He is the author of the Pet Insurance Toolkit, a free downloadable book that helps pet parents understand pet insurance policies.

Dr. Kenney’s goal is to share a veterinarian’s perspective on pet insurance by highlighting things he feels are essential in a pet insurance policy, based on common conditions seen at the typical veterinarian’s office. He also provides a free, regular podcast that gets into the details of how pet insurance works.

For tips on choosing the best policy fo your pup, don’t miss Dr Kenney’s Pet Insurance Guide Podcast in the Tripawds Downloads blog!

Join us in the Tripawds Chat Room during the show or post your questions in this Forum.

*You need not call in to hear this show! Tune in live or listen later on Tripawd Talk Radio.

Date: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Time: 3:30pm PDT (4:30 MT, 6:30 Eastern)
Duration: 30 min.
Call In Number: (310) 388-9739*

Tune In Here: How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance Policy
Share Link: bit.ly/ttr051312

When shopping for a pet health insurance policy, please consider these Pet Insurance Providers.

Recommended Reading:

Pet Insurance Guide Podcast Helps You Decide on the Best Policy
Understanding 24Petwatch Pet Health Insurance
Guide to Understanding Pet Health Insurance
Why Pet Insurance Is A Good Idea
Learn How to Choose a Pet Insurance Plan
Navigating the Pet Health Insurance Maze

As more people understand that many of the same physical therapy principles applied to humans can also benefit dogs of all ages and health conditions, more canines than ever are enjoying pain-free lives.

Dog Rehab Gives Spree a Pain-Free Life

Spree is the perfect example of how canine rehab helps. At just a few weeks old, Spree didn’t look like she would have a good quality of life ahead of her.

She was born with a poorly formed skeletal structure that if left untreated would have subjected her to a life of terrible pain.

Luckily, her parent Connie Fredman of Canine Health Resort instinctively knew that she could provide her with a great life through surgery and dedicated rehabilitation therapy from herself and Rogers.

Today, Rogers performs weekly rehab work on Spree at Fredman’s home, as seen in the following video. Spree still has severe elbow arthritis in her remaining front limb and sore neck muscles which is typical for a front-leg Tripawd.

Please note: this video is not meant to be an instructional “how-to” dog physical therapy video, but rather to show how physical therapy can help. One look at Spree’s totally relaxed state, and you can tell she is loving it! Read below to learn more about this courageous dog, and how the dedication of Rogers and Fredman have helped to give her an excellent quality of life against all odds.

Never perform these manipulations on your dog without first consulting a professional canine rehabilitation therapist.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Spree Bounces Back Despite All Odds

As a puppy, orthopedic specialist exams revealed that the best way to help Spree lead a better life would be to amputate her poorly formed front right leg. Spree became a Tripawd at just 15 weeks old.

Several months later, surgeons told Fredman that Spree needed a bilateral FHO surgery, which requires removal of the head of the poorly formed femur, in order to grow a new joint built with the hind leg muscles.

Although FHO leaves a dog without hip joints, the procedure gets the leg to attach to the body by muscle alone, similar to how a dog’s shoulder blade attaches to the body. Smaller dogs like Spree are better candidates for this surgery but some larger dogs can also do well afterward.

Many parents would have given up after hearing this recommendation, but not Fredman. Rogers had already been performing gentle physical therapy routines on Spree and even bathtub swim sessions. Spree’s recovery from FHO surgery, however, had its challenges.

Because she was so young when her surgeries occurred, the brain’s neuromuscular pattern that dogs normally develop didn’t instinctively occur with Spree.

As a result, typical behaviors such as “sit” were extremely challenging. It took four months and two people performing regular rehab sessions just to teach her how to sit properly.

Today, Spree is a happy, healthy adult dog and lives a great life with Fredman’s large pack at the resort. Although Spree requires ongoing weekly physical therapy sessions and pain management with tools such as Rimadyl, Dasuqin, Adequan and fish oil, if you took one look at her you would never know that she had such a tough start in life.

