HeavyChevy75
Podunk FL
I am so glad that the medications are working!!
My Indy-Bug
- Thread starter Independence
- Start date
Independence
New Member
So today is day 12 of Indy's Palladia treatment. He has had 6 treatments (pills) so far. The tumor on his face is visibly SMALLER. The lymph node that was the size of the palm of my hand is now approximately 2 inches across. I cannot believe how well he is responding to this treatment. There is another boxer that started that started the meds the same time as us and his tumor on his neck was 3 times the size of Indy's and his has GREATLY reduced in size.
Keeping my fingers and his paws crossed and knocking on wood - Still no side effects. He is eating like a horse (I think it's the Zantac and Reglan). He gained 14 ounces last week. Still acting like a 5 year old boxer.
I feel sooooo blessed that he is still here and that he is responding so well to the meds. What ever the outcome I know I've done all I can for him and have bought him (and me) at least a little more quality time.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers. I know I've said it before but they really are keeping me going!!
I'm going to post pics at day 14 (Wednesday).
Keeping my fingers and his paws crossed and knocking on wood - Still no side effects. He is eating like a horse (I think it's the Zantac and Reglan). He gained 14 ounces last week. Still acting like a 5 year old boxer.
I feel sooooo blessed that he is still here and that he is responding so well to the meds. What ever the outcome I know I've done all I can for him and have bought him (and me) at least a little more quality time.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers. I know I've said it before but they really are keeping me going!!
I'm going to post pics at day 14 (Wednesday).
Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
And the important thing is that his quality of life seems to be good. How wonderful is that
More smooches for your boy!
frequentflier
happy to be living
Loper
Animal Poor!
And the important thing is that his quality of life seems to be good. How wonderful is that
More smooches for your boy!
for Indy and you!!!
PrepH4U
New Member
I am so sorry
luvscats
New Member
Oh my, I am sooo very sorry to hear this. Biscuit is such a handsome, elegant gentleman with a heart as big as all outdoors. All of his special raised foster babies have turned out the best!
I've sent word to Biscuit's Fan Club along with his pictures with his babies so they can send their prayers too. They all have well-loved pets and will be with you and your family and Biscuit in heart and spirit. Dottie
frequentflier
happy to be living
Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
I'm sending thoughts your (and his) way! 
Chasey_Lane
Salt Life
Independence
New Member
Cat, I set you a PM with my cell. Please CALL ME! There are so many options now. Sometimes it doesn't even require surgery.
Independence
New Member
Sorry I didn't post last week I had an emergency appendectomy last Tuesday night. It is alway something. Enough about me. Indy is doing fantastic on the Palladia. He has gained a total of 2 pounds so he's up to 55.5. He's not a big boy so we are happy with that. The oncologist is still amazed at his progress. They said he's the dog. The one they want to see because of his progress on this medication. They told me there is another boxer boy that has a MCT on his neck 3 times the size of Indy's tumor. He is responding almost as well as Indy but he's got much further to go. I can't even imagine. We've been praying for him and thinking about all the dogs that went thru the original trials of this medication and the one's that lost their lives trying to help people like me. I am so greatful, it makes me cry just thinking about it.
Pics below from day 14 and Day 21. Hopefully you can see that not only is the tumor going down but he is actually healing all around the outside of it now.
Pics below from day 14 and Day 21. Hopefully you can see that not only is the tumor going down but he is actually healing all around the outside of it now.
Independence
New Member
Cat, here's Cami's post about the shot:
MCT's are called the "great impostors" since it seems as if their looks and actions can mimic pretty much anything!
I don't mean to scare you but.....having had that many MCT's and starting at such a young age is potentially more of a "multi-centric mast cell disease" issue. Starting young and continuing to develop them is the classic description. Same as Cami.
Since you have already have four confirmed MCT's then it is past time to seek the advice of an oncologist. Don't even waste your time with your traditional vet. While they are great at what they do they DO NOT practice oncology. Even the very best vets in general practice will miss a cancerous growth at least 50% of the time.
Vetalog is the brand name of a corticosteroid. A very common drug that probably all vets carry. The problem with its use with MCT's is that a great portion of our regular vets don't use it in this manner but typically use it as an allergy combatant.
A willing oncologist with a willing owner WILL utilize it if both parties agree (or when we insist!).
First and foremost the growth has to be properly diagnosed as a MCT. Various ways of doing this. Needle aspirations (by someone who KNOWS what they are looking for--not always the case with traditional vets), growths being consistent on the patient (all growths look/act the same), or biopsies with a confirmed diagnosis by a pathologist.
Then they have to be mapped on the body (location). This doesn't come into play unless you are dealing with multiples. They are then measured. The measurement helps to determine how much medication is used. Then the injection takes place and you wait a while to see if there is any reaction to the medication. If all goes well then you go home and WAIT and WATCH.
Cami tended to drink about an additional bowl of water a day for the first 2-3 days after her injections. Then it was back to normal until we made the trek back to do everything all over again. Measuring-injecting-waiting-and overall description of her actions during the time since the last injection. Re-inject......
This went on from Sept of 08 through Jan of 09. However we were dealing with originally only 5 tumors and then one reared it's ugly head during treatment. We killed that sucker too!!!
When I asked the oncologist point blank WHY this form of treatment was not utilized more she was quite honest with the answer.
A). It is time consuming and *most* owners just want to get it over with and opt for surgery.
