Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Thanks for your thoughts. I know every situation is different and there aren't right or wrong answers, but insight from others who have been down this path would be appreciated.
-How often did you do lung X rays or scans when things started progressing post chemo treatments and after traditional options were exhausted?
-Did any of you decide to just make your dog comfortable and skip the regular scans and the accompanying worry?
-Is not being able to get comfortable and wanting to lie on a firmer surface instead of a dog bed, couch, etc. indicative of mets progressing? Lexie has always loved soft beds but now she likes the carpeted floor and sometimes even hardwood near doorways, etc. -- maybe because it's cooler?
-Anyone switch to home cooked food after the mets diagnosis, and do you think it helped?
-Anyone use k9 Immunity Plus, plus Apocaps , plus Artemisinin (sp?). Rene, I know you posted a few links to threads re. mets, testing, holistic options and I'll go back and look through those...just curious if anyone else has recent (or las recent) experiences who may want to chime in.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
-How often did you do lung X rays or scans when things started progressing post chemo treatments and after traditional options were exhausted?
We did one set when mets were discovered, a second set to see if metronomics was helping, and a third several months later to confirm our worst fears.
-Did any of you decide to just make your dog comfortable and skip the regular scans and the accompanying worry?
At first that's what we decided. Seventeen months later we opted for an x-ray even though there were no symptoms showing, and the rads confirmed that mets were present. They could have been there all along, we never would have known until symptoms appeared.
-Is not being able to get comfortable and wanting to lie on a firmer surface instead of a dog bed, couch, etc. indicative of mets progressing? Lexie has always loved soft beds but now she likes the carpeted floor and sometimes even hardwood near doorways, etc. -- maybe because it's cooler?
Not being able to get comfy is one sign, but sleeping on harder, cooler surfaces is a good indicator that summer is upon us 
-Anyone switch to home cooked food after the mets diagnosis, and do you think it helped?
Not us.
-Anyone use k9 Immunity Plus, plus Apocaps , plus Artemisinin (sp?). Rene, I know you posted a few links to threads re. mets, testing, holistic options and I'll go back and look through those…just curious if anyone else has recent (or las recent) experiences who may want to chime in.
Be sure to see the latest K9 Immunity testimonials.
You sound worried Deb (who can blame you). What else can we do to ease your concerns?
{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Aww Deb, I know this part of the journey has "bumps in the road"...good days, not as good days, topsy turvey time that's for surez,
You are definitely ight...every dog is different...every situation is different.....and no one knows your dog better than you do.
I can only share my experience. For me, I found I could "Be More Dog " and stay in the "now" a lpt easier by NOT doing xrays. After Happy Hannah's four rounds of chemo completed (last May or June) and after a few challenges getting hjer started on metronomics , I decided NO xrays.
It was time to be free from vet visits and just thoroughly enjoy our time together. My decision wasn't writtenin stone, but I jist didn't see anything positive avout doing xrays at that point. I was pretty set on not pirsuing anything additional western medicine-wise after the short burst of metronomics .
I DID continue Apocaps , K9 Immnity, Salmon FishOil and a few otjer things. I actualy jad the Aterminsin but never ntegrated it into her "protocal"
The only reason I final did an xray (I can't quite remember...Febriary?) was because she was showing symptons. The vet and I talked. IF she did jave mets, it would be advantageous at this point to kow as tjere were some palliative care things we could do.
This is when I putjer on some Prednisone and a bit of Tramadol everh now and then
zI can tellyou,ot was a lot jarder to master staying innthe moment once I "knew". And I worked very jard making sure NOTHING ROBBED US OF OUR TIME TOGETHER! I know I repeat that a lot but, for me, that was the most valuable gift I could give her and she, nor I would have our joy and happiness interrupted!
I did balance my home cooking with some Honest Kitchen and EVO. She LOVED boiled chicken and, of course, her steaks that I cutmup for her. Yeah, I would do some home cooking just to watch how happy makes Lexie if for no other reason! I do think it would benefit her immune system too though.
Deb, I'm jist going to express my opinion ....skip the xrays, they serve NO purpose! If they shrink, tjey shrink...if they don't, they don't.Just tell yourself tjey're GONE and live your life with Lexi as worry free as humanly possible right now!!
