Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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How has everyone decided for or against chemo? We started out sure we were going to put down our almost 12 year old girl, Maisy, but landed on amputation, and she is happy and doing well 3.5 weeks later. Thought we would never consider chemo- but are now considering. Our biggest concern is quality, not quanity, but man, this is hard!!!
Hi,
I believe that is a very hard and personal decision, but our vet back then said that due to the different dosage for dogs as opposed to humans he gets side effects in his patients once every five years.
I then decided to give it a try to be able to say we did it all and I figured we could always stop the treatment. We sailed through chemo and never had a single issue.
Manni lived for exactly two years after amputation and while nobody knows if the chemo helped with that I can always say we tried everything.
Whatever you decide will be the right decision for you, though. I know some people here decided against chemo and their dogs lived just as long.
All the best
tina
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
I second what tinsch said. For us, we decided to go for chemo because if we got through the amputation we wanted to him to enjoy life for as long as possible. There are no guarantees eirher way ... but we hoped it would give him more time.
We have been through 1 round of carboplatin and haven’t seen any outward side effects. Good appetite, attitude etc. he did develop a very low white blood cell count so we started on antibiotics and need to avoid parks and strange dogs etc until it comes up ... but to us that doesn’t put a huge kink in his day. 🙂
my biggest recommendation is to find a good oncologist to discuss your chemo options with (they should be neutral and not push one way or another) and who can help tailor a program to fit your dog and help w post chemo monitoring etc.
maisysmom said
How has everyone decided for or against chemo?
Don't miss this popular thread with many Tripawds members discussing their choices and the pros and cons of chemotherapy.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
As you can already see from the feedback, no right or wrong answer, okay? And no guarantees one way or another. Truly!
Some dogs who do chemo may, or may not, appear to get extended time. Some dogs who do not do chemo may, or may not, appear to get extended time. Clyde just celebrated two uear ampuversary with no chemo. Jerry didn't do chemo and loved living in three for two years.
You know your situation best. You know Maisy best. Does she hate going to the Vet? Does she stress in the car? Finances play into it. Kmowing yourself factors into it. Would you second guess yourself if you didn't try chemo, or are you comfortable with the reasons you originally decoded not to do that option?
I did do four rounds of Carboplatin (the suggested number) with my Happy Hannah. I did it knowi I could stop at any time if she had issues. Her appointments were in and out in less than an hour (at the most), so there was no day long drop off.
Again, no right or wrong. As suggested, talk with the Onco. Weigh the pros and cons based on your own personal situation. Talk with the Onco about the window of time for starting the treatment IF you go that route.
And I really do hate to say it again, but it is important! There ARE NO RIGHT OR WRONGDECISIONS as to whether you pursue chemo or not! And NO guarantees one way or another!
Give that sweet girl a a smooch for us! So glad she's doing well! Good job!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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,
I know exactly what you are going thru. My Brownie who is 12 was diagnossed with OST Bone cancer. We have not done chemo. The reason is He gets too stressed at the vet. I did take him to see an oncologist and he totally freaked out over blood work and made himself sick. They told me he would need to be sedated for chemo treatments and I didn't want to put him thru that. When he is sedated, he is such a light weight he is dopey for two days. So We are doing the holistic route with diet and supplements. He also has had ozone treatments. For some reason at the holistic vet he doesn't get stressed out. However, I do question my decision every day, and hope I made the right one. I just want Brownie's days to be good ones.
As others told me you know your dog more then anyone, so what you decide is best.
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
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