Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I think I might have freaked some folks out with my last message since I haven't had any replies, if I overstepped I apologize.
Tshuvah is now taking the ulcer medicine, an appetite stimulant, another GI soothing medication, and back on tramadol. She was in very bad pain by this afternoon being off previcox and tramadol both, clearly not ready for no pain relief. I'm still feeding her by syringe, and she is accepting that very well. Her mood is definitely depressed, she is definitely in pain, and her energy is quite low.
She has always been an unbelievable athlete, I'm sure her sudden weakness and difficulty getting around is a real shock for her. I imagine she doesn't quite know who she is or what she's about, without her fleetness of foot. She was like a gazelle.
well, we'll hope for a better day tomorrow.
Beth
Beth with my beloved Tshuvah, 10 year old "TaosDog". Provisional diagnosis osteosarcoma on 6/10/10, amputation of left foreleg same day, firm diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma 6/24/10. Set free on 9/9/10. Treasured forever.
http://labrador.....ipawds.com
beth, i don't think you can 'overstep' with this crowd. wish we could offer some advise/thoughts about tshuvah's not eating...i still think it could be the tramadol, but if she still has pain, then you just might have to stay on the bus for a few more stops. it's good she takes the syringe food, that's a positive. paws crossed that she makes a turn-about and starts eating and being her old self in the next day or two.
don't ever apoligize for loving your gal - you worry, because you care.
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
Beth, I truly feel your uncertainty. You have a ton of stress in your life right now. I would call the vet and discuss your concerns. They may want to change the pain medication to see if that helps. You said it was between God and Tshuvah, but isn't that really always true? You are doing your best, Tshuvah isn't responding as you had hoped, you are terrified you will lose her. I totally get how you feel right now.
I can only speculate, things will start to look up when she comes off the pain meds. Hope things turn around for you guys soon. Sending lots of calming/healing thoughts your way.
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.
I think I might have freaked some folks out with my last message since I haven't had any replies, if I overstepped I apologize
Oh Beth, it's Friday night and we are all party people! We just haven't gotten a chance to respond! 
Don't apologize! Admin looks to have been gone all day!
There was a great post from Maxidad a little while back regarding the nerve ending repairing and the pain during the healing process. I'm going to find the post so you can read it.
Everything you are feeling is normal. I spook pretty easily...no actually, I panic pretty easily, so I think you are doing great. I feel confident it's the healing, the meds and the pain. And Beth, once you've been here long enough, you too will see most every dog struggles in the two weeks - and each pawrent is scared. They are not all in the same manner but they struggle to recover from this major surgery.
Off to see if I can find that post...
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.
Here we go - Read this whole post.
Also, some have switched to Gabapentin
"...We recently spoke with some canine rehabilitation specialists who said that Tramadol is one of the most over prescribed medications out there. And oftentimes Gabapentin is a better choice..."
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.
cometdog said:
Don't apologize! Admin looks to have been gone all day!
Geez Louise, how did you know? Thanks to Wyatt, we had to go to town and six hours later, we arrived home.
Overstep, Beth? Never. I think that everyone was just waiting to see what the vet said. With your worries I would call. It's what you pay them for, and talking to them will give you the confidence you need to sleep at night.
One week past amputation, some dogs start eating again and don't need pain meds, others need them for at least another week. All dogs are different. As much as we hope that they'll bounce back right away, sometimes they take longer than expected.
As for being on the GI meds, is she still on Previcox along with the GI meds? If so I could consider trying a milder NSAID. Previcox is so strong.
Dont' worry, she will be like a gazelle soon. Hang in there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Beth ... you, Tshuvah, and your family are in my prayers. I hope your sister and her baby are doing okay after their chemo treatment this week. You absolutely did not need this now on top of that.
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
Y'all are so amazing, I'm so grateful!
