I wrote earlier about my rescue husky that I adopted about 4 months ago. We were treated for a urinary infection and went through the antibiotics this week. She had a bad night last night and I took her to the vet this morning. Long story short, they found a large mass in her chest. There were also dark areas in her liver area, but they aren't sure if that is just her or if the cancer has spread.

I feel like this happened so suddenly. She had a weird couple weeks where she off and on acted funny (lethargic, didn't want to eat) and after last night she can barely walk, won't eat at all, and is barely responsive.

The vet did refer me to a chemo center and an ultrasound if I want to take that route. I am completely willing to do anything that might do her good.

She is ~8 years old and I've only had her for 4 months. She was in a very abusive situation before I got her and it devastates me that she might only have a short time for a good life.

Does anyone have suggestions? optimistic words? realistic expectations? I still plan on calling every vet under the sun that will help me out on Monday, but I was hoping for some words from experience perhaps.

Thank you in advance.

My Dalmatian Sophie was diagnosed with throat cancer and I didn't accept what the vets were telling me, nor did I want to put my dog through chemo or radiation. The doctors gave me 2 months at best and sent us on our way. I opted for holistic treatment and its been almost two years since Sophie was diagnosed with cancer. Her tumor has shrunk and most of her symptoms went away. I can PM you what I did and pray you have as much success as we have with the treatment.

My parent's Yellow Lab had to be put down from cancer. I can't really offer much advice, but based off what I've seen your dog probably wont want to eat normal food. I think it would help if you made her some soft, easily digested food like eggs or chili. I also hope that you have pet insurance or some form of backup funds readily available as treatment will be expensive. (That's how our lab died; we were able to give him the initial treatment and for awhile he was getting a little bit better. But then he had a relapse and we just couldn't afford more medications/surgery...)

It must be awful to find out about this right before Easter, but maybe it's a good thing that you caught it when you did and not a moment later. Good luck and I really do hope/pray that your dog can pull through this!

Thank you so much for the replies! I don't know why stories that didn't end happily still help, maybe because these guys had so much love in the end.

Tali just got sick and it had a handful of kibble that she ate yesterday, so I guess she didn't even digest it. I did gently force feed some soft cat food - which came up as well. I'm sure her prednisone was in there as well

I just feel terrible because she can't get comfortable and is miserable. It all happened today and I have to wait until Monday to get any vet help. Thank you all for you help!!

Cat food would make her sick, do not feed that. Is there some chicken you can feed her, or eggs?

Im so sorry to hear that its cancer we just went through that with our girl. I would have them take a biocipy to find out if its cancer or just a tumor. Dietra, danzig's mom just had a 10lb mass removed from their other dog, it was not cancer and he is doing great now. Based on the sz it may be cheaper to just go in and remove it vs. Testing it and doing an ultrasound. I would go see a specialist and see what ur options are, 8 is still pretty young and you have had her such a short time.
Keep us posted, your in our thoughts

Do you remember what the symptoms were like for Danzig? It just hit so suddenly. She was just having a few days where she didn't feel good for a few days, and BAM she can barely move or walk. I'm calling everyone under the sun on Monday to get this sorted out, if possible. I'm willing to go broke for this girl if she will pull through. They even found a bullet in this poor girl. From day one I kept thinking to myself, "She had a bad half start, she will have a great last half." What I would give to hear her "hooo" again.

Should I just boil a chicken breast for her? And hard boil an egg? I saw online to try the cat food, so I did. Honestly, I think she got less than a teaspoon down. I was wondering if the prednesone didn't make her sick.

Thank you for the glimmer of hope! Would it be ok if I PMed you?

rainedbows wrote:

Should I just boil a chicken breast for her? And hard boil an egg? I saw online to try the cat food, so I did. Honestly, I think she got less than a teaspoon down. I was wondering if the prednesone didn't make her sick.

Thank you for the glimmer of hope! Would it be ok if I PMed you?

I don't know about dogs but I periodically have to take prednisone - it can make you nauseated - also can irritate stomach. If you think the pill was vomited before absorption, there are liquid forms of steroid for children (might not be prednisone, prednisolone, I think, they just have to adjust the dosage...)

I am so sorry your dog is so ill...

I'm so sorry to hear about your girl

My maltese was diagnosed with dark spots on her liver in 2012. Our vet told us due to her age (she was 13) that the chances of treatment having the desired results were slim. We had to choose between trying treatment which probably wouldn't work and we couldn't afford or just letting her live the last few months as best she could.

