Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I am very concerned this morning. I write this hoping for a few prayers and some improvement soon, but also as a bit of a heads-up to you guys in case things go downhill. Bare with me for a bit of background: After the pancreatitis diagnosis one week ago, the vet gave Zeus a 24-hour shot of Cerenia, four days of oral/pill Cerenia, and he prescribed Metronidazole (125 mg twice a day). I know that Ge'lena and Charon are cringing if they are reading this.
We went for follow-up on Monday evening and some of his CBC results had normalized, but the RBC/platelet/Neu counts were still off and the pancreatitis test still came back abnormal. Dr R said it could be that the meds were still working and the pan. just wasn't totally resolved yet. Wanted us to keep him on the Metronidazole for another week and to recheck in one month unless needed before then - so as of this morning he is on his 7th day of Metronidazole.
Here is where we are now: His upset stomach seems to have resolved, but he gets out of breath even going 10 steps into the yard to potty. He is not pooping on a regular schedule, only half as often as nornal. He seems to have no energy. This morning Zeus did not even move when the alarm went off (remember that this is the dog who gets me up religiously at 5:30 every single morning, seven days a week for his potty and breakfast). I actually had to shake him several times to wake him up. I panicked because for a moment I thought he wasn't alive. When he did get up, he seemed a bit off and uncoordinated. Ate fine, but seems to be having trouble standing up. Still hasn't pooped as of yet.
I try to remind myself that he was pretty weak the other times he had pancreatitis, but as of yesterday I began preparing myself for the worst. Suspected spinal mets b/c of his weakness/uncoordination of rear legs and because for a couple of weeks now he has seemed reluctant to stand-up on his hind legs (when I put him in the car he usually rears up to put his front foot on the bumper and I then lift him the rest of the way but he had needed encouragement to lift-up that leg recently).
But this morning, it occured to me that long ago the vet prescribed Metronidazole for chemo neausea and I didn't give it to him b/c I was concerned about side effects. This morning I searched and found that Metro toxicity can cause neurological symptoms and it jogged my memory so I searched this site and found the response I received (specifically from Ge'lena and Charon about the terrible effects it had on their dogs) when he was prescribed this medicine many months ago.
I hold some hope that discontinuing this medicine will give improvement. I am also realistic that it may not. Please keep my boy in your prayers....
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Sending prayers and good thoughts to Zeus! I also hope this is a side effect of the medicine. I don't know what kind of weather you're having there in PA, but make sure Zeus gets plenty of water. If there's been high heat there and he's not drinking enough, that could be making him a little pokey also. Please keep us updated as you can. We're pulling for your Zeus!!!
You and Zeus are most absolutely in our thoughts today. I know this is scary! Before discontinuing any medications, be sure to talk to your vet to make sure that doing so won't make things worse. I don't know the specifics on this Met. one, but there are many that need to be withdrawn gradually. Give them a call and let us know what they tell you. We will be waiting for updates.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sending our best pawsitive thoughts out to our boy Zeus. Hope it's just a side effect of the meds.
Hoping for a good update soon!
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita
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!
Sending positive thoughts your way; you and Zeus are most definitely in our thoughts today. Meds have always done a number on Zeus, so hoping it's nothing more than one of Zeus's bad reactions. Assuming it is a bad reaction, I think I would consider calling it quits with Zeus's chemo treatment. He's had a rough time with chemo, and he's not had much fun lately. Many dogs blow away the stats without any chemo whatsoever, and Zeus has already had several rounds of traditional chemo, so he's already ahead of the game. Just me thinking; feel free to ignore me!
((Hugs))
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
OK Scout said
Assuming it is a bad reaction, I think I would consider calling it quits with Zeus's chemo treatment. He's had a rough time with chemo, and he's not had much fun lately. Many dogs blow away the stats without any chemo whatsoever, and Zeus has already had several rounds of traditional chemo, so he's already ahead of the game. Just me thinking; feel free to ignore me!((Hugs))
We could not agree more. If we can get him over this hump, then we have decided that we are done with treatments. I remember someone on here once saying about their dog "it is between him and God now" and I actually found myself saying those words a few days ago. When we finished the traditional chemo, we were excited that he tolerated it so well (all except that last dose where his WBC count dropped and he got pneumonia). By all accounts the MP is minor and is usually tolerated well so we didn't expect any complications. Boy were we wrong. Then, Dr R truly believed it was the NSAID Peroxicam that was causing the problem and he would be fine on Cytoxan only. Wrong again. Now it is time for him to rest and, hopefully, just enjoy whatever time he has left.
