Read Part 2 here

Gina, don't know if this will work for you, but give it a try.

Put meds down first.

Follow with a syringe of about .02 cc or so melted ice cream or sorbet after each one. It's sticky. And hold his mouth shut. He's going to have to swallow the meds to breathe. He can shake out the "treat". I use this on my more difficult ones. At least they end up with the majority of the meds on the inside instead of the outside.

Edit: once you feel him gulp-let go. He can shake the rest out. The sweet will also help get rid of the nasty taste of the meds to a degree. When all done, offer him something he likes as a chaser to help his mouth taste better.

I am sorry to hear that little Fawkes is being difficult about his meds. I know comparing medicating him to medicating a horse is a long shot. But when I have to give nasty meds I put a little honey in the tip of the syringe, then the meds then a little more honey.

That way they get a sweet taste the yukies and then more sweet to chase it down. I can't say it will work on Fawkes but it is worth a try.

I sure hope that the pharmacist can compound something tastier for little Fawkes.

Praying for you and Fawkes,

Well, I haven't been able to get to the pharmacy when this pharmacist guy is in, so I dropped off a dose of Fawkes' meds along with a note, explaining what I'm trying to accomplish. Hopefully it won't take him long to figure something out.

My vet suggested trying to see if the mealworms would eat it. That way I could feed one dose to like 20 mealies, then feed him the mealies. She said that he just needs the metabolites of the drug, so it wouldn't hurt for the mealies to eat it first. I'm going to try it...

Fawkes has been feeling a bit puny the past couple days. THis is why I have not really been online. Yesterday morning, he absolutely refused to let me do his magnet therapy, he also refused to eat any mealies. Thankfully he ate 20 after his evening meds. Today he's eating okay, but he's been very squeaky the past few days.

His tumor(s) is spreading - I can feel it across about half of his chest, his original lump on his neck, around the side of his head, & behind his ear, plus the one under his arm. I wonder if these herbals are doing him any good at all, or if I am traumatizing him twice a day for nothing. If the pharmacist can't come up with something to make this less stressful for Fawkes, I'm seriously considering taking him off of these herbals. I just feel like they are drastically hurting his quality of life & I don't know if they're doing anything for him.

Peggy - When you get a minute, I would really like his charts & that email from Dr. Tristan. TY

Ah Gina, I'm so very sorry that he's suffering so much Please know that you're both in my thoughts & prayers

Gina, I am so sorry he is having such a hard time. I agree with the herbals. When Jake was fighting bone cancer, a very wise friend, whose dog also was fighting it said to me 'sometimes you need to take a step back. The urge to 'do something' is so strong, sometimes it blinds us to see what is happening.' What she meant is sometimes the treatment is almost worse than the disease and the cost is very great. I wish I had some magical words that could make all this a little easier, but there are none. Just know my heart and prayers are with both of you. (((Gina & Fawkes)))

My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you both.

Well, this morning I got Fawkes out to give him his meds & I just couldn't do it. He was squeaking so much, I didn't want to put him through it. I did his magnet therapy and gave him his mealies, then I emailed his vet & told her that I feel the herbals are hurting his quality of life too drastically & I'd like her to call Dr. Tristan regarding the use of steroids as I would like to revisit that issue. I am waiting to hear from her.

I still don't know if I made the right decision or not, but for the time being, I know Fawkes is happier...

Gina, I know it is hard, but I believe you made the right choice. Being happier is very important, really the most important in cases like these......my prayers and thoughts are with you both.

I agree Gina. When I had to give mine medicine I felt awful for three weeks. Sometime happiness is more important. Keeping you and Fawkes in my prayers.

If Fawkes is happier, maybe he will get healthier. I hope and pray so. You are trying so hard, and we are all right here behind you.

Much love from the Glider Motherland. You and Fawkes are in our hearts and prayers.

Libby and Milton.

Thanks for the support guys...

I still haven't heard from the vet or the pharmacist. I'm going to try to get a hold of the vet on my lunch break. Hopefully she will have talked to Dr. Tristan. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up - but I have high hopes for the steroids. I just hate that this thing it growing so fast.

You know you and Fawkes are in my thoughts and prayers, Gina. I hope everyone gets back to you soon, waiting just makes everything harder.

Fawkes weighed in at 169g today - that's down 8g from last Wednesday, and down 16g total. I decided to start offering him some Ensure, as he is not as enthused about his mealies lately. He happily lapped it up, like it was a treat. I know I shouldn't be so happy about feeding him Ensure, but I'm just so glad that he actually WANTED to eat something.

Dr. Kate tried to call Dr. Tristan today, but he was out of the office until tomorrow. She said she will try again tomorrow & get back to me.

Fawkes' squeaking has calmed down a bit - I wonder if I was aggravating something by forcing those meds down??? I don't know...

Eating something he LIKES to eat is important, Gina. Prayers continue.

