Last November we had a live chat with board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Michael Lucroy. During the chat, a member asked him about a canine cancer study which concluded that removing the primary cancer site will actually make cancer metastasize faster.

The member wondered if we do amputate, aren’t we still in a no-win situation?

At the time, Dr. Lucroy didn’t have the study on hand, so we followed up with him recently and here’s what he said:

“I think your member is thinking about a study done several years ago (Pirie-Shepherd SR, Coffman KT, Resnick D, et al. The role of angiostatin in the spontaneous bone and prostate cancers of pet dogs. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002 292(4):886-91.) as a collaboration between researchers in Boston and Purdue University.

The researchers were studying angiostatin, which is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels). Because cancer requires nutrition to grow, it must recruit the growth of new blood vessels in order to grow beyond a handful of cells. The researchers discovered that the urine of dogs with osteosarcoma contained angiostatin fragments. Once the primary tumor was completely removed (by amputation) the angiostatin fragments were no longer detectable.

The theory is the primary tumor keeps the metastases in check. Clinically, we observe that very few dogs have metastasis visible on chest x-rays at the time of diagnosis, but if we we examine lung tissue there are osteosarcoma cells detectable under the microscope. After amputation, if nothing else is done, these micrometastases start to develop quickly. The results of this study provide the biological mechanism to explain our clinical observations.

But it is important to note that although we cannot see them with chest x-rays, microscopically the metastatic event has already occurred. So removing the primary tumor does not cause the cancer to metastasize faster, but simply allows the metastatic sites already present to start to grow.

Occasionally we have dog owners who are aware of this research and suggest we simply leave the bone tumor in place. Ethically, however, we cannot do this if we want to relieve suffering. Bone cancer is very painful, and we cannot easily control chronic pain.Therefore we are obligated to either amputate the affected leg or treat the tumor with radiation therapy and pamidronate to relieve the pain.

We now know that by doing this, we are removing the source of angiostatin – which inhibit the growth of the micrometastases. So, enter chemotherapy to slow the growth of these metastatic sites.”

Many thanks to Dr. Lucroy for taking the time to answer this valid question.

That Admin Guy is ferociously working on troubleshooting the Discussion Forums and sporadic speed issues happening right now. This is as close to rocket science as things get and it’s trikier than a Kong stuffed with peanut butter and biscuits.

The Forums are up, but you may be experiencing issues. We thank you in advance for hanging in there with us, and hope to have things back and running smoothly again today.

Please contact us with any questions, concerns and issues. Post any upgrade issues here too. You can also find us on our Facebook page.

Hang tight Tripawds, we’ll be back up and hopping around ASAP!

Thanks to everyone who’s submitted their answers to Part I and Part II of the first ever 2010 Tripawds Treatment and Recovery Survey.

We’ve received 32 surveys so far. The comments have been enlightening, and will serve future Tripawd pawrents well. Some of the heartfelt details pawrents shared included things like:

• “I went through “anticipatory grief” where I felt like he was dead even though he was perfectly fine. I think I cried every day for about a month . . . I no longer worry and know he will let me know when he is ready to move forward.”
• “he did really well, so i did well, for me it was hell making the decision to amputate because it felt like i was meeting my needs not his”
• “Day to do I didn’t worry but as soon as anything seemed ‘different’ I worried. A lot.”

Remember that by taking the time to answer the survey questions, you will be helping many others hopping along the same Tripawds path. Plus, you get to be entered into a drawing for another $10 Café Cash gift certificate. One lucky winner can use it toward anything from the new Tripawds Gift Shop.

To be entered in the drawing, just fill out Part II of the survey (and Part I if you haven’t already done so), no later than Monday, March 22 at 12 midnight, Pacific Time.

We’ll continue taking responses indefinitely. Stay tuned for our findings from your answers, here in Jerry’s blog and his three legged dog discussion forums. Thanks for taking time out to help us with this impawtant research.

Many thanks to everyone who sent in their responses for Part I of our 2010 Tripawds Treatment and Recovery Survey about Canine Amputation and Cancer Care. Now, here’s Part II, which focuses on canine bone cancer and alternative medicine.

Please be sure to complete the 2010 Tripawds Care Survey Part 1. You will be redirected here to part 2 upon submission.

Once again, Tripawds is holding an incentive drawing for another $10 Café Cash gift certificate. One lucky winner can use it toward anything from the new Tripawds Gift Shop.

To be entered in the drawing, just fill out Part II of the survey below (and Part I if you haven’t already done so), no later than Monday, March 22 at 12 midnight, Pacific Time.

We’ll continue taking responses indefinitely. Stay tuned for our findings from your answers, here in Jerry’s blog and his three legged dog discussion forums. Thanks for taking time out to help us with this impawtant research.

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Wyatt Ray Dawg was busy today picking a name out of his paw’s hat.

While he didn’t quite understand what all the excitement was about, he randomly selected the first winner of our 2010 Tripawds Amputation and Cancer Care Treatment Survey drawing.

And, we are hoppy to announce, the winner is …

Randy B. & his Tripawd, Ginger

Ginger will be receiving $10 in Café Cash to spend toward anything she wants in the all new – and much improved – Tripawds Gift Shop!

Thank you to everyone who submitted answers! We’ve received 62 responses so far, but we’d love more, so remember you can submit your answers anytime you’d like.

Meanwhile, Admin is working on Part II of this impawtant survey, which focuses on cancer care, holistic therapies and metastasis. When it goes live soon, we’ll have a second drawing for another $10 winner for the new Tripawds Gift Shop.

