golden with g.i. lymphoma (cancer) - short time to live

Mitsu is beautiful.

The only thing that I really know about cancer dogs is that they shouldn't be fed carbohydrates, because the cancer cells fed on carbs. I know that some people have had success with feeding cancer dogs a diet of raw, meaty bones with supplements.

I wish you and Mitsu the best.

Awe, she is beautiful, and so sweet looking.
I just wanted to say how sorry I am for you both...I wish I had a miracle story for you, but fortunately for me I have not been involved with cancer and a dog, hopefully will not, either.   I just want to wish you luck, and hope that you can find a way to make her happy and live just a little longer in good health. 
I bet someone will come along and offer you some suggestions too!

I am sorry to hear about Mitsu.   There is no way of predicting how long our furkids will be with us, I believe the chemo may give her a little longer.  I found the following site when my little Gretel had cancer and it was quite helpful. Gretel did very well on chemo and radiation she lived longer (2 years) then their rognosis. Give Mitsu  lots of love and attention.  

[linkhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/[/link]

I will keep Mitsu and you in my thoughts and prayers. 

I am so sorry about Mitsu. What a beautiful dog. I lost my 9 year old Basset Hound to cancer 4 weeks ago. The vet had given her 3-6 months to live in Dec 2005 and she passed on 24 Feb 2006.  We were given all the options for cancer treatment, but decided that keeping our girl happy and comfortable and surrounded by those who loved her was what she would want. Separation from us for vet treatments would have made her frightened and unhappy, and we knew that. The diagnosis came way too late to undo what had progressed beyond help. We kept her on prescription steroids and the best raw, organic foods a dog could hope for in her remaining days - and hoped she'd stick around for longer than the Vet gave her. In the last few days, she went downhill very fast.  As much as I hated to recognize the fact that she was beyond hope, I clung to the belief that I could cure her, or at least prolong her life. I spoiled and pampered her, I constantly told her how much I loved her, and I told her all the time to let us know when she was ready to go. When the time came, she let us know, and we helped her along to the Rainbow Bridge without hesitation. She was in a lot of pain, something very difficult to deny.  Looking back, one month later, I am thankful to have had time to prepare, and thankful that our girl did not have to suffer any longer than what she could handle.

I had bookmarked a website a few months ago. There's a wonderful story of someone who saved their cancer dog's life with a raw, holistic approach. It's worth a look. Good Luck and Best Wishes

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/shasta.htm#shasta-diet

I'm so sorry to hear about Mitsu's diagnosis. I lost my first Golden, Heidi, to lymphoma of the liver when she was barely six years of age, and I very much feel your pain. Like you, I opted to try the chemo treatments; I'd say that all in all, we got about three months worth of quality time out of them, over what we would have had with prednisone alone. If you've seen some improvement after the first treatment, I'd say hang in there; it isn't over 'til it's over, and you never know how well she could yet respond. How often are your treatments? We went for sessions once a week for the first 6 weeks, and then started to taper them off... This was 9 years ago now, though, so I'm not sure how much the protocols might have changed.

I do have a friend whose dog also had lymphoma and underwent chemo treatments (also about 9-10 years ago now, since he went through the treatments); he went into complete remission (over 5 years cancer-free), and when he did finally pass away, it was from other issues, not the cancer. Granted, stories like that are unusual - but they are out there.


Mitsu looks like such a sweetheart.... I just feel like reaching through my screen and giving her a big hug. I wish you the very best with her, and will be sending positive thoughts your way.

Because I am totally owned by 2 pure goldens and one golden mix, and i also lost a dog (Irish Setter) to bone cancer 9 years ago this summer, this story hits me hard.  My Buck is also 11 and most of the time he acts more like an 11 month puppy instead of an 11 year old man.  But I know his time is limited.  He was pronouned in good health two days ago when he got his rabies vax.  However, he is due total blood work in 6 weeks (thyroid which has been under control since diagnosed a year ago.)
 
