Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I feel like we are going in the opposite direction - Shelby had another rough nice with the running around the apt like a crazed lunatic. I really am starting to suspect she's having some phantom leg pain or she's high on crack (kidding). Off and on for the last several days she will be sleeping and leap up and run to another place and look spooked. She doesn't cry or yelp - at all. I have tried massaging her amp side and rubbing on it.
Also, last night she literally ate her dinner in about 2 minutes - if that - really fast. And drank big gulps of water before I could stop her after I realized what she was doing. Immediately, I freaked out thinking she had bloat. Since she doesn't have a spleen, I worry that her insides might be more prone to that. She wouldn't sit or lay down after dinner - just kept wandering around. Took her, she did her business just fine, walked fine. Didn't seem lethargic or anything. I spent hours viewing YouTubue videos about bloat and really didn't think she was suffering - I could press on her belly (below her rib cage) and it didn't sound hollow. She also wasn't trying to vomit or anything.
Cue to bedtime and she is back and forth like she can't settle down. Goes into her safe space (the bathroom). I called the ER vet and they didn't think it was a huge issue but will have her surgeon call me today so we can discuss the possible phantom leg pain . I feel bad for her since she's not getting real rest since she keeps getting woken up by something.
I was up off and on all night but each time I checked on her, she was sleeping in her little bed in the living room so that was good. She walked, did her business fine this a.m. - I went to workout, came home and she was in the bathroom and then was all hyper again, tail wagging, energetic. If she was truly sick, she wouldn't be this excitable, right? I gave her some pumpkin, threw a few treats in a kong and left a wagging tail Shelby... I just worry since she seems literally amped up on something - she hasn't gotten into anything that would make her that hyper. But she just won't settle down or sit so that is why I think there must be a discomfort or something on that amp site. She will lay on it and let me touch it but she was getting better at being more restful and she's not anymore. Is this common?
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
Alison! Alison! Alison!! Shelbystrong has her tail wagging, alert, happy, eating, etc....all is well in Shelby's world!
Yeah, she could get a little leg cramp or a touch of phantom pain that makes her jump up like that......not bloat!! I've had a dog with bloat and, trust me, there is no question once the symptons start showing!! Very, very, very obvious...droolong.. full blown non-stop distress..blown up tummy And, trust me again (okay..not a vet disclaimer and just an "opinion")...but I don't think "they" realy know the cause...they mayhave "i dicators"pointingin o e direction or another...and it does seem tohappen morei LARGE dogs.....anyway, my Twinkie (Bull Mastiff) did absolutely nothingoutof theordinary...noral meal..relaxing after her meal...no running, rolling, etc. Within a coupleof hours the SEVDRE distress, EXCESSIVE drooling, etc. started. Hapy to report she survived the operation and tacking and had no further issues!
We all have nights where we don't sleep...we all have nights where we are restless.....Shelby is no different! Well, maybe a little...you can have a cocktail..or five (just kiddig)...she can't!!
Whst we need to make everyone relax andhapy and back to Being More Dog.......PICTURES!! And the crowd roars...SHELBY PICTURES!!
Sending love and hugs!
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!
First, can you think of anything in your life that has changed significantly that would make her want more attention from you? Are you going out more than usual? Working more hours?
Now, have you studied all of the medication and supplements she is on to see what kind of side effects could occur? Remember, medications can react with natural supplements so you really want to be sure you're aware of all possible interactions.
Oh, and she ate her food in two minutes? That would be like an hour in this pack: Wyatt Ray woofs his down in less than one, and that's even with a special food bowl to help him eat slower!
She isn't on Gabapentin?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I thought that two minutes was slow, too, Jerry. Even Gus, who is the slower eater, can finish in less time than that.
And Sally.....a Bull Mastiff named TWINKIE??? LOL!
Shelby, you need to give your Mama a rest now, you hear? I hope those pills aren't as huge as they look in the pictures, though.
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!
Well when I was getting ready to go out Saturday night and was excited (my energy level I guess) Shelby got herself worked up and put herself in the bathroom as a passive aggressive pouting kind of thing. She was out when I got home and was fine most of yesterday. But otherwise, I'm home about the same amount - I know she HATES when I go to work.
She started the probiotics and mushrooms both yesterday but her other pills (herbs mostly) have been the same.
Maybe it was less than 2 minutes.. how long does it take to upload a photo to Instagram? That's what I was doing when she was finished. She really devoured that food! But I was really more concerned with the gulping of the water. Since she only really drinks when I am home, she tends to take a ton of water in quickly (I also gulp/chug my water but I don't feel sloshy afterwards). This dog really likes to keep me on my toes.
She's probably fine - you're all right. And no, she wasn't on Gabapentin since they didn't think she was experiencing Phantom Leg pain from the getgo. The jumping up is a recent thing, in the last couple of days. She definitely looks and seems alert. And I did lay on the floor w/her last night (I know, I know, don't do that) but she did calm down and sleep and I got up and slept in my own bed.
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
murphsmom said
Shelby, you need to give your Mama a rest now, you hear? I hope those pills aren't as huge as they look in the pictures, though.
Kathi and Murphy
LOL - they are big but they are powder so I take them apart and mix the powder in with her food! 🙂
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
Ohhhh OK, mixing the powder is good.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
For Sally!
Last night as I was making her dinner: See that part right before where she's shaved (I guess it would be her ribs) - that part looks wide to me but it might just be because her booty is shaved and that looks smaller. She's solid and if I press on her/it, all I feel is ribs. Her vet did say NOT to let her gain anymore weight though.
