Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Unfortunately, Suki has developed this from her Cytoxan metronomic protocol. She has blood in her urine and is straining to pee every few steps when we go out for a walk. My Onc. is taking her off of Cytoxan and recommending alkeran/melphalan instead.
Does anyone have any experience with this drug? Any side effects you were aware of? Any guess on cost? She says Diamondback pharmacy compounds it and I've never dealt with a compounding pharmacy before (and don't know that I trust too many of them after the 60 minutes report two weeks ago!)
If anyone else has had their dog develop cystitis, I'd be grateful to hear about how long it took to clear up.
Thanks
Haven't had this issue with a dog (yet) 
but cystitis usually clears up within 24 hours of starting antibiotics.
Without antibiotics it will just get worse, so I'm assuming your vet has already prescribed those.
Yes, she's been on antibiotics the whole time (and cranberry pills). They've stopped being effective at this time.
Aww poor Suki! I'm really sorry to hear that. Rest assured this isn't the first case and every dog who its happened to got well quickly after the cytoxan was stopped.
As for Alkeran, that's an exciting alternative to cytoxan.
Dr. Wiltzius (aka "Tazziedog" here) says
....Leukeran (chlorambucil), and Alkeran (melphalan). The latter two are safe but not much info yet on efficacy but there are oncologists trying these.
Metronomics are so new that no one is sure yet what is the best protocol. Some dogs might do well on 1 drug and others may not. It is hard to evaluate results since some dogs live a long time with amputation alone and no chemo so are these drugs really doing anything? I think it is worth a try!
The reason I believe it's exciting is because in this Downloads blog, "Metronomic Protocol, a Primer for Pawrents" Dr. Jeannette Kelly, whose clinic I had my metronomics prescribed from, believes that
Today, Dr. Kelly prefers to use alkeran, instead of cytoxan, for the chemotherapy agent. The success that alkeran has demonstrated in human cancer patients has prompted her to make the switch. She also utilizes a NSAID like Metacam, Rimadyl or Peroxicam.
Dr. Kelly is an awesome onco doc who's an early adapter of metronomics and it sounds like your onco is very forward thinking like she is, this is great! I would go for it.
As for compounding pharmacies, try not to worry. It's in the news now but they have been around for a long time. I got my drugs from one and we've never (as far as I know) had an incident here with a member who got bad drugs because of poor practices at a compounding pharmacies). Here is a great post that Jill just shared with us:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This type of cystitis is often inflammatory rather than bacterial so mainly it is "tincture of time" that stops the straining and bleeding. The official term is sterile hemorrhagic cystitis.
My Tazzie had the bacterial type but the infection was very bad (Pseudomonas bacteria) and took 6 weeks to clear up so I stopped metronomics altogether but continued the meloxicam, Power Mushrooms, and added artemisinin .
Pam
Dear Suki Girl---I have no medical insight to offer--just wanted you to know we're thinking of you and wishing you the best. Ssunds like you have some great advice from Tazzie, Jerry and Dharma and just knowing it's "kind of" expected sometimes with metronomic and there are solutions should help ease your mind.
Surrounding you with a caring heart for you two, Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Suki girl,
Hi there. I just came across this post and felt compelled to respond. My Bruno got hemorrhagic cystitis after prolonged exposure to chemo (side effect) of cyclophosamide. It was horrible. I don't want to frighten you by any means but it is vital that you urge the doctors to get a handle of this ASAP. Bruno's symptoms NEVER cleared entirely and I have to be honest in saying that, in my opinion, from there on it was one thing after another. He took medication, cranberry pills, you name it but nothing helped and the symptoms did not merely go away on their own as his onco said they should have after having stopped chemo. From there on out I started worrying about the effects it was having on his bladder and whether it would result in bladder cancer due to the irritation and inflammation. He ended up getting a very unusual penile bacteria that looked horrid. I have pictures that are somewhat graphic but that I would be willing to share if needed. You have to understand that I was vigilant and always looming and inspecting him in hopes of catching seemingly significant change in time to be able to be proactive. I can't express to you enough how much I feel that this cystitis was a detriment, at least in our case, and I wish you luck in nipping this issue. Please contact me if I can be of further help.
