Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone, just a quick question. I asked the vet as well, but I'm guess you guys are a better source on this particular issue.
So - pre-amputation Ajax fluctuated between 75 and 76 lbs. Post-amp he was the same, largely due to the fact that he wasn't running around as much and his appetite was never affected (Labrador, anyone?). We were told he needed his strength for recover and not to change anything which is what we did. Around 6 mos. post-op we cut back his food a little bit. This was not a problem as he gets lots of exercise and eats a lot. We did that just to get his weight down a little bit to spare the remaining back leg. Vet agreed, and he has been at about 73.6 lbs since then - over a year.
Weight before surgery for the MCT was up a little - 76 - I think because he was a conehead due to the MCT and was eating the same but not exercising.
Our chemo routine is vinblastine + prednisone. Vinblastine was 1x/week for 4 weeks (the last one was today) and then every other week for 4 more treatments. (then palladia).
So our first chemo was the day he got his stitches out. Weight went down to about 74.5 in the first couple of weeks, which makes total sense since he was up and at it again.
Since we were warned that prednisone will make him feel starving, we haven't changed his food. His appetite is steady (of course!).
Anyway, today his weight was 72.8. Lower than it has been. Vet said this is to be expected even with no change in appetite due to loss of muscle weight from chemo. Is not concerned and did not advise any changes.
My question is: if a) we cut down his food originally to get him to an "ideal" weight of 73.5; and b) he feels starving because of the prednisone and will eat more; and c) he is down a little from his normal weight, should we let him eat a little more to get back to 73.5? I imagine this is not a big deal, and also adding back fat is not necessarily the same as adding back muscle - but did anyone get/have any advice on this?
Otherwise all is good - still on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and up often in the middle of the night due to prednisone and peeing. So much fun in NYC when one has to get dressed and go down in an elevator and have human contact every time pup goes out at 3am ... going to be a long December and Jan! But can't complain b/c he is good and wakes us up and never has accidents.
Thanks
K
Oh, that's wonderful he got the weight off even on prednisone!
Honestly, I would be doing the happy dance that he is less than a pound under his ideal weight! It's better to be under than over! And for his size, a little over 1/2 a pound under his ideal shouldn't be a concern.
For one that has has a lot of steroids in the last 2 years thanks to a neck herniation, I would love to be back to pre-steroid weight but it's hard not to grab something to eat when you are hungry!
So, if he is starving, give him some celery to munch on. If he'll eat it, it's great for crunching and it has zippo calories. I used to do this with my shep mix that was starving all the time. I'd break off a stalk. He felt satisfied. Of course, it didn't work for myself as a bag of Cheetos is much more satisfying!
Good luck!
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.
So, the new avatar shows off his Tripawd merchandise but you can't see his face. Going to change it again.
Re above, vet says she'd rather keep food the same and monitor - says it is not unusual for dogs to bounce up and down in weight during chemo. Also said "he has the best bone marrow of any of my patients". Not sure what that means, but I'm going to take it as a good thing!
talkin' to myself here ...
(just wanted to see new avatar - clearly I am procrastinating)
Sounds like he's doing well. Our vet said that studies show that it's better to be slightly underweight than 'normal' or slightly over - not just for tripawds but for all dogs. (well, probably all of us really but let's not go there...)
I agree w/ what your vet said - just keep feeding the same and keep an eye on it.
Congrats on Best Bone Marrow! Whoohoo! (We celebrate anything and everything around here. Treats for everyone - and I don't mean celery!)
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!
I agree, it's better to be slightly under weight than over weight. Play it by ear, give lots of low-cal snacks if he seems hungry, and try to stop worrying (I know, it's tough!). Things are going pretty good right now, congrats!
PS. Your going downstairs at 3am to help Ajax go potty (in NYC of all places!) is yet another heartwarming indicator of the absolute love and devotion that pawrents have for their Tripawds (and monkeydogs too!). We are so fortunate to have such great people here!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks! Anyone who would like to join me downstairs at 3am is welcome ...
which reminds me: walking in Central Park over Thanksgiving weekend, I saw from afar what looked to be a Tripawd Lab in black (maybe chocolate) - you don't know these folks, do you? They probably live near us.
And you're right, things are going as well as can be expected. William Wegman's Weimareiners are on the same schedule as us for chemo. I proposed he ditch the breed-specific and do a tripawd series but it was a no go. (Gorgeous dogs - one being treated and the other 3 show up each week for "moral support")
kazy55 said:
William Wegman's Weimareiners are on the same schedule as us for chemo.
Does Wegman have a Tripawd, or is it another type of cancer?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry, should have included that. No tripawd. 16 furry legs.
Not sure what type of cancer as waiting room becomes a little chaotic when the W's all arrive together!
Ok - Ajax down to 71.1. I'm kind of freaking out. This is down about 3 lbs since he started chemo 5 weeks ago, from an "ideal" weight.. Does this mean he is getting sicker? Is this just an effect of chemo? There has been no change in his food amount, exercise amount, or desire for food or exercise, so I"m freaked that he is losing weight.
Can I feed my poor dog more? Appetitie is not an issue.
Weight loss during chemo is normal. It is really hard on the body, and so more energy goes to healing and repairing tissue. You might want to think about adding some additional protein to his diet while you're going through chemo.
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Oh, regarding the bone marrow thing, Mast Cell can move to the bone marrow, so that's actually VERY, VERY good news!!!
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~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Yay! some good news. Thank you so much for your advice. I know from your posts that you aren't having the easiest time right now and I really appreciate your input. So let me take advantage of it a little bit more ...I would LOVE to add more protein. But I think you don't just mean more dog food, right? We've made the decision with the oncologist not to change his diet (ie his regular food) during chemo but I also asked whether it was ok to give him "people" food and she said as long as it's not raw (during chemo).
So should I just make (ie order) the poor guy a burger?
oncologist response:
ok to feed more.
starving perhaps too dire a word for him. Underweight, maybe.....
keep me updated.
LOL. My teenage eating disorder vocabulary surfacing to the vet - oops
Burgers all around.
ps we've been happily eating green Trouble greens but he is a furry genius (and also a Lab) and thus quite clear on the difference between veggies and the good stuff
pps anybody have any concerns about scrambled eggs (for Ajax that is)?
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