Goodbye to brave Maverick - who turned weeks into months

Maverick (Aka Mr Custard) stayed with us until November 2010 (8 months from diagnosis). Our worst fears were realised when he yelped after he jumped into the back of the car for his beloved walks. 

 This 9 stone dog was unbelievably nimble on his feet and for some time we had been lifting him down from the car to prevent him from jarring his joints which he seemed happy to accept but he was not so keen on our assistance in helping into the car.  Apart from that one yelp Maverick made no other noise although the limp seemed more pronounced than ever.  We both knew there was a strong possibility that the bone was now broken and made an appointment to get to the vets at Oswestry as soon as we could - this was over an hour away.  We still had our other dog in the car who had not been toileted so we drove down to our usual walk en route so she could have a wee before the journey.  Unbelievably Maverick started to cry to be let out of the car as he thought he was missing out on his walk!  We gently lifted him down & he started pulling to get on the walk - we let him have a sniff and a mooch and got on our way.  On our arrival Barbara also felt that the bone would be so weakened that it could be broken however she x-rayed first and this confirmed it was the case - we knew nothing more could be done.  The x-rays of his shoulder looked like a mass of 'snow flakes', there was no solid bone left and a break just through walking alone would have been imminent.  We spent his least half hour talking to him and brushing him (his favourite indoor experience) knowing we had done everything possible for him and this decision was the right one made at the right time - no regrets.  I'm sure people will understand and relate to the dreadful emotions you experience when you've lost a dog and wonder if you did the right thing and whether you should have done more/asked more/pushed more.  Maverick's passing was awful however it was made more bearable because this time we knew we couldn't have done any more.

His journey through cancer involved a steep learning curve for us and I am so glad that I stood my ground at the vets & asked for a referral to Barbara at Oakwood vets.  Her support was unwavering.  For anyone contemplating this journey my biggest piece of advice is that it is never too early to start this treatment.  Back in April 2010 we were told his limp was due to arthritis (very possible in a 9yr old Rottie), however having already lost a previous dog to 'arthritis' that turned out to be cancer, I asked for a second opinion. This confirmed it was actually cancer and we made an appointment with Barbara.  We were fortunate in that we were already feeding a 'loose' version of the bones & raw food diet which forms part of the CV247 whole treatment.  Maverick was taking steroids fro
m our usual vets and Barbara supplemented this with K9 immunitas tablets and echinacea alongside the CV247 - we also followed the dietary advice from John Carter which consisted of organic rice or pasta, raw fruit and vegetables and raw chicken liver - the steroids made Maverick ravenous which meant he ate the food, I think we may have had trouble otherwise!!  I also gave him raw apricot kernels.

So, he started his treatment in April and by June/July he was still going downhill, he seemed to plateau for a while and then slip further down, although he still wanted to walk twice a day, the distance he could manage became less and less.  At this point we felt that another decline in his health would be the last.  We still persevered and for this I am glad, for during July we noticed he seemed brighter and this became more and more noticeable, his coat started to shine and became glossy, his zest for life increased and his lethargy disappeared. The length of his walks increased & he seemed in far less pain. Time and again people we met whilst walking could not believe that he was 10 and had cancer. From a personal perspective I felt that if we had left treatment until his symptoms worsened then it would have been too late as it seemed to take several months

for the effects of the treatment to take hold and it was very scary time watching him slowly decline.

Maverick was given between 4-6 weeks to live in April 2010 by our conventional vets who painted a very bleak picture, we were berated for choosing an 'unconventional' path of treatment.  

I do not have a medical background and am just an average person who will listen and be guided by a professionals advice however I also know my own dog and wants what's best for my them so they can live a happy healthy life for as long as possible.  

It's difficult to describe in words the journey made by Maverick and ourselves.  You printed a picture of Maverick with a cone on his head a while back in the caption competition, there was some video footage taken at that time and I suppose this is the best way to capture him & show everyone that no matter what the outlook appears to be - there is always hope.  The link takes you to a very short clip of Maverick playing with his beloved cone on the beach in late September 2010 (6 months from his diagnosis of osteosarcoma), would you guess he had cancer - I think not!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvK5QaD4TRs  

 
With kind regards
Kathryn

My Angel..Lily Twinkle

Lily Twinkle lasted for nine months from the day of diagnosis for Lymphoma and was happy and pretty much healthy until I made the decision to take her to my vets.
Since my last blog in April, Lily Twinkle was amazing and every vet who met her couldn't believe she had lymphoma as she was bright and her coat and eyes shined. She was pretty much a normal dog healthwise except for the enlargement of her lymph nodes.
She stayed on a daily dose of 25mg steroids until she went and the side effects got less and less as the steroids got less effective. I had spoken to Prof David Argyle at the Dick Vet in Edinburgh but he felt there was a chance she would crash if I took her off steroids all together as it had happened to him before with a dog so I didn't want to take that chance.
I did mean to update Lily's progress in July but the time just flew in! With the help of CV247, holistic meds, natural herbal meds and nutritional therapy from raw food she led a healthy and happy life. She was a bit sluggish in July and I noticed she had some fluid on her hock as she hadnt wanted to walk that day so her circulation wasnt at its best. From that day on she got a walk twice a day which she loved after she got up and out the door. I also managed to get in touch with the physio at the Glasgow Vet School, Melanie. She showed me how to do a lymphatic massage to help boost lily's circulation and lymphatic drainage system. It really helped and she never had another odema after that.
I also couldn't have done such a good job with Lily's treatment without the help of my vets..ICR Butt and Partners...Sarah, Rory and the two Chris's who all had an open mind and knowledge that helped me be positive and productive.
Richard Allport was brilliant and so positive and full of ideas to help Lily and such an understanding of holistic meds and the importance of nutritional therapy. Prof David Argyle was so helpful and managed to fit me in for a consultation at a minutes notice as his oncology knowledge is amazing. Melanie the physio was so patient and kind is showing me how to help Lily with massage. It was great to have such a great support mechanism in place to help Lily and me!
Lily turned eight on 12 September 2011 and we had a wee party for her and I made a liver cake with cheese topping which she and all her friends loved. I was so delighted she'd made it to her eighth birthday as was sure she wouldn't make it past four months with Lymphoma.
At the beginning of October she had an infection that was treated with antibiotics and she was ok for a week then it came back and it was treated again and we decided that she would have to go on antibiotics permanently. It showed her immunity, that had done brilliantly for so long, was now starting to find it hard to keep infections at bay so that is the next protocol.
I got an appointment with Prof David Argyle on 18th October to see what advice he could give me. He was very pleased by how well Lily Twinkle looked and acted at having no chemo only natural treatment for nine months. He did however say that she was at the end of her illness and her liver and spleen were now involved as her tummy was still pot-bellied from the steroids depositing fat on her tummy but now it wasn't fat but organ enlargement.
She was healthy looking and happy and loving her food and her walks but her insides were telling a different story. I was glad I went to see David as I knew there was no-one more qualified with so much experience of Lymphoma to give me a true picture and he even said some of his patients don't do as well as Lily Twinkle has when on chemo.
He couldn't give me a timescale as look how well she had lasted beyond all the odds but I knew it was time.
I made an appointment at the vet on the 20th October and I spent two days going for walks, cuddles, pictures and giving her tasty things to eat, still raw meat but left out the veg. She went for her final walk and was slowing down but still managed a trot and a good sniff round the woods. At the vet she got chicken, corned beef and mature cheddar and then got a raw chicken leg to munch on while the blue jag went in her leg. She was ready and knew and she looked at me with happiness in her eyes while she chomped on her bone three times before she just went. She lay with her head on my lap with her tongue out one side and a chicken leg out of the other with her big soft head and looked so cute and peaceful.
I sat patting her for 40 mins in that position while chatting to the vet and my friend, it wasn't rushed and I feel I got to say my goodbyes and I knew that Lily Twinkle never suffered. She could have lasted another month or so but I was so worried her spleen would rupture or her liver would fail and I couldn't have forgiven myself if that had happened because I would have been keeping her alive for me not for Lily Twinkle.
I now have wonderful memories of a fantastic dog called Lily Twinkle who made everyone see her on the inside not the outside. She was a true pacifying kind dog whose calm nature is so missed in my house. She was a credit to her breed and she changed so many peoples opinions of Rottweilers.
She gave blood to save dogs lives and was a true angel.
Lily Twinkle ~ 12 September 2003 to 20 October 2011 ~
I will miss you so much 

