violetmay

I guess it sounds bad, but he really seems OK. He's always been an extremely fussy eater, so I'm used to him refusing food. He just ate 3 sausages, can't believe it. He refused to eat the My Dog we'd just bought from the shop. Three sausages is the most food he has eaten for years at one time. He walks around (up and down stairs), walks over to everyone to say hello. Looks out the front screen door to watch for us coming home, or to bark at other dogs. He is drinking (I've got water bowls everywhere). He does spend 95% of his time lying down. I think he has some time yet (maybe a week, I don't know) before he gets too bad. The vet said he can go on tramadol for pain if it gets bad. As he has kidney disease he needs to go on kidney safe painkillers. So it's just wait and see at the moment. Actually as he's just eaten I can give him some metacam (only allowed once a week because of the kidney problem).

Bit of an update. The shaking is most like a tumour bleeding. I've now got maxalon to help with the nausea. He is only eating peanut butter. I was talking to the vet yesterday (cat had an issue) and she was telling me that the type of cancer my dog had was hemangiosarcoma. So a bad one. We were very lucky to get 15 extra months. The vet had known it was bad all the time and never let on at all. Just amazed at how nice that was. I really didn't want to know, and am so grateful I didn't know for that 15 months where I thought he had beaten cancer. The people on the spleen cancer forum (what my dog had previously) recommended a product called Yunnan Baiyao. The reviews on amazon for this product are amazing. It stops bleeding and is used on dogs, horses (people too, used during wars) to stop bleeding and is great for internal bleeding for tumours. I found a holistic vet that sold it and paid a small fortune for it - $37 - when people are telling me I should be paying about $10. But definitely seems worth a try. I'm going to have to find cheaper places to buy it. I'll have to take a trip to Sunnybank (chinatown area of brisbane) to ask there. I'll take my box with me so it is easy to ask for it. Has anyone tried yunnan baiyou? What were your experiences? How did you find it cheaply? I'm reading stories of people keeping their dogs alive for years on this stuff when they only had a short time to live.

Update again.. red blood cells low, white blood cells high. He had a seizure while at the vets. She thinks he is bleeding internally. She is pretty sure it is cancer again. Maybe even brain cancer (because of the seizure). Otherwise it could be liver or kidney cancer (which we still see if we do another ultrasound - he had one last year when he had spleen cancer). I guess we were really lucky to get another year out of him when he had spleen cancer.

Update.. He is having a heap of blood tests. Will get the results in about 30 minutes. His temperate was 0.1 off a high temp, so pretty high, but still in the normal range. He last lost 900 grams in the two weeks since he'd last been to the vet. He has a heart murmur and will start on heart medication immediately. He is dehydrated and will most likely go on a drip depending on blood test results.

Thanks you both. I just got a 2.40 appointment (only one available). I'll update afterwards. Edit: No idea of his temp sorry.

Thanks, yes, his red coat was taken off him for the photo (shows the shaking better).

I took a short video Dogs is a maltese, approximately 9-10 years. He has been on cartophen injections for years. Had spleen cancer just over a year ago, but recovered (spleen was removed). He has been diagnosed with kidney disease and is on hills k/d (not that he eats it). He wont walk or move much (if you put a lead on him to take him for a walk, he wont move at all), but always comes looking for food around dinner time, even though he will only eat a few little bits. With his lack of appetite, we were at the vets two weeks ago and she suggested roast chicken from woolies - he was having 4 chickens shards a day (not breast meat though, he refuses to eat that), but wont eat that anymore. Last night he ate about 1/3 of a my dog, and half a smacko (hubby said first time he has eaten one in months). He had dental surgery about a month ago (clean and some removals) as we thought it was tooth pain that was preventing him from eating. Hubby and one daughter think he is just cold. Sometimes you can stop the shaking by warming him up. Oddly, you can carry to warm places around the house, cover him up, but he will always wonder back to this spot and sleep on the cold tiles. Other daughter thinks it's a nervous condition. I'm thinking that it is a sign of his progressing kidney disease. We were at the vets two weeks ago and was told that he seemed fine. I'm thinking the lack of eating is nausea. I've also been researching and have heard that giving calcium is important for dogs with kidney disease (I can buy calcium carbonate from the produce store, so easy to purchase if I need to). Anyone got any ideas? I just don't want to go back to the vet and be told he is fine again.

I'm not sure how old he is. We got him 7 or so years ago from the pound and at the time they guessed he was about 3 years of age. He has hip arthritis/hip/joint/knee issues for 5 or so years, so may be older than 10 years. His back legs seem to be getting weaker and more wobbly. He's already overweight, so can't increase his appetite. He is starving all the time (well since being on k/d) but just wont eat it. He will just look at it and sit and cry. Might be time for another dental I guess too. He's never enjoyed dryfood (other than the cat's c/d). So I think focusing on soft food with a bit of dry might be better. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks everyone. He doesn't have full on kidney disease, just his kidneys are not working as well as they should due to age. The vet had some strange blood results back from tests for other things this year (testing for cushings, and also spleen/spleen tumour removal surgery), and wanted to see what was going on with his urine. I will try the royal canin. The vet said we could also try that, thanks for reminding me JulesP, I had totally forgotten about the royal canin option. I saw that cans were available. I think for my dog it is the size of the hills dry food that is part of the problem. I think he prefers the catfood as it is smaller in size. I did ask if I could make the dry food soft with water and give it to him as a mush, and they said I could that. So a few new things to try, and cottage cheese (yay).

