Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat. Explore 17+ years of forum archives for stories and answers to questions about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery. Enjoy fresh discussion and connect with members in the new Tripawds Support Circle.
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Hi everyone, this forum has been so helpful during our journey. We found out that our 13 year old golden, Charlie, has osteo sarcoma a month ago. We decided to go through with the amputation and he started chemo last week. We normally take him to a heated pool (where other dogs swim as well, though not at the same time). Our oncologist said no swimming when he’s on chemo. The thing is, swimming makes him so happy, and I can tell he misses it. I was wondering if anyone had experience with their dog swimming on chemo or if other vets have strongly advised against it. His previous white blood count was a little low and after another blood test a week after chemo, the WBC looked normal. We want to keep his health in mind, but his happiness is important as well.
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I'm sorry you are dealing with cancer and amputation in your boy Charlie. I can't speak to swimming and chemo- I'm assuming the onco is concerned about an infection?
Quality of life is important, but you don't want to risk an infection, how many chemo treatments is Charlie getting?
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
Find me now on Tripawds Circle
My experience, which may be a different situation, is that it was out of concern for other dogs and the facility. We had Fallon in rehab doing the underwater treadmill during her chemo, but our oncologist and rehab doc advised not getting the treatment for a week after her chemo. The issue was that the chemo drug is excreted for about that amount of time, and if she had an accident in the underwater treadmill (unlikely, but possible) it could expose others who used the treadmill to the chemo med. We just scheduled treatment outside of that week.
It may be good to clarify the doc's concern, if it is a similar situation to ours, Charlie could get some swimming in!
Fallon 8/28/06--9/6/18. My Heart.
Fallon's left front leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on 10/11/17.
Nothing But Love in Her Heart - dawn3g.tripawds.com
Thanks Dawn! That makes much more sense than my late night thought!
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
Find me now on Tripawds Circle
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