turns out.
Oh, that dexamethasone sounds like strong stuff. Be sure to watch for any reactions, k?
xoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Mom's heart is singing right now...she woke up so worried about you Kellie and Jerry and is very, very happy to hear that you both are feeling better. Good luck with acupunture - let us know how it goes, it was recommended as some additional help for my brother who has a very bad hip and mom and the doctor are exploring other means before a hip replacement surgery.
Super sloppy kisses Kelly - take it easy girlfriend!
Love Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Hola everyone! Yes I am feeling so good and so happy that I can even speak spanish today...OLE OLE!!!! 
Zeus if they recommended acupuncture for your brother tell him I said GO FOR IT!! I went to the vet today. At first when my pawrents got me out of the car and I wobble some, I hesitated to go inside but she was such a nice lady and handle me with so much care that I just could not do anything but to love her and lick her. She had asked my pawrents for a copy of my latest bloodwork which she studied and ask my pawrents lots of questions as to what I ate, what supplements they gave me etc etc. She was very impressed with the care my wonderful pawrents give me and to what extent they go to make sure that I am comfortable. Needless to say my mom had to let them know that it was not easy at the beginning when they said I had cancer but with the help and support of Jerry and the Tripawd family we made it through as well as this obstacle we are having to go over right now. After some chat...the needles came out. They looked scary to begin with but the first one she put in one of the calming points and HELLLLOOOOOO I was in doggie heaven. Very relaxed. then she added all these needles all over my body and attached the cords for the electricity. The procedure lasted like 20 mins but boy I was sooo relaxed and so calmed I felt like new. She did mentioned that now that I am a tripawd and am using my body in a very different way, that there is sign of a lot of stress on my spine as I am trying to compensate the weight by crunching myself. My spine and legs were very tense and hard as a rock. After my acupuncture they felt much better and believe it or not...I am walking again and wagging my tail like before. Yes I still wobble some but nothing like the beginning of the week. I am in a much better mood and next week I am going back for another session. She suggested that we did 1 session every week for at least 1 month and see how it goes and then go from there. Dr. Neely also recommended I take a herbal supplement to go with my glucosamine and everything else from Kan Essentials. It is chinese herbals for animals. This particular one is Benefit hips and knees formula. She gives it to her 11yrs Cheasepeake Retriever and he is looking fine (I may add). So we are going to give it a try also.
So yes, like your Mom Zeus, my mom is always looking for some alternative medicine that I can get to improve my health and avoid surgeries or too much medication. Sorry that this note is soooo long but as you can see I am feeling so much better and have lots more energy. HOW ARE YOU DOING JERRY????? Hope you are eating all your food now....don't disappoint us and be a good boy! Love you all.....
P.S. Here is the link for Kan Essentials for the chinese herb supplement. http://www.kanh.....narian.asp
Kellie
Kellie, yeaaaaaaay! So glad to hear that the acupuncture session went so well for you. I got freaked out when I first saw all those needles, and it took me a bit to settle down, but after a few minutes, I was also feeling reallllly good.
Her theory about why your body is tense and stressed sounds right. I know when I had my first acupucture session, a lot of stress that was in my hips and upper spine was released.
Aren't acupuncturists great humans? And those nutritional supplement suggestions are really cool sounding. Please let us know how they work for you.
Can you share who your acupuncturist is, just in case someone is looking for one in your neck of the woods?
Thanks for asking about me! I'm OK. I ate some chicken livers tonight. Mom gave me cooked chicken meat too, but I didn't want any. Maybe tomorrow.
You'd never know I don't feel like eating though. I went for a little walk in the woods tonight, and it felt so good to be out in the beautiful fall air.
So glad to hear you're feeling better!
xoxo
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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