Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I had posted back at the beginning of August that on Sylvia's 9-month check-up, her oncologist had noted a small spot on one of her x-rays. She sent it on to a radiologist who verified that the spot was, indeed, a nodule with another shadowy possiblity in another place on her lung. We started a metronomic treatment of Cytophosphomide and Piroxicam, scheduling another x-ray for 3 weeks from the beginning of the treatment.
At that time, I was suprised, but not really very worried. Sylvia is an amazing girl who is still going through life at 100%, with no history of any problems (other than some back pain) since her diagnosis and amputation and chemotherapy. I felt very upbeat about the future because she'd been so relatively problem-free throughout this whole experience.
However, I'm feeling pretty scared right at the moment. Two days ago was our 3-week check-up x-ray and not only is the original met still there, but there are apparently 3 others. I know cancer can overtake us very quickly, but didn't want to think that it could happen to my Sweet Sylvie. I guess you always think that when they're doing so well it can't possibly turn bad for YOUR dog.
We started Palladia yesterday (Abby's Mom, I'll be getting in touch with you) at the lower dose recommended for a dog Sylvia's size/situation. One of the studies provided to me by Sylvia's oncologist says that the dogs in that study who were on the lower dose had slightly better results (combatting the mets) than those on the higher dose. We'll be alternating Palladia with Piroxicam and Cytophosphomide on an every other day rotation. After the single dose, no ill effects at all . . . Hope that continues.
For those of you whose dogs have had tolerance problems with Palladia, when did the problems begin (how soon after starting)?
Of course, at this point my Silly Sheepdog is showing no outward signs of having anything wrong. Still chasing the ball, throwing her toys around like the adult puppy that she is, bullying Banjo and Charlie, eating heartily, giving lots of sloppy kisses, jazzed about going for walks, etc. I'm not even remotely throwing in the towel at this point, but I have to admit this is the very first time since the day of her diagnosis and the 5 days leading up to her amputation that I've thought about not having her around. I can't even think about her starting to show signs of the end. I keep reminding myself that there are others out there in Tripawd-Land who have survived and even thrived for quite a while even after the discovery of lung mets.
Still, I just needed to check in with the Tripawd community, as you are the ones who truly understand "the rollercoaster".
- Karen and Sweet Sylvia
Sweet Silly Sylvie, the Old English Sheepdog
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 11/04/2010 at almost 7 years of age * Left hind leg amputated 11/09/2010 * Chemo on 12/10, 12/17, 01/10, 01/31
Sweet Sylvie's earthly journey ended on Nov. 3, 2011, one day short of a year since her diagnosis and 6 days short of her one-year ampuversary. Her family celebrates her life as a sheepdog – ever the puppy, ever silly, ever sweet – and are grateful for our 7 years together.
I was just thinking of you this morning...I am so sorry to read that SSS (Sweet Silly Sylvia) has more mets. Skyler did cytoxin & vinblastin - so don't know anything about Palladia. You're in our prayers. Give that pooch a kiss on her snout for me. As you mentioned, many others have thrived for quite some time..so keep your spirits up and enjoy every moment with her.
Please keep us posted!
Sending you lots of golden hugs,
Cathy
Hi Karen. Our Max was also on the metronomic protocol, but was on cytoxan, not palladia (wasn't available at the time), so I can't give you any advice on that particular medicine. I will tell you that Max's mets also grew after the discovery of the first one, and it was several weeks before he started showing symptoms. He ran, played, ate, and enjoyed being a dog! So, like you said, don't throw in the towel quite yet. Keep the faith, and follow Sylvia's lead. She's happy right now, and that's the important thing. Give her a good ear scratch for me.
supersheepdog said:
We started Palladia yesterday (Abby's Mom, I'll be getting in touch with you) at the lower dose recommended for a dog Sylvia's size/situation. One of the studies provided to my by Sylvia's oncologist says that the dogs in that study who were on the lower dose had slightly better results (combatting the mets) than those on the higher dose. We'll be alternating Palladia with Piroxicam and Cytophosphomide on an every other day rotation.
Karen, can you post a link to the study or send it to us via PM? And the name of Sylvia's oncologist too? I would love to know more about this protocol and possibly have the onco on our Tripawd Talk Radio show to talk about it.
I'm so sorry about the nasty mets. Grrr. I think out of the entire cancer journey, finding out about mets is almost as hard as the initial diagnosis, it can drag you back into the past and all that worry.
It's OK to mourn the reality of what's going on, we did it too. But what helped was giving ourselves a timeframe for doing so (a few hours maybe), then we had to kick those worries away. We we weren't going to let them rob us of our precious time together.
Follow Sylvia's lead and enjoy all that she loves, now. Remember, none of us ever know how much time we have, with or without mets. Every day is a gift, and Sylvia is here to remind you of that.
And give her lots of smooches to us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Karen,
Abby (Abbysmom) was on Palladia for awhile, but stopped because of side effects. You might check out Abby's Blog for information or send a PM to Jackie if she doesn't post here.
Karen and the pugapapalooza
Hi Karen, you're so right, it's super scary when the mets pop up. It takes the wind out of your sails after everything we've gone through. But I echo the sentiment that it's definitely not time to throw in the towel. Sylvia has no symptoms so just let her keep down the path of doing well and take her lead. Our Sam developed mets....and lots of them. At this point he has 25+ mets and he's doing just fine. Jerry is right that we just never know how much time we have left so we treat every day as special. Our Sam just seems to keep wanting to fight this so we're giving him everything we can for his little bag of tricks. We had a few days of panic and then we settled back down to focusing on Sam and understanding that he was still ready to fight this thing. Hang in there.
