Canine Bladder Cancer

My springer spaniel Mollie has just been diagnosed with TCC and has 2 tumors in her bladder.  She had a spindle cell sarcoma 2 years ago and recently (7 weeks ago) had her spleen removed due to another tumor. She is still slightly ameamic from that procedure and I think it is just a matter of time now, as I suspect that the cancer has manage to invade other parts of her body and am unwilling to put her through any more invasive treatment. She is being treated with a muscle relaxant for the bladder problem in order to make her more comfortable and I have read that Graviola is helpful in sometimes reducing the growth of the tumors. Does anyone know how much to give a dog weighing 40lbs and in how much water? Also - should I take her for less walks so that she doesn't strain and bleed so much? Any advice would be great.  Thanks - Kay

Hi.  So sorry to hear about your dog.  My JJ also has bladder cancer.  He wanted to go out really often until we got him started on Piroxicam & antibiotics, and the meds seemed to ease the irritation in his bladder that was making him need to go so often.  Within a couple days of starting meds he went from wanting out every 15 minutes to being fine for up to 3 or 4 hours.  He also wears a diaper so if he leaks in between outings he's not distressed by getting pee on the floor.  Hope this info helps you.  I haven't tried the graviola so can't help you there.

Joy & JJ.

Thanks for your reply.Hope your JJ is going on ok.

It seems that the drug Mollie is on is stopping her wanting to go out so often, and she is sleeping through the night for about 9 hours, although when I take her for her walks she wants to pee on every leaf and we get nowhere, trouble is she has no pee left and it's just blood.  I reckon if I didn't take her out she wouldn't pass so much blood, but then that's cruel cos she loves her walks and what else has she got?  It's a vicious circle.  I just hope that the bleeding stops soon but after seeing the size of the tumor I will be suprised. I have taken carbs out of her diet as I read that the tumor thrives on carbs and I will try the graviola when it arrives.  Nothing ventured .......Mollies Mum - Kay

Hi Kay!

I had a beautiful Springer Spaniel, she lived to be 16 and was truly the sweetest dog I have ever had. What color is Mollie?

One of my current babies is Annie, she's a PBGV and as sweet as my Springer was, she is that stubborn--but I love her to death!. She's had TCC for over 3 years now and is still doing fairly well. The thing I've found about it for us, is that it has changed several times.  Right now, is not one of our best times, but in December and January, she was amazing (and that was nearly three years after diagnosis) her urine stream was strong with no blood and she needed to go out only two or three times a day! At some point prior to that, her stream was so thin and more a dribble than anything else!

If Mollie is taking antibiotics, that might clear up the blood, but I have to tell you that no matter how good or bad Annie has been doing, she will still squat a bunch of times when she's just out sniffing around! If she has to ask to be let out, she'll go out, pee and back in we go. If she's out playing in the yard, she, sniff walk around and squat. She doesn't seem to matter, though, she'll just look around and then be off again.

The one thing I've learned through this is that as long as Annie is happy, I am as well. I don't waste anymore time worrying and I won't shed another tear.  I know there will be time for that soon enough (as I've read so many heartbreaking stories on this board) for now, we enjoy every second we have!
Good luck to you and your Mollie.

Marty 

Thanks you for your message and your advise.  Unfortunately I had to take Mollie to be put to sleep last night.  I think she must have had at least one of her tumours for quite a long time and I think it was responsible for the tumour she had on her leg 2 years ago and the one in her spleen 2 months ago.  She wasn't eating, and when she did she was being sick, she didn't want to drink even when the bowl was infront of her bed, and she had started loosing her balance if she looked up suddenly whilst walking.  I wonder if there were tumours in other places too.

Having said that, after spending all day yesterday lying in her bed, she greeted me when I got home and wanted to go for a walk. I felt awful and wondered if I should cancel the appointment, but I know she would have had another rotten day today and in the end decided that it was good she could go for a little walk and have a good sniff around.

I hope it is a very long time until you have to make that awful decision. I have read alot of your messages on the board and feel you have been very helpful to lots of people in the same position and I hope you can continue to keep Annie well and comfortable.

 

Best wishes to you both - Kay

Oh Kay, I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds as if Mollie was quite the fighter. I know how hard it is to decide if you've done the right thing. When it was time for my Springer, she had been healthy all her life and was still a dear dear dog.  She had just become weak in her legs and would fall down all the time. When I was home, I'd just scoop her up and try to make nothing of it (for she was so upset that she couldn't get back up on her own).  I came home one day to find the poor thing on the floor in a puddle of her urine and she was beside herself and I knew her time was near.

But you were a great Mom to your Mollie and fought with her as long as was  possible. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give our friends is to let them go.

