Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Lili has been doing awesome for a couple of weeks. In the fog of her post-surgery recovery, and upon hearing the news that it is osteosarcoma, we just didn't know what to do next. As she got better and better, though, the choice became obvious. She's got tons of fight left in her and she's loving life more now than she was pre-amp.
So, we went ahead and made an appointment with a specialist. She went in yesterday for her first visit, and we were petrified that we were going to regret that we delayed investigating chemo. She is about 5 weeks post-amp now, and I thought for sure that we'd be told it had already spread and it was too late.
Awesome news, though -- ultrasounds and x-rays were all clear! No mets yet. So Lili had her first Carboplatin treatment yesterday. I felt somewhat unprepared (since I was braced for the news that it had spread too far to make her a good candidate), and so nervous that we'd see her spiral down or slip back into her post-amp funk. No issues yet, though. Eating like champ (as always), no diarrhea. She did snooze away the afternoon yesterday, which of course makes me panic (OH MY GOODNESS SHE'S LETHARGIC!). But she probably would have slept away the afternoon anyway, certainly after a trip to a new place where she stayed for hours without us. 
We are doing 5 treatments. Fingers crossed that it continues to go smoothly!
yay for Lili! Jill just finished up with chemo last week, she had four rounds, 2 rounds of carbo, 2 rounds of doxy. She did great on it - just had to postpone treatment twice because of low white blood cells and neutrophils, but that is a perfectly normal side effect. Let me know if you have any questions and good luck! So great to hear the good news about Lili!
Erica & Jill
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
Awesome news! Sounds like she is doing great and handling the chemo well. You go Lili!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Hey Lilli, I'm hoppy to hear you're kickin' butt and telling cancer to take a hike!
In the past it was the norm to wait a few weeks before doing chemo, it's only recently that oncos have started moving on it very quickly. So hang in there, things will be fine and this chemo will knock that cancer to the moon!
We have our paws, fingers, toes and tails crossed for an uneventful 5 sessions. Keep us posted and let us know how things are going.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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Way to go Lili:-) 
Sounds like your day was pretty exhausting and, like many around here, you were zonked out when you got home. Yep mom, that's just plum worn out from the rigors of the day.!! No worries!!
This "situation" makes us all so overly hyperviligent every link of an eye makes us worry. Did she always blink her eye like that? Should she be blinking faster? Is she blinking too fast? Did she blink both eyes at once before?? We're all a sillygroup of worry warts!:-)
Now don't be surprised if she does display some mild side effects as that is also classified as "normal". You must get on this site instantly and we,all walk you through it:-) may of happen at all but it's not a biggie if it does.
Sending you lots of support and look forward to more success stories! Enjoy the beauty of the present with Lili ,
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!
Thanks, everyone! You are all so supportive and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.
Is it possible that Lili had zero side effects from the chemo on Thursday? She has been snoozy, but always is. No apparent stomach issues. If anything, she seems more cheerful and sweet, and even more likely to have playful bursts with her "brother." I am not convinced they gave her anything!
Fingers crossed that the next 4 treatments (3 weeks apart) go this well. I'm only sorry we were too nervous and/or paralyzed with indecision to start sooner!
Jerry, that's interesting about the more recent trend toward starting chemo earlier. It makes sense, to try to slow the progression as quickly as possible. What was the rationale for waiting longer? More surgery recovery time?
It has been a tough few months -- first the limping (starting in October) with no clear reason why, then the inconclusive bone biopsy (in February) that I really regret putting her through, then the actual amputation (in March). I can honestly say, though, that she seems happier and more content in the past week or two than she has in a long long time. I'm so relieved for that.
It's so nice to hear you sounding so upbeat!
From what I understand carboplatin side effects can happen either within 24 hours or at the 7-10 day mark. Try not to worry, most dogs don't get them other than maybe a little tiredness from what I've seen here.
