Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Chris! It's good to hear the updates about Bonnie, we were wondering how she's doing. Try not to feel badly about giving her any food she wants. The important thing is to keep her eating. Of course, the more nutritious the better though. One thing we just remembered is Lalla's wonderful Turkey Neck Soup Recipe. Maybe she'll like it?
As far as how to be able to tell if a dog is nauseated? I guess maybe when we throw up our food? That's about the only signs I ever gave to my humans.
You are a great pawrent for doing so much to keep her healthy and happy. You're right; your meticulous reporting will help others.
Many hugs go out to you and Bonnie. Good luck with the next round of chemo. Please keep us updated OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry. We were going to look for the recipe and you read our mind. The only thing I would change would be to leave out the onions. My U of Penn vet tells me that they sometimes destroy red blood cells in dogs. We get out treatment at noon today so will keep you all posted later in the day. Thanks again and our love and prayers are always there for you.
chris-bonnie
Hi Chris, let us know how Bonnie will take the soup today. If that still doesn't work, we'll have to be really really creative to get her to eat. Genie had the same problem for over 2 months after surgery, and I was running out of ideas. That said, I still remember some odd combinations I had tried on her.
Hi Chris & Bonnie,
Yeah, I've heard onions and dogs are a no-no. I'm sorry Spirit Jerry & Lalla, but I just had to reiterate that so people know. It's kind of like grapes. They are now finding that grapes and raisins are absolutely deadly to dogs and I think of all the times I saw dogs eating grapes when I was young. I mean, who knew?
I think it is great that you are keeping your meticulous records, too, Chris, as it's bound to be helpful to the vets should these problems arise in the future. I hope you will continue to keep us posted; we know it is hard when you are dealing with Bonnie's blood sugar problems. As far as knowing when she is nauseated, or not, of course, vomiting is one sign, but I also know that nausea does not always cause vomiting, either. Good luck with the appetite problems. We're thinking of you, always.
Love, Blazer, Kitty Kimber & Vicki T
Thanks to you all for the suggestions. Soup is on! Bonnie had her fifth round of chemo today and it went well so far. She is eating well tonight so I did not have to coax yet. It does not hit till the third or fourth day. I am armed now though, so let's hope she likes turkey this way.
I will keep you posted on her progress. Thanks for everything everyone! I cannot say enough about how great this forum is.
chris-bonnie
Yikes! 
Thanks you guys for pointing out the onions thing! Nobody's caught that before, and we are embarassed that we didn't. What would we do without you! It's been changed. No onions, bad!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
chris-bonnie said:
I cannot say enough about how great this forum is.
Thanks so much, that means a lot to us. But these forums are really nothing without all of you. Thank you for your continued support.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just an FYI that garlic as well as onions can cause hemolytic anemia in dogs. It seems to be an individual reaction, meaning that not all dogs are affected this way. Grapes and raisins can cause renal failure but not in all dogs. Chocolate is always a no-no as well as macadamia nuts and anything with the sweetener xylitol (that one can cause liver failure or low blood sugar even in small doses).
Low amounts of garlic and onions used in cooking are probably alright, although it may be wise to avoid these during chemo since that is when the bone marrow is most "reactive".
Pam and Tazzie
Pam, thank you so much for explaining that. I was wondering why the onions didn't bother Lalla, and garlic never bothered me.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This is superb! I'm glad Pam explained all this to us. It really helps cut through the confusion.
Love, Blazer, Kitty Kimber & Vicki T
Sorry I have been out of touch, but we have been busy trying to get Bonnie to eat. The soup was really good and we enjoyed it, but Bonnie did not. We are on chicken franks, cheese, and corn muffins right now. What a healthy diet, huh! But she is eating and not losing weight so I an happy with that.
We went for our 6th and last course of chemo yesterday. I asked them to do the xrays before the chemo so we would not make her sick again if something was showing. Well they found one met on her left lung and possibly a second, so we did not go with the last course of chemo. Since she has already had five, the vet thought that it would not help for the last one. He has referred us to U of Penn and we are going for part of a clinical trial for the Rapamyacin study. I saw that Cody was considering the same so I will keep you posted. Bonnie goes Tuesday for just a workup and new set of xrays. Then she starts on the 15th of December. I can hope-- that is all right now. But she is fine and happy to not have the last course of chemo. They were so close together that she really did not have time to recuperate from one before she got the other. We were really fortunate that her white cell count stayed up. Anyway, I will try to keep current so it might help anyone thinking about trying it. Thanks for all the help on the food - we are still working on it.
chris-bonnie
I am very sorry to hear of Bonnie's lung mets. Hopefully the new drug will help keep those mets small! I have heard good things about this new drug, but I don't know anyone who has tried it yet.
Please keep us updated on Bonnie's progress.
Pam and Tazzie
Thanks Pam and Tazzie. I posted the description of the trials for Cody and Cathy in Treatment and Recovery.
We hope it works. Bonnie is really laid low right now. Her white cell count hit bottom with the last round of chemo two weeks ago and she has not bounced back yet. That is the toughest part. They did not give me the white cell count yesterday but when I spoke with the tech today, she said it was so low that they would not have given her the chemo anyway. My local vet is sending me the test results tomorrow. It just breaks my heart to see her worn out. Her spirit is there and her tail wags, but she wears out going out to the bathroom. I just wish I could carry her everywhere. It is just tough to carry 70 pounds of chocolate. 
Hopefully her appetite will return and we have a week or two before the actual treatment starts. They will do blood work and xrays next week. Maybe she will be back up to speed by then. I would assume they would not take her if her white cell count is too low. So let's hope for the best.
I will try to keep my posts more current. I spend most of my spare time just loving my puppies. Thanks for all your support.
chris-bonnie
chris-bonnie said:
It just breaks my heart to see her worn out.
Yes, we understand how difficult it is to see the body break when the spirits are still so high. You seem to be doing a pretty good job at loving those puppies though. Hang in there, and best wishes...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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