TwiggysMom
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Posts posted by TwiggysMom
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I don't think there is any great difference in effectiveness between famotidine and omeprazole. I saw one mention (can't remember where) that omeprazole might be slightly more beneficial in certain applications, but it wasn't anything definitive.
Like you, I'm really good at examining stool (I even use clear poop bags
, you should see the looks I get!)I should mention, I'm just a layperson with a hound who's battling cancer, I only know what I've read and experienced. Actually, I did have a cat (Rover) who had oral squamous cell cancer - he was about 17 when he was diagnosed, and lived well for another year or so (I didn't do chemo for him, and this was pre-Palladia, anyway).
OSU is great, I brought Twiggy there for her amputation, and they were just wonderful to us.
PS: You're not far from my mom's family in Somerset County! Beautiful country out there, and really great memories for me!
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Is Willie getting some sort of stomach protectant(s)? NSAIDs can cause stomach ulcers/bleeds, and something like Prilosec (omeprazole) can help prevent this. Carafate/sucralfate can also help heal the stomach if there is some damage already started.
I don't mean this to sound harsh, but I wouldn't equate Willie's pain symptoms with Palladia (or any other drug) "working". If he is in pain, it is not directly because of cancer cells dying. It is more likely due to damaging side effects of the drugs.
Palladia (as I'm sure you know) is serious chemo. It can have some very serious side effects. If he has bloody stool, Palladia should be stopped immediately for a period of time. If the Palladia is restarted after an episode(s) of bloody stool, it may be a good idea to try a reduced dosage. It sounds like he is getting regular checks on his bloodwork which has shown his immune system isn't taking too big a hit from the Palladia. (I know many dogs on the drug have to take periodic Palladia "holidays").
My girl was on Palladia for a few months, and although it didn't seem to affect her bloodwork, she had severe gastro-intestinal side effects from it and we had to discontinue it (because she couldn't continue to live on it). OSU no longer recommends using Palladia as prevention for lung mets for osteo, but it seems they still find it useful for preventing lung mets for other types of cancer. (Not all oncologists have stopped recommending it for osteo met prevention, either - Twiggy's local oncologist still believes it shows great promise).
I hope it is maybe as simple as adding an acid reducer or switching nsaids, and I hope Willie continues to enjoy life with you for a very long time!
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Kristin, I am so, so sorry about Ace. I didn't know, either. Cully told me she was having a hard time, but I just didn't realize it would progress so quickly. You and your pups have gone through far too much in way too short a time.
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I don't consider turning on the ac until it gets to the upper 80's at least. Of course, it helps that my first floor is partially below grade and stays <80 at all times, so if we really want to cool off, we can go down there.
In the situation you describe, a difference of maybe 5-ish degrees from what they're used to, I can't imagine that would be a problem unless anyone has a significant medical condition.
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Steve, that's so great to hear about Katie starting to make her own decisions again. I so clearly remember the first time Twiggy got a determined look in her eye and demanded that I take her across the street! Before long, Katie is going to rule the world!
Victor, I emailed you just a bit ago. Please forgive my rambling style - I didn't take time to organize my thoughts too well!
Kristin, Pinky pics make me smile. I miss seeing her
Jenny, I am so sorry that Blitz's meds are being held up at the border. Does OSU know? Maybe they could help expedite somehow? I'm glad to hear that she is reclaiming her rightful place in the household
!Looking forward to another update on Casper!
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Sending out good thoughts for Silver's exam tomorrow!!
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Oh, dear little Bwat, I am certainly sending out good health and good healing thoughts for you.
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Hi Victor,
I just talked with Rich & Laurel this afternoon about your girl. I think they're contacting you with my info so we can chat off-line, too.
I was so sorry to hear about Lana. It sounds like you've been getting good advice and doing everything right so far.
Those are such great photos of your pretty girl!
The hind leg amp surgery is a bit less invasive, I think, than a front leg amp. At the very least, it is much easier to carry a hind leg amp if necessary! It is still a tough recovery for all (hound & human), and there will be a number of nights with little to no sleep.
After the first couple weeks, though, things will start getting much, much easier!
I look forward to hearing from you! Maybe we can have a tripod reunion this fall!
Wendy
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Kim, I don't have any suggestions for a harness for a front-leg amp. I've thought that it would be good to use one, but it seems like they slip around too much without 2 legs to anchor the harness in place. I feel like Twiggy would slip out of mpst harnesses really easily.
