BauersMom
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I would have the x-rays sent to OSU for a second opinion, they should be able to help identify the lesions, or at least offer a course of action to get a diagnosis.
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She ran in the yard tonight!!!
Go Pinky!! -
Batmom, why is that? I am just trying to understand
even if you have two pups who don't argue? My personal situation won't ever warrant that just because of Magic and the cat. But in general if you had laid back greys would you still muzzle them both?I think of it this way - there is no such thing as two pups who don't argue... they are just two pups who haven't argued yet.
For me, it's better to prepare for the worst than regret not doing it after the fact. Muzzling is SO easy. Stitching a dog back together? Not so much.
As for the original question, one crated and one not crated here. No issues. I will swap up who gets crated every once and a while, but not for any "fairness" reasons, more to reinforce the crate. Never know when you will need to crate both or crate the one who isn't used to it.
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I can't believe it's been two weeks either!
Berkeley and Pepper went tearing around the yard when I let them out at lunch today. It scared the CRAP out of me. They haven't run together like that since his surgery and it was a lot of zigging and zagging around trees and what not and all I kept thinking was "you are down a leg! slow dowwwwwnnnnnnn!"
He kept up with Pepper, amazingly... he was never particularly FAST, but boy, was he motoring.
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Some new research from MIT on "starving" cancer (or why it likely doesn't work as they thought it did...):
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/cancer-metabolism-1121.html
Thanks for the article - it was interesting. What I took out of it is that if there is a more “mature”, or fast-growing larger tumor, that the cancerous cells can change their energy source? It also sounded to me like the theory that starving newer, “shallower” tumors still use glucose as their primary source. If this is true, then I would think that the low-glucose “cancer” diets would still be effective against metastases since they start out as small groups of cancerous cells??? What are your thoughts?
Separately, how is Berkeley doing? I’m thinking he should be about due for his next chemo. Is this going to be his last one?
I'm not entirely sure from just reading that article (I could look up the original, but far too lazy tonight
) - but it looks like if you starve a cancer cell, it will figure out how to find another energy source. I would think that something like osteo does not have a significant blood source like a tumor on an organ? My degree is in chemistry, not biology for a reason...Berkeley has resumed annoying the heck out of me, which means he's doing GREAT. He is such a PITA dog and I love him for it.
Final chemo is Dec 3rd! I'm actually nervous about it - being done with chemo will be great, don't get me wrong, but I just hope we've done enough to have a long time with him.
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Some new research from MIT on "starving" cancer (or why it likely doesn't work as they thought it did...):
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/cancer-metabolism-1121.html
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Berkeley's high res x-ray showed the lesion starting "near" the joint and basically going all the way up his leg. However, I *think* it's fairly rare for osteo to show up in other places than the big ones - near the wrist, near the knee, shoulder. I know some folks have seen it in the rib cage, spine, etc.
According to Dr. Couto: "Preferential locations for OSA include the distal radius, proximal humerus, and distal femur, although they can occur in any bone or location; they are more common in dogs over the age of 6 or 7."
If the only two symptoms are slow on walks and licking his leg, I think there are a lot of different things to explain those sorts of things. Is he limping, in addition?
Near as we can tell, Sam now is a member of the Cancer That Isn't Osteo Club. He had a trio of bad spots on his lungs in x-rays last week. (Waiting for confirmation from OSU.) We don't know where the primary cancer might be, but this looks like secondary metastases. There's nothing we can do, but I'm so not-ready to lose my boy, especially after losing Jacey three months ago. Sam has slept by my side every single night for more than nine years.
Oh no, I'm sorry.
Cancer sucks. -
I would call the evet and tell them she's in pain and ask them to give you something for her.
They should give you something since they treated her.
I would do this. You can give them baby aspirin, but in your case, I think a stronger anti-inflammatory is going to be your best bet.
Also - I always ask for pain meds even if the vet doesn't give them out initially. Better to have them on hand then to realize later they're needed. I know this doesn't help you now, but I've been in your shoes and I vowed to never not ask again because of it!
Good luck.
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When toes are splinted like that, they become stiff from non-use. He'll likely limp a bit until things return back to normal, and you may want to stretch the toes regularly (once the vet gives the OK) too.
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Our bloat experience was only a little different - instead of walking around, it was a lot of laying down/standing up. The common factor is that they are clearly uncomfortable. He did the 'try to vomit' thing, too - that's the other common symptom.
Even in the early stages (when thankfully we caught it), the dog is clearly in distress.
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Really, x-rays are the only way to rule out osteo - regardless of how grey-savvy the vet is. Berkeley was diagnosed with a shoulder injury, too because of his intermittent limping, by a grey-savvy vet - but he had osteo in his wrist upon x-rays. Not saying that's what this is at all, but just that guessing about an osteo diagnosis without x-rays is pretty, well, worthless.
