Vets appointment this morning. Two of them examined Eddie, and were dismayed at the state of my lad's rectum. They said that the planned rectal strip had now become non viable, as the lowest tumours had increased so much in size and vascularity that the planned op. would have resulted in too much thinning of the bowel wall, and the risk of incontinence. I know that we are now only buying limited amounts of time, but we asked them to give him one more chance, as he is so happy and active in all other ways. We picked him up this afternoon, and although he is bleary with methadone, he has had a meal and a drink, and is now having a well deserved sleep.
@CaroleC - I just do not know what to say. Well I do but am not sure whether I should or not. Please give Eddie that chance - you will know when it is time, just as I did with Pereg, and she was only six-years-old. Give him that chance, let him be as happy and active as ever - and just love him for as long is possible. Sorry - I feel that I "know" Eddie, just as I "know" all our dogs - and I am so upset that your vets could not do anything for him.
So sorry that you did not have the news you were hoping for. But he doesn't know what's going on, so all the time he is enjoying life that's all that matters. Hope he continues to do well for as long as possible.
We are desperately hoping that the work that they have managed to do today will last him for a few more months. He is staying on his tablets, but I also know that the writing is on the wall, and nobody can make his bowel healthy again. I just can't get my head round losing such a cheeky boy before his 8th birthday. In a way this is very similar to Malka's dilemma with Pereg, in that in all other ways he is completely normal dog - just one faulty part which can't be cured. I can't keep putting him through surgery at 3 monthly intervals though. One day I will have to be brave.
It will not being brave Carole - well maybe at the time - but whenever it has to be just think and remember that whatever you do is for Eddie, not for you. Sometimes, whatever our vets do, is just not enough. I was "lucky" with Pereg as it was just a matter of medication, with no surgery needed - just three-monthly blood tests. And her Vet knew her and her epilepsy so well. But we also knew that there was nothing we could do for her. She told me it was time and yet I still read on the epi list of people refusing to listen to their dogs, just adding more and more medication. Can you believe that some people stuff pills into their epis five or six times a day, with five or six different types of medication each day? It will not cure them. Nothing cures epilepsy, and yes, maybe I could have tried an extra drug on her, but for what? Not for me, knowing that once you start on that road you hope again that maybe this next pill will be the magic bullet. And the tragedy is that most vets and neurologists keep giving the "well this one might help". Firstly Pereg never saw a neuro - Ram knew probably more them enough. We bptj knew my beloved Pereg enough that when it was time, it was time. And I do not know what other vet would come out at what - 1am? - to give their dog peace. But Ram did OK, totally different problems for both Eddie and Pereg, but you have been doing everything you can for Eddie, and until that time comes, just love him and let him do what he wants. Just love and enjoy him while you can, and whatever decision you come to, never regret it. Because you will be showing your love for him. Much love to both Eddie and you. xxx
I was so hoping the news would be better for Eddie. Love him, treasure him and make the most of every minute. Make tons of happy memories with him. xxx
I'm so sorry to hear the news about Eddie. You must feel devastated! I know it's grasping at straws, but have you heard of fecal transplants a treatment which was developed specifically for humans with illnesses such as IBD, Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis but in the US is now also used for dogs with some success. I only learnt about it recently, after reading a couple of articles posted on the Shar-Pei Health-Education. If you type in "Canine Fecal Transplant" you should find the articles online as well plenty of information on the human treatment. I'm not an expert but from what I understand you use the liquidised poo from a healthy donor dog and insert it into the sick dog by means of an enema, although I believe in canines it's done with a colonoscope The good bacteria from the healthy dog kills off the bad bacteria and allow for healing. The difficult part seems to find a donor dog who has a healthy immune system as well as a vet in the UK who's willing to perform the procedure. I'd gladly send you some of Gwylim's poo because at 2 years old, apart from the normal vaccinations he's never had antibiotics, and has been fed a natural "home cooked" diet which rarely includes processed food. I don't think however the Royal Mail would take kindly to delivering envelopes of smelly poo to your house!