I do have a very basic harness that I tried on her at first, and it just didn't work at all. (slippage, like I noted above). Maybe the spook harness - the one with an extra loop that goes around the tuck area. That still would probably rotate, but wouldn't be as likely to slip off.
I found that what works for us is a longer (like 7 feet), lightweight leash. The length lets her keep going at her own pace better, and the weight keeps the leash from whipping around so much.
As for getting him back into the SUV, he might just surprise you and jump right in. If not, I'd make sure he is muzzles (just in case), and pick him up and pop him in. Easy to say, I know - it is kind of tricky to avoid the surgery area. On the one or two occasions I had to pick Twiggy up, I had her non-amp side against me and sort or wrapped my arm around her away from her amp site.
As for Katie: Um, yes, Katie - you might want to give the mailman a break for a week or two, I'm sure he could use it!!
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When I was crock-potting chickens for Twiggy, I would pull off all the skin and cut off as much of the fat as possible before cooking. (This process would easily take me an hour or more, but then again I'm way too detail-oriented...).
It was really a pain in the neck, and FawnFan's method may be just as effective. Even with all the preparation, I still found a great deal of solidified fat in the chicken broth after it cooled.
I was somewhat relieved when the chickens started to disagree with her. Now I just cook her a steak when I feel like giving her something extra!
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Oh, this really is too much! It really is unfair to have to deal with so many traumatic illnesses so close together (or at all!).
It's wonderful that you vet can help you get good prices on meds, but it would be even better if the universe could take away your need for them!
Sending good wishes to both you and your lovely boy Nadir.
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Terrific progress for both Casper and Katie!!
This may not be necessary, but I taped a non-stick surgical dressing inside the t-shirt for Twiggy to help soak up the "ick" (keep in mind she had a terrible infection, so there was lots of "ick" to soak up). Still, it may help keep the t-shirt and bedding cleaner longer.
So glad to hear Casper's screaming is lessening. That was one of the worst parts for me. So heart-wrenching to see & hear!
You'll all be much happier once those stitches are out!
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At this point, don't be surprised to see the bruising get worse, not better. It seems that it takes over a week for the bruising to stop progressing.
There will probably be some edema for over about a week and a half as well, although the edema should be improving over that time.
I'm glad to hear that she is showing so much interest in eating and doing things!
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Just wanted to send scritches and kissies to Carrie!
I don't have any input on harnesses, but I think you've already got all the input you need on that!
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Twiggy's vet mentioned a low-grade murmur at her first vet visit, but hasn't heard it since, and none of her other specialist vets have, either.
I think I've heard that sometimes vets aren't accustomed to the sound of the large, athletic heart of a greyhound and misinterpret it is a murmur. Please, someone correct me if I am not recollecting this correctly.
I hope that the source of Henry's pain and swelling can be resolved through antibiotics and pain meds! I agree, it certainly doesn't sound like osteo to me, and after our conversation at GIG, I know you are very well-versed on that topic!)
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I'm so glad to hear how well all our recent amp patients are doing!!!
Blitz, Casper and Katie - you are all champions!
Hopefully hounds and humans are all starting to get some good rest by now!
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Got out a bowl of yummies, got the clicker, watched a youtube video and put on netflix for him...
turned on the dremel and he barely looked at me. It tickled him a couple times... and the rest of the time HE SLEPT! After I did all that preparation, too! His paws are way quieter already! Going to do one more round tonight to fix a couple nails up.
Way to go, that's awesome!
Getting him started right away like this will let you get/keep them short!
My girl's quicks are rather long (and she has all black nails, so it is SO easy to quick). I get them dremeled every week, but some of them are still longer than I'd like!
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Oh dear, I hope Cash gets to come home tonight and that the infection clears up quickly!
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Great news on both Casper and Katie!
Steve, that's great that your daughter works in the vet clinic.
Here's to a smooth recovery for all!
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As a sidebar, since it is not pertinent to the purpose of Metacam being discussed here, do not allow it to be used pre- or immediately post-surgery. Per the Boeringer's documentation, in susceptible dogs it can result in acute kidney failure. Jaynie turned out to be one of those dogs, and the situation was compounded by the fact that because her bloodwork was so good pre-spay, it took a couple of critical days for the vet to figure it out, by which time she was very sick indeed. She made it, but it took two weeks at a specialty clinic, the first days of those in the ICU.
