Old age means realizing you will never own all the dogs you wanted to.
~ Roger Caras

While we dogs make the greatest companions, you humans must understand that our lives are not infinite. You will outlive us, and part of the big responsibility of being our guardian is knowing the best way to keep us healthy from puppyhood to the very end.

When I got sick, my people didn’t know what to do or where to start. The first place they went to was the Yahoo Bone Cancer Dogs Group. It was there that they learned about the many different diets, from holisitic to BARF (bones and raw food) to traditional kibble and canned food made for dogs with cancer.

Jerry’s Diet & Supplements

Whatever you decide is best for your tripawd, stick with it. Try not to go overboard. Always introduce new things a little at a time. My people agreed to try three of the most recommended supplements first, along with a slightly different chow menu for me.

The key to helping your dog recover quickly is to keep his weight down!

Before I got sick, I used to eat a half “BARF” diet (Bones and Raw Foods), and half premium Innova Evo kibble diet, so my system was used to good food already. I ate well because when I was about 4, my Mom found out what’s really in commercial dog food. After that, she never fed it to me again – that’s stuff’s bad.

When I got sick, my diet changed a little, now I get really good stuff! It’s pretty good! My diet has changed a little, ever since I began my Metronomic Therapy in March, 2008.

I eat a diet loosely based on something called The Budwig Diet. You can Google it and find lots of information. Or you can also read about it at Shirley’s Wellness Cafe and read about Dr. Budwig there.

Also, my Mom took a BARF class in Eureka, and she got a great book called Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats that is helping her to find the right combinations of a human grade, meat and veggie diet.

Rise & Shine:

Supplements:

• 1 Fish Oil pill
• 1 Glucosamine pill
• K9 Transfer Factor with peanut butter and a holistic biscuit

Medication:

• Cytoxan chemotherapy pill, every other day, (by mouth)

Chowtime:

Food:

• MEAT: Some slabs of raw, meaty chicken, beef or turkey, with bones
• OR, chunks of cooked fish: I love salmon!
• OR, 1/4 Can moist food*

• 1 Cup cottage cheeze, OR a few Tbsp. plain yogurt
• “Above ground” veggie: like leaves of a dark leavy green (kale, chard, collards, or spinach), chopped fine, OR shredded zucchini or broccoli
• “Below ground” veggie, like some shredded carrots
• Fresh herbs if handy (parsley’s great!)
• 1.5 cups Innova Evo Kibble

Medication:

• Metacam (on food)
• Doxycycline (on food)

Supplements:

• 1 Tbsp. flax oil, plain
• 1 Tbsp. Powdered Kelp*
• 1 Tbsp. Powdered Alfalfa
• 1 Vitamin C pill*
• K9 Immunity
• 3/4 Tsp. Synflex Glucosamine Supplement for Pets
  
  
  
  

*Note:

• High quality, no-grain / low-carb canned meat like Natura’s Innova Evo line is best.
• Kelp, alfalfa and green foods in general, like kale are great for dogs with compromised immune systems. Kelp has many essential minerals, and binds with toxins in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent their absorption in the body.
• Fish oil has Omega3 fatty acids, which can help with arthritis, make me more flexible, and keep my cardiovascular system in top shape.
• Flax oil can be found very inexpensively at Trader Joe’s stores.
• If your dog has arthritis like Jerry, they may find yummy relief with Zuke’s Power Bones. Zuke’s makes a treat with glucosamine and chondroitin, and they also contribute to the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund.

A Word About Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Over-the-counter pain relievers are also known as NSAIDs . This group of drugs includes aspirin (plain and buffered), acetaminophen (Tylenol™), naproxen, phenylbutazone, and ibuprofen (Advil™ & Nuprin ™). There is some controversy about the use of NSAIDs for dogs. Please be sure you understand what the risks are and how to look for signs that your dog isn’t taking the drug well. The Yahoo Dog Health2 Group has great information about using discretion with canine pharmaceuticals.

Tripawd Health Videos

The movies in this playlist include Jerry eating raw chicken, putting an end to the myth that dogs can’t eat chicken once and for all! (Just don’t ever cook it first.) You will also see Jerry trying out helpful pet products, and much more! Click the menu button to see available movies.

How a Harness Helps

A Ruffwear Harness can help you help your three-legged dog got up and down stairs – see the movie below. It is also helpful for assisting us tripawd dogs get up when we’re tired. And believe me, we get tired easily. There is also the AST Support Harness for dogs with more serious mobility issues. This harness is very durable and useful. If you try it and it works for you, please let us know.

When to Use Heat and Ice Treatments

After amputation surgery, a cold compress can be used to help reduce swelling. For hip and joint problems, heat helps blood circulate to soothe sore areas.

The Hot-n-Cold Pain Relief Pack from Bella’s Pain Relief Products is a safe, non-toxic ice pack or heating pad that stays put on your pet. See our Bella’s Product Review for more information, and details on how to save 10% on your order.

Indications for use of hot and cold therapy to treat pain should be the same as in sports medicine:

• If there is swelling and pain use ice.
• If there is no swelling, but stiffness is present use heat.
• If this is an acute injury (within first 6 weeks) use ice.
• When in doubt, use ice.

Exercise & Fitness

Once your tripawd recovers from the surgery don’t hesitate to get back into the routine of daily walks. Just consider the following to make the most of your remaining time together.

• Take shorter more frequent walks. Start with just a few blocks at first.
• It’s easier for tripawds to hop along at a quicker pace than it is to walk slowly.
• Watch for signs of exertion and stop to rest as needed.
• Carry water with you, and something to drink from.
• Raise your tripawd’s food and water bowls to make them easier to reach.
• Use a harness (like the Ruffwear Web Master) to assist with stairs and getting up.
• Make or purchase a large thick foam mattress bed.
• Place runners throughout homes with hardwood floors.
• Remember: dogs carry 60% of their weight on the front legs (especially important to consider when exercising us front-legged tripawds)

Back in the Day…

I used to be quite the hiker! But I never quite understood why my people always dragged me out to places like this. Here we are looking down on Canyon Creek Lake after making a crazy scramble to the upper lake – one of my last trips on four legs.

These long walks were always fun, and the swimming was great when we got there, but the trips always made me, well … Dog Tired!

I tire out a bit easier now but it doesn’t keep me from wanting to run and play. Just take a look at the my Tripod Dog Youtube Playlists! I am glad my people try to keep me in check though, because I have a tendency to easily over do it.