Nikki x  

PS Thank you for the lovely comments. I forgot to thank Lily Twinkle's breeder, Sharon at Blairoak. She was so helpful when I went to pick Lily eight years ago and has continued to be a great support and friend who sent Lily Twinkle a Xmas card every year and whom I will keep in touch with as she lets me go and kiss all the puppies when she has a litter.
Nikki x

Kia's story

Kia's Tale

I'm putting out this world wide plea, for help for Kia, in her fight against cancer.

Kia, joined our family ten years ago, tomorrow; 26.06.2001, she was six eeks old, and had just been rescued from a house that had fifteen adult dogs, all intact. Three of her siblings had already been drowned, and her day consisted of been the plaything of a group of unruly children. At the time of her rescue, both her and her brother were been rolled down the windscreen of the family car. Thankfully her new life started a few hours later. On another positive note her sister, that had not been discovered at the time. Was freed, a week later. For a fiver and ten cigs, teenagers today.



With ears, twice the size of her body, Kia was now home! With Sheba, our very maternal GSD as surrogate Mum, Kia soon found her way and blossomed adulthood. With stunning looks, she's DobermanXEnglish Bull TerrierXPharohhound possibly Boxer. She draws attention where ever we are. She's very timid, and both Emma, (sister who was rescued) and her have lots of funny quirks and habits. Mainly grabbing the first thing to hand, when anybody comes to the house; be it her baby, a ball of sock or a roll of kitchen roll. It becomes a treasured item, to show off!!! They also still have some scars, from their previous lives, but we don't dwell on them. Together their like a pair of bookends.



Things have gone on brilliantly, she had her first shots. Was spayed around six months and until two years ago, she'd never been to the vets. This was only because she strained the tendons after too much ball chasing. Forward to the present, March 2011, as my Mum was getting Milo, another reprobate we rescued, into the car. Kia was stalking the picnic tables. My Mum heard a slight shuffle and when she got Kia in the car, she realised that she had been bitten. Kia was bathed and sorted, with no apparent ill effects. But about a week later her right eye, became swollen, and her third eye lid came out. The vet diagnosed an infection, antibiotics and anti imflammatories were prescribed. Follow up, eye same, different meds given. This continued for five weeks. Then on the Royal wedding day, Kia's head, eye, nose. Swelled up enormously, off to the emergency vets, Not examined, but Vet mentioned could be a growth in the soft tissue. Swelling went down after two days, PDSA follow up said they would remove her eye, if necessary. We went to a private vet, who said, it wasn't acting like a tumour, but organised a biopsy, to get too the bottom of things.



Morning of biopsy, dropped Kia off, full of hope and just wanting an answer. three hours later, our lovely vet is telling me that he's sorry, but things aren't looking good, and we should prepare for the worse. Poor Kia, she looked like she'd done three rounds with Mike Tyson.From that phone call, I was accessing ColdWetNoseblog and checking out the list of vets that were prescribing cv-247, an appointment was made. We are fighting this head on.  A week later and the results were in: Carcinoma, Orbital mass. There was a Neoplastic mass, features of epithelial origin, most likely of lacrimal gland origin. A week later and Kia had her right eye removed, but unfortunately, they couldn't get all of the tumour, it was in the soft tissue above her eye.



this is where it gets complicated, The vets who we were going to get the cv-247, hadn't been able to get any for several months. So I got in touch with Richard Allports surgery, a lovely lady filled me in on what the problems had been, and what we needed to do to get the cv-247 from them. This is were the problems started. Our vet, as lovely as he is, doesn't know anything about cv-247 and he wasn't  happy dealing with Mr Allport. He put me in touch with another vet, who uses complimentary treatments. Luckily he had used cv-247, so he could give me some details IE regarding painkillers etc. He also explained how to obtain the drugs, without compromising prescribing laws. Back to our vet, to fill him in on what I'd been told. This time I was told he would only deal, with the original vet, I had contacted. As any of you know who is or has been in this situation. You don't want hold ups. We just wanted the prescription and the tablets and of course what to feed her. After yet another bank holiday, we were told that finally the vet had got the tablets, and knew the dose. So off we went to collect the prescription, along with some Metacam. Then on to pick up the cv-247. Whilst voicing my concerns about using Metacam. I enquired about John Carters diet and if they had any info sheets. What was said next, was to me so very sad. The vet, just looked at me and said." I don't know who John Carter is, " I told her he was the vet that had formulated this treatment, but that he also recommended a very precise diet. She said that she was American and that she only knew of the drug from the manufacturers that supplied them, but they could provide a generic diet sheet, suitable for dogs with cancer.



