When I was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma, my Mom and Dad didn’t want to put me through chemotherapy, mostly because it was a six hour drive to the hospital, and, since doctors said that I only had a few months left even with chemo, we didn’t want any of our precious time to be taken up with poking and prodding and long drives.
We took our chances, hit the road, and beat the odds, but now, fifteen months later, the cancer devil has paid us another visit. We are prepared to beat the odds again, only this time, we’re going to do it with the help of something called “The Metronomic Protocol.”
Treating Osteosarcoma with Chemotherapy
Most of you know that chemotherapy can help dogs beat cancer. Usually, chemotherapy drugs are given in high doses every couple of weeks, and administered in an injection of some sort. Most of us aren’t affected by chemo drugs like people are; if the drugs are given correctly. And if a dog does experience side effects, the oncologists can lessen the doses and lengthen the treatment time. Our friends at Bone Cancer Dogs have a lot of good information about traditional chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.
When I got the bad news a few weeks ago, my Mom and Dad couldn’t rest without trying something that might give me more time on this earth. Dad did some research on different chemo treatments, and learned about the Metronomic Protocol. It’s chemo in a pill, and it can be done anywhere . . . even in an RV, on the road! It seemed too good to be true. At home chemotherapy?
I’ll spare you why I think it’s so popular. But if you want to see the rude comments about what people think of my tongue at about 00:28 you can view this video on YouTube and add your own comment.
I don’t care much for big cities. But I was certainly glad to meet Arnie Costell – owner of Watson’s Pet Products – when we were in Los Angeles. Arnie loved his senior dog Watson so much, he developed the Bottom’s Up Leash to help him walk.
Watson was nearly 18 years old at the time and had developed a condition that seriously affected his mobility. The Bottom’s Up Leash enabled Arnie to walk Watson with ease for both of them.
I figured this could come in quite handy for rear leg amputees like my friend Sami. So we met with Arnie to learn about the leash, then hooked up with Sami to give it a try.
It seems like I always have a camera in my face. Especially lately, but more about that later. My people have so many pictures of me … but they say it will never be enough.
Powered by the NextGen Galley WordPress plugin – whatever that is – you will now find various different themed galleries with photos of me, my adventures, my pack, other tripawds I have met, and much, much more.
At the top of the page, you will find our most recent photos and a few more totally random pictures. Scroll all the way down to see me with all four legs. Send us your picture and we’ll include you too!
Just click on the gallery thumbnails to browse photos at full size. Check back often for new photos, and be sure to let us know of any technical difficulties. And don’t forget about our Tripawds picture book – customizable with your story and photos – suitable for any dog lover’s coffee table or vet’s waiting room.
Thank you to everyone who participated in and purchased the first edition of the Tripawd Heroes and Tributes book in February. With your generous help, we sold a total of 30 books. And, with $5 of each book sale being donated to the Morris Animal Foundation’s Canine Cancer Campaign, together we raised $150 for the cause! Wooo hooo!
Mom just donated the funds on the Canine Cancer Campaign website today and dedicated it “In Honor of Tripawds Everywhere!”
The Next Edition: Tell Us About Your Tripawd
We are about to begin the next edition of Tripawd Heroes and Tributes, and are seeking more stories (read more details about this book here). If you want to put your beloved three-legged friend in the spotlight with his/her photo on the cover, just send us your story with a few high resolution photos and we’ll publish a custom version featuring your pet on page one!
For this next edition, $5 of every sale will be donated to my pal Luke’s “2 Dogs 2000 Miles Campaign.” Luke and his two dogs, Murphy and Hudson, have just begun a 2,000 mile walk from Austin Texas to Boston Massachussets, to raise money to fund the first ever study of what exactly causes canine cancer. Please read more about Luke and the Boys’ incredible journey here.
You humans are so generous! Thanks so much. Together, we are finding (and funding) a way to end canine cancer forever. And if you would like your own copy of the Tripawds book with me on the cover, you can order it here, today. Your purchase will help fund the cause!
