cavNrott

Sophie's story is in the Unwell Rotties thread. She was given 3 weeks left last December. Her time is due tomorrow so I'm not capable of intelligent conversation at the moment. I'm happy to share information of the treatment I gave Sophie if you wish. She's had just over a year from the first biopsy of her osteosarcoma.

I want to let those of you in this thread who have been so supportive know that Sophie will be laid to rest tomorrow unless the vet can perform a miracle. Her lymph node is growing and that tells me she's heading towards organ shut down within a short time. I can't let Sophie go through that. She's stoic when awake but when she's asleep it's clear something is happening with her body that isn't good and isn't comfortable for her. There is more going on than the enlarged lymph node. Her appetite is fine and she's her usual self but I promised her at the start that I would not let her linger in pain when her time comes. She's been amazing and cooperative through all of this for a long time. I can't ask any more of her. She's given everything within her and made it easy for me to care for her. As time passes, Sophie's not getting better. I won't see her get any worse than she is and suffer unnecessary pain. She deserves better from me than that. If I keep her going it will be only for my sake and she will suffer because of it. More things will happen to her body and all of them will make her feel worse. Sophie is ready to go. I'm not ready but I never will be. Tomorrow will be one of the most painful and saddest days of my life. My heart and soul mate and constant companion needs to leave. Please send a thought to Sophie at midday tomorrow to wish her a peaceful and painless transition.

Thanks Kaz for that beautiful post and to everyone who is wishing us well. Things are progressing far too quickly. The node that was, as the vet described "the size of a Jaffa" yesterday has now more than tripled in size within 24 hours. It's the size of a small mandarin now. I phoned the vet and he assured me Sophie won't choke overnight if it continues to grow at this alarming rate as it's not close to the trachea. He wants to wait until Friday to see if it's an inflammatory response, in which case it should shrink within 48 hours. We see him at midday on Friday Sophie doesn't seem bothered by it and is her usual playful self. I'm very bothered by it. I'm afraid we are nearing the end of our journey together.

At our vet visit today Sophie was her usual happy self and her general condition is good. BUT the cancer has spread to a lymph node. I check her glands only once a week because I don't want to bother her by poking around her neck and jaw. I checked a week ago and that hard lump wasn't there so it's come up in the last few days. I massage her every day so I know if there's anything new happening but I don't touch the area of the cancer in case it hurts her. The vet said two weeks ago that her lymph nodes were good. He was surprised it had come on so quickly too. It's clear that her cancer is now progressing rapidly. Another very stark hit of reality for me today. Sophie will not be with me for much longer and I feel helpless and hopeless Her tumour has continued to grow as it was bound to do but we are no longer dealing with localised cancer. I feel there's something else I should be doing but I don't know what it is. Chemo is out of the question because it works with some cancers but not with osteosarcoma. My poor little girl. At best, we're able to keep her free of pain and the alternative stuff she takes keeps her feeling well. On the way back from the vet I took her to the off leash park and she did the usuall rolling, sniffing and piddling. She's sleeping now and tired from the activities of the day. I need to wake her up now to give her more meds and pain relief with her goat milk with yoghurt. She loves that.

Oh Storm, you would be the last person to cause upset Of course you didn't. I'm pleased you're interested in seeing a pic of Sophie. There are two of them on page 411 in the Rotty thread. I think we should leave this thread strictly for palliative care treatment and discussion. It's such a hard, frightening and painful road to travel and this is a a safe place for those of us with dying dogs to update about them and discuss their treatment. There was opposition to having the thread from a few people. I fear if it becomes a chat thread then we risk losing it because it won't be serving it's purpose. We need it to serve the purpose it was set up for. We have a Rotty thread and a photo thread so on the rare occasion I post a sample of my lack of photographic skills that don't do Sophie justice, I post in the rotty thread. I'll post later about the results of today's vet visit with Sophie.

I'm more than happy to share info on the supplements, herbs and prescribed drugs I'm giving Sophie because I've learned there are things we can do to keep our cancer dogs feeling well, pain free and happy and extend their lives, in some cases. My most important job is keep her pain free so she wants to keep going and cooperates by taking all the stuff she has to take every couple of hours. If she's in pain she'll shut down. Pain control tops the list. I wouldn't let her suffer and I have the meds to counteract it if she suffers any breakthrough pain. There are a few things she's taking that I'm fairly sure are helping and a lot of other things that I can only hope are helping. As soon as the shock of her diagnosis and the 'about 3 weeks' prognosis hit me I knew Sophie and I would fight this cancer hard, for as long as she wants to. She's showing no sign that she's had enough. I'm not blind to the fact that her cancer is progressing. I don't want to see the signs but they're obvious. We're a year on from her first biopsy now. Now to see what the vet says tomorrow. eta: Reply to Shek. I gave Sophie a bath on Friday and her coat is beautiful, soft and shiny. She looks so fit and healthy.

