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.
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Hi all! I'd like to start by saying a great big THANK YOU to the contributing members here! Your stories have offered us comfort and talking points with our providers as we've been making decisions for our boy's osteosarcoma treatment plan. We live in an area without a holistic vet to offer advice, but since standard treatment is so limited to fight this bone cancer, we've decided to incorporate traditional options to help boost his odds.
Where we're at: Hercules is a 90# 10 year old male lab/retriever mix. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his right proximal humerus. He was amputated on 4/28. No mets yet. Lungs clear! He has adapted quickly to tripawd life and is showing no signs of pain. He is receiving follow-up chemo treatments of carboplatin (#1 on 5/17) and is, so far, handling it well. We currently supplement with:
Bixbi Immunity (mushroom complex), Cosequin DS, Fish Oil (5k mg/day), Turmeric (1k mg/day) and NutriVet Brewer's Yeast/Garlic
He handles them all well. No loss of appetite (haha...NEVER!) and he is really bouncing back quickly.
To help give the chemo some extra punch, support his immune system, and hold this killer at bay for as long as we can, we'd like to begin using the below supplements.
We'd like to add:
Artemisinin - sourced from Holley Pharm - will give 200mg/day (split am & pm) 3 hours after meal
Butyrex - sourced from Holley Pharm - will give 4 tabs/day (split with above am & pm) 3 hours after meal
San Shedan chuanbei ye - sourced from Modern Herbshop - will give 2 vials/day split - unsure if it should be given with meals or separately as a snack?
Vitamins E & C - know they will help with artemisinin and that they should be given with his meals NOT with the artemisinin dose, but unsure HOW MUCH to give.
Vitamin D - again helps with artemisinin and should be given WITH it, but HOW MUCH?
Cod Liver Oil - is this the best way to get the Vitamin D to him? Figured we'd mix it with the Artemisinin , Butyrex, and some dairy to administer it. Also would then cut back on his Fish Oil supplements to compensate using the extra cod liver oil.
I know this is hecka-loooong and I really appreciate anyone who read through it all! We're just trying our best to keep him strong and NOT harm him with our good intentions. Our oncologist is supportive, but not experienced with these methods enough to be able to chime in, so this is where we'd love ANY feedback from those who have tried.
Hi Hercules and family, welcome. I love the way you are researching all your options and asking good questions. Hercules' recovery is clearly due in part to your pawsitive outlook.
As you can see, the word "artemisinin " has a link to it in our Forums. Click on the link and you'll find the information we've shared about it.
Calculating dosages for things like supplements is dependent on each patient's weight, age and other health conditions. It's almost impossible to tell you how much to give because 1) we aren't vets and 2) every supplement and every Tripawd is so unique. Some things can or cannot be given during chemo as well. So here's my suggestions:
First, pick up a copy of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide . You'll find more specifics about how to give supplements while fighting cancer.
Next, consider a long-distance consult with a holistic vet. It appears you are living in Alaska? If so you may find that Dr. Charles Loops in South Carolina can work with you. He does phone consults. So does Tripawds friend Gina Snow.
Also, here's a great article about how to find a good holistic vet.
Be sure to check out the Tripawds Nutrition blog too. We often publish members' different approaches to fighting dog cancer and their stories may help.
Finally, one last suggestion: Try to focus on just a few things at a time. Otherwise you'll never know what is working and what isn't.
I hope this helps. We're so glad you found us and look forward to following along with Hercules' adventures.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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