Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Otis had a great day Friday. Nice energy level, took a slightly longer walk in the evening and slept well. This morning, he also seemed great. We even went to a nearby pet shop for a do it yourself dog wash. We all took a nap mid-day, no problems. This afternoon, he retched, but nothing came up. Happened again about 7 (when I finally remembered that we have Cerenia and that this is exactly what Cerenia is for). He has been in my bed breathing really heavy for the past 3 1/2 hours. Not panting, and it doesn't seem to matter if the fan is on or not, so doesn't seem to be heat. Nothing on the Palladia info. the onco gave me about this being a side effect. Could the mets really have grown this fast?
The thing I hate most about this disease is how fast things can change. From my perspective, Otis was a perfectly healthy, happy dog until his leg broke and he has cancer. When we woke up that morning, I never would have imagined that I would be faced with an end of life decision that day. So anyway, not sure what to do right now. Would love to see how he is in the morning, since he has been very up and down on the Palladia and I don't think I have the hang of it yet in terms of timing of the Cerenia and metronidazole. But, he is not sleeping, just laying there breathing heavy.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Okay, I'm no expert with the Palladia, but it woild not surprise me st all that this is related to it. I guess like other chemos it can have a cumulative effect, so side effects may be a little harder.
For whatever it's worth, my Happy Hannah did not cough or gag and she had a met as big as a baseball (so the vet said. I wouldn't look at the xray).
She did have ...hmmm..."episodes" where her breathing pattern was more rapid off and on. Otis could be having one of those "episodes". My vet explained that it can make them more anxious when that happens, thus exacerbating the situation.
Wait....Ill be right back....I want to go check so.ething in the note I kept for her....
Hang in...be right back....
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!
Ok, thanks. If this is an episode, I will feel better. We can deal with episodes. Just don't want it to be the end. I really hate not having all the answers (I'm way type A).
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
It seems like he gave me something, maybe doggy valium kind of thing to help calm ner, but couldn't find anything in my notes.
Not panting, right? Not open mouth like can't get his breath, right? No wheezing, "gurgling"? Obviously you've checked gums, right? Alert? Any desire for treats?
Obvioisly, the "nit a vet disclaimer", but there are so many things this coukd be completely unrelated to the mets, kr even the Palladia. Respiratory infection, etc. Of course, pneumonia can sometimes pop up as can fluid in the lungs. Any worsening symptoms woukd warrant an er visit...ugh
I'm gonna pm you my phone number you'd like to call. I wouldn't offer it if I didn't mean it, so call me if you want, okay??
How's Otis right now?
I'm not going anywhere and I'll be up for at least another hour or more!
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!
About the same. What do I check gums for?
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
No panting, mouth closed. Don't really hear wheezing or gurgling. Does sound a little stuffy perhaps. Alert and responsive. Some lip smacking, which is a nausea/individual gesturing thing for him. I'm also wondering if he picked up canine flu or kennel cough at our last vet visit.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Individual gesturing means indigestion. Stupid auto correct.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Thanks for offer to talk, but going to try to sleep. Will call vet if the same or worse in the morning.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
And you know what, just being nauseous itself can make him breathe heavily if he feels like he's on the verge of throwing up.. Also, one thing my vet told me to as I monitored her breathing obsessively and counted number of breaths just as obsessively....chsnges in breatw patterns can happen off and on for a variety of reasons and we never even noticed them before this i pieceece of crap disease!
Checking his gums to see if they are pinkish. White pale gums could indicate an "issue"
He certainly could jave picked up any numerous things at the vet. Heck, maybe taking a bath at the dog wash caused a little respiratory thingy.
Sounds like he's definitely stable. Do you have a Tramadol? Maybe that woukd help him relax....or .aybe you coukd take it and see if it helps YOU relax 🙂 🙂
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 do have Tramadol still. Maybe I'll try giving him one pill. Thanks again.
His gums look normal, definitely not pale.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
GOOD ABOUT THE GUMS!!! Really, that's always a good sign! TRY and get some rest now, okay? Yeah, right!!
I know all these ups and downs take us to the edge and back again over and over! And it always makes us think the worse case scenario possible...and it's not!!
Lots and lots of love!!
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!
Just wanted to say that we're thinking of you. Do hope he's feeling better this morning.
Lots of Love,
Meg and Clare xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Heading to the vet. I called and they said to bring him in.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Vet says he is well oxygenated, and he does not think it is flu or kennel cough. Taking X-ray now. If that is the same, might be pain. Meaning I should have just given the Tramadol.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
No, you were definitely right to get this checked. It's impossible to second guess everything. We are thinking of you and Otis.
Hugs,
Meg and Clare xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
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