Tuesday Sept 8th 2009

DAILY

• ESSIAC tea (orally) 10 ml Twice a day. NOT TODAY YET
  
• DAY 60 PREDNISOLONE 2.0 ml x2/day (80% of the original dose)
• DAY 3 PREDNISONE quarter tablet (ran out of Prednisolone temporarily)
  
• OPC one capsule twice/day - South African 'anti-cancer' herb: Stopped at Day 50 for a break from the OPC.
  
• DAY 69 CF IP-6 & Inositol one capsule twice/day
• DAY 85 HYDRAZINE SULFATE one capsule/once a day in morning after food.
• Liver tonic ( 2 drops in food twice a day) Ongoing since the beginning of Lucy's treatment. (from homeopathic vet)
• Nox Vomica 30 + H (from homeopathic vet) For nausea. Tuesday/Wednesday 3 doses.

DOWNSWING
Lucy managed to keep her spirit up while I was away for 7 days. But last three days she is not doing well. Loss of appetite, but swollen belly, nausea (vomited), restless at night, panting.
Not going to write too much today.

NOX VOMICA
Just given her a dose of this homeopathic remedy to see if it will help the nausea.

Thursday August 25th 2009

DAILY

• ESSIAC tea (orally) 10 ml Twice a day.
  
• DAY 48 PREDNISOLONE 2.0 ml x2/day (Reduced to 80% of the original dose)
  
• DAY 50 OPC one capsule twice/day - South African 'anti-cancer' herb: Stopped at Day 50 for a break from the OPC.
  
• DAY 57 CF IP-6 & Inositol one capsule twice/day
• DAY73 HYDRAZINE SULFATE one capsule/once a day in morning after food.
• SHEEP SORREL DECOCTION ON GAUZE compress : on back left leg lump. Nightly applied with a gauze soaked in the sheep sorrel, kept in place with first aid tape.
• Liver tonic ( 2 drops in food twice a day) Ongoing since the beginning of Lucy's treatment. (from homeopathic vet)
• Nox Vomica 30 + H (from homeopathic vet) For nausea. Sunday/Monday 3 doses.

UPSWING
So very good news.... another UPSWING! Hooray. Thanks for the support, from Lucy's blog readers :) We appreciate that a lot!
After four days of refusing to eat anything but the 'Macdonalds' of dog foods... MILK BONES... she has begun to eat meat again, and has her energy back. She is doing well again.
She lost a bit of weight this last week, but is putting it back on now.

STEROIDS & NAUSEA?
The vet thinks the nausea may be a side-effect of the steroid Prednisolone rather than caused by the Lymphoma. It is a known side-effect in some dogs. I reduced the dose back down to 2.0ml morning & night. Combining that with the Nox Vomica, and stopping the OPC for now, seems to have done the trick.

NOX VOMICA Homeopathic Remedy
Lucy wasn't eating at all on Friday or Saturday. On Sunday we went back to the vet who gave us some Nox Vomica for Lucy to see if nausea was causing her lack of apetite.
Not sure if it was the Nox Vomica or combination of things (I stopped the OPC as well and decreased the dose of the steroid Prednisolone), but on Monday morning I had the idea to go to the coffee shop nearby where they give her dog biscuits. It worked. She snapped into her mental routine and got all excited and ate two big biscuits... So that gave me the idea to go and buy a box of MILK BONES (full of coloring and preservatives.. YUCK!), but at least she would eat them perhaps? I was right. BUT unfortunately then she would only eat Milk Bones until last night. Now she is starting to eat ground beef with them and today hopefully some ground pork as well.

GOING AWAY FOR A WEEK
I have to go on a trip for work to Amsterdam, and so Lucy will be taken care of by my partner, who has to take time off work to do that. I have arranged for some of her favorite friends to drop by to take her for walks too, to keep her spirit up, and also for another friend to come by and do an energy healing session. It's hard to leave her. I have deliberated long and hard, but it feels ok. Thankful for the upswing of course!!

Saturday August 22nd 2009

DAILY

• not today (nausea) ESSIAC tea (orally) 10 ml + 1ml extra Sheep Sorrel Decoction Twice a day.
  
• DAY 43 PREDNISOLONE 2.5 ml x2/day (100% of the original dose)
• not today (nausea) DAY 48 OPC one capsule twice/day - South African 'anti-cancer' herb
• DAY 52 CF IP-6 & Inositol one capsule twice/day
• DAY68 HYDRAZINE SULFATE one capsule/once a day in morning after food.
• SHEEP SORREL DECOCTION ON GAUZE compress : on back left leg lump. Nightly applied with a gauze soaked in the sheep sorrel, kept in place with first aid tape.
• not eating Liver tonic ( 2 drops in food twice a day) Ongoing since the beginning of Lucy's treatment. (from homeopathic vet)
• Ipecac - 3 doses (nausea treatment)
  

DOWNSWING (see below info)
Waiting for an appointment time with the vet. Concerned that new complications are rearing their head... central nervous system? She seems less steady on her feet... nausea... slight cough...

UPSWING
The sheep Sorrel decoction on her elbow overnight seems to be rapidly shrinking the inflammation there. Much improved. The size of the lump on her back leg is stable and seems to no longer be attached to the muscle underneath but floating in the skin instead. It is soft and perhaps still reducing in size.

FOOD/WATER/NAUSEA?
Refusing all food today. Did not eat much yesterday. Threw up all the water when she finally did drank today.
I am going to try syringing some ginger infused tea into her mouth. This is supposed to be very helpful for nausea in chemo patients.

COUGH - sounds a bit phlegmy
She started to cough a little since yesterday. Just now and then.. maybe five or six times during the day. Just one cough, as if clearing the throat.

