Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Buddy 9 years old had osteosarcoma and left rear leg amputated in Oct 2014. Recent chest x-rays show spread to the lungs and now the stump also has a mass in it....he is panting a lot. the vet has nothing to offer other than giving him 100 mgs of Rimadyl. I want to take him to a "specialist" who can treat the cancer itself. I do not know which would be of benefit to Buddy-oncologist or holistic vet? any recommendations?
Buddy looks soooo sweet in his avatar photo. You really can tell he's atrue BUDDY!!
And we've got a NINE MONTH AMPUVERSARY to celebrate! Way to go Buddy
Others will chime in, but my first I inclination is to talk to both and see what "feels right" for you and Buddy. You can actually do a lot of "holostic" and conventional treatment at the same time
Holistically, there are good repprts MUSHROOM THERAPY. On the chemo route, many have used metronomic therapy. Just throughing out a few exampEs members here have tried. Others will give you links, but there is a wealth of information here in both.
There are DEFINITELY things you can do for Buddy right now that will nelp him feel better. My beloved Happy Hannah developed a met the "size of a baseball" the vet said. She was a large " Plus Sized Model" l Bull Mastiff, so she liked to do things big! I'm no vet, but I would strongly urge you to ask for Prednisone and either some Tra.adol.or Gabapentin. Can't remember if there is a wash out period with Rimadyl or not...check with vet! Anyway, a low dose pain med will definitely help as will the steroid. Also Piroxicam maybe something to check into for shrinking tumors.
I did metronomics for a couple of weeks but she got a UTI infection..a side effect. .plus, she woukd have ro go back and forth to the vet for blood work, pok j ng and prodding, etc.
BUDDY DOES NOT HAVE A TIME FRAME STAMPED ON. HIS BUTT! Happy Hannah and I had some great quality time after her "baseball sized .met"! It's amazing how ma n y tummy rubs, ear scratches, butt rubs and scoops.of ice cream you can squeeze.into.a day!
LET NOTHING ROB YOU OF YOUR TIME TOGETHER! Buddy isn't worried about a thing! He doesn't give a rip about any ole' stupid diagnosis! Buddy is living in the now, in the present and just enjoying being with you!
We qould love to see pictures of Buddy and hear more about him. We already know he is well loved!
Look forward to your next update. I really believe you can get him feeling better with some of the suggestions and the suggestions others will bring up
We're cheering for you Buddy! Keep in rockin'!
Se ding love and hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Time for a different vet.
I'm sorry about Buddy, I know this news is hard. Rest assured there is PLENTY beyond Rimadyl that you can do to keep him comfortable. We got another great 7 months even while living with lung mets, thanks to a great oncologist.
This forum topic is all about dealing with lung metastasis, lots of tips and ideas here:
http://tripawds.....experience
Where are you located? We might be able to recommend someone.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just added a reply so this might be a duplicate.... I am in Virginia...I honestly do not have the finances to take Buddy to an oncologist. I am already deep in debt from all the surgeries and follow up visits. My concern, too, is that he has a mass about the size of a baseball on his stump... the vet told me that he thinks that Buddy's ultimate demise will be the mass rupturing. I have an appt with a holistic vet today....hopefully he will have some recommendations...
Oh my gosh please don't feel badly because money is tight, everyone here understands what that's like.
I'm really hoping your holistic-minded vet will have some solutions for keeping him comfortable. It's not so much a matter of trying to zap the mets away at this point, but of keeping him pain-free with a great quality of life as long as possible, and any good vet can do that, doesn't have to be an onco.
Just an aside, we only did metronomics with Jerry after mets were found. Metronomics is a very inexpensive at-home chemo regimen, and along with pain meds and other inexpensive meds to help him breathe better, he did really well in those 7 months. I'm hoping your new vet has some ideas like this and that the lump isn't anything serious.
Please share what happened when you can and know that we are here to help you no matter what you decide OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you. The holistic vet did give me a ray of hope in helping with his pain management . She gave him 5 medications, 2 of which were Chinese herb supplements that are supposed to help with the tumors growing any larger. I hope they all work in helping with his pain. I will keep you posted.
Oh that's fantastic, we'll keep our fingers & paws crossed!
We'd love to know the names of the herbs if you have a chance, it's always good to add that kind of information for others who are seeking help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad you were able to able to have a good meeting with the Holistic vet and get Buddy in a treatment.
Please keep us posted when you can. I'm also I'm also in Virginia (Powhata ...West of Richmo d) . We have other members here too. We are here for you anyway we can help.
