Author |
Message |
Bicbicz911
Member
08-20-2005
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 3:47 pm
This is Bailey. He's my oldest child (nearly 10) and my very heart. He was recently diagnosed with Hepatic Cellular Carcinoma, and a huge tumor in his liver was discovered. It's been a couple of months of pure terror, and the tumor was removed last week after nearly killing him with high blood pressure and seizure-like episodes. Western medicine specialists tell me that his prognosis is "good" for a dog, he should live another year before the cancer returns. While I appreciate fully the opportunity to spend a little more time with him, I'm seeking alternative treatments to extend his life expectancy if he can be pain-free and happy. I've been seeing an acupuncturist for 9 months, and she has been a miracle worker for me. I had a laundry list of complaints that I'd been seeking help from regular doctors with. Migraines, back pain, menopause symptoms.... the list goes on. I've had so much relief from all those problems since switching to alternative medicine. She's offered to treat Bailey as well, and I'm guardedly excited about the possibilities. Dogs apparently respond very well to acupuncture, and it's not uncommon for terminally ill patients who Western medicine has given up on to thrive for years on Eastern treatment. Now that we've had that big, ugly tumor removed and he's in relatively good shape again, we will start more aggressive therapy to hold back the cancer, although he's had several treatments already. Through the years since Big Brother 1, TVCH has been a second home for me. Some of you I know, some I haven't had the pleasure of interacting with yet. I could sure use the support if anyone is interested in following his journey with me.
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Christiii
Member
07-07-2005
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 6:02 pm
yeay!! that is awesome!! both my dogs that I have lost had uncurable, untreatable diseases. Bone cancer and degenerative myleopathy. I am SOO happy to hear a story where treatment was available and WORKED!! Big wet smooches to your baby!!
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Kearie
Member
07-21-2005
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 6:03 pm
I'd send a PM to DOGDOC and ask her some of your questions. I know when Gizmo's life was threatened Dogdoc provided me with information on alternat6ive medicine to help my dog deal with pain and anxiety. She's a good friend of mine so I know for a fact she recently went to another training event on homeopathic meds for Vet. practice. The place she works at does provide homeopathic treatmens. If you can't reach her by email, talk to her at the Animal Farm where she is known as BIPED.
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Kearie
Member
07-21-2005
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 6:04 pm
NO FAIR OG!!! That puppy's picture is cuter than Giz! 
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 6:17 pm
Oh, Giz could make that cute of a pose with all four paws tied behind his back. Long live The Giz!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 10:50 pm
There there, Kearie. Nobody is cuter than Giz.

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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 1:45 pm
My 8 1/2 yr old Havanese/Llapso Apso has been in massive pain all day. Started when I let him in from the yard this morning and he took FOREVER to go down a small flight of stairs. I asked him up on the couch, he put his front paws up then started crying. Been getting worse all day, he is shaking like a leaf and every movement is very slow and hestitant. When I lifted him into the car he just screamed, broke my heart. Vet says he has Intervertebral Disk Disease which I understand is quite common? I have anti-inflammatories for him and hopefully he will be back to normal tomorrow or Sunday. Anyone here had experience with this? Vet said its likely he will have these *episodes* for the rest of his life, hopefully many months apart but her aunts dog had his first attack and it just never stopped. I had thought 8 was too young for these age related ailments. I am researching online and am trying to find out how often the average time span between attacks.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 1:56 pm
Rissa sooooo sorry. 8 years does sound young. But then again we've always been pretty lucky with all the dogs we've had [meaning my mom and dad.] Hope the meds work and he feels better really soon.
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 2:06 pm
(((Rissa & poochie)))
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Kearie
Member
07-21-2005
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 4:10 pm
Rissa, My poodle, who is now 17, had that issue also. If you looked at him and he moved he would scream He was put on antiboiotics and given some anti-inflamatory meds. That was close to eight years ago. Since he got treatment, he hasn't had another issue since. Hope your dog does as well as Magoo. My prayers are with you as I know how hard it is to watch your pet suffer. (((HUGS)))
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Bicbicz911
Member
08-20-2005
| Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 8:20 pm
Kearie, thanks for the pointers on holistic treatment and the head's up on Dogdoc. I really appreciate any help I can get to fight back against this cancer. Rissa, what a frightening thing to have happen. I know about spending hours pouring over the internet trying to get information, it's a mine field out there, with contradicting information and prognosis information. It can be frustrating, hang in there. If you aren't getting the information you need from your vet, ask for recommendations for specialists. We went to both referred specialists for Bailey's cancer, and I'm so glad we did, because they were as different as night and day. Good to have choices on who to trust your beloved kids with.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 6:14 am
{{Thanks everyone}} Kearie... that's what I am hoping for, that it doesn't reoccur too often. We are on day three and he is still hurting. I am not making him go upstairs or downstairs but there IS a step to get in and out of the house and the poor guy really has to think about it every time. He has worked out this sideways little hop thing. LOL My nightmare is that it becomes chronic. Bic, the internet is double-edged isn't it? The question I want answered is: What percentage of cases become chronic, what percentage have years of remission and a breakdown of everything in between. None of which really matters does it? LOL Just need to wait and see where my pup ends up. I was hoping the anti-inflammatories worked faster, if he is still in pain tomorrow I will take him back to the vet for something stronger.
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 1:52 pm
(((Rissa & Poochie))) I am so sorry your puppy is suffering so much... hope there's a solution ASAP.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 9:09 am
Took him back to the vet this morning. I am so stressed listening to him cry for 4 days that I don't even know if he is worse or if it's my judgement that's off. But I tried to give him a milk-bone this morning and just tilting his head back started a big crying jag. Vet changed him from a non-steroid anti-inflammatory to a steroid one plus gave him a muscle relaxant. She thinks what is happening is that he is so paranoid about impending pain that he has been tensing his whole body non-stop to the point where he is now hurting all over. She said that normally there is no point to an x-ray since seeing exactly where the disk is bulging doesn't affect treatment but because he hasn't improved she wants to see how bad it is so I will bring him back on Friday (hopefully he will be better by then). Just hope that the intensity of this attack does not have any correlation to how often it will reoccur.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 11:25 am
Oh, your poor baby. I will be praying for him...and you, too.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 8:53 am
Pet Food Recall http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/marspetcare09_08.html
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 8:59 am
Rosie thanks! I hadn't heard this and neither had my brother. Their outside dog Sheba has been acting like she's not feeling well and has had diarrhea. They feed her Ol' Roy. He's going to check the lots when they get home.
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 9:03 am
You are very welcome, Serate. I heard a quick blurb on TV about a recall but had to go online to find the list. Hope Sheba gets better!
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Nancy
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 3:29 pm
This is my friend's as yet un-named new puppy--isn't he adorble?
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 3:33 pm
O M G How flippin' cute!!!!!! Do we get to name him?
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Nancy
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 3:37 pm
LOl sure i'll pass it along--he was born july 8th and is a yellow lab. 
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Dfennessey
Member
07-25-2004
| Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 3:43 am
I say we call him Snowball, no wait how about Summer, no how about Jack. Jack is my final answer.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 5:51 am
Jack is good!
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 10:46 am
"Chopper" is a more fun name to yell out to the yard for him to in 
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Dfennessey
Member
07-25-2004
| Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 10:54 am
how about Chopper Jack?
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