Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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i took Gertie for her 2nd chemo session today. they did not do chemo and are recommending we not pursue more treatment. i just can't bear the thought of not continuing to fight. From how they talked it seemed like her breathing may have gotten worse since i dropped her off. we have had a heat wave,not sure how much that matters. i just don't know what to do. they did say that she probably wouldn't leave the hospital if we tried a different chemo drug. i have reached out to a few people about recommending a place to get a second opinion. any suggestions?
Okay, hang on! Deep breaths!! You just got a kick in the gut and have to be quite upset, rightfully so.
Getting a second opinion is an EXCELLENT path forward. And there ARE things that can be done, while maybe not curative, certainly can give her good quality so she can get more spoiling and loving and treats.
I have to run out quickly, but will be back. Alao, you can call the Tripawds Helpline and can find some support there. Okay, I'll guess up. I'm the volunteer on duty today, but, again, have to run our for a bit but will be glad to chat when I get back in. Jist leave a message on the Helpline.
Did the cljnic offer any options like Prednisone, or Piroxicam for example?
((((((((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!
I'm so sorry! I can't imagine how much this hurts, we all want our dogs to thrive after amputation and it feels so unfair when things go sideways. FWIW some thoughts:
Yes the heat can certainly make panting worse. Are you able to get Gertie into air conditioning? It makes a big difference we found when we thought Jerry's cancer was getting bad during one hot July day. Once we got him into A/C he was a new dog.
Was it Purdue that advised against treatment? Did they offer any kind of palliative care route? As Sally mentioned, pred can help and of course pain management is important too.
You can certainly get another opinion from an oncologist. If you want to PM me your location I can try to help you find one.
Stay strong and focused on Gertie. She needs you more than anything right now, to stay focused on the present moment and make every second count. I know that's sooo hard in this situation but she will give you the strength to do that. And lean on us when you want to vent, we are here for you.
They didn't prescribe those, she's already on carprofen and gabapentin (pain), ondansetron (anti nausea) and today they gave me Entyce just in case i need it (appetite enhancer)
Thank you! I know i need to stay strong for Gertie
Yes she's in air conditioning now. her breathing is a little short but especially considering the heat... and I know I'm biased but i don't think it's as bad as they said, they also mentioned her not being able to walk and then once we got home she even got up on her own and has been walking.
Purdue is the one that recommended against treatment. I am in Lafayette, Indiana and would love a recommendation for a second opinion
Thanks so much!
Always remember, you know your Gertie best. You see her 24/7 in her home environment.
Are you getting tail wags, alter, engaged? Resting comfortably?
Although my Happy Hannah had osteo and then lung mets and didn't have the same as Gertie, I can tell you that mets, in general aren't necessarily a horrible painful thing. She did need lots of rest (and enjoyed it) and sometimes there was a change in her breathing pattern. In her case, not necessarily heat related in that it was around March-ish. But definitely, as Jerry said, heat can change the breathing pattern. I did find myself getting a little obsessed watching her brea pattern, counting breaths per minute, etc. Finalky my Vet basically told me to stop it!!! He said if it got really badly compromised on a consistent basis, then I could start paying attention again.
While advising against chemo "may" be good advice, it does not ,mean that there are other things to try, es for comfort and extended quality time. The Prednisone I mentioned reduces any inflammation around the mets, as well as can increase the appetite.
Also you can have your regular Vet help you asses other ways she might benefit. Again, doesn't necessarily have to be along the lines of chemo.
Now give that sweet Gertie a big smooch for us! And remember, as far as Gertie is concerned, all is well in her world.
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!
thanks yes that rings so true. the vet said she couldn't walk but multiple times since I've had her back she's done 20+ steps unassisted so i don't know what to make of that. there is a retired vet that's kinda a family friend that i am doing a consult with tomorrow and based on what she says i think i am gonna ask about the different pallatative drugs. it seems odd to me they didnt Mention that at all
we've gone on a few car rides today plus asking for belly rubs and playing with toys so I know she's comfortable
Well this sou ds like a pretty darn good update! Miss Gertie is ce fiinding joy in her day and seems quite conte. You are doing EXACTLHwhat Gertie needs.......just staying focused on the NOW and doing things that make Gertie happy👍 Carrides, getting belly ribs, playing with her toys......so happy to read this!
