I'm thankful my dog is alive.

[kentuck]

About 5 weeks ago, a huge tumor developed on his neck and burst. He stood in the kitchen and the poison was coming out of his neck like a faucet on slow run. I was attempting to catch it with paper towels.

He could not eat anything. He went out into the front yard and laid on his side and my wife laid a huge towel over him. We thought he was gone.

He is a border collie mix, about 80 lbs, and is 11 years old today.

He went 5 days without eating anything. He would lick the water off my fingers but he could not drink out of his water bowl.

We could not pick him up to put him in the Explorer for fear of exacerbating his condition and because of the extent of his illness, we did not think he could survive any surgery at his age.

Sometimes I take prednisome for different ailments and we decided to give him some to see if it would help him. I gave him 10 milligrams for a couple of days and he started eating a bite. He ate a slice of cheese and a thin slice of ham and we had hope that he might make it.

The tumor started shrinking and he started eating like a horse. He is getting in and out of the Explorer on his own. He travels to different places and went down to Monument Park the other day and waded in the creek. We still have him taking 5 milligrams a day of prednisome.

I'm thankful for a lot of things today but I especially thankful my best friend is still with me.

He is starting to act like a pup again.

[pennylane100]

1. did you take him to the vet

[H2O Man]

2. Very good!

Recommended.

[BanzaiBonnie]

3. That's a big deal, something to be thankful for

Let's be thankful for all our animal friends.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Acemananan, a derivative of aloe barbadensis, is licensed for veterinary

use... for injection into tumors... for increasing TNC and stimulating a more robust immune response. It can be used topically as well.

A randomized study of chemotherapy versus biochemotherapy with chemotherapy plus Aloe arborescens in patients with metastatic cancer.
Lissoni P, Rovelli F, Brivio F, Zago R, Colciago M, Messina G, Mora A, Porro G.
Division of Radiation Oncology, St. Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Milan, Italy. [e-mail]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The recent advances in the analysis of tumor immunobiology suggest the possibility of biologically manipulating the efficacy and toxicity of cancer chemotherapy by endogenous or exogenous immunomodulating substances. Aloe is one of the of the most important plants exhibiting anticancer activity and its antineoplastic property is due to at least three different mechanisms, based on antiproliferative, immunostimulatory and antioxidant effects. The antiproliferative action is determined by anthracenic and antraquinonic molecules, while the immunostimulating activity is mainly due to acemannan.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study was planned to include 240 patients with metastatic solid tumor who were randomized to receive chemotherapy with or without Aloe. According to tumor histotype and clinical status, lung cancer patients were treated with cisplatin and etoposide or weekly vinorelbine, colorectal cancer patients received oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), gastric cancer patients were treated with weekly 5-FU and pancreatic cancer patients received weekly gemcitabine. Aloe was given orally at 10 ml thrice/daily.

RESULTS: The percentage of both objective tumor regressions and disease control was significantly higher in patients concomitantly treated with Aloe than with chemotherapy alone, as well as the percent of 3-year survival patients.

CONCLUSION: This study seems to suggest that Aloe may be successfully associated with chemotherapy to increase its efficacy in terms of both tumor regression rate and survival time.

[tabatha]

24. great info, thanks

[uppityperson]

5. Glad he survived, sounds like an abscess/infection. I hope you took him to the vet/ About prednisone

My dog was taking prednisone for licking itchy skin thing. Beware having him on it too long and be VERY careful when you stop. His body will not be making it while he is on it and you need to taper him off it so his body will begin making it. If you are giving him 5 mg/day and stop suddenly he could have some SERIOUS health problems (including death).

I'd talk to a vet to find out recommended tapering but what they had me do with my 95# guy was give 1 tab every other day for 3-7 days (depending on how long has been taking, taper slower if on longer) then 1/2 tab every other day for a week, then 1/2 tab every 3-4 days for a week.

Prednisone is called the "happy pill" because it makes whoever is taking it feel much better and drink a lot of water.

Please take him to a vet to get checked out. Please.

[CountAllVotes]

7. good advice

n/t

[dkf]

23. I had an allergic reaction that didn't go away for a week.

I took half a pill of Prednisone for one day and it was gone. That stuff is incredible.

[CountAllVotes]

6. how did the dog get this tumor

Is it cancer or something?

Personally, I would not be administering a drug (prednisone - a steroid) to any animal.

Have you taken the dog to the vet?

