Staffyluv

Oh geez Helen... My heart sank when I read your latest update. Give him a big hug from us (and for you as well)... Hugs Jodie and Ollie dog

I know it is early days but how is GM doing? Have you had any news yet? Keeping you all in our thoughts Jodie

I agree with what the others have said about changing his food... Dry dog food can be harsh on an already upset tummy. Maybe try some boiled chicken and rice for a while to give his poor stomach a rest. A bland diet is best for dogs when their tummy is upset. Good luck at the vets Jodie

So sorry for you loss - it is so hard to say goodbye... RIP Kuta Jodie and Ollie dog

Oh Helen, I just saw this... Will be thinking of you and GM... Hoping that is is all just a scare and it will all be OK... With everything you have been through with your crew, it would be totally unfair for GM to have oral cancer... Speaking of the crew - how goes the fair Lucinda and her lovely brother Oscar??? Ollie dog is doing OK, all things considered... We have another couple of suspicious looking lumps (more than likely MCT)... Big hugs lovey, thinking of you... Jodie

Not a silly question at all... He is on Thyroxine (because the chemo damaged his thyroid) Carafate to line his tummy Maxalon because he seems to be nauseaous a lot of the time Omeprazole (Maxor) more tummy stuff Polaramine - for histhamine release (that is one of the problems with MCT) He is also being treated holistically with some chinese herbs and he takes 1000mg fish oil daily, antiox and a free radical from our holistic vet... We are doing everything that is possible to give him quality of life at this point... The vet believes that the MCT has probably spread to some of his internal organs. When he was diagnosed he had two tumours in different spots and a biopsy of local lymph nodes also showed they had MCT... It had spread quite a bit by the time he was diagnosed a year ago... But I am always open to suggestion, as is our wonderful vet. If you know of something that may make it easier for Ollie, I would love to hear about it and I will run it past the vet at our next appointment... Cheers Jodie ETA - he is on a bland diet with added yoghurt and now the active manuka honey twice a day..

I hope that baby Bree is on the mend as I type... Given the time that Bree had not eaten or drank, had vomited and runny poo - I would have requested that the vet treat her dehydration with an injection or drip (even for a little while) because it makes such a difference to their recovery time... Good luck with her Jodie

I picked some up the other day and I really think it makes a difference. If he starts licking (like he is regurgitating), I give him a little of the honey off my finger and it seems to relieve the symptoms. Hopdfully this will keep working... Jodie

How is our beloved boofy bully this morning TB? I hope he is feeling better. Jodie

Have not had my head out of a tax return long enough to do any thing Moops... I have to go shopping at some ungodly hour later, so I will look then... I hope they have some, I am a big believer in alternative medicine and they have great results with this in humans... Meanwhile the angel is doing OK... I have him on a very bland diet (and he is not happy about it)... Cheers Jodie

Kiss and hug him and take him to the vet... TB if he has eaten something and it can't get through, waiting until tomorrow could be dangerous... Poor baby... I hope he feels better soon... Jodie

If you know where there is any and you have the time, Mooper that would be great... I think the health food shops have it. I was going to go out to the markets this weekend, as I don't think there is anywhere in QBN that would sell it... I think it is pretty expensive about $12 jar... I can fix you up when you come over... Cheers Jodie

He is Warls... He has been on chicken, veges and rice for ages... And you would be right in thinking he hates it... The vet has also suggested that he can have some dry crackers through the day because the ulcer is worse when their tummy is empty... He is still drinking heaps of water and I think it is to cool his throat down from the regurgitation that is happening... I am sure the honey will work as soon as I can get some. Cheers Jodie

Thanks for that link Helen. I had not seen it and it was just what I was looking for. A friend told me about Manuka honey and stomach ulcers in humans and what great results they were having but I looked on line yesterday for ages before I posted on here to see if anyone had heard anything about the use of the honey in dogs. I will be off to get some today and will update on his progress in case others can use the same thing for their pooches Cheers Jodie

As most of you know, Ollie has Mast Cell cancer and one of the complications that has turned up is a stomach ulcer. I try to make sure he has something to eat at all times (because the ulcer reacts more on an empty tummy)... I was wondering if Manuka Honey would be any good for him??? I know it helps as a natural antibiotic for humans with an ulcer... Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing??? TIA Jodie