Interesting! I haven't heard of this before. Is this due to interaction with general anesthesia (if so, any particular components?), or to surgery? What symptoms would be noted first in a susceptible dog?
I'm sorry to take the subject a bit off-topic, but I'm really curious about this. Thinking back, Twiggy had GA (for a CAT scan, not surgery) possibly around the time her reaction to Metacam started. Now I'm wondering if there might be a connection. That would explain things, since we seemed to be doing everything right. (I should also mention Twiggy had an assumed ulcer based on symptoms, not a diagnosed one).
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Twiggy was on Metacam for about 5 months. She weighed 53.5 lbs and I gave her the 50lb dog dose.
After about 4 or 4.5 months, it was clear something wasn't right with her (I thought it was her cancer coming back). Turns out she was getting an ulcer from the Metacam (even though it was dosed precisely and properly). She got it with a meal and also got omeprazole (i.e.: Prilosec) twice a day to try to prevent ulcers.
I'm telling her story because even though Twiggy's case was unusual (and may have been exacerbated by chemo meds), if you give Metacam (or even more importantly if you give meloxicam), pay special attention to any signs of discomfort or illness. For Twiggy, it was not wanting to go for walks - if you know her, you know that is as bad as her not wanting to eat!
For most dogs, Metacam is great, and has few to no side effects - I don't want to scare anyone away from a generally safe and effective medication!
Edited for a ridiculous number of typos!!
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I'm so glad to hear that Blitz is doing well at home! Those wounds are pretty awful to look at, and unfortunately, the bruising gets worse before it gets better. Is she on Amicar? (aminocaproic acid) That helps control the bleeding/bruising (somewhat, anyway)
You and your mom are making the best of a bad situation - I bet they will have an amazing bond going through this together. I'm sending healthy thoughts out for your mom as well as Blitz!
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Kim, I hate to hear that you and Casper have joined our club. It is awful to have to be a member, but great that it is here. The wonderful people here have meant the world to me, and helped me direct Twiggy's treatment in the right direction. I know I would have made some (many) missteps otherwise.
It's great that you know Dr. Couto so well!
All the advice Chris (greysmom) gave is right on. Casper may still be pretty out of it a day and a half after surgery. That was the earliest I was allowed to visit Twiggy at OSU, and she was still on iv pain meds and quite out of it (despite OSU telling me that she was doing better than nearly any other greyhound they'd had go through this, which as you know is a LOT). I made OSU keep Twiggy a really long time - her surgery was on a Tuesday and I didn't take her home until Saturday morning (they basically kicked her out
- I was paranoid about the 6-hour drive home). Others here have had their hounds come home the day after surgery and do really well, so he may be fine by the time you get back to work. I'd recommend trying to line up someone for a visit or two during the day on your first 2-3 days back at work (even better if you had someone who didn't mind just hanging out with him all day - that would help with his meds as well). The July 4 holiday will help out your schedule, too, so that's good!A couple other tips: have some plastic wrap or a waterproof coat available to keep the bandages/amp site dry in case of rain - with this year's weather, that is likely to be put to good use! Make a schedule for his meds. He will be on a lot of meds, and some will be every 8 hours, some 12 hours, maybe even some every six hours, and there is a mix of with food / without food. That can be tricky to handle (especially if you are working!), and guarantees a lack of sleep.
Try to rest up before he comes home. It could be a week or two before you get a good nights sleep.
So, there will be two amps in our little club this coming Monday. I don't think we've ever had that here before. I will be anxiously awaiting news on both Casper and Katie!
Jenny, how is Blitz doing?? I'm sure you've barely got a moment to breathe yet, but I'm thinking of you both!
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Great news about Blitz's surgery!
After Twiggy came home, sometimes she'd be up on 3 legs and then start listing to the leg-less side - she needed to re-learn her center of balance. Blitz will figure it out. She's on really heavy-duty pain meds right now, so that and the confusion they so often get after coming out of anesthesia are only adding to her difficulty right now.
It will be a rough week or two, but then things will start getting better.
, you should see the looks I get!)
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Silver Getting X-Rays Tuesday
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
I'm just happy to hear that your worst fears were allayed!
Hopefully, methocarbamol/tramadol will quickly alleviate her discomfort. Love her grinning roach!