LYMPHOMA
Our healthy 9 year old Old English Sheepdog (Howard) was just at the vet for his routine shoots. The Vet checked his lymph nodes around his neck and hind legs. Both were enlarged. He took a sample and the next day was diagnosed with intermediate to high grade Lymphoma. Our Vet said he will die within two months He looks great, energy, happy, we are stunned. Has anyone had this experience? Should we go to an Oncologist. Thank you |
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| Hi,
I'm so sorry to hear about Howard, how terribly sad for your family. No one can make this decision but you, however, you may find this a bit helpful. When my beloved childhood pet Snoopy died of cancer (my parents didn't have the money at the time to pay for treatment.) I promised myself that never again would I let an animal in my care die until I felt I had done everything humanely possible to save them. With that said...how ironic that years later my Shaggy would have a potential terminal illness. I put my money were my mouth is. I wanted money NOT to be the factor if she lived or died. Easy to say when the cash is available ...harder when you may not have the funds. Still, I feel that when she passes on I will have done everything that could be done to save her life and will have no regrets. Guilt is a mightly strong thing. It can't hurt to visit an oncologist with Howard...least it will put your mind at ease and you have a second opinion from an expert. Whatever path you choose no one will fault you. I wish you the best of luck and please let us know how it turned out. My heart goes out to you and your family. |
| Hi JON,
We got the following responses from OES-L: Peggy M wrote: I would recommend they get to the oncologist as quickly as possible, even if its just for a consultation so they can make the most informed decision possible for their circumstances. Depending on the type of lymphoma, there is a good chance for longer than 2 years, based on what I learned while Bernie was fighting lymphoma. Bernie was 6.5 when he was diagnosed, and although he had the much more resistant T-cell lymphoma, he had good quality of life for almost a year after he was diagnosed. Approximately three months of IV chemo, and then he came out of remission rather quickly, but I understand that was partly because of the type of lymphoma. His was also stage 4 when diagnosed, the disease was in the major organs (kidneys and liver enlarged) as well as the lymph nodes, but not yet in the bone marrow. I won't sugar coat it, this was expensive treatment, and i was of course hoping for longer than the one year that we got. The median remission on the modified Wisconsin protocol that he was on is 18-months to 2 years. While Bernie didn't come close to that rate of remission, he did continue to respond to an oral chemotherapy for approximately five months after he came out of remission, and I really don't think he was suffering until the disease became resistant to that drug as well. It was at that time that I made the decision that he and I had both endured all we could, and let him cross over. I hope this helps. If these folks would like to write to me personally, please feel free to pass along my email address. My experiences are very current, Bernie passed away August 21 of this year. [Ron says: Drop me a line for her private email address] Barb D wrote: Lymphoma is among the most treatable of canine cancers. Many owners have had considerable success in extending their dogs' life. Please suggest that the owner get his vet to refer him/her to an oncologist ASAP. Most dogs handle chemo MUCH better than humans do!! Since caring for a cancer patient is very much akin to a roller coaster ride, with lots of highs and lows, there is a wonderful, caring and compassionate list devoted to canine cancers. To subscribe send an e-mail to: CanineCancer-subscribe@yahoogroups.com I can personally recommend the folks on this list. They helped me a great deal when I was dealing with another type of cancer in my much loved Dapple Ann. No one quite understands like someone caught between the same "rock and a hard place." Please feel free to pass on my e-mail address and encourage the owner to contact me directly. [Ron's note: Send me a note if you'd like her email addy.] Michelle R. DVM wrote: Lymphoma or (Lymphosarcoma) is a cancer found in the lymph nodes. Old English Sheepdogs are ones that are more commonly affected. This type of cancer will respond to treatment usually very well. If there is no treatment then the dog may only live 2-3 months. Check with your veterinarian to see who is the closest oncologist to be referred for treatment. The treatment is not painful, and most dogs do very well. Dogs that recieve treatment and respond may live for 1 1/2-2 years. But individual dog can vary in their response. Most dogs recieve weekly treatments. Because the goal of therapy is not to cure the dog, but to control the cancer, there are usually minimal side effects. Best of Luck |
Joan and the Gang wrote: We will be all saying prayers for a recovery, so sorry to hear you had bad news, keep praying and hoping he has many more years with you, I sure will be. Give Howard kisses and hugs from us. |
Sharron B wrote: My OES had lymphoma and went through chemotherapy last year. Feel free to e-mail me privately if you'd like more info. [Ron says: Again, info available by private email] |
Patty wrote: I had a vet tell me that my dog was going to die within the month so I took her to Columbia vet college and she had a collapsing trachea which she got pills for and lived another 8 years. Dale wrote: I think they have a cure for lymphoma for humans but don't know about dogs. So sorry. :o( Right before Christmas too. |
| Thank you, everyone has been so nice and responive in regards to Howard our OES.
