Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Carboplatin is the generic name for the drug (brand name used to be Paraplatin). The generic comes pre-mixed but you can not re-use a bottle once it is opened. Sammy is a big boy (about 100 pounds) and he gets 38 mls (380 mg) IV every 3 weeks. Your vet can order the drug from various veterinary distributors but we find the best prices with MWI or Florida Infusion.
It is important to remember that you also have to pay for IV catheters, CBC blood tests and sometimes meds for nausea or diarrhea. I usually repeat chest xrays prior to the 3rd or 4th treatment to make sure there are no lung mets. These prices vary depending on which part of the country you live in and how comfortable your vet is with handling chemo.
Pam (I am Sammie's vet)
Thank you Pam. I guess not knowing the oncology drugs used I probably misunderstood what he was trying to tell me about Carboplatin. It's nice that you have this information available to you. Hope I did not confuse anyone on the site. So 1ml = 10mg? Do they use kg for calculating? That would be a very close estimate to my patou as he weighed 126 at the vets today when we got his drains removed. He had at one time weighed almost 140 but last weight pre-amputation was 123 pounds. He has acutally gained 3 pounds 3 days post-op even without his leg! He did get IV fluids but 3 days post I thought he would have diuresed them off. I'm not sure why he had lost weight as there were no visible mets to his lungs on his last xray but perhaps he was in a great deal of pain and did not have an appetite. Or perhaps the cancer affects metabolism somehow. This is all new to me. This is all going to be very nerve racking but at the same time an interesting viewpoint with oncology from a nursing point of view. thanks again for the info and input.
janet and Patou
Hi Janet and Patou,
Pam is an amazing vet! I am not just saying that because she is probably reading this (laughing) but because she is super with Sammy and has an incredible amount of knowledge on the subject. Her own puppy went through this and she has been the vet for others on this site. Sammy doesn't like any vet he has ever been to but he loves Pam. 🙂
I don't live on the pennisula but in a smaller town outside of Seattle, Wa. I just happened to do some volunteer work for this organization that is on the outskirts of Sequim, Wa. I will have to dig up the name because the website for them has stories about their animals and how they came to need help. It is very moving and if I didn't live so far from them I would go back to help a lot more often.
I think we did the first chemo about 2 weeks after his amp. He needed time to heal and the chemo affects that greatly. Our chemo plus the CBC screen and the anti-nausea shots run about $230.00 per visit.
I couldn't afford it if it was much more than that!
I hope Patou is having a good day, and you too.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
I am not just saying that because she is probably reading this (laughing) but because she is super with Sammy
Bwahahahaahhaaa!
Hang in there Nurse Janet! You are still way ahead of the recovery game than any of us!
And for kick and grins, read Elizabeth's posts during Sammy's recovery after she hadn't slept! She was close to needing a rubber room! If Sammy wasn't so sick, he would have been laughing too!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Well well Comet, whatza matter, did pretty Cooper get tired of playing with you?
Re-reading those posts was challenging for me. I had forgotten how panicky I was. I am grateful for you guys for pulling me through it.
Janet, just so you know, that was when I had a different Vet, the one who did the amputation. Dr. Pam came in and saved the day by getting Sammy on the right meds and becoming his chemo vet. Thank goodness too, because it sure looks like I was close to getting to hug myself with my own self-squeezing white jacket provided thoughtfully by the state 🙂
For some reason my amputation vet and my old vet (before Pam) didn't wish to give Sammy Gabapentin. He went through horrible phantom pain because his scapula was left in. Neither vet was helpful. My amp vet hadn't had enough experience with the drug to recommend it, but within two days of Dr. Pam getting him on it he had a complete turn around.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Pretty Cooper wont get tired of playing with the famous Cometdog!
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
thanks Elizabeth and comet's mom. I start the chemo next week. NOT looking forward to that.. either financially, or driving over an hour to get there or any side effects that Patou might have!! I just feel that I really need to have it done. I also think my chemo vet (he's not an oncologist just a vet who is willing to give chemo to dogs) I guess he kinda has specialized in oncology on his own! He has really promoted having the chemo done as he says it just lengthens their lives and chances a whole lot more. (he also has a Pyr and sheep... which I think I mentioned before so he's AOK in my book) at least he understands the breed a bit. If you own one you know one. I asked if he ever treated a Pyr with Cancer and he said no he had not, so I think he is interested to see how Patou does with the chemo from a Pyr point of view. Thanks for the encouraging words and here's to keeping fingers crossed for everyone going thru any part of this canine cancer stuff. It's NOT fun stuff!!! My director of Nurses at the hospital where I work also has Pyrenees and her husband raises sheep. She just told me they lost their Madge who was I guess a SUPER guardian dog for their flock. She said she was 9 years old, which I thought was a bit young esp for a Pyr, but she said she quit eating and just went down hill fast in about 2 weeks time which makes me REAL suspicious of some kind of undiagnosed cancer of some sort. I am going to help her find another Pyr and gave her my breeder's name. She had had a Pyr with Lymphoma years ago and I remember she still talks about that Pyr alot. thanks again everyone and have a wonderful Christmas and everyone ENJOY your canine companions..... they are our bright spot in our worlds!!!!!!
