Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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She was doing a little better every day but started going downhill yesterday. She was restless again so we spent much of the day in bed since that's where she seems most comfortable.
Started tapping around on the ipad and saved too early...continuing...
last night she kept standing up in bed and panting. This morning doing the same, but kind of collapsing on her 3 legs.
Yesterday morning she ate half her breakfast then suddenly stopped turned around and sat with her back to it. She's eaten a few treats since. Not interested in her beloved milkbones today, but did eat a couple small chewy milkbones.
Currently she's going back and forth between laying and standing and panting. When she stands she's completely wobbly, and unable to walk. She's fallen a couple times.
Her nose is dripping, but also warm and dry. When standing, her tail is tucked under.
My husband and I decided to discontinue chemo last night. He thinks these are chemo side effects, I'm terrified we're approaching the end.
Of course her vet is closed today. I've decided not to take her back there. I have a friend that used Lap of Love, vets that provide comfort and hospice care and I'd like to call them, but not sure when.
I don't remember Madison's story, but if she is in chemo, is this nausea? Did the oncologist give you any Cerenia?
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Her surgery was exactly 1 month ago, chemo first treatment was 2 weeks ago. I don't know that she seems nauseous. She looks like she's in pain, but I'm hesitant to give her tramadol until I get an ok from the vet.
How long do the side effects from chemo normally last? I just don't understand how she went from perking up every day to falling down.
It is so hard - could be signs of pain or nausea. I wonder if we might post a link to this thread in Ask A Vet section and see if Dr. Pam has any thoughts.
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.
Breathe .... Breathe ....
Eurydice takes 1 pill of cerenia (for nausea) the day she is going to do chemo plus another until 3 days after and she has been as good as gold.
Before our first session our oncologist said most dogs are ok with chemo and if there are side effects they normally are not too serious.
Eurydice has had 3 sessions up to now and she gets her energy levels dramatically down for the first 2 to 3 days but after that she gets slowly to where she was before.
Chemo is very aggressive so I suppose it is to be expected that our furry friends might get down for a few days.
Eurydice was also panting and wobbly for the first couple of weeks after amp plus looking completely out of her skull a little while before starting chemo.
We were told it was her medicine wearing off and she adjusting to her new life ...
Do ask the oncologist's opinion, we are crossing fingers, paws and tail that it is nothing serious and you can keep the treatment going
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to Maddison 
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 :-)
For us, the nausea started about day 7 - 10 after chemos 2 - 4. Otis was also put on Pepcid AC for indigestion. Otis never actually vomited or refused food, so it was originally hard for me to recognize the symptoms (lip licking, excessive drooling) as nausea. I am not a vet, and your symptoms sound more substantive than what we experienced, so definitely talk to your vet tomorrow. If you have Cerenia, I suggest you give her one. If it is nausea, that should make a difference. Thanks, by the way, for posting her history!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Okay, TRY not to panic and TRY not to the worst, which, of course, is what we all do on this journey!
Madison had arthritis before the surgery, right,? And hasn't been in anything for that since then, right?
Of course, I'm not a vet so consult with a vet, but putting Madison on a dose of Tramadol may help her feel better. Call an ER vet and explain what's going on and see if they recommend a Tramadol. Many of us have a few left over from surgery recovery as they come in handy for overdoing it, muscle sprain, etc. So call your vet.(ER'vet)
She's 13 yrs "young" and these symptoms could be related to being older and may easily be managed once properly diagnosed. The falling down coukd br something as easy to fix as an inner ear infection.
When did she have bloodwork done?
IF she is having some kind of reaction to the chemo, the vet will.probably put her on fluids. Actually, if she has any kind of respiratory infection, fluids snd a antibiotics will be helpful.
With the dripping nose, the respiratory issues, the panting, all sou ds like something treatable. Xrays need to be taken to confirm is she has pneumonia. Just throwing things out there. She may have a combo of things. Try massaging up and down her spine a d her neck and see if she shows any tenseness or pain.
Can you take her temperature?
I knlw you don't want to do a trip to tne ER and you wwnt to try and new vet tomorrow, but I wouldn't put this off beyond tomorrow....even kf it means going to your old vet......or ER......ugh! The sooner the issues are identified, the sooner her treatment can begin!
