Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ugh. I don't know what to do. I'd love your candid thoughts, please. I know most of us aren't vets, but give me your gut response, please:
We had his titers done for all vaccines and he's below the threshold of protection for just distemper. Not majorly, but enough that he'd be susceptible. Distemper is a respiratory infection that spreads mostly by nose-to-nose contact. Jackson doesn't get nose-to-nose contact, since he's a grumpy old man. But, we do live in a dog-concentrated area, so I guess it's possible he could pick it up from the environment...if that's even possible. It's a scary thought to know he's susceptible!
It is NOT possible to just vaccinate him for just this 1 virus. My vet has tried hard to get just that 1 vaccine, but it's not happening. So we'd have to vaccine Jackson with the 4-way-combo shot - so three more viruses than what he needs.
His vet and onco are totally OK with vaccinating him with this 4-way. Then again, they both have nothing to say about diet and supplements for fighting cancer or changing urine pH... His vet thinks his risk of getting distemper is low, but no one has a crystal ball.
Dr D remains anti-vaccine for dogs with cancer.
We're 18 months out and still no problems. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to J after this shot. I also couldn't live with myself if he got distemper, a 100% preventable infection.
For some added backbone, superstar Charley hasn't had any vaccines since he was first diagnosed (3+ years ago!).
So.... do I vaccinate Jackson for distemper (and 3 others he doesn't need)? Or not, and continue holding my breath (for mets and distemper)?
Thank you,
Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Katy,
So, Seven isn't a cancer patient, but he has his share of health problems. He's 12 yrs old now, and I've only had him a year. I don't know if he's ever had vaccinations, but I'm sure he hasn't had any in the last 10 years based on his history. His health was very precarious when I adopted him...he has a neurological disorder, it was though that he was having seizures but that's actually not the case, and he was having liver problems. Both Seven's primary care vet and his internal medicine specialist have advised me not to vaccinate him. The internal medicine specialist says that most of these diseases are "puppyhood" diseases because of the lack of immune system and that it's highly unlikely that an adult dog (especially one that has actually had vaccinations at some point) is going to get one of them. Also, he said it depends on where you live...if you are in an area where he's unlikely to come in contact with another animal that has one of these diseases because they haven't been vaccinated then it's again highly unlikely that Jackson will become infected.
I know this is a tough decision. I'm not always sure not vaccinating Seven is the right choice, but I see the logic behind it. It he didn't have other health issues it would be another story. You have to decide which is the lesser of two evils.
Hugs,
Carol
Katy, for what it's worth, Polly had to stop all vaccines with the exception of rabies, when she developed immune mediated thrombocytopenia shortly after turning 3 years old. We never had titers checked for anything, and just decided early on to not vaccine and take our chances. Even with her immune system already compromised at an early age, the only things she developed later in life, unfortunately, were 2 different cancers.......she wasn't around other dogs all that much, but still in and out of our vets office every 3 months or less for the rest of her life, and we went out for walks often. I would think even with a low titer, he would still have enough natural immunity at his age to fight it. If it were me, I would pass on the vaccine but I also know that it is something you need to process for yourself and sweet boy Jackson.
Best wishes...
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
I wouldn't do it. I agree with Bonnie & Carol. With that said, I totally understand the "what ifs" and itt's easy for me to say from this vantage point. Thinking of you, my friend.
Hugs,
Amy & Spirit Libby
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Katy,
We also went through should we have any vaccines any longer. We came to the conclusion since his age and vaccines up to being diagnosed with OSA, the negative far outweighed the positive. Both our internist and onco believe that it's not necessary either. Wish you the best in your decision, they aren't easy sometimes in this process for sure, but I will say it seems Jackson is doing very well.
Good thoughts,
Esther and her Snoop
I will add my 2 cents here. We discussed it with Dr Boyer when Sassy was a live and we thought maybe she would get to December when her vaccinations were due again. We did not vaccinate the 1st year and would have only did rabies because that was due and its not a live virus. Dr Boyer said she wanted her immune to be fighting the cancer not the vaccinations.
I am sorry that J is having this problem with the titer of distemper. I can say I am glad I am not making that decision 
but I don't think I would unless you really think he is at risk
Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I was just looking at Dr. Loops' website, here's what he says about vaccines:
In chronic disease such as cancer, vaccinations are very stressful and should always be avoided unless very extenuating circumstances merit their use.
and another article that may help you decide: Vaccinations After a Cancer Diagnosis
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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Candid, right? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!
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!
It's a hard decision...I have to make it to. I know Dr D has said absolutely not, but your Onco and Dr. Hoho (Jill's onco) both say vaccines are OK.........I am still not sure what to do. I definitely wont vaccinate her in the leg thats for sure, but thats really a cat problem, so if she is vaccinated Hoho wants it in her tail, which is a whole new thing.
I've kind of been putting off the decision for a while now......I'm just not sure WHO to believe when it comes to this one....
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
If it were me, I would not. We didn't vaccinate Jake after he was diagnosed, with the approval of both is onco and family vet. Our family vet is actually the one who told me about the cancer/vaccine connection. She wrote us a waiver for the rabies vaccine as well. Our onco's advice was "absolutely not". She also said that you don't want to introduce anything potentially harmful to an already compromised immune system and I agree.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
OK! With your support and confirmation that I won't be denying Jackson anything (much), I've cancelled his booster vaccine. We'll continue to keep him away from other dogs and go from there!
Thank you for your candor and support. I realize this is sort of a biased community, but you all had such great ways of looking at this and relaying your own stories.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
I just want to add that vaccine titers only measure humoral immunity (circulating antibodies). They do not measure the cellular immunity response. If your dog is exposed to a distemper virus both the humoral and cellular systems work together to fend off the virus. For this reason I am not a big proponent of vaccine titers since a low level does not indicate poor protection. I would refer you to many studies by Dr Ron Schulz an immunologist at the UW-Madison Vet School.
Your dog should be fine without any more distemper or parvo vaccines. For those that live in Lyme or Lepto endemic areas I would still consider those vaccines in cancer dogs only if the exposure/risk of disease is high.
Pam
Pam do you have any thoughts in Jill getting the vaccine for upper respiratory infections (I think it's the frv or fhv?). Her onco said she definitely doesn't need rabies since she's very strictly indoors (we live in the ninth floor of an apt building in NYC she cant get outside).
But her onco does think its worth her getting the frv or fhv vaccine (I can't remember which she said!) but in her tail. Any thoughts would be appreciated!!! To recap- she is now 18 months post amputation for OSA and had four rounds of chemo. Last chest rads two months ago were all clear.
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Dr Pam! Outstanding reasoning. I'm sold and feeling more comfortable. Thank you. I'm content with my decision to keep vaccines out. He's not due for rabies until Jan/Feb....if we make it, so no worries there.
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Pam we SO appreciate your insight, thank you! I would like to write an article about vaccine titers, is it OK if I quote you on that? Thanks!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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