Many thanks to Fredman and Rogers for allowing us to be a part of Spree’s therapy session. If you’re in Northern Colorado, be sure to contact Good Life Physical Therapy for Animals to learn about how she can help your Tripawd lead a better, pain-free life. For boarding care after surgery at Colorado State University, contact Connie Fredman at Canine Health Resort. 

Recommended Reading:

 Tripawds Recover and Relax at Canine Health Resort
When a Tripawd Needs another Leg Surgery
Tripawd Rehab Tips and Videos from California Animal Rehabilitation Center

Since we aren’t dog rehabilitation experts, we wanted to learn when and how to properly utilize a wheel chair for a three legged dog. We spoke with two of the world’s leading experts in dog wheelchair design and usage, Amy Kramer PT, DPT, CCRT, of California Animal Rehabilitation Center, and Leslie Grinnell, President of Eddie’s Wheels from Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

Is it Time for a Dog Wheel Chair?

The loss of a limb presents different challenges for a dog than a human, Kramer tell us. The advantage to being a canine amputee is that a dog has three legs to distribute its weight over, instead of just one remaining leg that humans have.

Despite a Tripawd’s adaptability, a three-legged dog can often benefit from immediate use of a wheel chair, especially if the dog already has per-existing physical ailments like arthritis, she explains.

Grinnell adds that using a wheelchair on the longest walk of the day may decrease the damage to the spinal cord, elbows, carpus and rear legs, which are common age-related issues for front and rear Tripawds. “Think of the wheelchair as preventive medicine against the wear and tear of being three-legged,” she explains.

Click here to view the embedded video.

According to Kramer, Tripawd parents should always keep an eye out for signs that their dog may need a cart. For example:

• If your dog cannot walk comfortably without rest for more than 30 feet, you may want to talk to a qualified veterinary rehabilitation therapist.
• If after an extensive pain management, rehabilitation and acupuncture treatment regimen your dog is still showing signs of pain, a cart might be the ticket to new found freedom and mobility.

And if you do obtain a cart, don’t worry about your three-legged hero becoming too dependent on it to get around. “A cart is not ever detrimental to the patient’s health and fitness,” says Kramer. However, she reiterates that it “should only be needed if they are showing other signs of difficulty with gait.”

How to Choose and Buy a Dog Wheel Chair

To the untrained eye, all dog wheel chairs might seem alike, but it’s critical to know the differences between a custom well-built cart that lasts a lifetime and a cheap mass-produced knock-off.

According to Grinnell, the biggest difference between her company’s dog wheelchairs and the lower-priced models built in China, is that Eddie’s Wheels takes every dog’s physical situation into consideration before building the customized cart in their Shelburne Falls factory. The first question Grinnell’s staff asks a potential customer is, ‘Tell us about your dog.’

“We know that this dog is pretty special if someone is looking into the cart option, so we take down the dog’s story and how it became disabled. We ask questions like ‘how long has he been coping with a disability?’ because a dog who has been three-legged for 10 years is going to have other issues besides just missing a limb. Usually the carpus has collapsed or the elbows are worn out, or there may be lumbar spine issues or ACL problems in the rear legs. So we want a complete picture of the dog’s anatomical and medical challenges. We often ask for a side view and overhead view photo. Many tripods develop a spinal curvature that we will take into account if necessary,” she says.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As a pet parent with two bi-pawd dogs at home (Willa, Webster and Sweet Pea, as seen above), Grinnell’s company has firsthand experience with the issues that physically challenged dogs face. “We think of our dogs as our research and development team. We really do test our products on animals!” she says.

Unlike prefabricated, low cost wheel chairs for dogs, Grinnell says that an Eddie’s Wheels cart will always have customized features. “For amputees, we calculate the weight of the missing rear leg and install a counterweight on the side of the amputation to keep the cart balanced and minimize the danger of tipping over,” says Grinnell. The company can also “splay the frame wider to allow for the wide stance many tripods develop, and make the saddle accommodate the enlarged musculature we see on some three-legged dogs.”

