Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

 

On 7/26/2008 jkdallas wrote:

Spaghetti and pretzels?  Awesome. Annie's playing you like a fiddle!  I'll save that for future reference.

Big puddle today on the hardwood hallway by Elie. I'm thinking/hoping that was mostly because of our friend coming over and the other 2 dogs getting all riled up.

Transitioning to EVO food for all 3 shelties.  We have had a few cases of "ugly butt", but it's been better now.  I notice much smaller stools, and that's to be expected.

Main thing is Elie likes it, and the 2 boys will eat anything.  Our 14 year old Teddy is getting over-weight and I hope the EVO won't make that worse... but I have been told that once he adjusts to the low carb/no grain/high protein diet that he should actually start to lose weight.  Sounds like BS, but maybe the metabolism change would have that effect. Anyone have experience?

 Go, Annie, Go!

 

 

I went to EVO when my dog got sick with TCC.  So my other dog joined her.  They both did well and were lean strong dogs.  Even after we lost the former, we stayed with the EVO.  We were given a 3 year old border collie mix for companionship for the grieving dog.  The mix was overweight.  Within 2 months she lost 15 pounds.  I was even kinda scared and called the vet.  That was a couple of months ago.  She quit losing, she feels good and has terrific energy.  I'm sure you will see similar results.

I add a little olive oil and garlic to their food also but that is all.

Good luck.

Mandi

Hello, I am not sure if I am posting this in the right place but I will give it a try.

First, let me say I have read many of posts on this thread, and I feel for everyone who is going through this. I am unable to read all of the posts as it just breaks my heart too much. 

I came across this message board as I was scouring the web for information in regard to my 16 1/2 year old pitbull Porky and his illness. The information here has been very helpful in understanding what is happening to Porky.

 It started a month ago when we noticed blood and a small blood clot in Porkys urine. Other than the blood, he seemed very normal. All of his subsequent peeing looked normal with no blood. I took him to his vet where he was put on an antibiotic for what the vet was hoping was a uti. A week later there was more blood and clotting in his urine. It lasted for a day and disappeared again. The vet did blood tests, urinalysis, and xrays and found nothing too out of the ordinary. Over the past month, Porky had been given 5 different antibiotics and within the past two weeks the blood and clotting had been getting more frequent. Finally, over the weekend the blood has become constant and he has developed a sense of urgency at times to pee and sometimes nothing comes out. I took him back to the vet again and spoke with another vet who happened to be covering for our vet. It turns out she normally works with an oncologist vet and when I told her what was going on with Porky and I mentioned tcc she immediately confirmed what I was thinking. She said the tumor was most likely pushing on Porky's bladder giving him the sense that he needs to pee even though nothing may come out. She prescribed the Pirioxicam, a form of pepcid for the stomach, as well as another antibiotic for any secondary infection. 

I understand that Porky has lived a very long fulfilling life and he deserves to move on with dignity.

I have read many of the posts that indicate that the piraxiocam has helped with their situations. What I want to know is if anyone out there has heard about or experienced any kind of benefit from the medications or other alternative methods when given at what seems like this late stage in the disease.

I very much appreciate you all for taking part in this message board so that nobody has to be alone with terrible disease.

I had to say goodbye to my 11 year old wheaten terrier, Charlie, on July 31st. He, too, was having difficulty urinating with occasional blood and tiny clots. Most days he was energetic, happy, and had a great appetite. I so wanted to believe this was not TCC.

 I was told by the wonderful doctors at Ohio State University that his tumor was totally filling his bladder. I made the decision to end his pain that day. I couldn't bear his suffering any longer.

 My heart is breaking. He was my world.

 

On 7/30/2008 Porkys mom wrote:

Hello, I am not sure if I am posting this in the right place but I will give it a try.

.

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I very much appreciate you all for taking part in this message board so that nobody has to be alone with terrible disease.

You posted in the right place.  Hope that Porky is doing well. Our sheltie, Elie was diagnosed with TCC July 3rd and has been on Piroxicam 3mg plus Pepcid a/c with really good results. I don't mind the occassional accidents in the house because they're BIG puddles and that's good. We also transitioned to EVO food (no grains, high protein) that may slow the growth of the tumor.  Could be BS, but she likes it, so we'll go with it.  We also give her Nordic Naturals Omega-3 2x/day and a full body suppliment powder. There's other suggestions of suppliments and diet on this site that you might consider as well.

Best of luck to you and Porky,

Jeff 

 

 

 

On 7/28/2008 Mandi wrote:

I went to EVO when my dog got sick with TCC.  So my other dog joined her.  They both did well and were lean strong dogs.  Even after we lost the former, we stayed with the EVO.  We were given a 3 year old border collie mix for companionship for the grieving dog.  The mix was overweight.  Within 2 months she lost 15 pounds.  I was even kinda scared and called the vet.  That was a couple of months ago.  She quit losing, she feels good and has terrific energy.  I'm sure you will see similar results.

I add a little olive oil and garlic to their food also but that is all.

Good luck.

Mandi

Thanks for the info Mandi!  Glad to know you've had some success with what we're trying to do. I hadn't thought of the olive oil, but have had luck with yogurt or cottage cheese mixed in the EVO dry food along with an Omega-3 tab.  Whatever works at this point, I guess.