Maricela and Spirit Bruno
http://bruiserb.....pawds.com/
Maricela and Spirit Bruno
Hi there. Sorry to hear about Suki's cystitis. Our Max was on Cytoxan during metronomics ; our oncologist also prescribed Lasix to help with any urinary issues that might pop up. We were really careful in watching him pee (I know that sounds funny!), and luckily he never develoed any issues. After several weeks of cytoxan, our onc switched Max over to Leukeran. He never really had any issues with either drug.
Again, so sorry to hear about Suki's problems. I hope it gets cleared up soon and she gets to feeling better!
Well, now I'm worried. I don't know what else to do except listen to my onc., take her off the Cytoxin and keep her on the antibiotics and cranberry until it clears up.
I won't be looking at graphic pictures, thanks. Have enough fear going through me right now.
Suki,
My intention wasn't to make you fearful by any means however I always wanted to be vigilant because I knew that no one knew Bruno better than me and therefore I was his greatest advocate. As much as I'd like to say that I trust in drs i have to say that the fact that each onco we met with gave us a slightly different variation and prognosis made me understand that there was no definitive answer. I approached his journey from the persPective that knowledge is power and tried to resolve issues as quickly as possible or before they arose. I will keep y'all in my prayers and wish her a speedy recovery. Best wishes.
Maricelamand Spirit Bruno
Maricela and Spirit Bruno
Just wanted to hear how Ms.Skis is doing.I trust your vet has a plan for er and would.d love to get an update when you have time. Everyone has such varied experiences and ever single dog is different. All experiences shared are wrapped around the best of intentions but I know sometimes one response can seem scarier than another!!! All responses are coming from a loving place though. Pick the response that fits you and your Suki, along with the vet's opinion' and ru. With it- Your Suki has a look of "Hey' I'm not worried I'm must enjoying life and love".
Surrounding you with love and bucket loads of encouraging support Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
She is in quite a bit of pain and we've had to put her on Tramadol to settle her down. She still has to go out every 2 hours or so (lots of fun in the middle of the night) and tries to pee almost constantly. She's not eating much and keeps getting up and coming over to me, like somehow I will be able to stop her pain. It's killing me.
She's on powerful antibiotics along with her usual pain meds that she was taking for her hip arthritis (rymadyl and gaba).
I'm mad mostly at myself. I KNEW from the first week she was on cytoxan that it wasn't agreeing with her, but my Onc and I kept thinking maybe it was a bladder infection. I kept putting this drug in her that has turned her poor bladder into what looks like a bloody stump (from pictures I've seen online). I can only imagine the pain she's in (I've had one bladder infection in my life and that was hell. And that was just an infection. This is bleeding, swelling and constant pain).
I'm supposed to be taking CARE of my dog, not hurting her.
Oh. boy can I relate!! And it's perfectly normal to say all those things to yourself when you see your Suki in pain
Ain and she's coming over to you to fix it. The anti biotics will work and you will see improvement. You know yourself it takes time for them to kick in
We all go through the "what have I done----look what I've caused". at least I have many to es over that's why I wanted to respond As quill as possible.e, You are dong everything out of love and everything to give Suki a long quality life. And OK are. Had OK of tried metronomics
OK would be second guessing g that. Sorry this typing is so bad---part tablet messing up and part. Me
Please give yourself a. Break and be easy o. You......Suki knows you love her and she knows you are taking care of her.
I so wish I could offer more support. We all care about you and Ade here for you. We all need to remember, cancer is the culprit and we are doing g all we can to help our dogs. This discomfort which I. can only imagine kind of comes and goes, is not as excruciating as the bone cancer you took away
Stay strong.....sending you peace, calm and serenity and a lot of protection for your near! Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Good grief---hoestly, that gooly gook was I. Part this computer! Somewhere up there I was trying to say that if you hadn't tried it you would really beat yourself up for not giving her a. Chance. you both are very. Rave and strong. Vent anytime don't old it in...now go eat some if cream and kiss your Suki girl. She loves you.
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!
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