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Fight K9 cancer

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dog cancer support

Members: 40
Latest Activity: Apr 9

After losing our sweet Mouta (pictured here) on August 11, 2008 to cancer, my husband and I are still missing her terribly. She was diagnosed in February 2008 with a sarcoma in her spine. She was a trooper through the pre-diagnosis stage, when we initially thought she had a herniated disc in her spine, to the end. When aggressive steroid treatment only brought her from a stage 4 (almost no hind leg movement to a low stage 2...walking with assistance) we knew it was time for further testing. We drove 90 minutes away for her to have more test...a myelogram, which in turn led to surgery and the diagnosis of cancer. It was no doubt that we would pursue further treatment for her because out of the 4 pup-a-lups (my husband's term) she was our special baby...the calm in the eye of the storm, I always said. With the 4 dogs and cat, Mouta was always laid back and just really loved life. She was the ONLY one who could be off leash in the front yard and not run off 100% of the time! She LOVED being with us too much to venture off.

I did tons of research, talked to anyone who would listen, read everything I could find about cancer in dogs. And there's really not a lot of data out there. One of the deal makers for me when the subject of radiation treatments was discussed was that every question I asked about the success, the risk, the prognosis for Mouta was answered pretty much the same.."We don't know. There's not much data out there because most people opt for euthansia with the cancer diagnosis due to the cost of treatment." I felt that if by treating Mouta there was the slightest chance that we could have her in our lives a little longer and get her healthy again, it would be worth it. We had just bought a new house...I wanted new furniture, but you know, 'things' can wait...life can't. I still don't have the furniture, but we did have Mouta for 6 more months. We celebrated her 10th birthday with a cookout and I even baked a birthday cake for the dogs (you know there are lots of recipes online for homemade dog treats..even cakes!) When she finished her radiation treatments she was acting like a puppy again, not like the 10 year old that she was by then.

So, I started this group as a memorial to our Sharmouta. Anyone who has been through this, or who is facing this is welcome!

Discussion Forum

Murphy's mast cell tumor 9 Replies

Started by Lynne Gunn. Last reply by Andrew Hicks Feb 5, 2012.

Taz' mast cell cancer 25 Replies

Started by Cathy Turnipseed. Last reply by Jill Stout May 1, 2011.

Holistic Veterinarians 2 Replies

Started by Lori Lotts. Last reply by Lori Lotts Sep 28, 2010.

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Comment by Kelly Meyer on May 5, 2012 at 4:04pm: Crap, I went to edit my post to correct a spelling error and I deleted it! Hopefully it will all come out the same, so here it goes--take 2!

Is it possible to take Niki to your mom's house with you--if you think being with her will help her eat? If you think it's not possible to take care of both your mom and Niki or if Niki would not do well away from home, then I hope you can rest easy in the fact that you are where you NEED to be right now--with your mom! I'm sure in their own intuitive ways, the dogs know you didn't "desert" them, but you are helping someone who needs you more than they do right now. Believe me, when you see your dogs again, it will be as if no time has passed and they will be so happy to see you! You are doing such a loving and caring thing for your mom!

As far as the 6 months to heal Niki's knee without surgery, that is pretty consistent (6-8 months) with what we were told when Phoebe did the same thing. And, I can tell you that Phoebe did start to show progress with both her pain and her mobility as time went by--unfortunately the cancer got her before the 6-8 months was up to see if she would have gotten back to the 80-85% the vet predicted she would.

Peace to you, your mom, and your family--pups included!

♥Kelly

Comment by Lynn Sexton on May 5, 2012 at 1:46am: Well, the vet says it will take Niki a MINIMUM of 6 MONTHS(!) to get over this knee injury, if she recovers at all! Michael says she gets up on her own about once a day to go out & do her business. She's not eating much either, but I figure that is because I'm not home. Her usual portion lasts her for 2 meals! My poor baby (& the rest of my family) needs mommy to come home. How do you make them understand that you haven't deserted them?!

