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Mini Schnauzer about to lose right rear leg
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Member Since:
23 March 2013
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6 June 2013 - 6:59 am
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So sorry to hear about Dotty's diagnosis.  I know that feeling all too well.  

I was firmly in the no-chemo camp for Lili's OSA for several weeks after amputation.  It was just so hard to contemplate when we were in the fog of post-surgery recovery.  Physically, she bounced back okay, but she just wasn't the same dog for quite a bit.  In about week 4 after surgery, we finally saw a little bit of her sparkle return, and the day she bounded to her toy basket and picked up a toy for the first time, I knew we had to give the chemo a try.  

Her first chemo treatment was five weeks and two days after the amputation, after the specialists did chest x-rays and ultrasounds that showed no visible mets.  My only regret about chemo is that we didn't start sooner, as Lili has handled it like a champ.  It's a walk in the park compared to the surgery, for sure!  She did have low WBC count after the first treatment, which delayed the second treatment a week.  But no side effects and the anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds have gone untouched so far, knock on wood.  Fingers crossed for today, as she has the bloodwork for her third treatment (tomorrow, if all goes well).  

Take a breath, get through the next week or two or three or however long Miss Dotty needs, and then regroup.  Sounds like she is on the road to recovery and you have a great mindset of enjoying the now!  

On The Road


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6 June 2013 - 10:53 am
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Victoria, I'm really hoping it's the fibrosarcoma diagnosis too. How will the vets agree on a final diagnosis?

She's going up steps now? That's terrific! And just as Dotty is taking life "one step at a time" so are you. Hang in there, look at your treatment options, and remember that the only "right" answer is the one that's made with her best interests in mind. You are a great dog mom and you know her well, you will come up with the best decision for her and your pack.

Are you done with the cabbage poultice treatment?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
23 May 2013
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6 June 2013 - 5:29 pm
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jerry said
Victoria, I'm really hoping it's the fibrosarcoma diagnosis too. How will the vets agree on a final diagnosis?

She's going up steps now? That's terrific! And just as Dotty is taking life "one step at a time" so are you. Hang in there, look at your treatment options, and remember that the only "right" answer is the one that's made with her best interests in mind. You are a great dog mom and you know her well, you will come up with the best decision for her and your pack.

Are you done with the cabbage poultice treatment?

Haha! Yes, we are finished with the cabbages! They did their job and bought a lot of yucky stuff to the surface where we could get to it, Dot is so much better now than she was 48 hours ago. It's quite hard to believe the turn around. Like all things with Dot, it's in her own sweet time.

We have been to the vet again this morning to check the infection, lot's of admiring "oooh"s and "aaaah"s from the vets and vet techs, the swelling is half what it was yesterday. We have a bit of granulation around the wound where two different types of tissue are suddenly expected to knit together as if they have known each other all Dot's life. Dr Megan isn't worried too much by it.

The infection is on the run, being chased closely by baytril, trichozole and Dotty's immune system. Such a relief to feel Dotty relaxed in my arms rather than all tensed up and groaning. 

Her mindset seems to have improved as well, naturally. When I click her lead on her she will now get up from her bed and have a shake, lift her tail and head off to the front door. She went down the outside stairs last night before bed when it was time for the goodnight "tinkle". I couldn't believe it. When she wants to come back up them she needs a bit of a run-up, she especially appreciates the round of applause that she gets at the top. The whole family is feeling better and I can see how happy the kids are that she is making good ground, at last. What a journey we are on!

As far as the final diagnosis is concerned, we are keeping ourselves very positive and trusting in the guy at the top of the veterinary food chain! The other pathologist (who diagnosed fibroblastic osteosarcoma) is doing some "staining" on the tissues, Im not sure what that is exactly and forgot to ask Megan this morning. We wait to hear from her now.

