Jaxx has bone cancer

[ECAV]

We just increased Lexi's Tramadol to 4 tabs 3 x day. She is also taking deramax and neurontin daily along with a pepcid daily. I don't know how much more we can increase it if this doesn't keep her comfortable. She seems to be deteriorating almost daily. She has been eating well until this am she didn't . She picked, then about an hour later finished. Tonight she ate well. One day at a time. Peace and love to all, Eileen

[caseygina]

MK,
Our vet suggested "as needed." Riley acts like a 2 year old-she just loves to run anywhere-in the yard, in the house, up and down the stairs (of course, she hasn't been up the stairs since the dx). Our vet's concern was if she was feeling "too good" she may take off and break her leg. I had never thought of that, but given Riley's personality, that's something extremely important we have to take into consideration. Yesterday we started her on two a day-one in the morning and one at night. Her tumor is staying the same size, I actually measured it compared to her other leg, it's been pretty consistent over the last two weeks. We're going to have another beautiful day today, so she can sit in the sunshine and enjoy the weather. She's hanging in there, holding up pretty well. It's my sanity that is starting to fall apart!! Thanks for the thoughts, how are you holding up?
Gina

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by caseygina

MK,
Our vet suggested "as needed." Riley acts like a 2 year old-she just loves to run anywhere-in the yard, in the house, up and down the stairs (of course, she hasn't been up the stairs since the dx). Our vet's concern was if she was feeling "too good" she may take off and break her leg. I had never thought of that, but given Riley's personality, that's something extremely important we have to take into consideration.



She's hanging in there, holding up pretty well. It's my sanity that is starting to fall apart!! Thanks for the thoughts, how are you holding up?
Gina

Hi Gina!! Glad to hear Riley's still good! That's the most important thing right now. Glad to know she had a good weekend at the shore!! I know that was always Xena's favorite thing to do......any given weekend in the summer you could find her somewhere along Fire Island, chillin' on the boat, swimming around, digging for clams......(No really, she did this! But she never, ever gave them to me!! I always had to find my own! LOL.....)

Anyway, it is VERY important that they do not feel 'too' good........the pain management is definately a balance between easing the pain, but not completely masking it. (IMO) I kept Xena's doses at the amount that would enable her to put her bad foot down for stablilty, (Which she was NOT doing at all before the pills.....at least, not since the biopsy) but not really use it. Like if she were going from my bedroom to the living room, she would keep the leg up & hop on the other three all the way down the hall. But when she got there, she would again use it for balance. I thought that was about the 'right' amount of pain management, since I figured if she could balance on it, it likely didn't hurt too bad. But anyhow........

I'm doing all right. I still can't get it out of my mind....at ALL! But I feel a little better than yesterday. I was like a total zombie yesterday........totally blank to the world. But this morning I woke up after dreaming about her & felt noticably better. Still bad, of course....but better than 'zombie'!!! (ANYTHING'S better than that, right?? LOL......)

Anyway, take care & enjoy your girl for every day you have together!!!
MK

[Hope]

"He is without a doubt the best dog I have ever owned. With me through a divorce, a 5 state move, renting, and then buying our own house with a huge fenced yard just for him. I can hardly think of him being gone."

When I hear how much you obviously love your dog it brings tears to my eyes. I lost my 2 year old Max to Osteo, and it was swift - it was the reason for coming to this forum. It sounds like to me your Jaxx was lucky to have such a great owner. Eventhough it is always hard to say good-bye, at least you know you did everything in his life to make his living fun and worthwhile, and that is what counts.

[Anne]

Mike, glad to hear you're feeling better than yesterday. My thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Gina, I share you pain. Sometimes I feel I'm going nutso knowing I will soon have to part with Sophie. She takes so many tablets I'm always second guessing myself that I've got it right.

May I ask you both if the Tramadol you have are 50mg or 100mg tablets? Sophie takes 3 x 100mg tablets plus 1 x 50mg tablet daily.

Sophie's having a problem with nausea now. All the medications she is on have the side effect of nausea. She has Maxolon but I don't think it's doing the job.

[Xena's Daddy]

Hi Anne,

She was on the 50mg. Near the end, a total of 600mg a day.
Hope Sophie feels better!! I'm sure she doesn't need nausea on top of the rest of it............

Hang in there, it gets worse before it gets better.....
MK

[lucasmom]

Ann-
The tramadol can cause nausea and actually make your dog feel worse if you give her too much. Plus, when she really needs it for pain control as the cancer advances, she will have built up a tolerance to it. I give Lucas one 50 mg tablet in the morning and two 50 mg tablets in the evening before bedtime. That seems to hold him over. When be fell over the weekend and hurt his leg, I gave him 3 of the 50 mg tablets. You might want to ask your vet about startin her on some prednisone. It has helped Lucas tremendously with pain relief. He takes 4 mg in the am and 4 mg in the pm. I stopped giving him the piroxicam because he was getting nauseated and vomitting.

I hope that your baby does well. My Lucas is hanging in there, but I fear that the cancer is spreading to his lungs. He is getting short of breath with exertion and when he breathes it sounds like he has asthma. This is so sad and I am so sorry that we are all going through this. My best to you all. Laurie

[Bowlforthedog]

I am sorry to read this. I know what you are going through my rottie has just been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Hope it all goes well for you.

