Milly has liver cancer. What to expect and how long?

[Morningside]

Well after blood tests and an ultrasound plus an overnight fluid drip a couple of weeks back, it has been confirmed that she has liver cancer.

Anyhow, after two weeks she is still here! But she is doing really odd things like making 'nests' or sitting stareing (sp?) at the floor (which I understand is ammonia poisoning of the brain).

So, bile ducts, liver, gall bladder and pancreas appear to be affected and all the blood results are off the scale.

She is now on Hepatic support food.


Now before anyone says 'you cruel ******' I will point out that she is running around like a 5 month old puppy but you can see the problems. Distended stomach, some yellowing of the skin and weight loss.

We feel quite sorry for her and yes a few (lot) of tears have been shed. She had a bad start in life and was kicked (broken rib, tooth) part of ear missing and life seems quite unfair I think to give her this as well.


Here she is sporting her bandage that held her canulla (sp?) in. That night the vet asked us to take her home (I think he 'knew' that she might not last the night).




So how long do we really have with her?

We must have spend over £1000 on her since Christmas.

[DBSV8]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news , I have been in the same situation with our "Bonza " Caurcasian Ovcharka

sadly he was diagnosed with Liver cancer , and after three 400km trips to the vets , numerous drips , the wife spending time with the local "nurse " who gave us both a crash course in how to give intravenous saline drips and medication ,
After three weeks watching poor old bonza suffer not eating the special hepatic diet , we had to make the decision to call the vet , This in itself was an epic journey the vet had to make a 500km round trip , we had to pay for his time , petrol and medication ,

but we could no longer watch poor old Bonza suffer , in his prime he weighed in at 93kilos , he was seven years old

I may be wrong but we tried all the medication , and diet he would be fine one day and the next just slumped on the floor

I hope it works out for you , in our case the kindest thing to do was to put Bonza to sleep









Rest in peace mate

[Jasandjules]

There is a product called Zara's herbal tea which you can get which is supposed to help with cancer.

I can say that our dog has had cancer for over 4 months now and has been on this stuff and still not doing tooooo badly though her age is against her. A vet said she'd had 4-6 weeks left.

[B17NNS]

Can't help with your questions unfortunately however as an animal lover who has experienced all the joys of animal ownership along with the heartache of making 'that' visit to the vet I feel your pain chap. All the best.

[Thevet]

Sorry to hear your news, unfortunately, it is impossible to say when you will have to make the call, as it is unlikely that she (you didn't give her name, oops yes you did, on the title)will pass away in her sleep. The neurological signs you describe are those of high blood ammonia levels, and are difficult to treat, I would agree with the hepatic support diet, but if that doesn't help, try a high calorie low protein diet, with the protein coming from a highly digestible source such as eggs or chicken. Any other helpful treatments as suggested should be included as suggested.
How long? watch for when you think she's no longer enjoying her time. The speed of deterioration will probably depend on the actual type/nastiness of the tumour that she has.

Edited by Thevet on Sunday 13th May 22:05

[Morningside]

Thanks for all your support and I must admit reading about Bonza did make me well up.

Milly is on a low level of steriods and also an antibiotic as well and as I said a hepatic diet (not cheap is it! £46 a bag).

Its just the oddness of her. One day she spent the whole morning sitting under a bush and other times its staring at the floor and this is hard to explain, she is not 'her'.

Could she ever turn or be nasty towards us? Once she did snap at out Cavalier and she has NEVER done this in the ten years we have had her.

I know she is old although being a rescue we have no idea but guesstimate at 14. So if the cancer does not see her off the age will.

Will look out for this tea as anything is worth a try.

[Mojocvh]

smashing that, puppy says "I'll be your pal" catty says "this mutts halitosis ain't funny"

great memories for you.

Sam, our tame black tom, decided to stand up on back legs and box the Lab today, he thought he was doing good until a casual hip swipe knocked him "over" puppy with a wee twinkle in his eyes!



Sorry to read about Milly.

Mo.

[Jasandjules]

Also a guy in the states swore blind that Vit C injected did wonders for pain relief etc (there are a few websites out there which say similar).

http://www.grammasintl.com/html/products/products_...

Note that those who stand to lose out fortunes object strongly to this product...............

[Thevet]

Jasandjules said:

Also a guy in the states swore blind that Vit C injected did wonders for pain relief etc (there are a few websites out there which say similar).

http://www.grammasintl.com/html/products/products_...

Note that those who stand to lose out fortunes object strongly to this product...............

your such a cynic, most of us who sell the usual stuff would say try it and see, very unlikely to do any harm and may help.

[Jasandjules]

Thevet said:

your such a cynic, most of us who sell the usual stuff would say try it and see, very unlikely to do any harm and may help.

It is true to say that there are those who share your views. And actually I am finding more and more vets will undertake homeopathic work too, which is great to my mind.

[bexVN]

Jasandjules said:

Thevet said:

your such a cynic, most of us who sell the usual stuff would say try it and see, very unlikely to do any harm and may help.

It is true to say that there are those who share your views. And actually I am finding more and more vets will undertake homeopathic work too, which is great to my mind.

I don't think I've ever worked with a vet who'd refuse owners a chance to try natural medicines, as long as their advice/ knowledge/ skills and drug treatments are not completely ignored.

I really hope Milly is stable for a while yet, all the best to her.

I'm clutching at straws a bit but there are natural liver treatments for dogs such as Denamarin and Hepatosyl I'm just not sure if they'll have any benefit to a liver with cancer.