Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi community,
I am so glad that you are here. Lola went through amputation surgery and recovery quite well.
Treatment: carboplatin, 1 treatment
Side Effects: vomit, nausea, not eating. Started day after chemo. Diarrhea (just started. 2 days after chemo)
Not experienced: fever
Medicine: Cerenia (before chemo, IV). Metronidazol (have not started it yet)
Concerns: How do I know if I should I take her to the ER for fluids? Can I start metronidazol, even without food? Also, any advice with nausea / vomit would be highly appreciated.
On Friday afternoon, she had her first chemo treatment with carboplatin. She got injectable Cerenia before treatment and capsules to give at home (1 per day, starting on Saturday afternoon).
Friday was great, no side effects. Yesterday, Saturday, during the day she was inappetent and started to show signs of nausea. We had a 5 hr. drive (closest oncologist), which I am sure did not help. When we arrived at home, she did not want to eat, so I hand-fed her some natural / grain free can food (~1/4 can, small for her size - 55 lbs).
Yesterday evening, she threw up. She was still willing to drink water so I let her. But after the second vomit, I removed food and water (around 10:30 PM). She was fined during the night. I gave her some water at 5:30 AM. I don't think that she threw up that one.
At 8:30 AM, I tried to give her some water. Seemed fine. About 30' later I gave her chicken (boiled, unseasoned) and she did not want it. She almost seemed like gagging at the smell. I gave her a pepcid AC, 20 mg. About 30' she threw up the water and pill (I don't think she has any more food to throw up).
I took her out and now she is also experiencing diarrhea. This is the first time (up until this point, her poop was fine). I was given metronidazol, but I am unsure if I can start it without any food (thoughts?)
I took her temperature last night and this morning and she is not experiencing fever.
Her next Cerenia pill is today at 3:00 PM.
Nausea and vomiting is a "common" side effect of chemo. However, I am not sure when it is too bad. When do I know if I should take her to the ER? It has been about 36 hrs without food and ~ 12 hrs without water. Can I start the metronidazol without food?
Any advice for nausea from other tripawds?
Thanks for your help! German and Lola
Awww...so sorry Lola is having those rotren side effects. None. of us can give you medical advice, but we can share our own experience with ohr dogs
I've certainly seen what you describe as a reaction some dogs have had. I think OTIS had some diarrhea, as well as some of the other side effects.
I can't give much first hand knowledge as my Happy Hannah was one of the lucky ones who did not have any side effects. Others will chime in who jad more "severe" symptons. I know it seems alarming, but it is not unusual with some dogs. And the fluids do help sometimes if there has been really runny stools and not drinking.
I see that this post was this morning. How is she doing now? Holding down her food and water? Still runny poop (and to what degree)?
As far as the metronidazol, it is an appetite stimulant thst should help also.
Give the Onco a call in the morning and keep them kn the loop. It may be they will give a lesser amount next time and be better prepared ro treat for nausea. And yes, sometines the reactions can be pretty severe even after adjustments. One reason most of us went with chemo for our dogs and cats was because we could STOP at anytime if they had bad reactions.
Update when you can! 'Hang in there! You're doing a great job of monitoring Lola! She'll get past this!
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!
Update - We were able to stop the vomit and get her to drink and hold fluid. The diarrhea stopped too (for the most part, still soft but not runny water). Now we are trying to get her to eat. I hand fed her some chicken , no vomit yay 
We will try again tomorrow. Hopefully some rest and additional time will get the stubborn nausea to go away.
If anyone knows of any suggestions for nausea (other than cerenia), please please let me know
Oh good! Sounds like Lola may be over the worst!
Continue to give several small meals of anything yummy she'll eat spread out over the day.. Of course, with an upset tummy that limits some of your choices.
Here's a link to some information on GINGER for nausea in dogs. Check with yur Vet of course, but it's recommended by Dr Dressler who wrote Dog Cancer Survial Guide.
Come on Miss Lola! Let's eat some grub, okay! 🙂
http://www.dogs.....t-stomach/
Hope that link helps
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!
I would maybe ask if they could test Lola for Multi Drug Sensitivity to see if she is likely to be impacted by the chemo. Adjustments can then be made based on the results. Mention this as one of my dogs happened to be but we did NOT know until chemo was under way.
Also, maybe next time see if you could go home with sub-q fluids in case she is throwing up water? They are easy to administer and ease the dehydration aspect of throwing up.
Cerenia is typically the gold standard for nausea but also sometimes dogs are prescribed Reglan so maybe ask about that when you are talking with the oncologist?
Also, hate to even mention this...if the car ride is that long, is there any possibility Lola could stay overnight either at a dog friendly hotel or the oncologist's practice until the next day?
Just throwing ideas out there on the off chance this occurs again. Unless chemo is extremely hard on a patient, I, for one, am a big believer in "throwing the kitchen sink" at certain diseases as long as possible on the off chance that, yes, indeed, it does help.
Best wishes, huge hugs, and PyrPaws all around!
Yay! That's awesome. I'm sorry I couldn't reply yesterday, we were having technical difficulties.
i recently wrote a post about getting pets to eat, maybe there's an idea here that can help;
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
charliebear said
I would maybe ask if they could test Lola for Multi Drug Sensitivity to see if she is likely to be impacted by the chemo. Adjustments can then be made based on the results. Mention this as one of my dogs happened to be but we did NOT know until chemo was under way.Also, maybe next time see if you could go home with sub-q fluids in case she is throwing up water? They are easy to administer and ease the dehydration aspect of throwing up.
Cerenia is typically the gold standard for nausea but also sometimes dogs are prescribed Reglan so maybe ask about that when you are talking with the oncologist?
Also, hate to even mention this...if the car ride is that long, is there any possibility Lola could stay overnight either at a dog friendly hotel or the oncologist's practice until the next day?
Just throwing ideas out there on the off chance this occurs again. Unless chemo is extremely hard on a patient, I, for one, am a big believer in "throwing the kitchen sink" at certain diseases as long as possible on the off chance that, yes, indeed, it does help.
Best wishes, huge hugs, and PyrPaws all around!
Thank you @charliebear
I will definitely follow up on your suggestions. I will chat with my oncologist about the multi-drug sensitivity, sub-q fluids and alternative nausea medication.
With regards to the hotel, I actually stayed with her the first night. She was doing great. On our way back the second day it was when the nausea started. She is better today (day 3). I think next time I will evaluate how she is doing and be ready to return the same day or stay 2 days. I would have never expected this outcome based on how she felt the day of chemo. I think she would have been fine with the drive that day, but not the next day.
Thanks again, German and Lola
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