Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi there! 3 weeks and a couple days since the surgery and we've had our ups and downs.
Last Monday we went to get Madison's stitches out and it turned into her first chemo appointment - something I was not prepared for. I got such a bad feeling from the oncologist as well. The surgeon was thorough and warm and probably talked to us for 45 minutes during our initial consultation. This guy was in and out of the room moments after telling us Madison had no chance without chemo. He wasn't that cold, but that's what I heard. With osteosarcoma, even after amputation the cancer would be fully spread in two months if we didn't do chemo.
We got through that and brought her home and she did better than I did for the next few days. This week I've been feeling like each day is better than the last; until today.
The past few days she's been spending more time out of bed , hopping around, and even getting up some speed. But today she's been acting strangely. She's unsettled, and is panting quite a bit. She's been wandering around the house, whining quite a bit, and I just can't figure out what she needs.
She ate her breakfast and dinner and is drinking water, has gone outside multiple times, and doesn't seem to be sick. I let her hang out in the bed while my husband and I were in the other room watching tv, and when we came in for bed, she picked up her head and started panting for a while. It's a shallow pant, not a shaking the bed pant. She's now put her head down and may be asleep, I can't see her eyes.
I'm not sure whether to call the vet, as I don't want to hear a response to bring her in again. What are your thoughts on panting? Should I be concerned? Is she just tired from having a few days of extra cardio since she seemed to be feeling better prior to today?
Hi!
We've also just had our first round of chemo about a week and half ago, next lot due on the 11th. My understanding is the side effects of Chemo can take 5-10 days to present. Her panting and restlessness may be down to a bit of nausea caused by the chemo. It should pass again quite quickly, my vet said no longer than 48hrs really. As long as she is eating and drinking and going to bathroom normally I would suggest try and keep her quiet for a couple of days and hopefully she will be back right as rain! Good luck, much love x
Zuki Wuggafer 30/09/06 - 11/11/16. Right hind tripawd due to Osteosarcoma. He had a strong 5 and half months as a tripawd but unfortunately a secondary issue with his spine ended our battle. He loved life, loved our family and was the best dog I could ever ask for. Truly my first love, forever in my thoughts and heart.
Read our story: http://zuki.tripawds.com/
Thank you! We did not get that information.
We are on the same schedule, Madison's next appointment is the 11th as well.
Madison's avatar pic always makes me smile.
Other than this hurdle, sounds like she has been doing really well. I'm sorry you had that awful experience with the Onco...and so much misinformation from him too! Doing chemo or not is, quite frankly, basically a crap shoot. Some dogs have gotten great extended quality time without chemo, some have done the same with it. Some pass way too soon even with chemo, some pass too soon without it. No guarantees either way.
Is there another Onco option in your area?
Couple of tnoughts. As Zuki said, it could be the yucky feeling of nausea. Panting and restlessness are quite often a sign of pain too. So Madison was exceptionally active the last day or so? Doing "cardio"? Is it possible she has pulled a muscle? Massage up and down her spine and her neck and see if she feels tense or reacts.
Do you have any Cerenia for nausea? Based on what you've said about that Onco, I doubt they gave you any
Also, do you still have some Tramadol? That would definitely help if ain is involved. I'm not a vet and not giving vet advice. I would try giving her a Tramadol after speaking to your vet.
Another thought. Are you able to take Madison's temperature? Gums looking pink?
Probably dealing with a bit of nausea and over doing it. After rest and tramadol (and Cerenia is you have it), you should see some change for the better. Some dogs do not tolerate chemo and have to stop. That is the good thing about it, you can stop anytime and the dogs recover just fine.
Try not to worry...yeah, good luck with that, right? Keep us posted. We'll be looking for updates..GOOD updates! 🙂
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!
Anytime you aren't sure if you should call the vet, call the vet. Remember that's why you pay them. I hope she's doing better today.
Did your onco really say that? Wow. "No chance" eh? Well, I'm not a vet, but we've seen many dogs go far longer than the statistics say the will go without doing chemo. Our Jerry went 2 years, we've seen some go 4. It really varies, so a blanket statement like that is kind of a surprise.
How is she today?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Madison's oncologist was not as blunt as I described. His lack of bedside manner did change the connotation to a lot of what he was saying though. And he did present our options as: Option 1 - chemo; Option 2 - cancer comes back in 2 months. There is one other oncologist in town, at this vet's other location.
She is doing better today than yesterday. There is panting after activity, seems to be more of her tiring out after hopping. Last night she was not performing any physical activity and was panting.
I work from home and today is the first day that she's really joining me in my office again. She's mostly been hanging out in the bed during the daytime. Currently, she's laying on my foot under my desk, which is our pre-surgery standard. She's also back to being my shadow, so that means if I need a glass of water she needs to follow me to the kitchen and back. I'm going to be dehydrated tonight, because I don't want to make her move.
She's been outside and pooped 3 times already, which is pretty unusual for her, so I think she does have an upset stomach. It has been lighter in color, but not loose. We do have Cerenia. She didn't seem to need it in the days following the chemo, I will give her one if she starts looking uncomfortable tonight.
My girl Eurydice is doing chemo too for osteosarcoma, it was her third session yesterday.
She takes one pill of cerenia to prevent nausea the day she has her chemo plus one pill a day for three days after.
She gets tired during the first couple of days, I can see she wants to go out as before but when out she is far less energetic than she thought she was going to be ...so we have to have lots of rests coming back to the car/home ...
Madison probably just needs some rest after chemo ...
I wouldn't give her any pills without my oncologist's advice ...
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to Madison 
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 :-)
OK I kind of get what the onco was saying now. But still a shock and upsetting to hear.
If her poop gets runny try adding edible clay . The stuff is amaaaaazing and really works:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad your seeing some "normal" behavior rerurn...being your shadow, joining you in the office, resting her head on your foot............all good signs! 🙂
You can take a photo of her poop so the Onco/vet can see the color if it's not looking normal.
Kudos to you for being such a great human to your Madison! I mean, how many people would deliberately get dehydrated so their dog wouldn't exert energy trying to follow them?
Will be looking for an update tomorrow....and pocs of adorable Madison would be nice too!
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!
Yesterday was a good sleepy day for Madison. Today I think she wants to play a little. I think she's getting bored with all the laying around. Earlier she tried to take a leap off the couch which I did not love.
Before she was diagnosed with cancer, our regular vet thought that the limp was arthritis and gave us Dasequin. We haven't given her any since the diagnosis. I don't think it could hurt her, but will it be any benefit to her? Anyone have any opinion for or against?
I would ask my vet before giving my girl any medication of any kind ... my personal views are to always be cautious as each dog is different and although I do respect other people's experiences enormously I would not want to change anything without proper advice from a qualified professional.
Please do not take my words wrongly, I really respect everybody at Tripawds and think their advice and support is second to none but I personally draw the line at medications.
Glad to hear Madison is more lively it sure sounds like she will be back being her old self soon !
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to Mads
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 :-)
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