Now several years ago, I read one of the articles in DT; about John carter and his amazing treatment, the rigid diet, and some of the remarkable cases. Both animal and human. So I knew John's way was the only way to go. However I only know the basic principles; low salt, low sugar, no processed foods,  organic foods only, no grains other than oats and only bottled water (prefabley) glass. I know we need Tryplase capsules, along with other various vitamin and mineral supplements. This is where we need Your Help!!! I'm not very Internet savvy, so sourcing the right info, is proving to be an uphill struggle. I've poured over the cv-247 blogs, which are helpful, but there seem to be some discrepancies, regarding ingredients.

 

So anyone with suitable recipes, where we can get the supplements and any organic suppliers who can do wholesale would be a massive help. Also of course we'd love to hear from anyone who's going down the same route, to swap updates with. Kia is approx 221/2 - 23kgs. we are in Leeds and are waiting to hear from you. I'm not sure how this all works, so I'm giving all my contact details to Beverley.



Regards

Carolanne and Kia

Every day is a bonus

Lily Twinkle has been amazing..she looks so happy and healthy and what more can you ask for.  Thanks to the blog on Herbie I bit the bullet and asked my vet to refer me to Richard Allport for telephone consultations on CV247 and holistic treatments.  It was the best thing I have ever done as Richard is a vet first and foremost but also believes in CV247 and holistic and natural healing.  I found it hard with Chilli Pepper to know what was the right food to feed her on and what herbs or vitamins to add into her food as there is so many when you look on the internet.  Now I have had a several consultations and the first initial consultation was about everything to do with Lily Twinkles diet and personality and what doses to put her on and all the right herbs and a balanced natural diet which is cooked mostly except the meat and chicken wings for calcium.

Lily was doing fab until 3 weeks ago and she got up and went a walk as normal then when we went to my sisters in the car she looked miserable and was very uncomfortable as her lymph nodes in her neck were big by this point.  She had lasted a month without steroids which was great as they made her drink loads and she weed herself wherever she lay although they did take her lymph nodes down brilliantly.  I had to phone my vet and she was instantly put on large dose of the steroids again for 3 days and within 12 hours she was back to her happy lazy self, upside down on the couch. I phoned Richard the next day and he advised sometimes dogs may need the help of steroids for a couple of days a month or maybe more just to help reduce the swelling so I am certain the natural way is the right thing to do but for a few months we can give her short course of steroids to keep the lymph nodes down.  The prognosis for Lily is dire without chemo but if I get one more month out of her like she is behaving now I will be delighted.

Every day is a bonus and unlike how I behaved with Chilli Pepper (crying every day when she was still alive) I don't cry as I am appreciating her being well and still here.  If we dont have long then I am not going to remember how sad I was but how happy Lily Twinkle was.  I think it is working with the CV247 and natural remedies and it would be lovely if it continues for ages and then maybe my vets' will take more of an interest in this magical potion!!

I also managed a great breakthrough with Petplan..who lily is insured with as they classed CV247 as a homeopathic med but I complained and now the claims team accept that it is a vet medicine as has to be prescribed by a vet or doctor as contains sodium salicylate which is also in aspirin.

I have just taken the picture above tonight and it shows how healthy and contented Lily Twinkle is in her favourite position with a smile on her face lol.

Nikki and Lily Twinkle x
 

Remembering Chilli and fingers crossed for Lily Twinkle

Hi Beverley

I have been meaning to email you for ages to advise that Chilli Pepper left us on 26 May 2010.  We had no regrets and her last 15mths were the healthiest she had ever been and the cv247 was the reason for that.  The cancer was very aggressive and although the cv247 kept it at bay for an extra nine months it took over most of her colon and digestive tract to the point where the food was finding it hard to go through from her tummy.

Up to that day in may she had been out for her normal walks but was a bit distressed with the pooing thing and she had a urine infection also so that didn't help.  Up til then she had been pretty healthy and happy.  I felt her tummy during the day as she hadn't eaten much in the morning and it was full and I could tell she was uncomfortable so by 9pm she wasn't any better so called my vet (who is luckily 24 hrs) Chris and I took her up.  He put his head in his hands trying to think of something else we could do but I told him it was time.

I still cry every day about Chilli Pepper and I miss her so much as she was my friend more than my dog.  I got a puppy...Blue Roan and Sable Cocker Spaniel in December and she is great...although I still miss Chilli, Dilly Dumpling has made my life a little happier.

That being said I noticed my Rottie Lily Twinkle's lymph nodes were swollen last week so up to the vet and although I knew it was lymphoma, we did the antibiotics thing for a week.  No change so a biopsy was done and the results came back yesterday as expected.

Here we go again..I haven't got over Chilli Pepper yet and my lovely kind Rottweiller now has cancer too at the same young age of 7 1/2...although now I am more positive and know the path I will follow. Chemo was considered as Lily loves the vets as long as she gets a biscuit and has Xrays done without sedation.  She is a gem of a dog who for the last 2 years was a blood donor for the Dick Vet in Edinburgh (20 minutes of blood taken from the jugular without sedation) and they think she is a fab dog too as do my vets and everyone that knows her.

Thank god for the blog Beverley, it is still going strong and another rottie on the site too. Glad to see Heidi is still ok so am going to follow her diet with the Budwig cottage cheese and flaxseed oil thang too.  Lily Twinkle cant seem to tolerate raw carrots or cooked ones that are in chunks..she always brings them up so cooked and blitzed carrots for her!  With Chilli we did the vintage JC diet but I found a holistic site that  gives a recommended diet which is mostly cooked like Heidis diet.  I thought it was all raw but it appears to be working well with Heidi so will give it a try.  I am so optimistic as Lymphoma has a pretty bad prognosis but Cv247 helped Chilli be healthy and Happy so I want the same for Lily for as long as we have.  It is great to see the other lymphoma cases of the spaniels and they seem to have around 18 mths at least so it may be quite effective for this type of cancer.  Web advice of vets was prognosis around 6 to 8 weeks without chemo and 8 mths with.

I didnt do the glass bottle mineral water with Chilli but will do it with Lily..as you have said numerous times JC did say it had to be glass not plastic bottles, and he knew best.

Please add this to the Blog Beverley and I will be back in touch regularly with Lily's blog.  My vets are totally behind me as all think that it was a success for Chilli Pepper's quality and quantity of life after diagnosis. Lily is on Prednisolone for two wks to blast the multicentric lymphoma to reduce the lymph nodes and in that time I will give her all the vitamins and herbs etc and introduce the diet gradually.  After that I will bring in the big guns aka cv247!