Thanks for the good thoughts and the support!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
zeuspod said
By all accounts the MP is minor and is usually tolerated well so we didn't expect any complications. Boy were we wrong.
And we always thought the same thing too. The worst reactions we've seen are urinary tract infections with girldogs. I'm so sorry Zeus was unlucky with metronomics , and hope that he feels better today. There is something very emotionally freeing about ditching the pills and the icky routines, and just living life. I hope that you can experience that once he bounces back (today, Zeus! you can do it!).
I also thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time to share his experience with us. Each and every story here, whether it's about chemo or surgery or whatever, broadens our perspectives and gives us more knowledge, so that we can share all of the potential "what ifs" with future members. Now we know that not all dogs can handle MP.
Thank you so much for being a part of Tripawds. {{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry,
In all fairness, Zeus has the most sensitive stomach of any dog I have ever seen. We discovered years ago that we could give him ONE cheese puff and he would pass gas for an hour. Seriously.
As for sharing the story, it is partly selfish because the support of this community is overwhelming and makes me feel less alone in this battle. But it is also for the 'benefit' of anyone else going through this. Zeus has been unlucky with some things (like intolerance to MP) and I hope that it helps others to be an advocate for their dogs when the vet says 'I really don't think ____ is the problem because that is just unheard of' but he also been extremely fortunate with other things (the lone met for seven months!). I hope that documenting it will let new members know that there is no single path for every dog. Each of our stories are very different.
Thanks again everyone for just listening.
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Wow. So sorry to read about Zeus. We are thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way. Such a difficult decision to discontinue treatment, and such a helpless feeling, I know. But he got lots of treatment and hopefully that will carry him forward. And it sounds like the choice to try and get him feeling better and then just letting him be a dog for however long he has left is a kind one for Zeus. As the onco said to me yesterday - we are going for quality of life. Take care of Zeus and yourself!
Sending all sorts of healing and good energy to Zeus! Come on boy, get over this hump!!! I never hesitated with giving Lupe Metronidazole for colitis and I think the few times she had pancreatitis, she was on it as well. She also never had any of the side effects. The heat has been brutal so hopefully he's been drinking enough because dehydration causes all sorts of funny and scary behaviors.
Hopefully he perks up over the next 24 hours...please keep us updated...thinking of you both!!!
-Kori & Angel Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
Zeus what are you doing to your Mum. Hope you feel better soon handsom boy!!!
Med side effect, med side effect, med side effect, med side effect, med side effect, med side effect........
Sending lots of Pawsitive healing thoughts your way. Go Zeus you can beat this buddy!
Sarah, Kayla and Grandpa Sarge
I've been checking forum posts and wondering but didn't want to bug you. Give him time to get the meds and their side effects out of his system. I also agree that the weather in a large part of the country has been unbearable. Yesterday was the first time in maybe 2-3 weeks that I could get Harley around the block. Zeus and you guys are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Kathy & Harley
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
I am so sorry to hear that Zeus is not doing so good. It is very scary when our dogs are not well and we aren't sure what is going on. Magnum also went through the Chemo IV really well only to have issues with MP (Palladia) and then the horrible bone mets showing up and ruining everything.
I remember our oncologist telling me when we finished chemo IV that while the mets typically showed up in the lungs they could turn up anywhere and we needed to be prepared for "anything". It didn't seem like very helpful advice at the time but in hindsight I wish I had appreciated what it meant more than I did.
You are so right, this insidious disease can manifest itself in so many different ways meaning each of our journeys can be very different.
Enjoy every precious moment together. We will keep you in our prayers and thoughts.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
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/
Oh man. 🙁 I sincerely hope that Zeus makes a recovery from this, that all it is a minor bump. Please, please let us know how this progresses. I'll definitely keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers.
In the event that you need help with his stomach-sensitivity and getting him to eat, there's a raw-goats milk product out there from Additional. I've heard wonderful things about how it helps with that issue...might be worth a shot if you think Zeus can handle it.
Hang in there. I hope with all my heart Zeus makes a turn around.
Jack - adopted with a crooked leg at 4 months old, managed for six years, and now much-happier Tripawd as of 5/24/2012!
Zeus is definitely in our prayers and we are sending all our positive thoughts your way. Hope it's the med side effect and he feels better soon. I thought I had the most sensitive dogs' stomach living with me. It is not fun always wondering what their stomach is going to do flip-flops over next. Here's hoping for calmness and no noises coming from that tummy of his.
All our Best,
Suzie and Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
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