My Dog, Mutley was just diagnosed with TCC, he went to the vet last week to get his teeth cleaned and when My vet was doing his checkup he noticed he had lost ten pounds (from 44 to 34) she also seems to feel his bladder wich felt swollen, after an xray confirmed a mass, followed by a urine test wich had cells in it. she advised we could go for the ultrasound.

A  call to the animal hospital found out it would have been 600.00 to get the ultrasound,, and find out what we already assume. I found this board and started reading, Another call back to my vet and I asked about starting peroxicane, wich she thought was a very good option. we started on saturday with 5mg every other day. he is a very picky eater and somethime food will lay in his dish for the whole day, so I have started him on wet food, mixing it up with chicken, steak, egg, and anything else he will eat.  I have been watching him pee and noticed he has gone from going for 6 or 7 seconds  to almost 13 seconds steadt today. so I am hoping it is working. will go back to the vet for another urine test in a couple weeks, and another blood test to make sure his liver is good.

 thanks for the posts on this board for some direction

 

Duane

 

On 8/5/2008 RedSummer65 wrote:

I had to say goodbye to my 11 year old wheaten terrier, Charlie, on July 31st. He, too, was having difficulty urinating with occasional blood and tiny clots. Most days he was energetic, happy, and had a great appetite. I so wanted to believe this was not TCC.

 I was told by the wonderful doctors at Ohio State University that his tumor was totally filling his bladder. I made the decision to end his pain that day. I couldn't bear his suffering any longer.

 My heart is breaking. He was my world.

I'm so sorry to hear about Charlie.  I had to make the same sad decision that you did--I said goodbye to my JJ on July 30th.  I don't know what to say that would help, except that I just feel really bad for you & I am going thru pretty much the same thing.  It sounds like you & Charlie had a wonderful life together.

So sorry to hear about JJ and Charlie.  They will wait at the bridge for you like all good pups do.

Our Elie has started to refuse food and treats. We have had some luck with cottage cheese and pumpkin. Sometimes she'll take her pills with yogurt, sometimes not. 

She does love going to work with us and has a grand time herding everyone at our store... she's exhausted once we get home. But she is still playful and happy and pees pretty well so far... some straining.

I've not seen any blood in her urine, but I do notice redness and irritation at her vulva... maybe from the straining and her fussing at it?

Best wishes to all who are fighting this,

Jeff

 

 

 

 

 

I'm glad I found this site.  Our dog Dov (chow, akita, german shepard, chihuahua mix) Honest - DNA testing.)  is 13 this month.  Initial diagnosis was UTI which made sense about a month ago.  Not showing any progress with first antibiotic so did x-ray in case of stones.  Nothing showed although vet said some types don't so switched to another antibiotic.  Still had massive straining and accidents in house so tried steroid to reduce inflammation.  Yesterday the vet did a dye test which shows a mass at the neck of the bladder.  She said most likely a tumor and not in a spot which could be operated on.  Also learned the vast majority of tumors in the bladder are malignant.  He doesn't fit the "normal" profile for this type of cancer.  We've always fed quality diet, no insectides etc.  Only risk factor he fits is slightly overweight.  This is so frustrating.  Our vet is going to consult with a urologist and I'll suggest the piroxicam that I've been reading about in this site.  We'll also look into changing his diet (although at this point - he can probably get whatever he wants out of us in terms of treats!) I know he's old but still so full of life even with this.  He enjoys his treats, new toys and walks so we know it isn't time yet but so so hard.  We haven't always been so good about knowing when the right time is with our other animals so I hope we will do better this time.  We need to be gone for 10 days and I'm scared to leave him.  I do appreciate all the messages that I've been reading.  Just putting this into words helps.  My husband and I will keep loving him and doing what we can.   Thank you to all who have taken time to share their stories and ideas.

 

On 2/4/2005 Nannyno wrote:

I have a Sweet sweet sweet, ten year old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Diva. She is fighting the big fight right now, Tranitional cell carcinoma, in her bladder(4cm x5cm). She was diagnosed a month ago, and is asymtomatic except for bloody urine. She is in no apparent discomfort. I am giving her Piroxicam, an nsai, and have been for one month. Her regular Vet. insists it will see her through the major discomfort down the road...until she can no longer tolerate it. Without an operation, we want to shrink her tumor and slow it down, (irradicate would be BEST) with Graviola. Don't know how much to give a 75 pound girl. Does anyone out there have any experience with giving it to a dog? SO Gratefully Yours, Nannyno

hi Nannyno O the poor little thing. Your on the right track with the Graviola I also know you cant over dose with it, I have prostrate cancer that out side the prostrate so it went every were in my body,  The doctor at the time  gave me five years and that was two years ago he said my PSA  reading will keep climbing up as the tumors are developing and get bigger in my bone, my lung, and my liver . He also told me chemo doesn’t work on prostrate cancer At the time my weight was 220 pound so  I took 4 capsules  3 times a day 6am, 2pm, and 10pm,  that, and also cellular  Zeolite 15 drops 4 times a day. I was amaze, two week later when I had my PSA test it didn’t go up, but had dropped by half. Well hope this helps will take care and God best Ray