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Botched amputation, what now?
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Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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17 January 2018 - 10:33 am
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OVER THE MOON HAPPY TO SEE THIS GREAT UPDATE! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂    OMD!!!   SO HAPPY!! 🙂 🙂

IVAN IS A VERY STRONG AND DETERMINED PUP!!   And he has some strong and determined huans who never gave up and continued to find solutions for Ivan!!  You left no stone unturned!! 🙂

Ivan, I'm really glad you @ove the cold weather and snow!  Mother Nature seems ro be very accommodating!!

STANDING OVATION GOING ON OVER HERE!! 🙂   Ivan's Fan Club is cheering madly for him! 🙂

Love and hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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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!

Michigan


Member Since:
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18 January 2018 - 11:37 am
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I’m sorry I dropped off, I have been off the site helping my dear Gram who was home with hopsice, we lost her over the holidays. Trying to catch up on all my word press mail that has been waiting on me.

Nope we do not think your nuts at all! We are all open minded here! I think being on the site in itself says a lot we are all here joined by the love of our animals and trying to give them the best life possible !

Nothing nuts about that it’s called LOVE!

As Sally said Yes IF it cant hurt and possibly help and we can make it happen we are in! The Farabloc also has research behind it!

I say kudos to you for all the research and advocating for Ivan ! You have a great instinct and that will never steer you wrong !

Purrkins has shown a lot of improvement we have had a few twitches and no episodes since the blanket has arrived. The twitches are not to the extreme that they were when it does happen. He is still on the blanket anytime he lays down! He sleeps so much more peacefully its really a relief for us all !

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Purrkins is indoor only, outside supervised when the seasons allow, so he is indoor more and exposed more the Ivan would be. Less grounding too which I had not hear of until you post.

We are also aware of human effects we figured we couldn’t block them all and got the blanket for Purrkins who was showing symptoms & we will add the cage to the meter .

So glad to hear Ivan is doing so much better & hopping on!!🎉clap

Hugs
Holly & Purrkins❤️

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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18 January 2018 - 8:28 pm
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I'm glad that Ivan is doing so well!!!

You guys had such a rough start- way to hang in there!  So wonderful when we see our pups come back to themselves.

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Member Since:
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19 February 2018 - 5:16 pm
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Ivan Update!

Ivan starts chemotherapy tomorrow. He's been doing *so well* the past 6 weeks, and I firmly believe the CBD supplements have a lot to do with it. His energy has come back, his fur looks better than it has in years (he lost a lot due to allergies), he's gaining weight, eating, playing, and has not lost any of his protective instincts. 

Despite this, my Father still wants to start chemotherapy, even though I do not. I'm not comfortable with taking him to the vet every three weeks for the next few months, and having to deal with a whole new bag of side effects especially after it took him so long to recover from his amputation surgery.

I know the side effects in dogs aren't as bad as they are in humans, but something just doesn't feel right about it. 
If he were solely my dog, I don't think I'd put him through this.
I know it could possibly extend his life, but at this point, I'm just happy to have him how he is now, and I don't want to back track already knowing his time is limited. 

We are going to start with a chest X-Ray to see if his lung mets spread, if they have not, then he would start with chemo (carboplatin) 

Ivan is 8 years old, and was diagnosed in early November. He had his leg amputated on December 4th. His prognosis without chemo is 4-6 months, and we are coming into month 4. His prognosis with chemo is apparently 10-12 months. But I know these aren't always accurate. 

Has anyone put their dog through chemotherapy before? Has anyone had success with it? I'm really nervous about tomorrow. Ivan hates the vet, and hates being handled by strangers. I don't want to take away from what life we have together, but at the end of the day, it's still my fathers decision. I'm starting to feel helpless and worried. 

Guardian to Nikolay the tripawd, Co-Guardian to Ivan the tripawd.

Silas Sebastien 2009 - 2017 

Michigan


Member Since:
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19 February 2018 - 5:44 pm
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I am sure someone will chime in who has done chemo. Glad to hear IVAN is doing so well.

Keep it up Ivan!
Holly & Purrkins ❤️

Member Since:
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19 February 2018 - 6:03 pm
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Hey there!

So good to hear that you are all doing well!!

There are quite a few people in here that have done well with chemo. I'm not one of them but hang tight, I'm sure they'll be in. I just wanted to say hi and wish you well ❤️

Jackie and Huckleberry ❤️

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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19 February 2018 - 8:22 pm
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First of all,  really happy to hear Ivan is enjoying being Ivan!!!   Goodness knkws he had some hurdles, but all that's behind him now! 🙂 🙂

I certainly understand your concerns and, as you know, there are NO guarantees with or without chemo!!

