cavNrott

I just found this thread. I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful girl.

Ooh I see your reason now for wishing you'd left Axle there overnight. That bottom suture looks like it came undone too. Yep that's what I'd call invasive surgery.

Which part of Axle's neuter do you regret? Not leaving him there overnight or electing to have him on antibiotics and pain relief. Not sure from you post which is the area of your regret. A neuter is way less invasive than a spey so I presume you are speaking about neutering boys, whereas the OP is speaking of her bitch who is post spey and evidently is not feeling too well. Which options do you and your vet think are wank factor? The antibiotics to prevent infection or the pain relief needed for major abdominal surgery on a bitch? I don't leave my girls or boys at the vets overnight after desexing. There's no one there at night anyway so they're better off at home with me where I can keep an eye on them. My vet gives pain relief after surgery and antibiotics. Wanky or not, I choose to have my dogs on both.

Though I have no experience with Aspergillus my dog who has mandibular osteosarcoma takes Tramal tablets and I find them excellent for pain relief. My girl takes 250mg over 24 hours as well as piroxicam and she shows no sign of being drugged. She's as energetic as she has always been, her appetite is excellent and she has no constipation. She's been on Tramal since 2nd January and it effectively keeps her pain free. She started off on 100mg per day and I increase the dose as her pain level increases. I'm a big fan of Tramal for pain relief because my dog is able to live a normal life even though she has cancer. I think the trick with Tramal is working out the correct dose relative to the level of pain. Strong pain needs strong pain relief.

Thanks for thinking of Sophie and sending her your well wishes. I'm sure the positive thoughts and good vibes help. Oonga, I never remember to take the camera when we go out. I seem to carry around so much stuff that I'd lose the camera for sure. I take latex gloves. One drug is cytotoxic so I have to glove up to pick up poop. Poop bags, the lunge lead, the short lead, a water bottle, bag of treats. That plus she runs around quickly, she's all over the place and I'm a really bad photographer. I'd love to get one of her rolling in the grass because the joy of it all is written on her face but by the time I get the camera ready she'd be off doing something else. She's rather suspicious of the camera too which doesn't help my lack of photography skills.

Sophie has 3 Maxolon and 2 peppermint capsules a day. She feels much better. She takes medication 5 times a day so she gets either a Maxolon or a peppermint capsule with each dose. We took a drive to the leash free park today and she had a great time playing with an old Boxer boy. Though I said I wouldn't take her to areas where dogs congregate I think the antibiotics she takes will protect her from anything she's likely to pick up. To see the joy on her face and to watch her running around having fun is worth it. I don't know if it's because she's now having fun but her coat has improved over the last week. It was getting quite dull looking and now it's very shiny again. I wonder what the onco will say on Wednesday. She can't help but notice Sophie's a lot happier. She doesn't look at all like a sick dog. I'm anxious to see the results of her FBE and her liver test. I'm hoping her liver enzymes are lower again. Jodie I've been thinking about you and Ollie too. How is his knee?

I'm so sorry Ci, I know how you loved this little one. Godspeed Zeke.

We're still using Maxolon but I give it more frequently. Will have a chat with the onco on Wednesday to see if we should keep going or change to a different medication.

We're doing well thanks Kaz. Sophie has picked up in the last day or so. No more nausea so she's back to her normal, happy self.

I suggest taking them to the vet tomorrow. That nose looks very painful.

Must admit I sure suffer from paranoia with Sophie. The least little sign of her declining sends me into a state of panic. Though I'm getting better at hiding it from Sophie. She stresses when she sees me upset. I bought a CD today called Animal Healing. It has very relaxing and calming music and my dogs all just lay there and listened to it. Sophie loved it, she was the first one in the room when it started playing. They were really calm and relaxed for the whole 45 minutes. It was put together by an animal healer who evidently knows what she's doing because this music works. I felt better for listening to it too. Thanks for the confidence in how I'm caring for Sophie. She deserves the best I can do. I'm lucky I stumbled across the people who go all out to help me care for her with good advice and heaps of encouragement. Her oncologist is really great too. She listens to me instead of talking at me. The hugs and encouragement on this forum are so appreciated. It is hard to care for a dog you love so much and yet knowing full well that our time together is limited. Sophie is teaching me to live in the day and enjoy rather than worry and stress about the future.

No, the guy you know is definitely not a typical male I doubt any of the males I know would be at all interested in fondling their animals genitals. There's a name for people who sexually interfere with animals. I don't see anything funny in the behaviour either. So people who collect semen are 'sexually interfering'? I'm not saying i'm agreeing with it, but just because some guy believed something he was told, doesn't make him some kind of psycho. And my 'typical male' comment was more based around the concept of a young guy thinking sex makes something loyal, NOT for doing that particular thing. Was just a joke. Sorry if it offended No need to aplogise, you didn't offend. I hope that guy you speak of doesn't have a dog though. Breeders who collect semen from their stud dogs are doing it for a totally different reason and have good reason to do so. Blood lines for future generations in their breeding program. It's hardly a similar situation to someone who would do that to keep his dog loyal. My dogs are loyal and I've never felt the need to play around with their bits. It's not typical male behaviour, not from the males I know. I asked a male friend yesterday who works with dogs what he thought of it. I won't tell you what he said I don't think it's funny either but I guess we all have our own sense of humour. It was a joke? Sorry, I thought you were serious that the guy really did think it was the way to keep a dog loyal. I didn't mention the word psycho I said there was a name for people who sexually interefere with animals because there is.

