D_mentias Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 My 7 year old CCRxLab assistance dog Maggie was found to have a large tumour pressing on her windpipe 2 weeks ago.She had only had a slight cough for a week and was intially diagnosed with a upper respiritory infection. My vet wants to do a wait and watch and re- exray in 6 weeks. As he said such tumours were beyond his expertise.She continues to have a cough , seems a bit lethargic and often feels very hot but is comfortable and not complaining of pain. At this stage I am not sure she will make the six weeks. Maggie is eating well and I have increased her food but she is loosing an alarming amount of weight. Ity is heartbreaking to watch such a valuable and loyal dog fade Do members have any suggestion of diet or diet supplement that may help her? I look forward to your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Hi..I'm sorry about your girl. if she is noticeably getting worse and losing weight, I would strongly suggest a second opinion.Soon. If you are around melbourne ..why not try seeing someone down at Werribee- the university vet hospital/clinic. ? They have all the know- how there in one place . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineX Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 From working in cancer (paperwork side), a lot of small meals, very high in protien and calories. And get onto another vet asap, cancer goes very fast, and if your dog is losing weight fast, the cancer is growing fast too. Six weeks, particularly if the cancer is already comrpressing the windpipe, could see your dog already dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Agree with the others - if your vet hasn't got the expertise find someone who has ASAP. Sorry about your dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 I have been using a product called Pediasure (Vanilla) for my sick dog. It is similar to Ensure but for children. It is available in Chemist Warehouse in the formula section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 From working in cancer (paperwork side), a lot of small meals, very high in protien and calories. And get onto another vet asap, cancer goes very fast, and if your dog is losing weight fast, the cancer is growing fast too. Six weeks, particularly if the cancer is already comrpressing the windpipe, could see your dog already dead. Absolutely agree with this. Try Dr Ann Neville in East Bentleigh. She has had some amazing results with cancer patients over abotu 15 years. Act now every day counts when you are dealing with cancer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_mentias Posted December 18, 2011 Author Share Posted December 18, 2011 Thank you for your suggestions, I will try extra protien today and ring my vet re her deterioration and Werribbe. I live 200 ks from Melbourne. Travel and money are a bit of an issue. As it is I am paying my vet off at 50 per f/n. One other thing since becoming ill only 3 weeks ago she has constantly watering eyes? What would that be from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 she has constantly watering eyes? What would that be from? Impossible to tell , sorry , that is something which needs checking properly ... I do hope you can find a decent vet clinic .. nothing in one of teh regional centres/cities near you ? For your peace of mind, you need someone who can do the tests and tell you what to expect . wait & see is not a good plan of 'action' with a tumour. So sorry ...I know it's hard when distance and lack of funds come into play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Augustine Approved Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 I would recommend introducing organic turmeric powder into your dogs diet. Below is a short list of the many benefits of turmeric. Sending lots of wishes your way! Turmeric is a perennial plant of the ginger family used for cooking, herbal medicine, and dyes. It may be most recognizable in curries, as it is what imparts the yellow color to this dish. This spice is also believed to be beneficial for a wide variety of conditions in dogs. Curcumin, an ingredient of turmeric, contains the most beneficial components of this spice. Anti-inflammatory Curcumin is believed to be a potent anti-inflammatory, according to professionals at the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. This can be helpful for painful inflammatory conditions like arthritis, a common problem in dogs. All dog breeds are subject to arthritis, but susceptibility increases for those with hip dysplasia, a genetic condition. Even for dogs without this condition, however, they may develop arthritis for the same reasons human do: old age and being overweight. Over time the "micro-traumas" joints suffer from the extra weight add up and can lead to arthritis. Dogs can also suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis, a disease involving the immune system. Supplementing with turmeric, as well as with veterinary recommended medications, may ease your pooch's suffering. Beneficial to the Liver Curcumin is believed to stimulate bile production in the liver, essential to the digestion of dietary fats. As working dogs need their diets to consist of at least 20 percent fat, healthy bile production is paramount to good health. Pregnant, nursing, and underweight dogs also need a diet fairly high in fat, which means they need healthy bile production to digest it all. Beneficial to the Circulatory System Curcumin is a blood thinner, helping to prevent clots and excess cholesterol accumulation. Clots lead to dangerous conditions, such as stroke and heart attack in dogs, just like in humans. High cholesterol, too, can lead to a host of problems for dogs, such as seizures, abdominal pain, nervous system dysfunctions, patches on the skin, and/or cutaneous xanthomata (skin bumps filled with greasy, yellow-orange fluid). If these symptoms occur, you should call your vet immediately. While it's important not to thin your dog's blood too much, an appropriate amount of turmeric may be helpful in keeping blood running smoothly through the vessels. Check with your veterinarian about an appropriate dose of turmeric for your dog. Antioxidant Antioxidants are substances such as vitamin C or E that remove potentially damaging agents, called free radicals, from the body. Free radicals can wreak havoc in the body and possibly lead to such conditions as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Dogs need antioxidants just as humans do to mitigate this free radical damage. There are many options for providing antioxidants to your dog, including fruits and vegetables. The active ingredients in turmeric, though, will also provide an antioxidant boost to your pup's food. Anti-cancer properties Early studies on turmeric and cancer are promising, but not conclusive. Evidence comes from animal and