If it helps ease your mind, I wouldn't be too worried about side effects.  The Onco will give Ivan some a ti nausea pills to take home (Cerenia) and possible  pill to jncrease appetite if necessary.  My Happy Hannah did have four rounds of Carboplatin a d had ZERO side effects.  As you already know, should there be side effects (moreso than just "mild" ones) your Dad can always stop AND Ivan should return to "normal".

One big factor in my decision with Happy Hannah was that she did not mind car rides and she did not mknd goi g to the Vet.  That was huge for me, so I completely understand your concern about Ivan and the Vet trps.

My Happy Hannah and I had a glorious extended vo us time of one year and two months.  I HAVE NO IDEA WHATSOEVER JNPF THE CHEMO MADE A Y DIFFERENCE AT ALL!   Our beloved Jarry got two years with NO chemo, some dogs don't even get to finish the rou ds of chemo before the piece of crap disease steps in.  Just no guarantees.

I'm guessi g yiur Dad's driving force is he wa ts ro be certain he has gried EVERYTHING possible for Ivan and he will not jave anh "what ifs...if only", etc.  That's actual a driving force for a lot of us.

One thing I do hope your Dad has clarified with the Onco is the amount  of time that has lapsed between the amp and the treatment is still effective.   I know I waited three weeks for Happy Hannah becaue she was having a rough recovery.  Daniela /(Murphy) waited four weeks.  I'm sure there are cases where six weeks or more apsed, just don't k kw what "statistics" say in those cases...if anythi g at all.

Now,what can be done to make Ivan like his carrides?  Can you take him through a drive--thru each time afterwards (and before too) for a cheeseburger'??  Can you give him special treats during the ride...without. making him puke? 🙂    When he's bei g gien the chemo a Tech will be with him the whole time to help keep him calm.  Maybe they would let you ir your Dad go back with him the first rime for support?  It's worth asking.

On more thought.  Is it lossible a Vet Tech coukd come to the house inbetween treatments to draw blood?   Have no idea if that's plausible at all.

We are all go na continue to cheer for the amaziw Ivan!    He'll do fi e with the chemo.  He's one tough dude!  And he may just be o e of the may who have gotten great extended time as a result!!

We'll be watching for your uldates....And expecting good ones!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Higs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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!

Livermore, CA




Member Since:
18 October 2009
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19 February 2018 - 8:34 pm
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Glad to hear Ivan is doing so well!

As far as chemo- I did do chemo with my Pug Maggie but it was for mast cell cancer so the regimen was different.  She did have a little trouble with nausea but meds took care of that.  Mag's prognosis WITH chemo was 6 to 9 months.  She lived almost 4 years and did not pass from mast cell cancer.  Was it because of the chemo? There is really no way to tell, but I'm thinking it must have helped.

In my mind it is important to take everything into consideration.  While I did do chemo with Maggie's first cancer, I chose to treat her second cancer with a holistic approach.  There were some other health issues, but she did not do well at the vet either.  Mag's little sis Tani also developed mast cell cancer and I went holistic with her too.  Again some other health issues but she was quite a terror at the vet.

See how Ivan does with the first round of chemo.  You can always try and convince your dad to stop chemo if he really does not do well.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Canada
Member Since:
7 July 2017
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20 February 2018 - 12:00 pm
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Hi Candice, Dennis Nikolay and darling, beautiful majestic Ivan! 

My gongases Ivan you are simply stunning in your beautiful white coat!!! I have just finished reading through your journey so far and i am sooooo sorry that you had it so ruff!!! And Nikolay, you have the most incredibly pawsome furmily!!! 

I am going to start off by saying Bloody Well Done on getting through this and for persevering and for just believing that anything is pawsible!!! Please know that you have done and continue to do an amazing job!!! Ivan, you are a Warrior for sure!!! You are battling through like all Great Pyranese do!! My Abbey girl was also a Pyranese, she was so stubborn, she even outdid me sometimes! :0 She and I, okay that’s just an “I”, did many a faceplants into a snowbank or tree, or the rocky beach... oh the beautiful memories! Thank you! 😉 We lost her to brain cancer and unfortunately, although we would have done anything if given the chance! We lost her in 2015, shortly before Stewie came into our lives. I know it sounds absurd, but i honestly believe that Stewie was given to us, as a chance to be able to redeem our feelings and we have been given a chance to DO something for him!!!

Stewie is a 100lb Bernese/Rotty/Retriever, 8yrs old (just turned!) and has just celebrated his 7 MONTH AMPUVERSARY!!! I can’t say he sailed through his surgery, there are a few that have done just that, but he really did do an amazing job, with the help of an amazing vet team. (We live close to a very small town, with a family ran vet clinic, we have been blessed to have found them!!! Anyhow, i digress!) He had his many, many stitches taken out 2 weeks after his surgery and we started Carboplatin Chemotherapy right away.

