Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, just an update. Ajax seems to be doing well on his chemo so far, and also with the prednisone (though I was up at 4:30 to take him out last night – he drinks a ton of water with the prednisone, and then has to go out. I'm not willing to take up the water though- I think he'll figure it out).
Anyway, as a description of how the chemo affects him (so far not at all), here is what the vet tech said when bringing him back to the waiting room after his last treatment. She didn't realize my husband was there:
"Wow – it's like being on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride"
So you can see he hasn't slowed down much. After communicating with Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Westchester, NY, which is where we got him as a released puppy, we have agreed to participate in a study being done at the Broad Institute at Harvard/MIT. It's a study about genetics, but they are looking for blood samples and medical history from certain controlled canine populations, such as Guiding Eyes. Our vet, who works at a teaching hospital, is enthusiastic about participating, so we sent off blood and a health survey.
That's good that he is handling the chemo well. Not sure if anyone's told you this, but the effects are cumulative, so he may be more tired when you get further into his treatments. That definitely happened with Abby, but I didn't realize it. After her 5th treatment she was so tired she flopped down in the middle of the street only part way into her usual walk. It scared the heck out of me at the time, but then I found out about the cumulative effect of the chemo and she was her old crazy "Mr Toad's Wild Ride" self (love that description) after a few more days.
Hopefully the study will give some good insights to the researchers.
All the best to you and Ajax,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Thanks! Yes, I do know that it is cumulative, due to my experience with people and chemotherapy. We will be finishing treatment 4 right before leaving for Christmas for 4 days, which I"m not crazy about, but at least we'll have some experience under our belt by then. If tired is the worst thing that happens, I'll consider us very fortunate - I just want him to be able to tolerate the recommended full course without being too miserable. That being said, if he flops, I may very well just flop with him!
Yeah - that was the main thing with Abby. She was definitely tired, and she threw up a wee bit of bile a couple of times. Nothing drastic. I think I only had to give her the anti-nausea meds twice - maybe after her 5th and 6th treatments. Can't remember exactly.
Hopefully he won't have anything more serious than that either.
Flopping w/ the pup is good! (Might do that myself with Abby this afternoon since I have a miserable cold!)
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Sounds like Ajax is doing fabulous! Keep it up dude!! Interesting on the study.
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
I was thinking that your reference to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was more descriptive of your recovery journey -- glad to hear it's not!!! Rio only had a bit of lethargy with either of her rounds of chemo, and this last time she had a few days where she didn't have much of an appetite, but we found out that it was because she had a UTI (which could have been because the chemo was compromising her immune system or it could have been because it's a common side effect of Cushing's disease).
Hopefully Ajax will continue feeling good and getting better! Looking forward to more great progress reports on Mr. Toad!
Micki and Rio
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Hi all! 3rd chemo treatment today. Oncologist said that with this drug (vinblastine) they expected his white blood cell counts would be low and he'd need to skip a week, but he defied them and was good to go! Hardest part was getting a cab home in the rain ....
Ajax defies all odds, he is so incredible!
Boy, you know NYC is a ruff place to live when a taxi driver won't stop for a 3-legged dog in the rain. Sheesh! Glad you made it home.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Way to go Ajax!!
The once or twice we had to delay chemo was because of low WBC due to vinblastine. Glad to hear Ajax is doing so well.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hi! Yes, when I asked the oncologist said it is fairly typical to have to delay once with vinblastine. After next week we go to every other week, so I'm really hoping we can get through to that.
Pup feels fine. He's running around like a maniac, as it has been sunny and cold - his favorite. I actually think maybe the prednisone has kicked in and his making him feel better.
Some cab drivers are good, some are bad .... we just try to look as pathetic as possible!
-K
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