19/7/2021
MOLY’S GREYHOUND GUIDE TO TRIPAWDS
1. INTRO
Why should you listen to us?
A. Just a quick backstory of who we are and why we know anything at all
i. Details of those consulted for the book, eg. Dr. Henry, Dr. Kow, that Greyhound specialist in Ohio
B. Reiterate that this is not a medical guide or source, merely a complication of reference material and experience
2. DIAGNOSIS AND DECISIONS
Story of the day she was diagnosed and how we made the decisions we did
A. Diagnosis
i. Why we went in for a visit
ii. What happened when the doc said it was cancer
iii. What types of diagnoses there are (common and rare) and how they determine
B. Decisions
i. Options for treatment
ii. Longevity based on treatments
iii. Decision points
1. Cost
2. Time
3. Age of dog
4. Potential metastasis
5. Co-morbidities
6. Being kind to yourself no matter your decision
3. THE FINAL BREAK
The day she broke her leg and how we made the split second decisions
A. Fear and Adrenaline
i. How to prepare for anything (sort of)
ii. Slowing down to make the best choices
iii. Knowing your surroundings
B. Trusting your gut and accepting your decisions
i. How to overcome fear and thing logically
ii. Decision points
1. Where to go
2. What to do
3. Who to talk to
4. DAY 1
Surgery Day
A. What happens to your dog during surgery
i. Tiny nap
ii. Leg removed
iii. Biopsy taken and sent to lab
iv. Sutures or staples
v. Rest and recovery
B. What/when you should expect to hear from the vet
i. Before surgery
ii. After surgery
iii. Upon pick up
1. Bring questions and a notebook
2. Make sure to save your discharge paperwork
3. Keep the phone number for the vet handy
5. DAY 2
Setting up the house and vehicle for your amputee
A. House
i. The Clean Room
ii. Slippery Floor Resolutions
1. Yoga mats
2. Carpet runners
iii. Beds
iv. Blankets
v. Cleaning Supplies
1. Laundry sanitizer is A+#1
2. Aerosol sanitizer
B. Vehicle
i. New Car, who dis?
1. If in the enviable position to trade vehicles
a. SUV, Hatchback, etc
ii. Making it clean-ish
1. Lysol is your bestie
2. Wash any hammock/dog bedding
iii. In and Out Options
1. How to pick up your amputee
2. Ramps or Steps
iv. Safe and Comfortable
1. Bedding in the vehicle
2. Safety features that should or should not be used
6. DAY 3
Bringing home your amputee
A. Getting them in and out of the vehicle
i. Lift and settle
ii. The Flying Grey
iii. Ramps or steps
B. Calm, clean and safe environment
i. Medication
1. Put the schedule on the fridge or near the meds
ii. Protecting the amputation site
1. Cone, towel, shirt, tube, etc
iii. Protecting your soft surfaces
1. Likelihood of potty accidents
2. Pee pads and waterproof mattress covers
3. Lots and lots and lots of blankets
iv. Hygiene
1. Wash your hands!
2. No shoes in the Clean Room
3. Wipe your paws and tushy (if necessary)
v. Infections
1. More common than they tell you
2. Refer to chapter 18, section on infections
7. NIGHT 3 THROUGH DAY 10
The First Ten Days
A. Potty time
i. Number 1
1. Male
a. They will definitely pee on themselves. And you. Often. Aim is no longer a thing
2. Female
a. The first few trips out will be scary, but trust them! They need to find their balance and you should be there to catch them, not to prop them up
ii. Number 2
1. Male
a. Girls do it better so *shrug*
B. Sleep
i. What is Normal? Why won’t they sleep?!
ii. Where do you sleep?
iii. When do you sleep?
C. LEAVE IT!
i. Why prevent wound licking?
ii. Why prevent undercarriage cleaning?
iii. How to stop the chewing
1. Cone
2. Towel
3. T-shirt or boxers
4. Suitical with missing leg area covered with fabric
a. Use thick feminine pads on fabric if padding needed, change with regularity in event of infection or discharge
5. Doggy shirt or pants
D. Hygiene
i. How to clean your area
ii. What to wash vs. what to lysol
iii. Hands and feet!
