Dog Cancer

[Sabrasher]

My 2 year old miniature australian shepherd Sabra was diagnosed with lymphoma barely 5 weeks ago when we took her to the vet for a normal check up. Once we found out she had cancer she deteriorated rapidly over the few days we had to wait for the results of the biopsy. As soon as we knew for sure, we immediately started Sabra on the Wisconsin Protocol (Vincristine, Cyclotoxin, Vincristine, Doxyrubisin). Within a few days her cancer went into remission and she was able to play frisbee and eat again. She made it through the first 4 weeks of Chemo and then on the 5th week (the break week) things started happening fast.

All of a sudden on Tuesday, Sabra started having some balancing issues. It was only every once in a while and not that big of a deal. By the next morning she was having the shakes. Her head was vibrating whenever she picked it up and she was severly clumsy. We watched her and took her into the vet that Wednesday. The vet didn't seem to think it was that bad, espeically since Sabra is terrified of the vet and puts on a good show. Thursday morning Sabra had an episode (she curled up on the floor paralyzed for a little bit). We didn't know what it was and I took her into work. That afternoon she had 8 more episodes and we started to realize they were seizures without a lot of shaking. We took her to her specialty vet on Friday and they hospitalized her and gave her vallium and did a spinal tap and CT scan. It was confirmed that her Lymphoma had spread to the nervous system. The vets weren't too worried though and said we could take her home Saturday and come back up on Tuesday when the oncologist was in to start her on a new and strong chemo protocol.

Sunday she started having seizures again and her shakes were even worse. We got her vallium again monday morning and then took her to her oncologist. They started her new chemo and we got to take her home. Tuesday was a horrible day. She could not walk or pee or poop. She was having seizures every 30 minutes and was completely sick. We called the vet and just held out to let the chemo work. Wednesday(yesterday) my husband took her to the vet. They gave her the maximum dosage of vallium but it couldn't stop her seizures. He then rushed her to the oncologist (who is an hour and a half away) and they were going to put her on a constant drip and maybe even knock her out completely to give her body a chance to respond to the chemo. Yet she was deteriorating so quickly that they were concerned her body wouldn't survive to allow the chemo to work. So we then rushed her to Purdue University to start a radiation treatment. The doctors were going to wait until the morning but she got worse rapidly over two hours and had to perform emergency radiation.

She is alive this morning but the vet says it is too early to tell. He thinks her cancer might be resistant to all chemo. This has just happened so fast. She was completely healthy and fine 6 weeks ago and now she is dying and might die today. We are doing everything we can for our baby but we want to do what is best for her. We are willing to put her down if that is the best course but at this point she still recognizes us and loves us and we want to give her the best chance for life. Also, she is only 2 and if she was healthy would have at least 12 years left to live.

Has anyone ever experienced such an aggressive cancer. Should we let her go or keep fighting? Is there anything else we can do? Is there a chance that she can live for years or months? We are at a loss for what to do. She is our baby girl and we want to do what is best for her. We love her so much and this cancer is the most awful thing on the planet. The vets haven't even seen anything like it. She had at least 7 different vets and specialist look at her yesterday to figure things out. She is the sweetest and most wonderful dog in the world. Even the vets love her to pieces. What do we do? Any advice would be wonderful. THANKS!!

[perk82]

Sabrasher,

Im sorry to her about Sabra not responding well to treatment. I have a Golden Retriever with Lymphoma I thank God he did not experience anything like this with the chemo. He also took the University of Wisconsin Madison protocol.

I have never heard of such an aggressive cancer. I believe you should put Sabra in Gods hands and pray for Sabra.We all love our furry kids and would do anything for them.You should continue to fight until Sabra shows you something different! If and when the time comes for you to let Sabra go you wont need to ask anyone YOU WILL KNOW!

It is never easy watching our furry kids be sick. Ask God to help Sabra.You will need God to give you and Sabra the strength to get through this. God does answer prayers! I will pray for you and Sabra!

Take care,
Shirley

[Kim]

Hello,
I am very sorry to hear about your dog sabra. My dog was a, 18 month old weimaraner. We found out that he had cancer in july. He started chemo and was doing fine with it, after about 6 weeks tho, he came out of remission, he was then put on a rescue protocal, after about 5 weeks of that he had a chemo drug that was very strong and made him very ill. He was in the vet for about a week getting iv fluids and trying to get him better. He had one more chemo after that and to make a long story short he passed away on october 24th. He was only 18months old!

The only advice that i can give to you is try to enjoy every moment you have with her. I hope that they find something that can help her, I will pray for you both. I feel your pain and i know what you are going threw, its not easy but you have to be strong for her.

[Sabrasher]

Hey Everyone,

I have great news. Sabra is a miracle dog. She had emergency radiation treatment about 3 weeks ago now. They said she was going to die within a few hours if we didn't do something. So we did the emergency treatment (first time they had ever rushed a radiation treatment) and it went well. Doc's were not hopeful though. They didn't know or think that she could ever walk again and were not hopeful if she would even survive long.

5 days later she was running and playing frisbee. She had a follow-up radiation a week later and she is even better now. She has been seizure free for 3 weeks and everyday she just keeps getting better and better. She is happy and healthy. She is eating like crazy and is her old self completely. The doctors are astonished. Its some of the best news they have ever had about a dog. She is running and playing and is acting completely fine when barely three weeks ago she was going to die within hours. IT IS AMAZING!!!

Never give up on your puppy. They can do amazing things. She is a complete miracle. We of course are never out of the woods but we have had some amazing weeks with her we were never supposed to have.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Keep fighting for your dogs. You might just be blessed like we were. Praying for everyone who is going through what we have.

Kelly

[perk82]

Thank you for the update on Sabra. Im so glad to hear Sabra is doing well! I hope Sabra continues to do well. God does answer prayers!

Shirley