Not long after my irish Setter turned 12, he started limping on a Friday.  I thought it was his arthritis acting up.  By Monday morning he was dragging that leg.  WE got him right to the vet and i could by his look when he saw Boots walking that it was bad.  He said 99% chance bone cancer, 1% chance abcess.  WE opted to have x-rays, tests done and it was a very, very aggressive bone cancer and taht within a week he probably would not be eating, probably could not get up.  There was no way of knowing it if it spread or not.  Vet said we had 3 choices--amputate the leg THAT DAY.  Wait the week until he was going downhill fast and let him go, or do nothing til he died on his own (which he KNEW we would never do.)  Our hearts said amputate.  But our reasoning said he was 12 years old, he had arthritis.  We could subject him to that surgery and him still die before he healed.
 and his last days be miserable. 
 
We opted to give him a few good days and let him to at the end of the week when things started getting bad for him.  We would take him to the beach--it didn't hafe to be the real beach, but the bay here we do a lot of wade fishing.  he loved to swim and chase things.  Well, in just a couple of days he had developed a bunny hop and stopped dragging that leg.  We spent hours there each day with him swimming,  chasing crabs in shallow water, trying to catch shore birds..  We were letting him have a little chocolate, all the fruit and veggies he wanted (he LOVED fruit and veggies).  Well, at the end of the week I took him and my vet couldn't believe he was still doing so well and said we didn't have to do it yet.
 
Well for exactly 10 weeks to the after diagnosis we went "to the beach" each day and he had a great time.  What we had for dessert, he had--strawberry short cake, banana split, coconut pie, rice pudding--whatever.  He ate a ton of watermelon, cantaloup, tomaotes, lettuce, etc.  I took him in twice a week and each time my vet was stumped.  Boots was actually gaining weight, he was all bright eyed and tail wags.
 
Then on July 8 he did not spend as much time in the water chasing crabs and swimming, but spent more laying in the shade of the car.  The next morning he went ot get on the sofa and fell--there was the same hardness in his shoulder as was in this thigh and i knew the cancer was there and in  day or so he would not be bale to walk.  I didn't hesitate.  I gave Boots a large bowl of butter pecan ice cream--i called my son and he and his wife came and got Boots and I wrote a note to my vet telling him that as i had promised him and Boots, i would not keep Boots  past the time he could enjoy himself.  I have to be honest that I almos called my vet after son and wife left with Boots, but i could not do that to my faithful old man.  To have kept him a few days longe would have been for me, not him.  To let him go then was for him.  We have never regretted that decision. 
 
If I can get it to work, i am going to post a picture of my irish Setter Boots, and one of my beloved 11 year old golden, Buck.
 

I'm really sorry.  I hope that her last days are peaceful and that you get to share some special moments that will last as memories for a lifetime.

I am so sorry to hear about Mitsu.  I hadn't really heard about cancer in dogs much before my boy got cancer this past October.  He started to limp.  He was between 13 and 15 years of age according to the vet, as he was found as a stray.  I thought he just hurt it getting into the car.  It turned out to be a mast cell tumor.  Many people on line told me that it was a tumor that was very easily managed.  My vet told me that he would have to amputate his legand hopefully get all of the cancer . It wa atypical on his hind leg wrapped around the bone.  Then he should have chemo or radiation, very expensive.  yet my vet said he was not a good candidate as he was arthritic in all of his legs.  he lasted until Jan. 14 when i had him put to sleep.  He had been on 2 prednizones and 3 benadryl per day.  I will not put another animal down.  I feel like I did not do all I could for my boy.  He was my best friend.  I tell you this only to hear another side.  Whatever you do will come from your heart as my decision came about.  he looked at me that day and I thought said "mom it is time".  Yet I can't help but doubt my decision.  If only they could speak.  I have given the advise to my best friend that put her dog down last weekend. to make sure that you are sure and that it is the right time.  If you decide to do it.  She remembered that and said she was glad that she was told this and felt she picked the right time, with no regrets.  Take care, I know the hurt involved.  

