Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm curious if those of you who have treated osteosarcoma homeopathically (rather than chemo) would share your experiences? Maddie (3 weeks post amputation) is supposed to have her first chemo treatment Wednesday and I'm just thinking maybe we should try the homeopathic route instead? I had a boxer with lymphoma who was not a candidate for chemo and he beat the odds and had a lot of quality time post diagnosis with homeopathic care. I was really on auto-pilot since her diagnosis just following the vet's treatment timeline and now she's doing well and I'm starting to think about all the options. Thanks!
Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads
Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma
She's Madeline, She's Madeline
Many people have had good experiences with homeopathy. You'll find many of them mentioned here in the Tripawds Nutrition blog :
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey sweetie 🌺
Eurydice did a bit of everything but I personally would not have waved IV chemo as I feel osteosarcoma being such an aggressive cancer needs heavy weapons (at least to start with)
For me, and if I had to do it again (touching wood madly I will never ever have to go through it again) I would definitely go for carboplatin and other chemo.
It gave me "reassurance" knowing I was destroying as many stupid 💩💩💩 cancerous cells as possible and because of that the 💩💩💩 disease was being slowed down.
Of course, whether that was the case or not ... nobody can know for sure.
And others haven't used chemo at all and had wonderfully long lives (and some are still here) so all this is worth what is worth.
But for me, my heart tells me chemo has delayed the progression of cancer, yes.
We also went the homeopathic route much later, when chemo options were exhausted (Miss Cow did carboplatin, metronomics , doxorubicin and Palladia)
She had acunpuncture, mesotherapy and osteopathy and also took supplements (vitamarine)
At this point, we were at the end of our journey but I can say those helped a lot, it gave her extra energy whilst it lasted.
As for good spirits, they came naturally 😉 during our osteo journey 💕🐮💕
Others have gone a long way with homeopathy and supplements, you'll soon be having them share their experiences.
Whatever your choices might be, please know nothing is cast in stone, any option is potentially as good as another, it's all about what feels right to you and your gorgeous baby girl 💗
Sending you a truckload of kisses and cuddles 😘😘😘😘🐮💫💫🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
I read a lot of the articles here yesterday on homeopathy. After a lot of soul searching, and talking to Mads (and my daughters lol), I think we are going to go that route. This is due, in large part, to Maddie's anxiety. The thought of loading her into the car every week or so for blood work and then for chemo and taking her in (either drugged or not), is overwhelming to us all. She is finally feeling GREAT with the leg gone and is almost back to her normal self. Her pain is gone and she is happy which has been my goal all along. I talked to the vets and I'm told, with chemo, she could have good quality life thru next summer, or one year post diagnosis. I know there are no guarantees no matter what you do but because of Maddie's fears every vet trip requires either tranquilizers which basically knock her out for two days or severe anxiety which also takes a lot out of her. I have contacted Dr. Loops and will have a consult and then make a final decision to either start her on the homeopathic treatment or go ahead with chemo. It appears he has had a lot of success with some dogs living years post diagnosis. I'm still struggling with this as I want to give her the best chance possible - but I want her days to be happy and stress free too.
Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads
Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma
She's Madeline, She's Madeline
Hi sweetie pie 🌺
So glad you decided which route to take, even if you haven't 100% decided you are leaning towards one option.
I can totally understand your point.
Mads anxiety would surely become an issue every couple of weeks for chemo treatment ...
Me and Angel Eurydice wish Maddie and your lovely self the BEST 💗💗💗
Sending you and your gourgeous girl an avalanche of kisses and cuddles 😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
You know Maddie best and you are making the best decision for her based on WHO SHE IS!! Maddie knows you are committed to giving her the best QUALITY life possible. How a dog reacts ro going to the Vet is a HUGE deciding factor. Many here do not pursure chemo for that exzct asme reason! MADDIE IS HAPPY AND FFEELING GREAT!!! And thsto exactly why we do what we do here....get rid of the pain and let them get on with living life to the fullest!!
As you noted, tnere are no guarantees either way! And that's so true!! Some get great extended time with no chemo, some don't. Some get great extended time with chemo, some don't!!! Same true with homeopathic route. Same true with nothing at all.
Yes, Dr Charles Loops has been used by many members here!
And darn if I can remember the name right now, but one member here just celebrated his TWO YEAR ampuversary with NO chemo! Going to try and search....think maybe it was CLYDE?
And here's where I say "Jerry,'or anybody, Do you remember who it was?"
Also, as an aside. The name on my avaw is a shout out to a dog who owned me named Benny (the picture is Happy Hannah). Many years ago my dog Benny ended up with osteo, as well as bladder (or maybe prostrate, can't remember). No options were really even presented to me, certainly not amputation considering everything he had going on. and Google and computers didn't even exist! However, my Vet did mention Dr Loops! I had Benny on the recommendations made by him and he got many months of extended quality time, even with that leg, etc! No Vet trips were involved!!
Because my Happy Hannah loved going to the Vet, that was one big reason I did pursue chemo for her. For whatever it's worth, had she had a reaction like Maddie going to the Vet, I can tell you I absolutely would NOT have pursued it!!
Maddie doesn't count days on aa calendar and she certainly does NOT have a timeframe stamped on her butt!! She just dlows from ine moment to the next happily soaking up all the loving and spoiling and tummy rubs and treats! You made the "right" decision and I guarantee you Maddie agrees!!
And we want pictures of this sweet gal enjoying her happy self!! 🙂 🙂
Hugs and love
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!