Finally, Grinnell says that Eddie’s Wheels also makes the only front wheel cart for front leg amputees, which enables these dogs to sniff, run and sit in their wheels while preventing the “bunny hop” walk that leads to stiffness later in life.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When Affordability is an Issue

The benefits of a custom-built dog wheel chair are obvious, but oftentimes affordability is a big issue. A custom Eddie’s Wheel cart can cost anywhere from $325.00 to $650.00 depending on factors such as the size of the dog, the type of wheels needed to match their exercise terrain and many other custom design features. Although wheel chairs are covered in some pet insurance policies like VPI and Pets Best, this expense is often a barrier for financially-distressed pet parents. For these customers, Grinnell says that getting creative is often the path to obtaining one.

“We have found that many people are very successful in making online fundraisers and even within their communities many people will contribute to help a handicapped dog get the help they need. We’ve encouraged people to work with their local pet store to do fundraisers for carts by providing brochures, posters etc.”

These organizations in our Tripawds Financial Resources Document might also be able to help.

“We also have a stock of donated used carts and if one fits, we are happy to sell it at a reduced price, refurbishing and customizing for a new dog,” says Grinnell.

Know Your Tripawd’s Limitations

As Tripawd parents already know, dogs adapt much better to challenging circumstances than humans do. For most Tripawds it only takes about a week to learn how to use a properly fitted and professionally built dog wheelchair after fine-tuning is made through the help of Eddie’s Wheels staff and their YouTube instructional videos. When a Tripawd is allowed to use his new wheel chair after taking a long, tiring walk without one, the dog will often instinctively understand that the supporting wheels provide respite and relief.

But regardless of whether or not a Tripawd is ready for a wheel chair, says Kramer, “All amputee pet owners should understand their pet’s limitations due to being an amputee, as well as have a home exercise and stretching program designed for their pet.”

She adds that as a Tripawd ages, pet parents need to be on the lookout for signs that might indicate there is an issue in one of the dog’s remaining limbs.

To learn how to spot potential ailments that could affect your Tripawd, find see a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner near you.

Please note that Tripawds has no affiliation with any dog wheelchair manufacturer, nor do we have personal experience using a wheelchair for either Tripawds Founder Spirit Jerry or Tripawds Spokespup Wyatt Ray.

If you have experience using a wheelchair for your dog, please provide feedback with a comment below. Or post any questions in the Hopping Around Discussion Forum.

Recommended Reading:

Eddies Wheels: Front Wheel Carts for Forelimb Disabilities
Tripawds News Blog: California Animal Rehabilitation Tips and Videos for Tripawds
Tripawds Downloads Blog: Financial Resources for Tripawd Pawrents

See you tomorrow!

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Time: 3:00pm PST (4:00 MT, 6:00 Eastern)
Duration: 30 min.
Call In Number: (310) 388-9739*

Tune In Here: Metronomic Chemotherapy for Canine Cancer
Share Link: bit.ly/ttr020812

*You do not need to call to hear the show. Listen live here and join us in the chat room or call (310) 388-9739 with your questions. If you can’t listen live, a podcast will be available after the broadcast.

Learn How to Fight Dog Cancer with Metronomic Chemotherapy

Dr. Biller’s research primarily focuses on the interactions between the anti-tumor immune response and metronomic chemotherapy. One of her most recent studies was for the  Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) during which she evaluated metronomic chemotherapy treatment on dogs with soft-tissue sarcomas.

For this study, Dr. Biller wanted to learn more specifics on how to treat dogs using metronomic chemotherapy protocols. She says:

“Even though veterinarians have been using metronomic chemotherapy on patients, we have been guessing on important factors like what drugs we should use, what dose is needed and at what intervals we should treat the patient. We hope to determine some of those factors.”

Join us in the Tripawds Live Chat during the show! We will be taking your calls and questions for Dr. Biller.

Recommended Reading:

Tripawds News Blog: A Look at Colorado State University’s Animal Cancer Center

Tripawds News Blog: Morris Animal Foundation Studies Metronomic Chemotherapy

Tripawds Discussion Forums: Tips and Resources: Jerry’s Metronomic Chemotherapy Experience

DISCLAIMER: Information provided at Tripawd Talk Radio and Tripawds.com is not a substitute for medical care by a qualified veterinary professional. Always seek the advice of a licensed veterinarian prior to making any medical decisions about your dog’s health. Tripawds.com is not responsible or liable, for any damages resulting from the use (or misuse) of information contained in or implied herein.

