Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

 

On 4/12/2008 JudiG wrote:

Hi, even though I seldom write on this site, I have read and read all the entries...new and old.

My 16 year old min. pin,Casey,has been living with and doing quite well with bladder cancer since October.  I must give so much credit to this site and everything I have learned.

 In addition to the medications and other natural herbs, I cook all her dog food, eliminating all carbs which turn to sugar and feed the tumor.  She is also given raw beef mixed with cottage cheese to help with the production of red blood cells, which fight the cancer.

She has never had any problem peeing.  The diagnosis was made when blood started showing in her urine.  I dread the day that it might start happening.  It must be so hard for you to watch!

All your dogs are in my thoughts and prayers

 

Because of her age and the cancer, the vet does not want to give her any shots except for rabies.  Also, I have read that tick and flea medicines should not be used because they would compromise her already stressed immune system.  SO....my question to you all is....do you know of any recipes for home made, all natural tick repellent?   I live in an area with a big tick problem.  I would like to hear how you handle this problem.

 

Judi 

Do Not allow her to have Rabies vaccination whatever you do!  This will weaken her immune system!!! Look for more information on the internet.

 

I have had some luck adding garlic to the food to deal with fleas/ticks. 

Also there is some guy on the net that sells all natural dog collars from New Jersey or someplace like that.  You will have to search it and the website is pretty basic - they are like $20 or so for 2 and they last a year.  You have to order on the phone.  I'm sorry I can't remember more but they work pretty well.  I'm in tick land too but it helped a lot.  I still had to get a tick or three a week off but better than if no help.

Good luck.

Mandi

Thank you for the input about ticks.  I will check out about all natural collars, but want to be 100% sure they do not contain anything they shouldn't.

 I already add garlic to the dog food that I cook, so that may help.

Judi 

Tea tree oil helps too!!

 

On 3/28/2008 DarrenJM wrote:

Hi Joy- Just wondering how JJ is getting along? Did he have another Chemo treatment? Brannigan just finished the Baytril antibiotic today and she has improved for the past 5 days...... no peeing at night !! Maybe she did have an  infection.

Post an update so we know how you are doing.

Marty and Annie.....how are you getting along??

Take Care-    Allana, Darren & Brannigan 

Hi Allana, Darren, & Brannigan.  Sorry I didn't respond sooner.  JJ's doing fine & he just finished his 3rd chemo on Apr 3, & the chemo has stopped the tcc from progressing.  I just posted a detailed mssg on the pet cancer board so anyone considering chemo can see how it's helping JJ.  I wish the chemo would have made the tcc go away completely, but due to misdiagnosis for so many months (as kidney failure), I think JJ's lucky that the chemo is at least buying him some time.  If the tcc was caught earlier & the chemo started right away some of these tcc dogs could have longer survival times.   

The Clavamox didn't do any good as far as I could tell, so JJ was put back on the Baytril & I think it's helping but he still can't make it thru the nite.  At least he's stopped needing to go out so often.

How's Brannigan doing?

Joy & JJ

 

I am sorry to say that my Lucy lost her battle on Saturday, April 19th. 

 Lucy Masi, 6/28/95 - 4/19/08

 

On Saturday, April 19th 2008 at 12:00 hours St. Lucia, whom you know as our daughter Lucy, passed onto pooche heaven at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital.  She courageously battled numerous illnesses over her blessed life and maintained her dignified stance and loving smile with wagging tail till the end.  No words could exemplify her lust for life and her love of children, grownups, pooches and kitties.  Even though she chased squirrels and bunnies, with tail a wagging, it was all in a days play and she would never harm a fly.

 

A cherished Lucy story takes place at the Goodman’s over 10 years ago during a summer outdoor party; all the small children spent the entire day in the kiddy pool with Lucy, and all the proud parents, including Nancy and me, glanced over to the kiddy pool and Lucy had everything under control.  The kids are all teenagers now and I hope they cherish the moment as much as Nancy and I do.

 

Although she never won the block pool, Lucy was fortunate enough to attend numerous Super Bowl Sunday parties held in Hammonton and Fishtown and sniffed butts with Rocker, Shelby and Harry.  As a puppy she also attended outdoor barbeques at the Monzos’ and was a guest to the host Ziggy.  During one lovely Independence Day evening in 2000, Lucy ooh-ahhed over fireworks with Emma at the Scully’s in Wilmington and jokingly watched Barb Rico try to climb over the fence to dive into the neighbor’s Jacuzzi.  Lucy also shared many family holidays with Corky, Robbie, Duffy and Mandy.  Lucy always looked forward to visits from the Lewis and the Huggins from across the pond knowing something catastrophic would happen during their holiday.  Visits with her special friend Cedar, who lives along the Great Egg Harbor River were always a special treat filled with the aroma of pines and oaks and all the critters who call it home.  Going to work with Mommy and Daddy was always a special day as she made the rounds in the office with her tennis ball clenched firmly between her teeth.