1. No shoes in the clean room
2. Gloves on to touch the booboo
3. Only clean it with supervision
8. WEEK 2.5 THROUGH 6
Follow up appointments, researching treatment options, dealing with infections
A. Stitch/staple removal day
i. Sedation?
ii. Yuck factor
iii. Caring for the new skin
B. Meeting with the oncologist
i. Prepare for the visit with a little research
ii. Write down your questions BEFORE the appointment
iii. Keep your discharge paperwork handy (fridge!)
9. WEEK 7 AND FORWARD
Follow up treatment, alternative therapy, supplements and more
A. How many follow up appointments and how often?
i. Yes or not to chemo, radiation, etc
B. What can we do about pain?
i. PT, acupuncture, chiro, etc
10. SURGERY
Amputation isn’t that scary once you’re past the first 10 days!
A. When is surgery appropriate?
i. No metastasis
ii. Single limb
iii. Potential for longevity
1. Don’t put everyone through amputation if you don’t anticipate survival
B. What happens during surgery?
i. Cartoon drawings and medical drawings side by side
ii. How to distract yourself during surgery (how not to go crazy)
C. How to talk to your kids about amputation
i. Damned if I know, kids are gross
11. CHEMOTHERAPY
An excellent follow up to amputation
A. What is chemotherapy?
i. What kinds are there?
1. Carboplatin
2. Palladia
ii. What are the potential risks to dog and human?
iii. What are the side effects?
B. Why do chemo? When is it appropriate?
i. Slows or could prevent metastasis
ii. Filler
1. Filler
12. RADIATION
An option when chemo isn’t on the table
A. What is radiation therapy?
i. Filler
B. When is it appropriate?
i. Filler
13. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
All the pills, all the time
A. NSAIDs and other pain medications
i. Carprofen
ii. Gabapentin
B. Metronomic therapies
i. Metronidazole
C. Sedatives and anti-anxiety medications
i. Trazodone
D. Topicals
i. Silver Sulfadiozine
14. SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENTS
What additional options are there aside from the big 3?
A. Bisphosphonate
i. Filler
B. Cancer vaccine
i. Trials are still running
15. HARNESSES, HANDLES AND OTHER HELP
Solutions for the unsteady
A. Front limb amputee
i. Filler
B. Hind limb amputee
i. Filler
16. SUPPLEMENTS
All the extra stuff to fill your cabinet
A. Apo-caps
B. Canine Immunity Plus
C. CBD with CBG
i. Verified purity testing is important
ii. Steve’s Goods
1. Dog cookies are good for mild pain or anxiety
2. Stick with the oil if using for cancer supplementation
a. More cost effective for high concentration, unflavored
b. Our pick: CBD + CBG, 20:1, 2500mg per 1 FL. (4-7 drops based on reaction of dog)
c. Also absorbs through the mucus membranes so a great option for very picky eaters or those who just aren’t hungry
D. Dosequin
E. Blueberry pills
F. Omega 3
G. Bernie’s Perfect Poop
H. Fortiflora
I. Other probiotic options
17. ADDITIONAL AND/OR ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
Love hurts, but not as bad as a pulled muscle!
A. Physical Therapy
i. Water therapy
ii. Massage
1. Manual
2. Ultrasound
B. Acupuncture
C. Chiropractic
D. Reiki
18. WHAT TO DO WHEN IT ALL GOES TO SH*T
Murphy’s law!
A. Injuries and infections
i. Injury
1. First month
2. Any time after
ii. Infection
1. First month
a. What to look for (different types of infections)
b. How to explain it to your vet before going in
c. How they’re treated and what you can do to prevent escalation
2. Any time after
B. Financial Stress
i. Lose the pride, your pup needs you
ii. Crowdsourcing for help
iii. Fundraisers
19. PALLIATIVE CARE
What to do when the time grows short
A. Meds
i. Pain meds
ii. Sedatives
B. Happiness in all things
i. Living their best life
C. Saying Goodbye
20. HELPFUL HOUNDS RESOURCES
A. Hounds that Hop
B. Your rescue
C. Colorado University – Flint. School of Vet
D. Tripawd.com
E. The Dog Council
MOLY’S GREYHOUND GUIDE TO TRIPAWDS
1. INTRO
Why should you listen to us?
