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7:23 pm
8 March 2015
Offline
We had our appt at the holistic vet and it actually went very well and I'm feeling very good about the situation. We went to Churchtown Vet in Pennsville, NJ but they also have an office in Clayton, NJ. I HIGHLY recommend them! They are amazing! For once, since I found out about Jilly's cancer, I feel like I can breath! Dr. Morgan reviewed the biopsy papers with me which I hadn't seen in person yet. It shows that the OSA is slower moving so that's good, it's bad because it was so far up in the arm but better that we amputated. (I attached a picture for all of you that like to research like me!) So good news with bad news but I'd rather focus on the good! She gave us a specific raw diet to start Jilly on, as well as supplements and herbal remedies and everything. We are going to try to get everything on the list even though many are pricey so I'm searching online now for the best prices. At least one of them is in the donation box at their other office and the receptionist said she will bring it to the office we go to the next time she is there for us so at least we won't have to buy one of them right away which is a blessing!
She said no more vaccines or heart worm or flea medicine since it can compromise her immune system and she also said she would PERSONALLY recommend AGAINST the Palladia.This is what she said when I asked if she would use it with her own pets. Her PROFESSIONAL opinion was to do whatever I feel comfortable doing and she isn't against it at all and there have been great research and outcomes on it but she said she wouldn't want her animals to have to deal with the side effects which has been my worry from the beginning. So is it worth her being sick all the time whether I can visually see it or not? She said that she would do the Chemo but really it's a crap shoot (kind of like what everyone else said) regardless since it depends on the individual. But we don't have the money for chemo right now.
I just want the best for her, so for right now, we are going to keep trying to save for chemo and stick to supplements, raw diet, and herbal & Chinese remedies. It's still pretty pricey, but cheaper than the chemo and more of a monthly thing where as chemo here is the $650 plus office visit and meds so probably around $750/$800 every 3 weeks I think which is a WHOLE LOT especially because it would be 6 sessions.
It's hard to feel like you are making the right decision but I feel like this is the right one for us right now. And I feel more hopeful after this visit and second opinion. I just hope that I can make Jilly as comfortable as possible and that whatever time she has left is as healthy and happy as possible!
Plus, with the Palladia it say not to come in contact with urine, feces, or vomit. But we spend most of our time outside when ever the weather is nice in our backyard and she lives for these times....so am I supposed to keep her inside while we are outside and never let her outback again because I have little kids that love to dig in the back yard and may step in the dog poop with bare feet? I just can't imagine her little face crying inside. Or am I supposed to follow her around the whole time? Maybe I can strap a go pro to her so I can follow her around digitally! Ughhhh! But yea! That's what we decided and we are comfortable with that.
And let me tell you, it's super hard to find ground turkey or rabbit with bone and organs in them! I am going to have to order them online but the vet wanted me to switch her immediately so we went to pet valu and bought the Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Frozen food and I also feel like I hit the jackpot because I found Primal Raw Marrow Recreational Bones to make bone marrow soup to mix into her food (vet recommended) and Primal Frozen Goat Milk! I know it's silly to get excited, but I was having such a hard time finding the meat that I was happy to check 2 things off my list even though I had to buy bagged frozen raw food. 
Oh....and a question. The meat that I am buying from Hare Today is going to be frozen. If I want to make her food in bulk, can I refreeze that and then thaw as I go or do I need to only make what she can eat in like 2 or 3 days? And how much of raw homemade food do you give a 55lb dog? Oh!!!! And something funny...well....to me anyway...while we were at the vet today, I put Jilly on the scale to weigh her and when we went to the vet for her limping originally, she was 62lbs I think. So I was shocked she lost weight that fast and started to worry and then realized SHE JUST HAD HER LEG REMOVED!!! I had to laugh at that! I've just been such a wreck I didn't put two and two together right away! 
10:42 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
Offline
Wow I love your attitude!
Sounds like a great visit. Was that Dr. Morgan you saw? I checked out her background and am so impresed. You're lucky to work with someone who has so much experience. We would LOVE to review her book,<a href="