Guest Anonymous Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 I have a 13 years old Saluki/Whippet. Recently, she had an abscess removed from her jaw. It is cancer. She could go to a specialist, have part of her jaw removed, and a course of chemotherapy. But - we have been told that the cancer will just return in another part of her mouth. The thing is - do we put her through the pain and trauma. Or do we just take care of her - and love her - for as long as she has got left. She is not suffering. We have put her on Lycopene - to kill infections - and she is behaving like a pup again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crested Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 I'm so sorry! :( You have a big decition to make. It's really hard for someone else to tell you what to do. You should make the decition yourself. That's what I think. I wish you and you doggy all the best! /Crest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLQ Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 So sorry to hear the bad news :cry: I agree the decision is up to you. Our thoughts are with you whatever you decide :( Lisa xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowie-the-Pooh Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 Ohh I'm so sorry! :cry: We cannot make the desicon for you, we can only guide you...(Am I starting to sound wise yet? :lol:) Really, if your pet is in alot of pain, and there is absaloutly no way you can end her suffering, then maybe you should have her PTS :cry: Good Luck! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosebud Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 :( I am so sorry to hear about your baby. I can only tell you what I would do. I would weigh her quality of life without treatment with her quality of life with treatment. If treatment is going to lengthen her days and maintain her quality of life then I would do the surgery and treatment, if putting her through that will make the quality worse, I would keep her as comfortable as possible as long as her life quality is not comprimised. I would not let her live in discomfort and pain just because I don't want to let her go to the bridge yet. I hope this helps you with the decision you have to make for her, she will understand either way. :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imported_Cassie Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 I have listed the below web pages, these are new Cancer treatments that are being researched. I really feel bad for you and what you are going through...I recently lost a Newfoundland to Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) amputation was not an option for a Newf...he was happy up until the end...the first day that he was in discomfort and I knew he was suffering (Newf's have a very high tolerance level to pain) I took him in and had him put down...I wanted my baby to be happy to the very end and comfortable...and I wanted to remember him as being happy...I did'nt want to have any bad memories of pain and discomfort that my dog may have had to suffer through. [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1534&articleid=1316[/url] [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1524&articleid=1272[/url] [url]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1539&articleid=1577[/url] Here of some Commandments of Cancer Care...I hope this helps. [quote]Commandment One Do Not Let Them Hurt: Comprehensive pain management is critical to the quality and longevity of life for cancer patients. Research has shown that once an animal is in pain, there is magnification of the pain response. The goal then is to prevent pain, not try to alleviate it once it occurs. local anesthesia may be helpful in those animals that have localized pain. Pain-relieving medications can be used, including fentanyl patches, which are applied to the skin and slowly release the active ingredient. Oral pain relievers can be of benefit, especially if the pain is mild. If an animal is undergoing surgery, the pain medication should start while the animal is still anesthetized, so as the animal wakes up, the pain reliever is already working. Proper care of the animal also helps in pain management. The animal should be handled gently. Use orthopedic beds and other devices to make the animal more comfortable and decrease the risk of painful secondary problems such as "bed sores." Commandment Two Do Not Let Them Vomit: Nausea and vomiting are actually uncommon problems for animals undergoing chemotherapy. If either one becomes a problem, however, it needs to be managed swiftly. Vomiting animals can quickly become dehydrated and develop electrolyte imbalances. Nauseated and vomiting animals will generally not eat, which brings us to the Third Commandment. Commandment Three Do Not Let Them Starve: This is perhaps the most vital of the three. If an animal will not eat, but has a functioning digestive tract, enteral dietary therapy should be used. The first step is to increase the appetite. This may be accomplished by warming the food: serving palatable, aromatic foods; and feeding in a stress-free environment. Medications that stimulate the appetite, such as diazepam (Valium) and cyproheptadine may be used. If the animal will not eat on his own, a "stomach tube" may be used. Depending upon the animal, the tube may be inserted through the nose and then into the stomach or intestine; or the tube may be placed through an incision in the skin into the esophagus or stomach. the diet of the animal will need to be tailored individually. The correct diet may not only limit weight loss, but also improve the response to chemotherapy, and decrease the adverse effects of radiation therapy. In general, the diet should: Limit the amount of simple carbohydrates Contain moderate amounts of highly digestible protein, with possible supplementation of certain amino acids including glutamine, cystine, and arginine Include moderate to relatively high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids In providing care for pets with cancer, the medical management of the cancer is only one part of the goal. Other needs of the pet and owner need to be met to achieve the quality of life they want and deserve.