We did the chemo every 3 weeks and he would have his blood checked the week before each therapy. His veins were sometimes difficult to locate, because the chemo would somehow make his veins weak. (This is something that was confirmed through these lovely people here on site 🙂 So we would need to go to different legs when necessary. And truly Candice and Dennis, these were the worst of Stewie’s side effects. Stewie suffered no nausea, like some of the tripawds here have, we were certainly fortunate in that regard. His appetite was back to normal and he would be super tired for a day or so. In the long term (hehe I do consider 7 months to be long term, isn’t that lovely?!;) i have noticed that he no longer has a good undercoat. I am a retired dog groomer and as I have been brushing his big fluffy, mass of fur, he is left with less and less undercoat. I can’t say that this is due to the chemo as many others have not seen this side effect, sooooo...?? He still had his amazing outer coat still, so he will always be our fluff butt! But we can’t leave him out in the cold anymore. Poor lad loves sitting on his snow banks as all Pyranese love to do too! It makes them feel like they are on their mountains still right! 😉

As usual with all of these amazing people, you have been offered some incredible advice and support and if I may I would like to add my little bit of experience with big, stubborn, beligerent, loving, trusting, and loyal guardians.... They don’t like to be ‘out of control’ like most of our fur babies right? But as you have noted in your amazing signature, they are incredibly loyal guardians! Your big loyal, incredibly independent Ivan is not in complete control anymore and he will be especially sensitive to ‘others’ who are not his hoomans! Especially when being drugged up right? I get it entirely!

Stewie wasn’t always an exceptional patient, but I have worked very hard with him over the 3 years that we have had him in our amazing Pack 🐾 / Pride >^..^< I have learnt some pretty good (& necessary) tactics to avoid a dogs face when doing various things to their sensitive selves. Hehe 😉 Stewie has been a challenge, but now trusts us impeccably. That is not to say that he hasn’t growled at me a few times when he has been upset, pill time can still be a challenge when needed. I ALWAYS STAY CALM AND ASSERTIVE! 

He adores vets as hoomans (all hoomans ruv Stewie!) but he despises and distrusts them as vets! He would get himself into such a state... he knew they were doing something ‘un-natural’ to his body, but he also knew that Mum would not approve of him biting them! 🙁 he did try, I just had to be ready for it, with a calm firm hold on him!) he would be shaking and just right beside himself!!! It wasn’t easy for him! So, each time we went for blood work, i would have to give him anti-anxiety pills! They worked super well! They helped me help him get through some major battles of dog vs Vet Hooman!!!

Here’s what I gave Stewie 2hrs before any blood work or chemo therapy... Trazadone. 2 x 100mg. He was about 105lbs at the time.

Yes he would be wooyz and would be a bit of a challenge to get up and MOVE!! Hehe, i completely understand your frustration of getting the big baloo off the floor when they don’t want to. My little trick and I hope I can explain this well enough...  I hold the leash up and away, so that it is firmly holding Stewies head in the up direction so that he can’t move his head to snap, but by no means holding the leash so that it would be choking him. Then i find the ‘sweet spot’ just behind his ribs,on the lying down side and ‘assist’ him in getting up with pokes in that area. The bigger the dog, the more insistent ‘poke’ you need to give them! Always have control of his head,as he may not like this insistent poke. 😉

My vet team had no problem with me being the ‘holder’ of Stewie during any of his treatments, as they were well aware of how ‘grumpy’ he could get from their past experiences with him! I always maintained ‘pack leader’ mode with him! I am always calm and firm in my ‘handling’ of him. He still will challenge me, but i am always aware of his sensitivities (nails, neck holds etc... you know, all those things that true gaurdians won’t let most hoomans do!!!) 

Ask your vet how Ivan’s anxiety can be helped with when he goes on his (UuuuuGgggghhhh) ! Vet trips? Candice, are you the more ‘assertive’ member of your Pack, or is your Dad the more assertive, calm and firm ‘handler’. I say handler in these situations, i don’t normally like the word, but in these situations, as like ourselves, we need to ‘handle’ some situations, right?! Which ever one of you is this firm, pack leader, this is the hooman that should be with him in his anxious state and treatments. He doesn’t need soft loving, that comes after right?! He needs to know that you have his back on this one!!

Stewie was sooooo much better when I was with him. I realize now though that I was one of the fortunate ones who was allowed in during the chemo treatment. Once again I have to give MAJOR kudos to our vet team, they did the chemo treatment with no second thought with the management of it! (At least that’s how they made it appear to me!) They were EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS with the Carboplatin medicine, ALWAYS AWARE of where and how the medicine was going in to Stewie. We ALL had to stay really still during the treatment and that was the only time that I saw Dr. Laurie & Dr. Bill tense! they made sure that I was always away from any kind of contamination, should Stewie all of a sudden decided to move! We all rocked it!!! Thank Goodness!

