[Tucker]

Tucker has had diarrhea for the last couple of days and has gotten pickier and pickier as far as eating anything. Today he has eaten nothing although he is drinking water. I have tried homemade chicken, soft boiled egg, cottage cheese and plain yogurt as well as his regular canned and dry Evo. Last night he finally ate a cup of dry Evo of all things at 11PM - he had to go out several times during the night. My husband is now at the grocery store buying hamburger and white rice. He wouldn't even get up to look at the last thing I made so I'm not too hopeful. We are thinking he may just be at the point where he has had enough. We are up in PA so not even near our regular vet but we have the name of a good local vet as well as an emergency practice.

There is a very lengthy thread started last March under Hemangiosarcoma Diagnosis that I think can give hope to others whose dogs receive this diagnosis - he has enjoyed a good life during the last months 10 months and we are so thankful for that. I received so much helpful advice and helpful links through this board. That definitely contributed to his beating the odds for this long. He was given about 1 month to live by the oncologist. He actually still is at a normal weight and so far not too lethargic. Hope he will eat something.........

[lange]

I hope he eats something too..

Hi. I'm not familiar with you & Tucker but I did a search to see some of your older posts. I think it's great that you're sharing what you've learned and come back to touch base. Your determination is an inspiration. You can see how loved Tucker is. I wish him well & hope his appetite comes back again.

[Tucker]

Thank you Lange - after several hours he finally did eat some hamburger and rice and then a little more with some soft boiled egg added. Hopefully it won't go right through him.

[CorkyMax]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about Your Tucker. He sure has been a great fighter---Maybe he will rally ---Maybe this was just not about the cancer as it sounds like he is eating better now. I will be hoping for the best for him---such a sweet dog. And I think you really have been a great fighter for Tucker too, doing all you can for him. You both will be in my thoughts--hoping for the best.
(I got your email but thought I would check out what you had posted also before I replied)

[Tucker]

Well, when I cooked the hamburger a little while ago he was like "hurry up, I'm hungry!" That was his 2nd helping with rice today. This is definitely not following the low grain diet advocated for his cancer but when it's rice or nothing we have to go with rice since it is supposed to help settle the stomach. He still has diarrhea though. As the vet said, at some point, you do have to just feed him whatever he will eat......no pumpkin in the grocery store that we have found but not sure he would eat it anyway.

[CorkyMax]

Very good to hear he has an appetite!! Do you have a Walmart there? I know they carry pumpkin and even in their smaller non-supermarket stores. Sometimes it is hard to find where the store puts it but you could ask them if they have it and where it is placed in their store. Wish I could 'beam' you over a can or 2--After the shortage, season before last, I really stocked up on the stuff when it came back on the shelves this past Oct. A good sub. if you can't find the pumpkin might be winter squash--Pumpkin is considered a winter squash.

I take that you want it because of the diarrhea. I guess you are giving probiotics--I got capsules from my vet when Max was having a bout of stomach/diarrhea upset. They are kind of expensive from the vet--over a dollar a capsule--but when you need them right away--it is worth it. Knowing all the research and knowledge you have gleaned I am prob. not telling you anything new! Vitamin B50 would also help. (human kind works okay)

Keep the good news coming!!

[Lara's mom]

I don't know if this will help your Tucker but, when my brood is picky about their food, I sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese, a little of which I mix in and some which I sprinkle over the tip...Give it a try.

[Tucker]

Corky/Max - Yes, there are actually 2 Super Walmarts here (we are in State College, PA) - that is a great idea to check for pumpkin. At home I had found it at Target. The oncologist had mentioned we could give Immodium since he had some diarrhea when he was first diagnosed so I started him on a low dose of that this afternoon. He is loving the hamburger and rice at least but still has the major runs . I do have probiotics at home and totally forgot to pack them up when I filled the grocery bag of his supplements. I am sure I can find some here locally at a health food store - thanks for the reminder.

Lara's Mom - the cheese is a good idea - we have tried various combinations of things so that may be something that would tempt him; he can be very crafty tho - he might just eat the little pieces off the top and leave the rest; he goes through his food, picks out the fish oil capsules, takes them into the dining room and deposits them on the floor there - the supplements he won't eat in his food we roll up in liverwurst and he wolfs them down.