[kentuck]

8. He was dying.

It's a miracle he is here today. He would have died if I had taken him to a vet, I am sure.

[uppityperson]

9. Glad he survived but I'd recommend taking him to a vet now.

Get him checked out, find out wtf that was on him and if he needs follow up care or meds.

Sounds like what my big dog had last summer. He quit eating, drinking, thought was going to lose him. He couldn't get up from lying down, was dying. We called friends that knew him to come tell him goodbye as he was dying.

I had to lift him into the car (yes, 95#) and the vet came out to check him out. All he could find (aside from various lumps, bumps, lipomas and a huge tumor/mass on his shoulder that'd been there for a yr) was he winced when palpating his mouth.

Turns out he had a tooth abscess and a week of antibiotics saved him. I had to hand feed him wet dog food for a couple days until I started making chicken loaf, and hand feeding that. It took a month but now he's back on dry/wet mix and feeling much happier (wakes every morning happy I'm a DOG!!!).

I'd recommend taking him in next week to see if any follow up needs to be done, if whatever it was is drained fully, to get recommendations about meds.

It is scary and sad and glad both our guys survived.

[nannah]

11. not everyone can afford a veterinarian. n/t

[uppityperson]

13. I know, believe me, I know. I am lucky enough to have had one that I could

he died and the new one is much more energetic and costs more and not sure what I will do now. I took my big dog in with a small budget in mind, hoping to get something to make him comfortable and ended up saving him, though had to have a talk with the new vet about finances.

[tabasco]

19. Not everyone should own a dog. n/t

[uppityperson]

21. I can't afford to have my 13 yr old big dog have surgery. Should I not own him?

Finances change, times change and we all make our decisions of what we can and will spend on our pets.

Passing judgement because we cannot afford vet fees does not seem to help anything.

[kentuck]

25. Some people cannot afford to go to a doctor for their own conditions...

We do what we must.

[uppityperson]

29. I know, am there also. And a medicine gripe...

This is one reason I posted such a long reply upthread. Can't give info on this forum but can share what I've done, what's worked, what hasn't.

Med gripe. Used to be that meds from vet were wayyyy cheaper than meds from pharmacy, even if they were the same thing. For example, liquid antibiotics for my cat was same (yes human rx) as for my child. This last go around they charged me more for fewer from vet which really sucked. As I said elsewhere, had to have a talk with the vet about finances and no, I really can't pay $30 for 10 prednisone 5 mg tabs when I could get more for a smaller co-pay @ pharmacy.

Am looking for a new vet also. I know they need to make a living, but it isn't by raising their prices when it already is barely affordable.

So, back to what you write, indeed. We do what we must and sharing info is a good thing. Can't advise or prescribe, but can share.

[nannah]

33. exactly....

[tabasco]

36. If you had an infected tumor growing on your neck,

do you think you might be able to find an emergency room?

Contact the HS or SPCA to get some help with your dog and GET HIM TO A VET.

[uppityperson]

38. My humane society is having problems financially and can't afford thousands on 1 old dog.

Most emergency rooms have to give you help even if you can't afford it. Vets are not legally obligated to and often won't.

And many people do not seek the health care they need because they can't afford it. They are now waiting longer, going in more critically ill, if they show at all.

[nannah]

58. an emergency room would stabilize you

and tell you to go to your doctor. if you call a doctor they ask how you will pay. if you don't have money up front and no way to pay, they will not see you.

edit for spelling

[TorchTheWitch]

44. A phone call to the vet is free

Good advice can be had by talking to the vet on the phone and at least get info on any over the counter remedies and particularly advice about what NOT to do.

Frankly, anyone that owns a pet owes that pet proper care. I get it that finances can be a problem sometimes... I've been there, and am there right now. However, priorities are at issue here, and anyone that can afford internet or cable tv or any other non-essential expenses can damn well afford to take their pet to the vet when it's necessary. If it means being late on a bill or spending less on gas or food and certainly any luxury expenses than so be it. I'm having to spend money on vet visits and meds for my dog lately even though I'm jobless and about as broke as can be... BUT, you better believe I'll be late paying the electric bill and the water bill and if I have to forgo internet to make up for what I need to spend on his care, so be it - that's my RESPONSIBILITY as a pet owner.

