Lilly's Bud

Thanks for all the encouragement! Lilly had a very rough Friday and Saturday. She would not eat a thing. She would not drink either. She was even getting irrated at my wife and I and growled (first time ever!) at me when I tried to get her to drink. She is usually a total sweetheart so I was pretty worried about her. I took her to the emergency clinic to get her fluids. They also started her off with a steroid shot and gave us the Prednisone pills. It is crazy, there was an instant change. She is now an eating machine and is drinking (and peeing) plenty. We have always fed her boiled ground turky breast and rice so that is what she is currently eating. We are researching what is best for her goign forward. It sounds like a dramatic decrease in carbs is needed. There is just so much info and so many opinions out there. Tough to figure out what is best!

I am encourage by what I see. Our girl is happy sort of back to being Lilly again. It does depress me that this is so temporary...

Meesh

Just remember that as sobering a thought that it may be, our furbabies unfortunately usually pass before us. We here on this forum just have a better sense for when that may be. It's a double edged sword. One one hand, it is heartwrenching because the end now seems so inevitable when once it was just an obscure thought. But, on the other hand, what a gift to be aware that each and every single solitary moment is to be cherished with our sweet companions because we now know just how temporary it all is. In my own experience, it has altered my perspective on many an occasion when usually I would have flown off the handle; knowing my Hamlet was home waiting and being able to watch him cock his head when I talked to him, made me forget whatever it was that was bothering me. Now is the best time to learn from them for how to live life...IN THE MOMENT!
One of my favorite quotes is from Mahatma Gandhi, "Learn as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow." I think it is very appropos here.
You, your family and especially Lilly will continue to be in our thoughts.
Michelle, Rufus & Hamlet

Benpaws

It is just beautiful what Michelle has written and so very true. Just "live in the moment" with Lilly and enjoy that she has her appetite back and is getting "hydrated" as well. These things are really important when a dog is fighting this "DEMON."

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

My prayers go out to you all and as Irving Townsend said: SEPARATE LIFETIMES

We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only
certain immortality, never fully
understanding the necessary plan....

--- Irving Townsend ---

Lilly's Bud

So far Lilly is doing great. The Prednisone is some amazing stuff. Lilly is eating and always hungry for more, drinking a lot, has tons of energy and back to playing with her toys. I am hoping she beats the odds and lasts longer than anyone thinks. She seems to be loving life!

TJandDante

The prednisone does work for a good while, and just enjoy your time while it is good. You will never forget this time with your dog, as you will know how precious it is. My one suggestion is, even though your dog seems well now, don't overdo it . The day before Dante passed, we went on a longer walk because he just didnt want to turn back for home. I think he knew it was his last walk, but I definitely think we overdid it.
Enjoy, and hug your dog!
TJ

gregftlaud

What in the world are some of you people doing not having your dog do chemotherapy?????? Expensive???? Not really. 3-4000 bucks TOTAL over a 19 week period. Dont u have any credit cards? Plus most dog cancer centers will finance it. And if it's not the cost there is absolutely no reason why u shouldnt do chemo!!!!

If your child had cancer would u not treat them with chemo? Do you not consider your dog as important as your child????? Dogs tolerate chemo very well. My dog, Milo....a mini schnauzer was diagnosed with stage 1 EARLY lymphoma and is on his 3rd week of chemo and is doing well. The chemo is just a simple injection they get every week. Takes 5 minutes. They dont have to be hooked up to an IV for an hour and have the chemo drug run thru them like humans do. The treatment for dogs is very simple. He is doing the Wisconsin Protocol ........most oncologists follow that chemo treatment as a guide. For the first 3 weeks they also have him on prednisone. He drinks alot (which is good for them) and also has a huge appetite. No negative side effects from the pred.

Cant afforid it??

We arent going to do chemo?????

WHAT?????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????

Meesh

Greg,
While I, like, you chose chemo for my baby and feel like it was the best decision I could have made, it was just that...MY decision. We should be here to support the other members, not berate them because they didn't make the same choice as we did. I share your sentiment that unless there is compelling evidence to the contrary for the specific dog, chemo is a no-brainer. And, I try to persuade everyone going through this toward that viewpoint. I personally feel that success stories <<touch wood>> like my Hamlet's is evidence to that point. But, we need to understand that everyone here is dealing with this disease and trying to make the best possible decisions for their dogs under their given circumstances. We don't live their lives and we can't demand they make the same choices we did. Let's try to be understanding and comforting not chiding and belittling!
Michelle

Lilly's Bud

Greg- For us the reason was mainly financial. Unfortunatly I do have credit cards which also have high balances. We were quoted MUCH higher than $3-4k by two oncologists.

Try being a little more supportive and also do a little more research on chemo and its expenses. Not all treatments are the same, not all price tags are low, not all results are good. But if you would like to contribute to Lilly's care (since it sounds like money is no big deal) I would gladly accept and use every cent to her care. Afterall, is she any less important than your dog?

Benpaws

Dear Friend,

We are here to support you and share whatever seemed to work for our dogs. I am sure you feel the same as I did about Benny:"Lilly is the best dog in the whole world!" Your love and devotion to her certainly shows through in your posts and nobody should make light of any decisions you make for your best friend. She is an integral part of your family unit and makes your family complete!

We were told that chemo was not even a recommendation for Benny when he had his Mast Cell Tumour cancer, but looking back and realizing that chemo for dogs is much less stressful than for humans, we might have just opted to do that. We had bad advice and a very negligent vet who basically ignored Benny's tumours and said they were "fatty tumours" and not malignant until it was too late to save his life. However, with good help and a great cancer diet and supplements Benny went on for almost 18 months living an energetic and quality life, filled with joy!

There are many things you can do for Lilly and the prednisone is definitely a good idea. It makes the puppy eat and drink and therefore boosts their strength and they get some energy back. That is essential when fighting the demon cancer. Often some of the tumours shrink with the prednisone.

You don't at all have to tell your financial situation to anyone. That is your business and with a new baby on the way there will be many expenses.

Feed Lilly a high protein, grain-free diet, filtered water etc. Live in the moment with her and love her and give her all the love that is in your heart.
I am sorry that someone had to offend you when you are in a state of "numbness" and "despair" because your companion who gives unconditional love has cancer and your heart is hurting. Lilly is part of your family and you will do all that is within your power to help her through this illness and God willing, she will have some good times left, hopefully many.

The "cancer journey" is one of hills and valleys, joys and sorrows.

Congratulations on the upcoming birth. I hope Lilly is around to enjoy the new baby. Dogs do make a family complete.

We are expecting our 2nd grandchild on Labour Day.

My prayers go out to you and know that most people who come here are here to share and support in any way they can.

I feel ashamed that somebody thought it necessary to "berate" you in any way. Every one we meet is fighting some kind of battle, it is necessary to tread lightly! Hugs to Lilly and give your wife one as well.


Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

nailtek

Greg, you are totally misinformed. My lil boy has T Cell lymphoma and his chemo protocol is not just a simple injection. His chemo treatment would have to consist of IV chemo, oral chemo and also radiation for 3 months. Life expectancy???? Hopefully 6-8 months. My dog is almost 8 years old, yes it is young but he only weighs 3.5 lbs so I chose what I think is best for my pet with better odds than the chemo. He may do well and he may not but I know I did what I felt is best for him. He is in Gods hands from this day on.