Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Bella has osteosarcoma diagnosed back in July. We amputated her leg and she has done really well. She had 4 rounds of carboplatin. She then had a chest xray and showed she was devoloping cancer growth in her lungs. They changed treatment to adriamycin. 4 weeks ago and she did great. Not sick eating and active the whole time. Well a week ago she went for her second treatment. Came back great and then downhill. She had a fever and would not eat. The vet put her on antibiotics and took more blood. Blood came back fine but now it has been a week and she will not even eat chicken anymore. She is very weak and can barely stand anymore. The vet wants to repeat the chest xray which is fine but how can the cancer literally overnight destroy her like this? What else could be causing this?
Any and all Thoughts?
Geez...sorry to hear sweet Bella is feeling rotten.
Clearly I'm no vet, but somehow this seems to be tied into the second treatment AND the infection, more so than mets. An infection and fever can make a dog feel awful...lethargic, no appetite, etc.
In my Happy Hannah's case, and every dog and ever scenario is different, we got additional great quality time even after mets were discovered. She kept her appetite and just seemed to tire more easily as rime went on, but this was over many months. So in her case, no, there was no "instant" onset of overt symptoms.
Does she have a fever now? Did her blopdwork show a low white blood count (which would also possibly indicate an j fectio ). Did the vet do a culture to see what was the actual cause of infection to eliminate anything like MRSA ?
Also, if the .ets are causing any compro in quality, perhaps prednisone and a @pw dose tramadol could help in her coverall comfort. I know they helped Happy Hannah
I've probably given you more questions than answers. I just wouldn't discount this being more treatment and/or infection related.
Stay connected. Perhaps others will chi.e in with more insight. In tne meantime, try anything stinky like liverwurst...or .aybe some baby food or pudding...even ice cream..whatever works!
Sending healing energy to sweet Bella! Cheering for you!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
Just one more thought about the doxorubicin (sp), the side effects can definitely cause gasto upset. Ask your vet about maybe something to coat Bella's tummy. Hoping if it is side effects fr o m the treatment, you'll see her bounce back soon. Is there any swelling around the iv site?
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!
I'm so sorry to hear this, what a tough road you and Bella are on right now. So my thoughts are this:
Doxorubicin has some big side effects, so hopefully that's all this is and she will start feeling better soon. Here's a post we wrote about it:
Cisplatin and Doxorubicin Side Effects in Dogs
What are they giving her in the meantime as far as helping to perk up her appetite? Any anti-nausea medications? Sounds like she needs some. Is she giving you signals of nausea, like licking her lips, drooling? Or just not eating? Are you helping to perk up her appetite with any special tasty foods? Here are some ideas:
http://nutritio.....s=appetite
As far as the mets, did they say how big they are and how many? It's entirely possible that a dog can go on for much longer than the prognosis even with mets. Of course it's also possible they may not, because cancer can be mean and unpredictable. Yes, it can happen fast but don't go there yet, hopefully this is just related to her appetite being decreased because of the doxorubicin side effects. Work on getting her appetite back up and then take it from there.
Breathe, take one step at a time and know that Bella is still here with you and wants her pack to be happy. Make every moment count and you won't have any regrets no matter where the road takes you.
When is her next appointment? Let us know when she goes OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Looking for an update on your sweet Bella. I hope (and pray) she's doing better.
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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