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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Amy, it's a lot of info but it sounds like you are moving through it in a methodical and detailed manner. That's the only way to make a decision you're satisfied with.
You do have a wonderful doctor. The decision to only begin anything major at the first of the week just warms my heart!
Like Libby, Dakota would not tolerate car rides. He would shake, salivate great gobs and strings that hung from his mouth to the floor (a couple of feet long). His front legs would be saturated with saliva over a 10-minute car ride. He was probably 6 before he stopped vomiting in the car. So before we even knew chemo was not necessary for him, we made the decision there would be no chemo that involved going anywhere. Getting to the vet for the surgery was bad enough.
I could never have justified to Dakota that hauling him to vet even once every 3 months was going to give him a better quality of life, even if it lengthened his life by several years. Dakota would not have agreed with me. (Poor Dakota would begin to salivate and heave when he saw his RuffWear harness, and then he would try to hide.)
I know chemo is not all or nothing. You can start it and quit if it's not tolerated well. I knew my dog well enough, though, to say it could never happen. Whatever you decide for Libby, you'll do right by her. You already did by taking off that leg.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Thanks for your kind words, Shari.
Libby will ride in the car okay, but when we get to the vets office or even near it, she visibly shakes. When we pulled in the lot yesterday her teeth were practically chattering as if she were cold. That's how bad she was shaking. It just reinforces my thinking we can't put her through that even if it's every few weeks.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
So I received the faxes from the vet. What it turned out to be is a Q & A from VIN (Veterinary Information Network). Veterinarians were asking Dr. Bob Rosenthal questions about metronomic therapy. One question was about using MT without IV chemo first. He said, "Could be used, since the risk and cost is low, but the owners need to understand that it is not based on published evidence...." The vet treating Libby holds Dr. Rosenthal in high regard but she is willing to follow our wishes and we will be starting Libby on cytoxan on Monday.
She cleared up my confusion about the IV chemo. As a group, they have decided to refer IV chemo patients elsewhere such as Purdue or MI State.
I'm keeping everything crossed that her low mitotic figures will work in her favor and maybe...just maybe....we can keep this monster at bay for awhile. In 3 months she will have another chest xray.
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Hi Amy,
We will keep everything crossed for you as well, paws and ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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 hope she defies the "....not based on published evidence."
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
Wishing all the best for your girl. It sounds like you have great doctors and a great plan! We'll be keeping sweet Libby in our most positive thoughts!!
Sounds excellent, Amy! Remember.....ask your vet where her cytoxan (or generic version) comes from and report back...
Yey, Libby! Squeek, squeek, squeek....
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!
1 Guest(s)
