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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It actually doesnt1surprise me that he wasnt quite as perky today. He had a quite and active day yesterday. He probably stayed in the office for a little bit of all the reasons you mentioned.
Chaco DID eat and he sid get excited about his carride. Toppigit off witha cheeseburger each day will perk him up too! Still good signs. Warm rotisserie chicken is always a good food option.
Definately continue with the massaging as Jerry said. Back and neck spasms can cause all sorts of bizarre sysmptons. Look for any signs of tense areas.
So glad you will finally be avle to take with Chaco's regular Vet who can help put ALL the pieces together..... from elbow to infection to doing really well, to the almost instantly "collapsing"...and then with some pain meds carrides and cheeseburgers he's much better (relatively so).
Yes, check I to anything that can be done to keep him comforable, but also don't discount other diagnostics to determine IF there is anything else going on. Cant remember if blood work was done when they did the xrays
In the meantime, keep doing what you're doing.
Extra hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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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!
Last night was scary. We noticed it seemed like wheezing, but that went away & he had quick heavy breathing. Almost like a pant, but with no reason to be panting. He was also super warm in his ears, nose, and over his lungs. We gave him a trazadone to help him relax, but we didn’t know if he’d still be there when we woke up. Thankfully he was. He was pretty pitiful—didn’t even want his peanut butter covered pain meds. I doubled his gabapentin dose just to see if it would help. We got back from church & he was no longer heavy breathing! Seemed relaxed—super doped up (he fell coming inside once) but comfortable. He ate his food & drank some water without much fuss, joined us for lunch & dinner—tried to clean up after the boys a little, and greeted my dad with the demand for a booty scratch. He still doesn’t seem like he feels good, but we’ll take an improvement from last night.
We’re starting to talk about end of life plans. We don’t want to drag this out & just watch him suffer, but we also don’t want to actually say goodbye to him. I’d like to take him to my parents’ house a few hours away to bury him with all of our other good dogs, but we also have our oldest starting kindergarten next week and a busy/important week for my husband at work this week, so just lots to consider when making the call.
I hope your regular vet has some answers for you today. There are just so many things that are not adding up and, hopefully, your vet can put some more pieces of the puzzle together.
I've probably ask you this a hundred times, but was blood work done and was he checked for a fever? And just to confirm with the vet there is no doubt that the infection has cleared up, right? When the culture was done originally MRSA was ruled out completely, right?
I'm glad you were able to get him finally comfortable last night. I can only imagine how upsetting, frustrating and scary all of this has been. Whatever is going on, it does seem like the pain meds seem to bring back some of his Sparkle. Your love for Chacois so strong and you will do whatever needs to be done, whatever that may be, to ensure he is comfortable and can still have some Joy. And if none of that is possible at some point, then the gift of releases the most loving act of love we can ever show our dogs and cats.
Let us know what your vet says when you have a chance, okay? In the meantime, will continue to hope that the pain meds return some of his quality back and your vet can get to the bottom of all of this.
Continuing to send you love, cyber hugs, and positive thoughts.
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!
Thank you for your kind words!
We haven’t don’t any more bloodwork. The vet hasn’t mentioned MRSA . When he went two weeks ago & had the good visit he did not have a fever. Looking at his chart, I don’t see one reported for this past week, but I feel like he has had one just from feeling his ears.
When I talked to the vet this morning, she gave us the go ahead to up his gabapentin if it seems to be helping, so we’re going to do that & see how many more good days we have while at the same time preparing ourselves & the kiddos to say goodbye to him in the next couple of days/weeks.
Poor Chaco. 
I'm really sorry things are not improving like everyone had been hoping. At least you got him comfortable, and if he is at the end of life stage, that's all that matters is his comfort. See what your vet has to say today, maybe there is some good news here. We are all hoping and praying for it.
I really commend you for thinking of end of life plans right now. It's not something you want to do in a moment of panic. Being able to give our pets the gift of a peaceful, pain-free transition is the most beautiful way to honor them when their body is no longer serving them. Being able to remember Chaco as he is without great amounts of pain or immobility is something your kids will always remember, and you.