And fueling her immjne system with good supplements and herbs and good nutrition is still 'a treatmemt"! No o e knows when their time is up! And Lexi is not spending one second thinking about it either!!
I don't realy think that Lexi changing her sleeping preference is anything tl be concerned about. The "coolness" probablh feels better...maybe it's easier to get up and down on a sturdier "bed"...or maybe it's just a quirk of a "mature" dog!!
You have an incredible partner in Lexi, as does shein you! Talk otover with her...see how she wants to proceed. My guess is she'll tell you, "We don't need no stinkin' xrays!! I'm a seniore Mom! And seniors slow down and jave a few more aces and pains than young oups! Let's just get on with the spoiling ad the loving and lots of cookoes amd cupcakes!"
Ai hope somewjere in all this rambling you find something helpful! Yo will ALWAYS make the right decions for Lexi! Just know that ro be true, okay?
Sendingnyo so mich love and lots of higs!
Sally ad Happy Hannah
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!
So you could tell I was worried, Rene? I'm not as poker-faced as I thought.
Chalk it up to a couple back-to-back days that were worse than usual -- big energy dip, not wanting to move much, panting like crazy, and anticipating onco appointment today.
I need to remind myself that it's hot here in VA, humidity just shot way up, she's always been a panter, and she's not a spring chicken. Before her couple of bad days, she had a great and busy weekend...PT, visit to dog-friendly restaurant where she got tons of attention, and dog park the next day.
Thanks for the reality check, and thanks for sharing your experiences with Jerry. Jerry's story is a good reminder that mets aren't an immediate death sentence, and you don't have to do monthly X-rays. In our case I think the worry is doing more harm than good.
Note to self: Be More Dog !
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
benny55 said
Aww Deb, I know this part of the journey has "bumps in the road"...good days, not as good days, topsy turvey time that's for surez,You are definitely ight...every dog is different...every situation is different.....and no one knows your dog better than you do.
I can only share my experience. For me, I found I could "Be More Dog " and stay in the "now" a lpt easier by NOT doing xrays. After Happy Hannah's four rounds of chemo completed (last May or June) and after a few challenges getting hjer started on metronomics , I decided NO xrays.
zI can tellyou,ot was a lot jarder to master staying innthe moment once I "knew". And I worked very jard making sure NOTHING ROBBED US OF OUR TIME TOGETHER! I know I repeat that a lot but, for me, that was the most valuable gift I could give her and she, nor I would have our joy and happiness interrupted!
I did balance my home cooking with some Honest Kitchen and EVO. She LOVED boiled chicken and, of course, her steaks that I cutmup for her. Yeah, I would do some home cooking just to watch how happy makes Lexie if for no other reason! I do think it would benefit her immune system too though.
Nothing like wisdom, a reality check and tough love from Sally and Happy Hannah! (Blowing you guys kisses from here.) You're right...such a roller coaster with great and not so great days.
If they shrink, tjey shrink...if they don't, they don't.Just tell yourself tjey're GONE and live your life with Lexi as worry free as humanly possible right now!!
And fueling her immjne system with good supplements and herbs and good nutrition is still 'a treatmemt"! No o e knows when their time is up! And Lexi is not spending one second thinking about it either!!
I don't realy think that Lexi changing her sleeping preference is anything tl be concerned about. The "coolness" probablh feels better...maybe it's easier to get up and down on a sturdier "bed"...or maybe it's just a quirk of a "mature" dog!!
Sally, you have a gift for always telling me what I need to hear. Thank you for that.
And I constantly forget that Lexie is an older girl. 10 or so different folks stopped to talk to us at a restaurant's outdoor patio on Sat. and when they ask how old she is no one can believe she's almost 14. I still obviously can't.
I just bought her a super-comfy memory foam bed that I hoped she'd love, but you're right...it's so cushy that it's harder for her to get in and out of than some of her other beds. And it's definitely warmer than the other options.
Going to post a happy video now just for you and Happy Hannah!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Rene/Jim, any chance you can edit and fix,
Sorry, Vine as well as Faceborg uses iFrame for video, and these forums don't support iFrame photos or video, not yet anyhow. But the link works so that's good!
