Staffyluv

A quick update before bed: Thanks fifi, I had tried the after hours number twice and left a message... He is going down tomorrow morning... I have spoken to the vet, administered meds and rescue remedy and now and the old man is resting as I type... He did eventually settle on his own after about 45 minutes of being restless (most concerning were the white gums - I have never seen them so pale). Thanks to all those that gave messages of advice and especially to those who just wrote to wish us luck. For those that don't know our situation, a quick run down: Ollie is almost 14 years old and has been battling Mast Cell Cancer for nearly 6 years (he was given 12-18 months back in 2005)... I know that white gums means lots of things, especially when it goes hand in hand with a distressed, panting dog who can't sit still and we are expecting him to go to the bridge sooner rather than later - however I still panic when he is unwell (which does not really happen that often all things considered)... It is not like this is not expected - it is still difficult and when I could NOT get hold of our vet or the local emergency vet, I did panic and posted here. I know he should probably have seen a vet but the fact is - I could not get a hold of a vet here, there would be no point in putting him in a car and driving to a vet that is not open...It was better to keep him here and as calm as possible - which lucky for us worked out. Thanks again for all the messages of other vets to call - I really do appreciate it (and I am sure Ollie would be chuffed to know he has so many others looking out for his welfare, when his owner panics)... Nite all

Thanks guys, I have just been hunting around the yard to see if there were any cane toads or anything that could stress him like this. I really think it is pain - just a gut feeling but honestly he has outlived everything the vets and specialist said by more than 4 years now... I gave him some rescue remedy about 15 minutes ago and he is sitting now, still panting but at least he is sitting and not as freaked out... I will stay up with him and if his condition does not get any worse we will call our vet first thing tomorrow but if it does I will call SASH and see what they say (but really there is not much anyone can do for him without seeing a vet, if he needs treatment} Fingers crossed for my lovely old man...

Ollie started panting and it has been getting worse for about the last 20 minutes... He is restless and his gums are almost white... It is almost like he is frightened and his heart is beating quite fast... He keeps trying to hide in my room then he comes looking for me... I cannot get a hold of the emergency vet... I don't know what else to do - I have been sitting with him but he keeps getting up and moving - it is like he is in pain... For the record, he is MCT grade 2 cancer... post dxd 5+ years Any advice would be appreciated on how I can help him settle so he starts breathing better and his heartbeat slows I am sure I can get the vet tomorrow but they are not answering at the moment

They usually do chemo if the cancer is systemic and radiation if it is local (not spread)... I believe that radiation has good results if the tumour has not spread. Ollie was systemic (it had spread to local lymph nodes when the tumours were removed)... He too had most of his rump taken in 2 operations over 4 days - it was quite confronting to see how much they actually take when they are going for clear margins. I hope you get clear margins on the excision of the tumour. That would be the best possible outcome (you won't need further treatment if that is the case)... If they don't get clear margins and it is not systemic then they may want to give radiation a go. However if there are no clear margins and it has spread, then they will more than likely offer chemo. Contact a good holistic vet - they can help with different supplements for your dog to keep them well while undergoing chemo. Dogs don't usually get sick with chemo or lose hair like people do because they can't give dogs the high levels of chemo that they give humans. Chemo for animals is only to give them more life - they are not really aiming for a cure, just a good remission...So while doing chemo, you can still keep their life as normal as possible. I heard so many reasons why Ollie should be kept home while he was on chemo but I refused to mess up his life anymore and continued to take him for walks every day that he felt like it (which was 99% of the time)... I really can't say how very important diet is in maintaining a good level of health in cancer dogs either... Good luck with the surgery

Hi, Can you answer a few questions for me please: As it is grade 3 has the tumour been removed? Did they get clear margins? Did they offer chemo or radiation therapy? What sort of food do you feed? Do you use any supplements? 1. Changing diet to remove as many carbs as possible (grains, rice, breads, sugars).. Google anti cancer diet for dogs - most of them have the same advice... I think there is a link to one here in Ollie's thread. 2. Supplements with the assistance of a good holistic vet - I can't recommend this enough, it is really important. Keep life as normal as possible - keep a check for more tumours/lumps... Grade 3 has a very high recurrence rate. Mooper's boy Jack had MCT grade 3.. They removed the tumour and got clear margins, and to date he is healthy and there has been no recurrence... We did chemo and holistic - it is a long, expensive and often a hard road, but I would not change a thing.