[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roo Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 [quote name='Cassie']I have listed the below web pages, these are new Cancer treatments that are being researched. I really feel bad for you and what you are going through...I recently lost a Newfoundland to Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) amputation was not an option for a Newf...he was happy up until the end...the first day that he was in discomfort and I knew he was suffering (Newf's have a very high tolerance level to pain) I took him in and had him put down...I wanted my baby to be happy to the very end and comfortable...and I wanted to remember him as being happy...I did'nt want to have any bad memories of pain and discomfort that my dog may have had to suffer [/quote][/quote] Cassie i think that really says it all :cry: It is the quality of life that is all that matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 [img]http://www.seniority.co.uk/forum/images/avatars/5163341c3e748b11cfad5.jpg[/img] This is my girl. Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I had already decided not to put Jenny through the trauma of what an operation entails. But, I also had a word with a specialist recently, and he said that at her age it would be best to leave well alone. If she had been younger, he would have recommended having the operation. Fortunately, she is still fine in herself, although her gum is inflamed. I would never let her suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouseatthebusstop Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 I AM SO SORRY :( I WOULD DO THE SAME AS YOU ARE DOING. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU WANT TO TALK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 Thank you very much Mouse. These are my girls - Jenny is the one at the back. We got Cassie, the whippet, four days before we found out about the cancer. Fate? I had been wanting a small whippet!!!! [img]http://www.flashbuilder.net/host/mikeart/Girls%20002.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaLQ Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 :iloveyou: :D Beautiful dogs :D Are you sure Cassie is a whippet? She looks suspiciously like our Sky (except another colour) and she's a lurcher of some description. I think there's some whippet in her though, so that could be the similarity. Thinking of you all :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicat613 Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 I have heard that many people have had great successes with holistic care during cancer. Something to think about. [url]http://www.ahvma.org/states_and_directory/directory.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 Thanks for that Alicat. Jackie, who runs the local Whippet Rescue, is a homeopathy consultant. It was she who put us on to Lycopene for Jenny. No doubt about it Lisa - Cassie is a whippet - used to be a racer. Big though, 21 inches. :jumpie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 I too am very sorry for your dogs diagnosis. There certainly is no set protocol for what is appropriate for every single dog. Every patient is different. Every cancer is different. Every veterinarian treats cancer differently. I will give you my opinion and that is what it is - only an opinion. I am a specialist in Emergency and Critical Care medicine. I have seen, diagnosed and treated hundreds of cancer cases. What you must do first is find out what type of cancer it is. Also, you must find out what is the histologic severity of the tumor - are there many dividing cells or only a few, etc. You must find a veterinarian who is familiar with treating this type of cancer. You also have to have the cancer staged - has it spread? All of these imputs are critical to your decision. Advice of friends is worthless. I know that sounds cold but friends who give you horror stories and anecdotes are not being helpful as your dogs cancer is individual and cannot be grouped with other tumor types nor can your dog's experience be lumped with any other dog or human. Personally, I have seen cases that run the gamut. Certain tumors like lymphosarcoma are typically very responsive to chemotherapy, however I have had patients that died within 2 weeks when I expected at least 6 months of good quality time. However, on the other hand, I am currently treating a labrador with oral malignant melanoma - one of the worst tumor types- and he is currently alive after 2 years of chemotherapy, and is currently off chemo. He was supposed to have 3 months tops. We just tried something new and it clicked. That information however, is just like the horror stories, it is anecdotal. Your dog's experience will be unique. There are a million people who will try and sell you something. Usually they pass themselves off as "holistic". Even Dr. Weil himself says that cancer is a whole different ball game. I recommend that you do not seek alternative "cures". However, nausea control and immune enhancement may be achieved via complementary means, including a good diet. There is a new complementary approach to standard chemotherapy as well. It is called anti-angiogenic treatment. That is, attempting to reduce the growth of new blood vessels into and by the tumor. It does not replace traditional treatment- it may enhance it. Look online under the Navy protocol. As far as when to stop is concerned, that is a decision that ONLY YOU can and should make. You are the best equipped to know when your pet's quality of life no longer is acceptable. Your pet will certainly have a few bad days, however when they begin to be strung together or (s)he no longer responds to fluids or other ancillary treatments, it is time. I wish you best of luck in a very difficult decision. Get at least 2 and even better, 3 separate veterinary opinions. One should come from a Veterinary Oncologist. Sincerely, Robert Moreau, DVM, Dip. ACVECC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowie-the-Pooh Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 [quote name='Blue Jay']Thank you very much Mouse. These are my girls - Jenny is the one at the back. We got Cassie, the whippet, four days before we found out about the cancer. Fate? I had been wanting a small whippet!!!! [img]http://www.flashbuilder.net/host/mikeart/Girls%20002.jpg[/img][/quote] Awww! Thier adorable! Jenny is a big girl isn't she? :D Can we have more pics please? And an update? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 31, 2003 Share Posted May 31, 2003 This is Jenny taking it easy last Christmas!!! She is still fine - although her gum is still inflamed, the abscess has not started growing back, yet. [img]http://www.idf50.co.uk/clubhouse/albums/2581.jpg[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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