My Lab has Cancer, Help??

[sierra248]

My dog was diagnosed with Cancer today, and of all the questions I asked was what type of cancer..  I do know it is inside the Ribcage.  The doctor said it was causing her liver, kidneys and bladder, major trouble all around, hes says the cancer is only about 2 weeks old and he doesn't expect her to make it more then three days. Her urine is very very brown and I;m trying to get her to drink as much as possible. My question is as I take care of my paraplegic father who has been bed ridden over the last 5 year, he has had many kidney problem, a failure once.  But I have a house full of pain, antibiotics and any other thing you can think of for humans. Is there anything I can do short of trying to figure out how to do chemotherapy at home..jk, unless there is a way.  We brought the dog home as he is in good spirits though a little lethargic and not eating well, though the vet told me to get chicken baby food and he liked it. He really doesn't look sick other then the Jaundice in her eyes and stomach(Stage 7 or number 7 level of jaundice i think he said.)
More in next post:

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

This is Dr. Cheng writing.  I wanted you to know how sorry I am about your father!  

Thank you listing her blood work.  It shows that your dog is not in kidney failure.  The kidney values are great!  The ALT and ALKP are the only things of concern and show liver damage.  Your dog does not really need IV fluids at this time.  She is not in kidney failure and according to the blood values is not as yet dehydrated.  If she stops drinking however,  than IV fluids may be necessary.  Cephalexin is not helpful for cancer, unless there is a secondary cephalexin responsive hepatitis.  Using an antibiotic can throw off her digestive flora and make an already compromised immune system function even less effectively.  It is of course possible to have a secondary bacterial infection.  The dose for Cephalexin in dogs is 22 mg per kg. three times per day.  A 22 pound dog is 10 kg and would need 222mg. per dose.   As I wrote previously, Doxycycline is the only antibiotic that can help stem cancer angiogenesis.  If you use any antibiotic, please add a good probiotic formula into her diet.  A good supplement is Culterelle, available at heath food stores and some pharmacies, or Activia yogurt available in supermarkets.  There is a good cancer diet available from your vet. called Hills N/D.  If you want to put her on a home made diet you should just feed her meat and green leafy vegetables.  If she is in any pain please ask your veterinarian to prescribe something for pain.  

[sierra248]

The weird part of this whole thing is yes she lost weight and went lame within about 1 week or 2.  We took her to the vet and here is what they did.

CBC/SMA/Electrolytes-in-House
CBC Vet Laser Cyte tubes
SMA/Electrolytes-in-House
Fecal - Float w/direct
HW Test (Occult)K9 - IN HOUSE
Office Visit - Diagnostic/Exam
Weight
Bio Hazardous Disposal

Results:                        (AVG)
BUN  =.9mg/dl             (.7. - 27)
CREA=1.0mg/dl          (0.5 - 1.8)
PHOS=4.5mg/dl           (2.5-6.8)
CA     =9.1mg/dl          (7.9-12.0)
TP      =5.9mg/dl          (5.2-8.2)
ALB    =2.2mg/dl          (2.2-3.9)
GLOB =3.7mg/dl          (2.5-4.5)
ALT    =207.U/L           (10.-100) High
ALKP =2000>U/L        (23.-212.) Very VERY High
TBIL   =7.0mg/dl          (0.0-0.9)  High
AMYL=487.U/L            (500.-1500) LOW
GLU   =101.mg/dl         (70-143)
CHOL =269.mg/dl        (110-320)

Na= 153.mmol/L          (144-160)
K =  4.6 mmol/L           (3.5-5.8)
CL= 117mmol/L           (109-122)

