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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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29 July 2016 - 5:23 pm
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Yay Milo! Congrats on getting through the hard part and joining the club. You are gonna do great with a great start like you've gotten! Those folks at Tufts are fantastic. And to be in a clinical trial with free chemo too? Wow! Very cool.

Jennifer I'm nosy, what kind of scientist are you?

Have you heard our podcasts and articles about comparative oncology and clinical trials? I think you'll find them interesting:

Can Your Tripawd Cure Cancer?

Learn How Pet Cancer Clinical Trials Seek Cancer Clues and Cures

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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29 July 2016 - 8:38 pm
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Yeah for Milo!  How cool that he'll be in a clinical trial!  It's always great to be able to save some money and maybe help someone at the same time smiley

Meanwhile, try to breathe until he can come home.

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

Donna.png

Member Since:
29 July 2016
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1 August 2016 - 8:53 pm
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Great news that Milo is doing well.

I had not heard of clinical trials or possable med coverage, although this has all happened so fast I likley wouldn't have gone for it if it ment prolonging the surgery date. We believe we have caught this cancer in time.

We hope Milo's recovery continues to go well.

Member Since:
15 July 2016
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1 August 2016 - 9:33 pm
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Here's some info on the  trial.  https://ccrod.c.....+Trials.  I found it through Google, plus the vet tech at my local vet suggested I do a search because her dog had been in a trial a few years earlier.

This one is a big one funded through the Morris Animal Foundation and has ~18 hospitals and clinics participating nationwide.  While 18 sounds like a big number, it's not a very big number when you realize how few people have easy access to these 18 clinics.  We happen to be lucky and are about a 40 minute ride from Tufts University Veterinary School. 

Osteosarcoma in dogs is very similar in structure and growth to pediatric osteosarcoma, so much of the money is because the research informs pediatric oncology.  What they learn from Milo and other dogs may help kids some day.  Many of you may have heard about limb sparing surgery for dogs with osteosarcoma.  It doesn't have a high success rate, partially because dogs can't be kept still and there are frequent infections and re-injuries.  But what doctors learned about limb sparing in dogs has been very successful in kids. 

This study is to research the effect of Rapamycin as a follow-on to chemo.  Half the dogs get just Carboplatin.  Half get Carboplatin plus 4 months of Rapamycin after the chemo is done.  Milo is NOT on the Rapamycin path.  He just gets Carboplatin.  Rapamycin is used primarily to stop organ rejection.  It sounds bass-ackwards to me but in small doses it seems to kill cancer cells.  Phase 1 was completed last year to determine doses that don't cause bad side effects and still have some positive effects.  This is phase 2 where all dogs get the same doses -- if they get it at all.

This study started in December.  Milo makes only the third dog to qualify for the study at Tufts, but many, many more have tried.  Dog 1 qualified, but it turned out the tumor was fibresarcoma, not osteosarcoma, so he got the boot.  The second dog quit after one round of chemo.  I'm hoping Milo will be the first to make it through Tufts.  Some have made it through at other hospitals, but it appears they have very strict requirements -- which isn't a surprise since it is for research.  The goal is to fund 160 dogs nationwide through this study.  Because it is such a big study, they have pretty strict rules coming in because they want the majority of dogs to live long enough to complete the study -- clean lungs and liver and spleen within 10 days of amputation, plus strict bloodwork.

I lost a friend to breast cancer a year ago.  She was at Stage 4 when diagnosed 7 years earlier and not expected to make it the year.  She was a miracle patient.  She partook in clinical trials and was proud to be able to contribute to science and the future.  I told Kathy's husband that Milo was following in Kathy's footsteps and was proud to be a data point.

Yes -- we are very lucky to live near a research hospital, and very, very lucky to get in.  The oncologist calls me regularly checking on her patient.  We are being spoiled.  I know my family and I don't receive this level of care from our doctors! 

As to what type of scientist I am -- I'm an engineer.  I'm not a scientist, but I am the stereotypical engineer who researches the heck out of everything and puts it in spreadsheets and such.  If a doctor mentions ALT has a half life of 52 hours, you better believe I have an equation for it in no time.  That said, I went to The Ohio State University because I wanted to be a vet and they have a fantastic program.  I spent my first year as a biology major before becoming one of the only people to switch INTO engineering.  As luck would have it, the Tufts oncologist taking care of Milo graduated from The Ohio State University vet school -- and we were both doing our graduate work at the same time there in the late 80s.  It's a small world. 

Peace,

Jenifer & Milo and the support team

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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1 August 2016 - 10:43 pm
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Jennifer and adorable Milo!

Thanks for taking the time to share this very Informative insight into the world of cinical trials! I know Tripawds supports the Morris Foundation, so it's interesting that they are helping Milo!

And the fact that you and the Oncologist were at Tufts at the same time is a good omen!! Yep, sure is!

Your friend Kathy is quite an inspiration! I know you were a good friend to her and now she's watching over you and Milo as your protector.

