Comments on: Survival Times and Dog Cancer

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:57:15 +0000

Kathryn, my Nikki (the Shar Pei) is also on steroids and the cancer is spreading like wildfire. BUT….she doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort, she still wags her tail, and she still eats, drinks and poops……all the normal stuff. Yes, she is dieing. I can’t change that. And, yes, it will probably mean I will have to make a decision soon but until I feel she is suffering, I am loving her like every day is her last. I’ve convinced myself that she wants to be with me as much as I want to be with her. I love this crazy dog more than I would ever have imagined and want to capture as many days as possible, as long as it is not a painful experience for her. Love your boxer and show him all the attention you can. When he is in pain, you’ll know. And that’s when you’ll have to make the decision but for now, make some more memories with him. Even if it’s just a week…..that’s a week you’ll remember forever. Believe me, I am so glad I got pictures and recordings of her while she was still energetic enough to perform for me.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:05:15 +0000

I have a 4yr old Boxer. 9 months ago we were told he had a small growth on his belly. Vet told us to let her know if it grew but otherwise not to be concerned. 2 weeks ago we noticed swelling from his arm pit to the growth. We took him in, saw a different vet at the same clinic. She put him on antibiotics thinking it was an infection because he did have fever at the time and we had been battling ticks for a couple weeks. After a week of meds, yesterday I took him because the swelling had not subsided. Doc decided to do a biopsy and just by looking at it, she told us it is cancer. It is now from his armpit all th way to his tail. His one leg is swollen, cancer is cutting off the circulation. Yesterday morning i had decided that we would bring him home to say our goodbyes and then put him down today. Yesterday when i went to get him, i talked to the vet, trying to make sure im making the right decision. He is verry happy, very active despite it all. She said we could try steriods to see if it would help and if it did, then we could proceed to test the samples to see what type of cancer it is. Because of our financial situation, seems the best route for now. I dont know if im making a mistake trying to keep him. He isnt suffering and i promised everyone that first sign of suffering i see, ill let him go. But i feel the need to try. I am just heart broken and the tears wont stop coming. If i can have any more time with him, i want it. I know its a long shot, especially in boxers. If anyone knows of any other way, please do share.

By: Priscilla

Priscilla — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:30:38 +0000

Our lab mix wa diagnosed with undifferentiated carcinoma cancer in he nose. We did radiation and now she’s doing chemo. her cancer is so agressive it’s not stopping to grow and she’s having a hard time breathing… It’s so frustrating and sad at the same time. We’re doing hollostic stuff too but I’m not really sure what direction to take. It’s emotionally and financially draining.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:08:01 +0000

I would be so grateful for 6 months….even 3 months at this point. My 7 yr old Shar Pei, the love of my life, underwent mast cell removal from her front leg on 7/2/10 and we fully expected everything would be fine (clean margins, Grade II). Within 1 month the surgical site had another huge tumor (seemingly popping up out of nowhere). One week after that there were 4 tumors, then 7, and now (6 weeks post op) both legs and arm pits have tumors, and last night I found a large, golf ball sized mushy mass on the front of her neck (below her chin). She’s on Prednisone, Benadryl & Prilosec…..if the love I have for her could give her time, she’d live to be 100 but this horribly agressive cancer is taking her away from me more quickly than I ever thought possible. There wasn’t time for chemo or radiation before the recurrence, but if there had been I’m not sure I would have gone that route anyway. I spend every moment with her that I can and we play as much as she can (she gets to chew on my socks, my shoes, and drag the toilet paper out of the bathroom any time she wants!!) but every day I see her slipping away a little more. My once goofy side kick isn’t very goofy any more but I cherish every moment we spend together. I’ve cried more tears than I thought was humanly possible, taken lots of pictures, phone videos and even recorded her bark so I’ll be able to listen to it down the road. I’m rambling now….sorry. Thanks for letting me share.

By: Kricket Uecke

Kricket Uecke — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:03:05 +0000

Our youngest sons 15 year old Springer Spaniel was just diagnosed with cancer of the spleen. They give three weeks. She lives with us and plan to make her as comfortable as possible. She has lived a very full life and is very much loved. My walking partner for over 10 years. I retired her after surgery for nerve cancer several years ago. We have reassured our son we would follow his wishes for her whatever they maybe. She is on Meds for arthritis which has gotten her this far. Pain meds on hand when needed. All depends on our sons wishes which i know would be a pain free ending. It is great to read about other pet lovers and their history with their pets. Anyone want to share with me any tips that may help us. Thanks for listening.

