Kacy

Marj, I'm so glad you're enjoying the new kittens. I'll bet they are very entertaining! Mary

Sorry I have not posted in a while. I read most of the posts, but for some reason just find it difficult to write anything. I do keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers. Today is now 4 months since I lost Allie and also 3 months for Marj and her sweet kitty, Gb. When I look at the title of my post about it being a week since I lost my Allie, I can't believe the time has gone by so quickly. Some days, though, it seems like 4 years instead of 4 months. I miss her terribly. LIfe is not the same. Even though I have other dogs, Allie was the heart of the group. My husband and I have thought about adopting again and even went to meet a little Yorkie. But neither one of us felt like it was the right thing to do. Not sure if it was the dog or us, but we decided against it. I keep thinking I will compare any dog I get to Allie and to me, she was truly one in a million. I have never felt that way before about any of my dogs, that I would compare the next one to them, even though I loved them all. Plus, we are having mixed emotions about adopting another Cavalier, if we do adopt. The heart issue is almost a given with them - expensive to treat and also occurs at a younger age than most small dogs. But we just aren't attracted to any other breed as much, although maybe if the right dog came along that wouldn't matter either way. After we adopted our 1st Cavalier 5 years ago, we both felt like it was the only breed for us from here on out. That was before we had 2 dogs die in our arms at home unexpectedly. We are staying busy with transporting the little Yorkie with oral melanoma to her radiation treatments once a week and trying to find things to help build up her immune system after the treatments are over. She will be going for the 2nd one tomorrow. It is a 2 1/2 hr drive, so pretty much takes up the whole day. She did very well after the 1st treatment and we are not expecting any side effects until possibly after the 3rd treatment. Even then, the most common side effect is soreness in the mouth. So, they schedule the 4th and last treatment for 2 weeks later instead of one week. So far, everything has gone very well. She seems to like riding in the car, and the trips back and forth have not been bad at all. It has been a bit hard though to be dealing with such a serious illness with a dog, even though she is not my dog. I have been researching and asking questions as if she were because I feel like she deserves that. If all goes well, hopefully they will find a good home for her when the treatments are over with someone who will continue to research and question. She will need to be on a low carb diet to continue to fight the cancer and there are supplements to help also. Just wanted to comment also on Marj's post about being turned down by the rescue group. I agree with both Martys - I think the rescue group should take other things into account before deciding whether to approve or not approve someone. We had something similar happen to us a few years back where a young couple was given the dog to adopt that we were interested in. The group had actually approved us but then it was up to the foster to decide who gets the dog. We had an older dog at the time and this dog was younger, but I think it was more the fact that WE were older that the foster did not like. Apparently, the foster looked over our application and couldn't think of a reason not to talk to us about the dog, so we were told it was because she wanted the dog to go to a home where there was a younger dog for her to play with. It turned out the couple they adopted to had just been married and had no other dogs! Of course, we weren't supposed to find that out, but I happened to already be on the Yahoo list of the group so found out that way. I think the dog has a good home, which is the most important thing, but the dog went from being #1 in the house, where every post to the list was about her with pictures, etc. to a few years later having to share the spotlight with the new baby. So, then the posts and the pictures were about him. The actually did adopt another dog before the baby was born but the dog had some issues and did not do well with the baby. So, they found another home for her. Younger people do give up dogs also due to having children, not having enough time, moving into a place where they can't take the dog, etc. I think most of the time that older people give up their dogs or cats is due to a health issue and having to move into a place where they just can't take them. Thanks all for listening! Mary

Kay, I wish that I was as good about our diet as I am my dogs'. Kale is supposed to be very good for both humans and dogs. Your smoothie recipes actually sounds good - guessing that the banana helps a lot. I'm kind of surprised your cat will likes it, too. Mary

Thanks, Marj. We both know how devastating it is to have to let one of our little ones go. I feel so badly for this little dog. She was probably not very well cared for her whole life and now that she has a chance for a good home, she has to deal with cancer. I know this will not buy her years, but I do hope maybe a good year or so. Mary

