Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Okey dokey. Here we go….Rene suggested I keep a running topic on this new chemo.
As most of you know…Magic has osteosarcoma, discovered on March 6th, left front leg amputated on March 11, 2010. Three weeks later we did a carboplatin treatment. After the treatment (about 10 days) his white blood cell count dropped like a rock. A week later it came up and we went in to do the second treatment. The did lung xrays at that time and unfortunately there were two definite and one maybe lung mets. So instead of the carboplatin they did a doxorubicin treatment. This time his white blood cells didn't drop out of the low normal but when we went in for chest xrays last Friday, March 7th, the original mets were larger and we have more.
At this point my choices were to go to the metronomic protocol and hope to slow them down or do the Hail Mary pass with a pretty much unknown (for canines) chemo drug. As Jakesmom can attest, this drug is used for humans with brain cancer. (I haven't ruled out the other drugs if this is a bust); or do nothing, which at this time felt wrong for Magic and me.
So today I picked up the five pills (handle with gloves), and we started tonight. They want me to give them in the later afternoon so that on Friday (the day of the fourth treatment), I can be in early in the morning for a blood draw and they will have the info in time for…..who knows since everyone is flying blind on this one and it is one question I didn't ask or think about til I got home so I don't know why they do a blood draw during the course of the treatment, but I will. This is a VERY expensive treatment. They told me it is the MOST expensive drug this pharmacy compounds. If anyone wants to know the price, pm me and I would be glad to tell you. Be sitting down when you read the answer.
I did find out there is ONE other doggie doing this treatment but she is doing it NOW…I think they said a week ago. And it just happens to be Ruthie, a dog I met when I first went to visit Magic after surgery. His mom said at that time they were having a hard time getting the right chemo and I don't remember how far out she was. However, she has a different cancer than Magic and I don't know what that is.
He weathered the first chemos just fine (I truly wonder if the harder time, the longer survival rate)…I don't even think he was any more tired (remember he is 11) than normal. His appetite is still not back to pre amp levels (since we want to keep his weight down, that is a good/bad story….he has lost 19 pounds and we want that to stop now) and he is pooping loose black outside of yellow….we have changed from rimadyl to meloxicam and I may cut that out and use it only when he needs it rather than a daily med. We are also doing K9 immunity , K9 omega thingees, K9 Transfer Factor; flagyl at night (for poops and …gas…), Dasuquin and Prilosec. He was doing a chokey coughy thing prior to the cancer diagnosis which makes me go hmm…they don't know if it is a "i want to throw up or this is a cough" hence the prilosec which seems to have helped. Oh and Gas x for the previously mentioned problem (Or OJ and I will have to sleep in a different room…this was present prior to the cancer but he didn't like sleeping inside).
I will try to keep subsequent updates MUCH shorter (I know none of you believe me do you?). I am trying hard not to stare at him…He has been pretty much napping since a very long romp at the dog park so a little later he gets a massage. (I also mentioned elsewhere this is his two month ampuversary)
There.
Sending pawsitive thoughts that this be the answer!
Hmmmm guessing the cost isn't enough to mortgage your house yet? That was your stopping point, right?
Good luck, my friend!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
stopping point???? stoppping point???? am I supposed to have one of those???? (how did you know about the house mortgage!!!)
Hugs and positive energy to both of you!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Diane - wish you the best on this. Sounds like you got it all covered and under control....wow! I too keep flagyl on hand cause that really does come in handy....takes care of any issues right away.
Magic sure is lucky to be getting that massage. Pawesome that you're celebrating 2 months! Keeping you in our thoughts that this chemo plan goes well for Magic and you see some pawsitive results!
P.S. Now you've got me really curious about the costs of this treatment plan as we've all had the sticker shock and after shocks from the costs of all of these other types of treatment plans (can't imagine anything worse but sounds like it might be 
.) But I look at it this way, we've come this far so why not go as far as you can. As my husband jokes, our life has gone to the dogs (and our money too!) Oh well....
Kami (Mackenzie's Mom)
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Diane and Magic, we're keeping our fingers and paws crossed that this is the Magic bullet! (sorry - I couldn't resist!) Thanks for keeping us up to date - it's great that your vet was willing and you were able to try something like this for Magic. I'm with Kami on some of the sticker shock we've been through, so I can't imagine what this one is like. Magic knows how much you love him, and that's the bottom line as far as we're concerned! Sending lots of pawsitive, healing thoughts! Please continue to keep us posted. We're keeping you all in our hearts.
Hugs,
Holly and Holly's mom
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
well this is the first strange thing. After he played very hard today I fed him … he had kibble scrambled eggs and liver and a little left over fresh choice something or other. He didn't eat all of it. I give him supplements in lunch meat so he gets a lot of that or liverwurst. He has been laid out sleeping and all of a sudden he came up and was doing a little gaggy thing so I decided to give him half the cerenia (I think that's it…I don't have it right here) just in case. Prior to every chemo treatment (2) he had a nausea shot and hadn't had it this time so I thought maybe…So I give it in the lunch meat and slip in the flagyl too. He wolfed the stuff. So I put a little kibble in his bowl and he enhaled it. So I put a little more (boy will this be a balancing act if his appetite comes back) and he may have finished most of that. Obviously he couldn't have been too nauseated. But he has not eaten like this since before the surgery….He really doesn't eat unless he is hungry but what I was feeding him before wasn't as good as what I'm feeding him now.