Sending love to you and Buddy
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
What's the name of your holistic vet? I'm just curious.....I too am near Richmond. I would love to know what she prescribed, was Yunnan Baiyao one of them?
I'm not sure what your financial situation is or where in Va you are but have you heard about Fetch-a-cure? They are located in Richmond. You have to apply (and qualify) but they try to help families who can't afford cancer treatments. Also, Helping Hands is in Richmond. She offers really low cost surgeries and I've heard she will prioritize pets with cancer. Everyone raves about Dr. Pasternak with Helping Hands. She's obviously not in this business for the money.
http://www.fetc.....acure.org/
http://www.help.....vetva.com/
Keep us updated! HUGS
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
I live in Amelia County not too far from Powhatan. (Jetersville)..I saw Dr. Betty Baugh Harrison at Betty Baugh Animal Hospital on Patterson Ave. She prescribed Pepcid to avoid stomach problems from all the medications, Gabapentin 300 mgs., Proxicam 10 mgs., Stasis Breaker Tea pills, Wei Qi booster tea pills, Tramadol 50 mgs. for additional pain relief, and Tumeric 1 tsp. with 1/4 black pepper daily. I know that what she prescribed won't cure the cancer but I have to make sure he is comfortable. I am hoping that maybe one of the prescriptions will help the masses reduce at least.
I am totally changing his diet based on her recommendation and taking kibbles out completely.... I have 8 dogs so I want to make sure the other 7 stay healthy.
I requested an application and have received it from Fetch a Cure. I have to fill it out and send it back in.
Oh wow! Small world! Howdy neighbor! I'm clpse to the Cumberland / Ppwhatan line.
Eight dogs! Good for you! A d I know they are lucky dogs!
And I may have crossed paths with Betty Baugh years ago with some rescue work...can't remember.
It really sou ds like you've got some good "meds" going to help Buddy be more comfortable and, maybe even shrink the darn tumor (not sure about the others stuff, but I know Piroxicam has shown to shrink tumors).
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, do not hesitate to call me if I can help in any way, okay? 804 551-1799. I mean it!!
Although it may be to o soon to see any difference het, how is Buddy doing today?
Sending lots of hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I've heard of Betty Baugh. I think it's only her and Dr. Lord at Dogwood who do holistic medicine in the area. We are considering going to see Dr. Lord (she's closer to us). I need to keep Tanner as healthy as possible too. I can't go through this with him any time in the near future...otherwise I may lose my mind and end up on Sally's doorstep after my escape from the mental institution 🙂
Tumeric has all kinds of health benefits on the human side, I hadn't even thought about it for dogs too. The greatest gift I think we can give our pets is love and comfort, so anything that makes Buddy comfortable is a win!
Well, we are accruing quite the Virginia tripawd compliment. We may need to start a pet cancer support group.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Elizabeth, good to know about Dr. Lord at Dogwood.
And you come on over anytime...it's kinda' like a fun nut house anyway!
And you're right, we too have a lot of area pups with "the issue" and maybe there is a spin off of some "force for good" that czn come out of this. Gotta' feeling Rosco might be working on something.......just sayin'!
And Buddy 's mom, do check in that Yunna Baiyao that Elizabeth mentioned. Have heard good stuff about it.
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!
sounds like you all are close! I am only 13 miles from Cumberland going the back roads 🙂 .. I used Yunnan Baiyou (spelling?) when I had a dog at 14 yrs old who had hemangiosarcoma....(spleen tumor)... that is used to help stop the bleeds from the tumor on the spleen. The dog is absolutely miserable when they get "bleeds"... he had surgery but did not make it out of recovery....in fact, I have lost 6 dogs since Oct. 2010... not a track record that I am proud of but they all lived long, happy lives.
Buddy has rested most of the day- unless, of course, I get out of the chair and go to another room, he follows me everywhere!! the panting is not as bad as it has been for the last 4 weeks.... That's why I took him to the vet and requested X-rays of his chest.
I like Dr. Harrison. She told me (as the my regular vet) that she also feels that Buddy's demise will be that the mass on his stump will rupture.. if he does well on the meds (they are going to call me Monday to check on him) that she will give him more medicine and some what she called "yellow powder" to put on the site should it rupture to keep the infection out.
I had another tripawd (Sadie) who was my daughter's dog who got hit by a car and I took her and her rear leg was amputated. She lived to be 10. One lived to be almost 17, one was 16, one 14, one 10, sadie 10, and another special needs dog, Rockie, who suffered with seizures who died at 9.
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