Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Mia,
Sorry about the minor setback with sweet Joe, but Sally gave great advice.....like her, I don't know how WBC relates to radiation, however, when my Polly was going through chemo, hers dropped as well. Not to a point that chemo couldn't be done, but hers actually remained low for months. I am sure there have been others here that also had to deal with very low WBC counts that delayed another treatment for their pups.
I enjoy all his pics so much....!! About wrapping his leg, have you tried vet wrap? It's that very sticky/clingy stretchy wrap that comes in many colors....I always keep a ton of it here at my house. And gauze wrap as well.
Keep loving on your boy, and let us know what happens on Friday....
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
I love love love seeing pics of that boy! Spoil him rotten, he sure deserves it.
Lowered white blood cell counts are very normal during chemo and/or radiation. Others with more experience here can tell you their stories but I know we've seen it happen quite often here and usually things bounce back more quickly than expected. Hang in there!
As for the elbow, it's a tough one but here are some ideas that may help:
Elbow Protectors Eases Pressure Sore Problems
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Mia! Are you giving your boy any supplements? This may help with the white blood count. Many of us have had good experiences with K-9 Immunity Plus. You may want to ask if you can include this in his diet.
Loved the pictures!
hugs,
Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Daniela & Johnnie said
Hi Mia! Are you giving your boy any supplements? This may help with the white blood count. Many of us have had good experiences with K-9 Immunity Plus. You may want to ask if you can include this in his diet.Loved the pictures!
hugs,
Daniela & Johnnie
Thanks for that reminder Daniela. Mia, here are some posts about K9 Immunity , just click on the link.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Mia- I love the latest picture. Jojo looks like...why are you bothering me? Can't you see I'm resting here? I'm sure the WBC is nothing to worry about. My Jake had 15 treatments and didn't require blood work in between. Maybe all the antibiotics are preventing his WBC from climbing.
Hi Friends- it's been a couple days since I've posted, but here's my Jojo update- we went back to UCD last Friday for our 4th radiation session- the doctors informed us that it looks like the radiation is working somewhat as the tumor has definitely changed in mass- it is not as dense as it was and it does look like it has reduced in size a little bit. The tumor is not pulling on the skin as it was so they are hopeful the radiation has worked in stunting the growth. We have a week off to give his body time to relax and regain some strength. As I'm sure you know the tumor itself has started to weep and bleed a little while the skin is flaking off and kind of scabbing over. We will finish out his antibiotics and go back to UCD on Dec 1. At our next appt- they will do another chest X-ray to see if the sarcoma has spread and then we will decide if we continue on with more radiation and/or chemo. In addition the new diet is making a huge difference in both my boys- Jojo has probably lost about 3-4 lbs and Charlie has energy like when he was only 9 (LOL) Jojo's overall disposition is totally back to normal, he is happy and energetic- we are all looking forward to a house full of people for Thanksgiving and I am feeling hopeful that our treatment plan is working they way we anticipated and also to have at least a week off of the routine.
I thought I would share a couple more pics with you and wish you all a VERY HAPPY Thanksgiving- full of love and laughter! I am thankful for all of you in this community and all the support and love you send through this virtual world to me- I will say an extra prayer of thanks on Thursday.
Jojo having a good day and Big Brother Charlie looking in charge as usual! 
Yay, Jojo!! So happy to read this very encouraging and good news! Both Jojo and Charlie are gorgeous pups!! Charlie looks very intelligent in glasses!
I have been thinking about Joe, and wondering how things were going.......so far, so good......
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, and Joe will be happy to be able to relax for the week or so....! And extra prayers never hurt.....I will say one for you and him myself....
{{{hug}}}
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Yay! What great news to be thankful for, this is wonderful!!! Those UC Davis docs are the best.
Remind me again, what is the diet you switched the pups to?
We will be saying an extra prayer on Thanksgiving for JoJo's continued success and kickin' cancer's butt! PAWESOME!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
YAAAAAAAAAY!!! GREAT NEWS!!!!!! And I see Jojo is loving being on the sofa and Charlie is rockin' his scholarly appearance!
Thanks for the uldate and very uplifting photos of two very happy dogs! Whole lotta loving going on over there!!
CONGRATULATIONS JOJO!!! Really, really excited for you!
Hugs and love to all!!
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!
You go JoJo. Yeah the site of radiation turns ugly...it is actually burns. Are you putting anything on it? Looks like Joe and Charlie have it all under control.
