Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
So I feel like I've posted a lot today, but I can't help it!!! 🙂 Anyways, we met with the oncologist this evening to talk about chemo. She said that most studies have been done on 4-6 treatments, but recommends 6. We don't think we can afford 6 treatments. Has anyone done as little as 4? She would be using Adriamycin. Also, even though Jack has no signs of mets yet, I know it's just a matter of time. Thank God for this site and all the support <3
Yes...THANK GOD for this site - I concur completely!!!
To answer your question - Zeus had 4 treatments of carboplatin - it's not the same protocol that your vet is using, so we're not comparing apples to apples. Zeus is over 15 months post amputation and he is 11 years old...amazing! "Its only a matter of time" for all of us - you know? Keep the faith, stay as pawsitive as you can and treasure/enjoy/savor every moment and I hope those moments turn into days, months and years for you and Jack.
Has your doctor explained the different kinds of chemo and why she is chosing that one? Carboplatin has side effects on only 2% of the dogs. Zeus had no side effects except being a little sleeping the day of treatment. He flew through chemo with flying colors.
Good luck with your decision - someone is always here for you - that's the wonderful thing about this site...well, one of the MANY wonderful things 🙂
Take care and much love,
Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Zeus said:
THANK GOD for this site – I concur completely!!!
It bears repeating….Thank God for this site! Toffee started her chemo yesterday with Adriamycin and so far no side effects at all. She too has no sign of mets at this time, and I'm embarrassed to say that we talked about so many different treatments, I wouldn't swear to how many she is supposed to have, but I believe it's 4.
We'll keep our paws crossed that Jack handles it well.
Laura and Toffee
Laura said:
It bears repeating….
Thank you all for your continued support. The tripawds community would not be what it is without your advice, support and love.
Metonomics and K9 Immunity are alway worth considering if you ask me. And when considering quality of life, you can always try one treatment to see how your pup reacts. You need not commit to all the expensive treatments.
FYI: Jerry survived nearly two years after taking the the K9 and being put on metronomics at about 16 months post-amputation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Good luck, Jack! Yoda will be starting chemo tomorrow, so we don't have any wisdom to impart yet, but we wanted to give you a shout out since we're entering the next stage with you 
Yoda will be on the carboplatin. 4 treatments, like Zeus. Let's kick some cancer butt!
By the way, a little update for anyone who saw my previous post, Yoda has been doing much better the last couple days (just as you all knew he would). He's more alert, he's more regular, and the pains seem to be coming less frequently (though I will bring it up when we see the vet tomorrow), and he's trying to get back to life as usual. He's been pushing me to let him walk all the way out of the circle - to the sidewalk - so he can mark where the other dogs are marking, and when he inevitably has to rest on the way back, he makes the most of it and rolls over on his back to sunbathe.
Yoda&Mom united: 9/5/06 …….… Yoda&Leg separated: 6/5/09……… Yoda&Leg reunited: 10/14/09 ……… ……………….………….………….……. Yoda&Mom NEVER separated! …………………….….……....….…… Though Spirit Yoda currently free-lances as a rabbit hunting instructor for tripawds nationwide
Good luck Jack!! Max was also on carboplatin and only had a little nausea afterwards. They gave us pills for that and all I had to do was give him one and he was fine. Unfortunately Max didnt get more than 2 because they found lung mets, but he was only 18 months old when diagnosed and osteosarcoma is extremely aggressive in young dogs. I fear he never really had a fighting chance.
Anyway…good luck witht he chemo. I bet you will find that he will come through with flying colors!
And YES!! Thank god for this site......it helped me when Max was diagnosed and throughout his treatment and hospice and its helping me now, to deal with my grief after losing him. Its a family and we are all here for each other.
Paula and Spirit Max
Thank you so much for all your input!! I honestly don't remember why our Oncologist recommended Adriamycin over Carboplatin…all the words were getting jumbled in my head 
All I remember her saying when we asked her is she would go with the Adriamycin which also happens to be about $100 cheaper per dose. I wish I could remember why. Jack has been on K9 Immunity, Transfer Factor, and K9 Omega since the day after surgery. I asked our Oncologist about metronomics
which just so happens to be what her educational research was on, and she said that they had found unacceptable toxcicity levels in some organ and that the risk was too high (again, I hope I am remembering this correctly ). So it looks like we will probably be starting chemo next Wednesday when our Dr. is in (she's a specialist and works between a couple different locations)! Hopefully having to wait a week will make minimal difference. I'm sure I'll be posting a lot, but hey…that's what this place is for 
Good Luck Jack.We will be sending lots of good thoughts your way.
Just take a deep berath and know that everything will be just fine. Trust the doc. You take care of Jack and let the docs do their thing with the administration of chemo. It can all be so confusing.
Post all you want- that's what we're here for. Bark if you need us 
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Good thoughts coming your way for the chemo treatment to have minimal effects. Trouble tolerated it very well. She did have some nausea and was tired for a couple of days, but bounced back quickly.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
We can never fully state how helpful this site and the wonderful contributors have been to our journey. In our case, the chemo was far worst than the amputation. Cherry's appetite essentially fell to zero. I had to literally stuff nearly every morsal of food during the chemo which started lierally hours after the amputation. There was discussion of reducing the dose to reduce the complications, but even small reductions in the amount of each dose or the total number of treatments would have significantly reduced the effectiveness. Point here: discuss with your vet the different options, consider the total effectiveness including how reducing the number of treatments and reductions in the quantity of chemical used in each treatment, and make the best informed decision you can with the assurance that no one knows your companion better than you. More treatments with a lower cost per treatment may not result in a lower total cost.
We send all the positive thoughts possible, wish you the very best, and would encourage you to continue to post - every contributions helps all who read and contribute to this site.
Bob & Cherry
First chemo session complete! When we got home Jack was running in circles and chased a bug up the stairs. I think he ate it. I'm stocked up on OxySolution for 4 days from now when the symptoms kick in and our floor takes a beating.
All of Trouble's nausea was within 6 - 12 hours post treatment, and it wasn't severe. We kept puppy pads close at hand and if it looked like she was going to be sick, we put one under her head/mouth so she'd be sick on the pad.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Oh that's a really good idea! We have some left over from Stephen Colbert (our 7-month old). I knew I kept those for a reason!!
Woooo hooo! Go Tripawd Jack, Go!
Jack ate a bug or ate it as if he fell on the floor?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
HAHAHAHAH! Jerry you're funny. He ate the bug. We took him to day camp today since I was gone for 1/2 the day, and he did great there, too! Everyone just loves him there and he kept wiggling around grinning. We take him to Camp Bow Wow which is an awesome place and you can watch your pup while at work on their web cams (http://www.campbowwow.com). So still no symptoms and he seems more chipper than ever so far!
1 Guest(s)