She lived another year after the diagnoses without any visible discomfort or problems. She was still a happy little dog that played till she dropped. In 2013 she woke me up one night having trouble breathing. Took her to the vet and they told us it was cancer. They gave us some meds to give her then, but in a month her health deteriorated to the point she couldn't see, walk, eat or drink. At that point we had to take her in...

I'm not typing this to discourage you, not at all. Just to show that when they get sick, it can progress fast. I really hope you find a way to help her. If I could have a do over, I'd have tried finding another way to help my baby and not taken the vets word as the end all.

Keeping both of you in my prayers.

Thank you, Amy. She did get sick on these meds, I believe. I will be calling the vet tomorrow and will she if she can't take something else or in a different form. I have never taken it personally, but I know meds bother me if taken on an empty stomach and she won't eat much of anything.

Erika, thank you for your help. I know you aren't trying to be discouraging. It's stories like yours that make it easier in a way because these dogs had so much love and attention when they needed it. I feel like it would be easier if I had more time to make my girl happy. She is a truly amazing, sweet dog that deserved nothing bad that has happened to her. I will fight to the end to help her in anyway I can, like you did. Sometimes there is just so much you can do, especially when it happens so fast.

Thank you everyone for their stories and support. Just talking about it has helped some. I will be speaking with the vets tomorrow about what steps I should take now.

I'm really sorry to hear about your girl. It must be heartbreaking to see her be so unresponsive

I personally don't have any advice on how to deal with this, since I don't have any experience in it.

Although, I do know that the prednisone is a strong steroid. It can definitely make them nauseated, and make them want to eat little to nothing. Lycus was on it last year do to anemia. It can also make them extremely thirsty, which in turn makes them urinate a lot.

I really hope for the best for you and your girl.

You can boil the chicken and the egg, or scramble the egg up.
They noticed his stomach getting large and hard, it came down to him puking up some nasty stuff and not realling eating to get him into the vet and surgery the next day after the xray showed a I think 9" tumor on one of the non important organs. His tumor they think was caused by a blood clot caused by trauma some time ago, they think before they rescued him.
I think its worth a 2nd option by a top rated vet that Deals with that stuff

If you can try holistic, I would suggest that route. Chemo is vey hard on dogs and if you can try everything else first, you should..that's my opinion.

She is lucky to have you and I'm glad you can give her the love she deserves

I can't offer any advice regarding cancer treatment, only my heartfelt hope that she does not suffer any more than absolutely necessary.

I did want to make a quick comment on the cat food.  Cat food will NOT make her sick and would be just fine to feed her.  If anything, it most likely has more calories than dog food which will actually be of benefit to her due to her decreased food intake.  

Good luck to you and Tali.

Well, after a long and scary weekend we were able to get an ultrasound on my sweet girl. Unfortunately, it was found that she has cancer in her liver, spleen and lung. These cancers spread quickly, so unfortunately or fortunately, it hits fast and doesn't linger. There is nothing further they can do to treat her except spoiling her for the next hours, days, weeks or whatever we get until she lets me know it's time. She was given fluid prior to the ultrasound (the clavamox and prednisone made her sick and couldn't keep water down) and she is feeling better and very alert.

Four months wasn't enough time with this beautiful dog. It pains me to know that her short life was full of pain and sadness, but even through all this I can see happiness in her face and loved beyond belief. I won't keep her for a moment longer than her body wants me to, but I will be overjoyed for every minute I get.

Thank you everyone for your words of support and advice. It really means a lot.

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Keep in your mind you gave her a loving 4 months which she otherwise wouldn't have had, in the meantime, lots of love and cuddles for her. Its one of the hardest things to do, but it will be for the best once she is ready.

Our sincere sympathies.

I'm so sorry. At least she's had 4 months and however much longer she has of happiness and love because of you. You were her angel and she will be yours when the time comes. Sending you both hugs.

im sitting here crying for you
even though its bad news you know now and you know in your heart you were going to do what ever you could to fix her, since thats not an option now you need to just do what ever makes her happy for as long as you can and know they she will leave you soon a much happier dog then she was before you entered her life.
thank you for saving her when you did and for caring for her through this.

So sorry to read about the sad news

You and your girl are our my thoughts. Please, if you need to talk, we are here.

She is lucky to have found you. At least now she will know love and happiness in her last days.

Hugs to both of you.

Sorry for your post, I can feel your pain and I can say that I was in an even worst situation. He was been told 1 week- 4 weeks left for life, even though the chemo and radiation would might possibly extend other 6 months if he can get though. And we didn't agree for he to go though this terrible treatments and we would prefer rather holistic way We are lucky enough to get the greatest support from Father John and hope yours would be another Dolly. All the best!