Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi All,Â
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Mogli (8 yo belgian malinois, GSD mix) had his front-leg amputation 2/2 Osteosarcoma back at the end of March. Since then, he is doing great! We had him in rehab but he graduated because he was doing "better than most 4-legged dogs" the rehab specialist had seen. He is not able to walk/hike/run as far as he used to, but we let him set the pace/distance. We did 4 rounds of chemo and he tolerated it okay, but by the 4th round they were struggling to get an vein and he had a lot of built up scar tissue from where they were administering the chemo. We were sent away at first and told to come back in a few days for his fourth treatment to give the veins some time to heal. Luckily, when we came back, we had a wonderful tech who was able to get it done. Upon recheck there were no nodules in the lungs and everything looked good on scans/bloodwork. We were told to come back in 6 weeks for another check up, but were also told that the nodules would form in his lungs and once that occurs, there is not much to do but wait til they progress to the point where its hard for him to breathe (I may be oversimplifying what they said).Â
So herein lies my question, what is the point in going back for more check ups? He HATES the vet and is so anxious and upset every time we go, even routine shots now are tough. He is not going to sit still for chest x-rays, so it is going to cost upwards of $500 to get them and he will have to be put under, which has its own risks. If there is nothing they can really do to help prolong his life at this point, why do we need to go in every 6 weeks for a check up? I would rather just let him enjoy whatever life he has left and all of us can be blissfully unaware of how long that may be. But maybe I am missing something? Wondering if anyone else experienced this once chemo was done and/or if there was any benefit to continued check ups/x-rays. I will gladly drop the money on him if there is a benefit, but I am just seeing more negatives than positives at this time.Â
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Thank you in advance!
So good to hear how well Mogil is doing!! He really is a strong Tripawd Warrior RockStar!
Glad he got the four rounds of Carbo handled and done. Kudos to the Vet Tech for mastering the injection!.
What I'm about to post is all in the FWIW and IMO column based on my experience with Hapoy Hannah. So take it for what it's worth, okay?
After my Happy Hannah's fourth chemo I was told to bring her in after three months (not six weeks) for xrays. I did not do that. And. Happy Hannah didn't even mind going to the Vet or carrides. But I DEFINITELY wouldn't have continued to go back if she hated all of it anyway.
For me, and this was just me, it made no difference what x-rays may or may not have shown that early on. I had already sort of drawn My Line in the Sand as far as at what point I would stop trying additional treatments, etc. For me, it was after four rounds of chemo.
Want to be clear on something, and again just my thoughts. There are no guarantees one way or another that a dog will definitely get mets. I know "statistics and studies " say mostly the opposite, but I've been on here long enough to know aome dogs blow statistics out of the water!! Just want to throw that out there.
When Happy Hannah was donr with chemo, that's when I decided we were going to get on with life with no more Vet visits, no more poking and prodding, etc. Although I think there are more "breakthroughs " when it comes to treating mets now versus back then, while hopeful, most are very expensive and require lots of Bet visits, treatments, etc. It's simply a personal choice if pursuing some of these newer options.....no right or wrong.
Guess I'm trying to say, unless you wanted to try some of these newer and more experimental options, should Mets ever form, there are certainly non-invasive things that can be done for comfort and continued quality. I can't remember the exact time frame,
But it was only when my Happy Hannah started tiring so easily and had some changing in her breathing pattern off and on that I took her in to my regular vet for an x-ray . And by the way, my regular vet who has known me for a gazillion years and has known all of my dogs and my devotion to them, was completely on board with me stopping the x-rays after the chemo and only doing if symptoms showed up.Â
At that point I was able to continue to extend her quality time with some prednisone, low dose pain med and lots of spoiling and loving and tummy rubs and ice cream.
Anyway, didn't mean to be rambling and redundant, was just trying to share my experience in my thought process for any decisions that I made. Everyone makes decisions based on what they think is best. You will do the same based on what you think is best for Mogli
Again, really happy he is doing so well. You are such an excellent hooman for him. You know him best like no others can.
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!
Thanks for this discussion. I have been grappling with the same thing. Our regular vet said "why monitor" while the oncologist strongly prefers to. I agree with Sally -- it comes down to how that info would be used. Â My elmer has had 3 kinds of cancer, 2 with high metastatic potential. And after the most recent (parosteal osteosarcoma -- had STS and Adenocarcinoma before) treated with forelimb amputation and 4 rounds of Chemo, while he always tolerated things in the past, he's become somewhat anxious. So I think I am, for us, leaning toward not monitoring so frequently, but keeping a close eye and doing the basics. My regular vet recommended I count his resting breath and get familiar so I can keep tabs if that starts to change, which could be a sign of spread.... Anyway, it is all very hard stuff to think about but trust your gut. And give Mogli a hug from Elmer and me!
Emily
Thank you for these posts. Everyone's situation is different, but your thoughts seem to fit ours. We're early days yet, but I'm thinking along the same lines for Nicholas, and so is my vet, who has known him since he was a puppy. Nick is so proud of his new accomplishments, I don't want him to spend the end of his days in pain or sedation. Good idea about the breathing monitoring.Â
Thank you so much for the responses everyone! I am so glad to hear that I am not alone/crazy in not wanting to continue the consistent x-rays/follow ups. Though, as much as I have tried to keep him away from the vet, he seems to be finding reasons to make me take him! haha We had a bought of hot spots after going to the lake last month and on the fourth he ended up getting rhabdo (from a 1 mile walk in the woods- even the vet seem surprised by it). We are still learning his limitations and they seem to be affected by so many different factors. ((sigh))
Thanks again for the responses and support! Mogli appreciates y'all keeping his Mom sane! 🙂
Geez, you sure didnt need any more hiccups, especially on the 4th! Okay Mogli, quit maling your Mom take you to the Vet.  She's trying  to free you up from all that poking and prodding so you can be Vet free!
Learning something new every day here. I had to look up. rhabdo.  So "basically" can flare up from over exertion?? In part, fluids, electrolytes the solution? So is he all better now and jow long dis "recovery" take? Â
Tha ks for the up sate and gping for smooth sailing now. Â
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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