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
Does anybody here have any experience understanding white blood cell counts during chemo? After Riley had her first chemo treatment (CCNU), the oncologist checked her a week later, and her count was down to 770. The tech said that they look for a count above 2000. So, when her second chemo took place, although she had bounced back to 5500, the dosage was reduced by 10%. When checked again yesterday, WBC was down to 490. Is this cause for alarm?
Riley is pretty inactive currently, and she is quite tired. No doubt. We cancelled her physical therapy appointment until she feels more lively. It seems that the chemo is really kicking her butt, poor girl. Any suggestions for helping her through this difficult time?
Also, Riley is starting to lose hair from the chemo. There are places where her fur is getting patchy, and I worry that if it continues, she will lack the padding she needs to prevent abrasion from her harness. All, in all, she seems to be taking a step backwards.
Awww, sorry sweet Riley is getting whacked by the chemo.
I can't give much insight into the actual numbers, but a low WBC does indeed happen, and sometimes more than once. Often the chemo is delayed and giving every three weeks when the WBC is low. How much time inbetween the first and second dose? Is she in an antibiotic? Sometimes a dose of fluids help too.
And sometimes the chemo is just too rough on dogs. For me, ine reason I pursued it with my Happy Hannah was that she could STOP if the side effects were too rough. And we have jad dogs stop for that reason. They did bounce back after it was out of their system. There can sometimes come a point where the "treatment" is causing too much harm.
I think the hair loss was noted in some dogs, but others will jave to chime in on that.
And btw, my reference is with Carboplatin.
Hoping sweet Riley can bounce back quickly and start feeling better!! And she will! Then you need to discuss with the Onco if this is the best path forward for her.
Lots of hugs and healing wishes sent your way.
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!
Sorry she's going through a ruff time right now. Don't panic, low WBCs happen often and it's not a big deal as long as the oncologist is monitoring and adjusting the next chemo dosages, as yours is doing. It sounds like she's getting great care. What did your oncologist say about the latest numbers?
As for helping her stay strong and feel better, do you have her on any immune boosters that your vet approves of? What is her diet like? Many folks here used K9 Immunity while going through chemo, with their vet's approval, and felt it really helped their dog during treatment. A new immune booster called Armor Up by K9 Medicinals is also showing good results with many dogs. It's worth talking about with your vet. The Tripawds Nutrition blog has lots of tips about staying strong during chemo, along with other folks' diet tips that they tried so I encourage you to review their experiences.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello,
My gal is currently on a CCNU chemo treatment (alternating with vinblastine). We have experienced neutropenia in the beginning when her treatments were every other week (now every 3 weeks- always was in our protocol). The week after when she had her blood tests she was always neutropenic (oncologist started decreasing her doses & it still would get very low like Riley), but she would always go right back up the week of treatment. We never had to miss one d/t low WBCs-- seems to be her pattern to be neutropenic the week after so we are prescribed an antibiotic course for her after every treatment for prophylaxis.
A few months ago she was just "blah", not really eating, fatigued. I did what I could to get her to eat (boiled chicken, chicken broth, rice). I would let her relax, short frequent walks, LOTS OF LOVE! Ever since we have had the 3 week spaced out treatments, she is back to her normal crazy self & appetite. She still gets a little fatigued the day of & a few days after treatment.
As in regards to hair loss... every dog is different. We have not experienced hair loss (besides from her electrochemotherapy [ECT] treatment-- she has a bald spot on half her head where they did the treatment and we were told this could happen before we started & that there was a chance it could never grow back). Surprisingly despite doing all these chemo treatments SOME hair has grown back(!!!), but she is still has a bald spot & patching going on. We were recommended to use doggy sunscreen to protect her skin.
I would recommend talking to your vet/oncologist about your concerns with her behavior, and see if there is anything that they recommend. Also, if they recommend anything for her harness (extra padding or anything) to prevent any skin irritation/break down.
Hugs & best wishes to you & sweet Riley! 
Riley's diet is Zignature kangaroo, which is a grain free kibble. Carbohydrate source is peas, chickpeas, flax, and lentils. She and the other dogs do well on it. For an antioxidant boost, I make her veggie "smoothies," which consist of bone broth, kale, parsley, celery, green beans, and a rotating variety of an additional 3-4 veggies and an apple or pear for palatability. Her vet is accepting, if a little amused by this addition. I figure that it can't hurt her, and may help, so continue to give her 1- 1.5 cups of this concentrated mixture a day. Riley is also on fish oil, denamarin , and now coconut oil for her coat.
One thing that has never been an issue, thankfully, is Riley's appetite. She has always been a real chowhound, and that hasn't changed, even with the chemo. She wolfs down everything I give her, and would happily eat double portions if they were offered. As she has led an active life, Riley has never been fat. We are still trying to adjust her meals to keep her weight in check with her lowered activity level.
Chemo treatments are three weeks apart. Didn't actually see the oncologist the last time, just the tech. She told me that they will check blood values again before the next dose, but didn't seem terribly concerned. What I have been trying to find (without success), on the internet, is the WBC number that we need to be worried about.
Yay for a good appetite and excellent physical condition! That is terrific! She has everything going on her side.
I know it's hard, but try not to focus too much on whatever the number is, if it even exists. You can drive yourself crazy and become sick with worry over lab values and wbc counts. Riley's vet team has the background to understand when things are becoming concerning and I have no doubt they would inform you. They get paid to deal with those things, so that you and Riley can focus on making the most of every minute. Don't let cancer take that away from you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Murphy had 6 doses of CCNU and took the denamarin with it. He had a cbc the day of treatment & the week after, too. He didn't have any trouble with his white count or with his hair falling out, either. The only thing we really noticed was that on the day of treatment he seemed a little more tired, but MSU is a 1 1/2 hour drive each way and it was almost a whole day thing when we'd go.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Rocky's oncologist said the neutrophils were the WBC she was most concerned with. She told me while some oncologists are comfortable giving treatment as long as its 2,000 or above, she really prefers it being above 3,000. His was below 3,000 before his scheduled fourth and fifth treatments (carboplatin) so we waited a week each time.
If Riley is struggling with it, maybe ask to see if waiting a week would help? I assume treatments are three weeks apart, since that's what Rocky's had been. Since his count was low the last two times, we decided just to make it four weeks for the last treatment.
For reference, Rocky's neutrophils count:
- 12,000 before treatment 1
- 8,000 before treatment 2
- 4,000 before treatment 3 (oncologist reduced the dosage for treatment 3)
- 2,200 before the planned treatment 4, so we waited a week
- 9,500 before treatment 4 take 2
- 2,800 before the planned treatment 5, so I requested we wait a week
- 8,500 before treatment 5 take 2
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
1 Guest(s)
