Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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he does a 3 week cycle - week 1 is adriamycin and cytoxan, then weeks 2 and 3 are just vincristine each week. All IV. So far he has finished weeks 1 and 2. He goes back for his 3rd week on Thursday.
the adriamycin can cause heart problems. Male dobermans are already more prone to heart problems. So, we already were only doing 12 weeks of chemo rather than the 15 because the extra round pushes past the statistical cost/benefit with the possible heart problems vs. the benefit of the chemo.
Last week we were in Disney. We had a family reunion in FL for the weekend, and then did Disney Monday through yesterday (Saturday). My mom brought Spencer back home with her from the reunion and he stayed with her all week.
She commented that he fell a lot, which I hadn't seen. Then on Friday it happened 3 times on one walk - like his back legs suddenly just went out. The 3rd time she had to get a neighbor to carry poor Spencer back to her house (did I mention that he is about 75 lbs?). After each episode passes he is back to normal - no problems.
But it worried her. So she took him to our vet on Saturday. They sent him to the ER vet (same place where he sees his oncologist) where they started a cardio work up. They think he might be having episodes of cardiac arrhythmia. I take him back to the cardiologist tomorrow morning. I guess we have to figure out if we are going to continue the chemo, maybe try a different kind... I don't know. hell. he has only had ONE does of the medicine that MIGHT cause heart problems. But we don't know for sure if he DOES have a heart problem. The echo cardio gram was normal yesterday; but the vet thought that his pulse seemed weak? So far he hasn't had any problems since I picked him up last night; but he is sleeping more than normal. But that could just be the chemo.
He seems FINE though. when I take him out I'm having to force him to take it easy (they said if it IS arrhythmia that while he has come out of them fine each time in the past, that there is no telling if he will come out of the next one 
this is based off of me reading. I should know more tomorrow after talking to the vet...Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
Definitely keep us posted on what the vet says tomorrow. In the meantime, and I know this is easier said than done, try not to panic.
We'll be thinking about you and sending you lots of good thoughts for good news from the doctor tomorrow.
Rio and Micki
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Sorry that Spencer's having a rough time.
My Charley has OSA and adria is one of the chemos many of the oncologists recommend, but our oncologist only wanted to use carboplatin because of the high risk of heart toxicity with adria.
Hopefully it's just a bump in the road with Spencer and nothing too serious or heart-related. Even if Spencer's heart is fine, I would ask your oncologist about switching to carboplatin to be on the safe side.
Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to Spencer!!!
Hugs and chocolate kisses,
Ellen & Charley
Charley's Blog: CHOCOLATE KISSES
DOB: 3-29-08, male chocolate lab
Dx: OSA L proximal humerus 10-19-10
Amputation: L front leg & scapula 10-28-10
Chemo: 5 rounds of Carboplatin
Video (12 weeks post amp):Tripaw Charley Playing
♥♥♥ Lots of supplements and love!!! ♥♥♥
as i think i mentioned in a prior post, gayle had a similar cancer, and we did five rounds of the adria... (generic doxorubicin) last march - may... she did have nausea, but no negative effect on her heart. i think her dosage was 15 mg each time (should have written it down) and she was about 65 lbs at the time...
definitely, keep posting what you find out, as this is just so scary for spencer and for you. we're sending our best ET juju to you guys, hoping you can find answers and the best direction for the future. paws crossed here in ET.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
I hope this is just a little bump. Hang in there. Hopefully the vet will have some positive news. Keep us posted!
Sending positive thoughts your way!
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 am hoping that he just needs to strengthen the legs. I know when Sammy was first learning to walk again on 3, he took so many breaks that I was worried something else was going on, but he just needed to get his "sea" legs built up. I hope that is the same for Spencer.
Please let us know, we will be keeping him in our thoughts and prayers,
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Oh my, how nerve-wracking. Well, hoping for the best and even if it's less than best - remember the prognosis is just based on statistics. “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” May Spencer defy all statistics!
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
tatespeeps said:
Oh my, how nerve-wracking. Well, hoping for the best and even if it's less than best - remember the prognosis is just based on statistics. “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” May Spencer defy all statistics!
yeah. the statistics are kicking our asses lately though. Something like 90% of fibrosarcomas are level 1 or 2. With a level 1 or 2 the amputation would be most likely a curative surgery. He got the 10% to end up with the level 3. AND... most fibrosarcomas occur in dogs who are 10+. he is 4.5. And then what are the odds that he would get that spider bite during his recovery? and now... from talking to the oncologist I thought that the odds were that with Spencer's health we wouldn't have to worry about his heart this early in the chemo.
Surely the odds have to turn in his favor!!! So far today he hasn't had any sort of episode. At least I don't think he has... There was one time that as I turned my back he either laid down really fast or fell; but as soon as I (very quickly) turned around he was fine.
I'm really hoping that with the chemo he is just tiring out faster and that is making his back legs give out. I am going to talk to the cardiologist and oncologist about changing his chemo treatment. Even if it isn't his heart this time... I don't know if I can take this constant worry!
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
I'm hoping, too. I know you're worried, we all know how you feel. I can't tell you how many Tripawds had to remind me not to get ahead of myself. Many sleepless nights.
Keep us posted.
Jan & Tate
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
The worry is unbelievable. I never worried as much as I did with Comet and she didn't have a terminal illness!
Here's hoping that Spencer is going to be just fine and nothing serious.
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.
You are in our thoughts. I wish we had some advice but we didn't have a similar experience, as Ginger tolerated her 6 rounds of chemo (carbo) pretty well.
Good luck and keep us posted.
another update:
we went to the cardiologist today. They actually did an EKG the other day. today they did the echocardiogram. His heart size was normal; but it is not functioning as well as it should be (I have to go back to the car to get the report with the specifics). We still aren't sure about the episodes that he had over the last week; but he hasn't had any since Friday night. The heart function isn't so low that it would explain things. For now we are watching him and changing his chemo. No more adriamycin. I'll be talking to the oncologist tomorrow to see what the new plan is. Thursday is his 3rd chemo treatment, vincristine this time. I imagine that we will go ahead and do this one and then start the new stuff next week as this week is the 3rd/final week in his first cycle.
I'll update again after talking to the oncologist.
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
Sorry to read what Spencer has been going through. Hopefully, the change in chemo etc. will help him. What part of Georgia are you located?
Sending you many golden hugs!
Cathy
Golden Girls said:
Sorry to read what Spencer has been going through. Hopefully, the change in chemo etc. will help him. What part of Georgia are you located?
Sending you many golden hugs!
Cathy
Thanks. We are in West Cobb (NW burbs of Atlanta). where are you?
Jac and Angel Spencer. Spencer was 5.25 years old. He fought a grade 3 fibrosarcoma, started on his shoulder. Left front leg amputated in August 2011. 15 weeks of chemo finished 12/22/11 (mytox and adria). Lung mets found on x-rays 12/28/11. Started carboplatin 1/6/12. Went to Heaven on 2/27/12. I miss him like crazy every day. See his blog here: http://spencer.tripawds.com/
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