All of you have been so helpful - especially Teresa and Sally! I am not a good decision maker (can you tell)? For some things, it's easy - but for something like this, it takes me longer than it should to figure things out. With the amputation my fears were that Maddie wouldn't adjust but after finding Tripawds and reading all of your stories, the forum posts and the blogs, I was so reassured. Especially by Eurydice's journey. Because of Maddie's size, I couldn't imagine her losing a leg but after talking with Teresa I realized that Maddie would be fine - it was me - I needed to Be More Dog 🙂 The whole thing would have been a million times harder without you good people and I will be forever grateful to all of you. My beloved boxer, Hooch, had a rare epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma and the decision about chemo was taken out of my hands when the oncologist told me he wasn't a candidate because of his heart. I went the homeopathic route and he was treated by a local doctor who gave him many more months of high quality life. I'm hopeful that it will do the same for my Mads. I guess hearing Dr. Loops thoughts will help me make the final decision. I know I cannot prolong this either way so I'm going to schedule the appointment today.
Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads
Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma
She's Madeline, She's Madeline
You WILL feel a sense of relief once you confirm a treatment plan with Dr Loops (if that's the route you go).
This piece of crap disease makes us deal with "decisions" no one should ever have to make! So be easy on yourself! You are dping a great job of evaluating Maddie and her wishes!
Regardless, the only real decision thst matters is the ine Maddie is already showing you how to do...Be More Dog !!! BE MORE MADDIE!! 🙂 I couldn't tell you at what point that switch went on in my head and I became more Happy Hannah, but a whole new world of living kn the moment, living in the NOW, opened up and we were VREE!!! Free of worries, free of fear,.....just free to enjoy the bliss of each and every sacred moment without the that piece of crap disease trying to interfere with our happiness rob us of our time together!!
Love and hugs
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!
Glad that the community could help! By taking Mad's anxiety issues into consideration, you've put her needs first and that's what matters most. You will be at peace with your decision, there will be little stress on your part and Mads will feel that. That's the best medicine there is.
We've had many members live beyond the prognosis with Dr. Loops' guidance, Eisen, one of our earliest members, was one of them and miraculously lived four years after losing his leg. He lived in a very rural place and his mom worked with Dr. Loops' exclusively over the phone, it worked out great. Here's an interview with his mom.
Also, you may want to give Gina Snow a call. She's a homeopathy expert, a good friend of the Tripawds Community and has written some of the articles you see in the Tripawds Nutrition blog .
Sending out lots of love to you and Maddie.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
CLYDE!!! I found his link!
Clyde Update!
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!
Okay....let's try again 🙂
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!
We are all SO proud of you, your daughters and Maddie 🎀💗
You are certainly mastering the art of being more dog and by doing so all of you will have but wonderful days 💕
By having this wonderful attitude you will defeat this dreaded 💩💩💩 disease, all it wants is to get you down to your knees with dispair but you know so, so much better!
Whatever may happen, you are a family, a wonderfully happy family ✊🏽
You made the right choice for Maddie and like Clyde may she be with us for maaaaany happy years 💕☀️💕
Sending you lots of kisses of the human variety and of the slobbery Angel variety too 😘😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Hi Maddie! We just went amputation route 2 weeks from today. We have elected to go the homeopathic route as well with Dr. Loops. We are also supplementing with Artemisinin , Fish Oil and are awaiting our first package to start the transition to at least a half raw diet.
Best of luck to you Maddie and since you guys are starting this journey around the same time as we are, please don't hesitate to reach out and we can compare notes.
Best,
Sebastian the Golden Doodle
Thank you all for the words of encouragement!!!! I told Maddie she has a whole bunch of folks supporting her and wishing her well 🙂
Sebastian - has your family had their phone consult with Dr. Loops? We have not had ours yet - but as soon as she was diagnosed I started to incorporate a lot of what I learned treating my Boxer homeopathically over to Maddie. We do fish oil, health concerns power mushrooms, turkey tail mushrooms, a turmeric mixture (dinner), cottage cheese and flax mixture (breakfast) and we've transitioned over to home cooked meals. My Boxer ate all raw but Maddie is not a fan (she is a princess!!!) so I have been cooking her chicken, beef, etc. I also make something called veggie glop (this is what the holistic vet calls it!) it is basically a variety of seaweed, kale, spinach, cauliflower, kelp, broccoli and carrots cooked together with fish and she gets about two tablespoons of that a day with her meat and then either beans or brown rice mixed in. It's hard filling her up though!!!!
We definitely should compare notes!
Bobbi & Maddie a/k/a ManiacMads
Front leg amputation 10/17/17 due to Osteosarcoma
She's Madeline, She's Madeline
maniacmads said
Thank you all for the words of encouragement!!!! I told Maddie she has a whole bunch of folks supporting her and wishing her well 🙂Sebastian - has your family had their phone consult with Dr. Loops? We have not had ours yet - but as soon as she was diagnosed I started to incorporate a lot of what I learned treating my Boxer homeopathically over to Maddie. We do fish oil, health concerns power mushrooms, turkey tail mushrooms, a turmeric mixture (dinner), cottage cheese and flax mixture (breakfast) and we've transitioned over to home cooked meals. My Boxer ate all raw but Maddie is not a fan (she is a princess!!!) so I have been cooking her chicken, beef, etc. I also make something called veggie glop (this is what the holistic vet calls it!) it is basically a variety of seaweed, kale, spinach, cauliflower, kelp, broccoli and carrots cooked together with fish and she gets about two tablespoons of that a day with her meat and then either beans or brown rice mixed in. It's hard filling her up though!!!!
We definitely should compare notes!
We had our consult last Wednesday - we got our remedies on Friday and started on Sat morning. We have three different remedies that we give on different days.
We are going to do raw in the morning and kibble at lunch with a snack around 5pm since the artemisinin that he's taking should be taken with a fatty snack like cottage cheese on an empty stomach close to bedtime.
He's working through his last couple pain meds and should be off those by this weekend.
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