Staffyluv

We went out for dinner last night and when we came home Ollie was lame and could not get up. I am pretty sure it is the same joint infection that he had a few months ago, so I am waiting for our vet to open at 4pm today. The little lad is a bit better this morning and can get up but I am still taking him up to the vet at 4pm. He is also favouring the leg with the cruciate ligament injury, so I am not sure if we are going to have to bite the bullet and get that done for him. Will write up what the vet says later today once we have been. Wish up luck - it has always worked in the past. J

Ollie is on thyroxine - he takes half a tablet twice a day (12 hours apart to keep the dose even). His thyroid issue comes from having chemo for his MCT. He really picked up once he started on the thyroxine - it makes a big difference, although it took a little while to get the dose right. Good luck with it.

I did not read all the replies, so apologies if this has already been suggested. Find an holistic vet in your area. They will help heaps and know that there are often options that conventional medicine just do not give a thought to. You may also want to read up on Ester C (some website links for you): Working Dogs and Ester C Ester C and Disc Disease Vitamin C and Dogs There are plenty more on the web. Just have a look on DOL alone to see the benefits of other treatments. Wishing you the best of luck and don't give up.

Awe he is just divine. I love a hard case that beats the odds. Here is hoping he lives a long and happy life with those that love him.

That is great news - you must be so happy. She probably did not feel like dinner because of the anaesthetic - sometimes it takes a while to wear off properly.

Yep, some practioners just should not be practicing. I agree with you - our oncologist originally told us that Ollie would not see 12 months, then they said 18 tops and it is 3 years this November since he was diagnosed. They also told me that treating him holistically would do nothing for him because with no clear margins and the fact that his cancer was in the local lymph nodes there is not much they can do other than give him chemo to buy him some time. But our wonderful vet agreed (against the oncologist) to help out and send all test result to our holistic vet in Sydney. Of the 4 or so dogs that were diagnosed around the same time as Ollie - he is the only one that received holistic treatment and he is the only one still alive today. Just goes to show, you can't believe everything they tell you - sometimes you just have to find out for yourself. I am so glad that he is doing so much better - here is hoping he lives a long and happy life with you Nekhbet.

Vitamin C is very good for cancer in dogs as well - ask the holistic vet about it. Glad to hear they got good margins around the tumour - here is hoping and praying they are all clear. Wishing you all the best (keep us updated when you have time)

Does it smell like fish? If so you might want to get her thyroid levels checked out.

The medication is fludix and vetmedin. If its available on prescription, what does that mean, I can get it from the chemist? If another vet has the medication for cheaper, can I ask the other vet to dispense? All I get is a resealable plastic bag with a printed label. Surely that doesn't cost more than $1? Yes if it is available you can get if from the chemist - you will pay the full price (no PBS for our puppies unfortunately). I get Ollies Carafate, thyroxine, maxalon and omprezole from the chemist as well as all his vitamins, fish oil and a couple of over the counter things like polaramine. Ask the vet, most are happy to write you a script.

Well that is good news. It is amazing how conventional vets err on the side of caution but our holistic vets are always so positive. Conventional medicine said Ollie had 18 months as his cancer had invaded the local lymph nodes and the holistic vet said, just take it one day at a time and I am sure with our help he can be around for a long time yet - he is still here 3 years after diagnosis

When Ollie first got cancer and needed many more tablets then he does now (he still takes 12 tablets a day over 4 times a day) we used to use BBQ and wrap it around the tablet. He has been taking them for so long now that we just say open big and he sits and opens his mouth for us to put them down the back and he swallows, bless him. If your dogs throat is getting sore, maybe get some manuka honey from the health food shop and smear it over the tablet. It is sweet and the honey has healing properties.

There are lots of fruits you can give to dogs if they like them (not grapes ever). Ollie eats water melon, rockmelon, apple, banana, mandarine, peaches etc He does not get a lot of it, just a bit when I am eating some but he loves it. Yoghurt can be good for lots of things - Ollie has stomach problems from chemo and I think it is calming and soothing to his tummy. The acidophulous (sp?) ones help the good gut bugs grow and get rid of problems. It is also used as a treat to get him to take his evening tablets (he takes 4 lots each day). I am sure someone who knows more about it will come along and answer your question better but for us, I just know it works wonders.

I would give them an antihistamine. Topically do they have cold mats? if so, wet the mats and put them down for the dogs. I also use malaseb shampoo diluted 1:30 ml (although now I believe it only needs to be 1:50 ml) and leave it on the area that is red and itchy.

