Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Zeus went today for his third chemo and for x-rays of the lungs. Could not do chemo because his WBC count was too low, so we have rescheduled for next Friday.
Unfortunately, the lung x-rays showed a spot about half the size of a dime. Some of you may recall that upon OSA diagnosis the day before Thanksgiving we had a CT Scan of the lungs which showed a small "suspicious" spot. It was so small at the time that our vet acknowledged that it probably would not have shown on an x-ray. Now that spot has grown enough that it is visable on an x-ray. That, of course, disappoints us. But surprisingly, I was thankful. We knew from that CT that mets were probable and I was relieved that it is still only one spot. Dr. R said the rest of the lungs are clear. He recommended continuing with the remaining four chemo treatments and follow-up x-rays with consideration of the metronomic protocol if mets continue to advance.
So, not the best news. But, not the worst news as I was terrified that there would be numerous mets. Here's to hoping that my baby can hold the mets at bay.
Thanks for listening,
Lisa and Zeus
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Hey Zeus, you hang in there. Plenty of others have kept the mets to a minimum for a very long time
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
Stay strong!! At least it wasn't the terrible news you were worried you would get, with your love im sure Zeus will hold them at bay.
Sarah and Kayla
Well, not great news, but it sounds like better than you were expecting. And you have a plan to go forward- that is a good thing.
Come on Zeus- keep those nasty mets in check!
Karen and the pugapalooza
This sounds very similar to our situation. Our initial xray at the vet's office (pre amp) showed nothing. After our 3rd chemo treatment there was a lone small spot - so small the radiologist didn't think it was a met, but our onc did. 3 months later another xray confirmed it was indeed a met - but it stayed The Lone Met for a long time, like 6 months. From the time that first little suspicious spot was seen, we had over a year with Abby!
You are right - it isn't good news, but one met is not terrible. He could still live a long time with that met! Or - it could go away. I know of a few dogs (2 of them on tripawds) whose mets went away. There's still lots of hope and still lots of good days ahead with your boy.
(Note - we did the same as was recommended to you - finished out the chemo and then went to MP. If you have any detailed questions about what we did, you can always PM me.)
Give Zeus a hug from me and a nose-poke from BunnyRita (she's not a big kisser like Abby was!),
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Information is empowering, even if it's not the best news. I'm sorry that it wasn't better, but AbbysMom is right, he could still live a really long time despite that dumb mint. If you haven't seen this guys story, check this out. Reno had two mets not too long after starting chemo, and his mets actually decreased, AND he is still thriving after nearly four years. So I hope that Zeus has that kind of outcome too.
Cancer definitely teaches us to focus on one day at a time. Now, get out there and make the most of it! Give Zeus a big smooch from us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sorry your news wasn't great, but you've still got plenty of time to love on that boy! I'm sure Zeus has the spirit and strength (especially because you've got his back) to fight this thing for a good long time.
Our best to you and your boy,
Rio's momma
 |
~ ~ Rio ~ ~ |
Oh Lisa, I'm sorry. I don't know what to add except.......
YES! Here's to keeping that nasty cancer away! We'll chant it three times!
Away Cancer
Away Cancer
Away Cancer
And then we'll add a nasty cancer away jig:
^*> ^*> <*^ <*^
Sorry, we got winded so we had to stop the jig! We'll stick with the chanting.
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.
Stay tough Zeus!! And yes, not the greatest news, but as you said, not the worst either. Our Max had mets for about 3 months before he started showing any signs of them (besides the x-rays). Zeus can still have a great quality of life! Now we just need to get those WBCs in check!!
we're glad the news wasn't worse, but still - damn cancer!!! hope this little met fellow stays single and small for a long, long time. sending our best ET juju to our buddy zeus!!
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
We are doing the "Cancer Away" chanting and dancing the jig - Hope it keeps any more stupid mints from heading your way and it makes the one go away......
Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. The moment Dr. R told me "we did see one spot" the first question out of my mouth was "one spot? Only one spot, correct?" and the first thought in my head was of Abby. The second thought was "okay, this may be manageable" Of course, it hurts us. But, thanks to those of you on this site, we do have hope. We are realistic. We know that one day this monster will win, but we will not go quietly and hopefully we can still have many happy days, months, or (dare we hope!) years.
Dr. R also seemed encouraged that it was still a single met. Of course, he reviewed all of our options, including the potential of surgery to remove the met. Zeus is our baby and we would do anything to keep him healthy and happy. But Greg and I truly believe that, sometimes doing everything to make them healthy is not necessarily the right thing to keep him happy. Zeus is 11 yrs old and major surgery like that just isn't an option for us. Dr. R agrees. Therefore, we have chosen the chemo/MP route from my earlier post.
I had taken the day off to stay with Zeus during chemo (which didn't happen today due to the low WBC). Without chemo, we were done much earlier than expected and I considered going back to work so I could save the other 1/2 day for later. Instead, we went to McDonald's (Zeus loves their fries more than anything else in the world. I know they are terrible for him, but he still got eight or ten just because...), then we came home. Zeus bounced around the house, through the yard to potty, and when Greg came home and we warmed dinner, Zeus looked up at us with 'that smile' (see avatar pic). He is happy. That makes us happy.
Thanks again for everything!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
With a name like Zeus.....this pup has to be tough!
Kick cancer in the ....bleep....
'
Sorry Zeus about your lung mint. I don't like lung mits, mints, mites, mots....none of them!
But that doesn't change the fact you are goofy ugly!...........................Bwahahhahahahahahhahahhahhaha-snort-hahhahahahahha!!
Lisa,
So glad that Zeus is happy!! How encouraging! I don't like hearing about those nasty mets and *%# cancer. Lucy and I hope Zeus stays strong and you have many more happy times together!
Mary and Lucy
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
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