Regardless of how tight money may be you had a responsibility to at least call the vet, describe the symptoms and see what if anything could be done - and especially what NOT to do - to help your dog. Giving him your Prednisone was terribly irresponsible without having any idea if it was warranted. Being a Prednisone user yourself you should no that this is a steroid and can be very dangerous to use incorrectly... it's hardly like you gave him an aspirin or some Pepto Bismal.

Yes, you're lucky your dog is still alive, but you just made him suffer horribly and played Russian roulette with meds not prescribed for him or even warranted, and even if you were absolutely dead broke and couldn't beg or borrow the money for his care or been able to go any later on essential bills without losing service (and internet isn't essential), the very least you could have done was call the vet for advice, and put the dog out of it's misery when it got so bad he couldn't drink water for days. Any vet worth their salt will gladly come to your home and put down a pet suffering that much for free or at least for long term small payments.

[kentuck]

49. Are all your vets as wonderful as you?

And love the pets more than owners that are trying to save his life, not take it away?

Thanks for your advice.

[TorchTheWitch]

53. if you were trying to save his life you would have taken him to vet

What you in fact did do was try and save money on vet bills and in the process made your dog suffer needlessly and horribly. When the symptoms first arose the very fucking LEAST you could have done was call the vet for advice. And if you didn't like or trust your vet then you could have found another one immediately... there's plenty of them.

You had money to buy trick or treat goodies for the neighborhood kids, but didn't have anything to spare for your desperately ill and terribly suffering dog? Bull.

Vets aren't in the business of trying to take away the lives of peoples' pets, and you did less than nothing to save your dog's life. Your dog is alive DESPITE your not taking it in for proper medical care or at LEAST making a free phone call for advice on what to do and made him suffer needlessly for five days while he couldn't eat or drink then took it upon yourself to continue to play doctor by giving him dangerous meds not prescribed for him and having no idea what they'd do to him.

Vets are the last people you should be trying to blame for your gross irresponsibility when it was you that ignored his medical condition without doing so much as even making a simple and free phone call, allowed him to suffer cruelly for days if not weeks and then dispensed dangerous drugs to him without knowing what the hell you were doing to him as if it was an aspirin. And you want to make yourself out to be a martyr in trying to "save" him so the "evil vets" don't kill him???

What. The. Fuck.

[tabasco]

35. Ask your dog if you should get the surgery.

If you can't afford to provide necessary vet care for your pet, you shouldn't have a pet.

Please seek help from the local Humane Society and SPCA for help getting your dog taken care of.

[uppityperson]

37. My vet agreed it would do little to extend his life or happiness. Shame on you

for your judgement in my having a pet. I guess when I lost my job I should have sent my pets to the local shelter to be destroyed. Hugs to you for understanding.

[tabasco]

47. Then why are you worried about paying for unnecessary surgery???

I'm not catching your drift.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabasco]

48. Thank you.

I volunteer a lot of my spare timne at the local shelter.

I like animals more than people - does it show?

[Hello_Kitty]

56. I don't think you should get a dog if you're not in the position to take care of one. But,

People's situations change. When I got my dogs I had a well paying job. 10 years later, one having died in 2007 from a sudden illness, I am now in a position where I wouldn't be able to afford a vet for my surviving dog. I suppose you'd say I shouldn't keep her but what should I do? She's 12. No one is going to adopt her.

[Paula Sims]

10. Yea!! Happy puppy stories are always good

and especially so at Thanksgiving

[salinen]

12. Yeah!

I just finished kissing my Wendy dog until my lips hurt. She's 13, a cancer survivor. When we thought she was a gonner, my wife and I spent about a week projectile crying. I asked the doc not to wake her up if when he went to remove the cancer, it was too far spread. I chickened out and told him to sew her up. She's still here 1 year later, playing with her toys, swimming, chasing squirrels, smelling other dogs privates, all fun.

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. Check to see if your dog has Addison's Disease

If the tumor responded that quickly to prednisome it might be because he has an issue with his Adrenal gland. The symptoms are so various and different from dogs to dogs that the only way to diagnose is thru a blood test.

[Flubadubya]

15. Great to know he is much better...

I believe your dog probably had an infectious abscess rather than a tumor. That's what it sounds like as it burst and drained, and then he got better.

As uppityperson suggested, however, it would probalby be a good idea to get him to a vet who could give him a round of antibiotics just to make sure the infection is all killed off.