Love Nikki and Lily Twinkle x
 

Mr Custard on becoming a legend and avoiding the paparazzi

No Mr Custard's (aka as Maverick) head hasn't really turned into a carrot after eating too many!

I love this picture. It was taken a few weeks ago as I feel this sums up Maverick's attitude towards his illness. 

No-one passing us on the beach that day would ever know how seriously ill he is. This is a traffic cone that was washed up on the beach and one of his favourite ever long standing 'toys', he can spend hours flicking it on his head and then running about with it appearing headless.  He truly is a beach dog and although we live in middle England we try to get to the beach every now and then so Maverick can enjoy himself to his hearts delight.  Up until his cancer took hold and affected the strength in his leg, he used to run through the waves out to sea, pick a suitable incoming wave and body surf back to the beach and then start the whole process again.  

He seems to understand his own limitations now and will only paddle - we also have him on a long lead just in case.
The fun we had that day also made me reflect on my own attitude and outlook for Maverick. I realised that we can all be guilty of spending too much time focusing on the negatives(the worry of the cancer and the 'what-if's' that inevitably accompany it).  Precious time is wasted on these negative thoughts.  

I spent five months worrying endlessly whether each day would be his last and what I would find each morning on rising instead of celebrating and enjoying every day that he survived past his life expectancy.  Its not easy to do this but I try really hard now to take each as it comes just as Maverick undoubtedly does.  I don't imagine that he wonders how he will be tomorrow or that day after that, he just enjoys the day for what it is, nice bit of food, two walks, meet and greet his friends and cuddles in the evening.  Maybe that's a lesson for us all - enjoy the here and now. 

I feel so grateful for the extra time that the CV247 has given Maverick.
I was very hesitant about starting the blog as I felt a sense of responsibility towards providing a happy ending and worried that if Maverick only had his treatment for a couple of months and then passed away we would somehow of 'failed'.  His journey has made me realise there will never be a happy ending as he will inevitably pass away at some stage whether it's from the cancer or old age and the blog is really about his and our trials and tribulations if anything.  

Someone once told us on our local walk that Maverick was a 'legend' (I'm not sure this was particularly complimentary at that stage) however even if one person reading this tried CV247 and had some extra quality time with their dog then he would have truly succeeded in becoming a legend.
Kathryn

Read Mr Custard's first blog by clicking here. 

Happy Birthday to Mr Custard

This letter is going into the November issue of Dogs Today, and also included below is the first installment of Maverick's story...

I have a 'nearly' 10-year-old Rottie named Maverick (aka Mr Custard) who started displaying symptoms of osteosarcoma in March; he was eventually diagnosed in April (and that's another story). Luckily, I have been subscribing to Dogs Today for some years now and had read the article on John Carter and CV247 (April 2009). My vet knew nothing about CV247 and suggested it would be better to just continue with the steroids as life expectancy was very poor for this type of cancer (between four to six weeks). I stood my ground and asked for a referral to Barbara at Oakwood Vets in Oswestry (incidentally, Barbara was Maverick's first vet, as she was the breeder's vet so he has come full circle). He started on CV247 and the special diet following that visit.

So here we are in August and Maverick is still with us. We take each day as it comes and let Maverick tell us how many walks he can manage. His cancer is in his left shoulder so he limps quite heavily, but he has already enjoyed two holidays in Devon and the New Forest respectively that he wouldn't have otherwise had.
It's quite a lonely journey, as, just like humans, each dog will respond differently and you will have to overcome numerous problems along the way. Maverick does not like taking any form of medicine/tablets and has always been a picky eater, so we have discovered new ways of disguising tablets etc. He also started to have a very unpleasant smell emanating from his skin (as one friend kindly explained: well, that's because he's rotting from the inside out!). Fortunately, this smell has now stopped, so I can only presume he's stopped rotting! Our worry now is the bone shattering just from walking or the odd occasion when Maverick feels like a run when our backs are turned! We know this would then be the end of the road for him and it would be very unfair, as he has been so brave and uncomplaining.
It's really important for people to hear about this treatment so they can understand that there is an alternative to chemotherapy/radiotherapy, as I cannot find anything positive on the internet about osteosarcoma. It seems that no one offers any hope with this sort of diagnosis.
Perhaps a yearly feature/update in the magazine would be a possibility, for both old and new readers alike?I have not yet found anyone else who has heard of CV247 - how sad.
Kathryn and Mark Smith, Maverick and Quiver, by email


Hi Beverley
Today is Maverick's 10th birthday - a birthday he was never expected to make! I have attached a photo of him enjoying the special organic birthday cake I made for him along with his friends;- Chloe, Gemma, Honey and Quiver. If you look closely you can just about see how his left shoulder (that has the tumour) compares with his good right one.

He had his third holiday this year over Bank Holiday. We went back to Ross Park caravan site in Devon (an ideal site for dog owners) where we had previously been in June. We could draw some interesting comparisons from this little holiday. In June we had a pitch much closer to the lovely dog walk & Maverick could just about get there, go to the toilet and then have to lie down before we could get him back, this time our pitch was further away & not only could he get there but he also had a mooch and a sniff around covering far more ground so although his limp is quite severe and has not changed, something must have for him to feel more like walking.


We did have quite a scare though! On the Friday we had planned to see the Red Arrows in Dartmouth so had planned the logistics quite carefully. We caught the ferry from Totnes into Dartmouth as this involved the least amount of walking for Maverick however due to his excitement to get on the ferry he banged his leg on something - his screams were awful - we really thought he had broken his leg & felt sick to the core, luckily after some soothing rubs from his dad he calmed down & as soon as we got onto dry land I quickly bought some Arnica and gave him those every couple of hours. No lasting damage seemed apparent - phew - that was really close!!


Further to Heidi's blogs I have bought some apricot kernels and have now started to give him those. The woman in the well known natural food shop said that she has a gentleman who comes in regularly for his to help with his cancer.


We went to the 'normal' unsupportive vets last week as Maverick has been intermittently passing dark urine with no other symptoms. Vet said there is blood in it and prescribed antibiotics, not sure if they are helping. So back on the rollercoaster of worrying what every day will bring, vet also said that she felt his limp was significantly worse. I disputed this as his limp is no worse than when she saw him in July and tried to explain that by comparison he is actually walking further now than July (Mav hates the vets so we leave him in the car for the consultation and only briefly get him out for a few steps so she only ever sees a snapshot of his walking whilst he growls at her). She still feels that this progression of his cancer is normal for him and its not the CV247 that's helping, I feel he would be long gone without it!


Kathryn

How to make the medicine go down?