Mark your calendar now for a special Tripawd Talk Radio show about the latest metronomic chemotherapy breakthroughs for cancer dogs, with the world-renowned Dr. Barbara Biller, Veterinarian and Assistant Professor of Oncology at Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center.

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Time: 3:00pm PST (4:00 MT, 6:00 Eastern)
Duration: 30 min.
Call In Number: (310) 388-9739*

Tune In Here: Metronomic Chemotherapy for Canine Cancer
Share Link: bit.ly/ttr020812

*You do not need to call to hear the show. Listen live here and join us in the chat room or call (310) 388-9739 with your questions. If you can’t listen live, a podcast will be available after the broadcast.

Dr. Biller Shares Metronomic Chemo Research News

We are so thrilled to have Dr. Biller join us! The primary focus of her research is on the interactions between the anti-tumor immune response and metronomic chemotherapy. We learned about Dr. Biller’s work when we read about her study for Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), for which she evaluated metronomic chemotherapy treatment on dogs with soft-tissue sarcomas.

During the study, it was Dr. Biller’s mission to learn more specifics on how to treat dogs using metronomic chemotherapy protocols. She says:

“Even though veterinarians have been using metronomic chemotherapy on patients, we have been guessing on important factors like what drugs we should use, what dose is needed and at what intervals we should treat the patient. We hope to determine some of those factors.”

Dr. Biller is also involved in a number of collaborative studies with investigators at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and the Garden State Cancer Center evaluating immunotherapies in dogs with lymphoma and brain tumors.

Join us in the Tripawds Live Chat during the show! We will be taking your calls and questions for Dr. Biller.

Recommended Reading:

Tripawds News Blog: A Look at Colorado State University’s Animal Cancer Center

Tripawds News Blog: Morris Animal Foundation Studies Metronomic Chemotherapy

Tripawds Discussion Forums: Tips and Resources: Jerry’s Metronomic Chemotherapy Experience

DISCLAIMER: Information provided at Tripawd Talk Radio and Tripawds.com is not a substitute for medical care by a qualified veterinary professional. Always seek the advice of a licensed veterinarian prior to making any medical decisions about your dog’s health. Tripawds.com is not responsible or liable, for any damages resulting from the use (or misuse) of information contained in or implied herein.

If you have purchased and read our first e-book, we would love to hear your suggestions in the comments field below and in this accompanying forum post, about how we can make the second edition even better.

Readers, please tell us:

• what was the most / least useful content in the book?
• what you did / didn’t like about the material
• which book sections need improvement or editing
• did we give enough examples for each type of Tripawd? For example, did we share enough information about senior dogs, puppies, dogs with or without cancer, etc.
• what can we do to improve the book layout

We would also love to hear which forum posts and Tripawds blog content published after October 2010 (the book’s publication date) would be most helpful to include in the new edition.

Since Three Legs & a Spare is essentially a compilation of the best material found throughout the Tripawds community, we want to know which newer Tripawd stories, anecdotes and blog posts you feel would help potential new Tripawds pawrents. Don’t be shy, we’re happy to include your Tripawd’s story too!

And of course, feel free to share anything else about your experience with this canine amputation guide. We want to ensure the next edition of the book is better than ever. Thanks.

Because, prednisone is a serious drug that can have mild to serious side effects, let’s take a minute to discuss how you can make the most of this therapy without putting your Tripawd at risk.

What is Prednisone?

This steroid drug, usually prescribed in pill form, is used to reduce inflammation, redness and swelling in the body caused by auto-immune disorders, cancers and other diseases affecting the immune system. Prednisone is not a chemotherapy drug, but is used in conjunction with chemotherapy protocols to treat dog cancers such as mast cell cancer, lymphosarcoma and lymphoma. The dosage will vary depending on the disease being treated.