Megan discussed the fibrosarcoma diagnosis with her specialist hubby who feels that chemo isn't needed and the amputation is more than likely to have been curative. If we get further evidence of the osteosarcoma diagnosis then we are back to the chemo discussion once more. I would consider giving it a go and seeing how Dotty handles it, rather than just discount it straight away. Now that she is looking better everyday, I think I can consider putting her through it, at least as a trial.

Thanks for all the responses, again, lovely people. It's so interesting to see how other families get through this and is a real comfort in times of doubt and fear.clap

I am so grateful for all the support we have received during Dotty's difficult post-amp days.

Victoria and Dotty

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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6 June 2013 - 8:53 pm
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such great. news all the way around FINALY!! we all knew things were UST making a little longer and she NAD a few extra hurdles thrown in, but it's soooooo hard to watch when you AREN'T seeing the improvement!!!

you should be so proud of yourself and, of course dotty!! But you remained strong g and positive under circumstances that would be pretty horrific for most to endure. ENDURE YOU DID,!! ENDUREYOU DID!!

Gonna go plant some cabbage i honor of Dotty's bum and your comic relief!!

So happy for you, so very happy:-) :-)

Love, 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!

New York, NY
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6 June 2013 - 9:43 pm
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Victoria,

 

This all sounds wonderful!  and, so similar again to our situation! I can't help but look back and think geesh, maybe its just the little dogs and kitties who have trouble with the pathology!  with the staining and the pathologists disagreeing, I went through it all.  I know that can kind of be disconcerting, but lets all just keep our fingers crossed for fibrosarcoma!!  It sounds like you have an AMAZING team working with you and Dot!!!!!!!!

 

All my love,

Erica & Jill

Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo

New Jersey
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25 May 2013
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7 June 2013 - 5:26 am
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So happy to hear of the wonderful process that you are making Dottie, and what a great Mom and Drs you have. Keep going strong!
Horah for cabbage!,

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23 May 2013
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17 June 2013 - 3:53 pm
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Here is Cabbage Girl, on the beach at day 11 after her amputation. The nightmares of the first week are fading into the memory, thankfully. We are now at the three week mark and Dotty is loving a short  walk everyday and is racing around very happily at home, greeting visitors with a lustily shouted welcome at the door.

This is the scene when we took her to her favourite place, Opoutere Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula where we have a beach house. Dot has been coming here most weekends for the last 2 years and had helped me supervise a difficult build over the year before that. We would walk through the forest to the beach after each day on the building site to calm my nerves in the sea air and so Dot could chase pinecones, dig holes and check out the amazing smells! I was bereft at the thought of coming here without her (pre-amputation decision) so it was a triumphant return for her, even if it was a sedate rest on a towel for half an hour before being helped home through the forest. She was happy to be carried for large chunks of the walk at that stage, I think she could cope with the whole walk now. 

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b573/Victoria_Spence/photo-8_zps513e18e6.jpgImage Enlarger

 

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b573/Victoria_Spence/photo-11_zps0a75dcad.jpgImage Enlarger

 

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b573/Victoria_Spence/photo-9_zps6ba6168a.jpgImage Enlarger

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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17 June 2013 - 4:48 pm
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WONDERFUL UPDATE AND WONDERFUL PICTURE!! Love seeing her tail held high as she proudly sniffs all the scents the ocean breeze has to offer

I know it felt like you never would see these happy moments again and here they are!! Proof is in the pictures!!

And Victoria, if you had a tail like hers you would be holding it proudly for a job WELL DONE!! You OTH had a rough recover but it is fine ally paying off in seeing her happy, sparking self come shining through!! AND, she's still early in recovery!! She'll be surfing those waves in no time!"

So Scotty....at your beach you pick up PINE CONES instead of seashells? Huh?

Congratulations for stellar determination Vitoria and Dotty!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
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17 June 2013 - 7:54 pm
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Dotty there you are! I've been wondering how Cabbage Girl was doing. What an AMAZING recovery you've made. This is really, really great to see you out there enjoying your world again. Congratulations to you and your Momma, you have achieved RECOVERY!!!! May your story give hope to all the folks who come here needing it so badly. This is terrific.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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