Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all - we moved from the diagnosis forum to this section to document Nova's recovery stage. I wasn't sure how to link the prior discussion topic here so perhaps Rene or others can help on that front!
Last week she had three consecutive days of stereotactic radiation on the site of the tumor. Her pre-radiation CT scans of the entire body came in clean (it was the best news we had received in 4 tough weeks).
She is doing OK and hasn't had any issues yet. She is scheduled for her first chemo dose next Monday (May 20) followed by a trip from LA to Salt Lake for her first dose of the Yale vaccine. She hasn't left California before so she's excited about the trip 🙂
Thank you to all for being beyond generous with your time to date. We value this community tremendously.
Hey guys, you've been on my mind, it's good to hear from you! Super duper news about the SRT and the clean scans!!!
So remind me, does she get more SRT at some point or is that it for now?
What clinic in SLC is she going to? So hard to believe there aren't any in CA doing the Yale vaccine! At least you and Nova get to have an adventure. It's a nice time to be in SLC, weather's nice so hopefully you guys can enjoy some of it.
Here's a link to Nova's first chapter:
Thanks for the update, its good to know that she is handling the treatment well so far.
Road trip!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi all - just wanted to post a quick update on Nova!!
We're back in Salt Lake City today for the second dose of the Yale vaccine at MedVet. Nova was a champ adjusting to air travel from LA!! We'll make a trip out of it with her this weekend in Park City so she'll get to continue her adventures around the Western states 🙂
She's also just completed her second round of chemo largely without fanfare so we're happy about that...
But I would say her limp hasn't really gotten any better and we're now 4 weeks out from her SRT treatments . I had somewhat expected to see some more relief with her walk. Tumor continues to show signs of growth although at a much slower pace (readers may not recall that we did not amputate as she was not a good candidate).
We'll speak with her radiologist to see if there's much to be done on that front - maybe she needs more SRT? I don't know. She is carefully managed at home and largely assisted in a harness to be sure she doesn't break the leg. She remains on gaba for now too.
Since I'm on here I thought I would ask a few questions if that's OK...
1. We've been giving her turkey tail mushroom supplements - we had ordered a brand called i'm-yunity which appears to be made in Hong Kong. I'd love to find an alternative that is made closer to home. Any suggestions?
2. Any experience with fenbendazole? I've been reading about this on a few different pages and was curious if any members had looked into this as well https://www.dog.....-for-dogs/
3. Is the listeria vaccine fully discontinued? Seems like it was oddly successful but was dropped as it was spreading listeria to human members of households... I think?
4. We've been desperately trying to get our hands on Gilvetmab by Marck but it's on massive backorder and hard to get for cancers other than mass cell etc. Not sure we'll ever find a path to this but working on it. Anyone have success getting this for OSA?
Thanks a lot to this great community for everything!! BTW, where can we get the details on the next Zoom?
Hey welcome back! Sooo good to hear that overall, she's managing well thanks to your diligence and amazing care. Of course you can ask questions, that's why we are here!
1. We've been giving her turkey tail mushroom supplements - we had ordered a brand called i'm-yunity which appears to be made in Hong Kong. I'd love to find an alternative that is made closer to home. Any suggestions?
Funny you ask, because I'm working on next week's news blog post, which is about mushrooms. We learned from Dr. Rob of Real Mushrooms that most of the world's mushrooms are grown in Asia for a good reason: the expense of growing and manufacturing them here would not be within range for companies, or for people to pay for them. The full recording will be available next week but here's what he says:
We cultivate our mushrooms and have been cultivating them for the last 30 years with under USDA organic standards in China. China is the world's leader in mushroom cultivation technology. They 85% of all the mushrooms in the world are cultivated in China. Our founder went there 30, 40 years ago and and started growing there within the Chinese mushroom industry. And he actually introduced to the mushroom industry organic growing. You can now find mushrooms in China that are organically grown, as are ours.
Also he goes on to state that if a product is grown over here, it's likely comprised of mycelium (the mushroom growing medium and not the actual mushroom itself) because it's cheaper to manufacturer yet companies can still call it a "mushroom" product.
it's important to look at the mushroom label on the bottle and make sure it doesn't say anything like mycelium or biomass. When they say biomass, what they mean is grain that the mushroom grew on. There may be some medicinal value to the mycelium that grows on grain, not just because of what's in the mycelium but also because the actual, digesting of the grain creates these secondary metabolites. We call that a postbiotic.
I'll have more next week when the show goes live.
2. Any experience with fenbendazole?
Looks like it's been mentioned a few times here. I have no experience with it, but I do trust the info from the DogCancer folks.
Internet claims suggest this drug can and should be used to treat every cancer, which is usually a good cause for alarm. Fenbendazole has certainly been a victim of this sort of unearned hype.
next up
3. Is the listeria vaccine fully discontinued?
I'm pretty sure it is but I do not know why. I thought I had heard because of side effects on dogs in the study but don't quote me.
4. We've been desperately trying to get our hands on Gilvetmab
Not me. Your oncologist is always the best resource.
BTW, where can we get the details on the next Zoom?
If you're signed up for our newsletter you'll get it, but you can register here.
Great to hear from you!
Hi all, it’s been a while since we’ve posted an update on my baby girl Nova.
She’s eating well and enjoying her car rides. She’s on her second to last Gilvetmab treatment… and could probably use a break from the twice monthly vet visits. She also now has a leg boot that we put on if she’s going on walks to standing in the car to help take the pressure off the worn down leg (recall that we did stereotactic radiation). Gaba (400 mgs twice a day) and Amantadine remain part of the protocol.
She still the same girl we’ve known since her foster fail day - grumpy, judgmental, largely self centered (she’s not shy about putting herself first!) but also enormously cute and lovable and deserving of every day she gets … !!!
The affected limb’s quality has deteriorated with time and we try to be super careful with her activity level.
Curious if there’s any recommended podcasts or guides on nutrition and holistic meds … as we begin to reach the end of the road with traditional medicine options (we did Yale vaccine, chemo and now Gilvetmab). Anywhere you could point us to would be appreciated as we focus more on that front and prepare for the next chapter.
also we’d love any suggestions for mobility and strengthening guides or videos … that we can learn from and work with her … she is aggressive with strangers (she’s muzzled and heavily sedated at the vet) so we can’t take her to physical therapy but would like to learn to see if there’s something we should be doing at home to help her keep her strength and joints as healthy as possible….
THANK YOU to Jerry and the community for holding our hand through our darkest days in April of this year … I still recall those first few weeks and the heavy grim air that had taken hold of us as we processed her diagnosis … issued on April 10, 2024… a date ill never forget …
It is so good to hear from you and to know that Nova is doing pawesome! 
Best news all day! I'm so happy she is doing so well.
So how were you able to get the Gilvetmab? Last time we spoke it was very difficult to access.
I'm also curious, at what point did her limp dissipate after starting the SRT?
I always recommend the Dog Cancer Survival Guide for nutrition input, it's my go-to resource. Also considering having a nutrition meal plan developed for her via a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
Have you seen our At-Home Rehab Videos with Dr. Waterhouse?
And you are so very welcome! I remember when you joined and am just so glad that she is doing so much better these days.
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