Hi Jerry- so here is the URL to the Healthy Homemade Dog Food Receipe I have been using- I have finished 2 full weeks and both my boys have more energy, REALLY soft coats, and have lost a couple lbs. I followed the transition instructions to the "t" and ordered the supplements on -line- I took both supplements to my Vet's at UCD to ensure I could give them to Jojo and they instructed me that 1 should not be given to him while he is undergoing treatment- so I have discarded that one for him. I also chose to add in some canned pumpkin to help with digestion and once in a while I add in Coconut Oil to help with the skin and coat.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Mia
Now that diet looks YUMMY! Thanks for that resource. The only thing that caught my eye right away is you might want to find an alternative for the white rice, which is a carb, and from what I understand carbs feed cancer (see The Dog Cancer Survival Guide and his free downloadable cancer diet book). Sorry, I don't want to overwhelm you, I know you've got a lot on your mind. Just thought I should mention that.
But I'm glad the vets approved of his awesome new home cooked real food! Yes, oncologists want patients to avoid introducing new supplements during chemo/radiation treatment, it's less stuff to get in the way if side effects occur.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you Jerry for the links- I am reading up on the caner diet now! Looks like I juts got to optimistic too soon 
, Jojo had a seizure today and when we took him back to UCD they also confirmed that his tumor looks to be infected. It seems that he somehow has scratched it or licked it and they have also informed us that about 3-4 days after the actual radiation treament the burning is at it's peak and most dogs will try to get at it. Although we have informed the doctors of everything we have changed for Jojo including diet I am now just so deflated thinking that after 2 weeks of this diet I could be making it all worse. Geezzzzzz- The seizure completely freaked my husband out and he is now just second guessing everything we have decided thus far...
I'm so sad and such a far cry from where we were at last Friday, how quickly the tides turn. I'm waiting for Jojo and my husband to get home from UCD, my husband called to say Jojo has a cone on and has 2 new prescriptions. So, I'm hoping by the time they get home I'll be able to coax Joe into eating a little something, drinking a little water and laying on the couch with me... hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.
Thanks again for the link to cancer diet- I'll keep reading.
Mia
Darn! Really sorry Jojo is having a rough time today. This is exactly why this journey is called a roller cozster ride. Jojo's been on the "up" part of the ride and now guess it's temporarily on the "down" part of the ride.
You are emotionall drained and have been stuck in an intensity day in and day out now for awhile! And we al l do it...the second guessing on a down day... And that is exactly when the second vuessing starts creeping in.....don't let it....that's just this piece of crap disease trying to rob you of your time of staying in the moment with Jojo! Jojo is just going with the flow and looking forward to all the great loving and spoiling he is getting! You are doing EVERYTHING possible for your boy! This may, indeed, give him some good extended quality time and then you won't second guess at all! Just yesterday he was feeling great!
I don't know if radiation can cause seizures or not.....I do know they crop up off and on sometimes as a dog ages. I do know it can definitely cause sores and be lainful....they may lower the dkse next time....but for nkw it does seem to be working so ha g I to that...and js....okah?!
How bout some good ole' chicken breasts and maybe even a bit of steak for now? He can get back on his diet after Thanksgiving....that's what we humans do, right? Diet after Thanksgiving!!
IF you feel like it, let us know how he's doing after he settles in tonight. Don't be surprised if they may have him a little sedated though just to keep the sekzure in check.
This is journey has a lot of bumps the road...bumpy ride for sure! Hopefully your "road" will continje to get smoother and smoother, no twists and turns, a nice long smooth ride.
Try and get some rest and just enjoy having that sweet Jojo on the sofa with you! Is there enough room for both of you? I'm sure it won't be very comfortable if you have to sit on the floor!!
Sending lots of positive energy for continued improvement!!!! Hang in there! You are doing great...you are...really!
LOVE to all!
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!
Hi Sally- Thank you for the note and the encouragement. My guys are home now, husband is calmed down and feeling better, Jojo has eaten, taken his meds and sleeping- no couch tonight as the tumor is really leaking and bleeding, so he is sleeping soundly now on his bed. Today was a rough one for sure, but I'm am praying that with the cone on for a couple days, the tumor AND the ankle sore open to the air they will dry out a bit and scab over. The Dr. did say the tumor will start to heal on it's own and if things don't look better by our next visit (Dec 1) then we will probably stop the radiation until the tumor site has healed up. Here's a pic of the poor boy- you can see the tumor location, even though it on the elbow has rubbed his rib area raw- you can also see the tumor trying to break through on the other side of the elbow.. I'll say my prayers tonight for a better day tomorrow- cone and all!
Much love to you all ♥
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