Comments on: Pain in Dog Cancer and Life Quality http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/ Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM, the dog cancer vet blogs about canine cancer Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:36:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Layla http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-3070 Layla Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:27:07 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-3070 My dog has been diagnosed with bone cancer he has a large tumor on his shoulder, we have been giving him 6 50mg tramadol in the morning with 1 and half tablets of previcox, and 6 tramadol at night, he still wants to go for his walk the last couple of days starting to limp again, im heart broke he is my best freind and only 8yrs 8mths old, he is a big rottwieler, and such softy, i love him so much, he must be in alot of pain even on this amount of medication, everyone is telling me he will let me know hes had enough? he still eating and drinking and happy to see me which makes it so hard!! how much pain is my boy in, and is it truely the wright time to set him free?? please be honest, i need help as my husband works away and back end of july, but i realing think this is his last wkend. help My dog has been diagnosed with bone cancer he has a large tumor on his shoulder, we have been giving him 6 50mg tramadol in the morning with 1 and half tablets of previcox, and 6 tramadol at night, he still wants to go for his walk the last couple of days starting to limp again, im heart broke he is my best freind and only 8yrs 8mths old, he is a big rottwieler, and such softy, i love him so much, he must be in alot of pain even on this amount of medication, everyone is telling me he will let me know hes had enough? he still eating and drinking and happy to see me which makes it so hard!! how much pain is my boy in, and is it truely the wright time to set him free?? please be honest, i need help as my husband works away and back end of july, but i realing think this is his last wkend. help

]]> By: Cristina http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-2686 Cristina Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:58:41 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-2686 my Brandy is a mixed lab almost 12 years old...I have always loved her with all my heart. She has been my baby before i had my son and she has remain my baby after he was born...to this day she is still my little girl. A little less then 2 months ago she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of mammarian glands cancer and they found that she also has a tumor in her vagina which was causing her bleeding. The vet believed that given the aggressive form of the cancer any type of therapy would be useless. They could remove the mass inside her vagina to help the bleeding, but he thought that such an operation would cause her much stress and in the end it wouldn't help. so we settled on pain meds. she has been pretty happy for these few weeks but in the past few days she is deteriorating. This morning she just cried the all morning even after i gave her her meds. I called the clinic and they told me to bring her in because it might be time. I thought i could have died right then and there....but the doctor looked at her and decided to give her a different meds and see if it could help her. She is sleeping now, i just love her so much and I don't want her to be in pain. my Brandy is a mixed lab almost 12 years old…I have always loved her with all my heart. She has been my baby before i had my son and she has remain my baby after he was born…to this day she is still my little girl. A little less then 2 months ago she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of mammarian glands cancer and they found that she also has a tumor in her vagina which was causing her bleeding. The vet believed that given the aggressive form of the cancer any type of therapy would be useless. They could remove the mass inside her vagina to help the bleeding, but he thought that such an operation would cause her much stress and in the end it wouldn’t help.
so we settled on pain meds.
she has been pretty happy for these few weeks but in the past few days she is deteriorating. This morning she just cried the all morning even after i gave her her meds. I called the clinic and they told me to bring her in because it might be time. I thought i could have died right then and there….but the doctor looked at her and decided to give her a different meds and see if it could help her. She is sleeping now, i just love her so much and I don’t want her to be in pain.

]]> By: exendymep http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-2464 exendymep Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:40:48 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-2464 He gripped Tykirs hip, lest they both topple from the strength of his thrusts. Hed tried to get his men to turn back, then, when they wouldnt, to fight. She turned down the wide corridor that stretched past the arched entrance to the gardens. Radins mental warning didnt help. The one she wanted to lash at was herself. He thumbed a tear from her cheek. Gala knelt at her side, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. That was, perhaps, the most frightening part of the spell. She needed to do this. This hadnt been part of her agreement with Radin. Through a veil of unwanted tears, she glared at the receding door. Kneeling in the middle of her mattress, she hurled a pillow at them. Shouldnt you all be with Nialdlye? What shed done before had only amplified it. Chuckling, Brevin slid arms around Tykirs chest. None of the others had been carved to look like a reedy young tree. She could have enslaved the raedjour. That, and you havent asked to talk to me alone before. We arent exactly a monogamous society. His strange eyes shone but didnt swirl. He gripped Tykirs hip, lest they both topple from the strength of his thrusts. Hed tried to get his men to turn back, then, when they wouldnt, to fight. She turned down the wide corridor that stretched past the arched entrance to the gardens. Radins mental warning didnt help. The one she wanted to lash at was herself. He thumbed a tear from her cheek. Gala knelt at her side, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. That was, perhaps, the most frightening part of the spell. She needed to do this. This hadnt been part of her agreement with Radin. Through a veil of unwanted tears, she glared at the receding door. Kneeling in the middle of her mattress, she hurled a pillow at them. Shouldnt you all be with Nialdlye? What shed done before had only amplified it. Chuckling, Brevin slid arms around Tykirs chest. None of the others had been carved to look like a reedy young tree. She could have enslaved the raedjour. That, and you havent asked to talk to me alone before. We arent exactly a monogamous society. His strange eyes shone but didnt swirl.