Thanks for the encouragement Storm. We're still battling on and Soph is doing OK. We are off to the vet for a check up tomorrow. I think she's as well as she was at the last visit 2 weeks ago. The vet will notice if there are any changes I haven't picked up on, being that I'm with Sophie all the time. I posted the latest pics I have of Sophie in the Rotty thread about a week ago. They're on page 411 if you'd like to see how she's looking these days. I think under the circumstances she still looks pretty good though she's lost muscle in her face and head. It's probably better I don't post pics in here, I think those with terminally ill dogs really need supportive and encouraging messages. That's what lifts our spirits, it certainly lifts mine to know that people care and are thinking of us.

What a terrible thing to happen to such a lovely dog. So sorry Jodie.

Quick pick ups will solve the problem.

Yes, I have my old Rottweiler on MSM and shark cartilage. She does well on it. Human products though. I've ordered some CAA from NZ too. Thanks for the link. My younger Rottweiler has cancer and CAA look as though it may help. I had to order the CAA with no iron, due to the cancer. I ordered a week ago but so far no delivery. Arty: A google seach will give you enough info on MSM to keep you busy all night

I just found this thread. I'm so sorry Rysup. Fly free beautiful boy.

Thank you all for your lovely comments and encouragement. Very much appreciated. Ci, I'm documenting everything Sophie is taking and when. The vet wants to know too because we have a rather unusual situation with Sophie being in such an advanced state of her cancer but still functioning as usual and enjoying life. It's the mouth tumour that's the problem. I type the info for the vet on the day we go there and list Sophie's progress and note any changes. It saves answering a lot of the usual questions about diet, elimination etc., The vet can enter it into his computer when he has the time to spare and it gives us time to talk about the important stuff. We skim over the general stuff and discuss any changes. I list every product, drug, herb and alternative medication I'm giving Sophie and things I've stopped using. Not the dose rate, I'm still messing around with it. The list of the things I use is long and I'd rather talk about how Sophie's doing than about meds. There are a few new things since our last visit. I take in a copy of the research or clinical trials of anything I think is working well and he reads it later on. If he has questions or suggestions he rings me. Something is working for Sophie but she takes so much stuff that it isn't easy to work out what's of benefit to her and what isn't but there are a few things I think are working for her. I also think the cancer starving diet is good. She's getting as few carbs and sugars as possible because cancer needs those two things to thrive. I cook all her food now. She is still pain free, happy and energetic so we live a day at a time, the way she's teaching me to live. It's probably the only way I could handle the situation. Dogs are pretty smart aren't they?

Same here. How did Ollie boy go Staffyluv.

Kadbury, thanks. Sophie and I do have a close bond. I'm very lucky she totally trusts me. I have complete trust in her too. She never lets me down. Staffyluv: Unfortunately for Sophie there will be no remission, it's not on the cards. With Osteo, chemo isn't effective so I didn't go that way. The only brush she had with chemo was the tablet she took every second day. It did contain the rate of growth of the tumour for a very short time. All I can hope for is that these medications she's having will keep her pain free and she can continue to have quality of life for whatever time she has left. I think stopping the chemo tablet has a lot to do with her levels improving as well as the new alternative meds I have her on. She's doing much better without the chemo tablet. This awful orange tasting supplement has made a big difference to her energy level. I hope it does what it's supposed to do and causes the death of tumour cells. It seems to have prevented metastasis. If we could stop the tumour from growing or better, to shrink it somewhat would be ideal. It's early days, it may work towards that. Right now she feels well, she's play bowing to the Cavaliers hoping for a session of chase around the yard. Ollie is amazing, he's been in remission against the odds. That's some boy you have there and you've done a great job with him. Give him a gentle cuddle from us.

Did the vet not express her anal glands or was her bottom too sore with the inflammation? How was he able to assess that her anal glands were fine if he didn't express them? My boy Cavalier scooted when I first brought him home and he was at the vets the next day for a general health check. His anal glands were emptied by the vet and they needed doing again 4 weeks later. Since then there have been no problems. He does get plenty of fibre in his food. My little girl Cav scoots sometimes but is able to empty the glands herself.

Morgan can you tell us more about Percy's Powder, please. I've never heard of it.

Oonga: hugs gratefully received Thanks to my kind friend the chinese herbs are doing the job of slowing the bleeding. She has a couple of short bleeds a day now which is a big improvement. I have Sophie on a product that was trialed on humans in Hungary and it's shown to prevent metastasis and induce apoptosis (kills cancer cells) and doesn't harm normal cells. She's been taking it for 10 days. She's such a sweetie, she doesn't like the taste but drinks it under sufferance. It's an orange flavoured powder and has to be mixed with water. I add in a small amount of goats milk. A couple of us have started our dogs on it. We hope it works with dogs as it does with humans. Laneka, there sure is something special about Sophie. I hope the mountains of stuff she takes every day extend her life and keep her happy and pain free. I'm so glad you see life in her face, so do I. She's always up for a short game of fetch and a run and roll in the park. It's about quality of life.

