Dog Community

Help w/new cancer diagnosis for family member

Posted : 3/27/2006 11:38:45 PM

Hello all,

We learned today that my uncle and aunt's mini schnauzer Lady has cancer. She was taken to the emergency vet over the weekend for wheezing, only to find that she has a tumor in/on her lung. They didn't know how attached it was until today when they had surgery done. The original vet said it was attached to her lung and diaphram, and possibly her heart - didn't give them a very good report. They got to talk to the surgeon this morning, and he felt that they had a good chance of getting it all, so they went ahead and did surgery. Thankfully, it was just attached to her diaphram. She will be coming home Thursday, and hopefully they will have the biopsy results by then.

I have sent them an email with links to various cancer diet/no carb web sites, as well as links to archives on the old forum on the subject.

My question to those of you who have hands on knowledge: what else can I send to them in the way of specific immune-boosting supplements etc?

I need specific dosing information for Rescue Remedy and/or Valerian for a 13 lb dog.

Lady also pancreatitis and I know they have been feeding her a prescription food - Hill's I think. She has had alot of health problems in the past year - especially with the pancreatitis. I know my uncle had her in to the vet for a cut the first of the month and the vet didn't detect the breathing/tumor problem, so this is problem a fast, aggressive form of cancer.

Prayers and good thoughts would be appreciated! I will let you know when I find out what type of cancer we are looking at.

Thanks!

calliecritturs

Posted : 3/27/2006 11:49:11 PM

If this dog has pancreatitis then a typical cancer diet won't work -- too high fat. So I'd be contacting Doggie Dietician (Monica Segal)-- she will write a cancer diet FOR this dog specifically and will work with the vet -- her fees are reasonable and she is GOOD.

[linkhttp://www.monicasegal.com]http://www.monicasegal.com[/link] -- I've known her for years -- great lady!

If you'll email me I will send you Dr. Clemmon's article -- his cancer diet won't work for this dog but there is a LOT in that article on antioxidants and immune boosting stuff specifically for cancer.

The Chi Institute Website -- [linkhttp://www.chi-institute.com]http://www.chi-institute.com[/link] -- great locator on there -- get them to consult with a vet who does Chinese herbals and acupuncture -- this AUGMENTS chemo and will work with whatever you regular vet has planned for this dog -- it will help healing it will help deal with pain and makes the dog far more comfortable.

Feel free to give them my email if you want -- I've been there done it and man, the TCVM vet is such a good help.

stardancnminpin

Posted : 3/28/2006 12:42:57 AM

Hi Callie,

I was hoping you would see this and respond. I will be emailing you about that article, and I will certainly send your response to my uncle so he can email you if they decide to.

I was afraid when I read up on the cancer diet that Lady might not be able to eat it do to the high fat and protein content. She is 10 years old I think, and they have always had to watch what she eats because she gets sick so easy if she eats anything other than her prescribed food.

Right now they are still in the waiting and learning what they are facing stage I believe. Thanks again for responding!

schleide

Posted : 3/28/2006 9:39:39 PM

The pup and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

calliecritturs

Posted : 3/28/2006 9:51:24 PM

The original diet that Doggie Dietician gave me years ago (and yeah, the patient lived!) was about 75% veggie and 25% meat. And that can be adjusted to kick the protein way down if need be.

Certain veggies are more digestible than others -- see that's the problem with pancreatitis -- it's essentially a problem digesting fats.

She is actually a professional dietician for dogs -- and she'll take a health resume on this dog you won't believe before she starts, and she will actually consult right with the vet if need be. She started doing what she does because she had a dog with major food intolerances (Zoe).

Monica and I have been friends for years (I'm not name dropping here - I knew her long before she was actually "Doggie Dietician") and she is awesome. But she will tailor a diet specifically for this dog that will work for them and be "do-able" at the same time.

Take care -- and let me know that you were able to open Dr. C's article -- that diet won't work for this dog, but the information IN his article is so incredible (the diet is actually only about the first part of it).

stardancnminpin

Posted : 3/29/2006 12:53:09 AM

Hi Callie,

Yes, I got your email with Dr. C's article and it opened fine. I am emailing my uncle tonight with the info you have sent me. Today was the day I finally got around to doing our income taxes [:@], so I have been rather neck deep in paperwork all day or I would have responded earlier. Thanks again for all of your help. Lady comes home Thursday, and hopefully they will have more info about her prognosis then. I'll keep you updated! Thanks for all the prayers!