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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Sydney, Australia
Member Since:
13 September 2011
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1
22 April 2012 - 7:34 pm
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I started metronomics with Palladia on 20th April and got encouraging xrays last Tuesday.  But I spent last night on a drip in hospital because I had diarrhea and refused to eat?  They will do an abdominal ultrasound later today.  Has anyone experienced this?

I had diarrhea last Monday but that settled down only to reappear on Saturday. I haven’t had any of my medications (Palladia, Amantadine, Piroxicam, panadeine) since Friday night.  The oncologist feels that if it is the Palladia I should be eating by now. Mum is scared.

Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/

Madison, WI
Member Since:
14 June 2009
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22 April 2012 - 8:19 pm
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Yoda was briefly on Piroxicam, but had to go off real quick due to blood in his stool, so I can't contribute too much on the subject of the medications.  Yoda did struggle with nausea/loss of appetite around the same time, but his oncologist attributed that to his cancer progressing (had lung mets by then).  She advised me, and I found it was true, that his appetite might be limited to certain times of day.  As I recall, for him, he wouldn't eat in the mornings, but could get him to eat in the evenings.  Though I think I did use wet food and other things to make his meal more appealing than just his regular kibble even then.

If diarrhea is still an issue, canned pumpkin has always worked great for my current dog (also a tripawd, Gerry).  Maybe run it past your vet first, but for Gerry (who is about 50 lbs) I'll usually give him like half a can of canned pumpkin (no sugar added!) instead of his next meal, then mix his next one or two with the rest of the can and that's always done the trick for him.

Paws crossed that this is just a bug or something that's going to pass for you guys soon!  Hang in there!!

Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide

Orange County, CA
Member Since:
2 January 2010
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22 April 2012 - 8:19 pm
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First order of business - pay close attention to the situation, but don't get too worried yet.  We experienced this with our Max when he went through chemo.  He always had a ravenous appetite, so when he started treatment and sometimes didn't want to eat, my wife and I would stress and think it was the end, that he'd never recover, etc.  Not true.  Chemo can really ruin an appetite for a few days, and it affects everyone (both people and dogs) differently.  My wife Diane (aka Maximutt on these forums) found that out firsthand when she underwent treatment for breast cancer a year later.  She has often said that if she knew then what she knows now, she'd have been a lot less worried when Max didn't feel like eating for a day or two.  The chemo drugs can destroy your appetite to the point that you look at food and don't feel the slightest interest in it, and even the smell of foods you once couldn't get enough of just turns you off.  That's what happened to her, and is probably what Princess is going through right now as well.

Try tempting her with something different than what she normally eats.  We had some success with Max by feeding him foods like those stinky anchovies that come in a tin, or our own table scraps whenever I barbecued meat, or chicken & rice soup, etc.  Anything with an interesting smell that she doesn't normally get as part of her meals.  This isn't a permanent change in diet, of course.  It's only meant to stimulate her appetite enough to get her to at least eat something.  She can go back to her regular food once the drugs flush out of her system.  Give that a try and see what happens. My wife can probably remember a few other tricks that worked with Max - I'll see if she does.

Sydney, Australia
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13 September 2011
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22 April 2012 - 8:36 pm
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Thanks for your stories guys. It helps to know if we are jumping to the wrong, worst conclusions!

My mum is obviously really stressed about this. What she should have wrote is I have been on palladia since 20th March, not the 20th April!!! She's losing it.

I'm still at the vets and should have the ultrasound shortly.  Hopefully that will allay mum's worst fears. 

Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/

Orange County, CA
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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22 April 2012 - 8:42 pm
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We didn't have any experience with Palladia; but if her last dose was just Friday night and it could be causing some tummy issues, it seems to me like a day and a half isn't enough time for it to be completely out of her system.  Whenever Max was having diarrhea issues, we usually switched his diet over to chicken with rice, or chicken with mashed sweet potatoes for a few days.  We would also had a spoonful of canned pumpkin, as others have already suggested.  Whatever is ailing Princess, I hope she gets to feeling better very soon.

I know AngelAbby's mom (Jackie) had some similar experiences with Abby getting sick on Palladia, hopefully she'll add some advice here.  

