Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Lili had her first of five Carbo chemo treatments on April 18. They are supposed to be three weeks apart, so the next was scheduled for around May 9. Blood work that week, though, showed low WBC (trigger my first freak out). We postponed one week until May 16, at which time the blood work was back to normal and we moved forward with the second treatment.
So, this is three weeks forward from the second tratement, and I was hopeful that all would be fine. In fact, yesterday after the blood work, she was prancing around like a pup again and I actually thought to myself, no way is her WBC low this week. I really do think she feels well. But, just learned that she does, in fact, have a low WBC, so we're postponing AGAIN. So both the second and third treatments have been delayed.
Since she seems to be doing well, I'm trying not to freak out again. It's most important that she seems happy, right? But I still wonder what the deal is. I wonder if there are dogs who simply cannot handle treatments more than once a month? Is that a bad thing? Are there studies showing that the treatments need to be spaced out a certain amount to be most effective? Should I be requesting that the vet lower the chemo dose (she doesn't think it's necessary and doesn't seem concerned by the blood work at all)? Vet hasn't suggested an antibiotic but maybe I should be asking for one?
Since the first treatment, we have added fish oil and K9 Immunity
Plus. But I'm wondering if it's time to revisit her diet. She eats a grain free
kibble, always has, but we could sub in a lower-carb one. I doubt this is affecting her WBC count but I don't know what else to do. 
Hi!
Well, Lilli seems to have Jill disease!! I was quite concerned too - have you looked what Lilli's numbers were BEFORE she started chemo? We just did that yesterday and it seems Jill has always had low counts, just not as low.
Try not to worry - I know it's hard. We had to delay chemo twice. Not two times in a row, but Jill had a combo of carbo/doxy, and we always had to delay after the carbo treatments, it just seemed to really effect her bone marrow. It is TOTALLY normal and means the chemo really works! She acted totally normal, so I was always shocked when the numbers came back low!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
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
I tell ya', you low WBC cats and dogs..........IT'S WORKING:-) 
EVERY study co firms that. But I understand the worrying part all to well so I know every single thing is soooooo magnified when you wan the best for your loved ones and want them to live by your see forever! I sooooo u derstand!
Now I could be wrong...very, very wrong, but it seems like my regular vet said that low WBC doesn't really show outward signs----lethargy, lack of appetitie....none of those things. So they feel fine and that's a good thing! I doubt that food or supplements have any impact directly on that count.....think it's very chemo specific.
Sweet, cute adorable Lil is feeling good and full, of happiness and certainly could care less about any ole' stinkin' ount stuff!! I do think in some cases, maybe when the WBC is low twice they "might" lower the dose....but I really think that's only if they've had bad physical reaction to chemo. Clearly Lil is sailing through that part!
Curious, your vet is going g with five carbo rather than four. Do you might d ask I g him why? Some go with four, some five, some six......I'm just curious what different vets do and why.
YOU are doing g a great job for our girl and you need to realize that!! She couldn't be anymore loved
ya' know what's co king. ext?? Yeah, group hug!! Get in the. middle of the tripawd hug circle.......yeah....that's right.....NO....back to the. middle young lady!......Okay......(((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))):-) Now you can get out of the circle.............hard to walk, huh..-...we squeezed a little too hard:-)
GIVE LIL A HUG FOR US TOO! A little. ore gently though!
Lots of love, 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!
Salt,
You are completely right - low WBC show NO outward signs! Throughout this entire process, Jill's WBC was always low, at one time her neutrophils even dropped to 320 (normal is 2500-12,000) and she was acting like the playful happy kitty she was!
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 for talking me off the ledge. She's doing great, and I'm trying hard to focus on that. Yes, sounds like Miss Lili and Jill are dog/cat twins! Lili loves kitties so I'm not surprised. 
Sally, I read your post last night, about 4 v. 6 treatments. My husband is in charge of chemo duty (I have never even been to the specialist - just sent him with a humongo list of questions), so I asked him to remind me how many treatments Lili's getting, expecting 4 or 6. But no, it's 5. When he finally makes it back to the specialist (hopefully next week, if the WBC cooperates!), I will have him ask what the rationale for 5 is. I'm curious how the vet settled on that number, too.
Lili - I think Jilly and you are trying to avoid the needles! I don't blame you.
The only bad thing about the low WBC is more chance of infection, but like Sally says - the drug is working!
Hang in there!
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.
Hang in there! It's natural to worry about Lili but our Daisy had chemo delayed twice due to Low WBC and came through chemo with flying colours!
Sending lots of good wishes and hugs your way!
Chico had low WBC only once during his chemo treatment. His were never really good--hovering around 400, but on the day the oncologist decided to d/c the iv chemo it just turned out that his WBC was extra low, so he would have had to forego the treatment anyway. He continued on oral chemo monthly and his WBC slowly climbed back up. He now only goes to the oncologist every other month and no more chemo, but we still monitor the labs. Hope that helps a little.
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