 

Lucy was a premier Frisbee catcher and excelled in tennis ball fetching.  Lucy was multi-lingual and took all her commands in Italian and Spanglish.  She loved gardening, long unleashed walks and Blues Cruises with her dad and neighborhood walks, errand running and watching reality TV with her mom.  Nothing compared to a swim in the Great Egg Harbor River at the ruins of the Weymouth Furnace.  She treasured visits from the neighborhood children especially Joey and Natalie and from her little friend Peanut.  As soon as you met Lucy, she touched your heart and no one ever forgot her name.  Everyone smiled upon seeing Lucy from Harvey at the gas station to Sam the Jamaican Man up the street.

 

Lucy is predeceased by Sebastian (Momo) and Sushi and she is survived by her sister Stella and her parents Nancy and John.  She will be sadly missed by everyone who was ever fortunate enough to be in her presence or know of her standing in the Good Earth.

 

 

 

My thoughts and prayers go out to you in your time of loss.  Lucy sounds like she led an incredible life.

So many time when I read of someone's baby passing I cannot get through the message as I am crying for them.  Your message was full of joy and celebration of Lucy's life.  I smiled and did not feel heavy of heart.  I hope when our baby's time comes I can pass on the message with such a positive outlook.

Bless you.

Connie

 *note:  I originally posted this Friday in the wrong place.  But it was meant for all of you, so I am copying it here.   

I can't believe I found this board.  Isn't the internet a constantly amazing thing?

Today our 9yo beagle boy, Divot, was diagnosed with bladder cancer.  Actually, it's not 100%, but there is a large ("several cm") tumor in his bladder.  He had mast cell cancer on his hind leg about 5 years ago, so the vet feels that it is either the mast cell returning or TCC.  He said there is a miniscule chance of it being a benign tumor, but since Divot's spleen is also enlarged, he seriously doubts it.

So we now have to talk to an oncology specialist.  But even with the chemo, the vet said the odds were that Divot wouldn't make it to Christmas.  Without it???  So we thought it was over.  And then I found you.

Who would have thought there would be this place for such a "rare" type of cancer in dogs?

Div is peeing a lot in the house.  We haven't noticed blood in his urine at all yet, but except for his accidents how would I ever know?  He is already doing the thing where it takes him forever to go and it just drips at the end.  So far he can make it through the night, but then other times during the day he goes and 5 minutes later he has an accident.

The one thing I don't know how to help him with is that he doesn't always seem to know when it is coming out.  If he woke me up or "asked" to go out, of course I wouldn't mind.  But sometimes he just pees and doesn't even seem to notice.  Poor boy.

The only good thing is that the vet said that he doesn't know he's sick, and that he is in no pain.  He still can go for long walks and loves to play.  He bays at the neighbors' dogs and kids and squirrels and leaves blowing by.  He chases chipmunks and birds and shadows.  So he's not hurting.  Our vet (whom I adore) said when he quits eating, then we'll talk.  Until then, spoil him and love on him and see what the oncologist says. 

What a crappy day.  Thanks for listening.

UPDATE:  After this post I googled and found a holistic vet just a few minutes from me.  Who would have guessed?  They called this morning and had a cancellation.  I grabbed Div and off we went on a moment's notice, swinging by the vet to grab the x-rays and records.  She spent an hour with him, adjusting and "releasing" his organs and talking with me about so many things.  So much that makes sense now about the different cancers he's had (this is his 3rd) and the cysts and the ear issues and his dirty teeth and eating his own poop.  She put him on a raw diet http://www.drkimberly-dvm.com/html/canine-nutrition.html&nbs some supplements to help him fight the cancer. 

I don't know if this is all a bunch of hooey or the best thing since sliced bread.  I do know that it can't be any worse than thousands of dollars on chemo that they say won't get him to Christmas.  And if it doesn't help at all, then at least his last meals will be good ones instead of dry dog food. 

Thanks for being here.  I'll let you know how it goes.

My dog Dudu was diagnosed two months ago and after months of straining to urinate and never ending bladder infections, antibiotics, painkillers,  good days and bad days, I have decided that today is the day that I will release her from this torture.  She is no longer happy, just laying down in her quite spot and  suffering.  Eating is rare, and walking sometimes is hard.  I will miss my 13 year old best friend so much!  She will be in a better place soon and no more suffering.........