[Anne]

Originally Posted by lucasmom

Ann-
The tramadol can cause nausea and actually make your dog feel worse if you give her too much. Plus, when she really needs it for pain control as the cancer advances, she will have built up a tolerance to it. I give Lucas one 50 mg tablet in the morning and two 50 mg tablets in the evening before bedtime. That seems to hold him over. When be fell over the weekend and hurt his leg, I gave him 3 of the 50 mg tablets. You might want to ask your vet about startin her on some prednisone. It has helped Lucas tremendously with pain relief. He takes 4 mg in the am and 4 mg in the pm. I stopped giving him the piroxicam because he was getting nauseated and vomitting.

Thanks Laurie. We are seeing an oncologist at 16 -20 day intervals at this stage and I'm following oncology advice regarding medication and pain relief. Sophie is not on prednisone, she's on a metronomic protocol which she tolerates well. We were given meds for nausea yesterday and they're working. Sophie is comfortable today. All the drugs Sophie takes have the side effect of nausea and it's only in the last couple of days she showed any sign of the nausea meds not working.

There was a sign of something not being quite right at the end of August 07. The pathology report of the biopsy was inconclusive at that stage. She was positively diagnosed with highly malignant osteo in her R mandible in December 07 when another biopsy was done. We consulted an oncology specialist within 2 days of her diagnosis.

As Sophie's prognosis was poor the oncologist suggested the metronomic protocol would be the way to go. She has a tumor on her gum that in the oncologist's opinion is growing slowly. It's growing too quickly for my liking.

Sophie was not expected to survive more than a couple of weeks. She's still doing very well and feeling well. The priority of the oncologist and myself is that Sophie is pain free and so far the drugs she has are achieving this. The pain meds will be changed to something stronger than Tramadol if needed, as her cancer progresses. She is at the moment taking 350mg per day in total. She also takes piroxicam.

Sophie is still happy and playful. She enjoys her walks and a short game of fetch. That the OSA is not in her limbs, getting around is not an issue for her.

[caseygina]

Riley's on the 50 mg tabs of tramadol. one pill twice a day seems to be working for her.

[Marley55]

There is so much helpful info and support here and I just want to thank everyone very much.

These last few weeks have been a real learning for me about this horrible cancer and how we all deal with it.

Jaxx is currently on Tramadol 50mg, 2 tabs 2 X a day plus rymidal. I can see a difference in him in the past few days pain wise, so I am thinking we will have to move up a bit. We are scheduled to see the vet Thursday for a re-check so we'll what happens next.

Every day we chat about how he is feeling and some days he grumbles a lot more than others. I have cried so much I think I must be out of tears, but new ones seem to find a way to spring up.

Our first camping trip is scheduled for May 11th and I am praying he is with us that long. He loves camping and everything that goes with it. Swimming in the lake, hiking but most of all the FOOD. When I pack the camping food he is always right by me, checking to see what I am packing. " Oh yes Mom, those steaks look yummy, oh no, I don't like pepper bacon, ohhhhh B B Q chicken, 4 paws up" best of all was the end of the day when the fire was lit. He positions himself right between us and toasts himself, then gets up, changes sides and toasts it as well. Then the raccoons would start to come out and oh man...it was game on

Anyways, thanks for listening to my rambling. It helps to know there are so many people who understand.

[Xena's Daddy]

Originally Posted by Marley55

Our first camping trip is scheduled for May 11th and I am praying he is with us that long. He loves camping and everything that goes with it. Swimming in the lake, hiking but most of all the FOOD. When I pack the camping food he is always right by me, checking to see what I am packing. " Oh yes Mom, those steaks look yummy, oh no, I don't like pepper bacon, ohhhhh B B Q chicken, 4 paws up" best of all was the end of the day when the fire was lit. He positions himself right between us and toasts himself, then gets up, changes sides and toasts it as well. Then the raccoons would start to come out and oh man...it was game on

That is so great.......I hope he gets to go!!!
MK

[Marley55]

Jaxx had his vet visit today and he seems to be doing OK.

His weight is steady, the X-rays were clear so it appears the cancer is not moving. We made some adjustments on his pain meds as well, so while I am happy with the semi-good news I am still just so crushed that he has to suffer through this awful disease. When we have our morning chats I tell him if he were naughty and a really bad dog it might be easier for me. He just looks at me with those goofy rolled up eyes and sighs...like please mom, I am NOT a bad dog and I am NOT gonna start now !

I dropped him off at home and gave him a dose of the new meds before leaving for work and when I got home I actually got a abbreviated version of the much loved and laughed at Jaxx Happy Dance. It used to consist of bouncing several circles around me while his rear end wagged every which way. Today there was maybe half a circle and several wags, but I still was very happy to see the short version of the dance.

The Doctor thinks maybe 2 more months but at this point I will take every good day we get and be for thankful them. We are off to Stricklands for a cone of vanilla with lots of sprinkles because Jaxx earned the right to have all the sprinkles he wants

[Xena's Daddy]

That's really great to hear!! I'm glad he's doing so well, and happy for his trip to Stricklands! LOL.........

Best to Jaxx,
MK

[Marley55]

Ugh !! Jaxx just had the worst weekend. He was so grumpy and crabby. The weather changed from sunny and warm all week to damp and cold and it really seemed to have an effect on his comfort level.

He refused his pills, well camouflaged in turkey hotdogs, sniffed at his food and finally ate a bit when I warmed it and put grated cheese all over it.

He did not sleep well, so of course I did not sleep well since every times he moves, groans or grumbles I wake up to check on him.

I just called home to check on him and Mark reports he is laying in the kitchen in the sun, baking his bones. My hearts breaks every time he moans since I know he is in pain, but then he had such a good week prior to this that I am trying to balance this crappy weekend with his good days. His meds were just upped on Thursday so I know we are OK there. I am just praying this is not the beginning of a rapid decent that this god awful disease brings on.

My heart hurts for my handsome boy !!