Bright spots indeed! Hoppy Howlidays!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome to the family, sorry I'm late to the pawty. Your story started exactly like ours, limping, not doing x-rays for the same reason, 2 weeks later find out, and the rest is history. This is the best place to be starting on this journey, You are about to learn way more than you ever thought in the next few weeks, and once healed, you won't believe how well these guys do. Grab some sleep if you get the chance, you'll need it, not to scare you, its just a fact night and days run together for awhile. Gus had trouble with phantom pain , his started about 5 days post, gabapentin worked well for him. Don't be afraid to ask anything, experience gives the best answers. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Thanks Dan,
There is one thing that I am noticing and it's the similarity of everyone's stories, which makes this sight an excellent support and educational forum. So sorry about your Gus, but I am like you if there is anything that I can do to make anyone else's journey less painful than I am ALL for it!!!!!! I took my Patou over to my mother's for a visit with my Aunt and Uncle, who were both REAL Scottie enthusiasts, and they could NOT believe how good Patou was doing 9 days post op. He IS however doing alot of panting and restlessness stuff starting in the early evenings. I still have him on his tramadol but now think he is getting into some constipation issues... OH what do you give a 125 dog for constipation??? His stump is starting to look pretty good now and by Tues he will be ready to have his sutures out. Just am NOT looking forward to this chemo stuff. Man... and I have to work a full time job as a nurse working long 12 hour shifts... this is NOT going to be fun. I may have to hire my pet sitters to come out and check up on him periodically.
Thanks again for letting us know that your story is alot like ours. It's comforting to know that you are not and have not ever been the only one to go thru this kind of thing.
janet and Patou
pyrlover4ever said:
... OH what do you give a 125 dog for constipation???
Is Patou on any sort of Probiotics? Did you search these forums for constipation topics?
Best of luck for you and Patou in the comming weeks, please keep us posted on his progress.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Janet, I know you are dreading the chemo, but for the most part the dogs do not have the awful side effects humans suffer. When it was time for Trouble to start chemo, I really didn't want to give it to her. I didn't want to see her go through the agony I've watched humans go through. My husband and our vet both encouraged me to give her that chance. They convinced me to give her one treatment and see how she responds, then decide if you want to continue.
Trouble had little side effects. She had some nausea in the late evening after her treament, and by the next morning she was back to her normal self. Each treatment was just a little different, but none of the side effects lasted more than 24 hours for her. She was given an injection for nausea prior to her treatments and had pills for home. I bought puppy pads and kept them handy, if she started to get sick, I'd grad one and put it under her head. It kept her from trying to jump and run for the door, and kept the floor/bed clean. Trouble usually didn't want much to eat after treatment, but by the next morning was back to her routine.
After two of her treatments she had some chills. I'd wrap her in a blanket and hold her until they stopped which usually wasn't more than a few minutes.
All this just to say it may not be as bad as you are thinking. If you have days off that are consecutive, schedule the treatment on your first day off. Likely by the time you have to go back to work all will be good. Try not to worry too much until you see what the treatments will bring.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
thanks so much Shanna. Anything that anyone offers is a little more than what I don't know. It does help that you all have been thru all this before.
janet and Patou
Jim.. no Patou is not on any probiotics and I will look into the constipation topics. Just this a.m. I noticed that for the first time he has tried to lay down on his affected stump side. He could not tolerate it but it's the first time he has tried that so maybe that is a good sign. (he is a rear R leg amputee) He gets so restless and just circles and circles before he lies down and then it's up and down and up and down. I keep pain meds on board pretty much all the time, and am trying to wean down a bit as he has to take so much for his size and weight.
janet and Patou
Hi Janet,
Sammy has done the same thing. He pants now when he never used to. I have read that many dogs do that after amputation. I am not sure of the cause but my vet says the same thing.
As for lying on his amp side, the day Sammy got his staples out he came home and laid down on his site (we have raised dog beds so it is very soft like a hammock) and he loves to lay on that side now. He didn't before the staples where out though.
The chemo was pretty easy on him until this last one, then he got the chills really badly and shook and shook off and on through the night. But the first 4 of them he just didn't want to eat that night or the next day. That turns out to be okay because he isn't playing hard like he used to, so he isn't burning calories and needs to lose a little weight anyway.
Hope this helps,
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
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