Thanks for your reply persephone. I broke down, went to the butcher, bought some premium mince and fed him some of that. Atleast he has something in his belly now. You are right I need more information from the vet. I've been googling and it's all confusing. Some people are saying that low protein is important, but others are saying research was done and it showed no increase in life with a low protein food. Really don't know what the right thing is. Thanks for your help

Hi Everyone My dog (maltese) has been put on hils k/d by the vet. We are using both the canned and dry. It's been 2 weeks now, and he still isn't eating. He would always drink quite bit of water before, but is also not drinking as much now. He seems extremely constipated and seems to be having very painful (unable to walk) tries at going to the toilet. I have been told that nothing else is safe for him to eat. I've given him a few bits of lettuce over the last two weeks (the people on the hills 1800 number said that was ok), but I don't know what else I give him safely. I'm going to ring my vet today to talk to her. Has anyone got any suggestions of what else I can safely feed him. I asked about mashed pumpkin and was told no I couldn't feed him that as it has too many nutrients. He needs to get over this constipation, and he's barely eaten anything for two weeks. Just don't know what to do. He obviously needs to be on a specific diet for kidney problems, but it really isn't working for him. I asked the Hills people if I could feed him the feline k/d and they said no. My dogs likes the feline c/d (our cat is on that) so we are extra careful now he doesn't steal it like he did in the past. I just don't seem to have any options for him other that dry and soft hills k/d and lettuce. Just need something else safe for him. Would love some suggestions please. Thanks Thanks

Thanks dogmad. My dog isn't that old I think. He is a matlese and we've had him 6 years. We got him from the pound when he was approximately 3 (their estimation). So maybe he is 9. He's got moderate/severe arthritis in his back legs, but that is brilliant with catrophen. He's had spleen cancer and that was fixed and he's amazingly well now. Death rate is extremely high for these dogs though, average life expectancy after spleen cancer surgery is 3 months (he's at 2 months 3 weeks LOL). We/he were extremely lucky with him regarding this surgery - honestly didn't think he would survive it. Were so lucky the vet picked it up too. I don't think he is old enough, or sick enough not to treat. But, he's just so well now, I don't want to ruin his quality of life. Hubby, two daughters and I decided that his quality of life is more important. Read some awful experiences on that cushings forum earlier. So I'm going to ring up on Monday and cancel his testing on Wednesday, and I will leave it a month and see how he goes. I can get the testing done at anytime I feel he is getting worse. He was so sick from the cancer for so long, I want him to enjoy feeling well and happy. He's not going to get that with cushings treatment. This decision feels right, maybe in a few weeks or months I'll feel he needs testing and treatment, but right now he can wait.

Thanks for the replies everyone. $400 quote just for the testing (8 hour one and some blood tests).. sigh.. this isn't going fun. Edit.. Gee doing so much research and my head is spinning. Really don't know what to do. Dog is extremely well at the moment, best his been in years (he's only recently had a large tumour removed so now has a new lease on life). It's just a joy to see him so well and happy. Reading accounts of dogs who go on the medicine, it makes them sick and miserable. People seem to spend $1000's on testing and medication and all it seems to be is make both them and their dog miserable. I'm thinking of holding off the testing for a while. Really don't know what to do. Even if he has the testing next week, I don't think I even want the treatment. Just seems horrible. Edit again.. Lily123 - check out the forums at http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/index.php - you'll be able to read lots of stories there to help you on your journey too. Best wishes to you too, it doesn't look like it's going to be an easy journey for either of us.

My dog is fine too. He just wears a coat I made from a pattern I found on the internet years ago. Double layer of polar fleece and just does up with velcro under the tummy and around the neck. It's pretty brilliant and he loves it. Made to his size. Never found one in the shops to be as warm or as right for him. They few I've bought never get worn.

I think when you feel such a deep love with animal (as you did with Hugo) and they die, then it is extremely hard to ever let yourself love another animal that much again. I used to have this cat called Blackie when I was in my early 20's. I've never loved another animal as much since. Just can't do it anymore. I pretty much had convinced myself of that anyway.. then a few months ago, my dog got really sick with cancer. I cried and cried (and paid the expensive vet bill and got him fixed) LOL!! Anything to avoid him dying. But after eating a pet guinea pig (we have two guinea pigs)I honestly don't know what I would do. My dog (who is white) will lick our white guinea pig and seems to think it is a small one of him, but he is wary of the tortoiseshell coloured guinea pig (ie. the one that is coloured like our cat, whom he fears). I think part of the reason we were happy to pay so much for our dogs operation because I knew as a dog, he was safe for our other pets (cat and 2 guinea pigs). I didn't feel if we got a replacement dog, it would be safe for our other pets. Not much of a help I guess.. but I think having an animal you feel safe with is really important. Just wanted to say goodluck.

