Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

Claire I'm so saddened to hear about your sweet Amber. Her picture was so beautiful and it sounds like she had a beautiful spirit to match. I know exactly how you feel having lost my Shelby just two weeks ago. It's going to be so hard not having her with you. But you have to focus on all the wonderful years you had together. Especially the happy times you shared. That is what I'm trying to do. I know you question if you did the right thing but it seems like her situation was pretty advanced and I know that you wouldnt want her to suffer. That helped me make my decision and even so I question it but Shelby just wouldn't eat and couldn't get up anymore. I also believe that it is our responsibility to make these difficult decisions because we have committed ourselves to the best care for them and they are counting on us. Even though that makes it even harder. She knew you loved her though and you stayed right with her showing her you loved her. That's a very loving thing to do. It has helped me that I have other dogs so the house is not so empty. I don't know if you do have other dogs but it does help. I will be thinking and praying for you. I know it almost unbearable but just keep trying. I'm hoping it will get easier too. Sallie (Shelby's mom)

Thanks so much, Sallie!

I do have another dog, Rye. He was pretty worried the first few days and was VERY happy to see us when we got home from work but he's settling back in it seems. It's weird since he was the older of my two dogs at 11 years old and he is pretty much in perfect health. He and Amber have always been best friends and I know he wonders where she went.

Well, we went for an ultrasound on Monday and there seems to be some progression of the TCC to the trigone area.  She also has another UTI and will go on a round of amoxicillin.  Not what I was hoping for.

Anyone know of a holistic vet in the New Jersey/New York/Pennsylvania area who has used Neoplasene?

Karin

Maybe you could contact the people at Buck Mountain and they could tell you. I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.

Hi all,

I didn't spend much time on here, as I couldn't bear (sp?) to come on.  Yesterday Winsley woke up and could barely walk.  It came out of nowhere.  I lifted her into the car and she just looked at me and I knew.  I knew! OMG, not now- I drove her down to the beach and held her.  She wouldn't even get out of the car.  This man (angel) came out of nowhere and sat with us for 1/2 an hour and then just started praying.  I sobbed and sobbed.  I met my husband at the vet and the Dr. came out and checked her.  He said it was probably her spleen (she was very tired and lethargic and tummy distended).  We picked up our sons and they said goodbye.  At 12:30 she died peacefully in my arms.  I keep seeing her everywhere I turn.  I think she is behind me.  I am so devastated.  What will I do without my baby?  Where is she? how is she? I am somewhat relieved that she is not in pain and anxioius, but i still want her to be here.  Please keep fighting.  I am so tired of cancer.  I am so sad.  I am so sad. 

Hi Karin, 

I'm so sorry to hear about Bailey. We used black salve on our beautiful bulldog Gnocchi - and it did help her. You can read about it here: www.mumsnothavingchemo.com/2011/09/the-black-salv-ation/ I don't know a holistic vet in the New York area but I have heard of a fantastic one in Florida called Dr Lynn Peck. Perhaps you could contact her? She might know someone in your area.

In the meantime, does anyone know of a holistic vet in London?

Laura

On Jun 28, 2012 5:25 PM Shelbysmom2 wrote:

Maybe you could contact the people at Buck Mountain and they could tell you. I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.

I actually did call Buck Mountain...I spoke with Pat, a very lovely person.  They don't seem to have a list of who they send their product to.  I did contact Dr. Kathy and she's willing to work with my vet.  She actually knows a doctor very close to me, however, I'm not sure I would want to start with someone new to my case.  I'm still hoping that my specialist in Philly will agree to try the Neo. 

The one thing that I am amazed by is how all of these doctors and staff have responded.  They have been so willing to provide me with information and have either emailed or called me back within a short time.  There are truly some wonderful people.

If I cannot convince my specialist to go this route, then I will probably use the local vet.  I feel the time is definitely now before this continues spreading.