((((((((((((((((((((((((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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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2 August 2016 - 10:46 am
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Jenifer and Milo you are pawesome! I love that you're an engineer. Yay for more women in science & engineering! And wow, you're both doing so much to help people and pets, and honoring the life of your friend Kathy. There is so much misunderstanding within the general public when it comes to clinical trials. The more people who can explain the benefits of being in one, the better.

Your link was broken but I'm assuming it's this study:

https://ccrod.c.....pen+Trials

Clearly, Milo's destiny during this cancer journey is to make a very big impact. I love the fact that he's being cared for by someone you went to school with!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
19 July 2016
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2 August 2016 - 3:18 pm
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One thing to consider if you are interested in a clinical trial is that in most cases you CANNOT have already started any sort of treatment, including amputation.  We tried to get Chewie into the same clinical trial with Carboplatin followed by Rapamycin at Ohio State University (2 1/2 hours away from me but we were willing to drive).  Unfortunately because we had already amputated his leg 2 weeks ago we had already "started" treatment and in order for dogs to be in the clinical trial they all must have the exact same treatment conducted by the facility (the Rapamycin can be the only variable).  Therefore he was excluded.

So if you are seriously considering a clinical trial, you must also judge how quickly you want to take action versus how quickly you can get into the clinical trial.  We did not think leg amputation would have knocked him out as we didn't think that was starting treatment, but working in the human medical world I should have realized that.

It was a bit of a blow to me, but my primary care vet recommended a veterinary oncologist who appears to also combine immunotherapy with chemotherapy protocols.  Obviously each dog is different but at least it was something that is considered.  Some of the places I looked at just did the chemotherapy....in general those were ones that did not have a veterinary oncologist on staff. 

Just trying to give my little 1 yr old guy a few more good years that he deserves.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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2 August 2016 - 4:37 pm
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Thanks for sharing some more insight with us about clinical trials.

HOW IS CHEWIE DOING??? Cheeri v for thst sweet puppy...And he is, indeed, a sweet PUPPY!

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!

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15 July 2016
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2 August 2016 - 8:03 pm
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While we are happy to be part of the clinical trial, there are definitely downsides and considerations.

We wanted his leg off ASAP, because of the pain and knowing that the longer it was on, the higher the risk of metastasis.  Waiting to get into the clinical trial meant an extra week to two weeks which seemed like forever!  In our case, we decided a week wasn't a bad wait, but then his liver enzymes kicked him out of the trial, so we felt like we waited a week for nothing.  Then his enzymes got in line, so we could be in the study, but we had to wait yet another two more days!  

The other downside is no supplements, so no Artemissin or Chinese herbs. We can home cook and do vitamins and k9 immunity, but not lots of other things.  Milo is an experimental control and we are expected to respect that.

One of the advantages is he is a trial dog.  He is royalty.  For example, Tufts doesn't do chemo on Fridays, but they will for trial dogs.  (My day off work is Friday, so that helps us.)  The lead oncology researcher calls me at home every few nights to discuss Milo.

Financially, it helps, but as all of us dog owners who even consider amputation and this path, financials aren't our drivers.  I am sure my family isn't the only one who thinks we are crazy and are asking when are we going to cut our losses.  The study gives $1000 towards amputation.  At Tufts, his amputation and 2 nights at the hospital cost ~$2300.  We saved $1000 but had to pay for lung x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound and cytology upfront, which ran close to that $1000.  If we hadn't qualified, we would have paid an extra $1000 into upfront testing and got nothing but insight.  Because we qualified, we now get free chemo and supporting tests like regular blood work and x-rays.

So yes.... clinical trials are a mix of pros and cons and tricky timing.

Jenifer & Milo and our support team

P.S.  I'm an Ohio Girl at heart, grew up in Greenville, family in Cincy, attended Ohio State, and first husband from Stow.  Ties all over the state.  Milo and I send best wishes to Midwesterner Chewie and you.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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2 August 2016 - 8:53 pm
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More good insight into the ins and outs of clinical trials. Thanks Jen

And yes, Milo IS Royalty to us 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!

Member Since:
19 July 2016
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9 August 2016 - 3:45 pm
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Unfortunately things are very bad for Chewie.  We just found out that (2 weeks after amputation) the cancer spread to almost every organ in his abdomen and that chemo is pointless now. I suspect the tumors were in his abdomen before he started limping but the x-ray didn't show any spread to his lungs.  However, today when we went to the oncologist in Akron to discuss chemo (we didn't know things had spread at this point) he picked up on some things that gave him concerns and that is why he did the ultrasound which showed things were very bad. He estimates that he has about a week of pain free time.  

Things have gone so quickly and we are devastated.  

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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9 August 2016 - 8:16 pm
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OHhhh no! I"m really sorry, this is a heartbreaker. I see your other post, I'm going to go read it OK? {{{{hugs}}}}}

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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