Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We started metronomic chemotherapy with Cytoxan as the primary chemotherapy drug. Within the first 2 days, my dog, K, has had a huge escalation in fearful behavior. She's been a fearful dog for her whole life but, after lots of work with a good behaviorist years ago, she learned to cope with the scary stuff in life (except for a few phases in life when she wasn't feeling well, like just before her initial osteosarcoma diagnosis when her leg was doubtless hurting badly).
So, I am wondering if anyone out there has observed an increase in fearfulness in their dog during metronomic chemotherapy ? I am hoping that it's a drug side effect rather than something worse like a sign that her lung mets are starting to bother her.
K, an 8 year old chocolate lab, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the radius and ulna on 12/23/11. She had stereotactic radiation to kill the bone tumors, and 3 rounds of carboplatin. On 3/16/12, lung mets were found. We tried several different kinds of chemotherapy to slow the lung mets but none worked. Finally, mets appeared at other sites, including her spine. She earned her angel wings on July 15, 2012. K changed my life, and I'll never forget her. Our/my journey is chronicled at romp-roll-rockies.blogspot.com.
Princess has always been a confident, outgoing dog. I haven't noticed anything specifically with her since she has been doing metronomics with Palladia (3 weeks so far) but I have seen a gradual decline in her confidence over the last month. There is an air of vulnerability about her that she never used to have and she is a lot less "cocky" when meeting other dogs. She is having problems with her back leg/spine which has been causing pain and compromising her movement so I've put it down to her being aware that she isn't as fit and strong as she used to be.
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
Princess has always been a confident, outgoing dog. I haven't noticed anything specifically with her since she has been doing metronomics with Palladia (3 weeks so far) but I have seen a gradual decline in her confidence over the last month. There is an air of vulnerability about her that she never used to have and she is a lot less "cocky" when meeting other dogs. She is having problems with her back leg/spine which has been causing pain and compromising her movement so I've put it down to her being aware that she isn't as fit and strong as she used to be.
It's not surprising to me that Princess' confidence with other dogs could be "off". It may have to do with her inability to "fight or flight" being on three legs. I bet when she gets better and stronger as you said, she'll be back to normal.
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.
Hmmm. I was on metronomic chemo and didn't have a side effect like this nor have I heard about any other dogs losing their confidence specifically because of the drugs used.
I would carefully look at what she's been through in the last few days...has she shown signs of being in pain? Has she overdone it and played too hard? As you probably already know, signs of fearfullness and aggression can be indicators of pain. Also, sometimes with female dogs they can develop a urinary tract infection from the cytoxan staying in their bladder too long. It happens with males but more often with femals. This is something to consider and keep an eye on if she's still acting unusual.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for the replies! The good news is that K's fearfulness is gradually going away. She even walked through a "scary" hallway in our house multiple times this morning without a human escort. That's big progress! That one hallway has been her nemesis for her entire life.
You all are probably right that "something" wasn't feeling right for her, but we may never know what it was (no sign of a UTI, which we've been watching for).
K, an 8 year old chocolate lab, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the radius and ulna on 12/23/11. She had stereotactic radiation to kill the bone tumors, and 3 rounds of carboplatin. On 3/16/12, lung mets were found. We tried several different kinds of chemotherapy to slow the lung mets but none worked. Finally, mets appeared at other sites, including her spine. She earned her angel wings on July 15, 2012. K changed my life, and I'll never forget her. Our/my journey is chronicled at romp-roll-rockies.blogspot.com.
FWIW, my dog Maggie has never, ever been a fearful dog of footing until being amputated. Or when she might be a bit tired, her balance is off, so has fears of turning hard 90 degree turns from one room to another...
Maybe it has nothing to do with the chemo and maybe it's a tripawd thing like my dog?
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
So glad to hear she's getting her game back!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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