Codyhaha I have a good cancer diet I'd be glad to pass on to you that was given to me by one of the vets at the U of Florida at Gainesville.  If you want to email me I'd be happy to pass it on. 
 
What Jennie says is true -- carbohydrates 'feed' cancer and make it grow faster.
 
Also -- if you are open to it, acupuncture and Chinese herbals can help augment chemo and help it work better and more efficiently, while helping to counteract some of the side effects of the chemo.  We did this for our cocker Muffin the Intrepid -- he had mast cell cancer and we knew we didn't get 'clear margins' (it was where there was no more tissue TO take), and later we found the primary tumor was elsewhere on his body!  But all we did with the chemo and the Chinese herbals/acupuncture literally killed almost all the cancer in the 'primary' tumor!  Muffin lived two 1/2 more years cancer free (I lost him to renal failure). 
 
If you want to check the Chi Institute website they have a great locator.  I've had incredibly good experiences with acupuncture and Chinese herbals -- these are strong medicine, and help in ways I can't even list.  [linkhttp://www.chi-institute.com]http://www.chi-institute.com[/link]
 
But even the cancer diet will give you a better quality of life for Mitsu and will slow the cancer considerably.  How much time? no one knows, but it can really help, I promise.
 
I know how very difficult this is -- I've lost two dogs in the last two years to cancer -- both very very different situations but I used cancer diets for both of them and don't regret it at all.  Both of them had a lot better quality of life than they would have otherwise.
 
Callie

I am so sorry to hear about Mitsu. I have copied this from another post about a week ago. Seeing your post, I felt I needed to add my experience.  I had a Golden with lymphoma.  She was 10 1/2 at diagnosis, so we decided not to do chemo. The vet put her on prednisone to make her feel good, and said she had 60-90 days.  I bought shark cartiledge supplements as I had read it may help.  The prednisone worked, she felt great...but she was always hungry.  Having 60-90 days, I wasn't going to deny her anything, so I fed her lots of treats.  The vet thought I was wasting my $ on the shark cartiledge.  Over the next 14 months, she gained 30 pounds. She felt good, she was happy and fat!  My vet finally said to keep doing whatever I was doing as she had outlived all the chemo dogs diagnosed within a few months of her.  My biggest worry was "how would I know it was time?"  My vet assured me she'd tell me.  After 14 months, she went downhill amazingly fast, and one day, she said "that's it, I'm finished".  I never had to second guess it.  She was a month shy of 12.  Did the shark cartiledge do anything?  I don't know for sure, but I believe it did.  Did eliminating commercial dog food help?  Probably.

My heart goes out to you.  Don't be afraid to try anything.  Miracles happen every day.  .

"Don't be afraid to try anything.  Miracles happen every day."
 
No truer words ever typed!!!

When my dog was diagnosed with the mast cell tumor I found this sight.  first time I have ever been on a forum before.  I lived for advise from others.   Yet when I would mention the ideas to my vet he would not support them, probably for legal reasons.  Yet he actually scared me off of trying them as I felt he made it sound like they could in some way harm Brody.  I had went out and bought the various herbal remedies, like milk thistle for one and here they still sit, and every time I look at the pill bottles and flaxseed my heart aches.  I would now of tried them, anything, knowing the outcome that had happened to my Brody.  My feelings now are they can't hurt and maybe miracles do happen.  Good luck

I sorry that I have no advice - I can only say that you and Mitsu are in our thoughts and prayers.  Miracles certainly do happen every day and each happy day that you spend with Mitsu, doing the things you love to do, is certainly a wonderful miracle that you will treasure eternally.

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I came back to the board and was astonished at all the replies, common stories, kind words, suggestions, and support. Unfortunately, I held Mitsu in my arms and she went to sleep forever on Sunday Mar. 25 at 1 pm. She was, to me, the most wonderful, beautiful dog in the world. I'm glad that I am in the company of so many who love their dog friends/spirits so much. Thank you,