B).The drug is very inexpensive (ran us about $7.00 per injection). There is no "income" with this type of treatment.
I regret every single day that I wasn't able to learn about this treatment sooner with my girl. I could have potentially saved her from numerous surgeries, pain from recovery and multiple trips to the vets office and me some hard earned money (she is worth it though).
It might not work and we knew that going in BUT when you start to notice that the tumor is SHRINKING and then drying up it makes taking the "chance" that we might be in that 50% success rate group worth it. I will say there is no better feeling in the world than knowing that treatment is working verses going through a surgery and hoping that they got it all.
Regarding the Benadryl and not a very scientific explanation..... Dogs that suffer from mast cell tumors have an issue with their body's natural immune response. They just pretty much make and release too much histamine. Histamine is a good thing and we all need it but when we put too much of it into one place we get.......A MAST CELL TUMOR (in addition to other things). They also contain other "stuff" but I'm just talking about the reason for the Benadryl. It is an ANTI-histamine. It helps control the amount of histamine produced. Does it ward them off? Perhaps not but in theory it can help to lessen their affects (intense itching on some dogs which can lead to secondary skin infections, etc...).
When dealing with MCT's you also need to think about using Pepcid (or similar). MCT's wreak havoc on their digestive systems. They can cause stomach upset as well as vomiting and diarrhea. The Pepcid is a histamine blocker for the histamine in the stomach. Goes hand in hand with the Benadryl plus *sometimes* the Benadryl can cause some stomach upset itself (not often but possible). By using both we are making an attempt to keep the histamine at bay as well as combat any issues that it can cause.
MCT's are called the "great impostors" since it seems as if their looks and actions can mimic pretty much anything!
I don't mean to scare you but.....having had that many MCT's and starting at such a young age is potentially more of a "multi-centric mast cell disease" issue. Starting young and continuing to develop them is the classic description. Same as Cami.
Since you have already have four confirmed MCT's then it is past time to seek the advice of an oncologist. Don't even waste your time with your traditional vet. While they are great at what they do they DO NOT practice oncology. Even the very best vets in general practice will miss a cancerous growth at least 50% of the time.
Vetalog is the brand name of a corticosteroid. A very common drug that probably all vets carry. The problem with its use with MCT's is that a great portion of our regular vets don't use it in this manner but typically use it as an allergy combatant.
A willing oncologist with a willing owner WILL utilize it if both parties agree (or when we insist!).
First and foremost the growth has to be properly diagnosed as a MCT. Various ways of doing this. Needle aspirations (by someone who KNOWS what they are looking for--not always the case with traditional vets), growths being consistent on the patient (all growths look/act the same), or biopsies with a confirmed diagnosis by a pathologist.
Then they have to be mapped on the body (location). This doesn't come into play unless you are dealing with multiples. They are then measured. The measurement helps to determine how much medication is used. Then the injection takes place and you wait a while to see if there is any reaction to the medication. If all goes well then you go home and WAIT and WATCH.
Cami tended to drink about an additional bowl of water a day for the first 2-3 days after her injections. Then it was back to normal until we made the trek back to do everything all over again. Measuring-injecting-waiting-and overall description of her actions during the time since the last injection. Re-inject......
This went on from Sept of 08 through Jan of 09. However we were dealing with originally only 5 tumors and then one reared it's ugly head during treatment. We killed that sucker too!!!
When I asked the oncologist point blank WHY this form of treatment was not utilized more she was quite honest with the answer.
A). It is time consuming and *most* owners just want to get it over with and opt for surgery.
B).The drug is very inexpensive (ran us about $7.00 per injection). There is no "income" with this type of treatment.
I regret every single day that I wasn't able to learn about this treatment sooner with my girl. I could have potentially saved her from numerous surgeries, pain from recovery and multiple trips to the vets office and me some hard earned money (she is worth it though).
It might not work and we knew that going in BUT when you start to notice that the tumor is SHRINKING and then drying up it makes taking the "chance" that we might be in that 50% success rate group worth it. I will say there is no better feeling in the world than knowing that treatment is working verses going through a surgery and hoping that they got it all.
Regarding the Benadryl and not a very scientific explanation..... Dogs that suffer from mast cell tumors have an issue with their body's natural immune response. They just pretty much make and release too much histamine. Histamine is a good thing and we all need it but when we put too much of it into one place we get.......A MAST CELL TUMOR (in addition to other things). They also contain other "stuff" but I'm just talking about the reason for the Benadryl. It is an ANTI-histamine. It helps control the amount of histamine produced. Does it ward them off? Perhaps not but in theory it can help to lessen their affects (intense itching on some dogs which can lead to secondary skin infections, etc...).
When dealing with MCT's you also need to think about using Pepcid (or similar). MCT's wreak havoc on their digestive systems. They can cause stomach upset as well as vomiting and diarrhea. The Pepcid is a histamine blocker for the histamine in the stomach. Goes hand in hand with the Benadryl plus *sometimes* the Benadryl can cause some stomach upset itself (not often but possible). By using both we are making an attempt to keep the histamine at bay as well as combat any issues that it can cause.
Independence
New Member
I'm glad you called. Hope the info helps. Please let me know what the outcome is and what you decide to do. Indy and I go to Annapolis on Thursdays for his check up so I you need anything from them let me know. We'll be keeping our fingers and paws crossed for a good outcome. We'll also be praying.
Feel free to call me anytime.
Feel free to call me anytime.