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Getting dogs to eat after chemo
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Phoenix, AZ
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15 June 2011
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1 August 2011 - 8:44 am
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Greetings all!  Well...I am home with Racquette after being away for 5.5 weeks. She was staying with a good friend (who is also a wonderful vet tech) and she took Rac through her first 2 chemo treatments.  Last Thursday (7/28) morning she had her third treatment.  Prior to the chemo treatment (so weeks 2 and 3 after chemo 2) she was eating just fine.  but after this chemo treatment (the first I am experiencing with her) her interest in food is going downhill.  I can get her to lick peanut butter...she likes that....and initially she would also eat greek yogurt....but today she really did not have an interest in anything...although I was able to get some peanut butter down her and yogurt...using a syringe....which she definitely did not like (the syringe...that is).  Her temp is normal...as is her activity level.  she drinks just fine...plenty of it for our hot weather.  I know I need to get protein down her.

I am mainly interested in knowing if the lack of food interest compounds with each treatment?  She got a B12 shot on Saturday afternoon and they gave her a pretreatment of ondansetron to help stimulate her appetite....but none of that seems to be working.  If this is normal...then we will wait it out....and I will keep using a syringe.  I have read that their taste buds are affected....and I imagine this is the case.  I get to give another B12 tomorrow....so maybe that will help.  I'm also going to try some Nurtracal tomorrow....

 

So far....all her blood work has been excellent...and at 13.5 years she has amazed her doctors.  Just curious about the potential for progressive disinterest in food.

 

Thanks

 

Wendy...in Phoenix, AZ

Racquette's mom

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1 August 2011 - 9:32 am
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Wendy, our dog Zip is almost 14 1/2 and is now under going a new  chemo. She just had her 3rd round and she starts getting sick with no appetite, diarrhea, and then if she does eat she vomits. that all starts day 2 after treatment but she loses desire for food almost right away. This last time she went almost 5 days w/o eating but she would drink. Some dogs have zero side effects and then another can have little to all side effects and sometimes one treatment will be harder than another. Don't know if your dog is now getting a stronger dose than at first which is also something that can happen.

We have given Zip anything that tempts her. Canned salmon, tuna, the samples from Honest Kitchen [there is a link on this site] which we found very good because it is dehydrated and you can make it as liquidy [new word] as you want it to get it down them. We have given frozen chicken broth, Bill-Jac, puree`d asparagus, frozen cubes of blended chicken and rice, rice water, string cheese, dehydrated turkey cubes. We alternate till she wants something and if she doesn't we just make certain she drinks water. Her owner is a vet so please know that even vets can't make a dog eat if that dog is really set against it.

Zip is usually weak for a couple of days after she does start back eating so the entire week after chemo is not fun and then two weeks later she goes through it again bit those two weeks are lots of fun. I don't know if because Zip had to have her spleen remove 21/2 months ago makes it harder to tolerate chemo or if it is just this new chemo they are giving her. The carboplatin just made her tired and low energy but this one is a wipe out but the off weeks are much better. We are almost to our 1 year ampuversary so we are happy regardless of the challenges. Best of luck to you and keep us all informed how it goes because this group really wants to know and truly cares.

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1 August 2011 - 9:33 am
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P.S. Your dog could be related to mine, check out the photos on Zip's blog!

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Phoenix, AZ
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15 June 2011
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1 August 2011 - 10:00 am
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Thanks Zip's mom!  Racquette is on Carbo....and the dosage has not changed....nor do I think it will.  Thankfully...drinking water is no problem at all...she has always been a great drinker...and no different now.  Thankfully I have a doggie door...so she can go out an pee often...from all the water!  Fortunately my other dogs will "play eating games"...so I an take a jar of peanut butter...sit all three down...and call out the name of the dog who gets the fingerfull.  Of course...every other time is Racquette...so she IS getting protein...   Hopefully week two will bring back the appetite.  She was eating wonderfully week 2 and 3 after treatment 2....maybe I am just being impatient....  I am supplementing the chemo with accupuncture for tiredness...we just started it on this treatment...however, after day 2....she seem to have plenty of energy....considering it is 105+ degrees here! 

 

If nothing else..it is definitely a learning experience...and we are halfway through...so I know that after Sept. 29th....it is all uphill for the eating...as that will be her LAST chemo!

 

Thanks again!

 

Wendy...Racquette..and brothers Qyette and Phlash (who are enjoying eating the foods she won't keep in her mouth!)

Racquette's mom

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1 August 2011 - 11:30 am
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if anyone finds the answer to this I would love to know Dizzy goes off her food for a week after each chemo session so i try to give her what she likes to tempt her but then that starts a vicious cycle and she will hold out a couple of days for the eggs or the tuna or pasta. Luckily for us she seems to be holding her weight so i'm not too concerned and she does rest more after the chemo anyway.

Dizzy diagnosed with osteosarcoma 24 may 2011 amputated same day doing fine hopping around on three legs giving the neighbourhood cats what for

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San Diego, CA
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29 October 2010
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1 August 2011 - 12:21 pm
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With Abby we had to play What Will The Dog Eat? after each chemo session. Usually plain things like plain pasta were good. But sometimes what worked once wouldn't work again. We were lucky in that it usually only lasted a day or two at the most. Salmon would work once, but then not again. It was always a guessing game. But if they are not losing weight and still drinking, that sounds like a good sign.

Jackie, Abby's mom

Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!