Stay tuned for preliminary findings from the Part 1 survey results, and new questions coming soon in Part 2. And be sure to drop by Ginger’s blog to leave a comment with congratulations for Ginger & Randy!

In our previous discussions with canine rehabilitation specialists from California Animal Rehabilitation Center (CARE) we discussed fitness and conditioning, and coping with amputation recovery. In this final installment, we hear the doctors discuss pain indicators, post-surgery advice for pain medications and how to choose quality supplements.

Here are some of CARE’s post-surgery tips to remember:

• Keep an eye out for pain medication side effects; if you’re concerned, stop the medication.
• Use supplements only when they are needed
• Choose supplements that have been third party tested by unbiased organizations such as ConsumerLab.com.

Many thanks to the pawesome staff at California Animal Rehabilitation Center in Southern California for helping us bring this series to you. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, be sure to visit this incredible facility and see how they can help your Tripawd stay strong and live hoppy!

Catch Part I: Canine Rehabilitation: Exercises and Stretches with CARE

Catch Part II: Canine Rehabilitation: Amputation Recovery Advice with CARE

In this second of our three part series with Drs. Jessica Waldman and Amy Kramer from California Animal Rehabilitation Center (CARE), the good doctors answer popular questions Tripawd pawrents want answers to:

• Who has it harder: front, or rear leg amputees?
• Do dogs get depressed?
• How can we help our dogs heal faster from surgery?

While rehab is great for Tripawds, Dr. Waldman says she wishes she could see all of her rehab clients before they have surgery; when they are still young, healthy puppies. If she could, she would warn pawrents about seemingly harmless fun that could result in injuries later on.

She would tell pawrents not to let their dogs jump in and out of trucks, or play Frisbee without warming up and cooling down. She would also tell them to use a ramp instead of jumping into trucks or on furniture. Because if pawrents wait until their dog is injured to take her advice, that’s when things get complicated. Changing a dog’s behavior patterns is another hurdle to add on top of recovery.

In the next and final discussion we have with Drs. Kramer and Waldman, we’ll address concerns about supplements and pain medication.

Many thanks to the pawesome staff at California Animal Rehabilitation Center in Southern California for helping us bring this series to you. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, be sure to visit this incredible facility and see how they can help your Tripawd stay strong and live hoppy!

Catch Part 1: Canine Rehabilitation: Exercises and Stretches with CARE

Catch Part III: Canine Rehabilitation: Pain Meds and Supplement Tips from CARE

What a great time it is to be a Tripawd. With the increasing number of animal rehabilitation practitioners, or what humans call “physical therapists,” three legged dogs can now take advantage of the same life-changing therapies that humans do.

Tripawds recently visited Southern California, and were lucky enough to spend the afternoon with one of the most respected animal rehabilitation centers in the region, California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE).

The founders of CARE, veterinarian Jessica Waldman, VMD, CVA, CCRT, and physical therapist Amy L. Kramer, PT, DPT, CCRT, are partners at one of the few  rehabilitation centers in the country that has a vet and a physical therapist on staff, both certified in canine rehabilitation.

Drs. Waldman and Kramer were kind enough to spend time with us to answer Tripawd member’s questions about rehabilitation. And here in part 1, “Stretching and Exercises with Happy Face,” they demo conditioning exercises on this two year old pup who was hit by car. Happy Face is just a few weeks post op and is in therapy because he has neck, lower back, pelvic pain and phantom pain caused by the accident.

CARE’s Exercise Tips to Remember:

• Be creative and find new activities to do together, such as creating homemade obstacle courses and playing new games that can help with mobility.
• Create body awareness by doing things like playing with your Tripawd’s paws to help her connect her leg movements with her brain.
• Research canine physical therapy to show you different activities that are both fun and rehabilitative.

Many thanks to everyone at California Animal Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles for helping us bring this series to you. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, be sure to visit this incredible facility and see how their staff can help your dog stay strong and live hoppy!

Catch Part II: Canine Rehabilitation: Amputation Recovery Advice with CARE

Catch Part III: Canine Rehabilitation: Pain Meds and Supplement Tips from CARE

We couldn’t believe it when we first heard about Maggie. She’s a three year bone cancer survivor living in Northern California with sister Tani and Mom Karen. Maggie was diagnosed with mast cell cancer more than three years ago at age 7. She might have lost her leg, but she sure didn’t lose her girlish charm! Here’s Maggie’s inspirational story as told by Karen:

Maggie is having some kidney issues right now, so please join us in sending lots of pawsitive healing energy her way. You can read more about Maggie’s Journey on her blog, Life with a Tri-Pug.

Here at last, the first ever comprehensive treatment and recovery survey about canine amputation and cancer care. Many thanks to our Tripawds members who contributed to the creation of this important ongoing project.

Please take a moment to complete Part One below. Submit it by midnight on Sunday, February 21st and you’ll be entered into a drawing where one lucky pawrent will get a $10 Café Cash gift certificate valid for any Café Press items including Tripawds apparel and gifts!

Upon submission of the 2010 Tripawds Care Survey below will be redirected to Part 2, which covers cancer-specific concerns. Stay tuned for regular updates with interesting findings from this ongoing survey, here in Jerry’s blog and his three legged dog discussion forums.

Update, 3/7/10: Please be sure to take Part II of this very impawtant survey too! 2010 Tripawds Care Survey, Part II

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