Dreamspider

Hello, My dog Gracie is 9 years old. She is an American Bulldog, loves kids, has many doggie friends, and is extremely well behaved.. to the point where people that do not like dogs much let her sleep in their beds....

I had noticed a lump on her a long time ago and the vet said it should be fine. Then a little over a month ago I noticed a few others and the first lump had gotten rather large and was oozing a bit of yellowish liquid out of her nipple. I took her to the vet. They removed all of the lumps. Two were benign, and the other was cancerous.

The vet told me that they had found cancer in the whole of the lump and that meant it was still in her. They recommended and oncologist. I went there last week and they did some sonograms to see if her mammary cancer had spread. They think that it has spread a bit into her spleen and possibly lymph system. They recommended Chemo for her. First they need to test her heart and make sure she can handle it. They said to leave the lump.

Then this week, I noticed the lump is still growing and getting harder. It seems a new one is starting to grow below this first one (which actually is two.. kind of like the vet took the middle out and it is growing back into two lumps). I have been calling around to holistic vets in the area to get a second opinion (Which I may add is not cheap, but she is the best dog ever in the whole wide world so I am doing it).

The oncologist called me back today and I discussed with him the growth of her tumor and how I feel that it may be best to have another surgery to remove it before starting chemo. He asked about the rate of growth and to describe everything I felt. Intuitively I think we both know it is right to remove it even though it may have already started spreading. So now I have an appt on Thursday to take her in to get it removed and then in a couple of weeks start the chemo.

Meanwhile the holsitic vet called me back and I made an appt to meet with her tomorrow for an hour or so to check in with Gracie and me to see if there is anything else that I can do to help her, keep her happy, and stay sane about it myself.

I am not really sure where to go from here. I do not know much about what type of diet to give her etc. She eats organic food with no gluten etc. She also has hip problems (Arthritis) so I give her venison Glucosamine strips that she really likes. She does eat a bit of table food, but not breads, spicy things, or starches.

Does anyone know if there is anything that I should supplement her with to keep her healthy? She is acting perfectly normal right now, you would not even know anything is wrong with her. Although, when I flip her over on her back and look at or touch the growth, I know that she knows... You can see it in her eyes...

I have read up a bit on things and I want to be careful that the diet I give her is compatible with Chemo. I have heard great things on some ends about raw foods.. But that is Not good to do when a dog is on chemo.. So what is the best diet?

Any advice or support that anyone here may give is very appreciated. Thank for being here :-)

TJandDante

I know they dont recommend the raw meat for chemo so I would go with the lightly cooked meat and vegetable diet that is in many of the threads here on the forum. The veggies (such as broccoli,spinach,carrot)should be raw and grated or food processed. Your holistic vet will give you a cancer diet. Also ask him/her about Canine Immune System Support (by Standard Process) and Artemisinin. Ask the oncologist about Prednisone as it will shrink the growths and keep your dog feeling good and wanting to eat.
Please let us know how your visit goes with the holistic vet. I am so grateful for ours.

roomom

another alternative food is innova evo - dry kibble high in protein -low in carbs (sold in pet supply stores)- a fresh mixture of fruits and vegetables - if you check out this site I think there's a wealth of good diets we all use -our thoughts are with you - andrea & aussie

Benpaws

Dear Friend,
Sorry to hear of the cancer in your beloved Gracie May.
When Benny had cancer I fed him the CANINE LIFE cancer formula diet which was rich in antioxidants and many other good things and to it I added steamed broccoli, or steamed spinach etc. I did steam the vegetables before adding them to the muffins. This is their website which you may like to investigate:
Canine Cancer: Nutrition and Diet Can be Key
They ship the muffins all over North America.
You can buy the dry mix and add the other ingredients and make your own or the muffins can be made, frozen and you purchase them from a Pet store or they can be shipped directly to you. I bought frozen ones for Benny at Bark & Fitz ( our local pet store.) i warmed them slightly in the microwave and meal time was enjoyable!
I would talk over supplements with your vets. Benny took a daily wild salmon oil capsules, Artemisinin (can be used along with chemo, but not with radiation), Co Enzyme Q 10, Quercetin, Essiac capsules, Chinese herbs etc.( all of which were served in a bit of liverwurst which he loved.)
Your "organic diet for Gracie is the BEST" Keep feeding organic foods to Gracie.
Benny got only organic ingredients added to his muffins. He loved his food right to the last day of his life. sometimes I would cook chicken breast in a bit of cold pressed olive oil or safflower oil and add a bit of turmeric and add this to his meal.
Benny took prednisone in the last couple of months of his life and one of the tumours shrunk. Others have had really good luck with prednisone shrinking the tumours. Discuss this with your vets also.
My prayers go out to you.
Everyone here cares so much and there is a wealth of information.
I KNOW Gracie is the best dog ever. We all feel that way about these wonderful companions. This is all so TOUGH!
Good luck to Gracie with the upcoming surgery and give her a big hug from me.
God Bless you both.

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

Dreamspider

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!

TJandDante

So sorry you are going through this. Since you are not doing chemo,I would get and start the Artemisinin right away. As far as food, as long as she is eating what you are feeding and enjoys it, I wouldnt change a thing. Raw for the veggies is better, and I used the fine grate and grated them-the broccoli and carrots-myself before I picked up a cheap used food processor at the second hand store. The most important thing for your dog is that she eats, I know the holistic vet will tell you the same thing-ours reiterated that with us yesterday. You might try the flaxseed oil-the cold processed-with cottage cheese for snacking. I use the brown rice (not much)wgen he has diarrhea and it firms that up right away.
You are in my thoughts.

Benpaws

Gracie has certainly been through a lot in the past few weeks and I am deeply sorry that you are dealing with this DEMON CANCER!
It is fine to serve Gracie brown rice, but it should be organic for best nutritional values. Also steaming the brussels sprouts might be better than boiling them.Benny loved Broccoli which is superior in dogs fighting cancer, and not too many carrots because of their sugar content.Blueberries are also recommended and cranberries for their antioxdant qualities.

You might want to read this website. I ordered these muffins for Benny and he just loved them. Canine Cancer: Nutrition and Diet Can be Key
It gives you some idea of the things you could be adding to Gracie's diet for flavour.

Cold-pressed flaxseed oil and cottage cheese was a favourite for breakfast for Benny and he had daily does of Wild oil salmon capsules, along with Artemisinin, Reishi mushrooms, Shitake mushrooms ( I cooked the mushrooms in a little high quality Virgin Olive Oil.) He also got Essiac Tea capsules, but you could also brew the Essiac tea and put a little whole wheat bread in it. Benny didn't like the brewed tea at all.

Chicken and boiled chicken livers are always tasty and an alternative. Tumeric sprinkled over the food adds flavour and is an excellent fighter against cancer.

My prayers go out to you and give Gracie a big hug for me. This is a terribly difficult journey and one which none of us would ever choose to take.

You obviously love you puppy with all your heart and you are doing everything possible to give her a good quality of life.

Blessings,
Joanne and Shadow