Guest taylorsmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Hello! I have not posted here for a long time, but was hoping that someone here might have some ideas to help us out. My 11 year old greyhound Taylor was diagnosed with Lymphoma at the beginning of Nov. 2014. At that time, it was just one node that was somewhat swollen, below her chin on the left side. Good thing our greyhounds are so thin-furred, I noticed it very early because I love to pet her little neck!! She had no palpable nodes anywhere else and her bone marrow was good. She also was in great shape and very healthy for her age! Anyway, we started on a regimen of chemotherapy, a modified VCAA protocol I believe. It is four different chemo drugs, given at one week intervals, then there is supposed to be a week off and then four more treatments with the same drugs. After the first two drugs (L-Aspargase and Vincristine), Taylor's nodes were barely noticeable. I was so hopeful for an early remission. However, she showed no appreciable response to the third drug (Cytoxan) and after the fourth drug (doxyrubicin) her nodes became much more swollen and now the left side node is the size of a small golf ball. The other problem has been managing her white blood count throughout the treatments. Our oncologist does not like to give chemo when the WBC is too low, and after the 2nd-4th drugs we had to wait an extra week for her WBC to recover enough to give the next dose. Because the first round did not put her in remission, the oncologist decided to go with a more aggressive protocol for the second round. In this one, each drug will be combined with the next so she will get two chemo agents at each treatment. So for this first one scheduled for today, she will get L-Aspargase and Vincristine. I am very hopeful for this combo because these were what she responded so well to in the first round. Here's my question--I am very worried about what her WBC will do through this more aggressive protocol. I was wondering if anyone here has been through this, and if so, are there any suggestions for anything I could do, perhaps from an alternative medicine perspective, that could help her WBC? I would do anything to help her through this. I also turn to the greyhound experts because I know that greyhounds have different issues with their blood counts, and although I think my oncologist is knowledgeable about this, I just worry that we are missing something. In fact, my other question is--does this seem like a good question to consult with Dr. Couto about? Thanks so much for any and all suggestions, or even just support if no suggestions! I am really upset and worried for Taylor, she is my first greyhound and my heart dog. I lost my other greyhound Rita in August of 2013 to osteo and I really hate cancer. Rita was only 9, and it broke my heart to lose her. Nancy and Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I would absolutely consult with Dr Couto. I do know he's more tolerant of lower wbc's than other oncologist's. I'm not familiar with the protocol that your onco vet decided to use so I'm no help there. Please keep is posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Biggest thing is to watch for fever (start antibiotics if fever) and stay away from dog gatherings, vet office lobby, etc. when wbc are very low. Nothing to build wbc except a few very costly meds used in human oncology; don't waste your $ on "alternative" stuff that promises to do it -- those are scams. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest taylorsmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Thanks tbhounds and Batmom! Very helpful to know. Taylor gets put on antibiotics prophylactically every time her WBC is low. A couple of other questions: Other than taking her temp rectally, is there any other way of being able to "tell" that she might have a fever? Fortunately, I think that she has felt quite well throughout this whole process so far, her appetite has been great and her energy level has been very normal (you know greyhounds--she does love her couch time!!). Does anyone know of a good link to blood values for greyhounds? In particular, I would like to know what a reasonable WBC is for a greyhound, so that I can compare her counts to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Here you go, from Dr Stack's website. Lots of good information there! http://www.greythealth.com/blood.html Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) The only way to get a true temp is to take a rectal temp. The ear momitors are not accurate. The dry nose wet nose thing is an old wise tale too. Forgot to mention--just buy a cheap digital thermometer -they work fine. Here's another helpful link... http://www.greyhoundadoptionofoh.org/Greyhound_Health_Packet_08.pdf Edited January 7, 2015 by tbhounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest taylorsmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Thank you again, tbhounds! Great link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest taylorsmom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) sorry, duplicate post!!! Edited January 7, 2015 by taylorsmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Thank you again, tbhounds! Great link. I do hope your Taylor finds remission. Please contact Couto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.