Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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First, I am very sorry I have not kept you all on Steins Progress so I will try to give everyone a heads up.
I had Steins right leg amputated on June 28, 2012. His lungs on the X-Ray were clear.
In three weeks, I had Stein on Chemo CarboPlatin. No X-Rays were taken by my oncologist.
Three weeks later, Stein had his second treatment. Again no X-Rays were taken.
On September 10th, I took Stein in for his third treatment. I had noticed a few days before this that he was exhausted only taking a few steps to go outside and he had started to cough. When I brought Stein in today on September 10th, the oncologist took an X-Ray and it was bad news. His lungs were almost filled with the cancer and he said Stein only has a few days.
I asked him if there was anything I could do and he said no.
I saw an artical on triipaws about a "Diane" who said that there is treatment for the lungs but I do not know who to contact or anything. Can someone guide or direct me in this matter please, since his time is a few now is only a few days
Thank you all
Sincerely
Buck and Stein, I'm so sorry to hear about the mets. Getting this kind of news is just heartbreaking and frustrating.
What kind of options or treatment plans did your oncologist present to you? Sometimes docs will prescribe prednisone and cough medicine to help the pup feel better.
It's terrible but when the lung mets get to be too large or too many, the options quickly dwindle. I'm not sure which Dane you are referring to, but some people have tried things like inhalation therapy (basically breathing in chemotherapy drugs so they go directly into the lungs). We often refer people to this post about lung metastasis treatment options for more ideas.
I'm so sorry, I wish I had more ideas to offer you for discussion with your vet, but based on what you're saying his condition sounds pretty advanced. Tragically this is the route that osteosarcoma usually takes, and sometimes it happens just far too soon than anyone expected. My heart goes out to you, I'm so sorry. We are here if you want to vent or chat or whatever OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you
My oncologist said that there was nothing he could do, why didn't he explore these options with me? His name is Dr. Jeffrey Philibert with Portland Veteraniry Specialist in Portland Maine. Should I contact him on these options or, where he did not tell me this, ask another doctor?
I am so sorry about the news, healing prayers & hugs coming to Rono!!! They say prednisone does help with symptoms and I would ask for it along with cough syrup. If he/she wont I would ask your regular vet. I had called one of Sweetpea's doc's to get a refill on her pain med and the tech said he wanted labs done first, I simply said no (she was on palliative care) and they gave me the medication. Take tons of pictures and give him bunches of hugs. Donna
I'm so sorry for the position you are in - I know how difficult it is. Our Sam developed aggressive mets while on chemo. We tried metronomics and arteminisin - when it was advanced to the point of coughing a significant amount, we used prednisone and a cough suppressant. The cough suppressant was a huge help - it completely kept him calm with no distress. Please hang in there. Xoxo Sue
Thank you all, here is the response from my oncologist with inhalation chemo:
Kim
I read this information and unfortunately to the best of my knowledge there are no local resources for this type of the inhalation therapy available. I am checking to see again if there are any and will get back to you. Its too bad as the original work on this type of therapy with a immune stimulating chemical called IL-2 showed a lot of promise. Its expensive and cumbersome though which is why it never caught on. I will get back to you once I hear back if there are options.
Dr. Philibert
Me and Stein lives in Maine
Any other advice, please let me know. Stein hangs his head up in the air alot, after walking just a little bit, I suppose this is to get air, I don't know. I am at wits end.
Another thing is, he still has no meds like prednisone or any cough medicine yet, I asked Dr. Philibert but have had no response today.
Oh I'm so sorry. I know that many treatments are harder to come by in rural areas, we used to live in one.
Your doctor sounds very compassionate and bright, I'm sure s/he can come up with some ways to help Stein feel better while coping with these mets.
This part of the journey just stinks. You want to do all you can, but cancer has other ideas. It's so unpredictable. I'm so very sorry.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
If he was compassionate, seems he would have sent me home with these meds, all vets sounds bright when they come up with big words, just venting but thank you
I am just so sorry to hear your news. Stein is a beautiful dog. Cancer's unpredictability really sucks.
You are justified with your venting. I'd be thinking the same thing. Is there any other vet you can go to so that you can get some prednisone and cough meds? At this stage keeping Stein comfortable is the priority so any vet with any ounce of compassion should be able to help you.
Love him heaps.
Lots and lots of hugs
Karen and Spirit Magnum
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/
I'm afraid that I can't add any more chemo insight than others here who know more than I do. What I do know is that every single day is precious. Love him and pamper him as much as you can. You are in a very tough stage but try to find a tiny bit of joy to share with Stein every day. I did that with my girl, and I remember those days with lots of tears but also with memories of the light that shined in her eyes when we showered her in love.
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.
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