Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone,
Tess, my 10yo Rottweiler has almost reached 20 weeks post amputation from osteosarcoma in the top of her left front leg. She has completed 5 rounds of carboplatin spaced 3-4 weeks apart. So far so good. Since the amputation she gets tired a lot and doesn't walk around much, she prefers to lay down. She has had some nausea and lethargy from treatment, but she is generally in happy spirits most of the time. Four weeks after chemo she starts to show more enjoyment and energy, but of course until this last dose she has had a follow on treatment. In two weeks we go back to the oncologist for chest scans. At the moment I have no idea if she has any lesions anywhere, she didn't have any visible ones when she had her leg amputated.
The last couple of times she had chemotherapy I felt quite sad for her, watching the nausea and lowered activity level worries me and I wondered if I should be causing all this sickness on her. I know when we go back to the oncologist, metronomic therapy medications will be suggested if her scans don't show anything.
I want to do everything I can for Tess, to keep her with us for as long as possible, but I don't know if I can put her through any more treatment and watch the effects. It has already been stressful and sad and costly both in time spent being affected by drugs and also in money.
Can anyone tell me what they think of metronomic therapy, especially after chemo has already happened? Side effects? Impact on life span? Cost? What testing did you have?
Thanks for reading,
Lisa.
Hi Lisa and Tess,
It's awesome that Tess is knocking down those chemo sessions with relatively few side effects! So it sounds like she's done with chemo or one more session?
Try not to feel badly, this is a temporary situation that can give her a good shot at a longer, great life with you. As for metronomic chemotherapy (click on the link to see what our experience was, we documented it there), most dogs do not have side effects but some do experience urinary tract infections which can cause treatable issues.
Like any treatments, there's always a risk and no guarantees so what it comes down to is, what treatments can you live with in the end? Will you be OK with not doing metronomics ? Or will you only be satisfied when you've tried everything? And how will it affect your finances?....that also plays into it and if you're worried about money, that's not going to help her quality of life. Because when it comes down to it, Tess doesn't care, she just wants to be with you and be happy. It's hard to make these decisions on their behalf, I know.
Also, when you say she doesn't walk much, I'm curious what her physical shape is like? Is she overweight at all? Of course she won't be doing marathons or anything like that, but if you see she is struggling to get around and you suspect her mobility is being impaired by extra pounds, then it's time to help her drop some weight. Any extra pounds on a Tripawd is very detrimental and exhausting for them when trying to get around (one pound of extra weight on a dog is like 5 pounds on a human). Have you tried any core-strengthening exercises? Our book, Loving Life On Three Legs , is full of tips on how to get a Tripawd fit. Also, our Tripawds Foundation Rehab Reimbursement Program is something to consider too.
I hope this helps!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Lisa,
I'm sorry I don't have any information to give you about metronomic therapy, but I understand where you're coming from. Our Ellie had mild side-effects from carbo (an energy dip and low appetite about 3 days post treatment). When we first did the amp, we were sure we would not do chemo. Then we decided to try chemo, knowing we could stop. And then she mostly did fine on chemo but each and every time we questioned ourselves---not so much because of side-effects but because she did not like car rides and wasn't really happy about being at the vet. So we knew we were stressing her out each time. We wanted to do everything possible, but we also thought a lot about her quality of life.
For us, we got used to how Ellie felt after each chemo and we knew what to expect. We just didn't want to start something new, with the possibility that there would be "new" side-effects etc. Of course we could have stopped if there were, but in the end we felt we had done enough--and put Ellie through enough. We felt good when we put the chemo behind us.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Thanks for your replies Jerry and Denise.
The oncologist said Tess needed five sessions of chemo, so that is now finished.
Tess does run around some of the time but only in fits of hypo, like this morning she ran up and down the passage way when she worked out that my son wasn't going to work (being Saturday). She is not overweight, she is a very small Rotty at 29.5kg. Her body looks well shaped, you can feel and see her spine easily and she does not put on weight, she has maintained that weight since amputation. Her diet is grain free soft tinned food and grain free dry food.
Maybe she has become less able/interested in walking due to always being inside, and we don't have a big house. I think the chemo has knocked her around both physically and mentally. She may be sensitive emotionally as she had quite long depression before when we lost our other dog (a Jack Russell that was like a mother to her). She likes to sleep/rest a lot in the comfort of our lounge room, and be close to us, so maybe that's just her personality right now? The only time I really pushed her to walk she struggled A LOT due to being weak from chemo and if I could have carried her home I would have.
Lisa
Hi Lisa, welcome to the family......we have and are still doing metronomic therapy with Nitro, my 10 yr old Doberman. He started this past January with cytoxan, which he took daily until about October when he started showing signs of cystitis. We caught it early, but now he can never take this drug again. We've recently started leukeran, the other common metronomic drug. He had his first blood test today to see how how white blood cell count is doing - which was good. He's had no side effects other than the cystitis. The cost for an 80# dobe is about $50-$60 a month. I'm undecided how long I will keep him on it; he is 17 months post amp and doing great. Just taking it one day at a time for now. Good luck going forward, we're all here for you.
paula and nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Thanks for replying Paula.
I think Nitro is my inspiration. You have such a good story Paula, 17 months plus would be awesome. You don't find that the drugs he has been on make him fatigued or nauseous?
Lisa
Hi Lisa, I have to say, Nitro has no side effects (so far) on this new drug...although it's only been 2 weeks, I don't really anticipate any. He's not nauseous or fatigued in the least. Along with the chemo drug, he's also on an anti inflammatory - piroxicam. Maybe this helps him feel like a pup again, cuz he sure can play and frolic like is young. Our 17 month journey isn't without its downside, for sure; but he's happy and full of life right now, for which I give thanks every day. Our blog is entitled "Doberman's journey" if you want to check out his story. Keep us posted.
Paula and nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
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