Thanks again to all who are wishing Sophie well. We haven't been out today yet. Been waiting for a call to say it's ok to go and pick up more Maxolon for her, she's really suffering nausea now from these drugs. I'll ask the onco next Wednesday if there is a better/stronger anti nausea medication I can give her....providing her tests show she can stay on this drug therapy. As nauseous as she obviously is, she's always in good spirits and up for a walk or a short game of fetch. At times I feel sorry for myself and then I look at what my brave dog is bearing with. It gives me a huge dose of reality. When I feel miserable all I have to do is interact with her and talk to her and I feel so grateful that she's still with me against all odds. Sophie is a happy dog and nothing seems to dampen her spirits. It's impossible for me to stay down in the dumps with Sophie around.

No, the guy you know is definitely not a typical male I doubt any of the males I know would be at all interested in fondling their animals genitals. There's a name for people who sexually interfere with animals. I don't see anything funny in the behaviour either.

I would just like to add that if your dog is seeing an oncologist and taking prescribed medications, to check with the oncologist that the supplement you wish to add is compatible with the drug regime you dog is on. This is especially important if your dog is on any chemo drug. I had the Robert McDowell herbal preparations for Sophie and the oncologist said not to use them because they're not compatible with the drug protocol Sophie takes.

Thanks Oonga. This Sophie girl of mine is really something. She takes everything in her stride. As long as she's well tomorrow we'll be out for another adventure. It's good with the long lunge lead, I don't get dragged around and I don't need to correct her for pulling. I don't want to correct her. At this stage I think she should be able to do as she pleases so we don't often walk around the street, we drive to an oval or park. The last appointment we had with the onco was on a Thursday...that's probably how we got mixed up. I thought this next one was Thursday too and had to look at the appt. card so I may have led you astray.

Kiash, she had scrambled eggs with cottage cheese for breakfast today. On the cancer diet they say to give one organic egg a day. This morning I scrambled two for her which she ate with a little cottage cheese. Her appetite is usually good. She got a bit sick of the quark and Flaxseed oil she was having for breakfast which is part of the cancer diet so I've stopped that for now. She never refuses dinner though. I cook for her so she's no longer on BARF. Her favourite is the night cap of yoghurt and goats milk. Funny how some dogs are rollers. Sophie is the only dog I've ever had who will roll every time we hit a patch of soft green grass. It used to drive me nuts in the winter time when she was wearing a coat. Eventually I learnt to just brush her coats off rather than wash them every day. I think you're right about her thinking she should go on every walk. She doesn't give the others a backward glance when she goes out the door but objects when it's their turn. She's feeling well tonight but tired and sleeping peacefully.

Again, thanks for thinking of us. I appreciate it so much. Oonga, her oncology appointment is on the 16th, next Wednesday (not tomorrow). I've had the feeling over the last couple of days that she wouldn't make the distance, she was totally miserable this morning and so was I but since this afternoon I'm fairly sure she will make it and hopefully have a little more time. I'm no longer concerned about her immune system. The oncologist understands I need to do what I think is right for Sophie. Keeping her confined will not extend her life now and she needs to have fun to feel well. Since her osteo isn't in her limbs she has no problem running around and is not in danger of limb fracture. We went to a new place today, a soccer oval she's never been to and she loved it. It gave her a much needed boost. She was so happy, running and rolling around in the grass. She was on the long lunge lead so she could run wherever she liked. My job was keeping up with her ;) To see her happily running around no one would think there is a thing wrong with her and she has no sign of pain. This drug regime she is on is so good, I hope she can stay on it. Sophie doesn't have pain and it's a pretty mean feat to keep an osteosarcoma dog pain free. Kudos to the oncologist for her priority of keeping Sophie pain free. Her cancer is taking it's toll on her body though, she needs a lot of sleep. We'll go to new places every day. She needs the excitement and the joy of exploring. We're lucky we live in an area that has a lot of parks and sports ovals. There is no doubt she is declining but she was also getting bored. I think once we get back into a routine of going out every day it will give her something to look forward to and should lift her spirits. She wants to be with me all the time. When I take the other dogs out for a walk she cries as soon as I put their leads on and walk to the door. It's awful but the others need to be walked too. Sophie always goes first and she knows the routine but doesn't like it. The others are getting shorter walks these days. Faith lines up for the second walk, then the two Cavaliers go together. Sophie doesn't approve at all even though she always has at least one dog at home with her. For today, all is well. Oooh sorry for such a long post