Thank you both for the suggestions - will head out to the store tomorrow; also considering calling our regular vet in VA although not sure what else can be done since at this point he isn't dehydrated; if it gets to that point we will obviously need to see a vet locally. We want to do all we can if this is just a bump in the road but do not want to prolong things if this is actually a sign of real deterioration in his condition. How to tell????

[CorkyMax]

Do they have probiotics for dogs at a health food store? Dogs need a different one then humans I think--pretty sure!! Maybe you can call that vet that has the Labs and ask --and she should have some on hand. You prob. know all this--But, sorry, just double checking---Want the best for Tucker!

I think as long as Tucker wants to eat and is not in pain--that he still wags his tail and is happy to see you--It isn't time.
How to Tell When It's Time to Say Goodbye - Choosing Euthanasia for Your Beloved Dog

When should you put your dog down? - By Jon Katz - Slate Magazine

I found the above links by putting--dogs when to euthanize--in my browser. There are more links if you want to check them out.
And this is a good thread in here--Someone else asked that same question---when do you know it's time

[Tucker]

Well, not a good night. Tucker was up at least 6 times to go outside and also had accidents inside. Last time it looked like blood was in it. He has refused all food and water today. We have a vet appointment for this afternoon. Maybe probiotics and fluids will get him over this hump - still some distension in his abdomen; will see what they say about withdrawing the blood. If he is suffering we do not want to prolong it because we are unable to let him go

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Tucker

Well, not a good night. Tucker was up at least 6 times to go outside and also had accidents inside. Last time it looked like blood was in it. He has refused all food and water today. We have a vet appointment for this afternoon. Maybe probiotics and fluids will get him over this hump - still some distension in his abdomen; will see what they say about withdrawing the blood. If he is suffering we do not want to prolong it because we are unable to let him go

Oh darn! I will be praying for the best outcome with the vet appointment. Can you try having a good 'conversation' with Tucker before you go to the vet--I think you know what I mean. I wish I had talked to Corky more before he had to leave.

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Oh darn! I will be praying for the best outcome with the vet appointment. Can you try having a good 'conversation' with Tucker before you go to the vet--I think you know what I mean. I wish I had talked to Corky more before he had to leave.

Thank you Corky/Max! I actually had several conversations with Tucker today, along with some tears, and he has perked up!!! He is our miracle dog Earlier I made a soft boiled egg, mixed it with rice and some low sodium chicken broth, and he slurped all the liquid at least. He then took his pills in the liverwurst and ate a couple treats. The vet was pretty pleased at his overall condition (very pink gums, said abdomen not too bad although she could tell organs were enlarged, no dehydration at this point). She said it could just be an intestinal upset unrelated to the cancer but no way to tell at this point and put him on metronidazole for symptomatic relief (he tested negative for giardia(?) but they sent lab work out. She also recommended Greek yogurt if he will eat it. We are to get back to them in a couple days with an update. Needless to say we are relieved for now and hoping the meds do something for him - his poor rear end is sore! (vet thinks that is why we saw some blood in the stool).

[lange]

Good on the perking up! Hopefully it is just an upset stomach. It would make sense in seeing the blood. Hope hope hope!! Good boy, Tucker. Eat up & feel better.

[CorkyMax]

Such good news!! I kind of wondered at 1st that maybe it was not cancer related but I was beginning to worry after reading the post you did earlier today. Tucker is such a big fighter--Wonder Dog! Am so happy to hear this news. Hugs!!

[Tucker]

Thanks lange and Corky/Max for the good thoughts!! It really seems too soon to have any affect but he has not pooped since I gave him the meds - I think you guys are sending major good mojo his way - I have no idea how fast that stuff is supposed to work; the vet said it can have a calming affect on the intestines - also said from the symptoms it sounds like the large intestine is involved not the small which is a positive sign (more likely it is not due to cancer spread). He ate some chicken breast and rice floating in liquid tonight so he is definitely feeling better. Hopefully we all get some sleep tonight!

Corky/Max - any news on the rabies vaccine situation?

[CorkyMax]

Good morning Kay, Tucker and rest of your family! I hope all of you got some sleep last night--and that Tucker is well on to recovery.