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
Good gosh!! Hapoy Hannah is sitting here next to me and saw that bowl of food.....tried to gulp down mh tablet! Thought I'd never get this thing out of her mouth! Yuck! It is sooooo slimey!!
SHELBYSTROMG is sooo pretty! I just love looking at her photos. And no, her tummy doesn't look like it's protruding at all! Just like humans, as dogs age, their weight does shift around a bit, they do lose a little muscle tone around the girth and don't hold their tummies in as well as they used to! I definitely think the shaved area is giving you an ilusion and drawing your eyes' attention to it. My eyes stay fixated on her PRETTY brown eyes!!
She REALY is a pretty girl!
Okay, one more thing...and I'm a majority of one here.....Shelby's thirteen, she's had THREE major surgeries in seven months, has had her spleen out as well as the amputation surgery, has endured chemo, colitis, has a few other health "challenges".......if it brings her comfort for you to lay beside her on the floor, for goD's sake, do it!!! SPOIL, SPOIL and then SPOIL some more! You will not regret it one bit!
Thanks for my "Shelby picture fix"! She jut exudes sweetness! Love that girl! We are cheering everyday for her...and you get a huge round of applause tooz,
Love and ugs!
Saly and Happy Hannah PS KATHI, I was also owned by a Bull Mastiff I named Cupcake and a rescue Bloodhound I named Cornbread!
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!
How's she today?
Jackson, ALMOST 14 months post-amp, will still suddenly leap up and hop to a new location as though something spooked him. Maybe it's easier to get going as an amp quickly and explosively rather than slow? Since Shelby is a rear-leg amp, too, you'll notice that her front leg stance will widen. Jackson's did and all three legs got noticeably more muscular. It was around his third month where we noticed his front was really bulked up! Our big tuff boy.
Now that she's feeling better, she may now be playing around with new movements, behaviors, and sensations. It does take awhile for those nerves to figure themselves out! They won't regrow. She may be going through some "growing pains" with them. It may be worthwhile getting her back on Gaba.
Good luck!
~ 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!
Thank you all for continuing to humor me!!! My friends tell me I am going to give Shelby a complex if I keep calling her fat! 
You're right, Sally, her weight has shifted (like us) as we get older and Katy (that makes sense - I felt her front part becoming even wider but it's probably just her stance). Also, her rear remaining leg isn't as dominant as the front too so I think she uses her front ones even more. I noticed her looking wider as she watched me make my lunch for work today.
Her vets really don't think she's got phantom leg pain since this just came on over the past couple of days. (Nor do that think she has or will get bloat and I timed her eating last night 3 minutes). They are also hesitant to get her on the gaba (she's never had it, actually) since she's on so many other things. They want me to watch it for a couple more days and see how she does. Interestingly, she didn't do it at all yesterday (to my knowledge).
Funny story - Shelby used to be so scared of her own farts (if she could hear them) - and while she's has a lot of GI issues lately, I haven't noticed any farts (loud or silent) so perhaps she's had some gas and that could freak her out.
I will say that while she isn't exhibiting any classic painful symptoms, she is more restless at night ... wandering, thumping down (when she lays down now, I can usually hear her and she's only 23 pounds!!!), clicking in the bathroom (yup, she was back in there). I know the mushroom therapy is supposed to give them more energy (GOD help me) and the probiotics have helped quickly with the GI issues - all normal there. SO maybe, as a senior dog, she likes to wander at night - keeps me up and I don't get why she's not tired in the a.m. but this was her darling face before work today. I gave her a kong filled with some kibble so hopefully she will work out some energy while I'm at work and not hurt herself tossing it around. She did try to do "downward dog" pose this a.m. when I got back from my run! It was really cute since she can't actually do that w/the remaining leg but she gave it a good try!
PS - Sally ... Love those dog names, cornbread and cupcake?!? Yummy!
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 LOVE her face! SO SWEET! Way to go with the downward dog, Shelby! We love that! And it's tough for rear-leggers.
Right - Jackson's farts scare him too. He'll jump up, run away, and come back to the scene to sniff it out.
Wandering, restlessness, and not sleeping at night can be Old Dog Syndrome....or pain and discomfort. We know you're a great doggie-mom. Keep it regulated.
Hey - is she on any NSAID? Would she enjoy a heated blanket to rest on?
~ 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!
Awww I love these pics!
Knowing how great the docs are your clinic are, I would go with their suggestion to keep an eye on it. Have you discussed senior dog behavioral issues with them at all? From what I've read, wandering and pacing for seemingly no reason is a common occurrence in senior dogs.Here's a great book about that:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Awe... .thank you!!!! I do love to kiss on that little face and those ears!
LOL @ Jackson! Shelby is also prone to sniffing her butt post-gas but truly, since her leg came off, her gas has decreased (despite the increased fiber she was getting).
I really don't suspect pain - she wants attention, she wants to play or get her belly rubbed for hours on end. She just wags her tail and prances around. When she is in pain, her ears usually go back and she will either pant or look pathetically sad. Probably 'old dog syndrome'....I had a dog growing up that would literally stare at the wall - no reason - like there was a ghost or something.
She's on Metacam (1 ML a day) and she gets it at night w/her dinner. I'll try her on a heated blanket ... she always used to love blankets/towels right out of the dryer so since I'm in an apt, I'll have to get an electric one for her to rest on while I'm still awake (I'm not spending $1.25 a day on quarters to heat up a blanket for her)!
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
Yup, I too am thinking it's an old dog behavioral thing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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