Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone!
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. It's been really nice getting back to some sort of normality and having fun with Beau. He's doing just wonderfully and we really are so incredibly proud of our big handsome tripawd. Every time I take him and his brother for a walk I walk the whole way with a smile, watching them run and play and watching Beau's head disappear down a rabbit hole and diving into puddles, its so heartwarming. He has taught me so much about living in the moment, stopping to enjoy the little things that often pass by unnoticed in the distractions of every day life. Of course, I still wish this never happened but I can truly say there is so much good that has also come from this. Our bond is stronger than ever, I take extra special time out to appreciated how wonderful my dogs are and to cherish every moment I am blessed with them by my side.
We are now nearly 9 weeks post amp and Beau will be having his third of 6 rounds of Chemotherapy this Thursday. The vet mentioned that they often like to do another CT after the third round to check that everything is ok and potentially change drugs if there are signs that the Carboplatin is not working, but that its a totally personal choice. His initial CT, at the end of Jan just after we found the lump was all clear. I'm completely torn on whether we should opt for another CT, part of me thinks ignorance really is bliss and it's better not to know and just get on with enjoying our time however long it may be, the other part thinks, at least if I know, there may be something we can do. I'm reluctant to put him through any more procedures than necessary, but I don't want to look back with regret.
I understand its a totally personal decision that we will have to decide but what were others experiences. Did you opt for scans? Regret doing it? Decide against scans altogether?. Also,if we decide not to do any more scans, and lung mets do appear, are there quite obvious symptoms or is it difficult to know if they are there or not. I suppose watching him so happy and looking so healthy allows me to stay in a comforting sense of denial, but I just want to make the right decision for him.
Thanks again everyone
Hannah, Beau & Family
What a wonderful update!!! I can see all the joy and pride in your post and it just warms my heart. And Beau is absolutely rockin' it!!!
I don't know what I would do in your situation. It's a tough call. I guess you would have to ask yourself, "Which is the lesser of the evils?"
I know I'm no help, but you've done so wonderfully with your fur-baby. I'm confident you'll do right by Beau.
Keep us updated!!
Smooches to Beau!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
We chose not to perform frequent follow-up scans after Jerry's OSA amputation...believing he would let us know if/when he started feeling sick. During a routine wellness exam about 18 months later, a vet encouraged us to do some x-rays, explaining "it's better to know."
So, we did and discovered some lung mets. No surprise there. But it did lead us to see an oncologist who got him on metronomics and into a clinical trial for K9 Immunity . Jerry loved life on three legs for another 6± months after that!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We dealt with a different type of cancer, mast cell, so we did abdominal ultrasounds every three months during treatment and beyond.
My take would be that I would do the test if the results would change what you are doing. Since you are doing chemo you should know if it is working or not, if it is not working then you need to change meds or at least stop chemo. No sense giving him those chemicals if they are not working. When you are done with chemo and you decide that no matter what happens you are not doing more treatment then I would skip the tests.
That is sort of the plan I had with Maggie. During her chemo treatments and for a year after we did 3 month tests because we had options if the cancer appeared again.
I'm glad to hear Beau is doing so well and so are you!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Otis has his 3rd chemo tomorrow. They will be doing x-rays to determine whether the chemo is working. The chemo hasn't been horrible so far, but I definitely do not want to continue as is if it is not working. Why put him through it? I agree with Karen - it makes sense to do it if it can inform your treatment decisions or actions. Not sure that I personally would see great value in just 'knowing.' Which for me, translates into just stressing out.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
We've never done a CT scan on Murphy, and MSU has never suggested one, not sure if it's routine there or not. They did x-rays and abdominal ultrasound. I'm not sure if I would do CT or not ... is it really expensive? For just the x-rays & ultrasound it was over $600. Money does play a part in things, too. Would it change things? I guess if you would change the treatment based on the scan results, then maybe it would be worth the costs. We did the x-rays every 2-4 months for about 2 years, plus an ultrasound at the beginning & 1 this past fall. We finally decided not to continue with the serial x-rays at this point since we aren't doing any other treatment. However, if Murphy starts showing any symptoms of metastasis, we can take him for x-rays to check and to make plans from there.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
When I asked my vets whether we should do X-rays they all said why? Would it change what you are doing? Is it going to tell you something that will change that? Plus they advised that to fund the mets it would be a CT scan and did we want him to have another anaesthetic?
so we accepted that and said no we wouldn't
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