Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I agree. Do not beat yourself up 🙂 Do the metronomics
its a daily chemo and she will be getting it 
Thanks Sally. We like to help out and you and Hannah are one of our favorites (if we can have them) as you have come a long long way. Besides it sounds like Hannah is doing pretty darn good and I saw all of those wonderful pictures of her
Hugs
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Sally, we spoke to the Oncolgist yesterday at UGA and their answer about four versus six chemo treatments was simply that it was UGA protocol. She would not site any studies and said there was no conclusive evidence that six was better than four. Sorry, I know it's just more of the same and no real answers for us. She did however say that she planned on talking to us next chemo (4th round for Atlas) in a few weeks about starting Metronomics. She sited several cases that she had worked on and the dogs lived longer than the median age of one year past diagnosis when given metronomics . She did say it was pretty expensive and for a dog Atlas's size we could be looking at $500-$600 a month. She shocked me though when she said it was a treatment for the rest of his life! I thought it would be for a few months or something like chemo, but she said you give it to them forever. I'm not sure how I feel about that yet.
To tell the truth I had a pretty rough day yesterday and I'm not sure how I feel about anything right now except crappy. We had 3 whole weeks with no doctors or hospitals and it was pure bliss, life as usual, regular routines, dinners, treats, walks, play, snuggles, belly rubs and in general lots of love. Then, BAM! Go to the vet and talk to the docs and I'm back in sadville! I hate how they always say the survival rate is 4-12 months. I hate how everything becomes so limited and the stigmas of 'large dog' are so NOT true. I hate that none of them know about all the exceptional dogs here at Tripawds that dont conform to the statistics! i hate that they dont know their statistics are wrong! Don't misunderstand, I don't hate the doctors, sometimes I just hate how scientific the whole medical part is. Seems without hope or faith. I just felt so crushed when we left like i was punched in the gut and haven't stopped crying for 24 hours now. (Sorry, but thanks for letting me vent)
Anyway, sounds like Michelle and Jerry have given us good advice and I think I will start reading up on Metronomics. Keep me posted on what you decide to do for Happy Hannah. She is sooooooo beautiful in her pictures you recently posted. She certainly lives up to her name.....I've never seen such a happy smiley face! Give her bug smooches for me!
Pat & Mighty Atlas
Hi Pat,
I'm sorry you are feeling so bad. I think, unfortunately, thats what this stupid roller coaster of osteosarcoma can do to us 
I try not to let it get it me, but it does. I won't lie. I dress up my cat to make me forget about things. 
It sounds like Atlas is still doing great - try (as hard as it is) to just focus on that. Don't focus on numbers. There are so many that have proven those numbers wrong. You never know, Atlas might be the next one to do so.
Sending you lots of love and hugs,
Erica
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
Thanks Erica, I just keep hearing her somber tone ..... "Next visit we do X-rays before chemo because if the cancer has spread there is no sense in doing anything further"
I was all.... Wait, what? I wanted to scream at them.....don't sound so defeated! Why are you talking like that! How about some optimism instead of pessimism!
So now I can barely catch my breath thinking of those damn X-rays in three weeks! Agh!!!!! Sally, you were right about the roller coasters! Who needs six flags, my stomach is flip flopping like crazy on this stupid cancer roller coaster!
BTW Erica, I for one am so happy you dress up Jill! It makes me feel better too!
Oh I hear ya, I got the x-rays one week from today...............
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
Pat,
It sounds like they are talking Padallia. I know for Sassy's size since there is no generic yet it was 1100 plus 300 for monitoring. That is why we went with the metronomic protocol of carprofen 125 mg through diamondback drugs 34.62 and the chemo drug of cyclophosphamide of 22 mg (figured for their weight) 56.70. We do urinalysis, blood (cbc etc) every month. I was doing x-rays but decided this last one in june I wasn't going to do them any more. We have lung mets and all we can do is keep fighting but for those of you who have clear lungs I would say do them every so often.