We brought him to the Oncologist today. He took several xrays and told us that there was no evidence of cancer. The Dr. recomended, I cant remember the name, not Wisconsin "because of the side effects". Anyhow he will be taking Cytosarabine, Cytoxan, Vincristine. Everyone has been so nice, It is difficult holding back tears reading about your concern and experience. Thank you. Jon [/img] |
| Hi Jon,
I was wondering if you have an update for us on Howard. -Ron. |
yup i just found out today by dog has it. he was fine before, but he's going downill now.  sorry. |
| i too am going through this,they took out a big lump and found the same results about 2 months ago and told me she had a week to live ,, she is still doing great eating and seems in no pain so enjoy what time you have could be alot longer then they tell you |
Matrixgirl wrote: yup i just found out today by dog has it. he was fine before, but he's going downill now.
sorry.I'm so sorry to hear that your dog is not doing well. A friend of ours had a dog who had it. His dog did pretty well on prednisone for a couple of months if you haven't tried that yet. |
| Hi,
I viewed this post today, if you look at the date of my original response it was dated back in 2003. My beautiful girl Shaggy passed in March 2004. However,I had 6 more wonderful years with her from the time of her original diagnosis. She was the reason my ex and I broke up a few years prior to that post! When he found out we'd have to spend $ on the dog he said , "let the stupid mutt die". Those words haunted me and I knew as I mentioned from my previous post quilt is a mighty big thing and money was not going to be the factor. Instead he went and my girl got her treatment. No quilt no regrets and in the grand scheme of life I made the right decision and NEEDED to see this post today to remind me of that. How ironic that it came up and I'm so glad I was able to be reminded of how strongly I felt then. Thank YOU!!! Matrix and Suz I'm so sorry for your furkids diagnosis. Many times I was told Shaggy was declining but somehow she'd rallied back and beat the deadlines of her impending trip to the bridge. When she did, her and I were both prepared and saying goodbye to my beloved girl while painful was with no regrets. My thoughts are with you. Marianne |
| I am sorry to hear about your dog. My 8 yr old american bulldog was diagnosed with advanced stage of lymphoma in July. All of his nodes were swollen very large. I decided not to do chemo, but I decided to use the prednisone(steroid) that the vet suggested. The prednisone is suppose to be short lived. I immediately changed his diet to remove all of the grain (by using "taste of the wild" and now "Orajen" dogfood). I give him 4000 mg of fish oil per day (4 capsules). One month after his diagnosise I started him on "transfer factor" to build his immunity and "K9 critical care - which is a variety of chinese cancer fighting mushrooms. There is a website - k9criticalcare.com that sells the transfer factor and mushroom tablets - my dog thinks they are treats.
In addition to feeding him the Orajen (dogfood of the year), I mix cooked (on low heat) ground turkey or chicken with raw spinach or lightly steamed brocoli stalks and pure pumkin puree. I also add a tablet of selenium (cancer fighting supplement) and KYO-Green tablets (has chlorella for cleaning blood etc), Pau D'arco (another blood cleanser for humans) and a probiotic (for intestinal health). It has been over 2 months and he is holding his own. He hit bottom (hopefully) about 3 weeks ago before I started the Transfer Factor and k9 critical care. I hope this helps Good luck! |
| http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/product_d ... e1d3d30da3
This is what I used for my cancer boy, he had synovi sarcoma which is a soft tissue cancer. We used that along with milk thistle and dermaxx with good results. He also had radiation treatments. |
| Our beloved 8 year old OES was diagnosed with lymphoma on Xmas Eve. The vet advised high dose steroids , that could possibly prolong her life & keep her comfortable for 6 weeks , as we did not want to put her through bouts of chemotherapy. Sadly she died yesterday, 3 weeks after diagnosis. |
| So sorry for your losss. Our Tony had lymphoma - he was on steroids and CBD - he lived for almost a year. It was blessing. We miss him terribly. |
Guest wrote: Our beloved 8 year old OES was diagnosed with lymphoma on Xmas Eve. The vet advised high dose steroids , that could possibly prolong her life & keep her comfortable for 6 weeks , as we did not want to put her through bouts of chemotherapy. Sadly she died yesterday, 3 weeks after diagnosis. So sorry to hear the sad news. I lost my Zeke to lymphoma back in July 2017. He was diagnosed in April 2017. We tried chemo, and it was working. But they steadily step the dog up into the stronger chemo meds and he wasn't tolerating the stronger ones well. So I made the hard decision to put him on palliative care. It was so hard to go thru, as he was a very active & bouncy boy. My heart goes out to you. |
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