Tshuvah is exactly the same, even on Cerenia, Mirtasomething, Sucralfate, and small amt of tramadol. I will talk to the vet about switching to gabapentin. She's not at all panicky or psychotic on the tramadol, though. Mostly seems depressed. She is just determined not to eat much. Since my last post we've tried goatmilk, french fries, the first burger I've ever cooked (I'm mostly veg), scrambled eggs, shrimp cat food. She did eat some leftover trout last night, big accomplishment there. So this morning it was back to the routine of syringe feeding her the Weruva Kobe Master canned food. I'm giving her small amounts several times a day and she is cooperating well, but has no interest whatsoever in eating on her own.
I guess that's just how its going to be; it'll be 10 days on Monday post-amp and we might be lucky enough to get the staples out then because she's healing up so nicely. Knowing that some of you had dogs who didn't eat for the first couple weeks and did well helps a lot. I won't fret about it and will continue offering her goodies and syringe feeding unless she fights it. I'm pilling her with the pill-gun after the syringe feeding and its all going smoothly.
She's never been the grand champion of eaters, so perhaps this was to be expected. I'm so much more used to retrievers (grew up with goldens, have had labs ever since), that this is just such new territory...whaddya mean, a dog that won't eat?!
I'll check in again later. Many blessings to every one of you and your dogs.
Beth
Beth with my beloved Tshuvah, 10 year old "TaosDog". Provisional diagnosis osteosarcoma on 6/10/10, amputation of left foreleg same day, firm diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma 6/24/10. Set free on 9/9/10. Treasured forever.
http://labrador.....ipawds.com
As for being on the GI meds, is she still on Previcox along with the GI meds? If so I could consider trying a milder NSAID. Previcox is so strong.
Oh, and no, she's not on any NSAIDs now. Do you think the Metronomic Protocol that the oncology vet in Santa Fe seems to favor is even possible for her, if Tshuvah has such stomach trouble with NSAIDs? We haven't been able to talk to Dr. Kelly yet since that stupid path report isn't in yet and no one will meet with us until we have that in hand.
Beth
Beth with my beloved Tshuvah, 10 year old "TaosDog". Provisional diagnosis osteosarcoma on 6/10/10, amputation of left foreleg same day, firm diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma 6/24/10. Set free on 9/9/10. Treasured forever.
http://labrador.....ipawds.com
Beth, I would just take one day at a time and not worry about chemo/metronimics at this point.
Here's what I would do - and take it with a grain of salt since I'm not a doctor - but I'm going to say it anyway.
For 24 hours - I'd take her off all the medications except I would give her a pepcid (20mgs Famotidine) for her tummy. I would put a fan on her to keep her cool. I would put an ice pack (frozen peas or crushed ice in a baggie - making it light weight wrapped in a dish cloth) and gently hold it on the incision site for 10 minutes at a time. Try to numb the pain/inflammation. It's probably throbbing like hell!
I would freeze chicken broth, tuna with the water or beef both in a ramaken or small container and let her lick it. Now, she may or may not. But I'd try. When you are sickly feeling and you have all the inflammation, something cold seems refreshing. It's just like you getting ice chips after surgery.
That's the extent of my nursing skills! But I would sure eliminate that tramadol. Not one dog I know has ever acted normal on it. I think ice will work so much better to numb the pain.
Hang in there and try not to let your other dog's death creep into your mind. It's easy to make mental comparisons.
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.
cometdog said:
Don't apologize! Admin looks to have been gone all day!
Geez Louise, how did you know? Thanks to Wyatt, we had to go to town and six hours later, we arrived home.
Wyatt told me! He and I have a special bond.
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.
labradorim said:
She's never been the grand champion of eaters, so perhaps this was to be expected. I'm so much more used to retrievers (grew up with goldens, have had labs ever since), that this is just such new territory...whaddya mean, a dog that won't eat?!