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Oh wow. So are you thinking it was a matter of finding the right combination of meds?
No one can really tell you the right thing to do. It's such a personal decision and no matter what you decide, you are making the decision out of love.
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Yes, it can come on suddenly. However - lots of things can cause those symptoms. I assume from your note that he had an x-ray done 2 weeks ago when the first injury happened? In that case, and there was nothing on the x-ray then, I think it's more likely a soft tissue injury.
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To clarify, based on the three exams he has given her, the four videos I sent him, and me watching her like a hawk for three months, Dr Miller wants to x ray her shoulder/neck area as that is where the pain seems to come from.
I would also do that whole leg, in addition - might as well do it all at once! I agree that they'll likely get better radiographs of the neck region with her sedated.
I've had several dogs needed to be sedated for x-rays previously, and it's been fine.
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If you haven't done x-rays on the leg, I would start there for sure. Maybe even include the neck area as spine stuff can cause lameness too.
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I'm a little surprised they want to start the chemo so soon - our vet wanted the staples out and his wound well on its way to healing before we hit his immune system with the chemo. For us, it was 14 days. Also - I don't think what OSU has will be much different from what you'd get at your vet, but I could be wrong.
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I can see where his shave line meets his undisturbed fur. It does look like it is coming back in a little slower than Twiggy's. Well, now that the cold is really settling in, it will probably start growing faster (hopefully). It seems odd to me how much of their bodies they shave for front leg amps. Twiggy was shaved about halfway down her ribcage, most of her neck, her belly, and nearly her whole remaining front leg. She's getting really grey too, especially on her hind legs
Yeah, I was so surprised to see how nicely Twiggy's fur has come in, his is much slower growing. Berkeley was shaved just about as much. I've heard chemo can cause some of the graying?
So far, we are doing fine here, other than the few steps he has to do and e-collar time at night. I am using a towel as a sling on the steps so he doesn't pop a suture. Nighttimes will be rough. Apparently, Jim woke up half hour after we went to bed because he made noise. He had gotten stuck in the hallway trying to get a drink of water and couldn't see how to turn around. I don't even think our e-collar allows him to reach the water bowl so we'll have to figure something out.
He looks great!!
The first week or so, I didn't let him wander at night - he was in a pen, with my bed on the floor next to it, so I would know if he wanted to get up. I was afraid he'd get up and try to do something and might hurt himself.
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After more X-Rays, it looks like he does have osteo in the rear leg, too. His lungs still look clear, thankfully. His radiation has been bumped up to today (was Monday) and they'll do both sites. He's also getting amantadine added to his meds.
Crap. I'm so sorry for the double whammy.
Oh no. I'm so sorry to hear this Valerie.
I'm off work until November 29. I went to the barn to ride Gracie this morning. With all that has been going on this week with Faye Oops, I haven't been out there since last Thursday. Gracie was wonderful. Animals are such good therapy.
When I got home, ALL of the dogs - including Faye Oops - ran to the door to greet me. I heard a thump when I was opening the door. Faye Oops hind end is still weak and she falls on the hardwood. Yet, she got right up, trotted into the family room and started tossing her bird toy around. She even went up/down the deck stairs (with her bird) to go potty. Faye Oops gets these bursts of energy where she almost seems like her old self. She just tries so hard to please us. Unfortunately, those moments don't seem to last long. I have to believe that we're doing the best thing for her on Monday. We're both now laying on the couch - Faye Oops positioned herself alongside me. I have things to do, but Faye Oops trumps all of them right now.
It is such a difficult decision. But as you said yourself earlier, better too soon than too late.
I tried to get a picture of Berkeley's hairless side, but he wasn't cooperating. The best I could get was a "holding a cookie while I take a photo" pose.
Pepper and Berk:
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She looks great!!
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No kidding! Poor Berkeley is getting cheated in the hair department then.
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Berkeley's amp was late July. He's still not fully grown back his hair.
It's not BALD, but just covered in a bit of "peach fuzz".The chemo slows down the hair re-growth, I think.
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This thread is such a mix of highs and lows. I'm so sad to hear of Hailey's passing and Faye Oops' struggles, but at the same time, so thrilled to see others doing well.
Sigh.
Hugs to all of you.
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Oh my gosh. What happened??
I'm so sorry. Godspeed, Dani.
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300mg 2x/day was what Berkeley was on post-amp.
Go Pinky!!
even if you have two pups who don't argue? My personal situation won't ever warrant that just because of Magic and the cat. But in general if you had laid back greys would you still muzzle them both?
Osteo Thread
in Health and Medical discussion
Posted
Ugh.
Sending over good thoughts to you and Ace!
That's awesome! Go Faye Oops! Berkeley is a roaching fool, and I was happy to see him continue that trend after the amp!
Heartbreaking. I'm so sorry.