Hi everyone, just a quick question.  I asked the vet as well, but I'm guess you guys are a better source on this particular issue.

So – pre-amputation Ajax fluctuated between 75 and 76 lbs.  Post-amp he was the same, largely due to the fact that he wasn't running around as much and his appetite was never affected (Labrador, anyone?).  We were told he needed his strength for recover and not to change anything which is what we did.  Around 6 mos. post-op we cut back his food a little bit.  This was not a problem as he gets lots of exercise and eats a lot.  We did that just to get his weight down a little bit to spare the remaining back leg.  Vet agreed, and he has been at about 73.6 lbs since then  – over a year. 

Weight before surgery for the MCT was up a little – 76 – I think because he was a conehead due to the MCT and was eating the same but not exercising.

Our chemo routine is vinblastine + prednisone.  Vinblastine was 1x/week for 4 weeks (the last one was today) and then every other week for 4 more treatments.  (then palladia).

So our first chemo was the day he got his stitches out.  Weight went down to about 74.5 in the first couple of weeks, which makes total sense since he was up and at it again.

Since we were warned that prednisone will make him feel starving, we haven't changed his food.  His appetite is steady (of course!).

Anyway, today his weight was 72.8.  Lower than it has been.  Vet said this is to be expected even with no change in appetite due to loss of muscle weight from chemo.  Is not concerned and did not advise any changes.

My question is:  if a) we cut down his food originally to get him to an "ideal" weight of 73.5; and b) he feels starving because of the prednisone and will eat more; and c) he is down a little from his normal weight, should we let him eat a little more to get back to 73.5?   I imagine this is not a big deal, and also adding back fat is not necessarily the same as adding back muscle – but did anyone get/have any advice on this?

Otherwise all is good – still on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and up often in the middle of the night due to prednisone and peeing.  So much fun in NYC when one has to get dressed and go down in an elevator and have human contact every time pup goes out at 3am … going to be a long December and Jan!  But can't complain b/c he is good and wakes us up and never has accidents. 

Thanks

K

So, the new avatar shows off his Tripawd merchandise but you can't see his face.  Going to change it again.

Re above, vet says she'd rather keep food the same and monitor – says it is not unusual for dogs to bounce up and down in weight during chemo.  Also said "he has the best bone marrow of any of my patients".  Not sure what that means, but I'm going to take it as a good thing!

here we go

Ok  – Ajax down to 71.1.  I'm kind of freaking out.  This is down about 3 lbs since he started chemo 5 weeks ago, from an "ideal" weight..  Does this mean he is getting sicker?  Is this just an effect of chemo?  There has been no change in his food amount, exercise amount, or desire for food or exercise, so I"m freaked that he is losing weight. 

Can I feed my poor dog more?  Appetitie is not an issue.  

Oh, regarding the bone marrow thing, Mast Cell can move to the bone marrow, so that's actually VERY, VERY good news!!!

oncologist response:

ok to feed more.
starving perhaps too dire a word for him.  Underweight, maybe…..
keep me updated.

LOL.  My teenage eating disorder vocabulary surfacing to the vet  – oops

Burgers all around.

ps we've been happily eating green Trouble greens but he is a furry genius (and also a Lab) and thus quite clear on the difference between veggies and the good stuff

pps anybody have any concerns about scrambled eggs (for Ajax that is)?