Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

Lynn:
I found it helpful to add the site to my favorites. Then when I access it, it goes directly to the messages.
Our 13-yr-old Keeshond Sheeba was just diagnosed this afternoon. I'd like to express my sympathy to all who have lost their beloved pets and my prayers to those currently facing treatment plans.
I don't have any questions now, as I will see our vet tomorrow to review options. But I am amazed at the information and suggestions provided by everyone who has/is facing this. I will have several questions on drug combinations when I see the vet.
I hope to continue messaging as Sheeba progresses and to keep up with how everyone's dear charges are coming along.
Blessings and Luck to everyone and all our precious pets.

Thank you for the suggestion on adding this to my favorites. I'm not very computer literate :-)
I'm so sorry to hear about Sheba. I wish you luck with her treatments. I've decided to give the Graviola a try from what I've read here.
Maya started having her problems in Oct of 2004 and still has many more good days than bad. My prayers to all of you loving animal guardians.

Pam,
I am so sorry to hear about Gandalf.
I only used this board for a day or so before I lost my sweet old girl, Vai. Her illness was more advanced than she wanted to let on. My sincerest sympathy to you and your family.
Karen V.

I want to thank everyone for all the information in this thread. Recently my 12 year old dog Penny was diaganosed with Bladder cancer. Currently she is on Piroxicam (10 mg I think every other day) and an antibiotic and from reading the messages here I have switched her over to a high protein low carb diet. (Innova EVO dog food) I am also giving her 1/2 teaspoon of graviola extract and 1 teaspoon of Flax Seed Oil mixed in her food every day. For ocassional boughts of digestive distress I give her a Pepsid AC... want to make her as comfortable as possible for as long as we can... Is there anything else I should be doing for her??

I want to thank you all for the kind words over the loss of my baby boy Gandalf. It has been hard, and you sweet thoughts have brought me so much comfort. I still come to the message board to see how you are all doing and am so happy to see your babies are still with you. I know it is hard , but remember they do not know they are sick !!! And every minute with them is special..
Take care
I will always be..... Gandalfs Mom Pam

Just wanted to let you all know Iris left us last night. She was only 8 years old. We still can't believe it. The end was peaceful, thank God, and she is now rid of the beast. I hope she is running in a world with no cancer. Bless all of you that have to travel down this road. Give your beloved dogs an extra hug today.
Joyce

Pam and Joyce,
My heart breaks every time I read of another of our "babies" passing. Just know that your babies loved you and knew how much they were loved in return, but I know they are in a better place now playing with all the other dogs that have gone on before them; getting to bark - all day if they want, getting to dig holes as deep as china, chewing on their favorite things (moms slippers) jumping and running in circles if the mood strikes them. Hold them in your hearts
Karen

Hi,
I have been reading these messages for sometime now and what a wonderful support it is. My little dog, Trixie, was diagnosed with TCC in the urethera tube about 2 weeks ago. She weighs about 10 lbs. Last summer I noticed it was taking forever for her to urinate. At the vet office, they did x-ray, ultra sound, blood test and urinalisis. All were negative. I did not want to do exploratory surgery. In October vet did perform cyctomoty (sp?), and found a very rare bladder stone. Four biopsy's sent to lab and no cancer detected. Things did not get better, in November I took her to UCDavis. They are so kind and thorough. Biopsy concluded Trixie has TCC. Immediately put on peroxicam which helped her urinating immediately. Vet school talked about chemotherapy. Even with chemo, results are the same, maybe life expectancy longer. But, my immediately problem is she is a very very picky eater and getting food and pills down her is almost impossible. Vet has also prescribed pepcin twice a day and Sucralfate 3 times a day. Their thinking is that her stomach or something is upset (she may have kidney disease), so we need to get it calmed down and perhaps her appetite will improve. I have taken her off peroxicam for a couple days at a time, but know that it is this px that is keeping the tumors suppressed. I am at a loss, I have tried all the usual things with no results. Currently I can get her to eat a McDonald's hamburger, meat only.
She loves the outing, I usually walk her around the very large parking area, drink of water and then maybe home. She appears very happy most of the time. This a.m. she threw up, just not sure why - is it peroxicame which she just started back on or is it the cookie she had for breakfast with pepcin. The loss and heartbreak is so hard to deal with. I only talk positive to Trixie. Any ideas as to food?
California - Rhoda

Hi Rhonda,
I buy the chewable pepcid tablets and crush them between two spoons. Then I literally dump the powder into Kacee's mouth. It sticks to her tongue and she has no choice but to swallow it. My vet had the peroxicam formulated into a peanut butter flavored (or whatever flavor you pick) liquid which I give with a dropper. There again it goes straight into her mouth and she swallows it. Kacee still eats most of the time but I give her scrambled eggs with her kibble (yes, I know carbs are bad - but she is used to kibble)- she loves the eggs and they are bland which I think helps her stomach - also lots of protein. She gets the pepcid before her meal, and the peroxicam after, so she has a full stomach. I have discovered that when I treat her with a pretzel (people food) which she loves, she ends up throwing up, so I have decided it must be the salt - they never used to bother her, but perhaps the salt doesn't agree with peroxicam. She gets graviola with a little canned food in the morning. The food absorbs the graviola (see message 42) and she thinks she is getting something special since she doesn't get canned for meals. With Kacee the graviola seems to give her energy.
You just have to try different things until you find what works for Trixi. Years back I remember my Mom buying hamburger meat and making tiny patties which she kept in the freezer. Then every nite she would take 1 and cook it up for her dog Kami. Kami was not ill but she was the pickiest of picky. You may speak with your vet about lowering the dose of peroxicam (it is hard on the stomach) or possible giving it every other day. We are all in the same boat, so keep checking back. Our main concern is giving our babies the best we can.
Karen

Hi Karen,
So nice to hear from someone and such good suggestions. I will try the chewable pepcid, ask vet about liquid flavored peroxicam. Trixie loves Wheat Thins, but maybe that is what she is throwing up. I have read about graviola, have been to the website, but am a little unsure about this and what to do??? Will also ask about lower dose of peroxicam or perhaps every other day.

I know all we can do is pray for our little friends. I wish it could just go away and be a bad dream.
Rhoda