Just got off the phone with Mrs Beal who has a Rottie Bullmastiff cross with an aggressive cancer. Her dog HATES the vit c part of his meds. He spits it out and just loathes having his medicine.
Mrs Beal wants to know - is it okay to administer the Cv247 and the vit c separately? Also if it would be okay to put either it alone or the whole lot in tomato puree which seems to neutralise the astringent taste a little.
Mrs Beal went to see John many years ago with another dog and we both agreed how sad it is we can't just ask John these questions direct!
We were also recalling how John used to squirt the Cv247 into the dogs mouths, he was so quick they didn't seem to get to taste the stuff. We couldn't decide whether the mix included the vit c at that stage (early 90s) or not?
Does anyone remember if the Dr Linus powder was given separately or not?
Did anyone go to John with a brachycephalic breed? Mrs Beal says that the pointing and squirting is much more complicated in breeds with a very short nose as there's so much extra skin inside the mouth that you can't get a clear shot.
Anyone got any tips?
Would tomato puree be something John would shake his head at and curse? He hated mushrooms, raspberries etc - but I can't for the life of me remember his stance on tomatoes!

Any help for nasal tumours?

I need to ask if anyone has any experience with nasal tumours in dogs.  I've just found out that my 13 year old Golden Retriever has a tumour, it was thought at first that he had aspergillosis but test for this have proved negative. He's had blood tests done and his liver and kidneys are fine, also no sign of diabetes.  I'm totally shattered by this news, this is now my third dog to be diagnosed with cancer, (one Goldie with throat cancer, one Dalmatian with bone cancer in her shoulder).  I have read about CV247 and wonder if this would help Gyp, he is having problems with his breathing through his nose whilst asleep.  He is still fairly active, (still insists on going for a walk even though it is a very short one) and loves his food and a potter round the garden.  My vet has got him on Metacam but I am not keen on giving this to him as I like to keep to a natural approach to treatment if at all possible.  I already feed my dogs a natural diet of raw meat and veg and don't vaccinate my older dogs any more.

My vet has said that there is a chance the tumour could break a blood vessel as it grows and Gyp already has had some nose bleeds.  I just don't know what to do for the best, my husband is thinking that having him put to sleep would be the kindest thing and if he had other health problems, (with his kidneys or anything) I would agree, but I am relectant to do so without trying anything else.

What is it with my dogs, three in a row, and I've got three more apart from Gyp, I'm beginning to think that I must be doing something wrong when I am trying so hard to get it right.

Any advice would be very gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Margaret Ansell 

Also posted on the Think Tank Blog 

I have experienced nasal tumours in dogs from both sides of the consulting room table, so to speak, and they are certainly a very distressing form of cancer. I would totally agree with the advice your vet has given you about the possible effects and course of the tumour. Nose bleeds are a very common consequence of tumour growth within the nasal passage. Once a patient starts to have nose bleeds, the outlook is not at all good.

            I appreciate your desire to follow a natural course of treatment, but do please bear in mind that your vet prescribed meloxicam for pain relief. For any patient, the desire to spare pain is paramount and especially for those with cancer. Pain affects so many aspects of everyday living so changes in demeanour and appetite are two common ways of assessing for pain. It may be that meloxicam relieves the pain now, but may not as time goes by. Fortunately, there are other weapons available to fight pain, and alleviation of pain really must be your top priority. Pain definitely depresses quality of life – believe me, I have been there myself…

 Alison Logan, vet

 

Most up to date list of vets who have prescribed CV247

1.Mr Richard Allport B.Vet. Med.,Vet.M.F.Hom., M.R.C.V.S.

Natural Medicine Centre

11 Southgate Road

Potters Bar

Herts

EN6 5DR

Email: info@naturalmedicinecentre.net

Telephone: 01707 662058

2. Barbara Jones BVMS MRCVS VetMFHom

Oakwood Veterinary Centre

Babbinswood Farm

Whittington

Oswestry

Shropshire SY11 4PF

Email: barbarjones@onetel.com

Telephone: 01691 679 699

3.John Hope-Ryan

Masefield House Veterinary Surgery

Wells Road

Malvern Wells

Worcs

WR14 4PA

Email: john@mhvs.co.uk

Telephone: 01684 576464

4. Paul Grant

35 Addington Road

West Wickham

BR4 9BN

Email: paulgrant64@hotmail.co.uk

Telephone: 020 84623455

5. Alan Marshall BVMS MRCVS

The Bard Veterinary Group
15 Catherine Street
Dumfries
DG1 1JF

Email: mail@thebardvetgroup.co.uk

Tel: 01387 255295

6. Jane Murphy

Lordship Lane Vet Surgery

509-511 Lordship Lane

Dulwich

London SE22 8JY

Email: ejanemurphy@hotmail.com

Telephone: 020 86934677

7. Andrew Prentis MRCVS
Hyde Park Veterinary Centre
61 Connaught Street
London W2 2AE

Email: hydeparkvet@aol.com

Telephone: 020 7723 0453

8. Peter A Culpin BSc MA VetMB MRCVS

Clinical Director 

Pets Naturally

26 Chepstow Corner

Chepstow Place

London

W2 4XE

Email: pcvet@petsnaturally.com

Telephone: 020 7221 9200

10. David Batchelor BVM&S MRCVS

Batchelor, Davidson and Watson

19 Hillhouse Road

Edinburgh

EH4 3QP

Email: bdw.vets@yahoo.co.uk

Telephone: 0131 332 0458

11. Nick Thompson BSc.(Hons) Path. Sci., BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS

Holisticvet Ltd.

Apthorp Centre,

Weston Chiropractic and Holistic Centre,

Weston Road,

Bath

BA1 2XT

Email: nickthompson@holisticvet.co.uk

Telephone: 01225 48 7778

12. Gavin Durston BVM&S, MRCVS

Thrums Veterinary Group

20 Forfar Road

Kirriemuir

Angus

Scotland DD8 5BY

Email: vets@thrumsvet.co.uk

Telephone: 01575 572643

13. Manuela Wight, MRCVS

Highfield Veterinary Centre

145-147 London Road

Sheffield S2 4LH

Email: apts@highfieldvetcentre.co.uk

Telephone: 0114 2554667

14. David Beech

The Veterinary Hospital

175 Newport

Lincoln

LN1 3DZ

Email: vethosp@tiscali.co.uk

Telephone: 01522 800333

15.Tim Couzens BVetMed, MRCVS, VetMFHom, CertVetAc.