Yes Barbara, I had heard of this, and did consider it when Ed's problem was 'only' ulcerative colitis, but as recently as February this year, it did begin to look as if some healing was taking place. Sadly, that is no longer the case. Although they have been removed, and tested as non malignant polyps, these growths are behaving just as if they were cancerous ones. The higher ones have rooted into the rectal wall, and the lower ones have spread out and are now invading the anal sphincter. They have developed their own blood supply. This new development has happened since his last polyp op. in September, and is why the vet has only been able to tidy him up this time. Removal of the higher ones would thin his bowel wall, removal of the lower ones has a high risk of incontinence. We were actually told that this was the likely course of the disease when he was first diagnosed with UC in July 2013, but of course WE were going to the ones that proved them all wrong! I might be able to twist her arm into giving him one more tidy up, but our super vet was reluctant to do this last op, so we'll just have to play it by ear. For now, HE thinks he's normal, eating, drinking, running, barking, sleeping - apart from looking older than seven, nobody would guess there was anything wrong. A year of big highs and lows for us though.
Well, it is now about five months since our last update, and Eddie has delighted us by managing to pass his 8th. birthday, whilst remaining in fine fettle and pretty much symptom free! He is still on 2 x 500mg. Sulphasalazine, and 2 x200mcg. Thyforon daily, and yes, it does mean that he has pink conjunctivae. However, he is happy to have his eye drops put in, and he has been passing his blood tests, and Schirmer tear tests. In April, I wormed him. using Cestem, and we did see just a trace of blood for the five days which followed. There was also an isolated stripe of the red stuff last week - grass eating? This is nothing like his previous record though. His vet is also pleased with the results so far. We are aware that this thing is probably lurking there - we are just not going to look too hard to find it. It can only be the Sulphasalazine that has made such a difference, I wish we could have started it a year earlier. I hope that this thread might help someone else in the future.
Good to here Eddie is still with you and doing well. I was half expecting the worse. Happy 8th Eddie and best wishes all goes well.
I am very pleased to read that Eddie is doing so much better now. Please give him [and Merry] ear twiddles and tummy tickles if they like them.
I'm very sorry to hear about your purebred's serious health problem. You may think I'm advertising, but actually caring about all dogs, I'm going to recommend a supplement called Only Natural Pet Immune Strengthener to help prevent bowel cancer. I would recommend that you stay away from drugs. Only Natural Pet B.S.S.T. Herbal Formula is another excellent supplement/alternative medication to help treat cancer (again, not advertising, just caring). I am currently using these two supplements on my American English Coonhound who has cancer and he is doing very well. If you don't want to buy the products, that's fine, but at least research the ingredients and look at purchasing them individually, although it will cost much more. MUSH Medicinal Mushroom Blend for Pets (omg different manufacturer) is another good medicinal herb blend to help treat cancer. Only Natural Pet Whole Food Antioxidant Blend is another great supplement for dogs with cancer (sorry, just caring). I use Only Natural Pet Anxiety & Stress Homeopathic when I take my more fearful dogs to the vet to calm them down. I would recommend putting him on a species appropriate raw diet. I hope things work out. I'm only trying to help, please do not verbally attack me this time.
Wow - an Only Natural product that treats cancer. Why do not human cancer specialists know about this? I am going to report you for advertising.
Yes, some of their products can help with cancer. Human homeopaths use the same herbal ingredients. I'm going to report you for harassment.
It's fine to recommend natural products - I'm sure many of us have tried them for various things both for our dogs and ourselves, but please DON'T encourage people not to give vet prescribed medicines that have been tried and tested for the treatment of various conditions. That can be extremely dangerous
Sulphasalazine has proved be a life saver for my boy, after experimenting for over three years with a variety of diets, supplements, and routine drug treatments. My lovely caring vets have been delighted by his progress since going on to this drug - which is usually the first drug option for humans suffering from the same condition. It may well not be suitable for use in all canine cases, and there is a need to routinely monitor for keraconjunctivitis sicca and use moisturising eye drops. Maybe it will cease to be effective at some stage, but there is no way that I would withdraw it while we are having such good results.
