Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey everyone. I just wanted to say that chuck has had a great last three weeks. Hes happy to eat again. Hes been happy. He did start limping again as the tumor grew in the week we put off treatment and we have began to rethink amp. The tumor did seem to shrink again a bit so I guess we are going to do another iv chemo round to see if there is any further progress. If not I guess we go from there. We've continued cytoxan as well but stopped palladia.
With that said. Considering our palliative approach and the fact we are already on iv as well as metronomics
. .. we obviously get lung xrays before each treatment. But last month he had an issue with knuckling his back paw once so we did a spinal xray. It came out clear. He seems a littlestiff in the back legs and sometimes maybe a little shaky. Nothing major. but I can't help but be concerned. This is around the same time post iv chemo that the issues happened last month. Maybe hes just weak. But do I ask for another spinal xray too? Does it matter if it ended up being mets? Would we just stop all treatment and call it a day or continue as planned? Maybe hes just weak (it did seem to get better)but just trying to figure out if I should ask for another spinal xray along with the lungs.
Thanks 
lori and chuck
I've been waiting to hear from you!! GREAT UPDATE LORI and CHUCK! Did you ever think he would be doing this well a month ago? Did you ever think YOU would be handling thigs this well?? APPLAUSE to both of you!
The tumor re-shrunk agai ? That's great Lori! As far as xrays...with the carboplatin chemo anyway, the xrays were every other three weeks I "think"...I'm new to this Cytoxan stuff too...but I think xrays are more like every tnree months....maybe? So I don't know that kt would just be a waste of mo ey to do this soon after the last set. I think even if mets showed up, treatment would continue the same with tne Cytoxan.
Don't knw what to tell you about spine xrays. He seems to be displaying symptos more in line with arthritis and, like yoj said, just overall weakness from everything he's been going through!
I'm just so tnrilled he's been doing so well! Pretty miraculous, huh?t Chuck! Chuck! YAAAAAAY for the Chuckster:-) You're a brave girl Lori and your Chuck is a brave boy! Great team!
Keep posting! Good to get the great update!
((((((((HUGS))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
OOOPS! So excited to see your post, I screwed up again. Just realize it was u der Ask Vet! Goodness knows I'm not:-) It's just cuz' I care ya' know:-)
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!
I'm so hoppy that Chuck is doing well overall.
If your gut feeling is telling you that you will feel better getting a spinal x-ray, then do it. But then again, a spinal x-ray may not show the mets IF they're there, only a CT scan will. So if you do want to know for sure, then a CT scan would bring you more peace of mind.
Now, the only problem with knowing exactly what's going on, is that unfortunately as far as I know, for spinal mets there is nothing you can do. You go home, and you spoil your dog rotten. Spinal mets progress and pain worsens very quickly.
I'm sorry. I'm not a vet, I don't have any really good answers here, other than the suggestion to go with your gut instinct. {{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My non-vet two cents-
My quad pug Tani has neurological problems which causes her back feet to knuckle or drag, so a spinal x-ray may not show the cause. When did you stop the palladia? I've read that that can cause weakness and pain in the back and back legs.
Good boy for eating again and having a great three weeks!
Karen
Knuckling over or dragging feet is always a neurologic issue but it is not always spinal mets. I have not seen this associated with chemo although if they used a vein in the rear leg then that could be possible. If it does not stress him out too much I would consider a spinal xray in case there is any bony destruction but often the mets do not show up unless an MRI or CT scan is performed.
Spinal mets would not change the chemo plan but would change the amputation plan.
It could also be a pinched nerve or worsening arthritis but that often responds to an NSAID which I believe he is already taking.
Pam
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