Sue and Sammy
Hi again,
I had to log off before- to go to a meeting.
I wanted to say on the 'roller coaster'... my pug Maggie had mast cell cancer, not OSA, so lung mets were not something I had to worry about. She was given 6 to 9 months after amputation but far out lived that. I was just starting to think that she might not die from cancer when we were devastated with the diagnosis of a second type of cancer. Maggie had some other health issues and had a big crash- she spent several days at the vet on fluids- that is when the tumor in her mouth was discovered. Things were bleak then, most thought we were going to lose her. But she rallied and showed me that she still had some living to do. For many reasons, including her overall health, I was not able to aggressively treat the mouth tumor. Once I came to grips (again) with the fact that she had a fatal illness I was able to really focus on what was important One of the things I learned from our cancer journeys was that you stay positive and optimistic until there is a real reason not to be. Of course I knew what the most likely out come was going to be- but I took my ques from Maggie and that meant that each good day she had was our best day.
Don't get me wrong- I had my moments. But I tried to confine my 'losing it' to the shower so I didn't freak out the dogs.
For the most part though I was able to really enjoy that time with Maggie.
I hope Sylvia keeps being silly for a long time to come.
Karen and the pugapalooza
p.s. I just realized that you were aware of Abby's mom in your first post- so ignore my first post!
Karen, we are pulling the towel out of your hands so it can't be thrown down! Knew of a dog that lived for several years with a single met and passed away from something else and another dog my vet told me about that developed some mets and when they stopped the chemo they soon went away. My point is none of us know what is around the corner it could be good as well as bad. We are here for you regardless.
Oh, I know too well that roller coaster. It sounds like Sylvia's not letting those stupid mets slow her down one little bit. Of course, she doesn't know she has them. I can only echo what others have suggested: grab and hold close all the good moments, have mini-meltdowns in the shower (as Karen did, as I did) where the tears can get washed away, and keep loving that silly sheepdog.
Hugs.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
bless your hearts, it's so scary to get this kind of news. keep focusing on the joy that sylvia shows you. she is capturing the best from every moment, as we all should. we're sending our best ET juju your way, know that we are all here for you guys.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
So sorry about this roller coaster that we are on - but at least we have each other to hold our hands and hearts.
Love your girl to bits, she sounds so happy and is like, "huh? cancer, I don't think so!" (Just like Lylee!)
Sending tons of love & huggs
Lylee & Joanne
xoxoxo
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
Oh my goodness! You are all so wonderful!! 
I can't tell you how much all of your posts mean to me and my Sylvie!!! You are right, that we (my husband Jim and I) need to take our cues from our silly girl and focus on the goofy things she does and the way she always makes us laugh and all the other enjoying-each-day little events that are the reasons we HAVE dogs in our lives.
(I'm embarrassed to say this, but I had my little meltdown at work because I decided to check my personal email while on a break and found the radiologist's report. Fortunately, this was in front of two coworkers who have much-loved pets of their own and have dealt with the sadness of losing.)
It means so much that each of you has taken the time to share your experiences and give us encouragement. And I've got to say that, Sue and Sammy: you have given me so much hope! The fact that Sammy is still going strong with over 25 lung mets is such a powerful example of how we, as pawrents, have to keep our eyes on the really important job of enjoying the good and realizing that we're doing the best we can for our pups. Wallowing in fear of what the future might hold will not help.
Yesterday evening (after returning from agility class with Banjo), I was so emotionally whipped that I just laid down on the couch and fell asleep, with Miss Sylvia on the floor beside me, snoozing too. This a.m., when I got up, I went sleepily along with my morning routine - letting dogs out, letting 'em in, feeding them, giving Sylvia her meds . . . And I wasn't thinking about loss. I was thinking what I think during that routine every morning - - Wow! I am so lucky to have these three wonderful animals to love and nurture and care for and play with!!
Thanks to you all, I am now feeling brave again!
- Karen and the Super Sheepdog
Sweet Silly Sylvie, the Old English Sheepdog
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma 11/04/2010 at almost 7 years of age * Left hind leg amputated 11/09/2010 * Chemo on 12/10, 12/17, 01/10, 01/31
Sweet Sylvie's earthly journey ended on Nov. 3, 2011, one day short of a year since her diagnosis and 6 days short of her one-year ampuversary. Her family celebrates her life as a sheepdog – ever the puppy, ever silly, ever sweet – and are grateful for our 7 years together.
Any time you need encouragement, just come here to us. We are all here for you! Heck, even that annoying Monkey-butt would chime in for you...
How is SSS doing today?
It is hard to be brave when you are on such an emotional roller coaster........and I know lung mets are so frightening. But everyone here is pulling for you. Each moment is a blessing and if you can try to stay in the moment, it seems to help our scared souls. Hang in there, friend.
Hi Karen and Sylvie (SSSSS, sweet silly super sheepdog Sylvie),
It is so hard to not worry, but like everyone said, we have to focus on now/today, like our pups teach us to.
Abby had off and on GI problems with the Palladia. It was also the height of our peach trees producing and she was stealing fruit off the trees (naughty tall tripawd!) so at times I wasnt sure if the poop problems were from too much fruit or from the Palladia. In the end, we had to take her off it after about 3 months. (my detailed blog in my sig shows what we went through with it in the Feb to May posts.) I think it maybe slowed the mets down, but it certainly didn't stop them altogether, so I tried to not freak out when we had to stop giving it to her.
I still have our leftover Palladia up on the angel exchange, PM me if you want to talk some more about it.
All the best, and give SSSSS some extra lovins from me and Abby,
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
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