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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Good job Oakley!!! Yes, he is happy and that is all that matters!! 😁😁
Although I don't know how Oakley could possibly be any cuter. Then again, when a cute dog becomes a tripawd, they do magically get even cuter!!! And if you think you spoiled Oakley before, nothing compares to all the spoiling you can heap on a tripawd!!👍
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!
What a terrific vet visit! Super Healer Oakley is all mended up and ready to kick some cancer's butt. 
Oh, I'm not a vet but just passing along what vets have told me in case you hadn't read this (you probably did though), but be sure to back off the Gabapentin slowly, over a few days at least. It's not a drug to cut out cold turkey.
He looks sooo happy in that photo, what a beautiful smile he's got! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
5/14/20 - Oakley's First Chemo
Oakley just finished his first of six doses of chemotherapy in Pittsburgh!
Our plan is six doses of Carboplatin. We are also looking at the added benefits a long-term NSAID and a drug like Auranofin could have. Auranofin may not occur though due to its cost and unknown efficacy in greyhounds specifically.
We repeated chest x-rays and full bloodwork today and can happily report no signs of metastasis thus far after three weeks since diagnosis! This was a slight relief as the biopsy of the removed leg showed extremely high levels of cell splitting pointing to something moving very aggressively.
He is home now and just ate a big dinner and is settling in for a nap. Thus far no noticeable effects or nausea but I know we won't see the true effects of that for a few days if it occurs.
We will continue to monitor him to make sure he continues feeling well. Here's a picture from the car ride home! ❤️
Yay for Oakley! He looks so happy and confident in that photo! Clear chest x-rays and good results on blood tests calls for a celebration, so I hope his dinner was something really yummy! My fingers are crossed that he sails through chemo as smoothly as Griffin did. Thanks for sharing about Auranofin - it's something I'll ask Griffin's oncologist about. Hugs to all of you! ~ Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Good boy Oakley! You handled it like the champ that you are! And YAY YAY YAY for clear x-rays!
Thanks for mentioning Auranofin. I had to look it up, apparently it's an anti-inflammatory drug used in humans with rheumatoid arthritis but is showing promise in dogs with osteosarcoma. Here's an interesting comparative oncology study that was published last October.
Auranofin improves overall survival when combined with standard of care in a pilot study involving dogs with osteosarcoma.
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common paediatric primary bone malignancy. The major cause of death in osteosarcoma is drug-resistant pulmonary metastasis. Previous studies have shown that thioredoxin reductase 2 is a driver of metastasis in osteosarcoma and can be inhibited by auranofin (AF). Moreover, studies have shown that AF significantly reduces pulmonary metastases in xenotransplant models. Here, we describe a phase I/II study of AF in canine osteosarcoma, a well-recognized spontaneous model of human osteosarcoma. We performed a single-arm multicentre pilot study of AF in combination with standard of care (SOC) (amputation + carboplatin). We recruited 40 dogs to the trial and used a historical SOC-only control group (n = 26). Dogs >15 kg received 9 mg AF q3d PO and dogs <15 kg received 6 mg q3d. Follow-up occurred over at least a 3-year period. Auranofin plus SOC improved overall survival (OS) (P = .036) in all dogs treated. The improved outcome was attributable entirely to improved OS in male dogs (P = .009). At the time of writing, 10 dogs (25%) survive without measurable disease in the treatment group with survival times ranging between 806 and 1525 days. Our study shows that AF improves OS in male dogs when combined with SOC. Our findings have translational relevance for the management of canine and human osteosarcoma. Our data justify a larger multicentre phase 2 trial in dogs and a phase I/II trial in human patients with refractory disease at the time of initial surgery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Another photo of Oakley where we all smile right back at him😁 Looks quite pleased with his comfy surroundings.
YAY FOR GOOD CHECK UP!! Really good news!! Keep these good updates coming!
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!
Hey Everyone - Sorry for the lack of updates for a bit. Been a busy few weeks of life and enjoying our time with Oakley. Here are a few highlights:
- Got carpet installed on our stairs in the house to make things a bit easier for him. Five minutes after the installers leave he was flying up and down them.
