Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey everyone!
Sorry that I haven't updated in a bit. We got the biopsy results back, and the oncologist is out until after July 5,
so we have been left to decipher them mostly on our own. A good friend of mine is a board certified oral surgeon at an animal hospital nearby, so I sent them to her. She thinks that the oncologist will recommend chemo. The MCT overlapped with the lymph node in his leg, however, the tumor itself is well differentiated. They sent more slides over to be tested, those should come back this week.
Since then, we have been dealing with a few issues. Pup won't drink water. He stopped around the time we started giving him ACE. We are only giving him 1/2 a 25mg tab at night. He has been drinking goat's milk that we cut with a tiny bit of water. Chicken broth and Gatorade have failed.
He also keeps waking up crying and circling. The circling is new. Not sure if it's drug related or what. We will run out of Gabapentin today, but we are calling the vet to see if it's necessary for him to have more. I may also ask if he can get his staples out tomorrow, since it is 10 days today.
Talk to them about the ACE too. My guess is that you need the gaba, but I wonder if the ACE might be causing him not to drink (not a vet, so just my thoughts). My Tess was given some when she was recovering from cruciate repair to prevent "Velcro dog syndrome," and I gave it to her once and never again. It made her so "drunk" that I was more afraid of her hurting herself lurching around than I had been when she was sober. And, if he is still getting up at night like that, it doesn't sound like it is achieving the goal that you set out for.
And why in the world would you be given a pathology report without also having an appropriate consult???? I know that you did not want to wait, but unless you are in the medical field, that seems kind of ridiculous to me. Otis' oncologist goes on maternity leave in August, and she has already spoken to us about timing of his appointments so that she can continue to follow his case and that another oncologist will cover in her absence.
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.
Yeah it seems a little ridiculous to us too. Our surgeon tried to explain it to us, but told us that he is less familiar with that area (of course he is, because he's not an oncologist). I'm certainly not a dumb person, and I've tried to decipher the report using the internet, but I'm not an oncologist either. I think they were trying to be nice by letting us know, and essentially it has worried me more. We called the vet this morning, our surgeon is out this week, but they're going to talk to another surgeon who is on call. We run out of the gabapentin today, so at the very least, we would like to get a refill on that. I just really hate the circling that he keeps doing. It makes me nervous. I think we will also stop the ACE.
You can try tuna water to see if Oliver will go for that, the pugs love it.
I'm not a fan of ace either- but Ollie was having such a time getting comfortable it seemed worth a try.
Are there any numbers in the path report? Grade or mitotic index? We got our path report during a consult with the oncologist, it does seem odd that they would give it to you 'cold'.
I don't know what would be worse- not hearing anything, or getting news you can't decipher!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I am hoping the Ace has done it's job by getting him to sleep that first few times and breaking the cycle of not sleeping. I think you may have gotten him back to a more normal rhythm. I would certainly try discontinuing it. We have done Ace just 2 times - single use only - when we had a no sleep night right at the very beginning of this journey a year ago and then the day after Christmas when we really probably had our first sign that there was something serious going on.
We did do Gabapentin a full month after surgery (plus 2 weeks prior), cutting back slowly in week 3 and 4.
I read elsewhere that you are worrying about being able to take your honeymoon - I really hope you see improvement in the next week that makes you feel more comfortable about it. He is so young and has that going for him here.
Sending good vibes.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
You guys are really having a rough time. I don't have experience with either Ace or gabapentin, but just wanted to offer my support. Hopefully the magic formula is just around the corner.
Thanks everyone! Tomorrow, tomorrow, I can't wait until tomorrow! He is getting his staples off at 1:30PM tomorrow 
3-Pointer Oliver said
Thanks everyone! Tomorrow, tomorrow, I can't wait until tomorrow! He is getting his staples off at 1:30PM tomorrow
That is so great. This does seem to make a difference for some dogs and I REALLY hope it does for Oliver. It seems like it has to help!
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Yeah, hoping the ACE is no longer needed.
My Happy Hannah stayed on some form of Tramadol or Gabapentin into the third week. Can't remember the slecifics, but some dogs definitely need pain meds a bit longer than others.
The "circling"...does it happen as Ollie tries to lay down? I've forgotten, is the "circling" done as Ollie tries to lay down?
Now, don't get discouraged if stitch removal doesn't make a big difference, okay? It does with many dogs, and some it makes no noticeable difference. It just takes a bit more time for some dogs to get the sparkle coming back full force.
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!
Thank you for keeping it real with me, as I would have put all of my eggs in the staple removal basket! We can't tell if he's feeling better yet. He DID NOT like the staple removal. Took 3 people and a muzzle to get them out (but it also takes 3 people to cut his nails, so he's just a nervous nellie). They told us if he's still in this much pain, to come in next Wednesday to see our surgeon (he's off this week). They refilled his rimadyl and the tramadol for now. I've been trying just to use the rimadyl and the gabapentin and a 1/2 tramadol only if needed. ACE is still being used at night, otherwise he doesn't sleep.
The circling is happening when he gets up and is in pain. I'm attaching a video so that you have a better idea of what I'm talking about, but it may make some people uncomfortable or sad, so be advised before you hit play.
Barrett is leaving for his bachelor party on July 7, so I hope that Oliver is able to turn a corner this weekend! I'm a little anxious about having to do it alone, but I also want Barrett to have a good time. I have a few friends in the area to lean on as welll.
Video of Oliver's phantom limb pain. May be graphic for some, so please be advised.
Here's the link: https://youtu.b.....C1qIR6plEA
Oh my, bless both your hearts! I just can't imagine how frustrated you feel not being able to help him. Heck, I feel frustrated for you!
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
Here's another that is just the circling and then you can see his amputated leg movement as well
harmony said
Oh my, bless both your hearts! I just can't imagine how frustrated you feel not being able to help him. Heck, I feel frustrated for you!
Thanks, Pam! We are getting through it... we really hope that the staple removal alleviates some of his discomfort!
Has the surgeon seen that??? I would say 1) he needs more gabapentin or 2) there's an internal stitch that's pinching a nerve! That's not normal. Poor puppy! No wonder you're so stressed. If you're surgeon is out of town, is there another one in the practice that can view the video?
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
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