Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thank you all for the encouragement and cheers folks. I am indeed lucky to have such good 20 months with Titus. He was doing well even with the lung mets but things have taken a turn last week.
Titus lost his appetite last Thursday and refused to eat. Til today, he has probably eaten one meal all by himself but still prefers to be handfed. He drools at the sight of food but turns away from it. I'm thinking nausea or stomach upset? Poo has been more runny with a change of color (orangey) and down to just a small lump and drips.
I've gone back to giving him salmon he loves so very much but only by hand. He has this weird tendency to stand up quickly when i set the bowl down in front of him. It's worrying as he's been losing weight and losing the spark to want to play. He still gets up to bark at the postman, for a cookie, and excited to go on his walks. He is significantly less playful and tires so much more now.
I'm concerned that he's not eating enough to get his energy back, and i know it's the natural progression of the disease that only weakens him. He's currently on B12 to stimulate appetite, doubled his dose for Prednisone as he is breathing heavier, and the K9 supps.
I'm keeping as comfortable and helping him anyway i can but i cant deny that I do fear for the worst. He used to have the healthiest appetite just a few days ago but im trying my best to get that back in him
Hugs to all,
Carol and Titus
"A dog is the only thing in the world that loves you more than he loves himself."
OSA in left hind leg–30 August 2008. Ampuversary–4 October 2008.
Titus earned his wings on 15th July 2010.
He is dearly missed and our love lives on.
Oh Carol - I'm so sorry to hear Titus isn't eating.
Have you tried a Pepcid to calm the tummy? Also, I would lay off the vitamins until his stomach gets better and especially since he isn't eating. I know if take one on a empty stomach, I am so sick to my stomach.
Wishing you guys all the best!
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.
paws crossed that this is just a 'bump' in the road. sending positive thoughts and blessings your way!!
gayle & charon
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Carol, we hope he feels better soon. I like Comet's advice. Drooling is definitely a sign of nausea. You may want to hold off on the pills right now, until you get him eating. The B12 is important but you can get injections at the vets if you believe it's helping. Also, a tummy soother prescribed from the vet, or even ginger grated into some VERY yummy food can help too.
You're both in our thoughts. Keep us posted oK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks guys, I will stop the pills for now. Good news is that he ate from our bowl ( lean pork from the soup we had leftover from dinner), and he's also passing lots of gas.
I've never heard of ginger for dogs but Asians use ginger (tea) to soothe the tummy and help with bloatedness. Will definitely mix some in with his salmon tomorrow as well as pick something up from the vet for his tummy.
More updates to come and many hugs from us.
"A dog is the only thing in the world that loves you more than he loves himself."
OSA in left hind leg–30 August 2008. Ampuversary–4 October 2008.
Titus earned his wings on 15th July 2010.
He is dearly missed and our love lives on.
Our paws are crossed Titus feels better soon!
20months is an absolutely wonderful milestone!! But no matter how long, it would never be long enough, would it? I pray you and Titus have many, many, many more months together.
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
Btw, we are at GMT+8 so I guess dinner time for me is early breakfast for most of you guys 🙂 It's just past 11pm Tuesday night, just in case you were wondering why i didn't want to get the tummy pills from the vet "today".
"A dog is the only thing in the world that loves you more than he loves himself."
OSA in left hind leg–30 August 2008. Ampuversary–4 October 2008.
Titus earned his wings on 15th July 2010.
He is dearly missed and our love lives on.
Wow! 20 months is quite an accomplishment. Hope Titus is just fighting a temporary tummy upset and is back to his old self really soon.
Paws & fingers crossed that he bounces right back.
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.