And please know that ""pallative" care is still a treatment. It's still a path forward. In fact, adding to quality and comfort, freeing oneself from poking and prodding at Vet's, being spoiled more than any dog could ever hope for....yeah....all these things can actually be very therapeutic amd extends dog's life beyond "expectations ".
Maybe a second opinion from yoir Vet and another Onco can also give you some suggestions on holostic alternatives, mushroom therapies, etc.
Would love to see some pics of Gertie. Here's a link to help
Adding images. adding images
Keep on keeping on Gertie. We're al, cheering for you!
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!
My heart breaks for you an Gertie. I am going through the exact same thing as are many others. I see my girl Coco really starting to slowing down and it breaks my heart, although she is being spoiled with whatever she wants, belly rubs, ice cream etc... Hopefully she starts her trial treatment this Thursday. Which Im trying to remain pawsitive, I can see that she is wearing down. I am kinda hoping it is partly because of the heat and have noticed her breathing pattern does change and like Jerry did, i seem to find myself obsessing over that and seemingly every other little thing. Hang in there. I am going to try to do the same.
update from my family friend, She is a retired vet and more into homeopathic treatments now. She recommended stopping gabapentin and the anti nausea medicine because of the side effects. And wean off carprofen / use as needed. And replace with these.
Turkey tail mushroom dry powder.
Hypericum - for nerve pain / as needed
Histaminium - anti-histamine / give pellets four times a day
Simon and Haley's
Raw fermented goat milk
1/2 cup 3-4 times a day
increased strength cbd oil
GORGEOUS GERTIE!!!! Looooove this picture! A wonderful Co-Pilot😎 Thanks for sharing this beauty 👍
Cant really comment on the new plan you are on. I do know the Turkey Tail has good anecdotal results in some cases.
Do check with a Vet about stopping the Gaba as that usually needs to be tapered down,
When you get a second, post the CBD you are using. Jerry has actually just gone through some training on the best type to use.
((((((((Hugs)))))
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!
The homeopathic stuff I'm not sure on.... just want to get as many great days as i can with my girl and feel like this is the best chance we have.
This is the CBD i am using (the blue 3). i do 15 drops 3 times per day. https://store.g.....oil-drops/ Very interested in @jerry opinion!
Hey there, just catching up.
It's good to read that Gertie is still able to get around. You know her better than anyone. Document her behavior so the vet team knows that she is still having a good quality of life.
Thanks for sharing what you've learned from the other vet. Very interesting! And thanks for the shout out Sally 🙂
Regarding stopping the Gabapentin: I'm not a vet so FWIW....but stopping it cold can cause rebound pain depending on how long Gertie has been taking it. Did the new vet give you any guidance on a gradual withdrawal? The general vet guidance on that is to remove it little by little.
The homeopathy remedies you listed are known for alleviating pain. But homeopathy is also not looked favorably on by the American Veterinary Medical Assn. because of lack of evidence that it actually works. It's a hot topic, and a touchy one. So if you do withdraw the Gaba and NSAID, please watch Gertie carefully for pain signals OK? It's my understanding that NSAID pain relief properties get built up in the body over time in order to work effectively, and starting and stopping may not be as effective. Again, not a vet so FWIW.
This is the CBD i am using (the blue 3). i do 15 drops 3 times per day. https://store.g.....oil-drops/ Very interested in @jerry opinion!
I took a quick look, thanks for introducing us to the product. I like that the company makes it easy to find the Certificate of Analysis, and that it's from an accredited lab. So far it appears the product contains what it's supposed to based on the website description.
The only issues I see are that 1) the COA is old. Anything more than 6 months old is not ideal. 2) the company doesn't test for toxins, heavy metals, or fungus/mold. So be aware that these properties may be inside the product, and for a dog with a critical illness, you really want to know if those properties are present. Last issue is that there is some THC in there. Not a lot, but just watch Gertie for any behavior changes.
Did the holistic vet guide you on the product and the dosage? Just curious how you came up with it. I didn't look at the product instructions so is that where it came from?
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