Now I am far from a vet but do love my dog, but can you tell that a dog has cancer from these tests? My worry is a weird one.  My Father is a bed-ridden paraplegic with pseudomonas and has open wounds on his legs.  Tory was very close with my father and they would lay together allot, I know this sounds gross but I'm sure he would on occasion lick an open wound without my dad knowing.  
The reason I bring this up is pseudomonas has a very distinct smell and when I was laying with my dog before, I got a whiff of that exact same smell coming from her anus. Its an unmistakable smell once you've smelt it and I'm just wondering if maybe this was a misdiagnosis.  I understand this would be a rare thing to happen but I'm kinda grasping at straws here as she seems very lethargic and hiding allot.  I know dogs like to die alone but I would like to do what I can and see if I am right on this or not. I'm not blaming the Vet but would like to have some info to give him if she makes it thru the night(She could go weeks, who knows).  I have a full bottle of CEPHALEXIN that was for an infection in one of my other dogs, could it hurt or even help, if the initial CANCER diagnoses was wrong.
Thanks again guys, she may not have long left, so let me know what to do. Would love to hear what Aleda Cheng DVM has to say.  I may just have to re-post this again to get her attention as she responded to my first one quickly.
Tom


Again, what a great website and I appreciate all the help.

[tmv]

I hate to be the one with the downer. But when the cancer is diagnosed even in humans, it is often far beyond treatable. By the time they show symptoms, it is in very advanced stages.I feel the pain with you because I had to choose to have my 14 year old best friend ever dog euthanized due to severe arthritis and an inoperable injury that put her lame and in pain to where I could no longer stand it.She would soil and wet herself and I would just cry and cry. Then I realized that she was much to good of a dog to me to go through all of that. Anyhow, my best friend also lost her dog, a lab, due to pancreatic/liver cancer. The vet said that it was possibly due to the dog food being stored in a plastic tub and that the only safe ones are the ones that say for dog food. I guess there is some type of oil in the other that are used for storage of clothes, etc. I had an article over on the dog forum about 2 months ago.
Don't get me wrong, I do wish the best and hope that your dog is going to be ok. But I'm just a realist, I guess.I am so sorry. They are indeed a member of the family.

[sierra248]

Do you think that surgery or chemo is a risk to an almost 12 year old lab with cancer?

I really appreciate all the quick responses, I had almost given up and put her down, but I have a little hope now.

Why should I only use IV fluids with vet, I know what I'm doing on humans and am sure I can find a vein on her, but are there dangers, even if I drip it slow?

[Jaybay]

Good grief!  Your vet didn't even offer up any comfort meds?  It's not a good idea to switch human/ animal meds.  Get back on the phone with the vet and ask for something for your poor dog.  I'm really sorry to hear about your pup - you must be in agony.  

My dog's story is on this page, and while she was an inpatient, she had a 75 mcg fentanyl patch.  I wonder if something like that might be an idea?  Most other oral meds need a certain amount of food or they'll trash her stomach.  Maggie has tramadol (ultram) for another few days.  Again, I'm so very sorry you have to go through this with your baby.  :-(

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

From Dr. Cheng:  If your dog will benefit (in your veterinarian's opinion) from surgery than I think you should have it performed.  I would get a second opinion from a veterinary oncologist also.  Removing some cancers surgically can help because when using chemotherapy, the chemo has less cancer to treat.  If your dog is in kidney failure, and has cancer in her kidneys and if both kidney's are affected, than unfortunately there is little you can do.  

To answer your questions: 1.  Vicodan is dangerous in dogs.  2. Water is important and cranberry juice won't hurt.  3. You should only use IV fluid therapy under the supervision of a vet.   4. No.    5.  Lasix will make things worse, it is a diuretic.  6.  doxycycline has been shown to halter angiogenesis in cancer cells.  Your dog may benefit from a holistic vet who can use holistic medications since you are not interested in chemotherapy.  If your hesitancy is due to cost ask your veterinarian if he has Care Credit.  Which is a interest free credit card for medical and veterinary care.

[sierra248]

1. Can I give the dog vicodin for pain mixed in with food and what dosage?

2. Will drinking as much water and cranberry juice I can give her help?

3. I have Saline IV Bags, can I supplement her water with an IV drip of saline.

4. I also have Primaxin IV for my dads Pseudomonas and was wondering if that would help, I know cancer is not treatable but it cant make things any worse.

5. Lasix Help anything?

6. I have tons of medicines, so if I need something i didn't list that you think might help let me know.    

I love this dog, Shes my Baby and would like to try everything short of Chemo and surgery and he didn't even say that was an option anyway.  If the Dog starts really falling and looks to be in pain I will bite the bullet and put her down. I just think maybe there's a chance for her to make it a few months or maybe a year if I do everything I can.