Keep on spoiling ner and giving her anything she'll eat! Milk Bones always seem to be a favorite no matter what! 🙂
Keep us updated, okay?
Much 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!
I'm going to try our regular vet in the morning. He got weird when he suspected cancer, but I think he took it hard himself. He's been treating her since I adopted her, and she's a little charmer.
At least I can ask him questions, and perhaps he can guide me through what to do next.
We had a nice nap this afternoon and while she's not interested in her food or water, she just ate some turkey breast.
Still not stable when she tries to stand and she's seeming very weak.
The good news is that the fireworks don't bother her too much. She doesn't like going outside during them, but she's unfazed inside the house.
Glad she got a good nap. That always helps.
Two more things just thought of...and again, just throwing everything out there as a possibility until you can get to the vet. And it's all treatable stuff too.
Older dogs get...hmm...may not be spelling it right....vesticular...anywhere, it's where they become wobbly and dizzy almost instantly. Also, is it possible Madison could have Lyme disease? Thst makes them wobbly and weak legged too. Just thinking this isn't related to the piece of crap disease and "probably" not the chemo, although, it can sometimes certainly have very bad side effects on occasion. Your vet shoukd be able to determine alot by the bloodwork and maybe xrays.
Glad the fireworks aren't driving her nuts!
Maybe shred the turkey breast and swirl it around in her water. How are her gums? Does she seem dehydrated when you pick her skin up at the nape of her neck?
Okay, I think you have plenty of "issues" to think about now.....all of which can be identified and treated!!
Grab a bag of chocolate and eat it all......it'll help relax you! 🙂
Love to all
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!
I spoke to the vet's office this morning and got the ok to give her the cerenia, but of course now she's not interested in eating anything, including turkey breast. Not sure how I'm going to get her to take it.
I've also been instructed to take her temperature. Of course the only thermometer I have is solar powered and it's been in a drawer for months, so I have it charging in an east facing window.
If she has a fever we need to take her in ASAP. If not, and the cerenia doesn't help, we will have to bring her in tomorrow.
Of course this is all with the vet that I don't particularly like. If I have to bring her in, can I request that she never leave my sight? This vet likes to take the dog out of the room for examination.
Not sure how I'm going to get her to take it.
These ideas may help:
Hide Your Pet’s Pills with Food, Pastes, Pockets, Masks and Treats
and
How to Pill a Dog or Cat
If I have to bring her in, can I request that she never leave my sight? This vet likes to take the dog out of the room for examination.
This makes me crazy too. I've read articles from vets who say that a lot of times vets have good reasons for doing it, since many pet parents would get too nervous around certain procedures and interfere with the process. But you can always ask to go back. Have you tried with this vet? Some will be OK with it. If they say no, ask for an explanation.
Good luck today, we're crossing our paws that this works for her.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
She's usually really good with pills but she's refusing to eat.
She's got a fever of 104.9 so we're heading in. I called our regular vet, and some housecall vets and the verdict was to take her back to the specialist.
Likely her white blood cell count is down and they'll need to do diagnostic bloodwork and give IV fluids/antibiotics.
I was told I can talk to a manager about staying with her but they normally don't allow it. It's not that I don't trust them; I'm her mama, and she's sick. I want to be there with her.
Please keep us posted. Sending healing thoughts and hoping they can quickly fix her right up.
Hugs,
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
Glad you are taki g her in. Let them know you have a calming a d reassuring energy with Madison. That you, yourself will remain. calm. And then flat out BEG them to let you stay with her. Tell them because of this stupid piece of crap disease every second together is precious...even at the vet!
Let's get you feeling better Madison!!
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!
At the vet, in the waiting room. 30 minutes to find out the blood work results. Fever came down to 104.2 on their measure.
If the white count is too low they will have to hospitalize her. Hoping it's high enough to bring her home.
Texting my best friend, she asked if there was anything she could do- I said get me in the back room. She (jokingly) responded that she would call and tell them there's something in the parking lot to see and to run for it when they walked outside. I chuckled myself to tears.
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