Once you decide what to do it is a lot better to know. I totally understand feeling like being hit in the gut. And Atlas still is kicking butt that is all that matters. He doesn't know that a treatment means lifetime. If you decide not to continue you can do that many times.
I am going to share this with you. The day Sassy was diagnosed with lung mets. They told us it could be 4-6 weeks Hell its going on 5 months. We are kicking butt & taking numbers and not letting odds stand in our way because we are beating them By the way that was March 1. We started Metronomics when we were diagnosed. we couldn't do anymore iv chemo but Metronomics is always an option.
Hugs
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
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
Patricia, I am so sorry you're feeling so down. What I can tell you is this: the doctors have to cite those stats. They do it to prepare you for the worst, but in your heart you have the option of hoping for the best. It's up to you how you react to those depressing numbers. I know you want to be happy, so why not choose to say "OK docs, great, but MY Atlas just might beat the odds so I choose to go with that theory for now."
I'm shocked the metronomics would be so much money for him. See if you can get a list of what they plan on doing as far as the protocol and start a new topic, I'd love to hear more.
Here's to Jilly and her adorable creative photo she sent you, it sure put a smile on our faces here!
Many hugs coming your way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OMG Erica that is the sweetest photo! Jill is the greatest kitty - she looks like she loves having her picture taken! Thank you so much - that gave me a good belly laugh this morning! I'm printing it out now, has to go on the fridge! Hope his kitty Bella doesn't get too jealous LOL.
Michelle, thanks so much for your input, I'm going to look into their protocol and start a new post when I get the specifics. And how Awesome that Sassy is kicking those stats butt! Yeah Sassy!
Jerry, I know and I do, I was just venting. Sometimes on this journey I get blindsided but we always pick ourselves up and dust the negativity off and keep on trucking. I'm just so happy that you guys are all here, it helps so much to have people who understand and can commiserate. And yes, help you get back on track with the things that really matter....loving life and treasuring each and every day we have with our big guy.
So grateful for you all!
Pat & Mighty Atlas
Patricia and Atlas
Was just ow able to get back on! Darn! Comeback and, you're right....BAM!!
I think yourOnco. went to the same school as. mine: The University of Pessimism"!
The Mighty Atlas is not a statistic! He's a living, breathing, loving, determined,, vibrant, happy, smart strong soul who has a whole lot going for him because of caring, diligent pawparents!! And that's never factored I to their precious little statistics!
Look at Sassy! And. sooooooo many others!! The kowlege and support of this community isn't favored in-------and this is a huge plus!
For whatever it's worth, After first consultation with surgeon and onco, politely said that UNLESS THEY KNEW AN EXACT DATE OF. A DOG'S DEMISE, I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ANY statistics about time frames any more. I found that to be e powering and a much more positive experience for us now.
I appreciate you getting back to me on the number of treatment response. I've found NO ONE , no study, no. nothing that says four is the norm, or must as effective as six.
In fact, I finally found on Veterinary Cancer Specialist --------Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado where they quoted a recent study of six carboblatin vs four (carb. alternating duxicorbin). and the SIX Added an ADDITIONAL-------AN ADDITIONAL now---- OVER 235 days median. I will tell you it took it closer to the two year mark. This was from University of California. I guess my onco. didn't think an additional 235 days mattered!! And there's not a #&%$&#&$ Thing I can do ow except try and find a metronomics protocol and hope it works even if she's only had four.
Just to add one more thing......I didn't do Xrays at fourth......my "onco" (and I use the term loosely). said same thing. I "felt" strongly she's megoing to get her fourth regardless! Why would I stop now? After all, four is all the onco recommended!
So it's YOUR choice. The fact that they want to start metro. parallel with the fifth and sixth is really good! You at least have a k owlegavle crew
Okay, now you and I both need to get back to being more dog!! I'm gonna go eat one of Happy Hannah's milk bones and see if I start barking!
Lot of love to you Patricia AND. THE MIGHTY ATLAS! And he IS MIGHTY and he has all of you' all of us, and Sophie too all sending him healing energy!!
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!
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