Sorry, I have not posted here in a while. Thank you for the comments about my babies! I am still having difficult dealing with the loss of Allie and have found that my only salvation is just to stay busy. I have found myself involved with trying to help a little Yorkie that was posted as free on Craigslist. She is about 12 yrs old and the person listing her stated it was her grandfather's dog, and he was not able to care for her anymore. She also stated she had a lump on her gums. I contacted a local rescue group and they agreed to take her. She is darling (as you will see in the picture), unfortunately, the lump turned out to be oral melanoma. If it would have been caught earlier, they would have been able to possibly do surgery. But it is now inoperable. They are suggesting palliative treatments to possible give her more time. Without the treatments, they are saying possibly 4-6 months. This is only the regular vet's estimate. She has not been seen by the oncologist yet. We went to meet her at Petsmart last Saturday and, as I said, she is just precious. She apparently doesn't now she is 12 and that she has cancer. She was very interested in everything going on around her and didn't seemed fazed by any of it. The woman who runs the rescue is fostering her - possibly as a hospice case, but we have not given up just yet. They are raising funds thru a GoFundMe account to see if we can raise the money for radiation treatment that would hopefully lessen her pain and extend her life for maybe a 1 yr or more. Hopefully, quality time. My husband and I are going to pay for the consultation with the oncologist and then hopefully, the rescue can pay for the treatments. But we felt like they needed to know exactly what they are dealing with. I'm hoping by some miracle that the regular vet is wrong, since she did not do a biopsy. But if not, as long as the oncologist feels this would help her, we are going to try. Wanted to post a picture of her. She hasn't been professionally groomed and looks a little shaggy, but with some supplements the foster is giving, I think she's feeling better - at least her skin issues are clearing up. Anyway, I think this is the only way I can deal with the loss of Allie, although my husband and I both got emotional at adoption event just seeing all of the dogs needing a home. I know taking her for treatments won't be easy for either of us, but since we are retired, it is easier for us to do. It is a 2 hr drive to Columbus where they do the radiation. As always, thanks for listening! I'm so sorry for all that have recently lost one of their babies or, like me, are still mourning the loss. Mary

Mary, I do not cook the vegetables I give my dogs. I have a Ninja type blender and that is what I use to puree them. I need to add some of the ones you suggested as I generally only give green beans or kale, and then always add pumpkin. I think it is an ongoing learning process. Even those who have fed a homemade or raw diet for years are always looking for something better! Mary

Mary - thank you so much for the information. I'm so glad that Bentley is still doing well on the diet. I know it is a lot of work, but I think it is worth it. As I said before, I feed my Cavaliers a raw diet so just grind up the vegetables and mix them in. Nothing is cooked. I used to cook oatmeal and add it in, which helped to warm the food, but I quit doing that mainly because the dogs were getting too chubby. I buy meat that is already ground with the bones left in. The woman who runs the rescue that has the little Yorkie is feeding her just meat with broth and I think maybe some dry, but I'm not sure. She's only had her a few days, and I think she's just trying to keep her eating for now. The melanoma is on the side of her gum, so I'm sure it is uncomfortable for her to eat. She apparently is a very sweet dog - very alert and as active as any other 14 yr old dog. How long that will continue is anyone's guess. They are only giving her 4 - 6 months without treatment. The oncologist I contacted said they generally don't recommend chemo, but do use a fractionated radiation treatment that is supposedly easier on the dog because it is meant to reduce, but not eliminate the cancer. The woman from the rescue group is undecided about even getting the consultation with the oncologist, although I'm not sure why. I don't like conventional treatment either but I think it is important to make sure of what is going on with the dog. Her regular vet said she didn't need to do a biopsy- that she can tell by looking at it that it is cancer. But what I read online states that it is important to do the biopsy. She has a lot of faith in this vet, who is relatively young and so, to me, not very experienced. She may be right, but then again if the oncologist says they need a biopsy, then maybe they need a biopsy (or maybe the oncologist is just trying to make more money!). Anyway, the woman wanted to talk to the regular vet again before deciding about the oncologist consultation. If nothing else, she is interested in a good diet for her and some supplements as well. Thank you again, Mary! Kay - I only wish it was Oregon, but it is Ohio! They have a great vet school but about a 2 - 2 1/2 hr drive for us. We switched to the cardiologist there after our ordeal with the local one with Allie's death. There is another oncologist at the same hospital closeby (where the old cardiologist is) and we may go there instead. I offered to help with the expenses of the consultation and the woman said she would like me to go to ask questions also. It will be hard to go back there - I'm sure it will bring back many bad memories. I feel so badly for this little dog. I think she was loved in her former home but she was not well cared for. She apparently had fleas before the group got her and needed a bath. Her coat was all dry and flaky. The woman has been giving her fish oil and in just the short time she has been there, her coat is much better. She is fitting in very well with the other dogs there, although they are all big dogs and she is only 8 lbs. The woman said she is very sweet. I know it's going to be hard when they have to let her go, when that time arrives. Mary