Ollie is 14 in June this year and has cancer... In Xmas 2005 we had a Uni student stay at home and look after him while we went on a family holiday (first since we bought him) - it was horrible being away (she came to meet him and got to know him by dropping in each week for about 8 weeks before we went). The trip was planned for 10 days but we only stayed away for 6... That might seem sad to some but he had just been dxd with cancer and we all really missed him... I have left him over night a few times but always with family. Until earlier this year I moved away and took him with me - so when I had to go away for work, I had no choice but to put him in a kennel, for the first time in his 13 years he stayed with someone he did not know... NEVER again... I picked him up from a place that was recommended by quite a few people and he was covered in $hit - really.. God only knows the last time they cleaned his run because it was full of crap.. He was on a special diet, that I supplied, with his meds and his bedding.. I got back ALL his meds (they forgot to give them to him) and by the weight he had dropped in the 4 days he was there, I doubt he ate much either... I was horrified and swear I will never leave him in a kennel again, no matter how good some say it is... Our lovely new vet up here has taken to him and said he can come stay there for a few days if I have to go away again as he too could not believe how bad it was for Ollie... I had to bath him 3 times to get the $hit out of his coat...

Agreed - great news... Congrats

I have a Stafford with grade 2 MCT (no clear margins, systemic)... dxd when he was 8 years old. We were given 12-18 months with chemo, less without... We did chemo and treated holistically - that was in late 2005... He is still here, more than 5 years post dxd... He still has MCT... We have no explanation as to why - we are just greatful everyday that he is with us. Chemo for dogs is not like it is for humans - they simply cannot give dogs the doses they give us because they cannot do bone marrow transplants on dogs when the chemo kills of those good cells too - so they give much lower doses. (well they can do bone marrow transplants, it was done on a dog a year or so ago - but the cost would be outrageous). Chemo is not really meant to be a cure in dogs - just more quality and quantity of life. They don't get 'sick' like humans do - they might have a low day a couple of days after the chemo treatment but they bounce back fine. I believe the holistic therapy and diet changes is what keeps them so well, while they are undergoing other more harsh treatments (chemo is still a chemical cocktail to say the least)... There are many sites on cancer diets for dogs and most say the same thing - get rid of all the fillers, like rices, grains, corns and keep it pretty high in protein with good veges and fruits. Flax oil is a good supplement. We used a product called Anti-Ox and another Lymphodran to help out too. All Natural Vet Care in Sydney are wonderful and have helped Ollie. It is a hard, expensive road - but I don't regret it for a minute. All the very best for you and your dog.

You cannot tell what a lump is by feeling it.. It will need a fine needle aspirate as a preliminary check of the cells - if they look suspect, the vet will probably want to remove the lump for further pathology testing. Ollie has many lumps - some fatty lipoma's and others are Mast Cell Tumours (we even had a round cell tumor and toe removed a couple of years back)... The only way to know, is get it tested - good luck, hope it is all good news.. Try to stay calm, no point worrying over something that may be nothing at all.

So sorry for your loss Horus... I am sure his last 3 years were wonderful with you RIP Lucky

Ollie now has lots of beds all over the house but spends most of his sleeping time on my bed or the lounge. He can't jump on my bed so he just stands there and lets me know he wants up (and I have to let him down again)... He still jumps up on the lounge OK. He has another mattress in the lounge room on the floor and also a trampoline bed in my bedroom (he seems to like these if it is really hot)...