 I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Marty 

 

 

 

Hi Marty

Thank you for your message and kind thoughts - they have helped alot at this horrible time.

Best wishes to you and Annie -

Kay

Marty:

  If you are still on this board, I'd appreciate some information, please.  I just joined this board today because one of my Shelties was just diagnosed with TCC.  Although she has had frequency of urination, I haven't noted any blood.  Anyway, an ultrasound showed a mass that is filling approx. a third of her bladder.  She is my oldest girl--15 1/2 yrs--so the only real option for her is the Piroxicam.   So, I am grateful to have found this site for information, support, etc. 

  The reason I'm writing you is to ask you about your Springer.  You mentioned he/she had trouble walking/getting up.   Did your Springer have TCC?  I'm asking because my other Sheltie--13 yrs old--has been having hind leg weakness and difficulty getting up for about 9 months.  We've been through a number of different treatments (spinal arthritis, iatrogentic cushings, etc. ) for her, only to find that her problem was not caused by whatever diagnosis she had at that time.  The bottom line is that we don't know the cause.  I haven't opted for an MRI (at this point) for several reasons, some of which include the fact that she is deaf, almost blind, high grade heart murmur, chronic bronchitis, etc. that make her a poor candidate for anything we might find that requires surgery.   I guess I'm still reaching for straws here, thinking that since you did not mention your Springer had TCC, maybe his/her problem was another diagnosis that you could share.   The past two days, she has been very reluctant to rise and, when she does, takes little baby steps to avoid falling over.

   I'm having a bit of a tough time staying positive, not knowing how much time either one of them has and thinking about losing both of them in the near future.  Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks-

Holly

    

 

On 5/28/2008 sheltielady wrote:

Marty:

  If you are still on this board, I'd appreciate some information, please.  I just joined this board today because one of my Shelties was just diagnosed with TCC.  Although she has had frequency of urination, I haven't noted any blood.  Anyway, an ultrasound showed a mass that is filling approx. a third of her bladder.  She is my oldest girl--15 1/2 yrs--so the only real option for her is the Piroxicam.   So, I am grateful to have found this site for information, support, etc. 

  The reason I'm writing you is to ask you about your Springer.  You mentioned he/she had trouble walking/getting up.   Did your Springer have TCC?  I'm asking because my other Sheltie--13 yrs old--has been having hind leg weakness and difficulty getting up for about 9 months.  We've been through a number of different treatments (spinal arthritis, iatrogentic cushings, etc. ) for her, only to find that her problem was not caused by whatever diagnosis she had at that time.  The bottom line is that we don't know the cause.  I haven't opted for an MRI (at this point) for several reasons, some of which include the fact that she is deaf, almost blind, high grade heart murmur, chronic bronchitis, etc. that make her a poor candidate for anything we might find that requires surgery.   I guess I'm still reaching for straws here, thinking that since you did not mention your Springer had TCC, maybe his/her problem was another diagnosis that you could share.   The past two days, she has been very reluctant to rise and, when she does, takes little baby steps to avoid falling over.

   I'm having a bit of a tough time staying positive, not knowing how much time either one of them has and thinking about losing both of them in the near future.  Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks-

Holly

    

 

hi Holly--

Yes I'm still here, though some days I wonder why.

My Springer did not have TCC. She was 16 when she died and was actually in good health (meaning she never had any problems for all of her life).

I didn't have any tests or anything like that done for her as it seemed to me at the time that she was just getting old. She had always been a very vibrant dog and it was horrible for her to fall and be unable to get up.

Your dog is younger, though. Have you tried Glucosamine (sp?) My husband takes it and it helps him--and it was originally developed for veterinary use.  It has also helped my sister's dogs; I hope it will do yours some good as well. I wish I could help you more.

As for the TCC--I hesitate to give you false hopes, but there are dogs on the board who have managed to live with it for a while--regardless of the size of the tumor.  As long as the kidneys aren't blocked and your girl can pass uirne, you have a chance.  The piroxicam is all we've used and it has done it's job so far.  Annie's been having a rough spot of late, but we'll hope for the best.

Remember, you still have your two babies and worrying will not help a bit--enjoy every second you have with them.  

Feel free to write anytime, if you think I can help.  Good luck to you.

Marty 

 

 

Marty - I don't know if you remember, but you provided lots of much needed support last November/December with my labrador Aiko.  I don't think that I ever let you know, but her time was up on December 28, 2007.  It's been a while, but there is now another pup in my life - a 1 year old rescue corgi mix.  He came from a bad place and know that he's so happy to have a home of his own.  I will say that I am NOT going to have my lawn treated again!

Thanks again for your kind words and support.  I hope that you and Annie are well.

JDL