That totally makes sense why she doesn't want to sleep on her new bed. Memory foam is warm, and yep, maneuvering on it is an unsteady endeavor. We experienced the same thing when we went out and bought Jerry a very nice orthopedic bed right after his surgery, he preferred a firm mattress.
As for the weather, well yeah! It's a lot of work getting around during hot humid weather. I remember when we first hit the road with Jer, we went from our usual coastal climate that we were all accustomed to, out to the Utah desert in July! It was about 7 months past his surgery, we had not done x-rays, and Jerry was breathing and panting non-stop if we didn't have the A/C on in the rig or he wasn't swimming in a river.
We panicked, thinking that was it, the mets had taken over. We called his vet out in California and told her the symptoms, she asked "Is it hot there?" and we said "Oy yeah it's hot, it's 100!" and she said "Well DUH! He's panting because he's hot! Now turn on the A/C and get to cooler weather when you can, he'll be fine!"
She was so right! It just took some perspective. We went on with our lives, and all was well as we lived in the moment. Here's my favorite pic of that time, of Jerry cooling off in Utah.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Deb,
I think when any of us have those days that are tougher than others it's emotionally draining. I think this disease has made us so fine tuned in being vigilant for chances on all levels.
With Snoop we don't have mets but we found after the surgery and chemo he became extremely heat sensitive, and his panting became ramped up easily. Could it be because he's older and it was when summer was beginning.....absolutely. He also prefers a firmer bed since his surgery., easier to get up and down for him.
His diet was changed in organic as much as I can find, orijen six fish, which he likes and I cook sometimes when I can.
I think all any of us can do is trust out gut, do what we think is the best for our baby. Try to take one day at a time. (And boy sometimes that's just easier said then done)
You'll do what you'll feel is the best for Lexie and in your heart.
Good thoughts and hugs,
Esther and her Snoop
Hi Deb,
Just my experience....we did xray's every 3 months from day of diagnosis. No IV chemo though, we did metronomic therapy. I had to have those xrays for my own piece of mind....until we saw the mets at the 1 year mark. Then I wished we had not ever had the xrays and would have just kept up what we were doing...metronomics , additional supplements and home cooking mixed with a top grade commercial, grain free food. Looking back, we would have known about the mets without the xrays just because of symptoms. Libby passed away before the mets had a chance to make her breathing a struggle. It seems wrong to say we were grateful for that but I don't know any other word.
Lexie is 14?! That's is super pawesome! Lexie rocks and so do you.
Hugs,
Amy & Spirit Libby
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
We did x-rays the first couple of months on the metronomics . I decided after that I couldn't take hearing that they were growing and I just wanted to let Sassy live her life like she didn't have them. I basically cooked for Sassy because she didn't like her kibble after she started her metronomic protocol.
We also did Apocaps , Dasaquin, her salmon oil and her vitamins. That was it.
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
We are only doing x-rays because Charlie is in a clinical trial for Palladia. He'll have them every 8-12 weeks for a bit (can't recall the actual schedule). But before we got started on the trial, we had also very seriously discussed foregoing the ongoing x-rays.
It was such hard news initially. For us, we have developed a 'new normal'--fully aware of the reality, but most of the time, content to be happy in the moment.
Charlie, our English yellow lab, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in February 2014. He became a tripawd on February 24th, with clear lymph nodes and lungs, but that didn't last long. After three doses of Carbo, in May 2014, x-rays showed lung mets. We briefly tried Palladia, which went well. Unfortunately, Charlie developed unexplained complications in his hind limbs. We said a reluctant farewell on June 11, 2014. Still miss our boy each and every day.
Our Zeus had a met at the time of diagnosis, too small to be seen on traditional x-rays but discovered because we chose to do a CT scan. The CT also showed a "suspicious spot" on his liver. With a prognosis of (our vet's best guess) six weeks, we decided we didn't want any regrets so we amputated anyway. We immediately changed his diet to 1/2 homecooked and 1/2 kibble (Halo brand as it was recommended by Dr. Dressler in the cancer diet). We started IV chemo (six rounds of Carboplatin) and we did x-rays every three months, primarily to see if the chemo was working as we didn't want to continue if it wasn't doing any good. Between the time of diagnosis and his first chemo (about a month), the one met grew slightly - enough to be seen on a traditional x-ray - and one other small one appeared. Through the next nine months those mets never grew or multiplied. Eventually a tumor appeared in his abdomen and we lost him to that one.
