Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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This is a super helpful thread, I hope more folks give their experiences with Palladia, it's been a while. Thank you!
And thank you for the reminder about chlorambucil on an empty stomach.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi. After reading the post from Razbeg's mom, I checked with my oncologist about how to administer Chlorambucil as I was not given specific directions when the prescription was filled. Dr. Camps said: In people, it may be better to give chlorambucil on an empty stomach but it can also exacerbate nausea. In dogs I usually recommend it to give it with food and it doesn't seem to alter its efficacy. However, if you want to maximize absorption, you could give it on an empty stomach and if Griffin gets nauseated, you can switch to giving it with food. We recommend that you use gloves and make sure you follow the instructions regarding keeping the drug refrigerated.
Griffin started Chlorambucil yesterday, and I administered it in the morning with food both days. I will switch to administering it on an empty stomach (likely at night before bed) starting tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed that he does not experience any nausea. Thanks to all for the good information!
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Excellent, thank you for asking, Stacy! Makes total sense. Paws crossed your amazing boy handles it without issue on an empty stomach.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Makes perfect sense that in dogs chlorambucil can also be given with food to prevent nausea & because with many dogs it is easier to give pills with food.
I'm a bit neurotic maybe, but I do worry about the efficacy suffering if I don't give it to an empty stomach. But actually I didn't get any specific directions about how to administer chlorambucil either when we switched to it, I just read the package leaflet & looked for information on Internet.
Luckily Razbeg hasn't suffered from nausea or had any other side effects, so I can keep giving it to him before meal as I have done.
Razbeg the rescue borzoi (born in 11.06.2009) became a tripawd in 20.09.2018.
He and his adopted "brother" Myrsky have their own facebook page:Razbeg & Myrsky
I did not know about "empty stomach" administration either and I did not subscribe to my own question so I did not see some of the posts until now.
The vet did not tell us anything other than to alternate between the two drugs. Zeus is starting to refuse food and it is a game of wits to get him to eat and since he is on two drugs it is hard to tell which one is causing his nausea, or it could be both, or it could be something else. This is such a stressful journey. I feel like I am experimenting on him and I feel guilty every time he does not feel well. For the most part he sleeps and is not very active when we go out for walks.
I don't know anymore...
We have a follow up appointment on Monday and we will decide then how to move forward.
So sorry to hear Zeus has suffered from nausea, and that he hasn't been very active lately. Sometimes these medicines can also cause tiredness, I've heard, so hopefully your vet can help you with this and adjust the medication if necessary.
I thought I could tell how I give Razbeg his pills, if it's of any help. I gently put the pills in the back of his mouth, lightly hold his muzzle and then spray just a little bit of water with a syringe so that he must swallow. Then instantly I give him some cheese as a reward. It probably sounds unpleasant, but when done gently and quickly it really isn't. I used to have real problems with giving pills to Razbeg and this has been by far the easiest technique, and Razbeg doesn't mind at all!
Best wishes again!
Razbeg the rescue borzoi (born in 11.06.2009) became a tripawd in 20.09.2018.
He and his adopted "brother" Myrsky have their own facebook page:Razbeg & Myrsky
((((hugs))))
Try not to look at the situation as failing or experimenting, or blaming yourself in any way. This is a learn-as-we-go situation and Zeus would never ever hold anything against you when he feels badly. That is the magic of animals, they teach us about forgiving others and also ourselves.
The way Razbeg gets pills is spot-on and does the job. I think we as pet parents try to do things as pleasantly and easily as possible and that's always the goal, but sometimes we have to practice tough love and it's hard as heck. But it can get the job done and help our furkids feel better.
Be sure to check out the appetite tips link I shared earlier OK? There are many ideas in there that can hopefully help. Keep us posted OK? We are thinking of you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry to hear that Zeus is struggling with his appetite. Palladia was the only chemo drug (out of 5 total) that caused Griffin to lose his appetite. He started taking Chlorambucil a week ago. I tried administering it at night so his stomach would be empty, but after 2 middle of the night vomiting episodes, I've started giving it to him in the early afternoon, 3 hours after his breakfast and at least 1 hour before his lunch (he eats 3 small meals a day to help with acid reflux). That time slot seems to be working and his appetite has remained strong since he began taking Chlorambucil. I'm sending you and Zeus big hugs and lots of love! 
Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Zeus continues to do poorly on Palladia. So many symptoms. Aside from refusing food (cerenia did not help with that), and being super lethargic, he now cannot yawn fully - he starts to open his mouth but he can't. He has trouble shaking his head too. He has some thick discharge from his genitals (sorry). He is shedding like crazy. And all of this developed slowly over the last two weeks. We had a follow up today and his oncologist said that most of the symptoms could be/are most likely related to Palladia. She reduced the dose from 65mg to 50mg every other day. However, after his dose this afternoon he developed tremors on his inhale breaths so we are going back tomorrow morning for xrays ahead of schedule. I am hoping that the tremors are related to Palladia and not the growing nodules. When these nodules were discovered two weeks ago he had 4 visible ones, largest being about 1.7cm. So the oncologist was doubtful that they would cause him breathing difficulties this early in the journey considering they are small but we need to confirm before determining what exactly has caused these tremors. If it is Palladia, then we are done with it! I would rather have him happy, crazy, energetic Zeus for however long he decides to stay here and relatively on his terms. And as many have said here before - there is really no expiration date on our pups and kittens that are going through this. I just hate that the statistics are constantly thrown at us where in a lot of cases they don't make sense and do not add up!
I wish he was in that 50% range where dogs have no side effect from taking Palladia as it seems to do a very good job in controlling the disease but Zeus had a very bad reaction to Gabapentin too and we had to stop that after two days of being on it..... He is just anti-drugs it seems
Drats, I'm just so sorry the Palladia is giving him such a hard time. Poor guy, I know you must be so worried. Tomorrow you should have some answers for your just-say-no-to-drugs kiddo. And never apologize for any thing like sharing a grody side effect, it's reality and it's good to share so that anyone else going through it with their pup doesn't fee alone.
Regarding the Palladia, see if your onco vet thinks that Odansetron could work. It's pretty powerful for settling a nauseated belly.
Keep us posted, know that your happy crazy boy is still there, and remember we are sending you guys the full force of Tripawds Pawsitivity!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm sorry that Zeus is struggling so much with Palladia. It sounds like you have been on top of things, so hopefully the vet will have more answers for you tomorrow. After we discontinued Palladia with Griffin for severe inappetence issues, we tried Cyclophosphamide and now he is taking Chlorambucil. I vowed that I would immediately discontinue each of the subsequent metronomic chemo drugs if he experienced any side effects because he struggled so much with Palladia and because like you, I wanted him above all to enjoy the time he has living life to the fullest. Good luck at the vet tomorrow and reach out if you need anything! Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Jist want to join in on a group hug and sending pawsitive thoughts for your sweet Zeus.
Hoping he's starting to feel better as the Palladia starts to get out of his system.
Yeah, quantity without quality isn't what our dogs want. You've got a good handle on things and doing a good job of looking after your Zeus.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((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!
We had our appointment and xrays look good, well, good under the circumstances. All but one of the nodules have reduced in size. The one that remained the same is a lot denser, which is not the greatest news but I am taking it as a package and as great news regardless. Blood work is all good so the only explanation is that Palladia is possibly messing him up. But the oncologist has never seen these breathing tremors from it before and is still perplexed by them as none of the tests would indicate that he should have any breathing issues at this point. It could also be neurological in nature from chemo in general. So....we don't know what is going on. He is generally still "off" but has not been withdrawn - he stays close to me as he usually does, and that too I take as great news. He is able to go out for short walks, peeing and smelling other pee, perks up on car rides but has been refusing food. At the clinic they gave him antibiotics (because he was at the very high end of normal temperature and the oncologist was worried that he could have an infection brewing) and cerenia via IV and also some fluids. The tremors now come and go with longer periods in between them - so that's a good sign. We are going to decide tomorrow how to proceed and it will be based on how he does overnight. It is such a challenge as Palladia seems to be working in reducing the nodules in just two weeks but if he is so sick from it then it makes no sense to have him suffer.
I can't thank you guys enough for always being there with such encouragements and love!! We feel it and we are so grateful for all of you!
That is amazing news about the shrinking tumors - hooray! I hope you are able to adjust Zeus's meds to make him comfortable and also keep kicking cancer's a**! Stacy
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Well certainly good news in lot of areas!!
Maybe, just maybe, the fluids, Cerenia and an antibiotic can help him feel better fairly quickly. The. "improvements" could take two or three days to really kick in. So maybe you can put off deciding on going forward with the Palladia or not another couple of days.
Yeah, from an xray perspective it may be that the Palladia is having a positive affect on the tumors....but outwardly moreso a negative one.. Hopefully he'll feel better and you'll get more clarity on how to move forward.
You'll do what's best for Zeus💖
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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