Hi Beth,
That is important to remember- if she didn't eat a ton before, she is certainly not going to do so now. I was in the same boat with Maggie- a pug that won't eat?? I had never heard of such a thing.
I think I said before that I had to feed Mag with a syringe... I wanted to let you know that I did that for
most of three months with her- and was able to keep her weight steady.
This was just this past year, way past her amp. She was not eating on her own because of a combo of early kidney failure
and the melanoma tumor in her mouth. But the point is- I could get
enough food in her. She was smaller than yours- but still you are probably getting enough food in her at this point.
Keep trying different things, and remember not to stress her when she won't eat what you offer (I had to walk away from Mag many times so she wouldn't see how stressed I was getting....) she will eat when she wants too.
I only gave Mag tramadol when absolutely necessary- I think it took the pain away, but she would not sleep and would look panicky.
Here are a couple pics of my dad feeding Mag for me last April- I hope you get a smile from them- sounds like you need it!
I know she looks mad in the first one- but she actually liked being fed this way!
Karen and the pug girls
labradorim said:
Do you think the Metronomic Protocol that the oncology vet in Santa Fe seems to favor is even possible for her, if Tshuvah has such stomach trouble with NSAIDs?
Oooh, I wish I could answer that. I'm not sure. Hang in there though, you'll get answers soon.
How's she eating today?
I wasn't a very big eater either, food never really did it for me. Just love, and knowing that my pawrents were happy, that was my big motivator.
As for the burger....well maybe that's it! You don't know how to cook meat! Hahah, just kidding. My Mom is a veg and she hates cooking that stuff too. But for her dogs, she'll do anything. If Admin Guy is lucky, he'll get the leftovers.
Meanwhile, here's some other tasty treats to try:
- Braunschwager
- Liverwurst
- Chicken Livers
- Gamey meats like elk, vennison and buffalo
- Beef heart
Ooh, gross I know, but I dug 'em, and like i said, food didn't really do it for me. Also, keep in mind that dogs are not like people; we don't like to eat when we are recuperating because we need all the energy in our bodies focused on healing. We're smart that way. Why waste energy on digesting food when it can be used to help us recover? I know it's a weird way of thinking, but that's our instinct.
There are definitely other dogs who have had experiences like this when recuperating, I promise. Keep an eye on her and remember that it's the pain meds that might be doing it. Again, if she's not eating on Monday, call your vet OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said:
Ooh, gross I know, but I dug 'em,
Takes more than that to scare me, LOL! I fed a raw, prey-model diet to my three dogs for 6 years and was only grossed out by the thymus gland, very gushy, and the smell of tripe. But this never was Tshuvah's favorite, she has always preferred home cooked food.
She had a wonderful day today; we took her up into the ski valley so she could be back in one of her favorite places. We didn't go far, but she did get to smell the smells, feel the cool air, drink from the fresh mountain run-off, and she did eat some venison treats and potato chips. It was the happiest she's been in a month...perhaps that's true for all of us.
We have an appt with the vet in the morning so everything will be reviewed and possibly the staples will come out. I'll update after that.
Beth
Beth with my beloved Tshuvah, 10 year old "TaosDog". Provisional diagnosis osteosarcoma on 6/10/10, amputation of left foreleg same day, firm diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma 6/24/10. Set free on 9/9/10. Treasured forever.
http://labrador.....ipawds.com
krun15 said:
I think I said before that I had to feed Mag with a syringe... I wanted to let you know that I did that for
most of three months with her- and was able to keep her weight steady.
Great pictures, thanks for posting them. Its good to know that you can keep a dog's weight up with syringe feeding if necessary. If we have to go that way, we will. I appreciate that you shared your experience,
Beth
Beth with my beloved Tshuvah, 10 year old "TaosDog". Provisional diagnosis osteosarcoma on 6/10/10, amputation of left foreleg same day, firm diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma 6/24/10. Set free on 9/9/10. Treasured forever.
http://labrador.....ipawds.com
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