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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.

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Has anyone been through a Rapamycin drug trial?
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Member Since:
4 April 2017
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4 April 2017 - 2:50 am
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Hello all! I've been lurking here since my dog got diagnosed with Osteosarcoma last week. About 2 hours away from me, they're doing drug trials at a university that would help offset the costs of his standard of care, plus a follow-up with Rapamycin. Everything I've read about the drug seems too good to be true. Has anyone had any experience with it? I love my dog so much, and I just want to help him get through this any way I can.

On The Road


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4 April 2017 - 10:44 am
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Hi Rebecca, thanks for joining. Your future posts won't need approval so post away! What's your dog's name? You've got a real cutie there!

A quick search for Rapamycin in our Forums reveals a few different convos about it so you may want to start digging through those. As with any clinical trial, it's in testing mode so scientists can't really say for sure yet what the odds of its success are. We of course hope it's the magic bullet to fighting this nasty disease, but the only way to find out is by clinical trials like these. When people generously give their time and effort to participate, we are always so grateful! Here are some links about clinical trials that may help you decide:

Pet Cancer Clinical Trials Help You, Help Others

Can Your Tripawd Cure Cancer?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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4 April 2017 - 11:02 am
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Thank you, Jerry! I appreciate the kind words, and thank you for the links. My boy's name is Oskar. He recently turned 7, and I've had him since he was about 10wks old. I've never participated in a drug trial of any sort, but like I said in my previous post, it sounds too good to be true. "Fountain of youth for dogs", "make your dog live longer", etc etc. All these clickbaity titles associated with Rapamycin. The university called me back today, and Oskar and me will be making the drive on Thursday. In the end, I want to do what's best for him. We'll keep those who are also interested posted. In the meantime, if anyone has any success (or not so success) stories about their pupper, I'd love to hear it. <3

Also, I know my avatar is sideways, but I don't care all that much. It looks like he's standing on the wall 🙂

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7 April 2017 - 1:53 am
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Hello all!

For anyone interested, we got back from the university today, and they said Oskar seems like a great candidate for the study! We won't know if he's in the Rapamycin side or the "standard of care only" side until he starts chemotherapy, but either way it's good news to me! His amputation drop off day is this Monday at 1pm. I'm excited to remove his source of pain, but I'm also nervous because...well, its surgery and I love him a lot. As the trial progresses, I can keep making periodic updates for references sake. I've found very few first hand experiences regarding this specific drug trial. Hoping for the best!

As a bonus, here's a picture I took of Oskar on the drive down. He warms my heart like no other <3

Oskar is cute

Virginia







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7 April 2017 - 10:50 am
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OMD !!!!! OSKAR IS SOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!:-) 🙂 🙂 🙂 And he warms our hearts too!! 🙂 Look at the mug! I'm smooooooching it through the screen!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Just catching up on everything. Getting in that trial is WONDERFUL!! Well look forward to all his updates AND VICTORIES!! 🙂

Yes it is IS major surgery and recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks, especially at first. STAY CONNECTED! Goodness knows we understand like nomothers can! 'We have a ton of first-hand experience so don't hesitate to ask questions, okay?

Let us know when surgery is done. TRY and get some rest! Yeah, right! Getting to this point is stressful, but now you have a good plan and you are moving forward!

Do you have any questions on recovery, setting things up at home for his homecoming, etc? One suggestion I always like to pass on is, when you pick Oskar up, don't even look at his incision! Don't draw any attention to it at all! Just look I to his druggy eyes and tell him what a good boy he is 🙂 He just wants out if there and wants to get home with you!

Keep these great pictures coming! Oskar is adorable!! 🙂 And I love that he is so magnificent he can climb walls (avatar)!!! 🙂 Good omen!! 🙂

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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!

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8 April 2017 - 3:47 pm
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Hi benny55! Thank you for the super nice post. It made me smile. I passed along your smooches to Oskar (+ a couple belly rubs for good measure).

Right this second, I'm working on a shopping list of things to have ready for when he comes home. I picked up a ramp for my car already and I'm trying to get him used to it (he tries to jump over it, lol). The guy at the pet store said I should lay it on the floor and have him practice walking on it that way first, so he knows what it's for. So...we'll have it nice and practiced by surgery day (drop off is Monday (3/10), surgery is Tuesday, pickup is Thursday-ish (they'll call me). I have a Ruffwear Webmaster Secure in my shopping cart right now that will be here by the time he comes home. He already has an elevated feeder and a nice orthopedic bed . Anything else you can suggest? 

