Dakota certainly sounds like a real fighter.
Our little schnauzer Benny has Mast Cell Tumour on his right side. He had an operation last November and was in remission until July, 2008. The pathology report came back as a Stage 2 with unclean margins and every day I checked his side hoping to never find another lump but I did. From last November until now we have been feeding him a special diet of CANINE MUFFINS (cancer formula) which he really loves. Their website is:
Canine Cancer: Nutrition and Diet Can be Key
We also found help on supplements and are giving him Artemisinin, Co-Q10, Reishi, Chinese Mushrooms, Shitake mushrooms, Quercetin, 1500mg. of salmon capsules per day, Modified Citrus Pectin, Essiac capsules.
The tumours shrunk and then when one reappeared and started growing he was put on prednisone for 3 weeks prior to Christmas. He is energetic, eats really well and loves vegetables. We steam broccoli which is his favourite limit the amount of steamed carrots because cancer feeds on sugar and carrots are high in sugar. He also gets crushed almonds, chicken with turmeric, sweet potato, salmon, and lamb tenderloin, boiled chicken livers and it is easy to hide a supplement in the chicken liver if your dog doesn't take them in his food dish.
We try to buy everything ORGANIC and FREE RANGE Meats.
I have written several posts on food and nutrition and supplements which seem to be working for Benny.
I hope this helps you a little bit. Every dog is different and every cancer is a little different.
Good luck. God Bless and may 2009 be a happier time for you and your family and Dakota.
In Friendship,
Joanne (Benpaws)