Went for first chemo today. We have been referred to another vet about 2 hours drive away for this. Was a long job. Mitch was x-rayed. Good news, no mets – yet. Also blood tests, etc. Apparently, our vet says that in general vets in Britain tend to concentrate more on quality of life so they don’t recommend high dosage of chemo chemicals as much as American vets sometimes do. The idea being that they don’t go for cure but the dog having a happier life for longer. Don’t know if that’s true but that’s what the vet thought. Could be nonsense.
Anyway, Mitch had various tests done then the chemo. We picked him up 5 hours later. He was, and is, very sedated. In fact, totally zonked out. This is, we were told due to the sedation, not the chemo.
While filling in the time we picked up some bubbly to bring home. It had a pic. of a kangaroo on it which seemed apposite given Mitch’s new means of locomotion.
He is now home and sleeping. Has only accepted water and a few cocktail sausages. Mitch’s new food intake has meant we now have tones of meat in the fridge (I’m a vegan and husband is a veggie). I buy ready made stuff as I don’t know how to cook meat.
Starting to ramble, probably the Yellow Tail. We have been toasting Mitch and hoping for the best. Also thinking of Jake and others.
Regards to all three leggers and their helpers.
Oi Mitch
Quality of life. Definitely. That is what matters to us tri-pups, regardless of which side of the ocean we are on.
My mum is also a vegetarian and received donations and cooking tips from a friend who hunts and one who is a rancher. I lost my appetite for a couple of days and then would eat ONLY straight-up meat (boiled chicken, or grilled steak) following the first chemo. Once we used anti-nausea medicine, that was no longer an issue so she saved the rest of that meat for my birthday. Yumm.
What chemo drug did you get today?
We never had tests done the same day as the chemo so did not see a sedated dog on those days. Mitch should be lively if he were only having chemo, although possibly a bit (should be only a bit) lethargic days later when the blood counts are at their lowest.
Best of luck in this journey
Cheers to Mitch and getting through his first chemo!
My guess is that any way you want to fix the meat will be just fine with Mitch!!
Take care and give him lots of love and attention,
Gineej & Paris
Hope Mitch is awake and feeling better by tomorrow… Do you know exactly what chemo he received and what dosages? Good news about the clean x-rays!! Definitely something to celebrate and toast! That’s funny… cause I occasionally also drink the Yellow Tail wines… Next time I will also toast to Mitch!!!
Keep us posted!!
Angel Jake’s Mom
Mitch, that’s great news about no mets! Hoppy Days for sure! We too are toasting to your recovery and continued good health.
It’s interesting what you said about how the vets over there approach chemotherapy. We are putting together a survey about amputation and follow up cancer care and will definitely consider ways we can analyze how docs in different countries approach chemo.
Good luck Mitch, we’re betting you’ll do just great. And just so you know, my Mom’s been a veggie for 20+ years but after I got sick, she finally learned how to cook meat! Dad, a carnivore, was quite happy that we finally had meat in the house again.
You are one lucky pup!
Drinking a toast to Mitch’s health right now. Not Yellow Tail, though,,,Mad Housewife. ; ) Hang in there Mitch! Opie’s mom
Mitch is indeed feeling better today though fell over on a walk and grazed his existing back leg. However, he seems not to be too bothered. Re the chemo, according to his statement he had ‘Carboplatin per 15ml vial 150mg’.
Quality of life is what we all want! Your pawrents really love you Mitch to take one for the team and have meat in the house for you! Glad you are feeling better after you chemo.
We are in the UK too. Barney has his blood test done on Tuesday and Chemo on Thursday, he is never sedated although he is rather a chilled out dog, nothing much seems to faze him.
Barney has just had his third of maybe four rounds of Chemo. He had Doxorubicin first with Carboplatin next then again with Doxorubicin what did Mitch have?
Mitch had carboplatin. I am assuming he gets the same each time, though I don’t actually know. He’s only had one lot so far. He has his blood test on 24th and if all is well the next round of chemo on 30th. Unfortunately we have to take him on a two mile car journey for the chemo as our own vet doesn’t do it. The chemo vet did say that next time we take him it won’t take so long as on the first visit they like to give him a thorough check including x-rays. So I’m hoping next time won’t involve sedation.
Barney does look chilled out.