Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Tucker is doing really well, he is hopping around like a champ & enjoying the beautiful fall weather. He started chemo today, we are hoping that he doesn't feel too bad after his treatments. I have a question: We want to change his food to a grain free diet, we are leaning towards Acana & maybe adding Sojo's after chemo is done. Can I start transitioning once we figure out how he is going to react to the treatment? I have been reading all of the food info & it is making me crazy. I just want to get this part done (I feel like this is the only thing that I control now...). We have neighbors who have been successfully using the Budwig protocol for over a year, so that is the route we are going as well. We have been doing cottage cheese & flax oil since post op day 3 & he has tolerated it very well.
Good to hear Tucker is doing so well.
I would be careful changing diets anytime during chemo. Chemo effects tend to be cumulative and so he may have more of a reaction later in treatment.
What does your vet think?
I hear you on the control part though!
Karen and the pugapalooza
Our vet feels that he is eating an appropriate food (eukanuba). She does not think that we should go to a grain free food because there is no research to support that decision, so I am not sure what to do.
Our vet asked me not to change food until we were done with chemo. He didn't want to have to guess if it was the chemo or some other change we made if there was a problem that presented during chemo.
I did go to a grain free after the chemo. And I feed my dogs grain free today. It works for us and they are doing very well on it.
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've been using the grain free Nature's Instict Raw Boost for a couple of months now and it has shown great digestive benefits over the last prescription diets our dogs were on. We have a St. Bernard that just celebrated his two week ampuversary on Tuesday and is getting staples out tomorrow and first chemo treatment.
There may not be a ton of research on dogs and grain free , but we've tried a million (and expensive for 12 cups a day between the both; we have giant breeds) and this one so far has made their gas issues far less and our English Mastiff is having less allergy issues.
Unfortunately, this is our first experience with a tripawd and chemo so I don't know if he's reacting differently than to his old food, but I know with all the drugs he has been fussy with eating on his normal schedule (acting a bit more drugged when he's first received them). However, with a little finesse, he ends up eating all of his food. I know with this grain free brand and kind, they went totally nuts when we brought the bag in and have tried to open up the food containers since this food has been introduced (our Mastiff is VERY finnicky when it comes to his food, so we were skeptical, but he eats it like it's dog candy).
I'd also be interested to hear how your baby does after the chemo, as our first treatment will be tomorrow.
iheartbenben said
We've been using the grain free ...
Thanks for the feedback, your future forum posts will not require moderation.
@tuckerdog Be sure to review the Tripawds Nutrition blog for plenty of advice about a grain free canine cancer diet.
Best Grain Free Dog Foods List
Grain Free Kibble Options for Fighting Dog Cancer
Wysong Epigen, a High Protein Kibble Alternative
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tucker seems to be doing well 2 days after chemo. He is eating normally, although he is on remeron & reglan for appetite stimulant/anti nausea. Our vet has seen research that suggests that more frequent chemo may provide increased life expectancy, so she wants to give chemo every 2 weeks for 5 doses rather than every 3 weeks.
tuckerdog said
Tucker seems to be doing well 2 days after chemo. He is eating normally, although he is on remeron & reglan for appetite stimulant/anti nausea. Our vet has seen research that suggests that more frequent chemo may provide increased life expectancy, so she wants to give chemo every 2 weeks for 5 doses rather than every 3 weeks.
Yay Tucker! That's terrific. I would love to see the research your vet mentioned, it would be good to have that information here. Would it be possible to get a link to the study she's referring to? If you remember of course, I know you have a lot on your mind!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm glad Tucker is doing well so far. Maggie did about 6 months of chemo for mast cell cancer and tolerated it pretty well. We did have to delay treatment a couple times since her WBC was low, and we had a couple instances of nausea, but nothing more. Her regimin was different than for OSA.
Mag was already on a grain free diet at the time of diagnosis due to quad pug Tani's stomach issues. Grain free makes sense to me as a cancer diet, but also they just seem healthier on it. When I adopted Pug boy Obie he had some skin allergy issues, which got noticeably better when I put him on my diet. He still has some issues so I am trying to get away from kibble altogether- but that is another story.
There are lots of opinions and lots of diets out there, you have to find something that works for you and Tucker. The diet I use now for the pugs is put together with input from our regular vet, the holistic vet Tani sees for her arthritis and cancer, info on this site, and what I have learned in the past few years dealing with sick pugs!
I hope Tucker continues to do well with chemo, lots of pups sail right through.
Karen and the pugapalooza
We also did every 2 weeks with our Abby.
Glad to hear he is doing well!
Jackie, Angel 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!
All the reading can do your head in. I know! We didn't change Magnum's diet to grain free but we decreased the dry food and added more meat and vegies (as well as fish oil). If I did it again I would look at a grain free diet. My new monkeybutt Ruby is prone to mammary tumours so I am putting her on a grain free diet now in the hope that it will slow down/stop further growths.
I hope the chemo continues to go well.
Karen
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
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