Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all,
Well, Jill had her second chemo today (first doxy treatment, the first chemo treatment was carbo) after a two week delay because of low white blood cells. I dropped her off at 8:30am and off she went with her favorite resident in the oncology department, couldn't care less that her mom was leaving her for the day:
http://i1289.ph.....1e8bfe.jpg
Anyway, they are supposed to email me when her treatment is done and I still hadn't heard by 4pm so I got a little freaked and finally emailed them and heard back that she had actually just gotten done with treatment. They had a very rough time getting the catheter in her, so they kept trying all day (with lots of rests in between) and they would explain it all when I picked her up. So here is now what I know and can hopefully help out all future pawrents who's babies are treated with doxorubicin. Doxy is extremely toxic if it does not go DIRECTLY into the vein, so they need to be extra extra extra careful about getting that catheter in there, ESPECIALLY with a tripawd. Due to this and the limited amount of veins they have, it's important to keep the veins very smooth. Since a lot of these animals have been through so much, they've most likely had a lot of blood tests, which can create a lot of scar tissue, which makes getting the catheter in much harder. SO if you have a pet who will be treated with Doxy, make sure to ask your vet to use what they call the "jug spot" (the neck veins) to do blood work. Hopefully maybe Tazzie and/or Wookie can weigh in here if I didn't do a good job explaining 
But I got a whole talking to from the oncology staff when I picked Jill up about what I need to tell Jill's regular vet (who does her blood work)
Anyway, Jill is now at home and CONKED OUT:
http://i1289.ph.....562893.jpg
Simply exhausted, clearly had a very rough day. For the first time since I brought her home from surgery, she fell over tonight. I'm not worried about that, I'm sure shes just exhausted. She has all these new bald spots where they had to shave on each arm and leg to get that darn catheter in. My poor girl.
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
Ooooh, poor Jilly Bean. I'm sorry they had to shave all over and poke all over. Do you think you'll do the second Doxo? Did she request cold, cold water again? Sounds kinda traumatic, even if there were loads of belly rubs through the day. Sleep tight, Jill! Get lots of rest so you can have a fabulous day tomorrow.
Thanks for the update (I've been waiting!) and the info. I believe I had read that about doxo's toxicity. I'm sorry she had to go through it. Belly rubs for her, please - when she's awake and up for it, though!
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!
bleepin cancer!
I just want to scoop her up and love on her.
Feel much better tomorrow Jill! Hang in there Erica!
Jill I'm so sorry today just stank! That's a ruff time for sure, but I know you are SUPER KITTY, you will be A-OK my friend.
Erica thank you for taking time to share this information, it really does help folks to know all of the risks involved. I'm sorry you had to go through this tough day. My best wishes for smooth sailing ahead. Keep us posted and let us know how Jill is doing this week.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Katy,
I think we will do the doxy as the fourth treatment. If she had more than one doxy treatment to go, I might hesitate, but they assured me if from now on all her blood tests are a "jug stick" (it's stick, not shot like I wrote in the first post 
) it should be ok. The nurse who is so great and has been doing this for a long timewas telling me what great results she has seen with the carbo/doxy combination that I think it is worth the one bad bad day.
Jill seemed great this morning, purring away and licking at my nose. We'll see what the next few days bring! Yesterday was rough for her, but I think it was harder on me seeing all those new bald spots knowing that each one was at least one poke with a catheter going in and out of her trying to find a new vein.
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
Aw, sorry she had a rough day. You're a good kitty mom so I'm sure she felt much better once she was back with you. I'm happy to read today is a better day.
I think I remember reading here somewhere here that doxy, if not administered correctly, can leak into the surrounding tissue and cause permanent damage. I'm glad Jill had a team that was aware and very careful with your precious girl.
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
Ah Ha! I found the answer I was looking for - I knew getting any kind of chemo "outside the vein" would be bad, but I still wondered why with the doxy they had to be even more careful.
Thanks to Shari (Dakota Dawg) she found this thread for me last night, which contains the following information about Duke, who got a Carboplatin injection outside the vein:
"If his chemo had been Doxorubicin he would definitely have to be put down because it can destroy muscle, tendons, ligaments, everything right down to the bone."
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
Sorry about the rough day. She's so adorable in the photos.
(Yes, I remember Duke's outside the vein nightmare. Outside = not good!)
Hang in there,
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I'm so glad Jill is over that rough day. I remember Duke's nightmare as well.
It sounds like you have got some good oncology people.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
48 hours later........ALL BETTER!
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
This is my happy face for Jilly! 
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!
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
Glad to see she is feeling a lot better her legs look like sassy's shaved everywhere.
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."
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