Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well, my beauty has done so very well with her MCT treatment and was tolerating the Palladia like a BOSS until this past week or so. We went out of town and Izzy stayed on the farm with Aunt Deb. She got some diarrhea while there but our aunt assumed Izzy had eaten someone else's dinner (which I am sure she actually did) or ate the goose poop or something while outside. I noticed that her BM was normal when we picked her up but the next day, she got the runs again ... on dose day. She happened to be at the vet for a re-check on the UTI she developed and so they raised the alarm. We pulled her off of the Palladia for a week and started metronidazole (apparently, that's a common reaction to the GI issues). The oncologist called just yesterday and left a message to let me know it was ok to re-start the Palladia but that we would do a dose every third day to lessen side effects.
As "luck" would have it, we had been out to visit my mom and when we returned home last night, we found Izzy unable to walk ... she stumbled and fell several times when trying to get up to greet us. I can't say that the lameness is for sure related to the Palladia - we hadn't re-started the meds as that call from the oncologist came in while we were out and about - but I'm feeling pretty out of sorts. She is happy and alert and keeps trying to get up and walk (I won't let her try unassisted) but I am afraid this new wrinkle is just the handwriting on the wall.
I would try a quad cart but they are expensive and not something you can find at your local PetSmart. I'm afraid I'll order the darn thing and the oncologist will tell me it's just "time". I am so not ready for that but also don't want to be selfish. Has anyone seen lameness while using Palladia that resolved?
Thanks for your thoughts on this, Tripawd pals!
Amy and Izzy 
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Okay, you know the drill....deep breaths.....B R E A T H E
The first thing we all do on this journey when there is an issue is jump to the worse possible scenario. It may not be related to the Palladia or it may be. Others can chime in with more experience. This could be sooooo many things that are treatable with rest and meds and maybe a steroid injection.
The fact that Izzy feels so great otherwise is really good!!!!!!
One of the first things that comes to mind is tick Lyme disease. One teeny tick bite and it can cause lameness almost overnight. Do a reallu, really thorough tick check. Also, it's certainly possible Izzy has sprained something or pulled a muscle or has a bulging disc.
I KNOW it's jard not to fall off the edge, but I really mean it there are so many things this could be.
Get Izzy in for a check up, bloodwork, etc. Does Izzy show any tenderness or tense when going up a d down her spine?
Hang in there! Let js know what the vet says. Keep on spoiling and lovi g and spoiling some .ore!'''A scoopmof ice cream has healing powers 🙂
Lots of love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Amy I'm with Sally, that sounds like it's totally unrelated to the Palladia and could be tick paralysis. Get Izzy into the vet to find out. Try not to panic (I know, it's hard not to!) but remember, Izzy is still a happy dog who is fightin' the good fight!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the feedback. Izzy did go into the vet yesterday and the tick paralysis didn't come up (I hadn't seen the responses prior to the appointment). She's going in to see the oncologist on Saturday - that was the first appointment available - but I will be checking her over tonight for ticks. She isn't outside much but it's certainly worth the look.
As an aside, she has done better getting around today but definitely isn't using the one back leg. I don't know how she does it! She got up and rushed to the door to greet me when I arrived home from work. She made it about 20 feet and only fell once she was no longer on carpet (and she fell onto the next fuzzy rug, so it wasn't too scary for mommy). She wagged and gave me kisses and played silly girl until it her poppa told her it was dinnertime, then she dashed back to the feeding stand. We put her bowl on the floor as she can't balance at all when still.
I will keep everyone posted!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
There's a long list of tick borne diseases with neurological effects, and some only take a short bite as opposed to Lyme which usually takes a day to settle in. Looking for ticks is good, but the culprit could be long gone. No tick doesn't mean there wasn't a tick. We never saw the tick that gave my son Lyme disease -- I just happened to spot a HUGE bullseye on his back when I dropped him a friend's pool and he whipped his shirt off. FYI, the kid had an easy case with just one round of antibiotics.
Milo has had Lyme and has had the same low-level positive anaplasmosis result for years. The blood tests for these things are quick and easy. He also had it easy. The dog next door went nearly paralyzed, but she recovered fine.
Best of luck figuring this one out.
Peace,
Jenifer & Milo
Glad Izzy had a better day! I know having her greet you at the door lifted your spirits tremendously!!
And good point Jennifer, if a tick borne disease the culprit may not still be there.
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!
I'm sorry for the wrinkle. Pofi is also taking Palladia and I can't say I have read about limb weakness or immobility as a side effect.
Glad it sounds as if she has improved and she certainly is spirited, so it doesn't sound painful. Keep us posted on the Princess.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
When I was researching palladia for potential use with my quad pug Tani (who had mast cell cancer) I did find references to lameness as a side effect. When the palladia was stopped the issues resolved. Everything you talk about in your first post in this thread can be side effects of palladia.
I ended up not using palladia, partly because Tani was ataxic already and had IBD. It wasn't worth the risk with her existing issues.
Here is a link to the palladia information sheet.
I'm glad to hear Izzy had a better day. I wouldn't invest in a cart until you have a definitive diagnosis of something permanently wrong.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks, everyone! Here is how I entertained myself tonight with Miss Izzy ..
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
LOOOOOOOOOOVE THESE TREASURED PHOTOS!!!!!!! OMD!!!!! SOOOOOOO MUCH LOVE!!
Best way ever to spend a night at home, and it's clear Izzy agrees!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing these great photos. They are real smile makers!
Lots oflove!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
OMG you two are adorable!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
krun15 said
When I was researching palladia for potential use with my quad pug Tani (who had mast cell cancer) I did find references to lameness as a side effect. When the palladia was stopped the issues resolved. Everything you talk about in your first post in this thread can be side effects of palladia.I ended up not using palladia, partly because Tani was ataxic already and had IBD. It wasn't worth the risk with her existing issues.
Here is a link to the palladia information sheet.
I'm glad to hear Izzy had a better day. I wouldn't invest in a cart until you have a definitive diagnosis of something permanently wrong.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Thank you, Karen - I stand corrected! Good to know.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Wonderful pictures, you two look so great together
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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