sad news...
Submitted by kibby5 on September 16, 2011 - 6:49amDear all,
my 14 yr old kelpie Gabby has not been eating her dog food lately. I figured it was because she was just getting picky because she is old and my husband constantly feeds her human food. We brought her in to the vet to check her out because she has had diarehea yesterday and today and unforutnately it turns out that she may have liver or slpein cancer.. vet did an ultrasound a found a very large liver and mass on her splein :(
There is not much we can do because of her age and I don't want to put her through anything major. The vet says her reflexes and everything else is actually still pretty good, so it wasn't "time" yet. The best thing we can do is just keep her comfortable for final month or few months (vet says maybe 3 at the most).
Anyways, she is on bland diet right now, and he has given us predisone (instead of rymidal) and some pain killers to start her tmrw. The vet tech told me to give her pepcid for her diarehea ( i think he meant immodium, but i will call and double check tmrw).
Knowing that she is on her way out, I would like to make this the best month of life... so I was wondering what to feed her daily so she does not have to eat dog food anymore. She likes her boiled chicken with carrots, but I think she getting tired of the rice.. and too much rice usually makes her constipated. So should I try to boil potatoes or yams? what kind of combination can I give her so she can have enough nutrition? She is also losing weight and it would be great if I can give her something to help her gain some back, but I know it can't be fatty. She is also takes a daily thyroid med.
thanks for any help, it would be greatly appreciated.
sincerely, christine
Awww - that's so sad... I'm sorry. I don't know what food just
wanted to say I'm sorry for you and your family, it's very hard and I have been through that. : (
Tis difficult - I know from experience
Unfortuately it was human experience and not canine (Not that its any less tragic that its one of our buddies) but I had to watch my mom 'stay comfortable' for several months, and it wasnt an enjoyable experience - I've been personally through cancer twice now,and if I get bad, it'll be up to me 'when and where'. I do not like to see anyone (Human or otherwise) suffer.
Heavy in heart for you and your family
Rick
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
I'm sorry to hear that
I love your sweet old girl...
What I feed my "sexy senior" now that she can't eat commercial food anymore is this. Cooked ground round (the best ground beef you can buy!), potatoes and green beans. I sprinkle an omega 3 capsule on that so it smells nice and fishy (yuck). She loves it.
That said, changing you girl's food again might wreak havoc with her system, as it does any time you change foods. So, if she loves her chicken and it agrees with her, I'd tend to stay with that. But you can certainly change up the rice for potatoes or yams (I don't think this would bother her tummy) and add some green beans. My girl hoovers them up.
Im sorry you are going thru this.
I don't know what to tell you about the food. 14 years is still never long enough with our babies.
Karonelaine
My Cocker Spaniel is in kidney failure.....
and I am doing the same thing for her.....making the most of her time.
What I found she LOVES is baby food. I usually boil up a chicken cutlet, divide it into two pieces and grind it up in a good processor and mix it with the baby food. She devours it!
When my first dog, also a Cocker named Floyd was in his last stages of heart failure, I did the same thing for him. I did not want to overload him on people food cause that would cause an upset stomach and that is no fun so I started with the baby food. Stage 1 meats and veggies.....he loved it too.
I am sorry you have to deal with this. It is hard to let them go....believe me I have been a wreck this last past few weeks knowing my baby girl is leaving....but you make the most of every day and cherish the memories!
Best of luck....sending prayers!
food...
dogs in kidney failure lose their taste buds...they dont smell or taste as well...so heat everything up.....at this stage dont worry about correct nutrition....my dane who was in kidney failure thrived on mac and cheese...cottage cheese....also loved any type of baby food...i also used ensure its a drink fiied with vit...alot of human cancer pts use this....you can get it in the grocery store....
chicken with the skin has a lot of fat....if possible steam rather than boil.....
your looking for high calorie so as not to lose weight.....
i think by heating the food you'll see more of an intrest in it....
Lose Senses
Good to know, I didn't know this about Kidney failure.
pepcid for diarehea?
thank you all for the suggestions.. I do heat up her food, i dont use any chicken skin, and i will definitely try some babyfood!
gabby had another rough night.. diarehea at 9pm and 4am, like totally out of nowhere! i double checked with the vet and only the vet tech would talk to me but he confirmed pepcid for diarehea.. which is strange because i thought pepcid was puking, and immodium was for diarehea? pepcid is obviously not working.. help!
sincerely, christine
get some canned pumpkin
.....i would use the pepcid becasue of the meds.....but to clean up the loose stools just get some canned pumpkin and warm a little.... 2 tablespoon every say 2 hr till firm...... with my bulldogs becasue they have sb i give a whole can.... but with your guy try a couple of tablespoons...
Tripe and Liver
is what I used to get Norbert to eat when he was sick. You just have to feed small amounts of it though.
diarehea drama again!
gosh, i am sure everyone here has been thru this.. the first shock of its coming! trying to carry her outside or in the air so it doesnt get all over her, then too late, couldnt grab the towel, bag, container... all in the carpet... the disgust, the initial pick up- whole roll of paper towels, the first scrub down, the second with detergent, the rinse, the rinse, the constant blotting of the carpet to try to get it all out and and as dry as possible.
lesson learned....towels, old bedsheets,old carpeting on top of all the regular carpeting from now on.
what a day!
i called the vet back and he said to go ahead and start her on her metronizadole (sp?) , he said it should clear up her diarehea...i hope its just diarehea and not something worse...
still no fever , eating the bland food very well, good appetite, walking fine at the park, and still wants to walk/go out every 3-4 hrs, other then the diarehea , she is acting pretty normal....maybe she figures its just easier to poo inside....i am on doodoowatch 2011!
they should invent disposible carpet covers for old dogs like this..
thank you all for your help
sincerely, christine
Metronidazol (aka flagyl)
Stella has been on it full time since she had her pancreatitis at the end of July. It has worked miracles!!
We're still transitioning her to a new food and she seems to need the support in digesting it right now.
Probably the same with your girl, since you are changing her food items also. I'm positive the flagyl will help.
Hugs to you - I know what you are going through!