Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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You know Shanna, there just comes a point that we do what we have to do. I know Rimidyl can have negartive side effects, but I've had dogs that wouldn't have been mobile without it. Our boy Beau had his own pharmacy of meds, including acupuncture, rimidyl, tramadol, gabapentin, adequan, amantadine, fish oil, etc. To us it seemed better to keep his quality of life as good as possible.
They all worked, just not forever. It was sort of a constant shift of meds to see what could keep him comfortable.
You'll know what's right.
I'm excited to hear if you see any results from the acupuncture. I imagine Lincoln will be there someday, considering his size and goofy gait.
And, um, I'd probably skip the missing limb massage too. Although if you do it, can you have somebody video it? That would be a pretty good chuckle, I'm sure. 🙂
Rhonda
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall – Confucius
http://credocan.....pawds.com/
Hoping Trouble feels better SOON! Kudos to you for being willing to give it a try! Wishing her well!
So sorry about Samson. How's he doing now? Hope it was nothing serious.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
A mini-update - took Trouble out at 12:30 last night, she was able to hop without assistance from the bedroom to the kitchen, something she hasn't done in over a week (maybe two). I helped her out the door and she laid down to rest. I came back in to get Duke and when we got outside she was up hopping about. She made a large circle in the yard, did her business, then laid down for a rest. I took Duke back in and came back to help her. Once I had her up, she hopped on to the house without assistance.
After that she slept through the night and is still asleep this morning - something else she hasn't done in a long while. So far, I am encouraged. Hoping we continue to see the little changes as the days go on.
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.
Shanna - that is great to hear that Trouble is doing so much better! Hopefully this treatment will be just what the doctor ordered.
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
The excitement was short lived. I took her out at 8:30 this morning and she was back to zero progress. Couldn't get around at all by herself, and couldn't hold a squat to pee. She was at the end of her Tramadol cycle, so maybe that had something to do with it. She was off her schedule because she usually goes out at 5, but she was sleeping so soundly, I gave her medication and let her go right back to sleep.
I don't know. This is so frustrating, and I'm so tired of crying.
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.
Shanna,
I wish there was something I could do to help.
I'll be thinking about you guys today- sending you strong and positive thoughts.
Karen
My thoughts and prayers are with you and Trouble. I know that feeling of being tired of crying. Did they say if it takes a few treatments to really get going or was it suppose to give immediate results?
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.
Shanna
I am so sorry about the set back....darn, I was hoping that Trouble was turning the corner with the Adequan and treatments. Sending you our pawsitive Dalmatian juju!
Daisy earned her wings on Oct 22, 2011 at 14 years old
She is now the official greeter at the rainbow bridge
Everyone is guaranteed a welcome sniff and Dalmatian smile
The vet did not indicate it would be immediate, but he did lead me to believe with a couple of days, we would see some improvement. I'm hoping she just way overdid herself yesterday and is needing to get the strength back together. I just took her out again. No improvement. We will just wait and see what tomorrow brings.
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.
Shanna,
I'm sorry you and Trouble are having such a bad day. As I said yesterday, don't expect dramatic improvement with only one treatment, especially when it wasn't even traditional acupuncture. Trouble must have a tremendous amount of inflammation from her arthritis that took a long time to get to this point. Nothing works overnight.
When Isabelle's L-S spine arthritis flared last year, it was over a less than 2 week period, with an acute event (jumping into an SUV) resulting in the severe pain that made her unable to walk. She had no arthritis in her extremities. She was on no meds other than some herbal & homeopathic antiinflammatories. She was younger than Trouble, had 4 legs and in peak physical condition. She was walking well over 5 miles/day, running around for miles on the beach, tracking for hours in the woods 1-2 times per week and involved in numerous other activities. She didn't have an ounce of body fat at that time. I say all of this because even then, it took several weeks before I saw consistent, noticeable iimprovement. Isabelle was also receiving many other adjunct treatments, all of which contributed to her recovery.
She started acupuncture on a Thursday, with a second treatment Saturday. I remember crying at the bottom of our back stairs the following Tuesday at 4:30am because she just leaned on the bottom stair & put her head down, unable to walk. I was having a hard time picking her dead weight up from her recumbent position and we had to wait there for our neighbor to wake up…
It took a few weeks of aggressive therapy to see improvement.
How was this vet trained in acupuncture? I know your options are limited, but maybe you can ask for a traditional treatment for the next few sessions…if he has an electrical stimulator, it really helps. A lot of dogs at our center use a TENS unit short term. I almost used one for Isabelle recently, but her problem resolved.
I know how frustrating and heartbreaking it is watching Trouble struggle, but you are doing everything you can for her. It may be that her little activity burst last night, left her exhausted.
I'll be thinking about you both. Try to give the acupuncture a chance. The universe is asking a lot from your girl right now & she may need some extra time.
Cynthia
Shanna
{{{{{hugs}}}}}
Have you ever heard of a "healing crisis"? This is when the body gets worse before it gets better after we take steps toward more positive, holistic care and natural healing. Once a healing catalyst is introduced, the body "cleans house" of all those years of ick. In the meantime we feel like crap. This is probably why Trouble is sleeping so much and so pooped out. You can read more about healing crisis and what they are here.
If we set your expectations too high, I apologize. It's just so neat that Trouble is getting this opportunity for extra help. But Cynthia's right, years of a body breaking down won't be healed overnight. It will happen though, just watch.
I have also heard that electrical stimulation works really well in conjunction with acupuncture.
This will pass. Trouble is our miracle girl and she will overcome this and head into a future of better health.
Lotsa love coming your way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Shanna, sorry to hear Trouble is having trouble. I will tell you Gus overdid himself one day, but at the time I didn't out 2 and 2 together, I thought he was starting to cash it in, but little by little he started improving, but it took almost a week. I hope maybe Trouble will bounce back, sounds like she's been a fighter right along, Big Paws up to you guys, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Cynthia - If I make it through this it will be because of all the wonderful info and encouragement. I am just mentally exhausted and all my body wants to do is weep these damned little tears that just won't stop! I can't thank you enough for all the info.
Rene - I appreciate the link, and will read it shortly. I guess I can see that making sense in a way, as the body starts to process the new supplements.
She did hop a little by herself this afternoon because she had moved from where I left her when I came back in to get Duke. And then she hopped a bit further, but then it was assistance time. When we got to the back door, she laid down to wait while I opened the door and hopped in by herself. So maybe she is beginning to rally a bit.
To all who have responded, emailed, and/PM'd - you guys are the greatest. I have some wonderful cyberfriends here and count you as a blessing in my life. You give so much positive feedback. I'm really sorry I'm so down right now, it really isn't 'me' at all.
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.
Hey Shanna, to be honest, it really is you, it's because you care just like the rest of us when we got to those times, it's because we care and we're scared, frustrated, tired and just want to see our buddies well. Your in our thoughts, Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
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