A. Just a quick backstory of who we are and why we know anything at all
i. Details of those consulted for the book, eg. Dr. Henry, Dr. Kow, that Greyhound specialist in Ohio
B. Reiterate that this is not a medical guide or source, merely a complication of reference material and experience
2. DIAGNOSIS AND DECISIONS
Story of the day she was diagnosed and how we made the decisions we did
A. Diagnosis
i. Why we went in for a visit
ii. What happened when the doc said it was cancer
iii. What types of diagnoses there are (common and rare) and how they determine
B. Decisions
i. Options for treatment
ii. Longevity based on treatments
iii. Decision points
1. Cost
2. Time
3. Age of dog
4. Potential metastasis
5. Co-morbidities
6. Being kind to yourself no matter your decision
3. THE FINAL BREAK
The day she broke her leg and how we made the split second decisions
A. Fear and Adrenaline
i. How to prepare for anything (sort of)
ii. Slowing down to make the best choices
iii. Knowing your surroundings
B. Trusting your gut and accepting your decisions
i. How to overcome fear and thing logically
ii. Decision points
1. Where to go
2. What to do
3. Who to talk to
4. DAY 1
Surgery Day
A. What happens to your dog during surgery
i. Tiny nap
ii. Leg removed
iii. Biopsy taken and sent to lab
iv. Sutures or staples
v. Rest and recovery
B. What/when you should expect to hear from the vet
i. Before surgery
ii. After surgery
iii. Upon pick up
1. Bring questions and a notebook
2. Make sure to save your discharge paperwork
3. Keep the phone number for the vet handy
5. DAY 2
Setting up the house and vehicle for your amputee
A. House
i. The Clean Room
ii. Slippery Floor Resolutions
1. Yoga mats
2. Carpet runners
iii. Beds
iv. Blankets
v. Cleaning Supplies
1. Laundry sanitizer is A+#1
2. Aerosol sanitizer
B. Vehicle
i. New Car, who dis?
1. If in the enviable position to trade vehicles
a. SUV, Hatchback, etc
ii. Making it clean-ish
1. Lysol is your bestie
2. Wash any hammock/dog bedding
iii. In and Out Options
1. How to pick up your amputee
2. Ramps or Steps
iv. Safe and Comfortable
1. Bedding in the vehicle
2. Safety features that should or should not be used
6. DAY 3
Bringing home your amputee
A. Getting them in and out of the vehicle
i. Lift and settle
ii. The Flying Grey
iii. Ramps or steps
B. Calm, clean and safe environment
i. Medication
1. Put the schedule on the fridge or near the meds
ii. Protecting the amputation site
1. Cone, towel, shirt, tube, etc
iii. Protecting your soft surfaces
1. Likelihood of potty accidents
2. Pee pads and waterproof mattress covers
3. Lots and lots and lots of blankets
iv. Hygiene
1. Wash your hands!
2. No shoes in the Clean Room
3. Wipe your paws and tushy (if necessary)
v. Infections
1. More common than they tell you
2. Refer to chapter 18, section on infections
7. NIGHT 3 THROUGH DAY 10
The First Ten Days
A. Potty time
i. Number 1
1. Male
a. They will definitely pee on themselves. And you. Often. Aim is no longer a thing
2. Female
a. The first few trips out will be scary, but trust them! They need to find their balance and you should be there to catch them, not to prop them up
ii. Number 2
1. Male
a. Girls do it better so *shrug*
B. Sleep
i. What is Normal? Why won’t they sleep?!
ii. Where do you sleep?
iii. When do you sleep?
C. LEAVE IT!
i. Why prevent wound licking?
ii. Why prevent undercarriage cleaning?
iii. How to stop the chewing
1. Cone
2. Towel
3. T-shirt or boxers
4. Suitical with missing leg area covered with fabric
a. Use thick feminine pads on fabric if padding needed, change with regularity in event of infection or discharge
5. Doggy shirt or pants
D. Hygiene
i. How to clean your area
ii. What to wash vs. what to lysol
iii. Hands and feet!
