I posted this in a reply to Caties mum so apologies if you’ve already seen it. I’m rather challenged by technology! Io has been to chemo today (was Tuesday), 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
He went out for a 20 minute romp today (Thursday) and we ran all the way back to the van, great fun for both of us 🙂 I’m trying to get a video of him running but naturally he stops when I’m filming and goes again when I’m not! He tried cocking his leg a lot today, had to give up every time but he’s getting closer and I think he’ll manage it in the end. Irish wolfhounds have such an impressive bladder capacity that he usually had to put him leg down part the way through anyway so I don’t think he’s too worried 🙂
Sounds like IO is on the right path to recovery! I’m not sure how much Io weighs, but Kenmore (94 pounds) was trying to cock his leg to pee 2 weeks after his front left amp. and sucessfully did it, without falling over, around Christmas time!
He will amaze you.
dog kisses,
mandy & Kenmore
excellent , well done Kenmore 🙂
Io is small for an Irish Wolfhound. He weighed about 132lbs but had lost about 10lbs by the time he was diagnosed. I don’t know what he weighs now-he’s very well behaved when he’s being weighed but it usually takes a few tries as the front end falls off the platform as his back end goes on and I don’t want to dent his confidence by trying just yet! Judging by how many biscuits he’s been begging on his little outings I think we’ll need to be careful he doesn’t get porky!!