Old Sweet Dog

Question
Hi There-
We have a 15 year old black lab who was just diagnosed today with a liver/possibly pancreatic tumor.  Looks like we probably have less then a couple of months to spend with him.  It's sad....He's lost nearly 15 pounds in the last couple of months, and we're just wondering what you would suggest that we feed him, so he can at least maintain his energy level and be somewhat comfortable in his last few days.  Our vet has prescribed prednisone for appetite increase and also the chinese herb: yunnan baiyao capsule in case of collapsing episodes or pale mouth/gums.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Kelli


Answer
Hi Kelli,

I'm so sorry to hear of your dog's illness. A close family member of mine recently passed away due to pancreatic cancer, so I know exactly what you're going through.

Appetite stimulation in dogs is frustrating. If the Prednisone doesn't seem to be working, you might talk to your vet about using a drug called Cyproheptadin (Periactin Rx).

Anything your dog would eat, and be able to keep down would be acceptable at this point. Mixing a little broiled meat into his regular food might coax him into eating. Even inexpensive cuts of meat can have amazing curative powers over dogs.

Frequent small meals or snacks can be added throughout the day. Other higher calorie and protein-rich foods you can try are:

- Cooked eggs
- Plain yogurt with a banana(not too much yogurt, it can cause diarrhea)
- Sauces or gravies
- Banana and peanut butter
- Macaroni and cheese
- Pudding (not chocolate)
- You might check what meal replacement drinks your local drug store carries. Advantage, and Boost (both as a drink and as a pudding) are brands to look for. Go slow, in case it causes diarrhea.

There products made especially for dogs are are:

Carnivore Care - you can buy online or possibly at larger pet stores, it provides complete nutrition to dogs with poor or no appetite.

Enercal High Calorie Gel- a vitamin and energy supplement gel for dogs that also acts as an appetite stimulant. Nutrical Gel and Nutrical are another brands to look for, I'm sure there are others too.

Don't hesitate to contact your vet for pain medication should your dog seem at all uncomfortable.

I hope I've been a help.

Best of luck,
Patti