I've no idea why treatments are starting to happen earlier now but that's a great question for our upcoming radio show with onco doc Dr Hohenhaus. I'd assume its because studies show animals can handle it earlier than previously thought but Ill ask the doc.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Shooter has had zero side effects from Chemo although he is not on the carboplatin. In fact, my husband thinks they are giving him energy shots as he has been wired for sound ever since we started.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Hi all! Just wanted to check in with a Lili update. She had bloodwork this week in anticipation for her second chemo treatment scheduled for today, but sure enough, we were delayed by a low white blood cell count. I'm trying not to freak as it seems that this is a perfectly normal side effect...but it still feels like a setback. Did anyone else have this happen after only one treatment? Any specific tips to combat this issue or is our only option to wait it out?
Trying to focus on the positive, however -- Lili seems to feel great. On Sunday, our little scoundrel dug a hole under the fence and made a break for it! Fortunately, our four-legged dog isn't nearly as brave and alerts us right away when they're separated. I panicked for about 2 minutes while I threw on shoes to go find her, but she was waiting for me at the front door, tail wagging and completely covered in mud. I never thought I'd delight in her misbehaving, but it is wonderful to see her return to "normal." She definitely doesn't know she's sick, and she spunkier than she has been in a long long time. 
Hi! Please see this thread here of my freak out:
http://tripawds.....s-a-no-go/
I FREAKED OUT. I was totally shocked that her white blood cells and neutrophils dropped after just ONE treatment. I have now come to learn that it is TOTALLY normal. And not only that but its a good sign that the chemo is WORKING. I asked the onco if there was anything we could do or do we just wait it out and she told me just waiting it out is the way to go.......this is what chemo does, it destroys their good cells, but it destroys the BAD stuff too!
It happened to Jill again after her third treatment (Jill got Carbo and Doxy, so it happened after both Carbo treatments). Did your vet say anything about lowering the dose? Jill's count dropped DRASTICALLY after the first treatment, so we lowered the amount of carbo she got and then the second carbo treatment it didnt drop nearly as much.
Let me know if you have any questions - I TOTALLY understand your freaking out, but trust me, its totally normal. Jill is all done with chemo now and doing great. Come over the the chat room
if you want to talk further
xoxo,
Erica & Jill
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
Oh my gosh yes this is totally normal! It happens to a lot of dogs and cats, try not to worry. I know, easier said than done but you can do it!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
A low WBC is normal and shouldn't be something you freak out about. It sounds like you've got it under control over there. So, what's your onco got to say about it? Just wait it out another week until it rebounds? Jackson's onco gave us antibiotics (Zenequin) after each dose and that, or one (some?) of the something elses we were giving him kept him WBC steady throughout. It's worthwhile asking what they plan to do - keep waiting it out, or go home with antibiotics after each dose?
As for NO side effects - that's what we went through. We either joke that they played poker with him in the back for 20min, or gave him the most expensive saline out there. It's great there are no side effects! Keep it up!
~ Katy
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Thanks, all, I appreciate it. We previously worked out a schedule with the specialists (internal medicine specialists rather than oncos - only one onco in our area, not a convenient location, and these specialists came highly recommended)...Lili goes two days before the scheduled chemo treatment for bloodwork (we stay with her, it's super quick), and we get a call with results the next day so we know if she's good to go for the chemo treatment the following day. This week, we stopped by for bloodwork on Wednesday and got the results Thursday. So, thankfully, at least we didn't have to leave her a long time for no reason.
My husband spoke to the vet, but I will follow up with more questions (whether antibiotics are warranted, whether we should decrease the dose, etc.) We're trying again this week, with same schedule - bloodwork Wednesday, results Thursday, treatment Friday if the results are good. Fingers crossed!
I also want to follow up with the specialists regarding the recommended protocol - 5 treatments of Carboplatin. It seems that many others have tried a mix of drugs (Doxy + Carbo?) We asked approximately 2394 questions at our first visit, but didn't ask this. As I read more here and elsewhere, I want to ask about this. Anyone have any insight about the pros/cons of these different protocols?
Jill got the Carbo/Doxy combo, but from what I understand, it's all just what the onco prefers. From my understanding, there is no evidence that one works better than the other (just carbo or the combination). I do believe there is a study about to be published by CSU that shows that both protocols have similiar results, but Jerry might know more about this.
Jill did the exact same thing, I'd bring her in 2 days prior for her blood work and they'd let me know if she was good to go (which twice she wasnt like I said). So it worked out great that I didn't have to bring her in for chemo when she wasn't going to have it and leave her there all day.
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
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