My trip to the Veterinary Cancer Care Clinic in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday was more like checking into a spa than seeing a doctor! I couldn’t believe that I hopped into a place where sick dogs and cats go for help. Their cozy office was more like a comfy home, and not some sterile clinic. They even let dogs sit on the furniture! The staff was really friendly, and they gave me so much attention. All of a sudden, my cancer didn’t seem so scary.
My oncologist was Dr. Mullins. She is so sweet, and one of the nicest vets we’ve ever met. As she did her exam on me, she found my tired bones and did something called “Reiki.” Oooh, that was so nice! I fell asleep and drooled on the floor. Mom said she’d never seen me so relaxed. Nurse Kelly was great too, she gave me so much love.
Oh, you humans and your silly ways of thinking. You’re always talking about the past and the future, but how many of you are experiencing the moment you and your dog are in right now?
All week long my Mom’s been saying dumb thinks like “I shouldda done this…or that..” She seems to think she did something wrong these last 14 and a half months, and that’s why my cancer came back. She was “shouldding” all over herself, until she got this story about coping with canine cancer, sent to her from my friend Moose’s dad, Joel.
. . . I realized my fear of the disease was the fuel that was being used against me. Devilishly clever, my biggest enemy was not the disease, but me. I was the power source being used to generate the very negative energy destroying my own being and wasting a special day with my beloved dog.
This paradoxical contradiction was glaring. I had thought the growing presence of disease was causing my mounting fear. In fact, just the opposite was occurring. My daily increasing fear was causing the disease to grow and become more powerful. I decided it was high time to start working for me and the Beez, not against us.
If your pawrents are coping with your cancer, then you need to take them to Doug’s website. He has a lot of beautiful words there that will make them happy and sad, but most importantly, will get them to live every precious moment with you to the fullest, instead of acting like a silly human and fretting about your health. Good luck!
Thank you everyone for all of your kind, loving and supportive words this past week. My Mom and Dad are so much happier these days thanks to you. They are also very optimistic, and are looking into ways to help me kick this tumor thing’s butt (do tumors have butts?). Just so you know; they have a plan.
A few nights ago, the three of us decided a few things. First, we decided that under no circumstances would I undergo any kind of surgery again. Eeew! Who wants that?! Second, we want to look at options for keeping me as healthy as can be.
As soon as we decided all this, we left my Grandma and Grandpa’s place in Los Angeles, and arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico yesterday (we’ll be living nearby for the next couple of months). Tomorrow, we are going to meet Dr. Kelly at the Vet Cancer Care Clinic, to learn all about oral chemotherapy and maybe some other kind of easygoing treatment plan that we can do on the road.
Another vet visit isn’t my idea of fun; I’d rather be swimming! But if a few pokes and prods tomorrow means that I’ll get lots more play time later on, well then I guess I’ll go along with it!
It featured us on a beautiful, dreamy beach. As in her dreams. Like I said. Isn’t she sweet? And cute too. But she’s a bit for away, unfortunately. And I must have been in everyone’s dreams lately.
I’m always chasing rabbits while I sleep with one eye open. But Jim barely slept the night before we left Los Angeles. I entered his dream to help him out. But here’s how he tells it …
My people just remembered they took these photos from our workamping stay on the farm, back in Floriduh … They were going to recycle a large Rubbermaid tub that had cracked, so I took care of it for them!
When they found me in my pen at the Sequoia Humane Society over nine years ago, I was the only one making a racket. And I had a big laundry basket that I had shredded to pieces. Seeing that tub brought back some memories for us all.
When I was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma, my Mom and Dad didn’t want to put me through chemotherapy, mostly because it was a six hour drive to the hospital, and, since doctors said that I only had a few months left even with chemo, we didn’t want any of our precious time to be taken up with poking and prodding and long drives.
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