Question Details
Old, Diabetic, Sq.cell CA-sinus
by Peggy Lewis - September 17, 2009
Hi Steve-
I have a 13 yr. old Min. Schn. recently seen at Purdue for a mass over the dorsal aspect of rt. eye. Biopsy there came back as squamous cell CA -
it has invaded the bone in that area and is putting pressure on the eye. Dog has been diabetic since 9-05 --well-regulated on 8 units of insulin BID. Bilat cataract sx 4-06; chronically elevated ALKP for 3-4 yrs. (currently 590, the lowest its been--we have been trt w/ milk thistle and gluta-DMG); dog had a bout of pancreatitis 1-08, which seemed to resolve, but dog has had intermittent vomiting since. developed bilat. sym. alopecia in 2007, which has never resolved-
thyroid testing at that time was normal. dog has been gradually been losing wt. for about a yr., despite fairly N blood glucose levels.
He is frail-looking, but active and kind of grouchy. Neither hot or cold. No evidence of mets. of SCC. Diet: DCO dry, OM canned, Cheerios
(not my rec., but owner says he does the best on this combination).
This dog has an excellent owner who wants the dog to have the best quality life for however long he has left. I'd appreciate you thoughts.
Thanks so much for all you do. Peggy
Replies
by naturevet
September 18, 2009
Hi Peggy,

Given how many diet-related complaints there are, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't do better on a no-grain home-cooked diet or raw diet at least.

For SCC of the face affecting the eye, I've used a combination of Si Miao San and Long Dan Xie Gan Tang. That would be my first choice, but get ready to adjust the insulin either way. There's the possibility the formulas will promote gluconeogenesis. On the other hand, they can protect against pancreatitis and improve insulin signalling, so the dog may end up needing less insulin as well.

Hopefully you see some response here. I got about nine months of remission out of a similar case. I also used vitamin AD once daily to once weekly. The dog was on raw.

Good luck,

Steve
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