Now, could it possibly be the chemo giving him an appetite? don't know, but it was a strange thing and the very first strange thing and now i'll leave you all alone and take him and doctor on the elbow that is looking bad. Going to call Dogleggs and see if they can modify for front amp dogs because boy, that callous is never gonna form. That will be helpful for a lot of people I would think. If you have another way of protecting that, please please let me know!
ps: holly and holly's mom: I LOVE THAT.....MAGIC BULLET maybe it could be named after him!!!
Diane and Magic,
Keeping this community aware of this chemotherapy protocol will be of enormous help - now we just have to make sure that it is enormous help to Magic. The more detail you can keep your notes the more help to any who will follow down Magic's newest path. I remember when my Cassiopeia was the first to use an experimental drug designed to restart the bone marrow into producing blood cells. It is not easy being the first but you have everyone here pulling for the Magic bullet.
We all know of what you speak when you start to discuss finance. Last time I looked, Miss Cherry’s bill was topping the list on one of the surveys but it sounds as if Magic would like to challenge that title. My family knows that I am senile and very stubborn when it comes to the care of my companions. However, I am on a fixed income . . . . hum, guess that means that I will not be able to make it up by working longer hours. Oh well, eating really is over rated.
Spirit Cherry’s Dad
HA - Diane - a stopping point?? What?? 
You mean not everyone has (second) mortgaged their house for their dog's treatments?
Seriously, though, blaze trail, Magic (and Diane). We'll be watching and praying.
Tana and Sophie
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
well it is 11:30 pm and you know all that food he ate? It first came up as undigested kibble which I let him scarf right back down in case any meds were still undissolved and he did and I spot cleaned the carpet and off we went. About 15 mins later out he shoots but doesn't make it to the kitchen again (OJ is good enuf to get off the bed when that urge strikes....but still on the carpet) and this time it is mississippi mud...boy was that something to clean up. Called the vet (they are 24 hr) and she saiid if I needed to I could give the other half of cerenia but then what would I do tomorrow. I am calling in the morning, if we had a shot going in to each of the other chemos, then he must need something to go along with the pills and maybe a little less kibble even if I did get excited at the urge to eat.
So thus far, unless it is something unconnected, this has made him naseated where the others (with pre chemo shots) did not afterwards
Hi Diane,
I really hope that the Temodar does the trick for Magic and that it doesn't cause him too many side effects. Hopefully, you and your vet can figure out the right timing with the anti-nausea meds so that Magic doesn't always end up vomiting. I know that for our human patients whose insurance doesn't cover the Temodar, we refer them to Schering Corp who had a program to help supply the drug for those who can't afford it. Have no clue if they would do the same for a canine patient, but what do you have to loose? Their contact information is: http://www.temo.....ent.html
It would help us to know some more info on Magic's Temodar treatment, like what dosage is he recieving (mg/m2) and what is his BSA (body surface area). What protocol are they doing? 5 days per 28 day cycle? They need to do lots of bloodwork... before, during and after the treatment, since from what I've read, dogs can be more sensitive to the side effects of Temodar compared to humans.
Here are some instructions that we give to our patients when taking Temodar... It may be similar for dogs, but I'm not sure..
Sending Magic lots of good thoughts and prayers... and a big fat hug!!!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Oh Magic...I hope you're feeling better this morning(or when it's morning over your way?)
Hugs to you and your Mom....
Tracy & Maggie
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Diane,
I hope Magic is feeling OK this morning-
I know with my Maggie (not the other Maggie) that since she has had a reduced appetite we have had to be careful not to over feed her. I, like you, get excited when she wants to eat more than what has become her usual- but it has ended up with me cleaning up because she can't keep it down. I think her body has adjusted to a lower amount of food. I need to put some weight on her, but I have learned to increase the amount of food slowly.
Mag is not on chemo now, she has some other health issues, but we are dealing with some nausea and a reluctance to eat.
Karen and the pug girls
Diane and Magic - sorry to hear about the late night/early morning incident. Never pleasant.
I hope you're feeling much better this morning, Magic.
It's so hard to make them stop eating when they are finally excited to do so. I think we're all the same - we want to see our best friends / furkids / eat. Eat and be strong.
Sending you prayers and golden licks from Sophie.
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
Oh, I hope Magic is feeling better today … and it just makes it harder that they can't tell you what they need or how they are feeling. (And isn't it so much fun to clean up vomit in the middle of the night?!)
You've certainly got me curious as to how much this chemo is costing! It's so hard to know how much is too much money to be spending … I've really struggled with this. And when I make my mind up to not do something because of the cost, then I worry that it could be the very thing that could save him, so then of course I want to do it.
Go, Magic Bullet, go!!!
Cherry said:
I remember when my Cassiopeia was the first to use an experimental drug designed to restart the bone marrow into producing blood cells.
Curious as to what the drug for stimulating the bone marrow was ... and did you have success with it? Thanks!
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
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