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Dreamspider · 12-08-2009, 08:34 PM

So i have not checked back in a while.... and have an update:

Gracie has had a second surgery and had two mammary glands as well as a lymph node removed on her lower left side becasue she had a very large and quickly growing tumor. This was about a month ago. She had a large hole in her because if it because the staples were coming apart a bit and a large drainage area had formed larger than a quarters size. We had her on antibiotics, pain pills, anti-inflammatory and a heart pill.

She is on heart pills because when she went into surgery, she had her heart scanned to see if she would event be able to do chemo. They found out she had a VERY Arrhythmic heart and we have her on something for that and it has since gotten a lot more regular.

The hole has been kept clean and is almost now healed over. It's been really hard to watch her go through it. And now more cancer growth has already started in the other glands.

I am not going to be able to do another surgery (do not want to and the doctor is not recommending it); do not have the money for chemo and they are not really recommending that anymore either.

I have been feeding her a blend between a high protein dog food (Synergy- It is organic, high in fat and protein, no icky stuff that I know of). And them also making her grass fed ground chuck lightly cooked with Brown rice, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and mushrooms.

I have been boiling the Broccoli and Brussel sprouts to get then soft and then pureeing them. She really likes it.... Should I not be boiling them? If I do not, how will I get the pieces small enough that she would even like them? She is a pretty picky eater and I am not sure how she will take the raw veggies.

Also, I have put the mushrooms in the meat and cooked briefly. Should I do these raw as well?

The other ingredient is a bit of cooked brown rice. I have read not to use grains, but that brown rice is ok. Is it really? or should I nix this in the recipe?

With the rate the cancer seems to be growing I want to do what ever I can to ensure she will stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. I have not been given, nor have I asked for any life expectancies.

She is pretty happy, still likes to run around a bit now that she is only on her heart medicine and not any thing else for a week or so now. Occasionally I feel the need to give her a pain pill; but that is mainly due to her weakness in her hind quarters. She has arthritis in her hips and it bothers her some days, especially now that she is becoming more active since the drugs are not around. I do give her treat that she really likes, "happy hips" with glucosamine, MSM and Chondrian (SP?). I also have a doggie antioxidant treat from the same organic company. She also loves to lick up a bit of salmon oil each day off a plate.

Does anyone know if their is something else that I should be doing? Should I switch the way that I am making the food?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

12-08-2009, 08:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dreamspider Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 2	update So i have not checked back in a while.... and have an update: Gracie has had a second surgery and had two mammary glands as well as a lymph node removed on her lower left side becasue she had a very large and quickly growing tumor. This was about a month ago. She had a large hole in her because if it because the staples were coming apart a bit and a large drainage area had formed larger than a quarters size. We had her on antibiotics, pain pills, anti-inflammatory and a heart pill. She is on heart pills because when she went into surgery, she had her heart scanned to see if she would event be able to do chemo. They found out she had a VERY Arrhythmic heart and we have her on something for that and it has since gotten a lot more regular. The hole has been kept clean and is almost now healed over. It's been really hard to watch her go through it. And now more cancer growth has already started in the other glands. I am not going to be able to do another surgery (do not want to and the doctor is not recommending it); do not have the money for chemo and they are not really recommending that anymore either. I have been feeding her a blend between a high protein dog food (Synergy- It is organic, high in fat and protein, no icky stuff that I know of). And them also making her grass fed ground chuck lightly cooked with Brown rice, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and mushrooms. I have been boiling the Broccoli and Brussel sprouts to get then soft and then pureeing them. She really likes it.... Should I not be boiling them? If I do not, how will I get the pieces small enough that she would even like them? She is a pretty picky eater and I am not sure how she will take the raw veggies. Also, I have put the mushrooms in the meat and cooked briefly. Should I do these raw as well? The other ingredient is a bit of cooked brown rice. I have read not to use grains, but that brown rice is ok. Is it really? or should I nix this in the recipe? With the rate the cancer seems to be growing I want to do what ever I can to ensure she will stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. I have not been given, nor have I asked for any life expectancies. She is pretty happy, still likes to run around a bit now that she is only on her heart medicine and not any thing else for a week or so now. Occasionally I feel the need to give her a pain pill; but that is mainly due to her weakness in her hind quarters. She has arthritis in her hips and it bothers her some days, especially now that she is becoming more active since the drugs are not around. I do give her treat that she really likes, "happy hips" with glucosamine, MSM and Chondrian (SP?). I also have a doggie antioxidant treat from the same organic company. She also loves to lick up a bit of salmon oil each day off a plate. Does anyone know if their is something else that I should be doing? Should I switch the way that I am making the food? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!