San Diego, CA
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29 October 2010
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22 April 2012 - 9:35 pm
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Sorry to hear you are not feeling well, Princess.

With Abby we did Palladia off and on for 3 months. She'd get diarrhea, so we'd skip a dose, then she'd be fine for a while, then the diarrhea would come back. At the 3 month point the diarrhea was so bad one day that there was blood in her stool, so we stopped it after that. She was never a great eater for her whole life - just not a food motivated dog at all - so it's hard to say if the Palladia affected her appetite. It didn't seem to make her any less interested in food than she normally was. (Generally she would always eat her dinner, even if we couldn't get her to eat any breakfast.) She never went more than a day without wanting to eat, so not exactly the same situation as with Princess.

I hope it's something easily sorted out with Princess! Keep us posted!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom

Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!

Sydney, Australia
Member Since:
13 September 2011
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7
23 April 2012 - 1:20 am
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I am allowed to come home tonight. Yeh big-grin   The abdominal ultrasound was all clear.  The oncologist is pretty confident it is "just" a GI upset and that I am hopefully on the mend. I had him worried for a while today, refusing to eat until mum surprised me with a visit in the afternoon.  When she handed me the chicken I found my appetite. I was also reluctant to wee in front of the vet.  (I'm not called Princess for nothing!).  But during mum's visit I finally let myself go.  Now that I've eaten and done a wee I'm allowed to go home. 

I will stay off the palladia and piroxicam for a few days and hopefully return to normal.  It's been 48 hrs since I last pooped so I presume mum will be hovering over me tonight waiting to inspect it. No privacy as always.

Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/

Orange County, CA
Member Since:
28 November 2008
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8
23 April 2012 - 8:32 am
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Princess, I'm so happy to hear you're on the mend and on your way home, where you belong!!  Now make your Mom happy, and start eating and peeing and pooping!

San Diego, CA
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29 October 2010
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23 April 2012 - 8:58 am
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Hooray! Glad you get to go home! Hope you feel all better.

Ahh, the powers of chicken!

Jackie, angel Abby's mom

Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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10
23 April 2012 - 11:40 am
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Hahaha, just wait till you finally go potty, your folks are gonna go bonkers with joy!

Glad you're home. Feel better soon.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Las Vegas, Nevada
Member Since:
14 August 2009
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11
23 April 2012 - 3:11 pm
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Here's hoping you feel better soon Princess! 

Her Retired AvatarComet - 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.

Sydney, Australia
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13 September 2011
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12
23 April 2012 - 4:46 pm
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions and well wishes. I still haven't pooped but I ate more dinner and breakfast this morning so mum is pretty happy.  Last night I had the most restful sleep in a long time. I still feel very weary but hopefully that will pass.

My only problem now is that I'm very suspicious of my food, checking each piece out before I eat it for signs of pills.  My back leg is very weak and does cause me pain so I have to take my pain killers. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for giving pills?  Wrapping it up in chicken or cheese doesn't work.

Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/

Rock Hill, SC
Member Since:
28 November 2011
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13
23 April 2012 - 4:52 pm
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Extra chunky peanut butter.  They can't tell the difference b/t the peanuts and the pill and never know they took meds!

Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11.  A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/

knoxville, tn
Member Since:
12 February 2010
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14
23 April 2012 - 5:31 pm
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we have great success with Honest Kitchen Thrive - we make it up and use it to give pills and as a treat by the spoonful.  it is a dehydrated food and the pups love the taste.

 

charon & spirit gayle

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

http://etgayle

San Diego, CA
Member Since:
29 October 2010
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15
23 April 2012 - 5:33 pm
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For some (but not all - just the really big and/or stinky ones) of Abby's pills, I would just pop them down her throat. Then give her a really good treat AFTER. I read (maybe it was on this site) that a trainer said you should always follow the bad (like having to take a big ol' pill) with the good (like a really yummy treat). As you said, if you try to slip them the bad stuff hidden in the good stuff, they can start to become suspicious of the good stuff -- and the good stuff doesn't taste so good anymore.

For her smaller pills I would hide them in cream cheese or braunschweiger (which is very gross and stinky and she loved it).

Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!

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