Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well we have real stairs, lots of them. 12 in a row then another 3 after a short landing to get from 1st to 2nd floor. Another 6 slippery and steep ones to get in the front door, but thank goodness for the ramp at the back that my neighbour built, although that might not be as great once the snow flies. Tazzie even has to go up and down 3 stairs just to go from the front door to the kitchen (or take the long way around which he does not). I kind of kicking myself for not getting a one-storey bungalow I looked at when I moved here last year, although I have to be grateful for my incredibly nice dog-loving neighbours.
Maybe I should close off the upstairs and move myself, BR and office, downstairs - I'd rather he spend his energy at the park than running up and down stairs. He seems a bit off today - maybe he overdid it last night.
Susan & Tazzie 2
Ups! hadn't actually thought about snow (given that we don't have any down here).
Maybe you could put something on the outside steps and till winter comes Tazzie will be absolutely secure on them. I got offered an anti-slip spray (for the tub originally, but it said on the can that it works on any clean surface). Although it was made in china, so I don't really know if it works or for how long!
Maybe Tazzie really overdid it. Hori has one wonderful day and then one on which she recovers... so this seems to be the normal progress for us and I have stopped worrying each day she is less active and more lazy.
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
Hi
Oslo had is first chemo treatment yesterday. I feared it would bring back tremors/spasmes and screams. I know, it doesn't make sense. But who said my mind always make sense??? 
Anyway, he is doing great today, gabapentin is effective. He sometimes screams a bit, out of nowhere but it doesn't seem to be pain related (kind of a reflex maybe?)
Susan, thank's for your advice about buying a life jacket. We are shopping it right now. I guess we will buy one from Ruffwear. As for his name, we wanted a name that would suggest "north and viking". So we thought "Oslo" would suit him perfectly. We always thought he was finally more a "north" dog tha a "viking" one. But seeing how courageous he's been for the last month, I love his name more than ever 
By the way, Tazzie is a gorgeous dog! I love his "white strip" between his eyes/around his nose 
Cecilia, how is Horacia's leg? hope she is recovering well and that you did not have to call your vet "again" (you made me laugh with you wishing not to call your vet every day. I know the feeling lol)
Suzanne
Yes, I noticed that our dogs share their 'white strip', making them look a bit northern I think.
The life jacket has been essential for Tazzie. He started to get some confidence last evening, swimming a bit further and faster - until then, he had a few rough swims (tipping or sinking without the jacket) that made him extra-cautious. I can't find any good swimming holes in Winnipeg - a nice calm pond might help.
What are they using for Oslo's chemo? Good luck with that - it has been much easier than the surgery for us, although I do hope he'll get a coat before winter. Not much sign of hair in the shaved areas.
Susan
Hi,
I am new here and have tried to post a couple of times unsuccessfully. At any rate, I wanted to tell you that my boston terrier is 7 days post-op and is tremoring/ twitching almost constantly. It started about four days after he was home and seems to be worsening. His surgeon was at a loss to tell me what this could be so she suggested that we see his neurologist tomorrow (the reason for his amputation is from chronic neurologic problems). I'm really starting to worry but am thankful that at least there are other accounts of this type of complication happening post-op. I do plan on asking about neurontin since he's just on fentnyl patch and tramadol.
Kiersten, we are glad you joined us, and are very sorry you had problems posting. Please contact us when you can and let us know what was going on. Glad things are working for you now.
We hope things improve with your pup. It sounds like he has a great surgeon, and seeing a specialist is definitely a good idea. Let us know what you find out.
Try not to worry. Many of us have gone through ruff times after amputation, but it doesn't very long. Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello Kiersten,
what has the neurologist said? I hope they are giving you some answers. Must be terrible to not know what's happening.
Sorry I can't help you as I had very short tremor lapses post op with Horacia. Although I had the feeling that she got better once she got off Tramadol.
Keep us informed!
Cecilia
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
Oslo - just checking in with another large newbie. How are you doing? Is your 'tripawd hop' coming along? Any swims yet? How did the chemo go?
Yes, good post Susan! I was also asking myself when we will hear from our sweet Oslo again!
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
Ah! you guys are so nice with Oslo ans me!
I wish I could always have the appropriate words to express myself. There is so much things I would like to talk about but I just do not find the right words. I know I should keep this good habit of writing daily here. But well, you know, I am kind of lazy 
Oslodaddy moved in the US a few years ago. He worked in the Albany NY area. I sometimes regret to have stayed back here in Quebec while he was working abroad. I would have finally learned to properly speak your language. grrrr
Ok. Enough complaining! Let's talk about Oslo! 
He had his first chemo treatment (carboplatin) on AUG28 and he has been great since then. No side effects so far. He is planned to get 3 more treatments of carboplatin and we will see then how it goes.
