We did both Palladia and Kinavet (aka Masitinib) with Abby. We tried the Palladia early on, but only did it for 3 months as she had off and on GI troubles that got worse. In fact, we stopped when I saw blood in her stool, so if Levi is already having some GI-type troubles, it honestly would probably be too much for him. Also, the Palladia didn't stop the mets: what had been a lone, small met got bigger and a new one was added. Now, maybe they would hve been even bigger or there might have been more w/out the Palladia, who knows. But it was definitely not a miracle pill for us. I know it worked for others, making multiple small mets disappear - but only for a time. The mets/cancer ultimately came back. The Masitinib works similarly so we tried it too when the Palladia didn't suit Abby's stomach, but really we were just grasping at straws at that point. I know it's hard to "give up" on trying new things (heaven knows we didn't want to) but if he is still feeling good, you might just want to make the most of that. But I would totally understand if you wanted to try something else.

As for him feeling good, yes, that was our experience. Abby was still doing really well, right up until about a week or so before the end. That is, I guess, a "good" thing about the disease - the pups do well and enjoy life right up to almost the end.

As for what will happen next - yes, that's what happened with Abby - her breathing got really bad. The last time we went to the beach she was VERY tired and couldn't go far. That afternoon her breathing got really bad. For a day or so before that, she had to sleep in a different position than usual to be able to breathe easier. We knew it was time when she couldn't get comfortable to breathe in any position laying down.

Hang in there. PM if you want. I hope you still have a LOT of good time left with Levi. It sounds like you are making the most of your time with him.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom

I have no experience with Palladia.  Many pups live a year or more with lung mets.  It depends on their size and location and many times there are no signs breathing issues until the end.

You can also look into artemisinin (you can't do it within 2 months of radiation if you go that route).  Artemisinin and its derivatives (artesunate, artemether, Artemix) kill cancer cells by apoptosis (cell suicide).  There are quite a few of us using this and Penny's Jane is 1 year post OS and a senior rottie (no amp, no radiation, no bisphosphonates ) and is still doing well.  There is an arte and cancer group also (and many of us are over there too): 
http://pets.gro.....nd_cancer/

Hugs and chocolate labby kisses,
Ellen & Charley
18 Month OS Survivor...and counting!

oh yay.  I have checked from time to time to see if there was a Levi update.  I'm so happy to hear that he is still doing well.

Since Spencer had a different cancer I can't really talk to the treatments.  Our oncologist pointed out that each cancer reacts differently to the different treatments.  For Spencer, his cancer was just soooo aggressive that there was no stopping it.  But even the day he died, the mets weren't *that* big.  They really weren't.  I mean, they had grown some; but I would have thought that they could have gotten much bigger before it was his time based on my experience with my doberman before Spencer.  That dog was named Baron and he had lung cancer - started in his lungs.  His lungs were more than 60% taken over by the tumors before he really started slowing down!  And it was still months before it was time to put him to sleep.

So each dog and cancer is different.  Maybe Levi will be able to handle a lot more before it starts to slow him down.  Just remember - pictures and video as much as you can.