About the rabies situation---I had (last weekend) sent an email to the clerk of the village, sending a copy of the letter I got from my vet stating he would go along without her having the shot if a titer came back saying she didn't need the shot. I also sent info about the titer as I imagine the board has no idea what it is! I knew the clerk would not see the email until Monday--I had said in it that I would be calling her on Monday to get verification of the date/time of the meeting for the vote--supposedly Valentine's Day. (Lol, my mother's birthday). I called, no one answered so left a message to call me back----Still haven't heard from her---so will be calling again today. I plan on attending that meeting and of course take the original letter from the vet as I need to show the signature. Lol, I am very good at arguing but will be up against prob. 5-6 board members--one who is a drunk and a millionaire who thinks he owns this village. He has been the mayor several times, lol, it can't be because of his character/knowledge so fig. he prob. has most people here in his pocket so to speak. When I had to go to a board meeting about 10 years ago to get approval of putting in a chain link fence--He was the only one who voted no.:x Thank God that the majority rules in a vote! So will know next Monday night what I'm up against--Let you know how things go.

[Tucker]

Do you think the board is ignoring the issue, hoping it just goes away? They probably have no understanding of the issues involved and the possible consequences for your doggy if she were to be re-vacinated. Lay it on thick

Well we had an uninterrupted night (yea). Tucker had semi-soft and then fairly runny stools this morning (sorry if TMI) but ate a bowl of chicken and rice and drank water so things are improving. He has been fairly loose often in the past and I am wondering if this chronic type diarrhea is related to the spread of the cancer to his liver that was apparent last March on the CT - I just read that liver problems among other things can cause this. Anyone familiar with a product called Gastriplex? It contains probiotics and L-glutamine along with several other ingredients. I also have some drops for canine gastro problems from B-Naturals at home that I'll look at again (used them once in the past). We go back to VA next Monday so won't order anything at this point.

[CorkyMax]

I just got a hold of the clerk a few minutes ago. The board will vote this next Monday and I will be there. She is going to send email copies of the info I sent her to the SEVEN board members so they can review things. I asked her if she knew if any of the board members had dogs. She said she knew that 3 of them did, lol, Hopefully there are more than 3--otherwise outnumbered for better chances. I had mentioned to her my chances weren't the best and she said a few encouraging words so hope she got some good 'vibes' from whomever she talked to so far!! It is a shame though, If this gets approved--it will be the 1st time for this village and this county (and who knows--even the whole state!) Hope I am the pioneer opening up 'new territory' here for other poor dogs to benefit from. Part of the shame is that the way my vet and other health officials talk (and act) No one has even tried to get a waver before around here--They didn't even know about the law and had to update their old files!! Getting the message out to dog owners that this can be done (If it happens) is another challenge in itself too. If I get the approval--I feel like getting info out there by doing an editorial for the newspaper but might not be a good idea in the end--might backfire!

I don't know anything about Gastriplex. I kind of hate to tell you this but Corky had loose tarry dark stools near the end--Hopefully this is not the problem with Tucker and it is because of the stomach issue/upset he may have. As long as he wants to eat--Corky did not at the end and prob. because of liver problems---not working. Hoping for the best--and hug that Tucker for me again.

[Tucker]

Wow!! That is exciting about next Monday! I really admire you and wish you good luck! If this does get approved (and it sounds like you do have a good chance) maybe at least a letter to the editor in your paper would educate other dog owners regarding the dangers of over-vaccination; titers, as you well know, are really expensive, but it will help if more dog owners and vets themselves would become more familiar with the issue.

Thankfully, Tucker has not had tarry stools - I know that would be from internal bleeding higher up in the intestinal tract and would not be a good sign. I think the little red blood he showed was from going so much - he is hungry again today and even after chicken and rice this evening he kept hanging around the kitchen so I gave him some plain grain-free chicken canned food. All the other frozen home-made stuff I have here has broccoli in it so not using that - will cook more hamburger tomorrow.

[CorkyMax]

So good to hear Tucker is getting better and better!

Yeh, those rabies titers are quite a bit higher priced than other titers. Will cost me $150 (that includes the shipping price to and back) Will go to a place in Kansas to be checked out. The really bad thing is that my vet will only waver the shot for 1 year and would have to do this every year----At least I will know how well Sami is protected and can stall about getting the rabies shot by a year. Hopefully the cancer is gone for good! There is a lot of info on my fighting for this waver than I will go into--Lol, the vet even balked on it. Nobody wants to stick their neck out.