On Jun 19, 2012 3:10 PM Chloebeaglemom wrote:

Claire, so very sorry for you. I can't believe it happened so fast. I know you did all you could for Amber. I know we are all facing this one day. So sorry yours came so soon. Will be thinking of you and please remember all of us who are still fighting this dreadful disease. Chloe's Mom Susan

Claire, Chloe is still doing fairly well. I think it was about 8 weeks ago she had her first round of the carboplatin. She lost her appetite, lost a couple of pounds and was kinda yucky for about 5 weeks. We did another ultrasound at 6 weeks and the tumor had not grown any. We decided to do another round of carboplatin but at 1/4 less dosage. She has done well with it. No sickness and still eating well. In 2 weeks we will do another ultrasound to see how things look. She still seems to be straining very hard to pee and poop. She is still on meloxicam. I had been doing all kinds of supplements, but when she quit eating, I couldn't sneek any pills into anything. She would just smell stuff and walk away. So the meloxicam is the only thing I'm giving her now. Funny how I can hide it in a small marshmallow and throw her a few at a time, she don't take time to smell, just swallows them whole. I know any day could be the last, from your experience. It makes me sick to know what I have to eventually face. Right now we are enjoying snuggling on the sofa or on our bed. She enjoys that and being rubbed. If I stop, that paw comes up and scratches my hand as if to say don't stop. I think of you often and hope things are getting a little better for you. Susan, Chloe's mom

Hi Susan, thanks for thinking of me!

That sounds about like how Amber reacted to the carboplatin, with the no appetite and she also wouldn't take anything with pills hidden in it. I had been rubbing them in butter and putting them down her throat and even if she wouldn't eat anything that day, she would always lick my buttery fingers.

Good news that the tumor hasn't grown any!

I still don't understand how Amber's grew so fast, it seems out of the norm compared with other's stories here.

We miss her like crazy. She was all we ever talked about, my husband and I, sad huh? On a hike: look at how beautiful she is running! At home: look at how pretty Amber is on the couch! On facebook: just look at my beautiful dog running in the hills and sleeping on the couch!

Is she straining to poop because of enlarged lymph nodes? Poor girl. She sounds like a sweetie pie. I sure miss Amber's love, she was the most affectionate dog. Our other dog is just not as lovey dovey. He's a good boy though and we love him. We have been looking at Vizsla breeders lately, even though I said NO MORE DOGS! I lied. We are sad without Vizsla energy in the house.

Well, best of luck to miss Chloe.

How are everyone else's dogs doing? Otis?

On Jun 28, 2012 7:17 PM Wdog47 wrote:

Hi all,

I didn't spend much time on here, as I couldn't bear (sp?) to come on.  Yesterday Winsley woke up and could barely walk.  It came out of nowhere.  I lifted her into the car and she just looked at me and I knew.  I knew! OMG, not now- I drove her down to the beach and held her.  She wouldn't even get out of the car.  This man (angel) came out of nowhere and sat with us for 1/2 an hour and then just started praying.  I sobbed and sobbed.  I met my husband at the vet and the Dr. came out and checked her.  He said it was probably her spleen (she was very tired and lethargic and tummy distended).  We picked up our sons and they said goodbye.  At 12:30 she died peacefully in my arms.  I keep seeing her everywhere I turn.  I think she is behind me.  I am so devastated.  What will I do without my baby?  Where is she? how is she? I am somewhat relieved that she is not in pain and anxioius, but i still want her to be here.  Please keep fighting.  I am so tired of cancer.  I am so sad.  I am so sad. 

Hi,

I am so sad to hear about Winsley's passing.  I can't imagine what you are going through right now.  I know that someday I will have to face this with my soul dog Rocky, and I'm sure that the questions in my mind will be identical to yours.  What a difficult thing to go through.  Please take care of yourself, try to eat healthy food and pamper yourself as much as possible as you go through the mourning process.  Also know that those of us with dogs facing cancer will be thinking of you.  I wish there would be something I could do to help ease your sadness, but please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Love, Nita