Please Help I am lost with my Dogs bladder Cancer diagnosis

I have a 9 year old Cocker Spaniel who 1. Was told he had crystals and blood in the urine he was put on S/D food and antiobiotics. 2. After a month of antibiotics and the S/D food no change was found so he was put on Clavamox for 14 days. 3. Another Urinalysis said that there was still blood in the Urine along with abnormal cells. The vet said by feeling the bladder it seemed very thick (the lining) which means it is very possible he has bladder cancer. She put him on Baytril to try one last round of antibiotics and they he is scheduled for a sonogram next week along with a biopsy should they find anything interesting. The wierd thing is there are no tumors, just thickening of the bladder wall. She said that what happens is the the wall will thicken and shrink so that the urine can not be held anymore and it will pour out blood and urine. This is so confusing to me. He is so happy and playful and eats great and is so young to me. This dog is my baby, my destiny and my life and I don't know what to do. I am in the early stages yet I want to start to do everything possible to help. I am assuming a sonogram will tell me how advanced things are and how long to expect him to make it. Then what do I do? I look into his brown eyes and want to explain it to him. I can't imagine looking into those eyes for the last time. She said she felt no tumors so can anyone explain how there is cancer with no tumors. Any advice would help me so greatly.  I am disabled and limited on money but would pay my last dime to save him or prolong his life. Generally does anyone know how painful this cancer is (my vet says he shouldn't be in pain) but I want to make sure. She said that I would know when it was time to take action when he starts to bleed and urinate without being able to stop it. Or if we want to take action early look for blood dribbles and this means it is getting worse. I am just heartbroken. Does anyone have time to help me understand all of this and what is best to do for him. Has anyone been told a time frame to expect him to live. We are in the middle of moving soon and Idon't know if I should put him through that stress and I am just at a loss. Please help. My email address is --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--if you can share please email me. Angela PS He is not dribbling just every time he goes it is full of blood, he doesn't strain or cry at all.

Hello Angela,

I am fairly new to this message board as well. I just recently finished reading literally hundreds of messages on this website in what I believe to be in another section than under pets called canine bladder cancer. Here is the link.

http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,1543,

If you cant reach it this way, then just google or search in your browser under canine bladder cancer and it should be one of the first few sites listed.

 Anyway, first off, let me say how sorry I am to hear of your troubles. I too am going through a similar ordeal. My 16 1/2 year old dog Porky started to have blood in his urine over a month ago. At the time it was only occasional but I took him in to see the doctor and he was treated for what was assumed to be an infection. After five different antibiotics, xrays and several urine and blood tests, there was still no answer for the blood. As time went on the blood and blood clots became more frequent and after searching on the internet I found the information on this web site as well as a few others that indicated Porky was most likely suffering from bladder cancer. I went back to the vet when Porky had blood in his urine for two days straight and he was also leaking a little. Fortunately his regular vet was out and the substitute vet there usually works with an oncology vet. When I went over the situation with her and told her about what I read online about bladder cancer, she was in complete agreeement with me and that it was almost certain that it was bladder cancer. We put Porky on Pirioxicam, a form of pepcid to coat his tummy from the Pirioxicam and an antibiotic to help with any infection that may arise. It has only been a few days since we started this but Porky it still in good spirits, eats and drinks well. I dont think he is in any kind of pain or discomfort. As soon I see it, then I will know it is time to say goodbye.But as long as he is eating, drinking and has the occassional smile on his face, I am going to love him and spoil him. I encourage you to read some of the posts from the canine bladder cancer board. It will really help to understand what is going on and what different options there are. There are a lot of people who have gone through or are still going through this horrible situation and they all have ideas and methods that they have used (many quite successfull, many not unforturnately). 

Unfortunately, this is not a battle that can be won, but there are things that can be done to make the time left better for you and for your dog.

