Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Sadly, our lovely akita has just been diagnosed with OSA in he right front leg. We are debating between amputation or cyberknife radiation treatment. Has anyone gone through the cyberknife radiation treatment?
Hi Akita & Family, welcome. Your future posts won't require approval.
We're glad you found us and hope that we can help you in your journey no matter what you decide. So is your dog not a good amputation candidate? Is that why your vets recommended cyberknife?
(For those who aren't familiar with this technology, it's "cutting edge" technology that's mostly used for brain and nasal tumors but more recently been tried by researchers for osteosarcoma when amputation isn't an option).
I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who's gone the cyberknife route for osteo, likely because the technology is so hard to come by presently and the price of course. I hope that if anyone has they will chime in here. For your info here's some good resources about cyberknife radiation treatment I found for you. Thank you for bringing it into the discussion, I will share more info in our News Blog soon.
In the meantime, please tell us more about your pup and hopefully we can help you decide. Here's that info.
New Treatments for Osteosarcoma Aim to Extend Life and Save Limbs
New Cancer Therapy Options for Animals: CyberKnife Radiation
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I do not know ANYTHING about cyberknife, but I do know Dr. Sue talks about it a lot on her facebook page:
https://www.fac.....eCancerVet
Hope that helps even a little....sorry I don't have more info!!!!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Thank you for your responses.... we are still trying to figure it out....will keep you posted on our decision....
Akita's are such wonderful pups! When you can, please post a picture.
We are here for you amd we understand.
Digesting al the information is daunting and this can be a very scarey time. Just remember your pup doesn't care about any ole diagnosis or statistics or anything vut being spoiled and loved by you! And I'm sure that's already taking place!!
Take a deep breath......B R E A T H E.....and now you will be guided to the best decision .....any decision out of love is the right decision!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thank you for support. We are still exploring our options but hopefully will make a decision by the end of next week when we have a cyberknife option consultation. Will keep you posted as we decide.
Hi, wanted to give an update on Katy, our 7 years young akita that was diagnosed with OSA on 9/13/2013. After 2 weeks of exploring our treatment options, we decided to go ahead with Cyberknife radiation to be followed by chemo.
We decided on this plan of treatment because after running through all the CT scans, the doctors thought that she will be a good candidate and approved her for the treatment. Her bone where the tumor is still in pretty good shape and is not close to fracture. The scans on her vital organs are clear. Katy is has not shown signs of pain but we have her on a low dosage of tramadol and deramax at the direction of our oncologist. The center has treated about 50 cases of OSA and have been screening candidates more closely before giving approval. This is ensure a lower risk of fracture after the treatment. We are also administering 2 doses of Bisphosphonate which should help strengthen her bones. We will follow up with chemo to hopefully clean up any micrometastatic tumors. We felt that That cyberknife radiation is a good first option for Katy. If it does not work we will have to amputate.
Today is her second day of treatment, one more to go tomorrow. Katy is doing great! Eating happily and moving normally.
Will give another update soon....
What an update, that is pawesome! Thanks for returning to let us know what you decided to pursue, we are very interested in hearing more since as we mentioned we aren't aware of any Tripawds who tried this treatment option first (I believe it's different from stereotactic radiation therapy, which some have tried). Where are you getting the treatment done?
Thanks again, we look forward to hearing more!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Okay, we're over here cheering you o and keeping all tripawd paws crossed!
This will be an interesting joirney and we all look forward to contiued success with this treatment.
Glad she's realy feeling well
And I'm sure the locing and spoiling are 24/7.....as it should be for such a pretty brave girl!
Take acre and sendimg you best wishes!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Katy came home yesterday from her treatments. She is a little tired but happy and hungry as usual. There have been no side effects showing. She is pretty much her old self. We are playing it safe and keeping her activity low. If it was up to her, she'd be chasing squirrels outside!
Cyberknife is a also known of stereotactic radiation surgery (SRS). Gamma knife is the other name for it. It is different from the conventional form of radiation treatment in that it more accurately delivers extremely high dosage of radiation to the tumor. The treatment is given over a period of 3 days ( about an hour a day) instead of 15 or 20 treatments over a longer period of time. The treatment was done at the VCA in Yonkers. NY., one of 5 centers that has this treatment. Can't say enough good things about the center. The staff were great and loving.
We will start her chemo in 2 weeks.
Take care and good luck to those that are facing the same situation as we are....
I'm so glad she's doing well! What kind of recovery time does she need after each treatment? Can she go on walks and do things as usual afterward or is there some activity restriction?
Ohhh so it IS SRS? Well heck we have had some members go through that here, I would have posted links to their discussions. OK, good to know. Thanks for letting us know where you're getting it done. If you'd like to post about your experience in Veterinary Referrals that would fantastic.
3 Paws Up to Katy! Hope she continues to feel good!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am glad to report that Katy is doing well.
In regards to Jerry's questions. As far as I know, after each treatment of radiation, the recovery was more from the anaesthesia. If we wanted to, we could have brought Katy home each night but we chose to have her stay at the center as we live about an hour away and also we felt it was best so that she could be monitored closely. From what I gather, Katy was pretty normal each day, eating and all bodiliy functions were normal. When she came home, it was expected that she will be tired, especially having to go through 3 consecutive days of anaesthesia. She is back to her normal level of energy after about 3 days.
As for activity restrictions, short walks are fine but no hiking or too much running around. We are playing it conservatively and leaving stairs out as well. But expectations are that she will be able to resume pretty normal activity in due time. She starts chemo next week and we will continue post updates.
VCA is great! I just went there with my best friend and her pup to see Dr. Sue for a hemangiopericytoma and they did a great job on her doing surgery and getting clean margins! If I needed an option and had a car to drive to Yonkers (I'm in NYC) I definitely would have brought Jill there! I'm glad to hear Katy is doing well!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
That's really good information about recovery from cyberknife, thank you. I hope more and more animals have this type of radiation therapy available to them. And oh you're at Dr. Sue's clinic? Well heck Katy couldn't be in better care, they ARE awesome as Erica just said. I'm so glad she's doing well.
Good luck next week, keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good update on Katy. Keeping all paws crossed over here for cntued success!
How 'bout somepictures of your sweet up? She realy looks pretty inher avatar.
Hugs to her forus,okay? And one for you too! Good job!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
1 Guest(s)