Prednisone works fast by decreasing the immune system’s response to inflammation and pain. It affects nearly every system in the body and should be used with extreme care, only when necessary and rarely for long-term use.

When to Take Prednisone

Recently Dr. Demian Dressler, author of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide, stated in this blog post that veterinary overuse of prednisone has given this class of cortisone drugs a bad rap. Many diseases can be better managed with less serious drugs, but some vets are too quick to reach for this fast-fix. Consequently, a significant number of dogs experience prednisone’s serious side effects when they really don’t need to.

While prednisone can cause serious side effects such as poor wound healing, thinning fur and skin and even diabetes or Cushing’s Disease, prednisone does provide many benefits, such as managing cancer’s side effects in dogs. However, prednisone should always be used with caution and only under direct veterinary supervision.

To reduce your dog’s risk of experiencing the downside of prednisone, always get a firm diagnosis of the condition you are trying to treat and ask your vet to give you a definite time-frame for starting and stopping treatment. You’ll also want to use the least potent form possible to alleviate symptoms.

What to Expect

Many dogs will experience insatiable thirst and frequent urination while taking prednisone. Since your dog will want to drink more water than usual, and in turn, urinate more often, give your dog the prednisone in the morning. Allow as much water as your dog wants, but adjust your schedule so that your dog can eliminate outside. To avoid nighttime indoor accidents, don’t hesitate to remove water a few hours before bedtime.

Your dog may be hungrier than usual. Keep your dog’s weight in check by only feeding healthy, low-cal treats such as green beans and celery inbetween meal times. Baby-proof your house; your dog may eat weird things that he normally wouldn’t.

A rarer but more serious side effect can include stomach ulcers and personality changes. Do not give your dog predinisone if she is also on an anti-inflammatory medication such as Rimadyl or aspirin. Watch for black tarry stools or vomiting, which can be signs of stomach ulceration. If you notice a severe personality change in your dog, call your vet.

The sooner your dog can complete treatment with prednisone the better, but never, ever change or stop the prednisone dose without consulting your vet first. Doing so may put your dog’s immune system into shock. For dogs battling cancer, your vet may want to keep your dog on a long-term, low dose regimen which usually requires regular monitoring.

Jerry’s Prednisone Story: Share Yours Too

Back when I was being treated for later stages of my osteosarcoma lung metastasis, my oncologist prescribed prednisone and albuterol, a  bronchodilator, to help alleviate lung inflammation. I was coughing so much that my lungs hurt, and the predinsone was supposed to help make me feel better. Well, it did and it didn’t. It made me hungry again and I also stopped coughing so much, but at the same time my pawsonality changed so much that I just didn’t feel like the same dog. I didn’t continue on this therapy once my pawrents and I decided that we wanted to live out the last bit of my time on earth without experiencing side effects from drugs.

If you have experience using prednisone as part of your dog’s cancer regimen, please share it in the comments section below or in this Discussion Forums post. Thanks for sharing your story so that it may help others.

Recommended Reading

Dr. Demian Dressler: Prednisone for Dog Cancer
Veterinary Partner.com: Prednisone / Prednisolone
The Bichon Frise Club of America: Prednisone, the Good and the Bad
Tripawds News Blog: Stop the Presses, I’m Feeling Good Today!
Tripawds News Blog: Saying Goodbye: How We Knew (Part 1)

NOTE: Please remember to buy from a Vet-Vipps Accredited Pharmacy when buying online!

Radiographs will typically show if the cancer has metastasized to the lungs. If it has, amputation is discouraged due to the poor prognosis of this condition.

While x-rays are standard protocol, they are imperfect. As Dr. Hady says in this Tripawds blog post, radiographs can only pick up lesions larger than 3 mm.

Another problem with radiographs is that it may be hard to distinguish between a lung met and an alveoil. With X-rays, a tumor can only be seen from a few angles. If possible, always choose a vet who uses digital x-rays over film, which will show more detail.

Vets tell us that even if lung metastasis isn’t seen on x-rays, it’s there, but in microscopic size (known as micrometastasis). Still, if mets are invisible on x-rays, amputation and chemotherapy is usually encouraged because it’s assumed that even with micrometastasis, our dogs have a fighting chance at beating the odds.