I hope this message gets to you in time and that you can have some comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

 Teresa (Porkys mom)  

We are doing the same thing. I couldn't get that website up, if you can please email me again with the site. It is tough when you can't explain to your baby what is going on. I will ask about the medicine and also the infection meds. Thank you for your prayers. My thoughts are with you and your baby as well. Angela

 

On 8/9/2008 Netangel334 wrote:

We are doing the same thing. I couldn't get that website up, if you can please email me again with the site. It is tough when you can't explain to your baby what is going on. I will ask about the medicine and also the infection meds. Thank you for your prayers. My thoughts are with you and your baby as well. Angela

Hi Angela -

I am so sorry to hear about your baby.  I have an old Cocker - I don't know how old as he is a Hurricane Katrina Survivor and came to us shortly after.  Actually, I first met him while doing volunteer work down in Mississippi right after the hurricane.  We knew he was older and deaf which meant he wasn't highly adoptable but he is the most loving companion you could ask for.  I had a Cocker before him that lived to be 17 yrs and it tore my heart out when I lost him.  I didn't even think about getting another puppy but when I saw Dusty I fell in love with him.  He was my constant companion while I was going through my cancer treatment. 

What you are looking for is called TCC - Transitional Cell Carcinoma - canine bladder cancer.  If you just go to the top of the cancer compass page where is says search - type in TCC and it will bring up all the discussions on the subject.  There is one that has well over 700 replies.  Be ready to read all day or night - I have read many of the posts on there and the people are outstanding.  They have so many helpful hints and foods to try.  It is quite an education from many people who love their pets.

I wish you the best with your puppy and hope you have a long time left together.  Let us know how everything goes.

Diana

Hi Teresa--

I just wanted to wish you and Porky all the best of luck.  If he's made it 16 1/2 years in this world, he certainly does NOT deserve to be taken out by TCC!!! 

When my Annie was first diagnosed she was only 9 and I told the vet I wanted her to make it to 13! (At the time it seemed as if I was asking him for a miracle!) She turned 13 in April; I made the vet cookies and told him I wanted to renegotiate and give Annie until 15.

No matter how long we have them, it is never enough.  

The only medicine that Annie has been on is Piroxicam and it has so far held the cancer off enough. I hope it will do the same for Porky.

 Good luck to you both

Marty 

 

Please update us on how your dog is going.

 

On 7/29/2008 Netangel334 wrote:

I have a 9 year old Cocker Spaniel who 1. Was told he had crystals and blood in the urine he was put on S/D food and antiobiotics. 2. After a month of antibiotics and the S/D food no change was found so he was put on Clavamox for 14 days. 3. Another Urinalysis said that there was still blood in the Urine along with abnormal cells. The vet said by feeling the bladder it seemed very thick (the lining) which means it is very possible he has bladder cancer. She put him on Baytril to try one last round of antibiotics and they he is scheduled for a sonogram next week along with a biopsy should they find anything interesting. The wierd thing is there are no tumors, just thickening of the bladder wall. She said that what happens is the the wall will thicken and shrink so that the urine can not be held anymore and it will pour out blood and urine. This is so confusing to me. He is so happy and playful and eats great and is so young to me. This dog is my baby, my destiny and my life and I don't know what to do. I am in the early stages yet I want to start to do everything possible to help. I am assuming a sonogram will tell me how advanced things are and how long to expect him to make it. Then what do I do? I look into his brown eyes and want to explain it to him. I can't imagine looking into those eyes for the last time. She said she felt no tumors so can anyone explain how there is cancer with no tumors. Any advice would help me so greatly.  I am disabled and limited on money but would pay my last dime to save him or prolong his life. Generally does anyone know how painful this cancer is (my vet says he shouldn't be in pain) but I want to make sure. She said that I would know when it was time to take action when he starts to bleed and urinate without being able to stop it. Or if we want to take action early look for blood dribbles and this means it is getting worse. I am just heartbroken. Does anyone have time to help me understand all of this and what is best to do for him. Has anyone been told a time frame to expect him to live. We are in the middle of moving soon and Idon't know if I should put him through that stress and I am just at a loss. Please help. My email address is --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--if you can share please email me. Angela PS He is not dribbling just every time he goes it is full of blood, he doesn't strain or cry at all.

Please update us on how your dog is doing.