]]> By: Renee Santos http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-1434 Renee Santos Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:06:00 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-1434 My 9 year old mixed shepard and "sooner" beloved dog was just diagnosed with "lung Cancer".She lives in a non-smoking household.Please help me with any suggestions on her care.Thanks,Renee santos My 9 year old mixed shepard and “sooner” beloved dog was just diagnosed with “lung Cancer”.She lives in a non-smoking household.Please help me with any suggestions on her care.Thanks,Renee santos

]]> By: Shawn http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-1320 Shawn Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:56:56 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-1320 Suddenly, two weeks ago, our Lab/border collie started growing a lump on her head. Immediately we brought her to our vet. We have been taking our animals there for over 20 years, so they know us and our pets well. Schatze suddenly stopped eating. We, lost 3 of our other dear friends in the past year:Magic-20 year old American Shorthair cat, Blackjack-18 year old Schipperke, and Rambo-14 year old Bengal cat. I assumed Schatze's problem was that I had changed her food to the Exceed "Premium" grade food available at Sam's Club. We had been feeding Nutro for many years, Pro-Plan before that. She has never been a picky eater, Blackjack did that job for both of them. At first I thought she had bumped her head and had a knot on it from the knock. It kept growing. Immediately we took her to our Vet, who decided that according to the X-Rays, she had an abcessed molar that was causing problems. Well, two molars later, and a full dental cleaning convinced her that she had missed the diagnosis. I had asked for her to either biopsy (not always a great idea with cancer), or at least aspirate some of the fluid within the "tumor?" She said she saw some "angry looking cells" which she did not recognize. So we sent a sample off to an expert who returned a diagnosis of: Undetermined aggressive Cancer. Now I get to the pain part. She has always been an engaging cheerful dog, but has become reclusive and sleeps a great deal. Strangely, if my son or wife come near her "bump" she pulls back guarding. She does not have this reaction to me at all and allows me to rub and even put pressure on the area. I have tried ice packs (left over from recent ACL surgery). She does not pull away in the 5 to 10 minutes I keep it engaged, and the area actually appears to have shrunk a bit. Now her eyes are becomeing slightly sunken and are weeping more than normal. After spending over $2,000 dollars only to receive no actual help, the vet indicated that she believed the cancer was very aggressive and Schatze had a very limited time left with us. OH GOD, not again! I just want to make sure she is not in pain, but cannot identify anything that inconclusively indicates she is in pain... but we have been best friends for 15 years, I can see it in her eyes. Well, tomorrow she will go in for what will probably be her next to last visit at the Vet.I sure hope we get at least that. Well, I have rambled and never really asked a question. It probably would have been rhetorical anyway. I just need to do a pain dump, and this has served some purpose to that effect. Suddenly, two weeks ago, our Lab/border collie started growing a lump on her head. Immediately we brought her to our vet. We have been taking our animals there for over 20 years, so they know us and our pets well. Schatze suddenly stopped eating. We, lost 3 of our other dear friends in the past year:Magic-20 year old American Shorthair cat, Blackjack-18 year old Schipperke, and Rambo-14 year old Bengal cat.

I assumed Schatze’s problem was that I had changed her food to the Exceed “Premium” grade food available at Sam’s Club. We had been feeding Nutro for many years, Pro-Plan before that. She has never been a picky eater, Blackjack did that job for both of them.

At first I thought she had bumped her head and had a knot on it from the knock. It kept growing. Immediately we took her to our Vet, who decided that according to the X-Rays, she had an abcessed molar that was causing problems. Well, two molars later, and a full dental cleaning convinced her that she had missed the diagnosis. I had asked for her to either biopsy (not always a great idea with cancer), or at least aspirate some of the fluid within the “tumor?” She said she saw some “angry looking cells” which she did not recognize. So we sent a sample off to an expert who returned a diagnosis of: Undetermined aggressive Cancer.