What if CT Scans are an Option?

If you want a more accurate picture of what’s happening in your dog’s lungs, you may want to consider a CT scan before amputation. CT scans are more expensive than radiographs, but they’re best at detecting small abnormalities, such as metastatic cancer in the lungs. CT scans require general anesthesia and sometimes contrasting agents must be injected into the body to enhance the images.

We bring this to your attention because recently, Tripawds member Zeus posted in his blog about what happened when his pawrents opted for a CT scan instead of radiographs.

If you are in the early stages of diagnosing bone cancer and considering amputation for your dog, we advise you to read Zeus’ post about what happened when the CT scan results came back, and his pawrents had to decide whether or not to proceed with treatment anyways.

Here’s an excerpt from his blog post,  “Zeuspod: The Story Begins”

” . . . A few days later the vet called with the devastating news that the radiologist reported a lesion on a lung and a lesion on the liver.  Without further biopsies, the lesions could not be confirmed as cancer, but it is likely cancer.  Obviously, this led us down the road of thinking “the mets are visible so chemo will likely not help.”

We thought we were part of the unlucky bunch that would only have, according to the statistics, three or four months (or less) with our baby.  Additionally, we couldn’t leave the leg on due to the immense pain and the risk of it breaking just during walking and causing even more excruciating pain.

Was it fair to Zeus to remove the leg and go through the pain and recovery when he would only just recover before succumbing to the cancer?  I will admit that euthanasia was on our minds. Then something occurred to us. . . “

continue reading Zeus’ story here

We hope this will help you as you decide the best option option for your pup and your pack. Always keep in mind that there are no “right” decisions, just the one that works best for all of you. And whether or not you choose to amputate, we are here to help any way we can. Since we’re not vets, if there is any information here that you want to add to or clarify, please don’t hesitate to do so in the comments below. Thanks!

Recommended Reading:

ZeusPod: the Story Begins
Tripawds News Blog: Dr. Hady Demystifies MRIs and CT Scans
Dr. Dressler’s Dog Cancer Blog: Can a Dog Cancer Diagnosis Be Wrong?
Dr. Dressler’s Revised Dog Cancer Guide

Why Pet Insurance Is A Good Idea

If you are new to the world of pet ownership, you may still be coming to grips with the basics. One essential topic that you should address as quickly as possible is pet insurance. Many cat and dog owners do not realize that it can take a number of days or even weeks for a new insurance policy to become valid and, for this reason, it’s important to select appropriate cover as early as possible.

Young paws have a habit of getting into mischief and one of the major benefits of pet insurance is accident cover. This can help protect your companion and your wallet should your pet sustain an injury in an accident and require veterinary treatment. In some instances, policies can also cover the cost of any damage to another person’s property caused accidentally by your pet.

Competition in the market has driven down cat and dog insurance costs in recent years and has also led to variation in the products available on the market. As a result, there are lots of good deals to be had and you may find you are able to net a discount for buying your insurance online, purchasing cover for more than one pet, or insuring a neutered or chipped pet.

In addition to choosing from an annual or whole of life policy, you are also able to select differing levels of cover; from the most basic and capped accident cover, you can also get policies that will even make provisions for rewards should your pet be lost or stolen.

The type of cover you choose will depend a lot on your individual pet’s needs and your financial circumstances, though if you are a new pet owner and have a young animal to look after it may be sensible to opt for whole-of-life cover. This type of insurance can be more difficult to gain later on in your pet’s life should they be unlucky enough to develop an on-going condition that could also raise the cost of annual insurance. That said, policy providers often place a cap on the amount of money that can be claimed for the treatment of certain illnesses, so, always be sure to check the exact details of any cover you take out.

One final reason to take out pet insurance is that it can often help you as well as your pet. As previously mentioned, many pet insurers now include extras in some of the higher cover policies that can include financial provision for boarding your feline or canine friend in kennels, should you need to go into the hospital for a few days. In this way, pet insurance can provide peace of mind for both you and your pet whatever circumstances should arise.