[Lena]

Lisa,

Do you know what type of cancer this is? Squamous cell is one of most common ones you see in the mouth in cats. Usually the thyroid condition is not cancerous and caused by a benign tumor that produces too much thyroid hormone so it sounds like he has two separate disease processes. If it is squamous cell steroids can significantly help both with quality and quantity of life. If it is squamous cell this article may be helpful

http://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2011/10/15/squamous-cell-carcinoma-holistic-herbal-and-integrative-treatments-in-dogs-and-cats/

best wishes,Lena

[Lena]

I’m sorry about the DM also Marisa. I have had some dogs respond very well to acupuncture with DM. Not all of them do but I had one old Shepherd that we kept up and walking for over a year. He did need acupuncture pretty often, about every week to every other week but he had an amazing response to it every time. If you do have someone in your area who does acupuncture might be something to try, you should see in the first few treatments if it is going to help or not. I know she has a lot else going on to which can make it more difficult as well.

[Lena]

Looks like a very good product. I don’t think there is anything like this in the USA. It’s an interesting idea to work with whole carcass meats and then add a little veggie/etc on the side. It sounds like it would be very good for cats who need to have meat be most of their diet to be healthy.

[Lena]

I have used artemisinin and Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang with NSAIDs and doxy before without issues in many animals but check with your vet to make sure. If I was using tea pills in a large dog I would dose at 4-5 morning and evening, so 8-10 total a day. Once again check with your vet. XFZYT is a great formula for giving older or sick dogs more energy and stamina! Glad you are seeing results!

[Lena]

Hi Nancy,

Sounds like you have read through some of the ideas on the forums. Here is the article I wrote on what I have found works the best. It is very different dog to dog but hopefully some of the ideas can help http://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2010/02/01/dementia-and-anxiety-in-your-older-dog-what-to-do/

[Lena]

Sometimes a dog’s body does have a problem with processing drugs as they get older. Usually with the Valium it is more of how their body reacts to it. Even in young dogs there can be a large difference in how sedating it is and in about 5-10% of dogs it is actually stimulating instead.

It is so difficult with these older dogs because what works well for one may not for another. The things I have found work in the most dogs are the small meals right before bed and the thundershirt. But I have seen valium, anipryl, melatonin, gingko, acupuncture, other herbals, tranquility tonic, any some of the other things I mention help dogs where the meal and thundershirt did not. And sometimes it is finding the right combination.

It is a very difficult place to be for us human caregivers.

Thank you everyone for adding to this discussion.

[Lena]

Hi Susan,

What a great question. I have found the best plan for weight gain in dogs with cancer is -Cod liver oil or fish oil (I prefer Nordic Naturals)I use 2-3 times recommended dose if they can tolerate it

-sweet potato or pumpkin (I’m fine with those for animals with cancer)

-1-2 eggs a day for the average sized dog.

There are also some herbals but they tend to be very individual.

I have found this really helps. I hope it puts some weight on Oscar:-)

best wishes,

Lena

[Lena]

I am so sorry about Gamy. I have been through lung cancer with three of my own kitties (two primary and one metastatic) and it is not easy. If at all possible I would find a good holistic vet to work with in your area. Cats are very sensitive and having someone who can see Gamy and help to direct and support you and him would be very helpful. I did use a combination of herbs and acupuncture in my cat Basil and we were able to give him more quality time here and prevent him from dying of lung failure.

Here is an article about finding such a person with some links of vet lists

http://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2011/12/11/how-to-find-a-good-holistic-vet-to-work-with/

best wishes,

Lena

[Lena]

I’m so sorry Jenny. Hemangiosarcoma can be a very nasty cancer and can spread very fast. It is so hard to loss them that quickly.

[Lena]

I see lipomas as more of a symptom of what we would call phlegm or damp heat issues in Chinese medicine (probably translates best to inflammation in western med but not exactly). You can treat the underlying issues but usually the ones that are there do not go away. I have not found an herbal which works well for lipomas. There are some moxa/acupuncture techniques that will sometimes shrink them a little but it usually needs to be ongoing treatments and it doesn’t always work. Generally I just leave them and work on balancing to the body to prevent new ones.

[Lena]

I think the best test of something working is slight improvements and a slowing of the decline that you see with osteosarcoma. Every animal has a different progression so it can be hard sometimes to tell. I have never just used artemisinin in a dog with osteo so I can’t tell you for sure that it was the thing that helped but I have found the animals I have treated for cancer without artemisinin have not done as well so I almost always use it these days.

I’ve had many, many dogs on Xiao Chai Hu Tang and artemisinin together and there is no interaction between these two. If I treat osteosarcoma with lung mets I use Xiao Chai Hu Tang but luckily most I treat before we see lung mets.

I hope Taj does well!

[Lena]

I’m glad the valium is helping a little. I have had older dogs that are on valium longterm for sleep issues.

Acupuncture points for sleep as a little hard because it can differ dog to dog and depending on the imbalances. The most consistent points I have found are xin shu (heart association points along the bladder meridian) often with kidney points to balance (ming men and shen shu). However if it isn’t a heart or kidney imbalance then that will not work.

I would ask your vet about the interactions between Anipryl and amliodipine.

Hope that sleep is better for everyone!

[Lena]

I’m not skilled in Ayurvedic herbal medicine myself so not sure about dosage. Usually for small dogs with chinese and western herbals I am using about 1/10 of a human dose. There are occasional herbs that can not be safely used in animals so I would also check in about that.

[Lena]

It might be worth getting a neuro consult with a neurologist to see if there is something that can be done, if it is a lack of pain issue or if something else is going on. It may be that there is nothing that can be done if it is genetic and mom had similar issues.

[Lena]

Hi ndmom4,

I have many animals I work with where eating is a struggle. Often times feeding something different every day will help. There are also some very good western drugs for appetite stimulation. Bitters can also help in some cases – I often use formulas with artemisia and gentiana. You can probably find something from a western herbalist. Rotisserie chickens often seem to be popular.

[Author]

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