Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Townsey you are a speed demon. Way to show us how it's done!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Haven't been on for a while. It's been 2 months since the amputation and he had his 3rd chemo treatment yesterday. He's doing pretty well. The blood tests have been good and his lungs were clean in an x-ray 3 weeks ago.
He still has trouble with stairs. Can't go up them without help and sometimes when we use the harness, his remaining back leg will buckle and he goes to the ground. That bothers me a bit. This also happens when he's walking. But overall he looks pretty good, and when he runs he looks really good. It's only when his pace slows that he seems to falter sometimes.
Going upstairs is still hard for Sassy unless she gets a good run for them but I am not too worried about it. We take one day at a time and other than steps she does great. Core excercises are supposed to be good to help strengthen them up and help with that.
I am glad Townsey is doing great otherwise. Keep kicking ubtt and showing Cancer who is boss
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Glad to hear he is handling the chemo and still beating the cancer up!
Slower is just harder for them both front and back. I guess momentum is their friend!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Townsey I was thinking of you the other day and wondering how you were doing. YAY!!!!! What a fantastic update.
Fear not about that back leg, Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray also had that issue for about 6 to 9 months. We did lots of core strengthening exercises with him and over time that leg didn't buckle anymore. You can do it!
What a great report. I'm so hoppy to hear this.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
TOWNES! It's about time we heard from you:-) 
Been wondering about you!!
My Happy Hannah is a little over thirteen weeks, just finished her fourth carboplantin last week and is feeling great!! HOWEVER, she still cannot go UP stairs-----she'll go DOWN but not up. So she heads on over to the ramp and semi gallops on up that she.wants back in........or hears anything that could possibly sound like the rustling of food:-)
Every. now a d then her rear leg will give way and I also worry.....she gets herself back up though. She IS overweight and I REQLLY need to do a better job on that end:-)
She seems to pace herself just fine so I don't worry about her over doing g it. Is it possible Townes over exerts?? I also no that every now and then Happy Hannah may go up one or two stairs and her leg doesn't seem to be strong enough to hold her in that position and that's another reason she won't go up----actually, it scares me if she tries because she's a big girl and I wouldn't' want her to fall or have to try and pick her up.
I have NOT tried the core exercises and strength exercises on the site but I'm gonna a get her started on some. I do know walking up inclines is good form them.....do you have in small ills around you?
Everything really seems to be going well for Townes and I kowmthat beautiful boh is enjoying all the love:-)
Very best to you both and send more pictures/video:-) He beautifies the site:-)
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!
Townesy has finished his chemo and is doing pretty well. A little hiccup with an anal gland infection due to the weakened immune system, but that's been taken care of with antibiotics.
We have a little problem with his appetite. He usually has to be coaxed to eat, where before the chemo he needed no coaxing at all. Has anyone had long term appetite problems from the chemo?
THe big news? He can do the stairs by himself. He still needs one of us to walk up beside him for moral support, but he goes up unassisted. Really a great step!
Lookin' good Townsey!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Townsey you are looking great buddy. Way to kick butt and finish chemo.
Sassy has appetite problems she was kinda picking on the iv chemo and when we started metronomics her appetite took a nose dive. It took us 2 months and probably 100s of pounds of hamburger, goats milk & yogurt before we finally found a kibble she would eat. she still gets some hamburger to stimulate the appetite and goats milk but finally eating something else.
Hugs
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
That video is wonderful to watch....and I did---three times! Love how he kinda uses the wall. I think k the big motivator though is having thou by his side! Heart warming bond between you two!
Townes is very, very handsome, Like the new hair style for summer!
Don't have any I sight into the picky eating thing, other than some dogs have less of an appetite during treatment. I'm sure you've tried the chicken, hamburger' steak' cottage cheese route----whatever it takes! I know prednisone is not a drug you want to use if you don't have to, but maybe the vet would give you a dose for a week or so just to perk up his appetite. You should notice a difference in just a matter of days.
If everything has checkedmoutmokay and his weight is good it could just be a case like Sassy's and he just needs to be further away from the chemo to start eating better.
You must be so proud of your boy! My Happy Hannah still doesn't go up steps (except once when a kitten was at the top of the steps)! He's come such a long way and I know you are just beaming to see him do so well!
Keep enjoying every sacred moment and spoil and love and then spoil and love some more:-)
Townes has a great companion in you, as do you in him.
Townes is living life to the fullest and that makes all of us tripawders smile:-)
Please stay in touch-----we love seeing videos/photos of Townes!
CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATING FROM CHEMO CLASS!! It's so freeing! GREAT JOB TOWNES! Now go out there and live your life with nonstop tail wagging joy!
Sally and Happy Hannan
Thanks so much for such a happy update
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!
Yay Townsey - last chemo and and beating the stair monster - you are a superstar! Glad to hear things are going good!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Only a tripawd parent could understand the huge significance of that video! What a triumph. We were so ecstatic when our tripawd Dotty launched herself up the stairs for the first time. I was running up beside her cheering "UP! UP! UP!" at each step. I probably gave her such a start with my shouting that she shot up the stairs to get away from me. I really felt that the vocal sound of the word "up" actually helps Dot get that sweet air between each step. She always looks so proud when she's knocked off a flight of stairs, conversely, we all feel really sad when she stumbles or gets tired halfway and needs a lift. But of course, we don't show it and just pick her up like we want a cuddle from her and pop her down on her bed. Being a mini-schnauzer has it's benefits when it comes to regular lifts!
Well done to Townes, what a dog!
Love from Dotty and Victoria
Townsey you did it! You did the stairs! Woooohoooo! Does that mean you get to sleep on the bed at night now? I'm so hoppy for you and your people.
As for long-term effects on your appetite from the chemo...I'm hoping someone else can chime in with that because I don't have any experience there. However we do have a lot of great appetite stimulation tips in our Tripawds Nutrition blog, so check it out for some ideas.
It's great to hear from you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Dan,
That was a great video. So glad Townseys is doing good. Good luck with the eating, never did chemo and Maggie LOVED to eat other than her allergy problems. She also had anal gland issues. Keep us posted.
Penny
I think dogs lean on us a little more during the initial transition. TJ never used to whine when I was not in the room... now if I'm away for more than a few minutes I can hear him. Its not pain.. I think they like the comfort of having another member of the pack around.
Good job being patient and not forcing it. I did sleep downstairs for the first week.. TJ insisted on trying to climb stairs the first night home.
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