20 months is great news, I hope that Titus appetite comes back and he returns to his old self again very soon. Praying that everything will be ok.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
20 months!!! oh hooray for Titus hooray for YOU!! Magic had not eaten from his bowl in probably a month (time for the last three months is very distorted for me so take any time things with a grain of salt)....I have more food in cans, containers, freezer and whatever for dogs...then there are the endless packages of tri tip...he ate tri tip very very well (racing through the grocery store with a basket full of tri tip...people must have thought I had a lot of group barbecues...) and in the last four or five days he devoured cooked chickens from the store...I see you are in Singapore so I don't know what might be available?? Magic was also taking cerenia in the morning and a zantac with each proin he took (which thanks to Spirit Maggie we were dry at the end....so much less embarrassment for him)...Magic was also taking carafate which coats the stomach so that had to be given an hour before any other meds so it wouldn't block THAT absorbency (is that a word?)
I was so paranoid about his eating and weight loss that regular good feeding habits went out the window...if it was treats he would eat, it was treats he got. Don't forget to try Miss Cherry's miracle biscuits (Hills presc. ALLERGY biscuits...he didn't like the regular treats...but the hypoallergenic ones...yum yum)
Good luck...oh 20 months what a miraculous thing
Yes, 20 months is an awesome length of time to have had with Titus - but, as mentioned, it's never enough. I do hope that Titus' appetite comes back and he finds his energy again.
I read that ginger is good for upset stomachs for dogs, too. My Sophie is in the hospital right now (going to get her in about 2 and a half hours !!) because she refused to eat or drink for about 3 days. She would get up and "run" away from bowls offered to her. I didn't know how to get the ginger into her. I was very hopeful that ginger would be better than the Pepcid, as she got horrible black, tar-like diarrhea from the Pepcid (we are assuming). And, since we DON'T cook with ginger, normally, it would have been foreign to her diet.
Wishing you all the best, Carol - and Titus.
Tana (and Sophie)
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
I, too, hope that this is a temporary set back and that Titus will soon be eating. I know it isn't healthy but Emily 'ate a lot of McDonalds and hot dogs. Her vet felt that it was more important for her to eat than it was to worry about what she ate. You could also try rice and chicken or rice and hamburger.
You and Titus are in my prayers.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
20 months is fantastic news. I hope Titus starts eating. I tried everying with Ruthie including her favorite Thai dishes. I figured as long as I was getting calories in her, I didn't care about anything else.
You are in my prayers...in the meantime,
Eat Titus, eat Titus, eat Titus. We'll turn it into a cheer!
Pat & Spirit Ruthie
Speaking of time zones, it was 5am when I wrote my post in a groggy fog, I failed to mention how happy I am you have had 20 months!
A little vanilla ice cream is order...maybe that is what is holding him up on the eating?!?! He needs 20 months worth of ice cream!
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.
Titus is on Mylanta 4x a day just before his small meals. He seemed to be hungrier and even followed me to the kitchen to scope out what was for dinner 🙂
Though he turns away when i put the bowl down in front of him, he did gobble the first few handfuls of salmon, rice and kibble (just 3/4 cup each feeding) then stand up to walk away. It seemed like he needed to rest for about 30 mins before he felt like eating again. I was going up to him everytime to coax him with a few mouthfuls and managed to finish all of the salmon fillet for the whole day.
All in all, today seemed better than yesterday, except for the poo– the vanilla ice cream will have to wait :(. The vet said if they don't firm up with a positive change in appetite we'll have to bring him in for a recheck. Keeping my fingers crossed the Mylanta is working, or ginger it is in the next day or two.
Did i mention he actually licked off the bowl that i had his salmon in? It wasn't his regular bowl, but seems to me he actually is afraid of it for some reason.
Oh Debra, you are so funny with Macs and hotdogs! I'm sure Titus will love them, and his regular diet consisted of home cooked ground beef/chicken breast with brown rice and Wellness Core kibble before this appetite change. Maybe he's just tired of the same food everyday? He was a picky eater growing up, but ever since he came to singapore 2.5 yrs ago his appetite was through the roof.
There are just so many maybes right now. But today was a better day.
I wish you and your tripawds well. BIG hugs to you all.
"A dog is the only thing in the world that loves you more than he loves himself."
OSA in left hind leg–30 August 2008. Ampuversary–4 October 2008.
Titus earned his wings on 15th July 2010.
He is dearly missed and our love lives on.
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