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  1. #1
    Real Retriever Moby and Barley's Mom's Avatar
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    Any experience with Chinese Herbs?

    Hi, I have just been to a holistic vet for Moby's spindle cell carcinoma that has begun to grow again on his right leg below the elbow. It is not a surprise that it is regrowing - I knew the margins would not be clear without amputation but we took our chances. The vet prescribed a Concentrated Stasis Breaker and a Concentrated Wei Ci Booster to slow (or stop or hopefully retard) the growth of the tumor which does not really cause him any problem - but could should the thin skin split.

    Does anyone have any experience with these herbs? They are very expensive about $100 for almost a month of use - but I am o.k. with it as long as I see some results.

    The vet also recommended that I stop feeding him raw in the morning because old dogs and dogs with cancer have a hard time digesting it.

    Any thoughts?
    Forever in my heart - Sweet gentle Moby - lover of belly rubs, bacon, and Barbara 9-10-2001 to 11-2-2015

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    No experience with Chinese herbs, but Betty has. She literally saved her dog with them. Hope she sees the topic and chimes in.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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    Moby and Barley's Mom (02-24-2015)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    I'm a convert to so many things thanks to Oban getting so sick last summer. It's not for the same thing but our new Holistic Vet uses Chinese medicine and the herbs worked where traditional western medicine failed. She's also using acupuncture.

    I can comment on going off the raw too, because we have also been advised to do that, hopefully temporarily. Again, not for the same thing. Oban's issue does seem to be digestion and he's having some kind of a flare up. We have gone back to a home cooked diet similar to the one the Holistic Vet put him on last summer for his IBD. Is Moby showing signs of not utilizing his raw food? Does your Vet support raw, usually? Since our Vet is the one who got us going raw in the first place is she says to go off it I have no reason to suspect she's acting on anything but Oban's best interests so I'm cooking.

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  6. #4
    Real Retriever Moby and Barley's Mom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    I'm a convert to so many things thanks to Oban getting so sick last summer. It's not for the same thing but our new Holistic Vet uses Chinese medicine and the herbs worked where traditional western medicine failed. She's also using acupuncture.

    I can comment on going off the raw too, because we have also been advised to do that, hopefully temporarily. Again, not for the same thing. Oban's issue does seem to be digestion and he's having some kind of a flare up. We have gone back to a home cooked diet similar to the one the Holistic Vet put him on last summer for his IBD. Is Moby showing signs of not utilizing his raw food? Does your Vet support raw, usually? Since our Vet is the one who got us going raw in the first place is she says to go off it I have no reason to suspect she's acting on anything but Oban's best interests so I'm cooking.

    Hmm - Moby seems to be doing very well on raw (only in the morning - grain free Candidae in the evening). But I really like the vet - and they obviously know more than I do. Some vets I have seen do not support raw - thinking that the dog will not get proper nutrition on raw - but this vet and the specialist both do - as long as the human preparing the food is doing it right. She gave me a website Balance IT where I could go in, put in Moby's weight, etc. and check if I was giving him the right foods. Happy to say that according to the website the combo was just fine. Once I am done with the patties I have prepared - I will have him on the kibble morning and evening, the glucosamine, the chinese herbs and the salmon oil. We'll see!

    Thank you for your encouragement!
    Forever in my heart - Sweet gentle Moby - lover of belly rubs, bacon, and Barbara 9-10-2001 to 11-2-2015

  7. #5
    Best Friend Retriever Sue's Avatar
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    I have used them on myself (and it was like a miracle, seriously), and occasional use on my dogs.

    One thing I do know, with dogs, is that you shouldn't feed kibble. It's too high in carbohydrates, which feeds cancers.

    Can you possibly do a home cooked diet, like Snowshoe is doing? If your vet supports and encourages RAW, then she should be pushing home cooked at this point.

    Some links for you to read and ponder:

    Diet
    Cancer diet for Dogs and Cats - Holistic Veterinary Center, Concord New Hampshire
    https://dogcancerdiet.com/pdf/DogCancerDiet.pdf
    Last edited by Sue; 02-24-2015 at 11:14 AM. Reason: typo

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  9. #6
    Senior Dog voodoo's Avatar
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    many people claim raw red meats cause cancer in humans and thus many vets apply this thought to animals/dogs. I am not a firm believer on anything to do with cancers. as it seems very random with so many variables.

    I do believe that physical activity is healthy for all tho.
    Amateur pet owner
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  11. #7
    Senior Dog
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    Just a bit of information...My Vet does not recommend feeding "raw" to a dog that has been diagnosed with cancer. I think it has to do with the bacteria in the raw meat.

    I know all Vets are different...but just wanted to pass this along to you.

    I also believe that "home cooked meals" are better.

    There is also a great book called "Four Paws, Five Directions" about Chinese herbs for dogs:

    Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs: Cheryl Schwartz, Mark Ed. Schwartz: 9780890877906: Amazon.com: Books

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    Moby and Barley's Mom (03-10-2015)

  13. #8
    Senior Dog
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    Sorry I haven't been on due to my smashed ankle.

    pawhealer.com, talk to mark, tell him you are a friend of betty nicholson.they charge no shipping on Wednesdays and often have specials.

    i use herbs for vangie for incontinence.works.
    used them for rex after he was in " liver failure" due to toxic food ( two yrs) and vet and internist were floored.brought his levels to normal levels within 5 months, and internist gave him weeks to live.he managed to live another 18 months, died right before his 12 th bday, from something else.

    also use herbs for Jake, my 12 1/2 yr old who we suspect the beginning og GOLPP,and we think it's being kept in check,

    also so use a different concoction for eli, our frenchie, who tends to barf when excited.also seems to help.

    you talk with mark, and he will call back. I believe holly, the herbalist, is his wife.

    ive been thrilled with them and they custom blend all of our dogs herbs.

  14. #9
    House Broken Adirondack Labs's Avatar
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    Big fan of Chinese herbs and traditional Chinese medicine in general for the furkids. Two of my Labs have gone the TCM, acupuncture route and it changed their lives. My suggestion would be to find a vet that practices TCM and get on a regular schedule. Both of the vets I've worked with were western trained first and then went into eastern medicine. I liked that idea because my dogs were getting a good once-over each month with both types of eyes.

    I remember following Bett's adventures with her pack, as well. It was amazing to read how it all worked.

    paula

  15. #10
    Real Retriever 3ChocMom's Avatar
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    I don't have experience with either of those specific herbs, but 2 of my dogs are on various Chinese herbs for different issues and I have seen them work wonders. Raw feeding is not recommended for cancer patients, home cooked is better. I don't know if your holistic vet has a lot of experience with cancer specifically, but if not, I would try to find one who does. All holistic vets are not created equal. My holistic vet is amazing, she has been practicing TCM for a really long time and even teaches at the Chi Institute. However, there are two vets in my area, my primary vet and my chiro vet, who mostly practice Western medicine, but are certified in some aspects of TCM. When they give me herbs, I always double check the dosage with my holistic vet because I've had instances where one of them drastically underdosed an herb (what he told me to give my 55 pound dog was the correct dosage for a 10 pound dog) and where they told me to take breaks with one of the herbs (not necessary, as I found out later). So I think someone who only practices holistic medicine and has been doing so for a long time is better, especially for something as serious as cancer.

 



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