The Holistic Veterinary Medicine Centre

Unit 2, The Village Works

London Road

Hoathly

Lewes

East Sussex BN8 6QR

Email: admin@hvmc.info

Telephone: 01825 840966

16. Jeremy Edwards B.Vet.Med MRCVS

1 Clayhill Cottages

Uckfield Road

Ringmer

E. Sussex BN8 5RS

Email: jnedwards1@hotmail.co.uk

Telephone:  01273478488

18. Sue Armstrong MA VetMB VetMFHom CertIAVH MRCVS RSHom

Balanced Being

Unit 8

Erivan Park

Sandbeck Way

Wetherby

LS22 7DN

Email: health@balancedbeing.com

Telephone: 01937 543860  

19. Dr Birgit Ahlemeyer MRCVS

21 Post Horn Close

Forest Row

East Sussex

RH18 5DE

Email: birgitahlemeyer@fastmail.co.uk

Telephone: 01342 826 104

20. Andrew Carmichael Vet mb, MA, MRCVS

The Addison & Holland Park veterinary clinic

7 Addison Avenue

London

W11 4QS

Email: a.carmichael@cardiophone.co.uk

Telephone: 02076034094

21. Mr Simon Caple BSc, MA,VetMB, MRCVS

Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group

Belvedere Terrace

Alnwick

Northumberland

NE66 2NX

Email: emmal@alnorthumbriavets.co.uk

Telephone 01665 602516

22. Mr Terence Oomerjee BVSc BSc MRCVS

Arthur Lodge Veterinary Surgery

17 Brighton Road

 Horsham

 West Sussex

 RH13 5BE

Email: toomerjee@yahoo.co.uk

Telephone: 01403 252964

23. John Stoker B.V.Sc., MRCVS

Hollington Cross Farm,

Hollington Cross,

Highclere,

Newbury

Berks. RG20 9SE

Email: john.w.stoker@googlemail.com

Telephone: 01635 253441

What a wonderful email...

Hi Beverley
Sorry I havent been on the blog for so long..almost a year...where does the time go?  My time has been spent enjoying every little minute with Chilli Pepper who is still doing well.  The tumours seem to be getting bigger but slowly in my view as they were cut out last April so I think they are growing slowly as it is an agressive type of cancer that is in her lymph nodes and liver.  She is finding it harder to poo now but they are still an okay shape(yes I am now a poo watcher!) but apart from that she is healthier, thinner and happier than she has been in her 8 short years.  I was so glad to get her to her 8th birthday as I didn't think it would be possible due to the agressive nature of her cancer and bleak prognosis from the Dick Vet in Edinburgh.
Needless to say I havent been back there as I found them a miserable lot and my own Vets are all very positive ie they think she looks great and none of them are saying' well you know she will die of cancer unless she is run over by a car'.  I may be optimistic but I am not stupid and know she will die of cancer probably this year as if the tumour continues to grow it will eventually constrict her rectum, intestine or stomach.  Anyway no more negativity!
The diet has been easy for CP to digest and eats it very well..she is still on carrots, broccoli and raw liver..though I dont add oats to her night feed as she seems to process the veg and liver fine but there is more bulk when she has the oats.  Another miracle is she had a substantial  heart murmour but 2 of my vets have recently been unable to hear any murmour so she is definitely finding something to make her healthier.  I dont know if it is the cv247 or the diet or the vitamins and mineral supplements I give her but she has never looked better and that is all the evidence I need..she is still on no medication as shows no signs of pain(believe me I would know as CP is a bit of a drama queen!)  She is still going for 2 hour walks with my other two dogs and doggy friends and never gets tired so I think I made the right decision to start CV247 with the help and advice from you and the other bloggers so BIG THANKYOU to you all!  Taking each day as it comes.

love Nikki and Chilli Pepper XX


Here's their original post

Mail on Sunday article

We've just heard that there was an article in the paper at the weekend about the human use of CV247. Click here for more info...

... and check out the previous blog here for a list of vets who have previously prescribed  CV247 for animal use.

Homeopathy help?

My lovely boy Sovereign has been confirmed to have malignant lymphoma, to say I was devastated at the news is putting it mildly.
On reading the articles in Dogs Today, I knew there was hope.
I have been able to get CV247 plus Immune boosters and there has been a small change in the size of the lumps, they are definitely smaller, not by much, but they are not getting any bigger.
I'm off to see a Homoeopathic vet in Wetherby tomorrow, to get the remedies to try and attack this thing from that angle too.
Is there any one who has used Homoeopathy with this regime?
Chris & Sovereign
info@caninelearningcentre.com

Heidi update

I was just sending a couple of emails to people wanting to try CV247 and was looking for the info on Heidi's diet as her owners were really amazing at documenting her regime.
I'm not sure if many of you have been checking in recently for updates, but I've been a bit remiss.
Just went to Heidi's blog a little heart in mouth to see how this sweet rescued Border Collie was doing and I was delighted to hear she's feeling so well a year on from such a very dark prognosis that's she'll actually starting to be a bit naughty!
Here's a link if you want to read the whole story... well done team Heidi!

Can anyone help over the phone?

We're just heard from a lady just starting CV247 on her collie. She doesn't have Internet access and was wondering anyone else whose pets are currently undergoing treatment could talk to her over the phone with diet tips etc?
She's going to see vet Nick Thompson.
If you can email me I will forward her phone number.
Many thanks
beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

A round up of info

Here’s a list of vets prescribing CV247, regardless of where you live, some may agree to postal consultations.

List of vets.

You’ve found the CV247 specific blog but here are the other bits from my general blog that may help give more info on diet, background etc.

Read this

and this...

and this one...

and there's more...

nearly done...

It's well worth reading Heidi's regime

and here's the one about the green capsules.

Hope that helps – if you still got any questions let me know and I’ll try to help! beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

Good luck, if you do go ahead and would like to record your story on the blog do email me.

Best wishes
Beverley
Editor, Dogs Today

Any CV247 patients on Metacam?

I've just received an urgent email and wonder if any of you know the answers?

