Six Months After Live Cancer Diagnosis; and Some Thoughts on Old Age
So my 15 year old dog was diagnosed with liver cancer last May. I had hoped to have him around through Labor Day, and he is still with me.
His hind quarters have deteriorated considerably, so there's great difficulty maneuvering, without a doubt. This has its own challenges, for sure. But I wanted to offer some narrative on Rocket's treatment, in case anyone out there can benefit.
First, he's always had a very good diet with a significant amount of vegetables. But I must admit I neglected to pay attention to grain in his IAMS diet, and I do attribute his decline in health in part to this failure on my part.
Immediately after the diagnosis his diet was changed to dry food by Orijen, which is grain free. So half to 1/3 of each meal is this. Then the balance is either mackeral, herring, salmon, duck, or grass fed beef. Fortunately I am near the Shenandoah Valley so I can get the duck and beef without trouble. The mackeral and herring is canned. I also add black strap molasses.
His "system" tolerates all this very well.
I have NOT continued to have his blood analyzed, because I figure he was given a death sentence anyway so why bother. His weight has been between 29 and 31 pounds consistently.
Every two weeks weeks he gets accupuncture. I am fortunate to have a good vet.
His meds are low dose of prednisone, some chinese herbs (Que Line (sp), Denosyl, and Tramadol.
Anyway, I refuse to put him down because he is old and slow. He gets 8-10 five to ten minute walks a day. He has a hard time getting around (hips). But his cancer seems not yet to have ushered in his demise, he eats with utter gusto and would eat 24-7 if there was a never ending bowl of duck. He hates it when I've put him in the Chesapeake this past fall to make him swim, but those rear legs still make a go of it.
He will be 16 in January.
His hind quarters have deteriorated considerably, so there's great difficulty maneuvering, without a doubt. This has its own challenges, for sure. But I wanted to offer some narrative on Rocket's treatment, in case anyone out there can benefit.
First, he's always had a very good diet with a significant amount of vegetables. But I must admit I neglected to pay attention to grain in his IAMS diet, and I do attribute his decline in health in part to this failure on my part.
Immediately after the diagnosis his diet was changed to dry food by Orijen, which is grain free. So half to 1/3 of each meal is this. Then the balance is either mackeral, herring, salmon, duck, or grass fed beef. Fortunately I am near the Shenandoah Valley so I can get the duck and beef without trouble. The mackeral and herring is canned. I also add black strap molasses.
His "system" tolerates all this very well.
I have NOT continued to have his blood analyzed, because I figure he was given a death sentence anyway so why bother. His weight has been between 29 and 31 pounds consistently.
Every two weeks weeks he gets accupuncture. I am fortunate to have a good vet.
His meds are low dose of prednisone, some chinese herbs (Que Line (sp), Denosyl, and Tramadol.
Anyway, I refuse to put him down because he is old and slow. He gets 8-10 five to ten minute walks a day. He has a hard time getting around (hips). But his cancer seems not yet to have ushered in his demise, he eats with utter gusto and would eat 24-7 if there was a never ending bowl of duck. He hates it when I've put him in the Chesapeake this past fall to make him swim, but those rear legs still make a go of it.
He will be 16 in January.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cindi on
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I'm glad to hear Rocket is still with you. You are one wonderful corgi mom to do everything you do for him.
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Permalink Reply by charles buki on
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or dad, as the case may be
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Permalink Reply by Suzette & Rueben Dog on
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Doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong....He has lived to be 16 and keeps going. Good for you. As long as he isn't in any pain, I'd say keep doing what you are doing.
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of course i was aiming for 25 or 30!
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Permalink Reply by Gail L on
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That is wonderful that Rocket is still thriving. You are obviously doing something right. My 111/2 yr old Cobi just got his new wheels yesterday and I feel like he has a new lease on life and I hope this gives him many more years.
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Permalink Reply by Ju Lo on
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Wow, thank you for sharing this with us. You've obviously done the right things since Rocket has reached such a ripe age. As long as Rocket isn't in pain, why put him down? We don't put down our old people when they can no longer move around. :p
Do you attribute feeding Rocket grain in his old age to a factor in his fading health? Or feeding him grains at all during his life?
Sounds like you have a great vet who uses holistic medicine. I'm interested in this as well, but I haven't found a vet in my area that uses it.
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