God love you Kiash for caring so much about my girl. She is still fighting but she's tired. She knows she's very much loved and wanted and that we're fighting this together. I've also told her that she calls the shots and whatever she wants or needs is ok with me. She sleeps on my bed so we spend all our time together. I think she'll need to come off the medication she's taking when we see the onco next week. I've had a chat with her about a trial they are conducting in Japan and maybe the USA about the malaria drug Artimisinin. The onco is familiar with the trial and it seems they are having some success with it. She is happy to trial Sophie on this if her liver enzymes are high at her next test. I want to find out more about the side effects of Artimisinin first so I need to do more research. I won't agree to giving Sophie anything that will make her feel worse without any guarantee that it will work. How she feels is what's important to her and to me. Sophie is not having pain, I make very sure of that. She pulled like a train again today on our walk but she's not strong enough now to drag me around so I don't correct her, she can do whatever she likes. The only command I give her is 'heel' when we're crossing the road so she doesn't muck around if there's a car approaching. She had fun today and did plenty of rolling in the grass and piddling. The oncologist is coming from a medical viewpoint of not walking Sophie because of low immunity. There's more to Sophie than than her cancer. She needs a morale boost and getting out and about gives her that. The sadness can be overwhelming and her having fun does us both good. Thanks for your prayers and please keep praying for her.

The Vetalogica range is for animals, not humans. ChelseasMum can you let us know if it helps your dog, please.

Thanks for thinking of Sophie. She was depressed yesterday and really nauseous. The double dose of Maxolon kicked in eventually. She was tired but comfortable last night. I took her for a short walk today, she loved being out. She won't go into remission so we're now going on daily walks. For whatever time she has left we'll do the things she likes as well as keep her feeling ok. I think it's worth the risk so can have enjoyment of life. Her decline over the last couple of weeks is obvious and the best I can do for her is keep her pain free and give her what she needs to make life as good as it can be. Wed: The liverwurst was the second thing I hid her tablets in but she woke up to it in quick time. She's ok with the meds now. I think it's nausea that puts her off when she doesn't want to take them. She takes at least 20 tablets a day so I don't blame her. They all have the side effect of nausea. She'll happily take them in mashed sweet potato. I'm also upping the pain meds again. I don't see signs of pain in her and I'd rather prevent it than have to deal with it. As her cancer progresses so will the pain so I'd rather over medicate her for pain. Her appetite is still good though eating is difficult. Everything has to be mushy. She never vomits so maybe she has a little time left. From what I hear from people, the vomiting is a sure sign that things aren't going well and we're not at that stage yet. I'm not looking forward to the next oncology visit because I don't think there is anything else to be done for my Sophie.

Thanks Kiash. Your post made me laugh about being annoyed when I don't post an update. I would post every day but I don't want to drive people nuts and make them think 'not her again'. Though I don't think those people come to this section of the forum, thank the Gods. I do feel Sophie is not as well as she was a couple of weeks ago. Under the circumstances and considering how highly malignant and very aggressive her cancer is she's doing well. Her cancer has been graded as a 5 and that's as bad as it gets. She's fighting this disease and I'm trying to help in every way I know how. The oncologist calls her the miracle girl because she's still here and still fighting. I'm fairly sure she is pain free. I try to prevent her having pain before it starts so she can be pain free. I think eliminating the pain once it's established is a much harder thing to do. So far it seems to be working, she never shows signs of pain but I know how stoic she is. The oncolgist has given me the ok to give her strong pain meds whenever I think she needs them so I don't need to stick to a schedule. She's about to have some organic yoghurt with goats milk and hefty dose of pain relief to see her through the night. So all in all things are ok and I will go now and give her a hug from you.

So happy to hear that Ollie's doing well. Brilliant that he didn't need the ligament surgery. Sophie's had a couple of very quiet days and this morning I took her out for a ride in the car. On the way home we stopped at a small park where I've not seen any dogs. It's basically a little walk through park into a court. She had a great time rolling and piddling. She needed to get out of the house for a change of scenery. She's on a strong dose of antibiotics daily so I think we have any bacterial infection covered. I hope she didn't pick up a virus. She was sooo happy to be out. Her tumour is still growing and looks awful but she's her usual happy self. She's always up for a short game of fetch but she tires very quickly. Hugs to you and Ollie and thanks for thinking of Sophie.

Sorry to drag this up after all this time Odette but your vet is talking about hydatids tapeworm not the normal tapeworm hosted by fleas. Dogs who are not on tapeworm protection get tapeworm by swallowing a flea. It doesn't mean your dog must be flea infested, it could be that it picks up a hitch hiker flea at the park or on a walk. I would be treating my dog for tapeworm if I were you.

Oh how sad, only a baby. I'm so sorry. R.I.P. Little Boy