It’s great to hear that you are going to have an X-ray before you start chemo that is very typical and also recommended. I am throwing my prayers to the universe for you to have NO GROWTH OF 💩!!! 

Very special spirit kisses to Sebastien, he is soooooo surrounding you with his Loyal and loving spirit!!!

Petra, Paul, Stewie 🐾 and his Pride >^..^< ❤️ 

On July 10/17 I became a Super Tripawd! You can find out more about my Pawrents Allensong but first Check out my 🎗 journey Super Stu Remember...“live in the moment!“  

Germany
Member Since:
14 December 2016
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20 February 2018 - 12:22 pm
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I totally understand your doubts about doing chemo. However, my dog Manni also did 5 rounds of chemo (although alternating between doxorubicin and carboplatin), we had no side effects whatsoever and Manni lived exactly two year from after his amp. So, obviously, I would do it again. 

However, the four months in between that you mentioned would also worry me, I think most of us here started a lot earlier so that is definitely worth checking out again. Also, Petra with Stewie and I seem to be some of the very few that got to stay with their dogs during the actual administrations. Maybe you could find out if that was an alternative for you, too? I really believe it helped my dog a LOT and we were in and out of the vet‘s in an hour. 

Hoping for the very best results!

tina

Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.

Manni's blog -dogblog-

Member Since:
3 July 2017
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22 February 2018 - 11:39 am
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Hey Friends! I have EXCELLENT NEWS!

So Ivan's lung X-Ray shows NO visible cancer mets in his lungs anymore! His blood work came back perfect and his oncologist was very stunned and impressed. We are over the moon about this news. His prognosis went from 2-4 months to 10-12 months!

He had his first treatment of carboplatin two days ago, and so far he's showing no side effects. Just a little sleepy the last day but otherwise he's doing fine. He goes back for his next treatment in three weeks. He hates the vet, but overall he was very well behaved and didn't even need to be sedated for his X-Ray. 

I have to thank each and every person here in this community for being there for me these last three months. Your advice, your kindness, your stories have lifted me up and gotten me through all of this. I'm so grateful. It's such a gift to have a dog that's now a cancer SURVIVOR! Something I never experienced before having lost two of my beloved angels to cancer in the last 8.5 years. 

I'm reading through everyone's chemo stories now, and it makes me feel really hopeful. Thank you so much! My father and I are so happy with this news, and now I can shift my focus to keeping that back leg healthy and strong. 

I'll keep everyone posted about his progress and his next treatment. Also, if you'd like to see more frequent updates on Ivan, I made him a part of my dog Nikolay's Instagram. My two tripawds that I love so dearly. <3 https://www.ins.....laytripod/

Thank you! heartheartheartheartheart

Guardian to Nikolay the tripawd, Co-Guardian to Ivan the tripawd.

Silas Sebastien 2009 - 2017 

Canada
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7 July 2017
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22 February 2018 - 12:12 pm
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Candice, Dennis Nikolay and darling, beautiful majestic Cancer Surving Ivan! The 🛎 🛎 🛎 are ringing for you today you beautiful Giant!!!!! clap

This is such brilliant news today Candice! You have no idea!! Thank you for this fantastic update!!! Way to go Ivan!!! You and Nikolay are soooooo Rockin’ this Tripawd thing!!! 

Miracles happen my darlings, you just have to ask!winker

Oh my gongases, this is fantastic news!! Give your Dad a massive hug and thanks to you both for having such hope and perseverance! You are a very devoted daughter, I take my hats off to you! 

Thanks for the smile today!

Petra, Stewie 🐾 and his Pride >^..^< ❤️ 

On July 10/17 I became a Super Tripawd! You can find out more about my Pawrents Allensong but first Check out my 🎗 journey Super Stu Remember...“live in the moment!“  

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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22 February 2018 - 12:46 pm
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 YOU'VE SEEN THIS HAPPY FACE DOING THE SMILEY HAPPY DANCE FOR IVAN BEFORE.....AND HERE WE GO AGAIN!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂   WONDERFUL NEWS!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂   WE ARE ALL OVER THE MOON HAPPY TOO!!!!!!    THRILLED!!   ABSOLUTELY THRILLED 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂  

Lots of love and hugs and never-ending smiles! 🙂

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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!

Member Since:
1 October 2017
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22 February 2018 - 1:22 pm
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I am so very HAPPY for you!!! 

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Honest to goodness, that is some of the best news I have heard in a long time.... wish I could give ya a hug... 

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There... that is the best I can do from here heart

I will check out your blog when I get home but I HAD to check out your post!!!

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Jackie and Huckleberry heartheart

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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22 February 2018 - 1:39 pm
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This is HUGE! Congratulations and a super big 3-paws up for the A report! So glad we could be there to help you get to this point. Wonderful!

Saw you Nickolay IG the other day, count us in as followers of the Ivan the great now. YAAAY!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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