Spooky has cancer

[mikelgb]

:cry:

the vet just called, I'm devastated...

what do I do now... I don't like or trust this vet, anybody know a good feline oncology place in southern california?

[undeterred]

1. I am so sorry. I would recommend going to a vet school.

This page has a list of all the vet schools in California: http://www.veterinaryschools.com/dvm-schools-colleges-programs.html#CA

I don't know what's closest to you, but when my dog had cancer I was referred to a private veterinary oncology clinic where they misdiagnosed him with the wrong kind of cancer. After that I went to the Vet School in Wisconsin where he was cured.

My dog had all his treatments at the vet school. But some of the animals just came there for a diagnosis/surgery and they got their chemo treatment closer to home- the vet school referred them.

Good luck. :hug:

[mikelgb]

3. thanks for link

[BattyDem]

2. I'm so sorry.

:cry: :hug:

I know what you're going through. I know all the horrible thoughts that are going through your head at the moment, but try to stay calm until you can talk to a specialist and see what the treatment options are.

I live in NJ, so I have no experience with vets in southern California, but I did find something on Google. It's a state-by-state list of veterinary oncology hospitals.

http://petcancercenter.org/Veterinary_Oncologists_US_p1.html

It's a good place to start. Perhaps you have friends, neighbors or coworkers who are familiar with one of the hospitals. You may already be familiar with one or more of the hospitals, though you may not be aware that they have oncology departments. I hope this helps. :-)

Good luck! :hug:

[mikelgb]

4. Thanks

[livetohike]

5. I'm so sorry this was the diagnosis

:hug: I would definitely go to another vet for a second opinion and treatment options. I'm in PA now, but I lived in so cal for 13 years and only had dogs. Could this vet refer you to a specialist? Did this vet offer any treatment ideas? We had a vet twenty years ago who referred us to a specialist in L.A. when he diagnosed our dog with lung cancer (very, very rare to have that happen). Anyway, I was happy for the referral. I felt like I was doing something other than accepting that vet's diagnosis.

A big :hug: for Spooky too, and an "Arf!" from my Cindy and Murphy.

[Shardik]

6. I'm so sorry to hear that.

:grouphug:

I hope things turn out okay for you.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Oh Mike I am so sorry that is how it turned out.

I know that you must feel at a loss right now.
Did the doctor give you any helpful info at all? a prognosis, ideas for treatment? Anything?

Here are a couple of links with information that might help you.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/acancer.htm

http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/pet-cancer-cure-testimonials.html

alternative cancer treatments for pets
http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/Lnaturalpetfoods.htm

http://www.i-love-my-cat.com/cat-cancer.html?s_kwcid=feline%20cancer

http://www.blogcatalog.com/topic/feline+cancer/ Scroll thru this.


If I find any other links that seem helpful I will send them to you.

Please keep us posted on how Spooky and you are doing.

Holistic vets near you.
These vets are recommended by Shirely's Wellness Cafe: Obviously they deal with cats as well.

http://www.foundersvet.com/
Founders Veterinary Clinic
Holistic Veterinarians Serving Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Los Angeles County.
Dr. Paula Terifaj, DVM, offers only in-office consultation. Founders Veterinary Clinic 330 North Brea Blvd Suite F • Brea, CA 92821 - 714-990-0661 - Experienced with Transfer Factor

Paula Terifaj, DVM is in small animal practice and is the owner of Founders Veterinary Clinic, Brea CA. She has a special interest in preventative medicine with a focus on nutrition to keep dogs healthy and uses her optimum diet plan in the treatment of various illnesses. She is also the founder of The DOGie Bag Bistro & Nutrition Center in Palm Springs, CA and has developed homemade, take out meals to promote the benefits of home cooking.

Dr. Paula has spent more than 20 years developing her special focus on preventative medicine. Throughout her veterinary career, she has educated her clients on how to prevent and treat disease using proper nutritional supplements and adopting better diets. Her approach offers pet owners safe alternatives to traditional (and sometimes outdated) medical protocols. Practicing an integrative approach to health care allows her patients to benefit from both the advances made by modern science and the wisdom found in more non-traditional therapies. After many years of successfully teaching dog owners how to play an active role in their dog’s health care, she now shares this vital information with other dog owners in a concisely written format called 30 Minute Vet Consult. Her emphasis on health education and prevention has earned her a loyal following of dog lovers.

Dr. Paula Terifaj is the author of How to Protect Your Dog from a Vaccines Junkie ebook. She graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis, California in 1986.
WHY THIS VET FEEDS PEOPLE FOOD TO HER DOGS

***********************************************************************************************************************8
http://www.naturalveterinarytherapy.com/
Dr. Annette Richmond, DVM in Pacific Grove, California, 831-655-0501 Experienced with Transfer Factor

After her first year out of vet school she knew there had to be more with which to treat pets than the standard medicine I was taught to give. She went to acupuncture school at the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society that year and that started her interest in natural medicine, learning Traditional Chinese Medicine which includes acupuncture and herbs. She has always been an advocate hor healthful diets, exercise, nutraceutical support, and reduced vaccinations to help support the immune system. She uses only nautral medicine ( no antibiotics or steroids on her shelves ) and physical rehabilitation.

