Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sorry I've been absent for so long, work and life have got in the way. Storm has reached his 7 month ampuversary (yippee) but unfortunately the news is not good.
as you know he had 6 sessions of chemo (2 sorts) which did not stop the spread to his lungs. He was then put on Palladia. Recent x-Ray's show that the mets have grown again despite this although they are still small, one the size of a cranberry and one the size of an almond kernel and are having no effect on him at all at the moment. The oncologist offered us metronomics to try next but there are other things to consider.
Storm is now 11 years old and has arthritis in his hip and ankle in his remaining front leg. Ironically it is the arthritis that is having a big effect on him as opposed to the lung mets. The best treatment for this is physio and hydrotherapy but there is a catch - he can't have the hydro if he is on metronomics due to the risk to the other users of the pool so we had a dilemma.
Before his amputation Storm was a fit and active boy walking a minimum of 3 miles a day and swimming daily, he loved chasing his ball especially in the water but he is now reduced to a 15 minute walk a couple of times a day and he is so frustrated and obviously in pain in his hip so we have made the decision to stop the drug treatment and concentrate on taking away the pain in his joints. This means that my boy can once again enjoy a swim and chase his ball, heaven for him. The oncologist is in agreement with this approach, after all, what use are clearish lungs if he can't move due to the arthritis.
We don't know how quickly the mets will grow or how long the arthritis will be kept under good pain control but until one of them gets too unbearable for him my boy is going to enjoy a fantastic quality of life, swimming, ball chasing and enjoying good food and lots of love.
Congrats on 7 months! Probably not my place to say, but your decision to focus on the pain and not the cancer sounds right to me. I'm sure he is pretty tired of treatments and sounds like swimming and chasing balls are a much higher quality of life for Storm.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Happy Ampuversary Storm! It's tough when you are juggling multiple issues, all you can do is choose the path that is best for your boy.
My quad pug Tani had terrible arthritis in all four legs and her back, she was diagnosed at 6 years old. I thought I would throw out a couple meds that really helped her:
Glucosamine/condrotin supplement. We started this as soon as she was diagnosed with arthritis. I saw a mobility improvement in about 2 weeks. This kept her going for several years.
We then added a low dose of the anti-inflammatory Rimadyl. We slowly raised the dose over the years until we hit max.
Then we added a low dose of the pain med gabapentin. Again we slowly raised the dose over the next couple years.
When she was about 12.5 years old she was maxed on these meds and struggling again to the point that I thought I would need to make a decision on her life quality. My vet suggested we try adequan injections. For Tani it was magic. It does not work for every dog, and it is expensive, but it gave her about 2.5 more years. I learned how to do the injections at home so I didn't have to stress her at the vet.
With Tani we were also juggling multiple issues, but her arthritis was the biggest concern until the last year of her life. I did have to make a decision for her, but it was because of a stroke at almost 15 years old, not the arthritis.
I hope the therapy works for Storm and he can find his heaven chasing balls and swimming.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
STORM!! So good to hear from you handsome boy!! And HAPPY SEVEN MONTH AMPUVERSARY indeed!!! You've really overcome, and are continuing ro overcome, some "obstacles"!
You've done an EXCELLENT assessment of what's in Storm's best interest! You know your boy and what he would want. As we all know here, it's about quality, quality, quality! To be "treatment free" as far as that stupid piece of crap disease, is a very effective treatment!! Storm is free of poking, prodding, exhausting trips to the vet, etc.
To be dealing with a senior with arthritis is the "normal" course that many of us don't ever get to on this journey.
There are so many amazing options for managing arthritis now....Adequan, Dasequin, Acupuncture, Pain meds, Fabroloc, etc.
Storm doesn't mind if his walks are shorter, just as long as the trade off is extra couch time for rummy rubs, treats, a scoop of ice cream and a drive through vurger! Oh, and let's not forget cheese pizza
!!
Thanks for the update! We love this boy! And love to you!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS...I probably mentioned this in earlier posts. My beloved Happy Hannah had a met the vet said was "the size of a baseball" and she got some great extended quality time!!
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!
Well, as usual, vy the time I finish my sloooow typing, Karen has already posted with some of the things I was mentioning. Can never have roo much of a good thing, right?
Also, check out this blog Jerry posted today...may be helpful for Storm. http://download.....n-animals/
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!
Hoppy Ampuversary Storm! I agree, the most important is the quality. What good is the time if he can't do the things he enjoys the most? You go chase your ball and enjoy the water, Storm!
Murphy, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with the water! lol Our vet today looked at his teeth and wanted me to schedule a cleaning. Well, it's been 3 years since his surgery, and he's already surpassed everyone's expectations. I'm not going to put him under anesthesia for a teeth cleaning at this point. Yes, he has horrid breath, ever since he started on grain-free
food, but he's been through enough over the past 3 years! Then he said we could do antibiotics for the bacteria & that might help, well, ok, I'll do that then 
Enjoy your swims Storm, for as long as you can! Every day is worth it.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
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