Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I wasn't sure what category to put this post in but I decided it was part of the preparation of loss and coping process. When I found out that Mac had hemangiosarcoma and that there was little research done on it compared to other cancers, I wanted to find out if it was possible to donate his body to science in order to further research or even if he could be a cadaver dog to help veterinary students in their pursuit. It is a morbid and heartwrenching topic, but since I am going to be an organ donor myself someday I figured why not help the veterinary community and contribute all I possibly can. After all, when he dies he will no longer need his physical shell.
It has been difficult to find resources on this subject so I have been emailing several teaching colleges and organizations to find out what I can. From what I gather, you can call participating colleges and have them pick up your dog when they pass and they will use them as teaching aids and possibly research. They prefer to use donated cadavers instead of shelter dogs nowadays in order to be as humane as possible so it is important to donate if you can bring yourself to. Some colleges will do a ceremony for your loved one and send you the ashes after cremation but not all. As for research purposes, there are organizations that like to have samples of cancer and you can sometimes arrange for your doctor to send them samples.
I have not been able to find someone locally yet to take Mac but there are colleges who have not responded to repeated emails so I will have to call them to find out what I can. If anybody has donated their pet and has some information I would really appreciate some advice and/or resources. These are some links that the people who did respond to me provided:
http://www.educ.....ndash;with links to universities with programs for this
http://www.modi..... –for cancer studies
Hi Jacki
Gosh this idea is very thoughtful of you and not something I would have thought of or could even do. But it is extremely admirable and hopefully will be even more useful.
Please give Mac a hug from me or whatever he likes - I suppose he'd prefer a sniff from Tazzie. Even now, he has had a long and wonderful life - don't forget that! (We younguns are only a bit jealous!)
Susan
Thank you so much for posting this. I've often wondered what options were out there, but haven't yet had the heart to actually research it. I'm lucky in that we go to UC Davis and they seem very forward thinking in this arena. We had already donated Caira's leg and tumor for research. I'm still not sure what we will decide when the time comes, but it's good to know there are resources out there. Thank you so much for doing the legwork (no pun intended).
May 2001-Jan 21, 2010.....I'm a dog and I'm AWESOME!..... Always.
This is the perfect forum to discuss offering a pet's body for scientific research, as acknowledgement and preparation are most important when coping with loss.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We donated Emily's leg but never even thought about donating her body when the time comes. We had our first two pets cremated but this is making me think.
Debra
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
I have tried all my local universities but nobody wants Mac's remains when he goes. The specialist at VRCC said that that probably has to do with the fact that most studies nowadays are dealing with genetic predispositions and they want to have samples from purebreds and they like to have also blood samples from families. Since Mac is mixed and I have no idea what happened to his brothers and sisters, it's unlikely anybody would want to study him. I asked about him just being a teaching tool for students and she said that they usually only want healthy dogs so they know what normal organs and tissues look like.
When Emily died at the Ohio State University Vet. Teaching Hospital they asked permission to do what they called a Cosmetic Necropsy. They then released Emily's body for cremation so we will still be able to have her ashes. If you have a teaching hospital around you and are considering donating your fur babies body to science this may be an option.
It was hard to do but we are hoping that other dogs may be saved
Debra
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
We did that with my cat who passed from chronic renal failure. It's not as hard as it may seem, at least for me it wasn't. Sometimes, they will actually pay for your final bills in order to ease your personal financial burden, they did for my Neko. We were also given the option of getting her remains back afterwards. For me, it was comforting that anything that she could contribute to the fight of feline renal failure would be so beneficial.
We have discussed this concerning Tika, but haven't really talked more about it with the doctors. If Caya doesn't improve soon, we'll discuss it with her doctors also.
--Kim
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
The University of Wisconsin Vet Teaching Hospital has started a tumor bank with two other universities. The bank makes sample available to researchers as needed. When Beacon's leg was amputated, I donated it to the bank. Beacon was treated at UW for 9 months and when he was euthanized, I gave them his body. Knowing that something may be learned for the treatment of dogs in the future has given me great comfort, more comfort than anything else actually. I am very grateful to the UW and impressed with their wanting to follow and evaluate on their diagnosis and protocols with a necropsey.I was still able to get his ashes.
Michigan State University is also studying gastric carcinoma in all 4 of the Belgian sheepdog breeds. The study is specific to purebred Belgian sheepdogs. Anyone with a Belgian over 8 years old may enter their dog in the study by submitting blood samples and a three generation pedigree. Beacon was entered when he was healthy and now they have requested tissue samples even though he was not diagnosed with gastric carcinoma. For information on submitting samples go to http://www.bsca.info, the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America web site. The Tervuren and Malinois (and I think Laekenois ) Clubs are also supporting this study.
The treatment we have all recieved for our dogs comes from solid, scientific research. For me, this was a chance to give something back.
Susan Spinhirne
Thank you for sharing this info, Susan!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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