Comment by Ellen Slater on May 1, 2012 at 2:09pm: I tried both with Sadie and the harness worked much better considering her issues. I loved it because it worked the whole time..I didn't have to get new harnesses as her mobility went down hill. As you remember by the end she couldn't walk at all on her own, yet because of that harness I was able to take her out to lay in the sun, and move her from room to room. There is also no way I could've re-positioned her with out risking a break to her OS leg with out it. Can you tell I am a bit of a fan? LOL. Best of luck. Know that you and the whole family are in my daily thoughts and prayer. Hugs and kisses to you and the critters from me and my menagerie.

Comment by Lynn Sexton on May 1, 2012 at 9:20am: well, we've decided to order the harness. After looking at both it and the bottoms up leash, the harness looks like the better choice for Niki. Her hind legs have to go in the bottoms up and she just doesn't want that leg messed with if we can avoid it! I'm just waiting on the hubby to get back to me on her girth so I order the correct size!

Comment by Christine Staller on May 1, 2012 at 12:50am: I know I haven't been on in a long time, but I do follow as much as we can. Bishop is doing so much better since he has been on holistic care that it is truly remarkable! No pain meds in 9 months now! All holistic supplements, essences and energy work - he's running around the house outside! We pray a lot, and praise for the improvement - and include all the babies.

After he had his back surgery, I used a Bottoms-up-lease to take him outside.It worked great. Different things work in different situations, but that did work great for him. I didn't have to call people over all the time to take him out - was able to handle it myself, and he didn't mind.

Comment by Ellen Slater on April 28, 2012 at 6:17pm: Bath rugs work great! I lined my entire hallway (tile floor) with them for Sadie. I got them at yard sales and thrift stores. Tell Michael to just make sure the backing rubber is in good shape.

Comment by Lynn Sexton on April 28, 2012 at 4:30pm: Well, Niki seems to be moving about a bit more. She just needed to do it in her time, it seems. She just doesn't like the belly strap for some reason. She can get up more easily on the carpet in the bedroom, of course, but struggles a bit on the tile & wood in the rest of the house. Once she gets up she can hobble around on 3 legs. She is still not bearing weight on the right leg, but there was improvement after the first shot and she had the second shot of adeqan yesterday and will get another in a week. Hopefully, God willing, she will continue to improve! I feel better (less worried) after talking to Michael (and the pup-a-lups) this morning. He puts me on speaker so they can hear my voice...just wish they'd "talk" back...they look around for me or look at the phone wondering why mommy's in there.

Michael has a mission to hit some yard sales or whatever to find some cheap rugs with non-skid backing to put more in the house!

Comment by Lynn Sexton on April 27, 2012 at 3:59pm: I HATE not being home with my girl while she's hurting! Michael was able to get Niki up with my stepson's help. He says it's a 2 person job. I'll talk to him about the bribery suggestion and the harness. I emailed him the link, Ellen, and will see if he thinks this would work for her, The challenge would be in getting it on her initially..then it looks like it might be great!

As for meds, Jill, she's getting 75mg rimadyl twice a day. When I was home, I was giving her morning dose before trying to get her motivated. Not sure what Michael is doing in that regard, but will ask. It didn't seem to matter much on Tuesday when she decided to get so ornery!

Damn I need a clone of myself! I can't be 2 places at once and have two very sick elderly girls in my life right now. This sucks!

Comment by Ellen Slater on April 26, 2012 at 5:35pm: Like Jill said try goodies. Also here is the link to the harness I had for Sadie...She got to where the belly band wasn't working and it was too hard to lift her to put anything on her. This stayed on all the time and never caused a problem. It was a lifesaver! http://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Master-Harness_2?sc=2&category=1131

I could literally pick Sadie up like a suitcase, as big as she was! Good luck and you know we will all be thinking of new ideas for you. Keep us posted!

Comment by Jill Stout on April 26, 2012 at 5:05pm: what about coaxing her with goodies? Maybe distract her long enough for Michael to pick her up? You are right---she has to go outside. poor thing. What about a pain pill to mellow her out and then get her on some kind of a stretcher??????