Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi
We started Metronomic therapy two weeks for lung mets. They gave us Palladia and Cytoxin to alternate. The Palladia did not seem to have many side effects except diarrhea which we have under control. The Cytoxin makes her tired and low on energy but over time she seemed to be doing better. For about 10-11 days we were hopeful. Then she started coughing again and her breathing changed. This usually only occurs at night and not necessarily every day. She is also anemic and was when we started but it has not gotten any worse. At times it goes up but it is still low at around 25%. They also gave us a Chinese medicine in case the anemia was caused by the tumors bleeding or the chance there maybe one outside that is taking blood. There were not sure by the xray.
Anyway, our two week check up was yesterday and they refilled the Palladia. We have a month supply of Cytoxin.
My question is how many people who have had their fur babies on Metronimics experienced coughing during it and were still able to have it work in their benefit? I am worried it is not working. 🙁
Thank you!
Her experience sounds a lot like our Jerry's.
I'm curious, were x-rays taken? Did the tumors show signs of stabilizing or growing? It sounds like things are stable if they refilled the Palladia?
Also, did they give you anything to help with coughing symptoms? See:
How to Help Coughing From Lung Mets
Jerry also coughed a bit (usually at night) while on metronomics (he was just on Cytoxan) but after a certain point when his breathing became more labored throughout the day and the tumor grew enough to further impact his lung capacity, our oncologist suggested stopping the medication.
It would be good to ask your oncologist at what point would they recommend stopping. Then you can have a better guideline for knowing when to approach the subject with your vet. Hopefully that won't be for a long, long time.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you! She only has had one xray 2 weeks ago when we had our first consult. Yesterday they said they would re-xray in 4-8 weeks. I was somewhat relieved when they refilled the Palladia. I was just wondering if in the initial phase of chemo is it possible for things to seem to get worse before maybe getting better? or stabilizing?
They said we could stop Cytoxan or go off for a couple of rounds because of the anemia if we wanted. We are going to skip two rounds of Cytoxan and see how she does. I decided to start using Apocaps today on the days we don't do Cytoxin.
We are trying to help her anemia, her liver that has elevated ALTs and beat the cancer odds. Very tricky. Her anemia right now is stable and I think even her liver may be doing better (based on the look of poops)
At least she is loving her special meals. 🙂
Thank you for the cough link info also.
Online
Thanks for the update. Sounds like things are stzble and stable is good!
I don't have specific insight into your question as it relates to the breathing and Metronomics. However, my Happy Hannah did have changes in breathing patterns that sort of came and went during her months with mets. She never dealt with a cough like most do. She did have some restless nights sometimes
She was o ly on Metronmics a couple of weeks because she got a UTI infection. If I recall, Palladia wasn't in her program.
As far as breathing patterns fluctuating, my Vet said, in part, sometimes as the "pattern" initially changes, dogs may get a little stressed at first and thst exacerbates the peoblem. As they get more "used to it", the stress level goes down and it doesn't scare them as much.
Of course from her perspective, she thinks all these "issues" are the best thing ever because she's getting such great meals!!! 🙂
Continue to make every day the best day ever.....just like she is! Stay in the moment with no worries.....just like she is! 🙂
Werew cheering for her.....And you!!
Lots of 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!
Thank you! I think me and my husband are the only ones stressed. She does not seem stressed. Any time something is different, like her eating or breathing, we get sad. I am trying to not be sad after all she is alive now and does not seem to be in any pain or stressed.
I think we have decided to stop cytoxan all together. I've seen how sometimes chemo actually makes the cancer worse and it seemed to be doing just that after we started it. We bought Artemisinin and some other Chinese herbs from Jerry's links we just received them today.
Thank you again!
Christine
Artemisinin , as well as Apocaps , seem to get some good "reviews". I gave mh Happy Hannaw Apocaps as well.
Soi ds like she continues to be staple and her happy -go- lucky self! All is good in her world! 🙂 Ahhhh.....the bliss of being dog!
Lots of 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!
Christine said
me and my husband are the only ones stressed. She does not seem stressed....
This is why we say Be More Dog ...and that is not just some silly saying.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry and Sally. I understand but sometimes it's hard. She was 13 then and we were saying Wow, she is the oldest dog we have had. This is great and she doesn't seem 13 at all. What a blow! And it's not just cancer, it's her liver and she is anemic before we started the metronomic therapy which we didn't know until that day. Now we are just doing one pill so hopefully that won't make the liver and anemia worse. We actually thought it was getting better and then it went back to the way it was.
I am really amazed at how well they take this all in stride. I know she doesn't know her diagnosis but still. 4 legs to 3 legs to not having the energy to make it all over the place and okay with it.
Right now she seems to be resting comfortably, dreaming, so I am comfortable. I just love watching her dream. 🙂
Christine
1 Guest(s)