So sorry DD... RIP Chloe... Jodie

So sorry for your loss... RIP Annabelle... Jodie

So sorry for your loss Rozzie and Mr R... RIP Bess... Jodie

There are a couple of different types of anaesthetic. I only discovered this when Ollie was undergoing lots of surgery for Mast cell tumour removal. The one that my vet uses on Ollie is not the usual one used - it is a little more expensive and he wakes up quickly with very few side effects from it. I will find out what it is called and let you know. Some dogs do have a harder time than others waking up and suffer the full effects of anaesthetic. I hope that your pooch is recovering well and feels better soon. Cheers Jodie

I know Warls, thanks darl... I keep hoping that the little guy will bounce back yet again - we live in hope everyday... I will never give up hope - but I won't keep him here if he wants to go either... We are having family portraits done this Friday (including him)... Jodie

He is sleeping mostly today. He is not well though - he has not eaten today (or dinner last night) but is still drinking an bringing up his water... He did want to go for a little walk this morning - he was quite happy to walk around the park and then stop under one of the big trees for a little rest... Sadly I sit with him, waiting for him to tell me, he has had enough and that it is his time - I know it is coming but he has not given it to me yet... All I can do is wait... I love him so much... Jodie

He has only missed one macrolone tablet and been having the mylanta since Friday afternoon and today he has not been sick once... Could it really work this fast? Does any one know if macrolone is supposed to be reduced or can it just be stopped? I have had some conflicting advice and was curious. TIA... This lad continues to amaze me... He is sleeping near my feet at the moment and looks so peaceful. No obvious signs of tummy problems, like cramp contractions or the 'smells' that he has been producing lately... He is still a little flat but has been eating a little today, which was a nice surprise as he has been so particular with what he wants to eat the last couple of weeks - much fussier than usual... Thanks again to you all for the wonderful support and advice that you continue to give us as we continue to fight this horrible disease. Jodie

We (the vet and I) have been trying to stop the vomiting for Ollie but even the stronger meds are not really working. The vet called this afternoon and I have to take him off the Macrolone (anti cancer drug). I am going to give him Mylanta a couple of times a day and some maxalon and if this does not work the vet has suggested that as his quality of life is not as good as it could be (because he always seems to feel sick - he spends a lot of the time licking and swallowing what he regurgitates) it may be almost time to give him his wings... Is he in pain? - I don't know, he does not seem to be... Maybe he is, maybe his stomach is sore from the spread of the cancer - do I have an ultrasound done to confirm if there are further tumours (other than the ones we know about?) The last tests came back that the cancer was not active (that will change as soon as we stop the Macrolone)... His tummy problems are getting worse, I know - but not bad enough to give him his wings yet... (I don't think so anyway)... It was so hard to hear that... It is the first time he has said it... And it scared me to death - reality is so hard to deal with sometimes... Apart from regurgitating water (he rarely brings up food) and the licking and swallowing, he still loves his walks and was playing footy with me in the lounge room this afternoon... Where do you draw the line... How do I say goodbye when he seems mostly OK to me (and everyone else that sees him). He is always bouncy when people come to visit. He still wants to play and go for walks - am I just kidding myself? Just a vent guys, no need to answer - I just wanted to write it down because sometimes it makes it clearer...

So sad SB - my heart goes out to you, the owners and the poor little lad.. he is so young... Unfortunately cancer does not discriminate with age or breed - it is a horrid disease and my heart breaks every time I hear of another angel with it... Perhaps the holistic approach might be beneficial and give him a little longer with his owners. Ollie and I use All Natural Vet Care in Sydney (we are in Canberra and liaise via phone with the vets) - I cannot praise Sue, Barbara and the team enough. I don't think Ollie would still be here without their help. All Natural Vet Care link Big hugs to you all Jodie

The new meds are great - he only started them on Wednesday night and already he is only vomiting once or twice a day... It is not really vomiting - to me that is when their stomach contracts and the food is forced up... Ollies is more of a regurgitation - he drinks too much water and it is like his tummy is too full and it just comes up - not forced up... He must be feeling better because he wanted to run a bit on his walk this morning - which he has not done for a while now... The vet is convinced that he is on a downward run though - his face has hollowed out a lot and he is losing weight, even without me watching what he eats (just between us - me watching what he eats went out the window a long time ago... I maintain that he is here for a good time, not a long time - so he can have what he wants)... Thanks for all the well wishes Jodie and Ollie dog