Ollie gets Jalna yoghurt daily and most times he has a little manuka honey mixed in - it is really yummy (yes I eat it too)

You are doing all the right things - having an holistic vet to supplement the radiation and possible chemo for your second dog is the best that can be done. Ollie was diagnosed 3 years ago with grade 2 MCT, no clear margins and multiple tumour sites - mast cells were also discovered in the lymph nodes near one of the tumour sites. They gave him 18 months. We are still going strong 3 years later. When Ollie was on chemo he had 7 other supplements from the holistic vet: 5 Mushroom drops Arsenica drops another lot of drops that I no longer have and cannot remember the name of Lymphodran tablets AntiOx Excel tablets Fish Oil tablets - 1000mg a day Vitamin C tablets - 1500mg a day (now he takes Ester C powder in his water, much kinder to his tummy). These were on top of his Carafate and Omprezole (for stomach ulcers caused by the chemo), thyroxine because the chemo damaged his thyriod, maxalon (an anti nausea tablet) and Polaramine (an antihistamine because MCT releases histamine and this aids it to spread - you might want to ask your vet or holistic vet about this if it is MCT). He is also fed a diet of cooked meat (you need to cook it because you cannot afford for them to get sick from meat that is less than perfect - food poisoning). As well as an assortment of vegetables. I know a lot of DOLers who put their veges through a juicer to pulp it but I have only ever steamed them and mashe them for him, then mix it through his meat. He gets Jalna biodynamic yoghurt mixed with manuka honey a lot of nights too - I think it sooths his tummy. You can print this out and take it with you to the vet and holistic practitioner if you want. And ask them for suggestions as to what you can do to keep your pooches as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Good luck and keep us updated Jodie

Hiya Kirsty, First of all, thanks for reading our story - if it makes just one more dog owner get a lump tested and a life saved (if the lump is malignant) then my job is done :rolleyes: One MCT can look different to another. Ollie had a few lumps to begin with - some of which felt soft and spongey (these turned out to be fatty lipomas). One looked like a clear wart - this turned out to be the problem MCT because it was on his toe and once removed, there were no clear margins and mast cells had already invaded the local lymph nodes. The other one, felt like a hard pea under the skin - like marble hard, not soft in any way. When this was originally removed, they took a lot of tissue around the tumour but did not get clear margins on it either, so they went back in three days later and took as much of his fatty tissue as they could (this one was on his left rear rump). Sadly, still no clear margins. As for the one on his toe, there was no point removing his toe because it had already spread to the lymph nodes in that area. He has another on his right hip and another near his throat still but I am not prepared to put him through anymore major surgery. He also has a couple of big lipomas that we are watching, in case they have to be removed (hopefully not, I am not sure I would go through with it unless the vet could promise me he would come out OK). OK, we NEVER had blood come out with a needle aspiration. I don't know what this means to be honest. Did the vet not tell you the results of the aspirate when he looked at it. Whenever Ollie had a needle aspiration done, the vet took it straight out the back and came back and told us what it was and if further investigation was required. It is good that you are using a fresh food diet - I am a big believer in the better the food, the better they stay for longer. We use a lot of organic stuff I get from the markets but I also cook Ollie's food (he won't eat anything raw except for some veges). I honestly don't think it makes that much difference (cooking to raw), as long as the ingredients are premium and no crap is given. Good luck with both your dogs, I hope they get well soon and are around for you for a long time. Start a thread for them and keep us updated. The palliative care section is a great support for those of us with terminal animals. Jodie

Sadly there are still many, many dog owners out there that still do the same thing. Makes you wanna take the paper and wack them over the head with it, then push their nose in the dirt.. Just like little humans they respond really well to praise - praise good behaviour, ignore bad behaviour and remove whatever they are not supposed to have.

I only found out he was sick the other day. I am so sorry Danois. Be at peace Angus

I am so sorry for your loss. RIP Penny.

Thanks cNr - I don't think he wants to leave me any more than I want to lose him. But I do know that day will come (hopefully in the distant future).

How lovely - I am so glad they are bringing you a little bit of sunshine during such a sad time.

Just dropped in to let you know we are still thinking of you.

Anne you and Sophie are without doubt an inspiration of love and devotion that goes beyond the norm. Thinking of you Jodie

He is doing well at the moment thanks. He is still in remission - this must be the longest remission in the history of dogs (he does still have tumours they are just not doing anything and I will leave well enough alone at this point). Thanks for thinking of us rmc

Chrissy I am so very sorry. RIP Tyra, play at the bridge with Brax til mum comes to get you...