Catie

mortdooley

mortdooley

Member
Catie has never been 100% health wise so when she got down again I thought it was because we were gone for four days and left her with our son. Then our toddler grandson came the next day while his mom and dad took a trip so I wanted to believe she just had an attitude over the changes. We took her to the vet on thursday and was referred to a specialist who told us that Catie has fourth stage multicentric lymposacoma. She had both hips replaced before she was a year old and has never had the muscle strength of a normal dog so the treatment options seem more limited then if she where strong before the diagnosis. I have what I am sure is false hope that they were mistaken but have started making final plans for my sweet girl. Since chemo makes you weak I don't see treatment as an option since she struggles to get up when she is well and it might give her a few more months at best. Our biggest concern after our loss is how our other Newfie will cope. Ruby is a very dominant female around any other dog but Catie and may spend the rest of her life with only people for company.
 
Leonard and his bud Snuffles

Leonard and his bud Snuffles

Active member
Originally posted by mortdooley:
Our biggest concern after our loss is how our other Newfie will cope. Ruby is a very dominant female around any other dog but Catie and may spend the rest of her life with only people for company.
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First off, let me tell you how sorry I am.

I know people will have opposite thoughts, but I have a neighbor who had 3 labs, all were failry old at the time. My neighbor was wants her animals to die at home, so when the 10 year old balck lab had cancer, and that day came, she had the vet come to the house to put the dog asleep. I told the neighbor I had heard it helps the dog have closure if the dead body can be seen/smelled. She didn't think that, but asked me to take the other dogs to the park when the vet was there. When we got back the vet was still there, and he pretty much belived what I heard, so he was waiting for me before atkeing the body. A few months later, the neighbor's almost 14 year old lab was so weak in the back legs, he could not get up, so when his time was up, again, the vet came to the house. The last dog left and the daughter of the 14 year old, now I bet 10 years old seems to have made the adjustment pretty good. So personally I think it might help if you can get the vet to the house and let the other dog see/smell the remains.

[ 03-17-2007, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: Leonard and his bud, Snuffles ]
 
mortdooley

mortdooley

Member
Thanks for the kind words,we have been able to enjoy the last three days with Catie almost acting normal. We will give her every chance to live a good quality of life for as long as possible and will be taking her back for blood tests on Friday. Having known people who had longer then normal cancer survival rates we have chosen to increase protein with cooked hamburger and eliminate simple sugars in meals. This may not do any good but sometimes you do things to believe you can make a difference. She is on antibiotics and steroids and zantac and that may be the only reason she is doing so well. She will be on them from now on.
 
CMDRTED

CMDRTED

New member
Good luck, we lost Hattie our Rottie to Bone Cancer little over 3 years ago. We understand how you feel. The good thing to come out of it was our introduction to Newf's.
 
BoundlessNewfs

BoundlessNewfs

New member
I'm very sorry to hear about your Catie, and will be hoping that the doctor was wrong. Please keep us updated. Ruby may surprise you, and be willing to have another dog pal.
 
mortdooley

mortdooley

Member
Thanks all, when the Prednizone and antibiotics no longer work I will know that the Doctors were right. She has had only good days since she came home but that can change at any time. Newfies are rare in the Houston area and I am hoping that could be a reason for a misdiagnosis.When the girls tore open a box of straitpins and ate half the box we had them X-rayed at a pet emergency clinic and were told Catie had an enlarged heart. When they X-rayed Ruby they said never mind it must be a normal size for a dog that large. Luckily they just ate the cardboard and not the pins.

[ 03-21-2007, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: mortdooley ]
 
mortdooley

mortdooley

Member
Its been two weeks and Catie has had all good days. Today she runs out of antibiotic and we are reducing the pregnizone from 60mg to 40mg,by the middle of next week she should should be down to 20mg per day. Has anyone had any experience with Oxygen Element Plus?
 
camel24j

camel24j

New member
i am so sorry to hear. but i am happy that she has had a lot of good days. no experience with that hopefully someone on here dose.
 
Pam G

Pam G

New member
I'm so glad to hear that Catie is having good days and feeling better. Sending positive thougths and prayers your way. ((((HUGS))))
 
mortdooley

mortdooley

Member
It has now been three weeks and Catie continues to appear normal. Last week-end a groomer came to the house and sheared both of the girls down to short hair. They remind me of a couple of huge poodles with their new hair cuts. As soon as I make the time I hope to post a picture of them in this condition,they are so much cooler it is amazing. I had heard that the long hair wicks away heat if the undercoat is brushed out but they seem to both be very comfortable this way. The lymph nodes in the hind legs still are swollen and I have used their size as an indication of her condition. They had shrunk originally but I am not sure if they are smaller then last week when the anti-biotic ran out. We will keep her at 40mg of pregnizone until we see more shrinkage, the emergency Vet wanted her to keep taking the 60mg per day but the regular Vet we use would like us to get her down to 20mg. Thanks again
 
Ginny

Ginny

New member
So glad she's doing well. I surely hope this continues. We do worry so much about our special breed. Keep us informed.
 
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