OH Gina, I'm so sorry that things have gotten so difficult. I too wish I had some magickal words to say. You're both in my thoughts hun.

Having him still be interested in eating something is so great, glad he perked up for it.

He is still refusing the mealies - well, not refusing, he will take the first one, but then no more. So I am continuing the Ensure. I still have not heard from Dr. Kate - I am going to call her this morning on my break (@ 10:30). Hopefully she will have gotten a hold of Dr. Tristan. This morning, when I went in to get Fawkes out for his magnet therapy, he was out eating a piece of mango, I was really excited about this, because he is always in his pouch when I go to get him, and the only thing I have actually, physically SEEN him eat in weeks is mealies & the Ensure - so now I have some verification that he is eating something.

Plus its always good to see him out & about...

I'll post when I hear from Dr. Kate

This is great to hear! Keep hanging in there

That is wonderful to hear! Prayers continue.

Gina glad he is coming out and you got to see him eating and being as happy as he can be.

Well, he decided he doesn't like Ensure anymore - I guess I have to find something new.

Some of the waxworms I bought when he was first diagnosed turned into moths, he thought those were the greatest things ever! He had 5 yesterday (that's all there were), then there were 3 more this morning, so he got those. Now I just need to go buy more waxies so I can keep them in stock, because apparently they are yummy! Too bad it takes so long for them to turn into moths!

I also got him to eat two mealies this afternoon, it just took a little begging...

Does anyone know if you can buy moths somewhere? Or are they too delicate to ship? I dunno, but he was sure crazy about them.

I don't think moths last very long and are pretty delicate, which is why they don't ship them. Maybe you can find someone that will ship cocoons? If all else fails, I would try crickets, similar enrichment/interest level, but much easier to find.

I found with Kira that I had to keep switching kinds of Ensure to keep her interested (she liked Vanilla, Strawberry and the Butterpecan best).

Gina
I ordered a waxworm farm from Best Bet Inc. www.waxwormkit.com. My wax worms haven't turned into moths yet. Maybe you could get a kit and start your own farm.

Hello. I am sooooo sorry with what is going on with you and your suggie. Being in the medical field I have seen cancer patients and chemo patients. It breaks my heart!!! My son was on steroid therapy for 3 years on and off and this is what I learned about steroids:

1. weight gain- which is good since he has lost weight, BUT he is still trying to lose the weight 3 yrs later

2. mood changes- my son would go from happy, to sad, to TICKED off, to almost wanting to kick my butt!!

the most important if it is orally, or giving for sometime:
you CAN NOT stop it immediately...he HAS to be weaned off of it. That will kill him If the steroids are used for along time it could cause adrenal insuffiency. Basically the adrenal glands are supressed. My son's doctor put him on a low dose (1 1/2 cc) for some time and then lowered the dose when it was time to wean him off

IV steroid are alot more potent. When my son was in the hospital they gave him steroid IV treatment, and the mood swings and the weight gain was alot worse then. The clothes my son wore into the hospital he woulc not wear out. He gained about 16 lbs in 2 weeks.

As I said I am sooo sorry. I am in NO way trying to scare from doing the steroid treatment for cancer (my son was a resp patient and it helped just had drawbacks), but just giving insight on what I know about the drug and the effects on humans. My heart goes out to you

Ok, well bad news.

Fawkes has formed what looks like a stretch mark, or scar on the underside of the big tumor, at the base of which he has made a hole

I am dropping him off with Dr. Kate in the morning because I have to work & this can't wait. He will stay with her for the day and I will go back after work to talk to her & pick him up.

So, we need a prayer chain - This is not the direction we wanted to be going.

I talked to Dave the Pharmascist today, he has finally started working on a formula for the herbals.

Dr. Kate still has not gotten a hold of Dr. Tristan. Peggy, if you're reading this, go kick him in the butt & tell him to return his phone calls!!!

No more moths have popped up for Fawkes to enjoy, there are some cocoons, so hopefully soon. I made the chicken/avocado/egg mix that most gliders love, but he only ate that once, and now won't touch it - still won't touch worms. I'm alternating baby foods and occassionally I find one that he likes. The Beech Nut Wheat Cereal with Raspberries was a hit, but I ran out of that 2 days ago...

At this point, I'd give him french fries if I thought he'd eat them.

Through all this, his behavior seems almost normal. I know refusing to eat is not a normal behavior, but I mean his activity & personality. He doesn't seem sick. His ears aren't down, his eyes are bright, he's curious & I still catch him in his wheel. I just don't understand this disease.

He has developed severe constipation over the last week. He hisses and chirps when he poops, and the tiniest, hardest little poops come out. I don't know if its from the cancer or from me trying to feed him anything he'll eat. I have some garden fresh tomatoes to give him tonight, so hopefully that will help a bit.

I'll let you guys know how the vet visit goes...