Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone.
January 4th marked Tanner's 2 month ampuversary! I have noticed that he gets a runny nose some days. It is not heavy and some days I don't notice it at all. I have read where this could be a sign but have also read it may not. He has no cough and eats and drinks and plays. We are contemplating having a chest x-ray done just to see where we are at, so to speak. I am very much on the fence about this - in one way I want to know and in another I just want Tanner to tell me how he is doing. Did anyone else have these thoughts and if so what did you do? We still hold strong to the no chemo route for him.
Thanks everyone for your feedback.
Amy and Tanner
P.S. I know a few of you have been asking for a picture of Tanner and if I wasn't horrible at computers and if I knew how to do it I would so love to show off his handsome face. 
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Congratulations, Amy and Tanner, on Tanner's 2-month ampuversary!! I have not heard anything about runny noses being a symptom, so I can't offer much advice there. My Nova is coming up on 2 months post-amp, and we just had a chest x-ray done. I am glad we did (it was clear), although who knows what I would be saying if the outcome was not good? (I would probably be saying that the chemo was a waste of money). We are in a little different position because Nova is on her 3rd round of chemo. I totally understand why you would not want to know. I guess my question is, if you DID know that it had started to spread, would you plan on doing anything different treatment-wise? If not, perhaps you don't want to do the x-ray. If it were me, I would do it, but my reason was different. I wanted to see if the chemo was working.
After Nova's chemo is done my plan is to get new chest x-rays every few months. My reasoning is that I have seen things get bad real quick with some of the pups on here, once they have lung mets. Of course not all, but some. If it were me, I would want to know when the cancer progressed, I guess sort of as a way to prepare, you know?
Sending pawsitive and healing thoughts your way tonight!
Sue and Nova (Great Dane)
Dane Mom Sue at nova.tripawds.com and Mom to Beautiful Great Dane Queen Nova, a Blind Tripawd, who kicked cancer's butt from 11/08-03/13. The Queen is Spirit Nova now, but her legacy lives on here at Tripawds!
Congratulations Amy and Tanner on your 2 month ampuversary!!! 
Jake gets a runny nose too from time to time... I never heard of that being a sign... heard of it being a reaction to certain meds though I think? As far as the x-rays... I'm not a good one to provide an answer to that because I have been AVOIDING Jake getting his x-ray... not ready to hear the news yet I suppose. I'll get there but not now. Jake is approaching his 3 month ampuversary on Jan 14th. As far as a picture of Tanner- just email one to Jerry, Rene and Jim and I'm sure they'd be happy to post one of your handsome boy for you!
Luv Spirit Jake, Smooch, Baby Gus & Mom (Sherri)
I wouldn't worry about a runny nose. In general xrays are rechecked after the third chemo and then every 3 months. Congrats on reaching the 2 month mark!
Pam and Tazzie
Tanner, congratulations! You are a rock star! We are thrilled that you've reached this milestone.
On the x-ray thing...my pawrents were also on the fence about it for a very long time. They did not do a follow up x-ray on me for 13 months. Mostly because we were on the road together and I didn't have a regular vet, but also because they were just plain scared to find out if the cancer had come back. Imagine, my pawrents, scared?!
I was very active and showed no signs whatsoever...if I had, they would've definitely done one. I guess that's what they were waiting for, a sign like that.
When they did do the x-rays, it was because my auntie's vet that we had gone to see to have a heartworm med prescription filled, talked them into it. He convinced them that knowledge was power.
Well, they got the bad news that they didn't want to hear, and at first they were regretful they did the x-rays. After all, I was healthy, and showing no signs of slowing down. Finding out I had lung mets took them back to square one, and it was very difficult, emotionally, for them to cope for a while.
But after they thought about it for a few days, they looked at it in a different light. The vet was right; they did feel empowered. They started looking into options for battling those nasty lung mets, and made a pact to agree on the lengths they would go to treat the mets. Once they started my treatment, we all felt really good about our plan, and life moved on in a good way.I think that knowing the truth helped us face what we all knew was ahead of us, and treasure each moment we still had together even more.
So, we know it's a hard decision to make, and we totally empathize with you. Whatever you do or don't do, please don't have any regrets OK? We dogs don't even know what that word means, all we know is that you love us and we love you, and that's all that matters. Good luck.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for your feedback everyone - you have given me more food for thought. And I am relieved that the runny nose is nothing to get excited about (thank you Pam).
And Sue you had a good point - if I did know it had spread would I do anything different. The answer is no I would not. We made the 'no chemo' decision at the onset of Tanner's diagnosis and haven't looked back.
Everyday with him is a blessing and filled with playtime, running in the snow and all his favorite foods, treats and toys.
Thank you again everyone!
Amy and Tanner
Hi, Amy and Tanner-
Congrats on your 2-month ampuversary! How funny that you just asked the same question I did-should we get lung x-rays? It was great to read everyone's thoughts on the matter. Since we are doing chemo, and likely won't do more than one round as it is so darn expensive (even since the cost dropped), we are very much on the fence, as well. Good luck figuring out what is best for all of you.
Nancy
Amy said:
Everyday with him is a blessing and filled with playtime...
That's the spirit!
My people decided not to go the chemo route from the beginning to. Later, when my mets showed up, they chose a new protocol and stuck with it. (For details search "Metronomic" in the blog.)
But a snowball fight can be much better therapy than any meds ...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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