Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well, Izzy's been a naughty girl and just won't leave her tumor alone. I don't blame her, the thing blew up like darn balloon and has to be itchy and uncomfortable. Sadly, the Palladia - which did a bang up job on making her tumor disappear when we first discovered it - has clearly lost efficacy in fighting this persistent disease.
She visited her oncologist on Valentine's Day, so fitting because she LOVES "her people." She was so dang excited to see the onco tech that she started barking when he passed her by and didn't immediately come to her. I'll tell you, that girl knows how to make an impression. The news wasn't good in that the tumor is as big and nasty as it's ever been but because everyone is so impressed with her vibrance and general health, we made the call to start her on traditional chemo. I hope that my girl continues to beat the odds and that she tolerates the treatment well. I feel fortunate to have a care team that considers all the factors and is willing to share the "if she were my dog" input when asked.
I've read some older entries on here regarding this treatment protocol as well as some info online and I am sure hoping that the typical "prognosis" is just another bad joke. After all, my amazing girl is still here today, beating the pants off the survival estimates we were given when her first cancer was detected. Of course, I wish that I had surgical options for this dumb tumor but since I already took her spare, well, drugs will have to do.
I hadn't seen much about cortisone (ish - there is a fancy name for it) type injections directly into the tumor, but plan to ask when Iz goes in next week for bloodwork. The onco needs to check her liver enzymes and all that fanciness to adjust dosing and verify that she'll be ready for the Vinblastine injection at the end of the month.
Puppy prayers for my girl, if you would. Here she is in her Valentine's day outfit (because who doesn't love a pink n pretty pup)!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Love her outfit.
Funny how they recognize people.
Keep kicking butt and hope she continues to beat all the odds.
hugs
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angel 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."
After Maggie lost her leg to a MCT she was on that regimen- you've probably read her story.
Because of documented lymph node involvement her prognosis was 6 to 9 months WITH chemo. She lived almost 4 years and did not pass from the mast cell. Hopefully it works as well for Izzy!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Karen, you *know* I am holding tight to the hope that Izzy does just half as well as Maggie! Of course, I realize that Izzy is very old, so even another year would be a whole lot. I am just hoping that we get things under control to the point where my sweet girl doesn't spend the rest of her days wearing the cone of shame all day!
She's been so remarkable in so many ways and I surely hope this regimen provides the same level of relief it did for Maggie!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Murphy had CCNU for his cancer. He had to have 6 doses, 3 weeks apart, and had to take denamarin daily to help protect his liver. He had a CBC the day of his treatment & one a week later, which our regular vet did since his oncologist is an hour & a half away. He tolerated all of it pretty well. On the day of his chemo he might have been just a little sleepy/nauseous, but we had that drive out there, they kept him for several hours, then we drove home, so he was also a bit stressed. He took the denamarin just fine every day - it was like a chewable treat, although I've read some on here have had tablets or capsules that they had to force feed.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Izzy takes meds like a champ, so that's not an issue. What I can't seem to control is keeping her mouth off the damn tumor! I had sticky tape (the stretchy kind) around her foot, a sock over that (taped on) and her cone of shame and she TORE IT UP!
Her foot is a weepy, bloody mess and I am at wit's end trying to protect it. She will not be deterred ... she actually ate a hole into the sock and ate the sticky tape ... and I have to go to work. I looked at basket muzzles, but those aren't designed to keep her tongue in her mouth.
I'm afraid she will keep it so irritated and inflamed that it will never get better. 🙁
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Is she taking benadryl? I always had the pugs on it when we messed with the tumors or they were growing/shrinking. It might help with the itching.
I don't have any ideas on wrapping her foot- she sounds pretty determined to get to it, poor girl.
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Karen, yes, she is taking 50 mg (2 tablets) twice a day. Three would be ideal but I'm not home/awake to dose her every 8 hours. She's taking 10 mg of Prednisone daily as well but she has this thing the size of the big pad on her foot. I am just so frustrated and sad and frankly, a good bit angry. If she won't leave it alone, I can't justify spending the money I am on treatment. She's making it worse and I'm throwing a ton of cash at the problem for nothing.
It really is devastating. I wish she would stop!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
So darn sorry yu and Izzy are dealing with this!! It is sooooo rotten after everything you two have been through! Stinkin' rotten! This girl shoukd be enjoying her senior years without all this 
I wish I had some answers as far as the chewing. It must be driving the poor girl crazy...as well as you!!! You jave every right to be sad and angry!! I know life isn't "fair", but this is so UNFAIR!!
And then I look at that ADORABLE picture of her and know for certain she IS enjoying her senior years, thanks to all of your love and care!
Wrapping you up in hugs 🙂
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Thanks, Sally! You are always the voice of love and encouragement and we appreciate every word.
The good/bad news is that I seem to have found a way to stop the licking ... a basket muzzle. I feel terrible for doing it to her, but I can't see any other way to stop her. She was at the onco today for her CBC check after the CCNU dose and her counts were so low, they called me to come get her right away as the fear is she will get sick from another dog. I took my baby home and she goes back tomorrow to change the bandage on her foot ... the surgeon asked that I bring her back. The foot is in ROUGH shape but I hope we'll get ahead of it now.
Sweet Izzy is surely more tired but they didn't say a thing about liver enzymes so apparently her new supplement is helping (for now). We'll head back in a week for another blood draw and if she's rebounded, she'll get her first dose of vinblastine.
Fingers crossed for my pup! 🙂
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
I've been thinking about you guys- hoping things were going OK.
Maybe if you get the foot cleaned up she will leave it alone- I hope so. It must be hard to make her wear the muzzle but you know that with a mast cell tumor if she keeps messing with it the foot will never heal.
I'm rooting for Izzy!
Karen
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks, Karen! I'm hoping we'll finally get this thing back under control now. The good news is that she's snoring away happily and is easy to give meds because she is so focused on the "treat" (which is generally one of the many supplements she takes) that she never even notices.
I did take pity on her today and gave her new (second) antibiotic and gabapentin pills in a slice of cheese this morning and in some roasted chicken tonight. 
Thank heaven she is easy to please!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Izzy has beat the odds so many times before - hopefully she will continue to do so.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Sweet Izzy. We are thinking about you. And please help me convince Mosby to focus on the treat rather than the meds! He would reject a piece of filet mignon with a pill in it!
Silly Mosby! He should come hang with Miss Iz and learn that MEDS means SNACKS! Because Izzy is easy, I give her the pills just after breakfast & dinner. It's part of her routine and she looks for her "treats". Does Mosby get his meds at mealtime? Maybe give them 30 minutes before in something yummy? While he's hungry?
Simply because we all need more cute puppy pictures, here is Izzy being "snuggled" by her sister. I love that Storm has her little arm draped over Izzy's hurt leg. So sweet!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
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