Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We are taking Cadence to the vet on Thursday to have a hacking cough checked out as well as an inflamed place on the side of her mouth, outside of her lips that she keeps scratching and pawing at. We are also taking her to get a heartworm test. When i called for the appointment they said she was due for the Bordetella vaccination. We have read that we should do titers testing to check for immunity and not get vaccinations unnecessarily when a dog has cancer (In Cadence's case - Osteosarcoma). Does this also include this particular vaccine? I would rather be safe than sorry. We do not board her now that she is a tripawd and although she is a social dog and gets in contact with other dogs, she has never gotten this through her whole life. We did not regularly give her this vaccination except when she was to be boarded. I have been doing some reading online about it but the literature is confusing so I am not sure what to do. Some are saying that even if they do get kennel cough, a dog with a strong immune system will not get that sick, but since Cadence has cancer, her immune system is not as healthy as the average dog. We are also giving her K9 Immunity plus, one tablet four times a day. I am thinking I will just skip the vaccine. What are the thoughts on this? Thanks!
Cadence's Mom
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
I would skip the vaccine...all vaccines actually given her cancer. The paperwork of a vaccine states to vaccinate only healthy dogs....
http://www.dogs.....tion-dogs/
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Our oncologist told us not to give Abby any more vaccines. He said she might need the bordetella if we were planning to board her - but we never do so he said in that case we didn't need it.
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi Heather -
We specifically asked Dr. Greene about this issue and was told "NO!!" So Ginger has had no vaccinations since her amputation. The receptionist at the local vet office is always saying, "well Ginger is not up to date on her vaccines so I don't know if we can treat her." The vet actually knows the deal but it is still frustrating. Every time we are there, they want to put her down for the vaccines. I always tell them no and if they need clarification, to call and talk to Ginger's oncologist.
We have not boarded Ginger since her amp so I don't know what we will do if that becomes as issue.
Hope this helps.
I agree. NO vaccines ever again. Period. If your vet does not believe you, have him remove the package insert from the vaccine he has in his fridge. Poof! There's the proof....."healthy animals"......under his own roof. 🙂 As for boarding Ginger, some facilities will take a veterinarians waiver exemption letter. Call around, find a facility that will abide. Dog Pawrents need vacations too! 😉
Hi Annie, I knew about the other vaccinations (the big three) but wasn't sure about Bordetella. Thanks for the advice. I wasn't too keen on giving her that anyways. She is coming up on needing a rabies vaccine in 2012. I am going to do the titer test on her when it comes time for that. This just opens up a whole can of worms for me because I am wondering about heartworm preventative now and also flea and tick. If they have had a cancer diagnosis is that ok to give them too?
By the way if you ever need to go out of town, we would be MORE than happy to watch Ginger. We have a fenced in backyard too 
Cadence's Mom
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
For the rabies vaccine, our onc gave us a letter saying she shouldn't have it because of the chemo. I sent that in to the county and was still able to get her license. She only ever had her (supposedly) 1 year puppy vaccination for rabies - but from what I understand, even the "one year" puppy vaccine really lasts more like 7 years. (Not sure if I'm remembering the # of years right, but it was a long while.)
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Thanks Abby's Mom. I am getting a letter from the oncologist right now to take to the vet. I want that on file. Her local vet knows about the cancer but since they mentioned vaccines when I called them, I want to make doubly sure no one slips up and vaccinates her. I cringe when I think about the past, how we vaccinated Cadence yearly because we thought it was the right thing to do. No one told us about titers testing. Sometimes I wonder about Cadence's cancer and the yearly vaccinations and if there was a correlation. I hope knowledgeable vets continue to educate the public about titers and the longevity of vaccinations as well as choosing a correct schedule of vaccination depending on the environment our pets are in. IE: a dog that is a hunting dog might get a different schedule of vaccinations than a dog who is inside most of the time with very little social interactions with other dogs/cats.
Cadence's Mom
Cadence Faye: Born 10/30/04, stepped into our hearts 12/23/2004. Rear leg tumor found 7/24/11 by mom and dad, Xray on 7/25/11, Osteosarcoma suspected 7/26/11, amputation 7/29/11, Carboplatin started 8/23. Met free so far!
just weighing in - our oncologist told us to give heartworm and flee/tick regularly, and hold off on vaccines for now.
Our onc said the same - to go ahead w/ the heartworm and the flea/tick. I only do the flea/tick stuff every other month because I worry about putting chemicals on her. (The vet told me that the flea part of it lasts 3 months, it's the tick part that makes it need to be a monthly application - and since ticks are not a problem here unless you hike in the canyons w/ your dog, which we no longer do, I'm only worried about the flea part. Since it stays fairly warm here it's pretty much flea season all year.)
I've heard there are natural alternatives to the flea stuff - but the fleas are always so bad here in SD and I was so allergic to the bites as a kid that I hate to risk getting an infestation!
As for the vaccines in general, I've been reading more about all that and am concerned about what we'll do with our next dog. It's all very confusing.
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Once Trouble was diagnosed with cancer, her vet ceased ALL vaccinations. She lived another 27 1/2 months. He did provide me a statement on letterhead stating she was under veterinary care and was free of any contagious disease. Then gave his contact information in case anyone needed to speak with him about it.
We traveled with Trouble until the last 6 – 9 months and I carried the letter with me all the time, but was never asked for it any place we visited.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I am not a big fan of the Bordetella vaccine even for healthy dogs because it just does not seem to be that effective. I do always give my puppies 1 dose of the intranasal vaccine (this one is safer than the injection). I do agree not to give any vaccines to a dog with cancer.
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