Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives

Hi All,

Just wanted to check in and update about Harley.  He just had his 5th chemo treatment of Carboplatin.  His neutrophils were a little under the lowest normal value this time and the last TX but not too low to not do the chemo treatment.  He has one more TX to go in 3 weeks and will get chest x-rays and repeat bloodwork on the same day.  Hoping everything remains clear!  His polyneuropathy has progressed a bit so he's more spastic on the hind end but he'll still go for a couple of walks every day.  They are not organized nor are they ever boring as Harley does what Harley wants.  He's still very head strong but we've adjusted to just letting him wander but staying close in case he decides to go off on a tangent.  Like a few days ago, I thought he was following along behind me as we were heading back to the vehicle but when I turned to check, he was making a beeline for the dog park   so I had to sprint to get to him before he got to the dog park.... yikes!!   He's very random with other dogs so he never gets to go to the dog park.  We've never been dog park people.   Why is he not on leash?  Because as soon as you put the leash on, he flops.  And won't get up.  HA!  So we have to do the "okay bye" to get him to go where we want him to go or we have to use high value treats, but that often does not go as planned either.  About 5 days ago he decided to go down this steep hill in this park we walk in.  It took me 2.5 hours to get him back up to the top.  Much profanity and several melt-downs later......   Some of it was because he just wasn't strong enough or because I wasn't strong enough but most of it was because he was not very cooperative.  Thank goodness for the Ruffwear harness .    Oh, and last week he was counter-surfing.....   A 10+ year old tri-pawd and he's still a handful

Oncologist was a bit concerned about him losing weight but he eats like a champ so we just upped his daily calorie intake for the second time.  Pre-amp he weighed in the 89 to 90 pound range.  We didn't get a weight right after amputation but at his first vet visit a couple of weeks after amp, he was around 86 pounds which we thought was a bit high considering he just lost a whole leg.  He's now just over 80 pounds but was 83 at his first Onco. appointment.  We figure he was just burning more calories than he was taking in and the extra calories he'll be getting should get him back up to the 82 to 83 pound range.  

jerry said
GO HARLEY! This is the best news all day! I'm really happy that you got the clear scans back, and are making plans to have a fantastic summer with your #1 fur kid!

Did his weight ever stabilize? Just curious.

Spoil him rotten, he sure deserves it 🙂 Thanks for stopping by with the great news, we are celebrating with you!

  

Yes  weight stabilized in the 80 to 81 pound range.  His appetite is VERY good.  In fact, he gets me up in the morning when he feels that it's time for him to eat.  Which is usually between 5 and 5:30 and he's very insistant.  He pretty much inhales his food.  Nausea was never an issue for him during chemo and his appetite was always normal.  He is even back jumping up on the couch on his own every once in a while.  He is mentally alert and even somewhat hyper at times.  In the afternoon when my husband gets back with the dogs from their walk, he gets out of the vehicle on his own and sprints into the house for his PM meal.  One of these days I will start a blog and get some video/pictures up of the boy so you can see the big meathead  

So - 2 month post Chemo appointment was last week.  All looks great!  Bloodwork all within normal range, chest x-rays clear and he's at a healthy weight.  Oncologist was very pleased with how Harley is doing.  He goes back every 2 months for repeat chest x-rays.  His lar-par does seem to be getting a bit worse.  Likely because of the warmer weather so we've been taking it really easy on walks and we take along plenty of water for him.   He still manages to go 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile.  A bit longer on cooler days and less on warm days.   Tried out his new stroller a few weeks ago - finally.  He likes it quite a bit!  It is easier to get him in and out of the stroller than the wagon where he needs to be lifted.   We do have to put dogs in the vehicle and take them to a nearby park to walk so putting the dogs and the stroller in the vehicle won't work.  Stroller is too big.  The wagon does fold up so it's a bit easier to haul around.