- Have battled some phantom nerve pain issues and are now back on a mild dose of Gabapentin that seems to be keeping them at bay while not doping him up.
- Weekly bloodwork checks showed no huge WBC drops which was good. All in all he seems to have handled the first chemo well.
- Chemo 2 was today and went without any issues. Oakley is back home now and resting.
And the two big pieces of news....
1) Monday marks six weeks since Oakley became a tripawd!!! AND...
2) MONDAY IS OAKLEY’S 10TH BIRTHDAY!!!!🥳
Today on our way home from chemo we celebrated with a little bit of ice cream. The place we found is conveniently located on our way home so this may turn into a weekly treat (for his pawrents as well).
All in all we couldn’t be happier with how he is doing! 🙂
Thanks for the Greyt Update! 🥳 Hoppy Birthday Oakley!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What a terrific update! Oakley looks so happy! Yay for mastering stairs! Yay for good blood work! Yay for breezing through chemo! I hope there is an entire birthday weekend celebration planned - Oakley certainly deserves it for hitting double digits! 🎈🎉🍨💙 ~ Stacy & Griffin
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
ICE CREA,!!! OAKLEY GOT ICE CREAM!! Well deserved! So glad things are going well! Good update and adorable picture! Thanks!!
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!
Hey Everyone - Just wanted to thank you all for the love and support while we were on our tripawd journey.
Oakley crossed the bridge earlier this morning. Chemo was going amazingly well and we were scheduled for our final session in two short weeks followed by plans to enroll in the Yale vaccine.
God had other plans for Oakley though who started showing signs back leg weakness and loss of feeling suddenly three days ago. Upon x-ray he had a large tumor on his spine as well that had started to impact the cord causing his loss of feeling.
We are heartbroken but grateful for the time we had with him and how his time as a tripawd grew that love even more. ❤️🐶
Oh Paul - I am so very sorry for your loss. Oakley was one of a group of Tripawds whose surgeries in April were close to Griffin's, and so I considered him part of our personal Tripawd pack. His goofy photos never failed to make me smile because it was so clear how happy he was just living his best life. You did absolutely everything you could for Oakley and while he has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, I know he will continue to live in your heart forever. May his memory be a blessing. 
Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Oh noooo! I can't even think of the right words. This kind of sudden loss is just unimaginable, our hearts ache for you, we are deeply sorry.
Oakley was such a sweetheart and we so enjoyed getting to know him. He seemed so sweet and mellow, just an easygoing dude that didn't let anything get him down. I just read your recent blog post and it speaks volumes about the love you had for him, and he for you, I'm sure. That song...oh!
You two were clearly meant to be together, and made such great memories. The details you shared in his blog about his life and the recovery he experienced are so helpful to other people. Thank you for taking time to help others in this way. Oakley's spirit lives on here, and in all our hearts. He will never be forgotten.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So sorry to hear about Oakley. I'm sorry I didn't get to know him better. When Oakley first joined the tripawd family, I was coping with the loss of my Brownie in March.
I can tell by the photos he was a very happy boy, and very much loved! I can picture Brownie and Oakley having a good old time on the bridge with all the tripawd angels who are now free, and will never be in pain again. it's kinda of strange, even though my heart was shattered on Brownie's last day I felt a sense of relief. A sense of relief, because I new my boy would never be in pain again. Even though your pain is just beginning, you can rejoice in knowing Oakley will never be in pain again. And I guarantee you he is still with you!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time...
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
Oh no. Did not in any way expect this sad post. I'm just so very sorry. We all cry with you.
Oakley, and the bond uoj and Oakley shared toiched is all deeply. The Greyt Oakley was definitely knew he was loved and he savored every second of all the joy and spoiling you surrounded him with.
Yes, you felt privileged to jave him in uoir life, but he felt just as pr to jave you in his. He will take uour love with him, just as he will leave his lpve for you nestled furever in your heart.
Another Greyt just headed to the Rainbow Bridge today. I have this vision of Oakley and Will (his name Will I Am) meeting up and running free and fast with tails wagging and the biggest smiles!! All the other dogs at the ridge were in awe at the speed with which they ran and frolicked.
We love you Oakley♥️
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
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