************************************************************************************************************************


http://www.yolodirect.com/ccv/
Bert H. Brooks, D.V.M. Cache Creek Vet Service 15200 County Road 96B Woodland, CA95659
Phone: [phone] - Fax (9600): 530-666-7430 - Email: [email protected]

"We work with pleasure and performance horses, dogs, cats, and livestock. During our first decade, we practiced conventional medicine and surgery almost exclusively. Today, we practice Holistic Veterinary Medicine (i.e., we also use, safe, effective and non-invasive complementary techniques). This site is about our complementary techniques and how they can help your animal -- even if you do not live near us!"

*************************************************************************************************************************
Cheryl Schwartz, DVM - San Diego County, CA 858-488-1885
Read Bobbie's testimonial how Cheryl treated her very sick cat on March 29, 2003

*************************************************************************************************************************

LIMEHOUSE VET CLINIC. 818- 761 - 0787. 10743 RIVERSIDE DR N. HOLLYWOOD CA 91602. (Los Angeles)

*************************************************************************************************************************


Info on holistic vets in Orange County
http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/holistic-vet-orange-t7278489.html?p=1963351500#post1963351500

[mikelgb]

8. Thank You

I have made an appointment for him tonight at a Veterinary Cancer Group that I found from another helpful link

I will look into your links as well, thank you.

No more info from the other vet, they told me that I really couldn't see their surgeon until next Tuesday and maybe I could drop off etc etc not happy with them. They even failed to tell me what type of cancer but were pretty sure that surgery was the best option.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Changing vets is the most essential decision right now.

It sounds like you are making the right move here.
I cannot believe they just called you with the results with no other words of any kind.

Please keep us in the loop. Sending white light and positive energy to you and to Spooky..
:hug:

[BattyDem]

10. That's horrible!

So basically they said, "It's cancer, we'll do surgery, drop him off next Tuesday." :wow:

It's bad enough you have to go through this, but to have a vet treat you that way is just terrible! I'm so sorry. :hug:

I'm so glad you're taking Spooky to another vet. You both deserve better treatment. I hope all goes well.

Good luck from me and my Mom. :grouphug:

[haele]

11. I'm sorry, we're dealing with this now in our house -

The important things to realize is that there are quite a few different types of cancer cats can develop, and not all of them are an early death sentence.
(Unfortunately, Moggy will be only a memory in our hearts after tomorrow - Squamous Cell Carcinoma is quick and devastating once it takes hold and starts multiplying)
Hopefully, if you can find a University based veterinary school in your area - Fullerton, right? - you should be able to get a good diagnosis and treatment that is monitored.
Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best for your Spooky.

I don't have contact links for anything in Orange or LA County, but here's some programs you might look at to help your decision - hopefully, they'll have some sort of contacts for walk-ins rather than students...

http://www.csupomona.edu/~avs/
Cal-Poly Pomona

Cal State Fullerton also has a Small Animal Veterinary Sciences degree that apparently includes research, but I couldn't find any links just yet.
:hug:

Haele

[mikelgb]

13. Spooky looks a lot like Moggy

we went in yesterday and they took blood, he will have a biopsy on Monday and we are going to go from there...

cytology did not produce conclusive enough results, only that there were malignant cells there


don't know how I am going to afford this

[haele]

14. Our vet allowed us to pay half the estimate up front, then

do monthly payments for 4 months to cover the bill for the dental procedure that found the cancer and the lab costs for the biopsy.

Of course, Moggy's been her patient for a long time, so she cut about $200 in the extra costs for the time and procedure in the identification of cancerous cells and cell removal surgery and fees for us. She told us that as she already had him under for the dental procedure (estimated up front at $984 with a 10% military discount she tossed in) where we knew there was an abscess, she'd take care of the rest of the mouth examination and work at no additional cost. She only had to charge more for the lab work.
Total was $1148, including the overnight observed stay that she only added a can of cat food for - and since the cancer was untreatable, she gave us the option of putting him down there. We opted for saying goodby at home, which is three times more expensive, but gives Moggy the dignity and comfort he deserves.
There is also a health credit service that does low interest one year unsecured loans, if you have halfway decent credit and aren't still paying off other health credit service loans for, say, the kid's horrifically expensive even if you have insurance dental work (which is why we couldn't get credit for Moggy's treatment).

The most important thing at this point is to figure out what type of cancer he has and what his options are. When the vet first found the abnormal cells in Moggy, she was hoping that it was just an inflamed melanoma where the cells could be cut out and he could live out the rest of his life in relative comfort with no additional treatment.

:hug: for Spooky.

Haele

[Kookaburra]

12. Your current vet's energy is bad

Definitely take Spooky to another vet. Even if the diagnosis is correct and he does have cancer, there are different types and it's possible that this can be completely cleared up with surgery alone.

Regardless, you need a more sympathetic vet with some decent bedside manners.

My best to you and Spooky. I'm sending healing light & energy to you both.

[haele]

15. Have you found a new vet yet?

I'm hoping you've got better news on Spooky.

Haele