thanks 🙂
Io has been to chemo today, he has been put on carboplatin. If I’m reading the invoice correctly they gave him 400mg, it said 10mg/ml per mg and there were 400 of them. He was a happy boy when we picked him up and had taken well to the procedure. He had his lunch and settled down but now he seems a bit restless and has been whining a bit. He’s been outside twice for a drink-for some reason making us get up to let them out for the outside water is always their preferred option and it’s even better if we’ve just sat down to eat! Our vet had confirmed osteosarcoma by biopsy but didn’t or couldn’t confirm which specific strain it was and the oncologist didn’t get ‘the rest’ to check herself. I don’t think it makes much difference other than knowing how aggressive it might be, and perhaps we’re better off not knowing. He’ll have four treatments and the treatments will be every three weeks. I’m assuming we don’t pay the consultation every time so the cost will be £571.90 per treatment. This includes a government tax we call VAT (value added tax) which is 20%. VAT is added to most things, there are exceptions like some foods and childrens clothes but it’s all very complicated and I don’t see why any form of medical treatment could be deemed as ‘non essential’ unless it’s cosmetic! Without the vat treatment would be £476.58 so it adds a significant amount. If nothing else needs paying for the total for all treatment will be £5643.64. I’ve excluded the rimadyl and synoquin because he was on them anyway. I don’t begrudge a penny of it, it’s just for information. We have pet insurance with petplan so he’s covered for £6000 veterinary fees and a few incidentals, and the policy cost £630 this renewal. Pet insurance is getting to be a bit controversial over here because of rising costs, I think something similar happened in the US? I have to say that although it costs us a bit, after Io’s treatment and Cobweb’s treatments over the years (she’s had a masectomy after breast cancer and is on atopica for a skin condition and propalin for her waterworks) they have always paid out quickly and are always lovely to talk to on the phone, even though their loss adjusters probably want to cry when they see our bills!!
I think I’ve taken enough of your time for now, I’ll let you know how he gets on-at the moment he’s settled back down and is chasing hares in his sleep 🙂
luv
Mitch
Thank goodness for computer currency converters :).
It looks like each treatment would cost, in Canadian dollars (since that’s where I am) roughly $883. Catie’s carboplatin treatments (she had three, and alternated with another chemo drug) were on average $700 CAD. Must be the additional VAT (value added tax – interesting choice of name for a tax; value added for who?). You’re right, though – not sure why any medical procedure would be considered ‘non-essential’; having said that, I am curious – if the tax doesn’t apply to children’s clothing, does this mean clothing for adults is superfluous? 🙂
Io might feel a little sluggish and nauseous and his appetite might be off. Catie turned her nose up at her food for a few days after each treatment; also had some rather mushy, um, poops. Hope he doesn’t feel too poorly!
oops, didn’t mean to bend your ear quite so much, was trying to post a reply and an ‘official update’ I’m new to this and can’t see how to change it to how it’s supposed to be, never mind! He’s quiet today but fine otherwise. I know what you mean about the adults clothing-definitely don’t want it to be superfluous, what a scary thought :-))) What other chemo drug did Catie have? There were 2 others Io’s oncoligst mentioned (sisplation and drox something or other) neither of which she wanted to use for him specifically.
Catie’s protocol alternated between carboplatin and doxorubicin. THe doxo was pretty harsh and she had more side effects with that therapy than the carobplatin. She didn’t feel well at all after her second doxorubicin treatment; she looked exhausted and bedraggled and so weary around the eyes. We hated it. We never went through with the sixth and final treatment (which would have been the nasty doxo).
was trying to post a reply and an ‘official update’
FYI: To reply to reader’s comments, use the Reply button as you did above. When you have news to share, publish a new blog post from the Posts -> Add New tab in your dashboard. Hope this helps… 🙂
that sounds like the one, the oncologist (Sheila) was very negative about it because of the side effects, more or less said she wouldn’t use it! I think she mentioned all of them to be thorough but was clear that she favoured carboplatin. It’s all a bit hazy now-information overload-but she did say her aim was to minimise any days lost to him through sickness rather than possibly getting longer overall but him not enjoying it so much. In the end we have to trust in what they tell us (and hope what they don’t tell us wouldn’t change our decisions) but well done for doing what you thought was best. It’s not easy to go against ‘official advice’ but we really do know our dogs better than anyone!!
lo is beautiful! thanks for sharing the photos. please check your email for my private message regarding your selected domain for this blog.
What magnificant dogs! Io looks like he’s doing splendidly! Thank you for posting these great pictures.
