chihuahuakungfu

Hi everyone,
My name is Jessica, and one of my little chihuahuas, Miss Pretty, has mast cell tumors and multiple mammary tumors. I work for a no-kill animal shelter as a vet tech, and she came into our shelter last July. The shelter has a wonderful foster program for elderly, special needs, or ill animals, and I always take in any geriatric or terminally ill little dogs, especially chi's. She came in at 14 yrs old and was diagnosed with severe mitral valve disease and early congestive heart failure (she was given six months to live at the most), plus a few benign mammary tumors, so I just had to take her home. She has done wonderfully, exceeding all expectations, and stolen my heart completely, in spite of everyone's warnings not to get too attached. And now, with her heart disease managed so well, suddenly two damn tumors popped up on her flank, and of course the aspirates came back as mast cell tumors. Due to her age and her bad heart, anesthesia for surgical removal will probably kill her, so her vet just put her on Prednisone and Benadryl and told me to hope for the best. It's pretty much a race between her bad heart and her tumors, to see which kills her first. I've fully prepared myself for losing her to heart failure, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let cancer take her! I've done lots of research and have put her on a few supplements, and changed her diet to a mix of N/D and homemade food. She's doing well now, eating great, quite active, and very barky and demanding, as usual. Any suggestions for her care would be greatly appreciated, especially if anyone has any experience with mast cell tumors where surgical removal wasn't possible-I love my little Miss Pretty and I want to make the most of the time she has left. It's unfortunate that her and I didn't find each other until her old age, but I'm trying to fit the lifetime of love we have missed into whatever time we have left together, and I cherish every day with her. She's my little Sunshine and I love her to pieces.

Kerri

Hi Jessica

Miss Pretty was so fortunate to find you. You are doing such a kind deed for rescuing the older ones. I have not had experience with that type of cancer but others here on the board have and I’m sure you will hear from them. I do see you have her on a home cooked diet & supplements which I was told by my holistic vet is the best for them to build up their immune system and help them fight the cancer.
All the best and keep on letting us know how she is doing.

Kerri

Benpaws

Hi Jessica,
I have a 6 and a half year old schnauzer Benny who has Mast Cell Tumours on his right side. He was operated on in November 2007, but the tumours reappeared in July 2008. Right now he has one rather large tumour which is inflamed and has had two cortisone sots into it but it is not reducing in size as it should. He takes 10 mg. of prednisone daily with one Pepcid AC tablet and benadryl at night if he is uncomfortable. He is on the CANINE LIFE (cancer formula) muffin diet with freshly steamed broccoli, carrots, chicken livers, turmeric, venison,bokchoy (i add something different every other night) and he loves his meals. You might be interested in this website but you are already doing a great job if Miss Pretty is eating well: Canine Cancer: Nutrition and Diet Can be Key
Benny also takes several supplements: Reishi mushrooms, Shitake Mushrooms, Artemisinin, Essiac capsules, Co Q-10, Modified Citrus Pectin, two 1000 mg capsules of Wild Salmon Oil per day, Slippery Elm. He also gets flaxseed on his food and I bake chicken with turmeric in olive oil. The vet agrees that we have built up his immune system and that is probably why he is still with us. However, he is slowing down because of the weight gain caused by the prednisone.
There is a lot of information on posts here re: food and nutrition and supplements. Hope some of this helps you.
Good luck with Miss Pretty. You are wonderful for taking her into your home and I'm sure all the love you give her daily will keep her with you for a long time yet, God willing.
You have come to the right place for information and wonderful, caring people.

Joanne (Benpaws) and Benny