How long before steroids take effect?

skintlass

Got the diagnosis I'd dreaded this week that my 12 year old dog has cancer throughout her system, heart, lungs, liver and lymph nodes. She has been given steroids to try and give her som extra time but I'm seeing very little difference in her (2 days now). I don't want her to suffer (she is eating very little and has no energy for a walk) so should I be expecting a change after 2 days or if it hasn't happened now is it not going to happen?

ItchyFeet

Hi Skintlass. What a horrible time for you. I'm sorry to hear your dog is ill. I'm afraid i don't know the answer about the steroids but i think you should ring your vets and ask them, and talk about any other concerns you have. :sad:

I was in a similar position a couple of years ago and spoke to the nurse at my local vets surgery and she helped me to come to terms a little bit with the inevitable outcome and answered a lot of my worries.

skintlass

Thanks Itchyfeet, to be honest I've been up and down for days now from suspecting the worst then getting it confirmed. There is a glimmer of light today as she has had some cheese and chicken and seemed quite keen on the cheese (her favourite food - weird I know). We're at the vets tomorrow so I'll get them to confirm the timescales. I know that at best this will only give me a little more time with her but every day is a bonus as long as she is not suffering.

spincandy

Hi, so sorry to hear about your girl Steroids can buy a little time in these situations, they will help with her appetite which, in turn will give her more energy and can perk her up a little. My dog's favourite food is cheese too Let her have as much of it as she wants right now. Good luck at the vets tomorrow and I hope she stays comfortable

Rach x

ItchyFeet

Spoil her in every way possible and try to take some comfort in that she couldn't be any more loved than she is. As much as you might not want to, ask the vet all the hard questions tomorrow. And in my experience, i felt better for not waiting for my baby to take a turn for the worse. IMHO a day too early is better than a day too late. xx

hethmar

Im so very sorry to hear how your girl is. When they are like this you are actually mourning for them before they have gone arent you - its heartbreaking.

God bless xxx

rising_from_the_ashes

Oh I am so sorry to hear this, fingers crossed she's feeling a bit better soon and I'd certainly give your vet a call/pop in.

Hethmar's hit it on the head, it's terrible when you know the end is coming and it is like losing them before the time has come.

Plenty of cuddles, lots of spoiling and cherish every extra day - and, cheese, cheese, cheese! (my dog loves it too!).

Itchyfeet has also said something I wholeheartedly agree with, a day too soon is better than a day later and suffering, thinking of you and your baby girl.

skintlass

Spot on Hethmar and rising, I have been in mourning since I knew. I broke down in the vets when they told me what they suspected and again on the phone when they said there wasn't much they could do :-(. I'm going to see what they say in the morning as she still bright-eyed but is very weak. We've had 2 very short walks today (she ran out of steam both times) and I'll take her for another one before the vets tomorrow. She's had whatever she has shown the slightest interest in to eat but has still eaten very little overall. Her tail (normally a very waggy one) is down most of the time although she has tried to wag it for me.

hethmar

One thing I would say skintlass, please have the vet come to your home - you and she will find it a lot less stressful to have her pass in comfort and in familiar surroundings.

I do feel for you, I really do, but when your loved companions get to this stage, its kinder to let them go in peace.

Thinking of you.x

There_Goes_Trouble

ItchyFeet wrote: »

IMHO a day too early is better than a day too late. xx

I couldn't really get to grips with this until I was in the position of making the decision for my old girl, and then it suddenly made so much sense. I opted for a day too early because my girl had stopped eating completely and wouldn't swallow her tablets either (they just stuck in her throat) and I could not watch her starve to death in great pain.

I feel so very bad for you right now, but my experience was that I spent weeks agonising over when the 'right' time would be, but when the time came it was very clear.

Enjoy your time with your girl, I hope your vet can help you tomorrow.

I also totally agree with Heathmar regarding having the vet come to your home if possible. It made so much difference to me and my girl.

skintlass

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I took my girl to the vets and knew before I got there that this was our last journey together. We had a little walk this morning and she had some maltesers. The vet said she was vey weak so I made the decision I knew I had to and sat with her while she went to sleep.