Now I get to the pain part. She has always been an engaging cheerful dog, but has become reclusive and sleeps a great deal. Strangely, if my son or wife come near her “bump” she pulls back guarding. She does not have this reaction to me at all and allows me to rub and even put pressure on the area. I have tried ice packs (left over from recent ACL surgery). She does not pull away in the 5 to 10 minutes I keep it engaged, and the area actually appears to have shrunk a bit. Now her eyes are becomeing slightly sunken and are weeping more than normal. After spending over $2,000 dollars only to receive no actual help, the vet indicated that she believed the cancer was very aggressive and Schatze had a very limited time left with us. OH GOD, not again! I just want to make sure she is not in pain, but cannot identify anything that inconclusively indicates she is in pain… but we have been best friends for 15 years, I can see it in her eyes. Well, tomorrow she will go in for what will probably be her next to last visit at the Vet.I sure hope we get at least that.
Well, I have rambled and never really asked a question. It probably would have been rhetorical anyway. I just need to do a pain dump, and this has served some purpose to that effect.

]]> By: Valerie http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-1231 Valerie Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:56:47 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-1231 My 10 year old Katie, a Bichon Frise has recently been diagnosed with malignant mandibular cancer. I don't know how much time we have left with her. She has been my best friend for 10 years and don't know what I'll do without her! She's on Medicam and now I will start Benadryl at night. Donna, my baby also pants slot so it's hard to tell about pain, isn't it? I will do the right thing for her when the time comes! God bless everyone who lost heir best friends too! My 10 year old Katie, a Bichon Frise has recently been diagnosed with malignant mandibular cancer.
I don’t know how much time we have left with her. She has been my best friend for 10 years and don’t know what I’ll do without her! She’s on Medicam and now I will start Benadryl at night.
Donna, my baby also pants slot so it’s hard to tell about pain, isn’t it?
I will do the right thing for her when the time comes!
God bless everyone who lost heir best friends too!

]]> By: Donna http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-930 Donna Sun, 10 May 2009 21:33:07 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-930 Well its a month since i posted my question and very sadly my gorgeous girl has gone to the bridge. At 7years and 11mths old, not old in dog years at all. She went down hill so quickly, and it was the hardest but kindest thing i could've done for her. Well its a month since i posted my question and very sadly my gorgeous girl has gone to the bridge. At 7years and 11mths old, not old in dog years at all.

She went down hill so quickly, and it was the hardest but kindest thing i could’ve done for her.

]]> By: R http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-880 R Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:04:16 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-880 My heart too has recently been tested. My 11 yr old Yellow Lab, just finished 15 weeks of chemo for Multifocal Lymphoma. I was breathing a sign of releif when he was finished a week ago, & in remission - & doing GREAT! Except for sepsis after 1 round of chemo in Feb, he never suffered nor had any pain. Fast forward to this week. His 1/2 brother, my 9 yr old other Yellow Lab, starting having what appeared to be a stroke, or maybe seizures. HORRIBLE episodes (4 in 6 days .... 2 really severe ones, 2 minor ones) of screaming in pain, being sort all contracted, crunched up - it looks like almost some sort of nerve compression in his neck & back ... or something like that. Its pathetic to witness & Im terrified that he is in horrible pain. Im afaid as well, the leave him alone & have something happen with out me there for him. Upon vet examination, they found a bunch of small masses around his anus. The 1st thought was this was where the pain was coming from (as he also cannot sit down when he has an episode). 3 days later, my own vet saw him, & he found his back popliteal lymph node was the size of a football. Aspirate showed MAST cell :( Sana already HAD MAST cell, 3X, 3 yrs ago, & all tumors were removed with all clean margins. He has been VERY healthy & active since. No one can beleive he is almost 10. The HUGE fear is that the cancer has either spread to his brain, causing these neuro type symtoms/episodes, or there is an internal mass or something, pressing on a nerve, his spinal cord, or somewhere, causing all this pain when the episode happens. Pathology came back today on the MAST cell in the leg, we are still awaiting pathology on the small anal masses. My vet said hopefully those are benign - or they too could be MAST cell ... or God forbid, another kind of cancer as well. We dont know if its all related, or if the neuro/pain stuff is a totally seperate issue. I dont EVER want him to be in any pain - but I cant just decide this isnt treatable right now. If it IS a tumor causing the neuro issues, then chemo may help reduce the tumor, & the pressure on a nerve or WHATEVER it is thats causing it, then I need to try. This is all new b/c my Lymphoma dog really never suffered. This IS suffering when he has the painful neuro-type epidoses ... but as I said, its only been 2 bad ones (10-15 min) in 6 days now. But Im terrified it will increase. A steroid shot seems to have helped & he is on Tramadol Q 8 hours. If anyone has any words of advice, Id be grateful. Thank you My heart too has recently been tested. My 11 yr old Yellow Lab, just finished 15 weeks of chemo for Multifocal Lymphoma. I was breathing a sign of releif when he was finished a week ago, & in remission – & doing GREAT! Except for sepsis after 1 round of chemo in Feb, he never suffered nor had any pain.

