What to do for the right?!?!? help

[ibot]

Hey all
so i am sure you all know as i keep coming back on every so often and drowning my sorrows (sorry)

So here is the deal Eddie is still with us although there has been a couple of close calls. (he got a tummy bug and had to be rushed to vet to go onto fluids for 24 hours)
I know he has lung cancer and he is technically an old man but he is on that much meds i am starting to think that maybe the meds are maybe doing more harm than good.

He is on 2 steroids twice a day and half a tummy lining pill and then there is the yellow powder.
i have been told he is on the 2nd two as the steroids not only make him look boney but also are harsh on his tummy.

so do i take him off the lot or what, i have asked my vet and she has said if i stop the steroids his cough will come back but he has been on the steroids since oct and i just don't know

what do you think he is a savage with his food acts like i don't feed him, he still has a good bit of energy although i have noticed the last couple of days that when we go to the yard he will not get out of the car anymore and in the afternoon when we walk to the school to get kids he is not so keen to come he has problems getting into places high and i have to help him into the car and sometimes up the stairs from the garden
he does look happy still the spark in his eye is still good

thank you for reading this illness is horrible thing to watch my poor baby go through and i hope to god he does not know that is poorly

Nickyxx

 

[Cinnamontoast]

How old is he? Is he in discomfort if he doesn't want to go for a walk? Tbh, you may need to be massively brave and consider his pain/comfort levels. They're not high enough, then..... However, if he is sparky and keen for food (although steroids put weight on so he may give a false impression of well being) then carry on the meds and see how he goes.

 

[misst]

No helpful advice but ((hugs)) from me. I am sure you will know when "the time" comes. In the meantime is it possible to decrease the steroids -once the problem is under control then (in humans at least) it is possible to keep it at bay with a lower dose.

Please do not just stop the steroids as they need to be decreased slowly and in a controlled manner otherwise you will induce a crisis in your dog which will be potentially fatal and at best will make him extremely ill. Sorry if this is something you know already.

Sorry things are not great for you x

 

[Aru]

Please dont decrease your pets medication without at least ringing your Vet and asking for advise first. Particularly Steroids they need a tapering off period or serious side effects are possible.

In your dogs case I would seriously recommend talking to your vet again about changes to the dosage of steroids as they may be part of his care plan for the Lung cancer.
The excessive eating is likely a side effect of the steroids but these drugs sound like they are being used as a clinical treatment.

It sounds like you may need to bring him into your vet and have a recheck to see if he can be made more comfortable or how hes doing on his current plan.

 

[ibot]

Thank you for all responding i know it was not an easy question. i did not know about the steroids and the fact the dose has to be weaned off rather than stopped.
He has a pretty good quality of life i just did not realise how rough he would look.
he is 14 in june.

I have to go back to the vet this afternoon and collect some more steroids so maybe ill see what she says but she is happy with him and how he is doing maybe its me.
thank you all again xxxx