Hello Beverley,
My name is Vanessa and I'm writing about my beloved Standard Poodle Gypsy. I could not love her more. Last June after bleeding from her vulva since just after Xmas, she was diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma of the urethra at the Animal Health Trust Hospital. I was told it is extremely rare for this type of cancer to grow inside the body and it usually affects the skin. She appears to be only the third case of this they could find on records and therefore could offer no treatment other than horrendous Frankenstein surgery to remove her whole reproductive system, (she is not spayed), her vagina, vulva, urethra and bladder and to make a new bladder from a piece of bowel and reroute her ureters from her kidneys into it so she eliminated urine through her rectum. Although we booked her in for the surgery and left her there I spent a torturous night feeling it was the wrong thing to do and prayed for whatever is out there to send me a sign. I rang my vet first thing to ask her to ring the hospital to stop them going ahead and was informed that they were about to ring me as the surgeon had fallen and broken his arm really badly in a car park before he got to work. That was my sign.
To cut a long story short, the surgeon was so desperate to operate that he rang me a couple of days later and then a couple of times at a later date and tried to encourage me into going ahead with the surgery even though his arm was in plaster. It turned out that this would have been the first time this type of operation had been attempted on a dog combined with a spay.
The oncologist, Sue Murphy, did however prescribe Metacam for her as it can act to slow down that type of cancer.
So now you know the background. I asked for a second opinion and Gyp and I were sent along to see Malcolm Brierley at the Queen's College University Hosp. Cambridge. He was very kind but couldn't offer any better news.
We sort help Richard Allport and Gyp has been taking homeopathy and herbs.
To get to the crux of the problem, Richard told us about CV247 a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to give it a go. However my conventional vet is against it as she says sodium salicylate is a non-steroidal anti inflammatory and Gyp can't take it along side Metacam as this would be using two non-steroidal anti inflammatories together, which would be dangerous. Gyp has had a large 5cm duodenal ulcer caused by the Metacam and is now on Omeprazole as well as Antepsin and this seems to have healed it as far as an ultrasound could see.
So. My massive dilemma is do I go along with Richard and give the CV247 or go along with my vet? I am not very Internet savvy, so don't know how to go about finding anyone else who may be giving non-steroidals alongside CV247. I saw your site on it and wondered if you knew anything about this. I am desperate as Gypsy's stream of urine seems to be getting thinner and strangulated. I have M.E. and can't work, so I am able, thank God to give her 24 hour care. Every day is spent watching how every wee comes out and trying to keep my hysterical sobbing away from my beloved girl. She knows I am stressed and have been crying and tries to comfort me and bring me a toy to play with her with. She is a good weight as I have to hand feed her liquidised food as she stopped eating over a year ago. She is energetic, playful and wants her walkies despite having bad arthritis on top of all her problems. I am at my wits end and broken in pieces.
So there's our desperate tale. If you can help us in any way I would be so grateful. Surely there are others out there who's dogs are on non-steroidals who are taking CV247 but how do I find them for advice? Sorry for such a long letter but there was a lot to tell.
I hope so much that I will hear back from you Beverley,
Best wishes
Vanessa

Dear Vanessa
I’ve never been asked about NSAIDs before, so I have forwarded your email to the CV247 bods to see if I can get someone technical to give it a look. Will let you know if I get an answer, it may take a while as Professor Sebensky in based in Hungary. I’ll ask on the blog too if any other CV247 users are on Metacam.
It is very difficult trying to make the best choices, but you might also benefit from talking to other people on CV247 – for eg Heidi’s owner who uses lots of other alternative remedies to give her Border Collie the best chances of more quality time. It may be that even if CV247 isn’t going to be suitable you might find some other things you might be able to do that do help.
Best wishes
Beverley

Dear Beverley
Thank you so much for such a quick reply. Richard is on holiday and so can't get to speak to him. He was aware that Gypsy is on Metacam - I just hope he remembered that when he prescribed the CV247. The Metacam is the only treatment for this type of cancer according to both hospitals and all the vets she's seen. It has certainly kept it at bay for a year- in June last year she was given 3 months- and it appears that since we had to reduce the dose the cancer is progressing more rapidly. I dare not take her off the Metacam for fear that the cancer will progress even faster. Even Richard agreed that it was essential for her and he hates Metacam as it is so toxic. Richard's receptionist got a message to him and he replied he would be surprised if there was a bad reaction for Gypsy on CV247, but she didn't know if any of their other clients were taking non-steroidals, and couldn't tell me if Richard had considered this. The info about the CV247 states that dogs with gastro-intestinal upset or ulcers shouldn't take it but Gypsy is on the Omeprazole and her ulcer did seem to have healed according to the ultrasound vet and our vet. Our vet is a wonderful lady who goes beyond duty to help but is just so worried that taking the CV247 might affect that ulcer site and then we would be in trouble.
I hope this extra info helps you and anyone else who might have an opinion or be able to help. I don't know how to use the Internet or chat sites so would be very happy for you to give our e-mail address out on your site and to anyone who can help. Things are getting desperate and I would be so grateful to anyone for any kind of help. Also our landline number is: 01206 331183 - that's Colchester in Essex.
I hope you find this e-mail before the weekend! It's going to be a long one and along week till Richard gets back on the 6th July. I just hope we can get some advice in time- we have the CV247 in our hands and I am just too scared to use it.
Thanks again Beverley for your kind help - I feel so alone and desperate for my dear girl.
Best wishes
Vanessa Firmin

Dear Vanessa

Having read your messages about your lovely dog, Gypsy, I felt I had to write to say how much I feel for you – I know how hard it is to have a beloved dog suffering from cancer (I lost my beloved Belgian Shepherd, Gunner, to bone cancer in 1994 – his story is on Beverley’s site) and also how hard it is when you’re trying all options and having to make decisions yourself rather than just doing everything your vet says.
I don’t know the answer re: giving Metacam and CV247 but when I had to make a decision, a few years ago, about having my cat operated on and desperately needed some advice, I rang lots of different homoeopathic vets and the only one who was willing to give me her advice over the phone there and then (me not being her client and her not having seen my cat) was Philippa Rodale – so while Richard Allport is away, maybe you could try ringing her? Her no. is 01305 848 221.
If it turns out that CV247 isn’t compatible, there are many, many other alternative ways to treat cancer. Another wonderful person for general advice on all aspects of animal health and healing is Catherine O’Driscoll (not a vet, but she lost several dogs to cancer in the early 90s and has made it her life’s mission to find out what is happening to make our dogs sick and is very knowledgeable. She now runs Canine Health Concern and has many, many contacts – she has really helped me with my current dog in the past, putting me in touch with various therapists, and she can also advise on diet and do absent healing and communication with your dog if you are interested in that sort of thing – her no. is 01821 670 410.
And finally, I happened upon this wonderful article last week about someone’s journey to heal their dog from cancer (and succeeded) – I found it really informative about various things to try (she didn’t use CV247) and also very uplifting – so it may help you to read that. I found it on Catherine O’Driscoll’s website, but the direct link is: www.pamperedpawswimspa.com/html/derby_s_healing.html
And lastly, I know its hard, but SO important to look after yourself while going through such a traumatic and stressful time – do get some healing for yourself too as it will help you and Gypsy (again, Canine Health Concern’s website has an A-Z of resources and many of the healers on there do healing for people too – I think Catherine may do as well. If you want to look at the Canine Health Concern website, the address is: www.canine-health-concern.org.uk
Take care, Vanessa – thinking of you and Gypsy and wishing you both much healing.
Best wishes
Mandy

Beverley,

I've only just seen the blog - I wanted to let you know that I was advised by Richard Allport that it was OK in Herbie's case to take Metacam along with CV247. Herbie has a long-standing shoulder problem that occasionally flares up, I think from a former racing injury, (he's a retired racing greyhound) and earlier this year he seemed to be stiff for the first couple of hundreds yard when walking. He took Metacam for a week alongside his CV247 with no visible ill-effects.