Thanks Iggy mum. I've just realised I put this message in the wrong section, should have been in the health questions forum.

My dog had an ultrasound on the 3 of March due another issue, and that ultrasound found he had enlarged adrenal glands and most likely cushing's disease. At this time his other problem was more serious (spleen tumour which has been removed and he's recovered well) and as we wasn't showing any cushing's symptoms it wasn't a problem. But now he is starting to show signs of cushing's now (excessive hunger & thirst that we have noticed, and the vet today said he has a little pot belly). Anyway, I just assumed, it would be an easy fix with tablets until I did a bit of research, and read how dangerous some of the tablets are. Vet said we have to have get a blood test (either 4 or 8 hour, she is ringing the lab and going to let me know and he will be booked in one day next week to spend the day there). Just freaking out a bit here, I thought this was going to be nothing problem (just money for the tablets), but now I am reading that people are electing not to treat cushing's due to the awfulness of the medication. Really don't want him to be so hungry and thirsty all the time. Doesn't feel right not treat him. Anyone got any cushing's stories to tell me? How was the medication? Did you have to use gloves to handle the medication? Thanks

Hi Xyz, Sorry I have no idea what type the tumour was. I purposely chose not to do the pathology as I really didn't want to know if the tumour was benign or malignant. I'm happier not knowing, and have convinced myself that it was benign as it was 450grams (dog was 6.7kg) and hadn't spread anywhere else. He is a dog prone to strange lumps and has had three other lump removal operations (skin lumps though). The vet said that a lot of people were like me and didn't want to know. If he gets another lump or tumour, I will just worry about it then. So sorry, I couldn't help. Would have been interesting to find out what sort of it was. I never thought of that at the time, I just preferred the idea of living in ignorance about the possible malignancy of the cancer.

Thanks everyone. Good news, I just got him to eat some chicken. I've been syringing water into his mouth aswell, but he even just lapped up some water. I'll keep you all informed, but it looks like he is getting better by himself.

Bit of an update. Dog still isn't eating or drinking. Went to regular vet yesterday to have his stitches out and regular vet find couldn't find anything wrong with him. Will do a blood test if it continues. Dog is acting normally, but is just turning his head away when any food or drink is offered. I've been recommended this product by people on the dog spleen cancer facebook group. http://www.vitamingrocer.com.au/Enervite-Senior-Vitamin-Paste-Supplement-4-25-oz-p/300063.htm - unfortunately it ships from the US, and I need it now. Does anyone know of something similar I could buy in Australia. Or any tricks to get a dog eating/drinking. Thanks

Thanks for your help everyone. Back from emergency vet. Pretty much a non event, she couldn't find anything wrong with the dog. She gave me maxalon tablets (anti-nausea) and losec tablets (to decrease stomach acid). I don't feel as worried now, she said he didn't have a temperature and she couldn't find anything wrong. So now wait until we see our normal vet tomorrow.

Going to emergency vet now.. just too worried to wait until tomorrow.

Yes he is still on metacam for pain and antibiotics. I had a huge struggle to get both medicines in his this morning, normally he loves metacam but kept turning his head away from it. Just not sure whether to wait for his appointment (9am tomorrow) or take him to the emergency vet now.

Hi There My dog had spleen/tumour removal surgery two Fridays ago. He is due to have his stitches out tomorrow, but is refusing to eat or drink today. He has been fine up to now. His gums are still pink. Even when he had the tumour and was eating almost nothing, he would still eat morsels of warm cooked chicken from my hand. Ok.. he is vomiting bile outside now.

Just a bit of an update. Scruffy is doing well and finally pooed this morning (while waiting for his turn at the vets for a checkup - we had to quickly rush outside). So was 8 days without pooing LOL!! One of the vet nurses showed me photos of his tumour that she took on her phone! Just looked like light coloured meat, I was expecting it to look black and awful. He had a pretty miserable weekend, but is much better today. The vet said I can also feed him grated carrot, heartsmart mince & kangaroo meat. So as he gets better I will gradually add more veggies and different proteins. I was inspired by the other thread in the this forum and ordered some of the Augustine's superboost. I figure this is just what I need to add to his food. Thanks for the suggestion of Royal Canin Stitch, unfortunately Scruffy just wont eat it (we've tried hard over the years to get him on good dogfood but he just wont eat anything, our cat is on Hill's CD and is amazingly well on it, wanted the same for the dog, but he wont eat the myriad of foods I've tried). Making food from scratch is pretty much my only option.