Best wishes to you and yours... and you little dog's too!! :) :hi:

[kentuck]

16. Thanks to everyone for the advice...

We feel so lucky that he is with us today. Today he is happy and not in pain. He is not licking stitches or suffering. He is 11 years old. That is a full life for a big dog. We know he will not be with us forever but one good day is worth more than a hundred terrible, painful days from surgery, etc.

Everyone has their own ideas on how to handle such difficult situations. Once his pain becomes unbearable, we will not let him suffer. We are thankful for today. Prednisome is a terrible drug and I have taken it for several years. I know what it does and what it can do from my own experiences. But, it saved his life for now. Today.

[uppityperson]

18. Glad he survived and we all do things our own way

I've had people give me crap because I won't spend the money to get the huge lump on my old dog's shoulder removed. But it doesn't bother him and he is 13. I took him in because he was suffering with mouth abscess, glad that he survived also. Best wishes to you and yours and happy thanksgiving.

[CountAllVotes]

39. just spent over 1/2 of my monthly income on my cat

He was very sick and required treatment, treatment and hospitalization that I could not provide.

Had I just let it go, he'd still be here yes but he'd be miserable and sick and failing further en route to a quick death.

Yeah, it costs to have pets alright. However, they pay us back with all of the love they give us.

Worth every cent! :D

:dem:

[kestrel91316]

17. Sounds more like he had an abscess that ruptured and drained.

While steroids like prednisone and prednisolone can make someone feel better, they often do NOT treat the underlying condition and can sometimes lead to WORSE problems down the road. If a bacterial infection was involved, antibiotics are critical to ensure he doesn't develop a systemic infection that later settles in his vital organs.

You bought him some time. Now take him to the vet and buy him some more.

[kentuck]

20. Thanks.

Will do.

[orleans]

50. that happened to my border collie/corgi mix

it was an abscess that exploded
the er vet said she probably got it from a blood test that was done--it was by her shoulder and i came home and found all this pink blood falling from her when she stood up--i couldn't tell where it was coming from at first

my dog had been on pred for several years for this crazy blood disorder she had.

the er doctor gave her antibiotics and said he couldn't stitch the abscess because it needed to drain--which it did--we put a kid's tshirt around her head and tied it a little and just let it hang and catch the blood and pus that drained out for a couple days.

because it is open sore the antibiotics are important.

also--check with your vet about the amount of pred you're giving him. it's important not to give him too high of a dose--also, our vet told me we shouldn't suddenly take her off it--you want to cut down the dosage and even do every other day for awhile.

pred is amazing but it can get complicated--at least from our experience with it.

it also makes them hungry and thirsty. our dog gained a bit of weight thanks to her increased appetite.

it really sounds like an abscess (and like i said the er vet said that sometimes when they give a shot or draw blood it can start an abscess going and we don't even know it until it bursts.) but please see a vet for antibiotics.

i am so so glad your friend is still with you.

we had to say goodbye to my beautiful girl one week before christmas last year. missing her still breaks my heart.

[Uben]

22. I gave my lab some prednisone....

....it's for his ears. They get all gunky and nasty sometimes and I had the prednisone left over from another episode. It makes them hungry and thirsty, but the stuff works miracles. I read where it's good for shrinking and treating tumors, so you did the right thing.

[OnyxCollie]

26. Glad to hear about your dog's recovery. nt

[kentuck]

28. He made it thru Halloween...

One of his favorite holidays. He loves meeting the trick or treaters at the door.

Now he has made it to Thanksgiving, his birthday.

We are hoping he can play in the snow again and that he can have a good Christmas.

We are doing the best we can.

[beam me up scottie]

30. "He loves meeting the trick or treaters" - - What a great dog!

I couldn't trust my last dog -a German Shepard- to greet kids in costumes, he was way too overprotective of me.

Shame on anyone who would question the depth of your love because you cannot afford to go to a vet.




*as an aside, if you know which antibiotic would be prescribed, the dosage and the how long you should give them to him, you may be able to buy them from aquarium suppliers on line for next to nothing.

[uppityperson]

31. ooo, thanks for that

tip. Am glad to be on this forum and getting ideas like that exchanged. That is a good one.

Edited to add that I do not mean to " question the depth of your love because you cannot afford to go to a vet", not at all. I apologize if that is how I came across as I in no way mean that. We do what we can, and sharing with each other is a good thing.

I am very thankful my old dog survived his tooth abscess this summer and gets to share the turkey with us.

