Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey have you been on a run today Allison? Maybe that will help you feel better.
Reverse sneezing is common among all dogs, not just dogs with cancer. Just look at all these Forum search results in the Forums! She'll be fine, she's just had a hard day, as have you.
Wine anyone? 
What videos did you find for massage on rear end Tripawds?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We found the videos on this site. Lots of great resources.
So the reverse sneezing didn't stop and she won't stand on any of her legs for long so I brought her back. Thankfully this time it's free. They did an ultrasound and all clear. They can't find anything wrong with her but I know something is off. So as we were leaving she started up again. So I sent her back with them so they will watch her for 15 minutes and hopefully she'll do it again. Back on tramadol for her legs. And we're going to start the gabatran(?). Her muscles are weak and her quad already seized up despite my massaging.
Fingers crossed we get to go home soon.
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
Oh no! I'm sorry Allison, that is not a way to spend your Friday night. Do they hand out wine in the lobby on Fridays? JK, just trying to cheer you up.
Glad our videos were helpful.
Keep us posted OK? Breathe. Shelby is STRONG. Never forget that. {{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yikes! What a day you two are having! 13 lucky paws crossed here that everything turns out OK. Sending you lots of strength and love from the Oaktown Pack!
xoxox,
Codie Rae and the OP
p.s. not sure what all drugs Shelby is on but could the muscle weakness/cramping possibly be a side effect of one of them?
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
Oh Alison, I just got on here! What a day!! my heart dropped to the floor and then got right back up again as I read further. I am so glad she is OK. As far as the reverse sneezing, my 2 year old Corgi does that. She seems to get stuff in her nose or something. She will be sniff, sniff, sniff, Gag, gag ,gag. Sounds awful. I only knew what it was because a friend took her dog to Vet to be told he was reverse sneezing. So, no I don't think it is cancer related just nose related. Maybe something she smelled at vets. Or just the excitement of this AM. HUG!!!! Hopefully you are getting a glass of wine with your dinner tonight. At this point, Shelby is doing better than you:) I have a rice bag that I have used for TY. You put it in microwave. Get some rest tonight! Lori & TY
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
So they sent us home. They could find nothing wrong with her and told me to give her a tramadol. It just seems so odd that out of the blue her back leg is so weak (or tight quads). She ate great for me. She seems really lethargic but after the day she has had , it makes sense. I was supposed to go to a friend's house for dinner tonight but I think I am going to stay in. Mainly because I watch her try and move and I am so worried she is going to hurt herself.
They SWEAR none of this is her cancer, not the nose sneezing, the lame leg, anything... I have one of those rice bags too so I put that on her leg earlier. She loved it.
Maybe I will go out for a bit ... if she falls asleep like she did in the car, I will play it by ear. As it is, I need wine and food for me. What a horribly stressful day. The good news, I guess, is they found NOTHING wrong with her. They all love her so much and are pulling so hard for her so they could tell she was having an off day. I almost wonder if no one wants to be the vet that delivers the bad news to me BUT they are vets first and foremost (not my friend) so they would tell me if something was truly wrong, right? That's probably the exhaustion creeping in ... I am spent.
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, take some time to take care of yourself this evening! Even though the day was traumatic for you it sounds like Shelby will be fine. Focus on the good news that the vets can't find anything wrong and its not the cancer (woohoo!), breathe, and have that glass (bottle?
) of wine, a good dinner, and a good rest. You will be better able to deal with everything if you do! Of course the vets would tell you if something was horribly wrong.
xoxox
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
I think I am going to stay in ... I need to figure out food for me but watching her try and move is like watching a drunk! She can't seem to get her barrings on ANY of her limbs. I rub and rub and they tighten back up right away. I am hoping tomorrow is better for us and this was just a weird thing today.
They rubbed all over and there is no neurological explanation for her 'drunk' walk other than tight muscles. Has anyone else had this? All the limbs that seem stiff or tight? I am sure the tramadol doesn't help things but they told me to give it to her anyways.
Don't you know - out of wine and chocolate!!! Oy vey ... what a day!
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
So glad that the leg issue wasn't worse, Alison. Whew! Ditto what everyone else has already said...and double-ditto to the part about taking care of yourself as you take care of Shelby. Hopefully the reverse sneeze is nothing to worry about.
Hugs to y'all!
Deb and Lexie
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
They would definitely tell you if it was cancer related, that's what they do, they are fantastic docs you have there, and I can say that because I've had the pleasure of talking/working with them before, so fear not. I know I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but Shelby isn't a spring chicken, and just like old people, bodies get stiff and sore, especially if their gate is already compromised in some way. As for the sneezing, it is spring, what's the pollen count like?
