Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

Debbie,

Thank you for your prayers. I know I need them right now. My other dog Daisy (cocker spaniel) is a definitely a great comfort to me right now. She makes me have to get up and do things when I might just sit and cry. I thank God for her.

Jenn

Brenda,

Thanks for your kind words about my Buddy. I'm so thankful that he didn't suffer for long. He stayed healthy for a long time, except for the constant need to pee. I will try to stop second guessing myself though it's really tough. I know he knew how much I loved him because of how much love he showed me.

I hope your journey of grieving for Bella is at least not as intense at this point, though I remember from other dogs of mine dying it can take a really long time. I will always grieve my other dogs and Buddy and remember them in special ways.

Thanks for the hugs. I send hugs back to you.

Jenn, Buddy's Mom

Wow! I'm so glad you're vet thinks it's worth a try.  My Shelby continues to do well with the Neoplasene treatment.  Is she going to give it as an oral dose?  If so, Shelby did have diarrhea at first but I put her on Firm Up which is a pumpkin supplement that completely took care of the diarrhea.  She now gets the firm up mixed in with greek yogurt and the liquid Neoplasene after she eats.  She also gets a pretreat before eating of 3 reglan pills a half an hour before she gets her food.  This helps with nausea.  She has never acted like her stomach has given her trouble because she is always willing to eat so I'm hoping that she is not experiencing nausea.  I wish the best for you and Sienna.  Keep us posted.

It's so nice to be able to talk to someone who's been through this before. Thanks! Yes, Siena is getting an oral dose. We are starting at 1 cc two times a day. She is 54 lbs. So far, she has kept the neoplasene down but I think she might have a tummy ache. She seems like she doesn't feel quite right. Did Shelby take right to it or did she have an 'adjustment period'? Also, I feed her dinner first and then give the med soaked into a tiny bit of bread and then wrapped inside a ball of soft dog food (blue buffalo). She spit part of it out this morning, so I added more soft food and she took it. Just wondering if you have any tricks you use to feed it to Shelby? Lastly, do you have her on any immunity supplements? I am continuing with fish oil, but nothing else. The vet gave me some vitamins, but the buck mountain website says it's better to administer it alone. As always, there's plenty of conflicting info on treatments! Thanks again and I'm glad Shelby is doing so well! Did I read you are in Memphis? I grew up there, but I'm in Salt Lake now. Definitely different!

Ok, this is Shelby's regimen:  Reglan 10 mg 3 30 min before each meal, L-Glutamine Powder 1 teaspoon mixed in food in the morning, C3 Curcumin Complex one in the morning with her food, Duralactin 1000 mg one with morning food and one with evening food, Probiotic Synergy one with morning food and one with evening food, Fish Oil 4000 mg a day.  I use a pump and it is 4 pumps into each food bowl.  Piroxicam one on Monday and one on Friday.  Then after each meal we give her about a tablespoon and a half of greek yogurt with a tablespoon of Firm Up and the 2 cc of Neopleasene mixed in.  That all. (thats a lot!).  I tried giving her the neoplasene in a meatball but she did not like it.  She laps it right up in the greek yogurt.  At first I gave her plain yogurt because she is supposed to be on low carbs but then I switched to honey flavored or vanilla flavored.  I figured it couldn't hurt her to have something that tasted better.  She is on a grain free diet too.  I looked into blue buffalo but it has oatmeal (I think) in it.  So that's when we went to giving her rotisserie chickens from Costco.  I pick a whole chicken into a ziplock and then add a can of french cut green beans and freeze it.  I look like a nut checking out at Costco with 6 chickens in my cart!  It is so much work to carry out this routine but we love her so much that we don't care.  We started her on 1 cc twice a day too and then went up to 2cc after a month I think.  I am hoping she can go back to 1cc soon.  Our vet is looking into a maintanence dose for her.  The only concern I have is that she still squats for a long period of time and urine comes out good at first and then begins to dribble.  It takes her forever to pee.  But the vet said she has a narrowing of her bladder wall and that is not going away.  But the tumor is gone and it was pretty good size.  Siena might be having some nausea.  I would ask the vet about the Reglan.  I think it helped Shelby not to get nauseated.  Also, the greek yogurt would help and I don't think it would hurt.  Ask your vet.  Shelby weighs about 50 pounds so very close to Siena.  Just be aware that it took Shelby 5 months before her tumor disappeared.  We were happy that it was just staying the same size and really had no hope that it might disappear but when it did of course we were thrilled.  And we had a biopsy so I know she did have tcc no question.  Also, you are right to give her the Neoplasene last after she eats.  It should not be given on an emply stomach.  I'm sorry this is so long but I want to help anyone who is going through this if possible.  I don't know if this could possibly work for anyone else.  I only know it worked for us for now.  Maybe it will come back..I don't know.  I'm taking one day at a time right now.  Yes, we are in Collierville, just outside of Memphis.  Good luck to you and Siena.  I pray for her recovery.  By the way, how old is she??? Shelby is 13!!!  She's a trooper though. A goldne retriever mix with a big heart! I wish I could post a picture on here of her sweet face.  Let me know if you have any other questions!