Last week, we started to go to the park, taking longer walks . Oslo exaclly acts as before his amputation. He loves the attention and hugs he gets from people because of his missing leg. We expected people to be mean with us or disgusted or horrified. But so far, we are positively surprised. Most of them are just curious and compassionate.
On next Thursday, we are going to Saguenay (it is 400km north from Montréal) where Oslodaddy and I are from and where we bought a big piece of land so we can dream of moving there in the future. Meanwhile, we are going to play, run and swim there with Oslo and Garfield (Oslo's cat brother). We will buy a Ruffwear life jacket for him tomorrow. I am sure he will look very nice wearing it! 
How Tazzie and Horacia are doing?? I can't wait to read some news from them!
Suzanne
Wonderful update. Thanks!
Enjoy running around on Oslo's land. (We finally found Jerry's Acres!) And don't be so hard on yourself. Me thinks your speaks language just fine!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bon soir Suzanne & Oslo!
Admin is right, your language is more than OK.
Horacia is doing fine, slowly progressing, but finally her spirits are up again.
Today I noticed she had an aching tummy, so now she is taking an antiacid that helps and I'm sure she will be eating like a cow tomorrow again. She got very thin in two days of not eating much.
Otherwise, we are moving into our first 4 weeks post amputation tomorrow and I am confident that the slow progress will eventually pick up pace.
Ces sont les nouvelles du moment. J'espere de te lire plus souvent. Ohh, la-la, those were almost ten years of living in a neighbourland to France! Hope I got it somewhat right.
Cecilia & Horacia
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
Hi Suzanne
Glad to hear that Oslo is doing so well and that you are enjoying life back at the dog park. Are there good dog parks in Montreal? I am having a hard time finding good ones for Tazzie now that we are back in Winnipeg. If he goes to a park that is empty of dogs and people, he kind of just stands there. He is very social. But we went to a nice one on Saturday and he had a great time and did lots of running (at speed, you can call it running). He is becoming much more confident swimming.
I have also been surprised at how nice everyone has been. Tazzie of course does not give them a choice - he walks right over and leans (regardless of whether he is soaked from swimming in the muddy Red River) and bats his eyes at them. Even though half his body is shaved, they still say how beautiful he is. And people seem a lot more familiar with amputation and cancer than I expected. One person even said "three legs and a spare" when Tazzie hopped over to her. I nearly fell over.
The worst comment is "how old is he" implying that he is very old, but of course they aren't really being rude (I ask many people the same thing about their dogs, but I don't want people to think that cancer dogs are necessarily old). It just hurts a bit because everyone thought he seemed like such a young lad before the cancer diagnosis.
Have a fantastic time up north. Saguenay sounds like a wonderful place!
Susan
(Your english is very very good - I don't know what you are thinking. As for my french, 
. My excuse is that I grew up in Chicago. But I certainly like St. Boniface, the french part of Winnipeg. There is a great Festival du Voyageur here in February.)
Hi everyone! My dog Dixie had amputation surgery 10 weeks ago. She had her front left leg amputated due to an aggressive soft-tissue carcinoma. She still has her shoulder blade. She takes fish oil, glucosamine and a multi-vitamin daily—no pain meds. We give her a full body massage every morning (so spoiled). And we haven't noticed any spots that cause her pain.
The first 2 months after Dixie's surgery, she would occasionally let out a big painful yelp and run out of the room, or away from where she was laying. It would happen no more than once a week. We didn't think much of it. Maybe a startled wake from a dream?
About 2 weeks ago (8 weeks post-amp), the yelps became more frequent—up to 8 a day or so. The yelps seem to be quieter these days, but her scared startle/run away is just as strong. They seem to happen when laying down, resting. After she runs out, she trots back to us and wants to be petted, her heart beating a million miles a minute. It was so bad one day, I decided to try a 50 mg tramadol in the morning to see if that would help. Oh did it, except she was passed out all day! Not the way we want her to feel.
I read in a previous post that gabapentin might help with her pains. Does anyone know approx. how much this medication costs? And does it seem to have any side effects, i.e. drowsiness, etc.? I also read about warm compresses, but I don't know where I would put it or when. Any suggestions are welcome!
PS. We love you all on this site. Whenever we need reassurance (which is rare these days because of Dixie's great recovery), we turn to you.
PSS. We are getting married in March and taking our honeymoon RV-ing and camping, for a whole month! And of course, Dixie is going to be along for the ride. We can't wait to show her the country, like Jerry did!
dixiedog said:
Dixie is going to be along for the ride.
What an awesome honeymoon!
Not sure about the costs of Gabapentin, but be sure to check out this Managing Phantom Limb Pain in Dogs Free PDF available in the Tripawds Downloads blog if you haven't already. Glad to hear Dixie is doing so well.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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