Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone
It has been awhile since I have posted. It has been a rough couple of weeks. First we lost power and water for a week due to the storms in NH. Then we got bad news about Titan. I have been trying to digest it but it so hard.
Some of you may remember Titan had to get a repeat xray done. His last one that was done the radiologist saw something and wasn't sure if it was a shadow. Well it's not the cancer has gone to his lungs even with him doing so well on chemo(so we thought). I am angry,devastated, shocked, overwhelmed, sad and heartbroken. He may have only a couple of months. My husband and I talked to prepare ourselves to do something sooner so Titan will not have any pain. I feel like we tried so hard and it wasn't good enough.
Titan has been such a trooper he had just passed the good citizen class so he could take the next step in becoming a therapy dog for kids with cancer.
I feel like the rug has been ripped out from under us. When we left the appointment from his first xray the doc thought it looked good but was having the radiologist look at it anyway. I got a call the next day saying they wanted to do a repeat xray because they noticed something but wasn't sure if it was a shadow or the cancer. I knew this day would come but not so soon
A very very sad mommy
Heidi
Heidi & Titan,
I am so sorry to hear this devastating news... I am heartbroken too. Please tell me what your vet has Titan on medicine wise?? All Univ of Penn would give me is rimadyl and tramdol.
I am not mourning the living and neither should you. Don't let his prognosis or this cancer rob you of any time you have left with Titan. We have done all we can to give our babies a fighting chance. Please don't cry around him, they need us now more than ever!
please get back to me about the meds...
In my prayers, along with Jack & Buster who were all given this news recently.
I always knew Buster would meet Jerry, I was praying it would be later rather than sooner, also.
Love & hugs,
Kim&Buster
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
Right now I have him still taking his dasuquin(joint supplement) and tramadol. I have to call Monday to let them know how he is doing to see if we need to get him something else. Oh yeah they have him on a chemo pill cyclophosphamide (it was 32.00 bucks at rite aid). Thanks for your support
Heidi and Titan
Heidi & Titan,
Thank you so much for the info... I wanted to give the chemo pill a try but Univ of Penn doesn't believe in the metronomic protocol. They also advised me not to try it... warning me it could make him ill or give him a shorter amount of time. I am still debating about going to Red Bank , they practice the oral chemo there. I am so confused... If it could slow down the lung mets...
Kim& Buster
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
Titan goes to New England Vetirnary Oncology group they are highly recommeded. We are dealing with Dr. Kim Cronin who started the practice. I am willing to try anything. Who knows if it will shorten his time the chemo wasn't as effective as we thought so anything is a shot in my mind. She said it is suppose to slow down the mets but I don't know how much and every dog is different.
Heidi and Titan
Heidi I am so sorry to hear about Titan. I was just asking Jerry about him the other day because I knew it was time for his repeat rads. Is it just the one spot that they see? Sometimes these can grow very slowly. Even multiple nodules can be slowed down. Maybe your vet can add Metacam or another NSAID to the Cytoxan and then he will essentially be on the Metronomic Protocol.
I am going to try to find out more about Artemisinin when I take one of my other dogs to my holistic vet for acupuncture. We have also had snow storms here so the appt has been rescheduled for Monday 12/29. I will let you know what I can find.
We'll be thinking of you,
Pam and Tazzie
They tried him on deramaxx but I didn't think it agreed with him. I believe they explained it is a few nodules. I hope it will slow it down. They had to put him out for the xrays. They had to manuever him around and it injected him on his rear leg of where the front was amputated. So he has been sore. Have you heard of a dog seeming to be doing great but in reality not so great. I am just a mess. I am concerned it is fast growing since we went from a shadow to 2 weeks later a few nodules. Thanks for any info you can give me. I am going to call monday and ask for metacam
Heidi and Titan
Did the Deramaxx hurt his stomach? Metacam tends to be better tolerated but he can take either Carafate or a drug called misoprostol to counteract these side effects.
It is not unusual to have lung mets without symptoms. Dogs don't cough until a large portion of the lung tissue is involved, which is why xrays are taken every 3 months or so. Sometimes you might notice weight loss or decreased appetite before the cough starts.
I know that you and Kim (with Buster) are dealing with this together but just remember that if these dogs are still feeling okay that they may still have some quality months left. I realize that doesn't sound very encouraging right now but try to stay positive for Titan.
Good luck with the oncologist and please keep us updated. I will let you know if I can get any info on holistic treatments.
Pam and Tazzie
Heidi,
I am so sorry to hear your news. I know how you feel trying to do everything you can yet finding it didn't help. I went through that with Calamity, although it wasn't cancer, it still was the same feeling of despair.
We will be thinking of you each day as we light our prayer candle.
Janie & Calamity
Janie & Calamity http://www.trix.....gspot.com/
Titan said:
I feel like we tried so hard and it wasn’t good enough.
Please don't be so hard on yourselves. No matter what you do, it will never be enough. Thank you for taking the time to post an update during this trying time. Please know that we are here for you.
Hang in there. Titan is a Trooper and you do have quality time left with him. Focus on that and make the most of every day.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Heidi and Titan, I am sorry to hear of the devastating news.
Stay positive, go one day at a time. Remember, Jerry had had quality months after discovering lung mets. He is the inspawration.
We are all here to support you.
Hugs.
Heidi & Titan,
This IS such very sad news. It would be really helpful if you could find an NSAID like Metacam, etc. that Titan could tolerate since it has anti-angiogenic properties which slow down the growth of new blood vessels. That's why the Metronomic Protocol exists: they give an oral anti-cancer drug, an NSAID and an antibiotic, such as doxycyline. Each drug has a different way of slowing down the growth of the blood cells that cancer needs to feed on. (I have been reading a lot about the Metronomic Protocol and if I am out of line here, I'm sure Dr. Pam will let me know). "Today, more than 50 anti-angiogenic drugs are being used as therapy for cancer patients."
Here is a link to a great article on The Metronomic Protocol.
I hope this info will help.
Love, Blazer, Kitty Kimber & Mom (Vicki)
I am so very sorry Heidi to hear about Titan's lung mets! 
What an incredible guy- passing his good citizen class so he could become a therapy dog for children with cancer! He is such a hero and always will be! Hang in there Heidi and try to stay as pawsitive as you can... I know you will because you are an awesome mom! He will benefit immensely from your strength and good pawsitive energy. We are praying for you and Titan... sending Titan pawsitive and healing energy and warm hugs to you both. We are all here for you...
Luv Spirit Jake, Smooch, Baby Gus & Mom (Sherri)
Hi Heidi & Titan,
Just wanted to check in & see how Titan is feeling?
We are thinking of you.. hang in there!
Kim & Buster
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
Titan is taking baby steps to get on track. We started metacam today and are doing the chemo pill. Thanks for the aricle. I wonder if you can use that with the chemo pill. Thanks for your support Kim. Titan and I really appreciate you thinking of us. We have you and Buster in our prayers.
Heidi and Titan
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