Dear Dr Clare,
I have an 11 year old Pomeranian cross dog named Snowy who is very sick.
Two years ago I took him to the vet about his back right leg. He had a hard lump growing and now it is 40 or 50 cm in size. The vet at first suggested an operation, but later suggested it might be too complicated with arteries connected to his heart. We couldn't do anything to help him then because I couldn't afford the cost and inconvenience of chemotherapy as I am a pensioner and live out of the city. The vet even suggested he made lose his leg.
My dog also has an itchy body even though he doesn't have any fleas. Sometimes he gets so frustrated he wants to tear his hair out. No medical shampoo seems to help.
He had cortisone treatment last year and again this year, but I don't know what to do. I do love my dog; he is my only company and happiness.
Please can you advise me?
Mary A.
Dear Mary,
It sounds as if you are having a rough time, and I wish you the best for a rapid and harmonious resolution to the difficulties in your situation at the moment.
It does sound as if the lump on Snowy's leg is a nasty one if the vet has recommended chemo. If it is a tumour of the bone, or an osteosarcoma, then it may have spread to other parts of the body, but small dogs rarely get this type of tumour. It is more likely to be a fibrosarcoma, which is unlikely to have spread. So if the vet has done a biopsy and knows it is this type of tumour, then this might sound drastic, but amputating the hind leg may be the best and most cost effective option if the lump is causing him pain. This would be easier and more successful than trying to remove the tumour, according to the information you have given me. Small breed dogs do not carry much weight on a hind leg and usually do well after an amputation.
However, if the lump is not causing him pain, that is, if he is using the leg without much of a limp, then it may be best to do nothing about it, or use herbs to reduce its growth rate. You can buy these herbs cheaply from a herbalist or health food shop which sells herbs, in either a dry herb or liquid tincture form. The herbs are, Burdock, Slippery Elm Bark, Sheep Sorrel, Red Clover, Indian or Turkish Rhubarb Root and Blessed Thistle.
Refer to my website article on medicinal herbs, and sheep sorrel formula for cancer, for the daily dosage.
It is likely these herbs will reduce his itch as well, but also give him a pinch of kelp powder daily in his food, and a fish oil capsule daily or feed him cheap tinned fish about three times a week.
You did not say what you feed him, but do NOT feed him dried commercial food, as the carbohydrate will weaken his immune system. Instead, feed raw meat and raw bone, such as raw chicken necks, raw lamb neck and whatever vegies and fruit he likes except onion.
Washing him in a tea made with a handful of lavender plant soaked to make a tea will help settle his skin.
None of these foods and herbs will cost much, and are likely to help. All the best.
