canine bladder cancer

 Layla's bladder cancer battle

Laylah started to have bloody discharge 2/4/21, and the Vet suspected a urinary tract infection (UTI) and  treated her with Amoxicillin then a fluoroquinolone finally chloramphenicol when the culture showed a resistant infection. 

Her Vet found there was a bladder tumor partially obstructing urine flow. Ironically, that was the day we brought her first book to him.  

The first specialist suggested radiation and IV chemo, which would entail Laylah being put under anesthesia 5 days in a row for 4 weeks to gain possibly 6 months longer but feel awful for 6 months.  Not to mention the cost around $14,000. 

I kept researching about bladder cancer treatments for canines..
The second doctor I found was investigating Palladia for bladder cancer and helped write the paper on the study.  She confirmed what my research found that  radiation and chemo are not the first option. 

Laylah no longer wanted her dog food and  I cooked for her and hand feed her for quite a while to get her healthy again. She turned a corner in August and started doing good and was really happy.  Her tumor actually had shrunk and when she went back in December it was stable.

She was stable until she got another Bladder infection/UTI; she got very sick very fast. She suddenly didn't want to eat (had no appetite) and was extremely tired.  The next day, she got very sick fast and couldn't hold her urine.  I got her into her local vet as an emergency and he helped me save her life by doing tests and giving me the antibiotic to start on. She couldn't get up off on her own for over 2 days.  I fed her water and chicken broth until she got stronger.  Her infection is very difficult to treat and she is still on antibiotics nearly 3 months later.  

Unfortunately, her cancer spread and the Palladia was stopped and she started on low dose Chlorambucil daily.  The idea is to give her constant chemo without the toxicity of huge doses.    She will not have another ultrasound to follow the tumor for another 9 weeks.  

ADDENDUM:

Laylah lost her battle with her cancer on June 9,2022.  She took her last breath in my arms and is sadly missed by so many people.  Personally, my life will never be the same without her sweetness and beauty around me. 

She really was the best baby ever.