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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Otis is home!!
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Member Since:
31 December 2016
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46
15 January 2017 - 5:09 pm
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Hello,

Yes he is on Gabapentin, Tramadol and Rymadl.  

It has not happened again!  I feel a bit better now. I was mentally exhausted from worrying last night.   

He is getting cabin fever.  He wondered around the house a little today and took some serious long walks around the yard.  It's like we have to limit his activity or he'll just keep on hopping.

I realized he had 3 Tramadol left last night. I called TUFTS and they said I should have been sent home with a prescription for more. I was not.  They faxed the local pharmacy a script for every 6-8 hours instead of 8-12.  Crossing my fingers for no more cries of pain!

Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X.  Started limping on 12/24/16.  Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17.  Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17.   2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017.  4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17.  Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight.  Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.

Sunny California
Member Since:
23 February 2010
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15 January 2017 - 5:29 pm
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Yay Otis!  Glad to hear he is feeling good enough to have cabin fever! 

~Kat and Astro

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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15 January 2017 - 5:50 pm
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Oh good! I know you have to feel some relief!!

Glad you're getting some more Tramadol. It's too early for him to not have some meds.

Take it easy sweet boy. And quite scaring your humans!

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!

London, UK


Member Since:
15 December 2015
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16 January 2017 - 12:27 am
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This is great news. So pleased he's feeling better. Otis is SUCH a trooper. Hope you are getting some rest as well. 

Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx

Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.

Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...

The Amazing Adventures of Ruby Tuesday 

My Life as a Megastar



Member Since:
21 May 2016
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17 January 2017 - 10:50 am
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Otis is such an incredible boy, strong and determined, he knows he just has to be patient for a little while longer and then life will be the same as before ...

Hard for us pawrents to deal with any sign of distress from our babies but it is all part of recovery.

This was major surgery, after all ...

Sending you both tons of hugs, kisses and cuddles heartheart

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

Member Since:
31 December 2016
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19 January 2017 - 9:41 am
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Sitting at TUFTS waiting for blood work to see if we can start chemo.  

Otis wore his ruffwear harness for the first time last night. 

He just had his stitches out. Tomorrow is his two week ampuversary! 

I'm hoping chemo goes well.  I'd feel terrible if I made a decision that made his quality of life suffer.  

He still sleeps A LOT but when he gets outside he just wants to keep on hopping and not go back in. I try not to let him do too much as I don't want to have him get too tired way out in the backyard.  Can't carry him!

Going to ask how much longer for pain meds.

Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X.  Started limping on 12/24/16.  Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17.  Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17.   2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017.  4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17.  Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight.  Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.

Sunny California
Member Since:
23 February 2010
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19 January 2017 - 10:01 am
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Woo HOO OTIS!  Two week ampuversary!  Glad he sailed through! Keep us posted on his progress! Hopefully he can start chemo and sail right through that, as well! Keep on hopping, Otis! Much love from Cali!

Cheers,

Kat and Astro

Member Since:
31 December 2016
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19 January 2017 - 11:16 am
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Blood work looks great, starting chemo today.

Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X.  Started limping on 12/24/16.  Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17.  Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17.   2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017.  4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17.  Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight.  Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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54
19 January 2017 - 11:25 am
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That's great news! Otis is moving forward just fine!

He may, or may not, have some minor side effects like nausea, but your Onco will give you Cerenia if needed.

I didn't start Happy Hannah's chemo until three weeks as I just felt like she was having a slower recovery than some here. I actually think that was a turning point and she started feeling better after her treatment!!!

Let us know how he's doing . Extra treats today!

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!

Sunny California
Member Since:
23 February 2010
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19 January 2017 - 11:31 am
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Be Strong, Otis! You've got this!  Hope everything goes smoothly and you get LOTS of treats for being such a trooper!  We will be thinking about you guys all day!

Member Since:
31 December 2016
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19 January 2017 - 9:30 pm
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The vet gave him an injection of anti nausea meds and sent us home with a bunch of Cerenia to take every 24 hrs. Also sent home meds in case his stool gets soft.  

We spent 9 hours in the car and at TUFTS.  What a long day.  Otis seems incredibly tired tonight however.   I thought that would come days later after chemo. I need to do more research on chemo and helping his immune system.

Tapering him off pain meds so he isn't so out of it all the time.  Vet said just start stopping one med at a time but I feel that may not be a good idea so I'm cutting each dose of each med in half for now to see what happens.

Here he is on our way home from TUFTS today.

Image Enlarger

Thanks to everyone for everything!

Otis - 121 lbs pre amp - 114 lbs post amp and now 118 lb Great Dane - English Mastiff X.  Started limping on 12/24/16.  Diagnosed with Osteosarcoma 12/28/16 - amputation of front left leg on 1/6/17.  Stitches out and 1st round of Chemo on 1/19/17.   2nd round of Carboplatin on 2/10/17 - 3rd round on 3/2/2017.  4th round was scheduled for 3/22/17 - however due to low WBC postponed - 4th Chemo completed on 3/28/17.  Had breathing difficulties, stayed in Tufts ICU overnight.  Due for 2 more rounds of Chemo but we are opting to go with homeopathy with Dr. Loops instead.

Sunny California
Member Since:
23 February 2010
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19 January 2017 - 9:53 pm
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9 hour day, I'd be tired too! Poor guy is such a trooper!  Hope you all get some good rest tonight and Otis transitions off the meds ok.  Hang in there!

Cheers,

Kat and Astro

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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19 January 2017 - 9:54 pm
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Alrighty! One chemo done!!

I think the whole ordeal of the day is what's exhausting Otis more so than the chemo itself. I remember my Happy Hannah had some of her best naps when she got home from the chemo day. And she only had a lottle less than 2 hr roundtrip to contend with.

Sounds like you are prepared shoukd nausea rear its ugly head.

And yeah, I thinknyour plan is a good one as far as reducing the pain meds.

Give that sweet boy a smooch!! Good job Otis!! 🙂 🙂

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!

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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59
20 January 2017 - 1:07 am
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My Otis also slept the day of chemo.  Started in the car ride back, and continued into the next day.  The other potential side effects might show up a couple of days later (if at all, some dogs have none).  I did find it helpfil to switch to boiled chicken breast and white rice day of chemo and for about three days after, gradually adding more kibble each day.

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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20 January 2017 - 7:33 am
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Awww what a face!
Yep strengthening the immune system is so important! Be sure to check the Tripawds Nutrition blog for tips and diet ideas.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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