ENERGY
She seems weak. Wants to lie outside on the cool ground.
Slow walking, although the usual keyword triggers will still rouse her to bark and be playful. (eg... "is there a skunk?"... "where's the cat" etc ) Her gait is a little slower and she has stumbled occasionally on some surprisingly simple steps since last few days.

SCHIRRINUM Instructions

SCHIRRINUM 30c : 3 doses at 8 hours apart. Repeat weekly on Wednesdays.
First dose in evening, 2nd dose next morning, third dose next evening
Cover bottom of lid with a layer of remedy pills, and dissolve in half a cup of water (20 minutes). Stir ten times and then give her 2 tsps. Keep it covered and repeat the stirring for the next two doses. Use a clean tsp each time. Do not put a used spoon back into the mixture.

Wednesday August 19th 2009

FAILED ATTEMPT TO WEAN OFF THE STEROIDS.
Lucy is now back at the original dose of Steroid, so its official now that I wasn't able to wean her off it. Lymph glands have become smaller again now, as a result. They are not so hard as two days ago. Lucy was beginning to refuse food again on Monday, and so that was the day I decided to go back up to the original steroid dose. She is eating again, but still being picky. I am hoping that that the eating now returns to normal as well in the next few days.
She's doing the steroid 'stare' again... and lots of panting...all known side effects.

Kangen Water - Dogs are acidic?

Can't find the post where I wrote about this originally but my vet told me Kangen water is not good for dogs, since they are acidic, not alkaline...
No idea where to check on this information, but I am sure she knows better than I do. So no more Kangen for Lucy.
If anyone out there has more info on this, I'd appreciate any comments or shared info you may have....

Prednisolone/Prednisone INFO

Overview (Click here for the website I got this info from)

The immune and inflammation systems of pets and people constitute essential safeguards against infections and disease.

However, in some situations, inflammation is dangerous and leads to severe damage in tissues and organs.

Similarly, the immune system, often for no apparent reason, can attack the body and cause great damage or even death.

Many of the resultant medical conditions are called autoimmune diseases.

There are a number of drugs available to control inflammation and suppress the immune system in animals and people. Among the most prominent of these are prednisone and prednisolone.

These drugs belong to a class of drugs known as glucocorticoids, because they are related to cortisone and they contain glucose in their molecules. These drugs also are related to the steroid hormones normally produced by the adrenal gland.

The effects of glucocorticoids can be observed in every organ system and these drugs should not be used except when necessary.

Prednisone is rapidly converted in the liver to prednisolone. Except in cases of severe liver disease, the drugs are considered the same (equivalent).

Prednisone/prednisolone are anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduce the swelling, pain and redness associated with inflammation.

An important effect of these drugs is that at high and very specific doses, the immune system is suppressed.

Prednisone is a prescription drug and can only be obtained from a veterinarian or by prescription from a veterinarian.

Brand Names and Other Names

This drug is registered for use in humans and animals.

Human formulations: Prelone® (Muro), Key-Pred® (Hyrex), Predalone® (Forest), Predcor® (Hauck), Delta-Cortef® (Upjohn) and various generic preparations

Veterinary formulations: Delta-Cortef® (Upjohn), Prednis-Tab® (Vet-A-Mix), Meticorten® (Schering), Solu-Delta-Cortef® (Upjohn), Sterisol® (Anthony), Cortisate-20® (Anthony) and various generic preparations

Uses of Prednisone/Prednisolone

Since prednisone has effects on nearly every body system, the uses of this drug are wide and varied.

The drugs prednisone/prednisolone are used to treat allergies, inflammations and autoimmune diseases when the underlying cause cannot be treated or prevented. Examples include treatment of bronchial and lung diseases, skin diseases, intestinal diseases, spinal cord and brain diseases and diseases of the blood.

Prednisone is often a supplemental treatment for various cancers.

It is required as a supplement in the adrenal gland disorder, Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism).

It is used as a treatment in bacterial (endotoxic) shock.

Prednisone is used to treat a variety of immune system and autoimmune disorders .

Precautions and Side Effects

While generally safe and effective when prescribed by a veterinarian, prednisone can cause side effects in some animals.

Prednisone should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug.

Prednisone should be avoided in fungal infections.

Prednisone should not be used in pregnant animals, since it can induce labor.

Extreme care must be taken when stopping prednisone therapy. If an animal has been on prednisone for an extended period of time, slow weaning off the drug is critical to avoid serious complications.

Prednisone may interact with other medications. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if other drugs your pet is receiving could interact with prednisone. Such drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Adverse effects include increased thirst and appetite, panting, vomiting, restlessness and diarrhea.

Some animals may develop stomach ulcers from prednisone use.

Long-term use of prednisone may result in loss of hair coat, weakening of the muscles, liver impairment and behavioral changes.

How Prednisone Is Supplied

Prednisone is available in 1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg and 50 mg tablets.

Prednisone 3 mg/ml syrup and 1 mg/ml suspension is available.

The injectable forms of prednisone vary. Some injectable forms are 20 mg/ml up to 125 mg/ml concentrations.

Dosing Information

Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian.

Doses of prednisone vary widely depending on the reason for prescribing.

Anti-inflammatory doses range from 0.1 to 0.3 mg per pound (0.2 to 0.6 mg/kg) up to twice daily.

Immunosuppressive doses range from 1 to 3 mg per pound (2 to 6 mg/kg) up to three times daily.

Doses for various diseases range between 0.1 to 3 mg per pound (0.2 to 6 mg/kg).

The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to the medication and the development of any adverse effects. Be certain to complete the prescription unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. Even if your pet feels better, the entire treatment plan

should be completed to prevent relapse.