By: McKenna

McKenna — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:16:15 +0000

Every dog is different. I found out today that my 10yr Shepard x Lab has cancer after 1 of 3 tumors burst on his spleen. Only opition surgery, I said my goodbyes and he came through. He is doing strong – then on the over hand my 5yr beligum x german shep had cancer, gave me a year if I did chemo – 2 months later i had to say goodbye. Now in the same sistuation, i am not doing the chemo.

I am looking for another way. Has anyone got any ideas of a diet that i can put him on? I have heard lots of protein and fish oil?

By: Karen B.

Karen B. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:30:20 +0000

I am the person that Dr. Dressler is talking about. There was a lot of conversations with the vet prior to this splenectomy that make me believe he put Janie through it to make the payroll. The biggest thing you should know is that I asked him in his office if my dog would have a good quality of life. I actually said that I didn’t want to put her through a traumatic surgery to just have her “expire in 30 days”. At age seven she had radiation for mast cell tumors. She took it well and her life was extended for another 4 1/2 years. She is 11 1/2 now. I throughly questioned him. He knew I did not want to put my elderly dog through another procedure unless she had a year at least. He is not a young, inexperienced vet. He has a huge staff and also other full-time and part-time veterinarians under him. He is very proud of his state-of-the-art facility. I find it really hard to believe when I told him that she was having a bleedout (I guessed what it was by hearing about it belonging to multiple dog cancer groups on line due to Janie’s prior cancer.)I recognized what it was and he examined her and took ultrasounds and x-rays that he didn’t know it was hemangiosarcoma.

Karen Bruce Des Moines, Iowa

By: Gail McTune

Gail McTune — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:41:35 +0000

Another non-toxic cancer remedy is POLY-MVA for pets

By: Gail McTune

Gail McTune — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:37:19 +0000

Our 12 or 13 yr.old Rat Terrier was diagnosed with bladder cancer some months ago. Piraxocam was prescribed at 10 mg. Peree is a Decker Rat, so, is a 47 lb. pooch, but, I was not comfortable with the side effects I read about. I also believed that the dose was too high. I took him off all kibble–he was previously only given low inflammatory grain products—Solid Gold dog food with raw tripe from grass fed cows. He is now eating only raw organic chicken, raw grass-fed bison, raw lamb and the raw bones that are in these meats. We cut that Piraxacom dose in thirds, sometimes in half if it seems he nrrds more, and he gets Graviola herb tincture 3 or 4 times a day. This doggie is way too wiley for us to get anything at all in hin except food, so, it went in a little spray bottle and it gets sprayed on areas that are vascular and mostly hair free—-the inside of the ear flaps and all over his belly. He has a big thirst still—gets a water based homeopathic in his water for arthritis (he was hit by a car before we rescued him at 3 yrs of age), and still pees constantly. He has a big appatite, strong vital force, is happy to be with us, as we are happy to have him still here. I personally could never do some of the prescribed modalities that are suggested for our cherished pets that are diseased, and would rather spend the extra money on excellent nutrition and the highest quality non-toxic but powerful nutrients that I can get. There is a plethora of wonderful non-toxic choices out there if you can find the information on em.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:48:55 +0000

On September 16, 2009 my lab underwent a spenectomy for a hemangiosarcoma. Unfortunately 4 weeks later others ruptured. On October 20, 2009, he was bleeding and had to be put to sleep. Although it was very expensive for the emergency surgery and the chemo plus other drug treatments he went through, his last weeks you would never had known he was sick. The doctors said 2 months with out treatment and up to 10 with. Every dog is different. He had treatment and didn’t make it to the minimum months they gave him. I do not regret it. It gave us 5 whole weeks to spend together. It’s not much time to some people, but it is more than if he did not have the surgery. To those out there reading this please think of the possitive. If you elect surgery or other means of helping with the cancer, every day is a gift to you. Whether it’s days, months, or years, it never seems enough. But be thankful for the days you do have together.