1. No shoes in the clean room
2. Gloves on to touch the booboo
3. Only clean it with supervision
8. WEEK 2.5 THROUGH 6
Follow up appointments, researching treatment options, dealing with infections
A. Stitch/staple removal day
i. Sedation?
ii. Yuck factor
iii. Caring for the new skin
B. Meeting with the oncologist
i. Prepare for the visit with a little research
ii. Write down your questions BEFORE the appointment
iii. Keep your discharge paperwork handy (fridge!)
9. WEEK 7 AND FORWARD
Follow up treatment, alternative therapy, supplements and more
A. How many follow up appointments and how often?
i. Yes or not to chemo, radiation, etc
B. What can we do about pain?
i. PT, acupuncture, chiro, etc
10. SURGERY
Amputation isn’t that scary once you’re past the first 10 days!
A. When is surgery appropriate?
i. No metastasis
ii. Single limb
iii. Potential for longevity
1. Don’t put everyone through amputation if you don’t anticipate survival
B. What happens during surgery?
i. Cartoon drawings and medical drawings side by side
ii. How to distract yourself during surgery (how not to go crazy)
C. How to talk to your kids about amputation
i. Damned if I know, kids are gross
11. CHEMOTHERAPY
An excellent follow up to amputation
A. What is chemotherapy?
i. What kinds are there?
1. Carboplatin
2. Palladia
ii. What are the potential risks to dog and human?
iii. What are the side effects?
B. Why do chemo? When is it appropriate?
i. Slows or could prevent metastasis
ii. Filler
1. Filler
12. RADIATION
An option when chemo isn’t on the table
A. What is radiation therapy?
i. Filler
B. When is it appropriate?
i. Filler
13. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
All the pills, all the time
A. NSAIDs and other pain medications
i. Carprofen
ii. Gabapentin
B. Metronomic therapies
i. Metronidazole
C. Sedatives and anti-anxiety medications
i. Trazodone
D. Topicals
i. Silver Sulfadiozine
14. SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENTS
What additional options are there aside from the big 3?
A. Bisphosphonate
i. Filler
B. Cancer vaccine
i. Trials are still running
15. HARNESSES, HANDLES AND OTHER HELP
Solutions for the unsteady
A. Front limb amputee
i. Filler
B. Hind limb amputee
i. Filler
16. SUPPLEMENTS
All the extra stuff to fill your cabinet
A. Apo-caps
B. Canine Immunity Plus
C. CBD with CBG
i. Verified purity testing is important
ii. Steve’s Goods
1. Dog cookies are good for mild pain or anxiety
2. Stick with the oil if using for cancer supplementation
a. More cost effective for high concentration, unflavored
b. Our pick: CBD + CBG, 20:1, 2500mg per 1 FL. (4-7 drops based on reaction of dog)
c. Also absorbs through the mucus membranes so a great option for very picky eaters or those who just aren’t hungry
D. Dosequin
E. Blueberry pills
F. Omega 3
G. Bernie’s Perfect Poop
H. Fortiflora
I. Other probiotic options
17. ADDITIONAL AND/OR ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
Love hurts, but not as bad as a pulled muscle!
A. Physical Therapy
i. Water therapy
ii. Massage
1. Manual
2. Ultrasound
B. Acupuncture
C. Chiropractic
D. Reiki
18. WHAT TO DO WHEN IT ALL GOES TO SH*T
Murphy’s law!
A. Injuries and infections
i. Injury
1. First month
2. Any time after
ii. Infection
1. First month
a. What to look for (different types of infections)
b. How to explain it to your vet before going in
c. How they’re treated and what you can do to prevent escalation
2. Any time after
B. Financial Stress
i. Lose the pride, your pup needs you
ii. Crowdsourcing for help
iii. Fundraisers
19. PALLIATIVE CARE
What to do when the time grows short
A. Meds
i. Pain meds
ii. Sedatives
B. Happiness in all things
i. Living their best life
C. Saying Goodbye
20. HELPFUL HOUNDS RESOURCES
A. Hounds that Hop
B. Your rescue
C. Colorado University – Flint. School of Vet
D. Tripawd.com
E. The Dog Council