Hi Mary, Well, as luck - or no luck - would have it, I now have more interest in the diet you are using for Bentley. First of all, hope he is doing okay. Is he still enjoying his new diet? I had looked at the link you sent about the herbs from the holistic vet when you first sent it. It's ironic because I then came across it again yesterday in doing some research online. I didn't realize until I again went to it today from your post that it was the same vet! The reason I am doing this research is that I connected (thru emails) a woman giving away a little Yorkie for free on Craigslist to a local rescue group that I thought might help her find a home for her so she didn't give her away to just anybody. The woman stated in the ad that the dog had a lump on her gums. The rescue group decided to take her so that she would be safe because the woman was going to take her to a shelter the next day. They immediately took her to their vet, who said that the dog has oral melanoma and there doesn't seem to be much hope for treatment. She did not do a biopsy because she said it is obviously melanoma. She suggested a consultation with a specialist. The rescue group does not feel they want to put her thru surgery, chemo/radiation, etc. The dog is around 14 years old, but doesn't seem to know there is anything wrong with her. I have offered to help by taking her to OSU for a consultation and am waiting to hopefully hear back from the oncologist there to see if it is even advisable to do that since we are not willing to follow up with surgery, etc. I emailed her this morning so hopefully she will reply. My first choice would actually be a good holistic vet that might have some experience with this type of cancer, but I'm not sure I will be able to find one. I've used several in the past with some success, at times, depending on the condition we were there for. But it seems some of these conditions are just beyond their experience level. Oral melanomas, apparently, are basically not successfully treated no matter which direction you go - or at least from what I am reading. I thought maybe I would try to make a batch of cooked food (I feed raw to mine but the rescue group is not comfortable with that) and wondered if you would mind sharing your recipe. This poor little thing is only 8 lbs - about 1/2 the sizes of even my smallest dog here! If nothing else, I think she will enjoy getting good food! I thought about suggesting Standard Process Immune Support but don't know if there is anything else that might help. I have contacted one of the holistic vets I have used in the past to see if she has any experience with this. Waiting to hear from her also. Thanks for any help! Mary

Carrie, I'm so very sorry. We are all crying with you. Your beautiful girls are together again. Will keep all of you in our prayers. Mary

Carrie - keeping Callie and all in our thoughts and prayers! Mary

Carrie, I'm so sorry. I truly understand what you are going thru as what you are describing is what we went thru with our little shih tzu, Kacy. I don't know if it would help but I can offer a few suggestions. We used to warm the fluids by putting them in a sink filled with warm/hot water for about 20 minutes or so. And also, we used a smaller needle (can't remember the exact size now as it's been 5 years). Of course, then it takes longer but seemed to be a bit more comfortable. Our vet suggested doing fluids every day but that is not easy, as you said. They do feel so much better afterwards though. I'm not sure about the Mylanta. Here is a link that suggesting it is too high in magnesium: http://www.felinecrf.org/nausea_vomiting_stomach_acid.htm Maybe there are other options. I didn't read the whole page. It's a very difficult decision you are facing. I did have the normal guilt afterwards but as I look back, I know it was the right thing to do. So hard at the time though. Will keep everyone in our prayers. Mary