Such wonderful news - this just brings tears of joy to hear it... All the very best to you and Vada Jodie xx

Montage I made the decision after Ollie had to have a toe removed last year that there would be no more surgery - he will live out his days with palliative care only. I think only you can know your dog well enough to decide when to draw the line with treatments... Ollie has been fighting this since he was 8 years old and I just can't keep putting him through it - he seems older than his 13 and a half years because he has been dealing with this for so long. However he is still spritely enough to give me a woo woo if dinner is not ready on time or I if I take to long to get ready for our morning walk... He has quite a few MCT's on him now (about 6 at last count) - I don't look for them anymore but notice them when we have cuddles and pats (I choose to ignore them now, they are not going anywhere). I wish you all the best with Isa, it is a hard decision to come to (stopping treatment) but it was the right one for us - he has had enough now. Good luck Jodie

This is so true Helen... I am so greatful for every extra day I have with Ollie - especially when there has been so many times (when he was being treated with chemo) that I thought 'this is it'... My wonderful vet said no, not yet... Today he still gets up early to go for a walk, he hovers in the kitchen from around 5.30-6pm waiting patiently (most of the time) for his dinner to be put down.. And tonight he is curled up on my pillow on the lounge fast asleep... He is beyond precious to me but I will let him go when he no longer wants to walk, play and eat - it is my job to give him his wings when the time comes and I will be brave for him, just as he has been so brave through everything for me...

I am so sorry Flashsmum... RIP Flash

Oh dear - I am so sorry for your loss... Zoe was a very special girl indeed

Thank you everyone for the warm wishes... Pampa he truly is a little miracle... I treasure every day that he wants to go for a walk...

Ollie dog and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and wonderful 2011. And to thank everyone for still thinking about him and sending good vibes when he is not well from time to time. Cheers Jodie and Ollie dog PS we are 5 years post dxd now and still going!

I am sure most people here know that Ollie was dxd with MCT grade 2, no clear margins and the lymph biopsy was positive as well. He was 'given' 12-18 months with chemo. It is now 5+ years on and he is still here - he still has MCT tumours and he still loves going for his walk every morning, eating his breakfast and dinner, playing with any kids that show up and having a rumble with me (although a much gentler rumble these days) every afternoon when I come home from work. If I had listened to the naysayers I would have PTS at least 4 years ago... I know what is best for my dog - I will spend what I want on him and as long as he is not in pain, still loves his life and us, then he can stay with us. He has been a loyal and loving friend for over 13 years now and I will give him his wings when he needs them (unless he chooses to leave on his own)...

Ollie's chemo and holistic therapy for MCT was a lot - I actually stopped keeping track over the $10K mark but it has been lots more since then too. Edited to add - I think it is a personal issue and what you can afford or are willing to pay. I would have taken out a second mortgage on the house to save my boy but I am also prepared to let him go, when he is no longer enjoying this life...

At 13 years old I have so many but here are 3 of my personal favourites of Ollie

As much as some people don't like the colour blue, it is accepted in the breed standard. Problem as I've seen it, is that there aren't many GOOD examples of the breed in that particular colour, e.g. light pigmentation in the eyes, etc.... I still don't understand how it can be an accepted colour when genetically they can never meet the breed standard - please someone correct me if I am wrong here (I am no breeder or geneticist). Doesn't the diluted black gene make it impossible (or at least very unlikely) that they will ever have a black nose? (which is standard).

Nope, I believe it is a fault in the owner

Hope the old boy is feeling better this evening. It is strange isn't it when they start to slow down. Ollie is lucky to walk for half an hour now and even then distance wise that is only about a km (with all the stops, pees, poops and sniffing going on in that half hour)...

I am so sorry you had to make the choice to say goodbye to Leila - it is like they take a piece of us with them. Rest in peace Leila..