Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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In January I noticed Roxy our 11 yr 3 mth Doberman was drinking a lot of water which she randomly has done for years and after weeks of restricting her I went to the vet and they confirmed mild kidney disease. The following weeks I noticed muscle wasting, lack of appetite and she had a fever of 106 and I had to carry her out of the house to the vet and the did a complete chemistry panel and suggested that she had Leukemia.
My heart just collapsed I knew that one day she'd die of something but why cancer? She shares the same bday as a friend of mine that I lost to ovarian cancer and it just makes the wound even deeper.....my two loves Eileen and Roxy. We to a flow cytometry and confirmed that their is T cell involvement vs B cell and she was on 40mg of prednisone for 7 days and now is on 20mg and I am thinking about adding 2mg of Leukeran to help bring down her WBC, which was first 80k and after 1 wk of prednisone they are down to 55k but her ALT, Pottassium values were higher but her BUN and creatatine levels haven't changed much.
She doesn't want to eat most days and I've had to feed her vanilla cookies, liver, chicken and anything to get her to eat and I've even had to force feed her some days just to get some nutrition in her....some days I wonder if I wasn't given her subQ fluids and if I haven't force feed her if she would even still be alive?
She follows me everywhere which just breaks my heart because it's like she is afraid to be alone and she hasn't even attempted to jump on the couch in over a mth and lays on the floor. She definitely has Anorexia and drinks like a fish which we can't restrict her water because between the kidneys and leukemia she is constantly peeing out most of what she takes in.
Today she was just shivering after not eating all day and now I just don't know if she is cold or hypoglycemic or if the toxins from kidney disease and elevated blood values are stressing her system...
so do I give her a small dose of Leukeran and risk damaging her more for very little resolve?
Hi Roxy and family, welcome. I'm really, really sorry to hear about the diagnosis and tough situation you're going through. My first suggestion is, have you seen an oncologist yet? I'm thinking you might have since you've mentioned leukeran but I wanted to be sure. If you haven't seen a specialist yet, one of the reasons to do so is a vet oncologist can guide you in helping her through these rough spots, like getting her to eat with an appetite stimulant and managing any lethargy issues. Meanwhile, you definitely want to work with your current vet to make sure they know what's going on right now. Give them a call if you haven't already OK?
Kidney disease is a challenge. We've had some members who have dealt with it before, here are some search results for "kidney disease" that share some examples of how they've coped. I'm not much help there as I haven't dealt with it before, but others will chime in soon so hang tight.
Meanwhile, thanks for joining. We're here to support you so post away, your future posts won't need approval.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I second seeing a veterinary oncologist.
Has she been diagnosed with the acute of chronic form of leukemia? The chronic form can be managed very well, but unfortunately the acute form has a poor prognosis. Was she prescribed the leukeran?
I have no "medical"advice to offer. Youve gotten good advice and links from the twomposts above. Just want to send you love and hugs and supportive healing energy.
Having given some of my dogs subq before, I do believe it makes them feel better.
Keep on spoling and loving and not letting anything rob you of your time together.
We are here with you. And it sounds like your friend is a really good Guardian Angel now watching over you both!
Sending lots of hugs. Know you are doing everything possible fo your Roxy...and she knows it too!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I'm so sorry that you and Roxy are having to go through this but you've found a wonderful community that holds a lot knowledge through it's members. I would assume you're aware but I did want to mention that prednisone increases thirst and urine output. So if you're noticing an increase from previously the prednisone is probably the culprit. My Leland (also a Dobie) was placed on prednisone because of dealing with an autoimmune disorder and the increased thirst and urination he experienced was shocking to my husband and I.
I don't have any first hand knowledge in dealing with leukemia and kidney disease but I wanted you to know that I'll be keeping Roxy in my thoughts.
And we'd love to see some pictures of your precious Roxy when you have a chance to post them. I have no doubt she's a gorgeous girl!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
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