Hi, I hope I am using this forum correctly.  My dog Winsley is 12.5 and dx'd with TTC 3 weeks ago.  She has stopped eating most of her food and I have to hand feed her.  She will eat a couple of bites, but it is usually not much.  She will eat greenies and last night I figured to put her Piroxicam in whipped cream to get it down.  Does anyone know is it the piroxicam that causes loss of appetite?  I have to leave out of town with my husband and kids.  I am devastated to leave.  I am worried she will get depressed and something will happen while I am gone.  She is still walking pooping little play, but not much.  Just seems anxious mostly.  Any experience, suggestions I would love.  I am sorry about to read about Buddy.  My prayers are with all the pups. 

Sherri

Yes, Piroxicam can cause an upset stomach. You should call your vet. they can suggest something to help the symptoms.

Hi Sherri--

Sorry to hear that Winsley is still not doing so well.  The doctor put Bailey on a quarter tablet of Pepcid (famotidine) 2x a day when she was started on the piroxicam.  You could certainly try that even if you cannot get in touch with your vet.

Thanks. Winsley is not eating much. I have tried everything today. She ate a few animal crackers and milk bones and a Greenie and some whipped creme with her meds. Although she doesn't want them. When we go walking she is happy. Tomorrow our family leaves for san Diego. I have been crying all night bc I don't want to go. But I have to take my two children there. I am worried she will get depressed and stop eating altogether. I have someone staying with her but I am so nervous to go. What if she just stops eating? How many days can she go? Meanwhile I started Pepcid today hoping that would help relief any nausea she may have. I am bothered my vet never suggested this. Ugh. I hate that I am losing her. And now I am losing this whole week. :(

I am so sorry for what you are going through.  In my experience with Piroxicam, it starts to kick in after a few days, and my dog started to feel better. In fact, I recently tried to take down Rio's dosage to every other day, and I noticed he was distraught, panting heavily and shaking -- this is how he acted when first diagnosed and before Piroxicam.  So I have had to administer it daily.  I am right with you about going out of town.  I have to leave on a business trip, and my husband will be out of town and my daughter as well.  I hired someone to take care of him in her home.  Normally I would leave him with a friend, but I am not sure I can put anyone else through it.  Rio takes Chinese herbs I crush and put into his food as well as Piroxicam, fish oil, mushroom drops  and 2 antacids a day. I took him to a Natural Vet last week because the chemo is no longer effective.  He had acupuncture.  So you are not alone -- I know just how it feels to be so sad and helpless.  Rio seems happy and loves his homecooked meals every night -- my poor husband is always asking if the ground sirloin and fresh salmon are for him or for Rio.  But we do what we can for as long as we can.  I will pray that Winsley will feel bettr.  It sounds like you are doing all you can.  Piroxicam really helped Rio.