Nekhbet I replied to your post a couple of days ago and must have forgotten to hit the reply button. I distinctly remember typing it out :D Do you see any improvement? Poor sweet boy, he's so young. Do the vets actually know what his health problem is? Can you take him for swimming in the heated pool at Doveton or is he not up to it? Oonga and Sue, thanks for your continued well wishes and support. I needed it today, it was one of those days when reality hits hard. I've been sad and fearful all day and managed to make all the dogs feel dreary because they picked up on my mood. I look at beautiful Sophie and can't believe I'm going to lose her. I don't know whether the herbs, pills and potions are working or whether my insincts were right - that the chemo pill was doing more harm than good. Sophie had her blood test and full biochem profile done at the vet last Tuesday and they're best result we've had all year. I'm glad I stopped that chemo tablet. Her high ALT level has dropped from 119 to 48 (normal is 16-90). Her ALP has dropped from 297 to 127 (normal is 10-120). All other levels are normal. That's an amazing result considering the previous test was done less than 4 weeks ago by the oncologist. Soph is slightly anaemic, not surprising since the tumour has been bleeding for weeks. I almost have it under control. It hasn't stopped completely but at least it's not bleeding 24/7. The mouth tumour is growing still. I have Sophie on quite a few supplements that are supposed to stop it growing and do things such as shrink tumours. Whether or not they'll work remains to be seen. She still has clear lungs and normal lymph nodes so it seems the supplements are at least keeping metastasis at bay. Five weeks ago the vet said Soph had about 8 weeks. That would leave us now with only 3 weeks left. He said not to get my hopes up but since her tests were so good we might have a few extra weeks. She is still happy, seems to feel well and has a good appetite. We see the vet again on 9th September. edited for stupid grammar

So sorry for your grandparents. R.I.P Max

Staffyluv. Glad to hear the boy is still doing well. I believe good strong healing vibes work so sending some your way. Give Ollie a big cuddle from us.

I'm very sorry for your loss of this beautiful girl. Godspeed Satu

Hoping all goes well tomorrow Colleen. Will be thinking of you.

Fifi I am so very, very sorry you have lost your beautiful girl. I know how heartbroken you mut be. Rest In Peace Tamsyn

Sophie is still doing quite well. Her appetite is excellent, she's in good spirits and she's still fighting the good fight. Whata girl!! I've introduced a number of new herbs and natural supplements, hopefully they will help. It takes time for naturals to take effect. I'm discovering that as we go along. This poor girl of mine takes so many pills and potions without fuss. Since I decided to stop the chemo tablet we will no longer see the oncologist and Sophie's care will be taken over by her regular vet. He has assured me he will work with me in whatever treatment I choose for Sophie. The oncologist isn't interested in natural meds and offers no option for Sophie other than the current treatment and the interminable mention of surgery. Unfortunately that regime is no longer working, I think Sophie is now resistant to the chemo tablet but she will stay on the antibiotics, bone strength building drug and pain meds. All that's been happening at the oncologists in the last 4 months is the blood tests and biochem, our vet can do those. Sophie is at ease with the vet who's cared for her all her life. She trusts him and likes him. He's also fond of her and calls her his special girl. The reason I've decided to go this way is the vet wants me involved in everything that happens with Sophie whereas oncology appears to be a fairly rigid regime in Sophie's case and I don't have the opportunity for any input. It was becoming rather awkward with me going there and keeping information about the naturals I had Sophie on to myself rather than being able to discuss it with the oncologist. It was the natural meds that brought down her liver and kidney enzymes. The vet is a little concerned about two liver enzymes still being higher than normal but he is confident we can, as he says "Take good care of her liver".

Thanks Nekhbet. I contacted those people last week except Zhangs. I'll give them a call. If they are a chinese medical centre I don't hold out much hope. The others you mentioned are all AMA registered medical practitioners. I have spoken with them and they are not able under AMA guidelines and/or COE to administer to a dog. Those listed on the natural therapy pages do weight loss, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and various eastern therapies to do with general health in humans but will not supply this product for a dog, nor do most of them know about the herbal product. UPDATE: I have just received a most generous offer from a person who is using this product and is prepared to share it with Sophie. Her kindness is beyond words. I am so very grateful that she would do this for us. She is not in Victoria so has offered to post some to me. I'd like to shout her name from the rooftops but will respect her privacy as much as I'd like to publicly acknowledge her generosity.