Hopefully there is some kind of medical reason for his decline that can be treated and give him more quality time. But if not, knowing when the time is best to set him free is something that can help you feel a sense of control right now, and ultimately peace in your heart knowing that he didn't suffer when things got hard. You might want to check out this article if you have time, it'll help right now:
How to Prepare for Pet Loss Before It Happens
Thank you for sharing that! We’re coming to terms with this being our last week with him. And I’m about to the point where I’m good with that decision. We noticed him coughing up blood some this evening, and I don’t want him to get much worse than that.
We took him on a very exciting car ride tonight to our old neighborhood (we moved about 8 months ago) and had an impromptu “ say goodbye to Chaco” party with our old street. He & I used to walk or run with a stroller anywhere from 1-5 miles every day, so the whole street knew him well. We had about 10 neighbors, 4 kids plus our own, and 3 pups all love on & say goodbye to him. Again, he barely acted like anything was wrong & greeted everyone with excited tail wags like he was so happy to finally see them again. It was a sweet time that were so glad he got. And it did us good as well to see all our old friends caring for us so well. We’re back home & renewed pain meds & letting him rest off all the excitement. Preparing for him to be mostly out of it tomorrow, but that’s okay.
You do sound at peace with the decision itself, that's good medicine for him right now, for everyone.
That is so so so sweet to picture his homecoming with your old neighborhood friends. What a great idea to take him!
I hope he's comfortable today. Give him extra smooches from us.
Sally is having trouble connecting to the interwebs today, and asked us to share this for her. (Sorry for the repeat paragraph, I noticed it just now!)
Hi,
I wanted to let y'all know that we said goodbye to our beloved Chaco this morning. His breathing kept getting more & more labored. Last night he was shaking with every breath. We noticed a new growth on his lip Monday that had doubled in size by this morning--we just knew it was time. The vet office was super sweet to us & sent him out with a plate full of brownies, cheesecake, chips, ice cream, peanut butter, and cat treats. We'll forever miss him, but we're so glad he's not in pain anymore.
Oh noooo. I was so afraid this was coming, and my heart hurts for you guys. It happened way too fast, unreal. I'm so sorry.
He was suuuuuch a big part of your life! Thank you for sharing those beautiful photos. I got so teary eyed seeing him through the years, with all the happier times. Chaco was your first baby wasn't he? What a good big brother to his little human siblings. He saw them through such important times, they will always remember him being there for them. And now in spirit, he will watch over the little family he protected with all his heart, and forever be an angel on each of your shoulders.
I wish I had the right words to ease your heartache. Please know we are thinking of you and keeping a candle lit in his honor. Chaco's legacy lives on in the Tripawds nation.
New here, but just read your entire thread about sweet Chaco. What a beautiful pup--and those puppy paws! I love that cat treats were on the meal plan! Haha, I have never considered that as a treat. I hope the peace of knowing he's no longer in pain eases your heartbreak even a tiny bit.
Rest easy, sweet boy
Tears were flowing when I saw this yesterday. Those tears were formyou, for all of us who got to kmow Chaco, but not for Chaco. He loved THE BEST LIFE any dog could ever want! Evvvvver! And when he showed you that, after all your Herculean efforts he could no longer Chaco, he KNEW you would give him the selfless gift of release.♥️
You picked the best pictures to really , really reflect what a beloved family member he is to all of you. Such a Happy loved and adored boy. Place these precious memories that you shared all these years in Chaco's corner of your heart.
We know your heart literally aches and the void left is unbearable. This part pf the journey is so darn hard.Chaco's fight was so valiant and your dedication to him inspired is all.
We can all tell you that, at some point in your own time and in your own way, the many thousands of Happy moments you shared with Chaco will eventually push your sadness further and further in the background. Those memories are what Chaco wants you to focus on.
I have no doubt, no doubt at all, that Chaco will send you Chaco specific signs of connection to let y'ou know he is still present with you, just in energy form. It may take a while because he is having such a good time running free and happy at The Rainbow Bridge! And while he loved the send off meal you had for him from the Vets, the welcome back home gest he got was a smorgasbord of steak, ice cream, chocolate, bunny droppings and cat turds. He's also been telling everyone about the fantastic life he had with HIS FAMILY while in his earth clothes!
Thank you so much for giving us the privilege to know Chaco. He has touched us deeply and furever. When you can, please share more of your advenures with Chaco. We love him💖
Surrounding you with Chaco's delightfully Happy smile and eternal wagging tail💖
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!
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