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On The Road


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1 August 2011 - 12:27 pm
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I never went through chemotherapy, but others have posted about how to get dogs eating again ...

Eating Healthy Forum: How to Gain Weight

Tripawds Nutrition Blog : Get Dogs Eating With Honest Kitchen Foods

Eating Healthy Forum: She refuses to eat!

When I stopped eating as I got sicker, my pawrents learned that the stinkier the food the better. Gamey foods worked too. I realy enjoyed ground buffalo meat and elk steak warmed for a minute in the microwave - stinky, but oh so goooood! You can try cat food too. Try the search button above or search all the blogs to find more info. Good luck, and please keep us posted.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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Phoenix, AZ
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15 June 2011
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1 August 2011 - 1:17 pm
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Thanks for the suggestions.  I am going to go out and get some cat food a bit later today....several have mentioned that...and it IS stinky!  I am amazed at how well the peanut butter is working....and she is getting protein from it.  It has been 4 days post chemo...so it sounds like she is about on par with some of the others woofers in the same boat.  And I will remember stinky!  I tried branswager (sp?) yesterday...and it was fine for a couple of bites...but then I thought I would get sneaky and hide some other high protein food in it....those dog noses KNOW when you are trying to trick them....she stopped eating it.  May try the straight stuff again...it also is very smelly!

Racquette's mom

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My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
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28 November 2008
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1 August 2011 - 1:23 pm
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Are you giving Cerenia for nausea?  Trouble came home with Cerenia in case she needed it for nausea.  She had some mild nausea, but nothing major.  After her second Chemo, they began to give her a Cerenia  injection prior to her chemo.  That helped also.

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.

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15 March 2011
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1 August 2011 - 1:58 pm
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I had a horrible time getting my Sammy to eat after chemo each time.  When he was really not feeling well (days 2-4), I could always get a frozen treat in him. I would melt peanut butter in a sauce pan, then mix it with vanilla yogurt and spoon the mixture in to individual cups and freeze.  Even during his most yucky moments, he would eat an entire cup!  Baked chicken worked best after his last 3 rounds of chemo but peanut better remained out "go to" food. 

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Phoenix, AZ
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15 June 2011
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1 August 2011 - 2:30 pm
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yep...she gets Cerenia for 4-5 days after chemo...so tonight will be day 5.   It was odd this afternoon....she was lying on her side....as were my other dogs...normal behavior around noon when it's 100+ out.  Anyway...I was just pulling out some of her undercoat (she has LOADS of it!) and I must have startled her (she wasn't asleep) and she vomited...or rather stuff just flowed out of her mouth for a bit)...then acted really surprised...and went to get a drink.  It was the normal yellow foaming stuff with some peanut butter in it.  Bummer...there goes some of the protein.  she did not seem ill at all...I think it was more of a reflex reaction.   I give the cerenia at night....around 5 pm...but this AM (around 6 am) I gave her 1/2 pepcid...to see if that would settle her stomach.  Hmmmm

 

Hmmm...Samsmom....I think I will try making a some of the peanut butter/yogurt treats.  I can do that now. THANKS!  that may be dinner!  I going to get some cat food too....sardine flavor!  🙂

Racquette's mom

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My heart lives at Rainbow Bridge
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28 November 2008
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1 August 2011 - 4:07 pm
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Yellow foamy sounds like bile from not eating.  Hope Racquette is feeling better soon.  Maybe the cat food will work.  Or maybe you could try the 1/2 rice 1/2 chicken bland mix while she's feeling barfy.

Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul.  Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.

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Phoenix, AZ
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15 June 2011
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1 August 2011 - 4:16 pm
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yeah....it is the bile from not eating....so I am going to make up a batch of her regular food (Volhard Natural Foundation Diet)...and I'll lightly cook the meat...for now) and then put it in the food processor until VERY creamy.  then my friend who took care of her while we were away....is coming over to help me use a large syringe to get it in her.  She needs nutrition and something in her belly.  Hopefully this will kick start the eating.  Once that gets going again...she'll be fine!  She definitely needs the nutrition because aside from the not eating...she is a very active 13.5 year old!

 

I did make two of the PB and yogurt cups...so if the dinner works...she can have them as a bedtime snack!

 

Wendy...Racquette...and brothers Qyette and Phlash

Racquette's mom

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California
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16 January 2011
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1 August 2011 - 8:16 pm
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Have you tried vienna sausages?

I don't know whats in them but they are Rileys absolute favorite....and its about the only thing she has NOT refused....

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Phoenix, AZ
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15 June 2011
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1 August 2011 - 9:03 pm
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Well....so far so good with getting Racquette's regular food down her tonight....via a syringe!  she definitely fought it initially...with me holding her on my lap and Shelly feeding her....but eventually she gave in and settled down to be force fed.  I do believe it made her happier inside. She had thrown up bile 3 times today...and although some camp up after feeding...we think it was a result of trying to get PROIN down with peanut butter...live and learn.  Shelly taught me how to hold her and feed her at the same time...so I may try to get some more in her later...we did get a lot down her...so that was good.  I'll try her breakfast that way tomorrow...and hopefully she will have enough interest in eating regularly after that!  Stay tuned!!!   I did go out an but sardines...and cat food...but apparently cat food isn't the best thing to feed dogs....since it has ASH and something else in it (can't remember)....so I'll give it to a cat owner friend!

Racquette's mom

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