I'm feeling good about the surgery. He's going to be in really good hands. I trust them completely. I think of it like this: these are people that are such good doctors, they train other people to be doctors. That's intense!

I read online that I should bring him a shirt of mine because it will help with any fear or anxiety, and also remind him of home. I'm not sure if that's actually true, but I'll bring one with us just in case. He's going to be confused, and probably in a lot of pain, so I'll try anything I can to make him comfortable. Everything I've done up until this point I've done because I felt it was in his best interest. He's been such a wonderful dog; better than I could've asked for. I'll help him through this any way I can. 

What can I say? He's my heart. heartheartheart

Oskar is multi-talented

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11 April 2017 - 2:47 pm
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Just got the call from the vet. Oskar's amputation went really well, and now he's resting comfortably. I can't wait to pick him up. I've been missing him terribly.crying

Virginia







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11 April 2017 - 3:09 pm
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YAAAAAAAAAY FOR OSKAR!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 Surgery is over and recovery is starting! 🙂 🙂 And Oskar is high as a kite and seeing pink elephants! 🙂 🙂

OSKAR IS A ROCK STAR! 🙂

Try and get some rest tonight. You may have some sleepless nights when Oskar first comes home.

And when you pick him up, don't even look at his incision...he won't be! He'll be looking at your smiling face and listening to you telling him what a good boy he is!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

STAY CONNECTED and let us know how things are going! It's no picnic at first so we will be glad to help you in anyway we can.

Hugs!!!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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!

Schofield, WI
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11 April 2017 - 5:34 pm
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Good to hear surgery is over and it went well.  Let us know if you need us we'll be standing by if you need anything!  Hugs!

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11 April 2017 - 6:00 pm
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Thank you both ❤. I might be making a blog here pretty soon. I've been cataloging everything on an outside website, but I'd love to share our story here, too. The stories I've read here have been so incredibly helpful and inspiring in such a terrible time, I would really like to return the favor to others. 😊

On The Road


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11 April 2017 - 6:15 pm
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Rebecca said
I might be making a blog here pretty soon...

You can start a free blog any time by visiting "My Sites" at the top of any page and clicking Add New.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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14 April 2017 - 10:24 am
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Dogs really are amazing! <3

I brought Oskar home last night. It's one thing for them to say over the phone he's doing well, but to see it in person is a whole 'nother story! I was so proud of him I was almost in tears. He acted like nothing had changed. He just had his surgery 2 days ago! Already walking around, figuring out how to balance himself when laying down, and he even rode in the car with his head out of the window on the drive home. I can't believe it! I have no regrets when it comes to this surgery. The cancer has been removed from his body, and he's no longer a fracture risk. We aren't out of the woods yet (he starts chemo on 4/25), but we're gonna celebrate every victory. Just spending these last few hours with him home is making my heart spill over. I'm so glad he's ok. heartheartheart

'Tis but a scratch

Virginia







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14 April 2017 - 10:53 am
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LOOK AT THAT HAPPY BOY!!!! Way to rock this recovery Oskar!!!

And your humans have a great attitude too! Enjoy the bliss of OW and NOW is all that matters!!! BE MORE OSKAR with no worries 'bout nuttin':-) 🙂 🙂

Now, sometimes there's a bit of a crash after all the hospital meds are out of his system, so no worries if that happens.

Right now complete rest and short potty breaks and then more rest.

Such a happy update!! Keep 'em coming! 🙂 🙂

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

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!

On The Road


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14 April 2017 - 11:35 am
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Yaaay! What a great big love! I'm so happy he sailed through surgery. Onward to great things, he is already such a great Tripawds ambassador!  Everyone finds it so hard to believe that yes, even after amputation surgery a dog or cat can be happy. Getting rid of that painful leg makes a world of difference for their happiness.

Hope that he's able to get some rest so he can heal without any issues. He looks like he'll be hard to keep calm, but I know you can do it!

Keep us posted and let us know if you have any questions OK? 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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14 April 2017 - 4:14 pm
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Just got the results back from the university. His cancer has NOT spread to the lymph nodes, and is a sub-type of OSA called Fibroblastic Osteosarcoma. I'm going to do some more research, but it's apparently a rarer variant with a brighter prognosis (if what I've read so far is true). As far as bad news goes (getting the cancer diagnosis AT ALL), I feel like we've somewhat lucked out. If anyone has any experience with that specific OSA, I'd love to hear your story. I'm going to be searching around trying to learn as much as I can.

<3

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