[beam me up scottie]

32. You're welcome!

In a perfect world we could all afford to have the best veterinarians make house calls, but since we live in this one, we do the best we can. A dog that is loved is much more likely to recover from an injury/illness, imo.


*ACK! No, I wasn't referring to your posts, you gave great advice, you always do. Your post #21 convinced me to weigh in on this issue, actually. :hi:



Edited to respond to your edit.

[OnyxCollie]

42. You're gonna make me cry.

My dog Andre had cancer.

He went through the chemo and got a blood transfusion.

It gave him just enough strength to take one more walk in the woods.

I'm not sure if he did it for himself, or if he did it for me.

[tavalon]

54. Hugs

Hard choices for hard times.

[mod mom]

27. I had a terrier that had tumor(s) that burst....

I don't know if this will help you but after many trips to the vet it was determined that she had bott larva that had burrowed under her skin (probably from a rabbit hole). she was given a special medicine that had to be mixed at an old fashion pharmacy (I believe it was a human medicine for typhoid fever-though not sure as it was over 10 years ago.)

http://www.ehow.com/how_5411434_identify-bot-flies-dog-cat.html

My vets at the time when these wonderful gentlemen in their mid 70's that had never seen a case in dogs and said it is more common in cows.

BTW I did learn that prednisone, and fatty food such as cheese is a no no as it is very bad for a dog's liver. I am currently giving another dog who receives prednisone for bad seasonal allergies, SAM-e and milk thistle to bring down her liver enzymes.

This maybe totally un related but since I whish I knew then what I know now, I thought I'd share it.

:hi:

glad to hear your pup is doing better.

[xchrom]

34. The second time I had a bout with cancer - the great love of my life

Sport, an 11 year old husky mix had cancer too.

I decided that if I could go through chemo he could too.
It was 5 grand for him.
He lived 4 more wonderful years. He passed at the grand old age of 15.
80 lbs of sweetness and love -- I will miss him every day of my life.
Sport is resting in Peace with my beloved father and his little
Brother Peewee the yorkie.
I put their ashes in my father's coffin.

Blessed Be our animal companions.
They make the journey so much better.

[Rowdyboy]

45. They make the journey so much more fun, they give and give and ask for nearly nothing in return....

Life is so much richer when its shared.

[Raine]

40. That's WONDERFUL

I so HAPPY for you and your dog. :-)

[KoKo]

41. I hope you will talk to your Vet about what you did. They need to hear this.

We have a cat that's 15 years old..with "just stating kidney numbers" that make him a candidate for "weekly IV Fluids" either administered by Us (we can't to this) or our Vet for $15.00 a Week to keep him from Kidney Failure.

It was a hard choice...but we changed his diet and incorporated some fresh cooked chicken parts here and there and our Vet (last time we took him in) "Well he's gained a pound and a half...so whatever you are doing at home seems to be working for him. We will keep monitoring him to see how he does."

I'm at a loss as to how Vets deal today in their practices. There's a new/emerging Homeopathy Practic for our Pets...but it's expensive and one doesn't really know if it works better without better clinical data.

But...I changed my cat's diet..and tried to feed him some organic chicken and he's doing better.

Worth the try...whatever we can do to keep our pets and family still alive and "functional."

[InvisibleTouch]

46. Happy to read this!

Wishing you many more wonderful times with your best friend.

[BigBearJohn]

51. Believe me -- I am very happy for you! Happy Thanksgiving for sure!

[pinboy3niner]

52. A very Happy Thanksgiving!

Unfortunately, some people just don't get someone having empathy for animals.

Your story reminds me of the time when, decades ago, as a student at USC, I blew off some final exams because I was eyedropper-feeding a very sick stray cat. I was well-prepared for the exams, but at the time the cat's survival seemed more important. I'd returned from serving, and being wounded, as an infantryman in Vietnam not long before, and i think my war experience had a big influence on my judgement.

[tabasco]

55. Damn.

Allowing a dog to get a large infected tumor on its neck and not getting it proiper treatment is your idea of empathy?

That's pathetic.

[Very_Boring_Name]

57. I'm glad he survived! my golden retreiver died a year ago

She was 15 years old, by the end she was completely blind and had a tumor on her leg, but she absolutely LOVED to swim, and even though she could barely see/walk, her tail would wag like crazy if you said "want to go to the lake?" Unfortunately she was in so much pain those last few days that we had to put her down.

[amborin]

59. prednisone is given for canine lymphoma

[Odin2005]

60. YAY for your dog!

:D