Let’s try that again: Magnificent.
thanks 🙂
Io has been to chemo today, he has been put on carboplatin. If I’m reading the invoice correctly they gave him 400mg, it said 10mg/ml per mg and there were 400 of them. He was a happy boy when we picked him up and had taken well to the procedure. He had his lunch and settled down but now he seems a bit restless and has been whining a bit. He’s been outside twice for a drink-for some reason making us get up to let them out for the outside water is always their preferred option and it’s even better if we’ve just sat down to eat! Our vet had confirmed osteosarcoma by biopsy but didn’t or couldn’t confirm which specific strain it was and the oncologist didn’t get ‘the rest’ to check herself. I don’t think it makes much difference other than knowing how aggressive it might be, and perhaps we’re better off not knowing. He’ll have four treatments and the treatments will be every three weeks. I’m assuming we don’t pay the consultation every time so the cost will be £571.90 per treatment. This includes a government tax we call VAT (value added tax) which is 20%. VAT is added to most things, there are exceptions like some foods and childrens clothes but it’s all very complicated and I don’t see why any form of medical treatment could be deemed as ‘non essential’ unless it’s cosmetic! Without the vat treatment would be £476.58 so it adds a significant amount. If nothing else needs paying for the total for all treatment will be £5643.64. I’ve excluded the rimadyl and synoquin because he was on them anyway. I don’t begrudge a penny of it, it’s just for information. We have pet insurance with petplan so he’s covered for £6000 veterinary fees and a few incidentals, and the policy cost £630 this renewal. Pet insurance is getting to be a bit controversial over here because of rising costs, I think something similar happened in the US? I have to say that although it costs us a bit, after Io’s treatment and Cobweb’s treatments over the years (she’s had a masectomy after breast cancer and is on atopica for a skin condition and propalin for her waterworks) they have always paid out quickly and are always lovely to talk to on the phone, even though their loss adjusters probably want to cry when they see our bills!!
I think I’ve taken enough of your time for now, I’ll let you know how he gets on-at the moment he’s settled back down and is chasing hares in his sleep 🙂
luv
Mitch
Thank goodness for computer currency converters :).
It looks like each treatment would cost, in Canadian dollars (since that’s where I am) roughly $883. Catie’s carboplatin treatments (she had three, and alternated with another chemo drug) were on average $700 CAD. Must be the additional VAT (value added tax – interesting choice of name for a tax; value added for who?). You’re right, though – not sure why any medical procedure would be considered ‘non-essential’; having said that, I am curious – if the tax doesn’t apply to children’s clothing, does this mean clothing for adults is superfluous? 🙂
Io might feel a little sluggish and nauseous and his appetite might be off. Catie turned her nose up at her food for a few days after each treatment; also had some rather mushy, um, poops. Hope he doesn’t feel too poorly!
Lots of rest for that big boy.
Thanks for sharing those pictures with us! Io is beautiful (Big Sis too!). Good wishes & dog kisses, mandy & Kenmore
oops, didn’t mean to bend your ear quite so much, was trying to post a reply and an ‘official update’ I’m new to this and can’t see how to change it to how it’s supposed to be, never mind! He’s quiet today but fine otherwise. I know what you mean about the adults clothing-definitely don’t want it to be superfluous, what a scary thought :-))) What other chemo drug did Catie have? There were 2 others Io’s oncoligst mentioned (sisplation and drox something or other) neither of which she wanted to use for him specifically.
We like our ears bent. 🙂
Glad Io’s feeling okay today.
Catie’s protocol alternated between carboplatin and doxorubicin. THe doxo was pretty harsh and she had more side effects with that therapy than the carobplatin. She didn’t feel well at all after her second doxorubicin treatment; she looked exhausted and bedraggled and so weary around the eyes. We hated it. We never went through with the sixth and final treatment (which would have been the nasty doxo).
FYI: To reply to reader’s comments, use the Reply button as you did above. When you have news to share, publish a new blog post from the Posts -> Add New tab in your dashboard. Hope this helps… 🙂
that sounds like the one, the oncologist (Sheila) was very negative about it because of the side effects, more or less said she wouldn’t use it! I think she mentioned all of them to be thorough but was clear that she favoured carboplatin. It’s all a bit hazy now-information overload-but she did say her aim was to minimise any days lost to him through sickness rather than possibly getting longer overall but him not enjoying it so much. In the end we have to trust in what they tell us (and hope what they don’t tell us wouldn’t change our decisions) but well done for doing what you thought was best. It’s not easy to go against ‘official advice’ but we really do know our dogs better than anyone!!