Come to the Chat, we're in there now.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Whoa!! Just in from work....and what the heck is going over tjere in California??
Okay...as others have already said....."reverse sneezing" is no biggie...and ues, it sonds horrible and yes it can go on off and on for quite awhile at different times.
Okay...as others jave said...the vets would DEFNOTELH tell yo if they fondd something And they found nothing! So that REALY is good news!
The "drunk" walk...was tjat before the tramadol or after? Did the vets observe the wobbling?
I know Jerry already saidmit, but Shelby is a "mature woman" and a lot of muscle changes, etc do appen. One thing that co es to my mind is when my Bodie..an older fella...had a little "brain fart" (obviouslythat's not the "techie term).....but a little "stroke like thing" where he started wobbling and stumbling.....if I recall, a steriod shot and some dexamethazone (?) cleared it up withing 24ish hours.
How is her hydration? I know I get horrible leg cramps if my water intake is off. Also, I'm a "mature woman" too whose job requires me to be on my feet for many, many hours non-stop. My legs pretty much feel like rubber so etimes when I co e home.
I really think this is more age-related and simply brought on my veing on three legs, seven operations, chemo, etc., etc.
I know it's distressing, but Shelby, over-all, is doing really well.
I hope you can find the time to get a nice relaxing massage or yourself...seriously!
Please keep us posted. While all this is a little vumpin the road, t:his really doesn'g seem like it's anything major...
Sending you hugs and lots of calming energy. As you've stated many times, Shelby picks up onyor energy and reacts accordingly.
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!
Hi Alison
I'm late to the conversation, as usual, and you've gotten great input from everyone else (also, as usual), but I wanted to chime in with my 2 cents anyway. First, Jersey did the reverse sneeze thing a few times before cancer and the vet never thought it was a big deal. Don't worry about that one. On the stiffness thing, I have to say that I have a few little disabilities myself - reconstructed ACL, torn hip cartilage - and I've noticed that because of these issues even seemingly little missteps can mess up my legs and or lower back. I think it's part of having handicaps, you're just more fragile. I think Shelby's ok, really. When Jersey had turouble walking in the end, her face showed clear distress and I just KNEW with every inch of my heart it was bad bad bad. Shelby sounds like she's her perky self. Breathe, I know she's gonna be ok. She's our little warrior princess!!!!
Claudia & Angel Jersey Girl
Good morning! I hope Shelby is feeling much improved this AM. Hope also, that you got some rest.
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Good morning Alison and, of course, Shelby
Just checking in to see how both of you lovely ladies are doing this morning!
Keep us posted - I'm glad Shelby is getting such great care from her vets and, of course, from her wonderful Mama 
Linda and Tucker
Thank you all ... it was a pretty uneventful night but I didn't sleep well at all. I should have drugged myself! I was up every hour to check on her to make sure she was still breathing (weird, I know). However our morning has not gotten off to a great start. She was in the bathroom and I went in there to use it and touched her neck, I guess, and tried to straighten her out(she's all crunched up) and she screamed! I have NO idea what I touched but I touched her neck a few more times and the yelp. So I got her out of the bathroom and got her to stand and she pooped on me / floor. Poor baby ... I know she didn't poop last night so I am sure she was bound up and couldn't hold it. So I put her in the living room on a bed to clean up the poop and she vomited on a blanket. Partly yellow and her dinner from last night.
I can't seem to get her to drink water today - at all. I got her to go outside to pee yet she's so tight in ALL her muscles that when she goes down to pee, I wasn't sure if she was done. She ate a cookie and her glucosomene. I can't get her to wag her tail or look at me but her muscles are literally tight as rocks. I wish there was a shot I could give her to loosen that up.
I do wonder if she had a stroke. They tested a lot of neurological stuff yesterday at the vet and assured me it was tight muscles but this is ridiculous. I worry that moving around (she does do that), she's going to fall and hurt herself. Then I worry that lack of use of muscles is what is causing this since maybe they are going into atrophy. But wouldn't they look lean and little? There is still a lot of muscle there and I can feel it when I massage her. I don't know if I need to bring her back to the vet about the poop/puke incidents or just watch her. I haven't made her yelp again so maybe it was a fluke thing when she woke up.
The drunk walk, Sally, was ALL day - before the tramadol. The Tramadol really just seemed to help her to sleep. I really don't think it's our time ... I know people probably feel bad watching her walk outside but I don't think she wants me to give up. She's a strong fighter girl!
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
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