Hi jetred,
From your post a year ago… this is exactly the type of information I'm searching for, "I know this might not be survivable for her but I can't find any advice on how to get a dog through cancer, what to look out for, when is she truly in pain, what spindle cell does over time and when is enough for her and time to set her free."
So I am wondering, what was your plan with Luna? How did you make decisions? What information did you learn that you think is important to know about the spindle cell cancer disease process?
I have a 15 yr old girl (aussie shepard mix) who is in good spirits, enjoys slow short walks, putting her nose in the wind, eating, etc all normally. We've had two surgeries already to debulk the tumor on her rear leg. One in 2013, and the second recently in June from which she recovered well for her age. Though it returned quickly (3 mos) and larger this time. It's now an open lesion. I am both astounded and perplexed at how she acts pretty normal given this! My vet (who is a new vet to us as I just moved) initially discussed end of life decisions and then also offered amputation as an option to consider. I would so appreciate any thoughts you have and/or hear more about your story.
Thank you.
Tayda's 2nd Followup
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Well I was hoping Tayda had stabilized but it seems she has not yet. At initial diagnosis we put her on 2 bicarbs per day along w/ all the other supplements. At the 1st follow up her bloodwork indicated we had to increase her bicarbs to 8 per day and now we are increasing again to 10 per day and adding 2 potassium gluconates each day.
So now she gets:
AM
1/2 pet tab
1/2 pet cal
1 fish oil
5 bicarbs
1 potassium gluconatePM
1/2 pet tab
1/2 pet cal
1 cranberry pill
5 bicarbs
1 potassium gluconateThe good news is that she her levels have improved since our last visit, just not quite enough, and she has gained 1 pound - which is great!
So I have mixed emotions about all of it. Happy she is doing better, but sad that we're still not there yet. The pilling is tough. And she's a really picky eater so I'm still trying to find ways to get her to eat her food more willingly.
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That is the hard part of this illness.
I so very much hope you find what will work.
Your on the fanconis list yes? -
Have you tried maybe doing a little home cooking for her?… Like taking a crock pot and putting in chicken (or whatever meat), I use chicken bones and all... and carrots, potatoes, anything really... and cooking it?.... chicken bones in the crock pot will cook up to "mush"... if you cook it long enough.... but certainly can use boneless meats...
Then maybe if you put that over or with her regular food it will help her to eat it...? Nice thing about the cooked food is that then you can freeze it and warm it up to feed... lots of time the good smells of warm food will help them to eat more.
Glad to hear however that she is doing OK.. and has gained some weight.... Hugs ......
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I have tried mixing her food with low sodium chicken/beef broth and mixing it with veggies, rice, pumpkin, mashed potatoes and other things. The problem is she is on a lower protein diet to get some of her values in control so I cant mix in the meats. She will slurp up the soup and eat the veggies/rice - and will literally leave every piece of kibble in the bowl. I've tried many different kinds of food and usually she will eat one for a few days and then decide she doesn't like it. Picky little sh*t… :mad:
Before her diagnosis - I had switched both her and Lenny to the Wellness Core and she LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It is the only food that she has every really shown any excitement to eat but the protein level is way too high (34%). I am considering switching her back to that, but using only half of the normal daily feeding amount and cutting it with some little/no protein things to keep the overall protein percentage close to what I have her on now (19%).
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The Basenji Companions site has a long list of foods and tricks to give pills, very useful for those with fanconi that have to take a lot of pills.
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I picked up some free samples of this at the local specialty dog store last Friday while I was waiting to pick Nicky up. He loved it but it is expensive. It is dehydrated so is light and then you mix in the water to rehydrate it. If Tayda is really picky and you are looking for something that would get her to lick the bowl this might work. It is a little higher in protein, in its dry form it is 21%.
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Honest-Kitchen-Verve-Dehydrated-Dog-Food/200023.aspx
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I have tried mixing her food with low sodium chicken/beef broth and mixing it with veggies, rice, pumpkin, mashed potatoes and other things. The problem is she is on a lower protein diet to get some of her values in control so I cant mix in the meats. She will slurp up the soup and eat the veggies/rice - and will literally leave every piece of kibble in the bowl. I've tried many different kinds of food and usually she will eat one for a few days and then decide she doesn't like it. Picky little sh*t… :mad:
Before her diagnosis - I had switched both her and Lenny to the Wellness Core and she LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It is the only food that she has every really shown any excitement to eat but the protein level is way too high (34%). I am considering switching her back to that, but using only half of the normal daily feeding amount and cutting it with some little/no protein things to keep the overall protein percentage close to what I have her on now (19%).
OK, so here is the thing…. first you need to get her to eat... so you have to look at both sides of the coin...... and maybe cooking totally for her is the way to go... and while she needs to be on low protein.. it defeats the purpose if she doesn't eat at all... I think that Dr. Gonto would agree with that... if you cooked low protein... for her and a "little Wellness core" as the kibble... I would think you could find a happy "middle" of the road... for her. I think you are on the right track to switch her back to what she will eat... and mix it with low protein ....
Has Dr Gonto said anything about adding high doses of Vit B?... as it is said that it stimulates them wanting to eat... like even getting a Vit B12 shot every few weeks? I have some all natural children's multi vit that I give Kristii (who has liver problems including grow non-cancer tumors)... and this has help her with eating... -
I did not try Keen but it slightly lower in protein at 20% so may be closer to what you are looking for.
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Honest-Kitchen-Keen-Dehydrated-Dog-Food/200038.aspx
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Luckily i haven't gotten to the point of multiple pills daily, but to give Medjai pills, I have found that the best option is tell him to open and hold his mouth open as I lob the pill to the back of his throat and hold his mouth shut. He just swallows it and is ready to continue about his day.
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Luckily i haven't gotten to the point of multiple pills daily, but to give Medjai pills, I have found that the best option is tell him to open and hold his mouth open as I lob the pill to the back of his throat and hold his mouth shut. He just swallows it and is ready to continue about his day.
Problem with that is that she has to give 8 to 10 pills twice a day… lots different then one or two... and this is every day 2x a day.. and the BiCarbs are the hardest...