Fast forward to this week. His 1/2 brother, my 9 yr old other Yellow Lab, starting having what appeared to be a stroke, or maybe seizures. HORRIBLE episodes (4 in 6 days …. 2 really severe ones, 2 minor ones) of screaming in pain, being sort all contracted, crunched up – it looks like almost some sort of nerve compression in his neck & back … or something like that. Its pathetic to witness & Im terrified that he is in horrible pain. Im afaid as well, the leave him alone & have something happen with out me there for him. Upon vet examination, they found a bunch of small masses around his anus. The 1st thought was this was where the pain was coming from (as he also cannot sit down when he has an episode). 3 days later, my own vet saw him, & he found his back popliteal lymph node was the size of a football. Aspirate showed MAST cell :( Sana already HAD MAST cell, 3X, 3 yrs ago, & all tumors were removed with all clean margins. He has been VERY healthy & active since. No one can beleive he is almost 10.

The HUGE fear is that the cancer has either spread to his brain, causing these neuro type symtoms/episodes, or there is an internal mass or something, pressing on a nerve, his spinal cord, or somewhere, causing all this pain when the episode happens. Pathology came back today on the MAST cell in the leg, we are still awaiting pathology on the small anal masses. My vet said hopefully those are benign – or they too could be MAST cell … or God forbid, another kind of cancer as well.

We dont know if its all related, or if the neuro/pain stuff is a totally seperate issue. I dont EVER want him to be in any pain – but I cant just decide this isnt treatable right now. If it IS a tumor causing the neuro issues, then chemo may help reduce the tumor, & the pressure on a nerve or WHATEVER it is thats causing it, then I need to try.

This is all new b/c my Lymphoma dog really never suffered. This IS suffering when he has the painful neuro-type epidoses … but as I said, its only been 2 bad ones (10-15 min) in 6 days now. But Im terrified it will increase. A steroid shot seems to have helped & he is on Tramadol Q 8 hours.

If anyone has any words of advice, Id be grateful. Thank you

]]> By: Dr. Dressler http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-865 Dr. Dressler Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:39:39 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-865 Sharon, I must say that there may be other things causing the problem excluding cancer that could be found with the ultrasound. I will address your question in more detail in the webinar: http:dogcancervet.com Short story: go for the ultrasound and then reassess if you can.. best, D Sharon,
I must say that there may be other things causing the problem excluding cancer that could be found with the ultrasound.
I will address your question in more detail in the webinar:
http:dogcancervet.com
Short story: go for the ultrasound and then reassess if you can..
best,
D

]]> By: Sharon Richardson http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality/comment-page-1/#comment-845 Sharon Richardson Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:39:22 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=27#comment-845 We have an 11 1/2 year old pug and he has been vomiting (now stopped)watery diarea,not eating,very tired but tail up most of the time.has has xrays,bllood work ,meds but seems now to have bright yellow urine and dark watery stool.Will not eat.We're taking him to vet today again .How much should we continuie to do since the vet hasn't found any thing with all the test.Have'nt done an ultasound but we feel if it is cancer at his age we would not want him to go thru that.What should we do?We love him so much and we can't bear for him to be in pain. We have an 11 1/2 year old pug and he has been vomiting (now stopped)watery diarea,not eating,very tired but tail up most of the time.has has xrays,bllood work ,meds but seems now to have bright yellow urine and dark watery stool.Will not eat.We’re taking him to vet today again .How much should we continuie to do since the vet hasn’t found any thing with all the test.Have’nt done an ultasound but we feel if it is cancer at his age we would not want him to go thru that.What should we do?We love him so much and we can’t bear for him to be in pain.

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