Zeus lived ten months. Ten months is forever when you only thought you had six weeks.
Truth is, there are no sure things in this fight. Some do chemo and beat all the stats. Some do no chemo and far exceed the odds. You know your dog and you just have to do what seems right and what seems to give your pet the best quality of life. I personally believe the change to a low-carb diet made a huge difference. We didn't buy into everything in Dr. D's book, but the whole "carbs feed cancer, so cut out carbs" made good common sense. Our vet commented every time he saw Zeus about how healthy he looked and how he did not show signs of the typical cachexia/wasting that most cancer patients (human and canine) exhibit.
As for the hard surface issue, Zeus did the same thing beginning shortly after diagnosis. I finally figured out it was because soft surfaces seemed to make it harder for him to get up because his feet sank down into the pillow. He seemed to feel more secure when on a hard surface where he could get his footing more quickly. I guess it was an instinctual thing?Good luck with whatever you choose!!Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
I know I'm always praising the virtues of The Big Barker Bed , so why stop now?! It really is the tempurpedic of dogs beds Comfy but firm enough that my 125 !b. tripawd Happy Hannah was abole to get up without slipping from too mich "squishiness". I feel li,e the support it gave actualky helped her heal and prevented any pressure points.
Now, tat said, I think these beds are only made for medium to larger dogs. would have to check back with their site. Which, by the way, click on Amazon here...and search The Big Barker Bed .
ANYWAY, jist wanted to also add Deb, that some dogs do seem to be "worn out" after some PT sessions. Combine Lexie's recent bisy "social life, the PT, the amputation, the arthritis AND her "maturity"...OMD! I guess she is javing some "less good days"! Even BETTY WHITE needs more rest than when she did when she was younger!
As Jerry and others have said, the weather did, indeed, have more impact on Happy Hannah after the amputationl
Hang in there! Lexi s dong GREAT...and so are you!!! And when you feel scared and overwhelmed, we're here, okay?? This is NOT a journey one needs to handle "alone"!
Sending love!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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 so much to ALL of you for responding and sharing your insights and encouragement. Short version is no Xray this week; lungs sounded comparable to last time during physical exam.
After blood work the main worry is high BUN level likely due to NSAIDs, and kidneys possibly being compromised. That's a whole different topic, so I'd love for anyone with thoughts to chime in on this thread.
Thanks again!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Hi Deb! I've been thinking about you guys lately. My Jake did not have mets, but he seemed to always have high BUN levels...we found it seemed to be related to his meds. Once off the meds, they were back to normal. Also, when the weather started to get warm around here, Jake always looked for cooler spots to lay. I think you are doing a great job with Lexie, letting her just be a dog is more important than anything! When Jake started to feel sick we found out he literally could pass away at any second (he developed a rare hemangiosarcoma that penetrated a major artery), one move and it could dislodge and he'd be gone in a second. Looking back, I wish I hadn't been "so careful" and worried about his every move. Even with all the advances in medicine, we still will never know when its their time, so letting Lexi be a happy dog is the greatest gift you can give each other. In the end, that is what we all look back and hope we accomplished...that our pups were able to live their life happy, knowing they were loved and they were able just be a dog :).
Also, Jerry just did a thread on home-cooked diets. Before the second cancer dx I fed Jake a mixture of home-cooked and Acana, after it was anything he'd eat (we ordered him a pizza, cooked him bacon..etc.). When I got Tanner, I switched him to an all home-cooked diet and his energy level plummeted (I cooked recipes out of a well known doggie cookbook). I then switched him to half Acana/half home-cooked and he got his energy back. Its kinda difficult to make sure they get all their nutritional needs on just home-cooked and you really need to work with a veterinary nutritionist if you are going to do it. One of the things you want to make sure with Lexi being sick is that she gets all of her nutritional needs. That is her baseline for her body being able to fight this stupid disease and you don't want to compromise it. Now, once she has her basic nutrition, a steak, some ice cream etc...its fair game! (that was for you happy hannah) 
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
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