View Question

SCC In Cairn Terrier

by amymatthews - February 16, 2010

Hi Steve,

I'm seeing an 11 year old FS Cairn Terrier diagnosed with sublingual SCC about 5 weeks ago. She has a history of vomiting and soft stools (possible food allergies, IBD, colitis), one diagnosis of pancreatitis. She did not tolerate a higher protein, lower carb diet (a single dose of liverwurst to get herbs in really set her off!).

Her tongue is hard to see (she completely clamps her mouth shut!) but appears pink with thick stringy saliva; her pulse is rapid and superficial.

I tried her on Long Dan Xie Gan Tang, but it causes gi upset in her. Was wondering about Si Miao San, even though her tongue is relatively calm looking.

Today her pulse improved with BL23 and SP1.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Amy

by naturevet

February 17, 2010

Hi Amy,

I've used SMS plus LDXGT and gotten about a year's worth of success. One dog was lesion free for several months, before the mass recurred.

The points are interesting, though. How ulcerated and inflamed is the mass? Any pain? Is it a slow growing tumor? If it is, but is bleeding, I'd look at Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang as a hemostatic, and immune enhancer. It would also help the diarrhea tendencies. But with a rapid pulse like that, I'd be thinking SMS, Hoxsey, LDXGT, or all of them together.

Hope that helps,

Steve

by amymatthews

February 18, 2010

Doesn't look ulcerated or inflamed, but it's growing way too fast. It's kindof oozing some dark blood along the edge of the edge/tumor border, best as I can tell.

she's not tolerating the LDXGT at all, not even at a low dose. SMS sounds like it has a better record with sensitive GI tracts, so we'll at least give it a try.

Thanks as always.

Amy

by amymatthews

June 14, 2010

I alluded to this in another post, but the SMS has definitely helped her! Her oral odor is MUCH less, and her clinicl signs seems to have stabilized, whereas she was slowly progressing previously.

i have the owner using yunnan baiyao if the tongue starts to ooze blood too much, and that's working well. If that sign gets worse, I wonder if BZYQT could be added to her regimen?

by naturevet

June 14, 2010

Hi Amy,

Thanks for your diligence in following up. I appreciate it, and it makes the forum that much more valuable to users.

Regarding this case, where SMS is really helpful, we know the problem is Damp Heat. So for me, I wouldn't expect the cat to revert to a pure Spleen Qi deficiency (or Spleen Qi Sinking) picture anytime soon. Often in cats, once you eradicate the Spleen deficiency and Damp Heat using diet change and herbal formulas like SMS, there is nothing else to treat. That being said, San Ren Tang has been helpful in some milder stomatitis cases and is a consideration here if improvements on SMS stall out.

Rather than anticipating which way things might go, I'd just continue what you're doing until you hit a plateau, or see a mild relapse. At that point, a thorough re-examination will clarify what the next step should be.

Congratulations on your success thus far. Sorry that some of these other cases didn't work out for you.

Steve

You must be logged in to reply

CuredCases.com