test tube studies, in which results suggest turmeric may prevent, control, or even kill several types of cancers. This amazing property may be due to the herb's ability to stop the blood vessels that supply tumors, and/or to its preventative effect as a powerful antioxidant. As basic cell function works the same in humans and dogs, and as dogs also suffer from cancer, many believe turmeric has anti-cancer properties for dogs as well. Synergistic Effect With Other Herbs Curcumin can provide a synergistic effect with other herbs, which means the herbs increase each other's beneficial effects. Bromelain, an extract of pineapple stems, is an herb that works well in this way with curcumin. Bromelain can decrease what is known as "circulating immune complexes," which can cause immune system damage. Combined with curcumin, the two increase each other's absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. In other words, by taking both curcumin and bromelain, the body will absorb more of both herbs than if they were taken alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 There are lots of things you could try...once you know exactly what it is you are dealing with. Is it indeed a tumour? It's not an encapsulated grass seed or other foreign body? what sort is it? is it benign or malignant? has it metastisised? Until appropriate testing is done .. xray/biopsy/blood test etc... you don't know what is happening in there, and every day without a proper diagnosis is one which may have been used in treating your girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_mentias Posted December 18, 2011 Author Share Posted December 18, 2011 There are lots of things you could try...once you know exactly what it is you are dealing with. Is it indeed a tumour? It's not an encapsulated grass seed or other foreign body? what sort is it? is it benign or malignant? has it metastisised? Until appropriate testing is done .. xray/biopsy/blood test etc... you don't know what is happening in there, and every day without a proper diagnosis is one which may have been used in treating your girl. It is a tumour as I have seen it on the xray. Itis about the size of a large orange and pressing on her trachea..hence the chest infection. I do not know if it is benign or malignant as even to do a needle biopsy my vet said it was beyond his skill level. He was most surprised to find it on xray as apart from the cough, watery eyes and fevers which she didn't have on the day of the xray and her white cell count was good she looked fine. I had noticed though in the week before she started loosing weight. Her assistance vest was very loose on her. She doesn't appear distressed but is sooky and lethargic for her. She is wanting to be with me even more.At times you can almost here her breath as she has a sort of cats meow. She is eating well twice a day when I feed her with the other dogs but will refuse extra if they are not being feed. Her motions looked normal. But you are right she needs a proper diagnoses. I fear that leaving it another 4 weeks to redo the xray is far too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 You really need to see a specialist for this. The oncologist who treated my dog was at the Specialst Referral Centre in Glen Waverley. You need to know if this tumour is benign or malignant. Without knowing what it is you can't treat it by dietary or any other means. My cancer dog was on a high protein, high fat diet with no carbs and no sugar. She outlived her grim prognosis for a year. She was in good spirits and actually put on weight on that diet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 From working in cancer (paperwork side), a lot of small meals, very high in protien and calories. And get onto another vet asap, cancer goes very fast, and if your dog is losing weight fast, the cancer is growing fast too. Six weeks, particularly if the cancer is already comrpressing the windpipe, could see your dog already dead. Absolutely agree with this. Try Dr Ann Neville in East Bentleigh. She has had some amazing results with cancer patients over abotu 15 years. Act now every day counts when you are dealing with cancer. Another who agrees with this advice. Ollie had cancer for over six years and he was fed three times a day most days until the end when he ate when he wanted So sorry to hear about your girl I also think another opinion is in order as I think you know your dog better than a vet does and if you see her losing weight like that then I would not be waiting that long for further treatment All the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Wouldn't you think this vet would recommend another if it was out of his depth or even a specialist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Wouldn't you think this vet would recommend another if it was out of his depth or even a specialist Some vets don't even realise this is an easy/affordable option these days. It depends how up to date they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_mentias Posted December 25, 2011 Author Share Posted December 25, 2011 Well in the last week Maggie's condition has drastically declined. I called the vet again who said he wasn.t surprised... She is barely eating anything, a few chicken necks and some roo and veg. She constantly feels warm and has lost a huge amount of weight...all her bones are now prominant. Food and water has to be taken to her on wherever she is laying..bed, couch... She coughs ocassionally, is breathing fast and remains continent. Most days she has gone outside and inspected her yard. She still wags her tail when spoken to so has some but limited quality of life. This is heartbreaking watching my devoted assistance dog fade. Not our best Xmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 Oh, I am so sorry ..it must be so painful watching her go this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mags Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 So very sorry to hear Maggie is losing ground. Diet change as above can help but you really need to know what is going on and whilst Curcumin can be useful it is a blood thinner so not advisable if she needs an op. From the sudden deterioration it does sounds as though things are moving very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 Sorry to hear this, I'm going through the same thing at the moment and the feeling of helplessness is horrible. The prednisolone has helped Sabella a lot and she has even put on a bit of weight. She will really only eat Hills A/D and roast chicken. I'm mixing a bit of oat bran and probiotic with the A/D for some fibre and to help her system out on the meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 Sorry to hear she is deteriaring so quickly, thoughts are with you ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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