Marj, I think dogs are the same way as far as routine. It's amazing how quickly they learn it, too, if you are consistent. I have tried to keep everything the same since Allie died also. It was hard to get used to not having 3 little dishes to fill, and then trying to keep Logan from running over Allie as they raced thru the gate into the dining room. They all seem to have their own favorite spots to lay. It's so hard to look and see that one spot is empty now. In some ways, I think all of the routines make it even harder to go on without them. Mary

Carrie, No, I don't think I would be a very good vet tech. I don't even like to cut my dogs' nails. I feel like I've kind of muddled thru these various diseases with my dogs - unwilling to put their treatment 100% into any vet's hands, but not sure I of my decisions either. Sounds like your Doxies were very entertaining. I have to say I like the hounds also - love the Treeing Walkers and Bluetick, although have never owned either. We had always had bigger dogs over the years (a Doberman, a German Shorthaired Pointer and English Setters) until my son brought home a stray Shih Tzu. After we got our Cavaliers, we decided that was really the best breed for us at this stage of the game - calm, don't bark a lot and not very active. Of course, they pretty much all have heart problems, so that is the big drawback. We are kind of in the same boat as far as ever adopting any more. I know my husband would like another lap dog and keeps hinting at getting a Cavalier puppy, but I think my puppy days are over. I just don't think any dog could compare to Allie in my eyes and Lucy in his eyes anyway. Still have several here to care for. Hope Callie is doing well today. Mary

Wonderful pictures, Carrie. He sure enjoyed life, and I'll bet brought a lot of joy into yours. Mary

Carrie, I think I had to have the vet write a prescription for the fluids, if I remember correctly. We lost Kacy 5 years ago, and since then, had to go from learning about kidney disease to learning about heart disease and I think my mind can only hold so much information! My husband was thinking it might be another local pharmacy that we got the fluids from, but I remember some on the K9kidney list ordered from Walgreens. I think they have some type of program for pets. We used to order the lines from Thriving Pets. I just checked their website and the fluids are now $15 a piece! I see where they state that the price had gone up considerably a few years back. Anyway, I would definitely check around. I also bought the aluminum hydroxide from Thriving Pets. You could join one of the Yahoo lists (K9Kidneydiet and K9kidneys), even if just to get information about where to buy the fluids. Lucky that Amberly is able to do the fluids. I guess I wouldn't make a very good nurse and often wonder how I ended up with a dog that needed fluids and one that was diabetic. My husband and I were forced to learn to do the shots, but we were never comfortable doing them. - even after 6 1/2 years, twice a day. I agree that they let you know when enough is enough. Kacy could be a bit temperamental on top of everything else, but tolerated them fairly well. They do help a lot. As for how much time they have left, I honestly never even asked any of my vets because I truly feel they don't know. It is only a guess - yes, maybe an educated guess, but still a guess. When my setter was first diagnosed with diabetes, 3 vets told us he would go blind within 6 months. He did not lose his sight for over 6 YEARS, and the veterinary eye dr said then that it was due to normal cataracts due to old age - not due to diabetes. Also, my one Cavalier with the worst heart of my 3, who also has a ruptured major chord in her heart, is still with us and doing well, a year after we thought we were going to lose her - a total surprise to the vet - while my other 2 whose hearts were not as bad died suddenly. Mary

Carrie, Hope that Callie is doing well this morning. Just wondered if you ever tried feeding her tripe? It is good for them but really stinks to high heaven. Most dogs love it even when they won't eat anything else. I buy frozen, but it can be hard to find that way. I have fed canned tripe also - Tripett Venison tripe was the favorite around here. You can sometimes find it at a higher end pet store. Even just mixing a teaspoon or so into other food can motivate them to eat. Are you doing fluids at home? My vet recommended it daily but since my husband and I weren't comfortable doing it, we had to have a vet tech come over every few days and give them. Got to be very expensive, but it definitely made Kacy feel better. We bought a case of the fluids from Walgreens for much cheaper than getting it from the vet and then ordered the lines and needles online. As for any prescription food from the vet (or actually ANY food from the vet), I think most of it is junk. Most dogs won't eat it and it's not good quality anyway. The only one who benefits from it is the vet, who is making money. Keeping all in our prayers. Mary