Hope this helps,

Helena

PS Herbie is still alive - there's been no miracle cure, but the drug seems to be stopping him from getting worse.

Heidi 8

2nd June 2009 - happy day

Heidi’s op went well & her recovery from the aneasthetic was nothing short of miraculous; there was a little trembling & some whittering but she calmed down so quickly & has not looked back since. Yet again, Barbara’s needlework is very impressive & H has an extremely neat scar along her tummy. 3 lumps were removed; the large one, a smaller one developing behind it & a lymph node. We should get the results of the biopsies next week.

She has just had her post-op check & Barbara is delighted with her progress. She has been given permission to start walking alittle further than around the garden, but is already looking keen to get moving. Apparently the skin along her sides looked a little bruised which was possibly from the weight & movement of the big lump, so it must have been pretty uncomfortable for her. I cannot imagine the freedom she must now be beginning to experience.

R x

Malcolm's legacy

Hi Beverley,

The cv247 has now found a good home: believe it or not, but Malcolm's old kennel mate in Greece has also been diagnosed with lymphoma, but is doing very very well, still, and so the cv247 could definitely be of help to allow him to enjoy life a little longer.

Thanks ever so much for all your help and support, it is much appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Ms Billy de Goede

In Malcolm's memory

Just received the third of this sequence of emails a few moments ago. I know it would mean a lot to Billy to know that the drugs might help another dog.
I'm sure we all send Billy all our love at this very sad time, those of us who have loved and lost know just how raw he'll be feeling and will be appreciative of his magnanimous gesture.

Hello Beverley,
I'm sat here writing this this with a lump in my throat, trying my hardest to hold back tears. Malcolm, 13 years old and my best friend, was diagnosed with lymphoma nearly two years ago. With a healthy diet and the help of radio therapy we managed successfully to beat it into remission for all this time, but last week it's reared its ugly head again with a vengeance: Malcolm, who was quite happy to do a 2 hour walk last week Sunday, and go for a full day out the week before, is now so weak on his legs that they just buckle underneath him and he goes for very slow short walks now. They still take ages, because he is still very interested in every little smell that comes his way. It is because he still has that spark of life in him that I want to fight for him in every way that I can.
I came across your article, and sent the link to my vet, asking her to order it for Mal, but a couple of my friends have told me that it can take a while, because CV247 isn't licensed in this country. And time is what we haven't got .... The vet reckoned that we are looking at a couple of months but seeing as he is, I don't think we even have that.
I read about Kate Clayden, whose Weimaraner Pippin sadly died of lung cancer, and her generous offer of the bottles of CV247 that she has left. I don't need them for free, I am more than willing to pay for them, because money can be borrowed but time can't. If Kate doesn't want any money for them, I'll give a donation to a rescue or something - I'm really not after a freebie!
I'm sure I'm not the only one asking for this. I'm including my address so that, should we be lucky, you know where Malcolm lives.
I'll attach a picture of my gorgeous boy, which was taken only 2 weeks ago, when he still showed all the signs of a healthy dog, and we were completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Thanks for reading this, and please send my heartfelt condolences to Kate and her family.
Best regards,
Billy de Goede

Re: CV247 for Malcolm
Hi Malcolm

Really sorry but the bottles were snapped up in minutes, yours is the third email so far and Kate was very efficient and posted the bottles yesterday afternoon. What I can tell you is it is possible to get CV247 quickly. Your vet can order it direct or more quickly he/she can order it from one of the existing vets that have stock. Or you can be referred to a vet on this list who will usually post out to you if you are too far away to attend – Richard Allport has done postal consultations for others for eg.

Here’s the link to the list of vets who have CV247 in stock:

http://petswithcancertryingcv247.blogspot.com/2009/04/vets-wiling-to-prescribe-cv247.html

Can I wish you the very best of luck with Malcolm, my dog Sally had liver cancer many years ago which is how I discovered John Carter and Cv247. It worked for Sally and really was my only hope as she was inoperable. It is gentle and easy to administer, but the diet is key and you need to read up on the blog about the regimes that others are following. Sally loved her diet so it was no trauma.

I’m forwarding your email to Kate, too.

Kind regards and good luck
Beverley


Dear Beverley,

I'm devastated to have to tell you that Malcolm passed away the day before yesterday. My vet pulled out all the stops and arranged for me to be able to pick up some cv247 from Barbara Jones in Oswestry on Saturday. We left Mal, and my other 2 dogs Kiera and Sparky, at home with a friend. Mal at the time still had a spark in his eyes which told me that he hadn't given up fighting yet, so I started him on it as soon as we got back. It was too late tho, by Monday evening the spark in his eyes had gone, and he was looking so very tired. On Tuesday morning he was the same, so I called the vet and arranged for Mal to be helped on his way that afternoon. He spent the morning in the garden in the sun and still wanted to go for short walks around the neighbourhood, but it was obvious that his fighting spirit was gone. He got a sedative at home, which sent him off to sleep, and he never knew anything about that dreadful last trip to the vet's.
So now I'm left with 7 1/2 years worth of memories and hundreds of pictures - and nearly 2 bottles of cv247 and a bag of vitamin C powder. Like Kate before I'd like to give this to another dog, I'm just wondering if the bottle that has been opened - and kept in the fridge since - will travel well in the post, or would you per chance have heard about anyone near Manchester who would like it?
Another thing that I would like to ask is a donation for it to Greek Animal Rescue, which is a UK based, registered charity, who I will be forever indebted to for giving me my Malcolm. No amount can ever compare to the happiness that Mal has given me for so long, but the money could maybe pay for vet treatment for another poor, abused and abandoned animal in Greece, who then might be able to live a happy life with a family. I hope that that would not be an unreasonable request?
Thank you very much for your help.
Kindest regards,
Billy

Please email me and I will forward your emails to Billy. (beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk)