Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It is just amazing how fast Ophelia learns new things! What a good girl! She deserves her belly rub.
Ophelia has such a sweet face! Do you think the prosthetic needs to be adjusted so it's a hair longer? It looks like it's skimming the ground more than it's actually taking her weight. I don't know if that's because she's still learning how to use it or if it's actually just a tiny bit short.
I was/am wondering that as well (needing to be a bit longer). I can also adjust the pitch/angle of the leg which I’m also wondering about. If it was angled more towards the ground it might also help with what you’re seeing. But then we took these videos a couple of hours later and she seems to be using it more. I am going to give it a few days or a week and see how it looks. I’ll am suppose to email the company after working with it a bit so that they can be sure that it fits as it’s suppose to.
She is amazing! I can’t believe how quickly she is taking to using that. For some reason, I thought dogs couldn’t lie down with it on, but it looks like she managed just fine.
That last video definitely looks better. I'm sure the folks that made it will have good feedback, too.
Ophelia got back to her physical therapy that she had been doing prior to her diagnosis tonight. She was really happy to see her friends there. She was super brave and jumped right into the aqua treadmill as if she didn’t even know that she only has three legs now! She worked hard and did great. Completely wiped out tonight.
i made the decision to switch oncologists for the remainder of Ophelia’s journey with this. We have an appointment with her in about a week and a half. I believe that the next step will either be to do what Fidocure recommends or begin the Losartan/Palladia combo treatment. I thought that it was only used when there is metastasis, but this oncologist said that she often starts dogs on it as a means to prevent it altogether. Her husband did the studies, but none of them were in dogs that didn’t already have metastasis. So I’m interested in speaking to her about this. This is also the oncologist who recommended Fidocure. I won’t do any treatment that is a risk to make Ophelia uncomfortable or experience side effects that cause her to not feel well.
here are some videos of Ophelia tonight.
The water treadmill looks like hard work! Although I assume the water actually makes it easier on her body by providing buoyancy.. I'm sure she slept hard last night.
She's an old pro at the water treadmill now! Looking very comfy and confident in the tank, way to go! 
I'm totally going to be watching for you update with the new oncologist and what she recommends.
Nice to see our biggest rock star doing so well. Thanks for the update.
Yes! She most definitely is a pro at the water treadmill. I figured that she would be hesitant to even climb into it, but she jumped right in.
@mishcief - yes, the water reduces the impact to the legs and the joints but still allows for a cardio workout. I believe that it also is a core exercise for her. It’s hard work, but she is usually only in it for 15 minutes. Yesterday it was only 9 minutes since it was her first time with three legs.
Saint Bernards are just so inherently lazy, this helps her get a workout in while also giving her an opportunity to get some attention from the physical therapist and their staff. Plus quality time with me. 🙂
I give a ton of credit to the PT that she had been doing before her diagnosis for helping her recover from the amputation so quickly. So I’m a big proponent.
4 months since diagnosis and 14 weeks since amputation.
Ophelia had a follow up with a new oncologist today. They did chest x-rays to see if they could see any signs of metastasis of the cancer. She was clear again!! Very good news! (Knock on wood).
The Fidocure analysis came back. Unfortunately it didn’t indicate any unique mutations that can be treated with targeted therapy. I’m not too bummed out over this. I was on the fence if i would treat her with some of the drugs that they use. Some have some really uncomfortable side effects. It would have just depended on what drug they were recommending.
Though we are starting Ophelia on a drug cocktail that includes the Losartan-Palladia combination and Rapamycin. The Losartan-Palladia regimen is the one that was recently developed by the veterinarian research center at Colorado State University and has shown to be pretty effective in dogs with osteosarcoma metastasis. We are starting with one drug at a time though so we can see how Ophelia tolerates them. Her quality of life is the priority. First up, high dose Losartan.
Here are some videos from the past week. 🙂
Ophelia, you are really keeping your person safe from squirrels! Good job!! Michael, I'm really impressed by how mat free that good leg is. She looks beautiful.
They did chest x-rays to see if they could see any signs of metastasis of the cancer. She was clear again!! Very good news! (Knock on wood).\
SWEEEEEET! CONGRATS!!! 
What a gift, I'm so happy for you two.
She looks SO GOOD! I mean wow she moved fast when she saw that intruder in the yard! And her body profile looks fantastic. Great job keeping her in shape. Watching her lounge was just the sweetest thing 
The Fidocure analysis came back. Unfortunately it didn’t indicate any unique mutations that can be treated with targeted therapy.
Interesting, I didn't realize that could happen. Probably missed that in the description somewhere. So all in all, can I ask what the cost of the FidoCure test was?
Though we are starting Ophelia on a drug cocktail that includes the Losartan-Palladia combination and Rapamycin. The Losartan-Palladia regimen is the one that was recently developed by the veterinarian research center at Colorado State University and has shown to be pretty effective in dogs with osteosarcoma metastasis.
YES! We love the folks at the Flint Animal Cancer Center as you know. Please keep us posted on how the new therapy is going. They were just talking about it when we interviewed Dr. Seguin back in 2019.
And give that big gorgeous girl of yours a huge smooch from all of us!
Thanks Suzanne!
i will definitely keep updating in Ophelia’s treatment with the cocktail of drugs that her oncologist wants to do. I’m excited that the Losartan-Palladia combo can be used even before there has been metastasis. The studies have all been on dogs with lung mets so i was under the impression that it had no use prior to that occurring. But this oncologist says that they believe that the earlier it is started, the better. And she is the wife of one of the researchers who developed it so she would know! Lol.
Fidocure was $850 for analysis. Then they bill a flat rate of $1500 for life on the drugs that they end up recommending, if any. My understanding is that they do NOT charge for the analysis if they end up not finding anything, as on Ophelia’s case. I haven’t received a bill so far and that is what i think was told to me when i was first inquiring about it. I am afraid to ask. I’d rather not remind them of the fee if im wrong. Lol. Eventually I’ll know for sure. I’ll be sure to update this.
According to the oncologist, it is common for FIDOCURE to not find unique genetic mutations with osteosarcoma. She wasn’t surprised but still felt that it was worth trying.
Ophelia says “thank you” for all of the compliments! 🙂
Like you I wasn't aware that losartan/palladia was being used in this way, so we are all getting an education here. It makes sense that the earlier the better. Why wait until those buggers are out of control?
Thanks for the scoop on the Fidocure, that's also very helpful to know. I've heard so much about the company but few in our community have taken advantage of that technology so once again, we're all learning. And I'm with you on the analysis bill (or not) ... don't rock that boat!
Happy to share. And yes, we are all learning. I sometimes worry that i may come across as a “know it all” or preachy, but i don’t ever mean to. My goal since Ophelia was diagnosed has been to learn as much as i can about the disease and the treatment option and, more than anything, make sure that others who are going through it can also know. I’m on a Saint Bernard FB group and so many people just aren’t aware of what can be done these days that wasn’t available even 5 years ago. The first thing that i do though is say “act fast. Time is of the essence” and “go to tripawds.com”. I’ve already posted that advice on that FB page to one person today.
it’s also why i post so many videos. For me, seeing giant dogs thrive on three legs in some of the videos that you and others recommended enabled me to make that decision for Ophelia. I am not sure that i would have done it otherwise.
i only wish that i could do more. Because i don’t want any Saint Bernard, or any dog, to die too soon or to go through unnecessary pain.
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