Thank you all for your sweet comments. We are just crazy about our Cavaliers. It is a wonderful breed - both inside and out. Makes losing them even harder. Mary

Carrie, Thinking of you this morning and hope that Callie is doing a bit better. We had been thru kidney disease with our little shih tzu several years ago, so understand what you are going thru. I was trying to think of the nausea medication we used - Cerenia, maybe? Actually, just looked i up on the dogaware.com website. It is Cerenia. I think it was given once a day for 4 days and then a couple of days off, but not sure about that. I also belonged to several Yahoo lists (k9kidneys and k9kidneydiet) that were helpful. Don't know if you are familiar with the Dogaware website but lots of information on kidney disease. I tried copying and pasting the link, but can't seem to be able to do that. If you have time, look at the website dogaware.com and then go to "health" and "kidney disease". Sending healing thoughts and prayers for Callie. Mary

Carrie, Thinking of you this morning and keeping all in my prayers. Mary

Finally got the pictures onto the new computer. Makes me so sad though to look thru them and see Allie and Lucy (laying on pillow) . Mary

Carrie, I hope that your sweet Callie is able to have her surgery. I know several years ago we had to have a dental done on our shih tzu, who had kidney disease, and we were worried about it, too. It all turned out okay though. They just had her on the IV fluids the whole time. I think the dental issues can be a real problem as they start having other health issues. Right now, we are dealing with that with Molly. She could really use a dental, although as far as we know, there are no major problems going on. It seems these smaller dogs have more than their share of dental problems but when they start having heart/kidney/liver issues, it becomes kind of a balancing act. Hope everything goes okay. Mary

Copperpot, I'm so sorry for the loss of your grandfather. Good that you can post here as you are probably right - family members wouldn't understand your feelings right now when they are dealing with the loss of your grandfather. I agree with Kay though, it can be just as difficult to lose your dog or cat as it is to lose a family member. Take care. Mary

Marj, Part of the reason why I want to pursue this is that neither one of the two regular vets I talked to about Allie's autopsy were able to adequately explain the histiocytic pneumonia that was mentioned on the report. They were both familiar with the term "histiocytic" but not used with pneumonia. I am hoping since this vet I am in contact with is a pathologist, that he will be able to explain it further. I think when all of this is going on with our pets, we are just in such a state of shock. You're right - it is a traumatic event. I'm glad you were able to get the information you needed from the vet about Gb's xray, even though it is always difficult to hear these kinds of things. Mary

Mary, Would love to find a holistic MD also, but with insurance companies being what they are, I think that would be even harder than finding the vet. I have also had to switch regular vets over the years, in some cases leaving a vet I truly liked personally but did not see eye to eye on with certain things (vaccinations, etc.). I also have switched from both of the local veterinary cardiologists to one 2 hrs away, which is a concern when your dog is having a crisis. But I just do not feel they were as concerned about my dog as I felt they should be and, in one case, the vet traveled so extensively that it seemed was always either out of town or scheduled to be out of town - this happened twice in less than a year's time when 2 of my dogs needed emergency care and we were stuck with less than adequate ER treatment. It was a pleasant surprise when the new cardiologist had someone in his office call me a few days after Molly's first visit there because he knew how stressful it had been for her (she doesn't travel well and we had a long wait in his office due to them being extremely busy that day). He was actually off sick the day they called, but had emailed someone in his office and asked them to call to check on her, so it made it even more impressive. He also had such a caring way about him. I'm glad you were able to find a good vet who is into alternative treatments as well. Seems to be hard enough to find one or the other, let alone someone into both types of treatments. Mary

Mary, I have heard of that particular herb before. Hope that it helps. I wish more traditional vets would be willing to learn about different forms of healing techniques, but some seem to be "stuck" in the ways that they learned years ago - and in some cases, not so many years ago. I have used many different supplements over the years for various illnesses that my dogs have had, and I have found less problems with them than with most of the medications I have used. Please keep us updated on Bentley! Mary