So Much For A Quiet Sunday Afternoon

Posted on April 11, 2011 by daysofourdogs

After Hope comes home from chemotherapy, Windy gives her support.

If you see blood in your urine, you know you should see a doctor. If your dog has the same problem, you need to see your veterinarian. So, we spent another Sunday afternoon at the emergency vet. But this time it was for Windy.

Windy had to go out four times Saturday night, so I knew something wasn’t right. Sunday morning I let her go on the piddle pad. There it was – bright blood. We were appalled.

If you have had a bladder infection, you know how painful it is. For a dog it is the same situation. I can’t stand the thought of one of my furkids in pain. We were at the ER vet before noon.

Windy, who had trouble keeping her mouth shut, managed to charm people in the waiting room and the vet technicians. Windy is a beautiful dog, and she knows it.

After a urinalysis that needed a needle and an ultrasound, my diagnosis was confirmed. Windy received some subcutaneous fluids; we received an antibiotic and pain medication to start as soon as we got her home.

Windy spent the rest of the day and night pleasantly stoned. I see no blood in her urine today. However, the morning and evening pill regimes are longer. Hope and Windy’s medications are lined up on a kitchen counter with the assorted delivery systems: peanut butter, Pill Pockets and soft treats. This pharmacy will not be closing any time soon.

Windy tolerates a ride to the emergency vet.

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Time At Home Leaves Mischief For Wiener Dogs

Posted on April 8, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Finally, a piddle pad I can live with. But I’m not so sure about Windy.

I was out with Hope, who is doing better, for more than six hours yesterday. But I knew Windy would not last that long.

OUT! Moisture Lock Training Pads are a staple now. They contain urine better than all the other brands I have tried. With a cute chocolate lab on the cover, the package announces they are “Proudly made in the USA”. I have found these pads at Kroger and Target, and that means one less trip to a pet store. The website is outpetcare.com. You can get a coupon and “Like” the company on Facebook.

The only problem with the pads was the evidence that a sneaky wiener dog got bored. One pad was shredded. I will spare you of a picture of that mess.

Hope and I were at the oncologist vet for five hours. Her blood work was fine. The vet wanted to use a drug in her chemotherapy mix that could have heart complications. Hope has a small heart murmur.  The concern with the Adriamycin is it could affect the heart’s ability to pump. So, we had an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram. The cardiologist said she was fine for the drug.

As for me, a book, magazine, iPhone, Starbucks and McDonald’s helped me keep my sanity for more than five hours. If you want free Wi Fi, go to Starbucks; McDonald’s is incredibly annoying.

Hope, my smoldering Visa card and I left; we had an uneventful drive home with her eating treats and slurping water in the backseat.

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Daytime, Bedtime Routines Help Make Life Normal

Posted on April 5, 2011 by daysofourdogs

It’s a good start to the day when Jake only wants lap time and belly rubs without caring about breakfast. Hope, on the other hand, could not get me into the kitchen fast enough.

Hope did not get her chemotherapy Monday; her white count was too low. However, the oncology vet said the lymph nodes she could feel were smaller—smaller than last week when they had shrank from the beginning.

The veterinarian did take her off restricted activity. She said to let Hope determine how active she wants to be. Today we walked all the furkids, and Hope went a little less than 100 yards. We didn’t want to tire her. She was happy and did fine.

We will check again to see if Hope can get chemo Thursday. Each time before chemo a complete blood count is checked. Let’s hope her white count will be up.

Each night Jake cares for Hope. The video is from one night last week. The black rump you see near Hope’s face is Windy, who was asleep. Please overlook Hope’s hair. The vet technicians shaved her skirt so they could conduct an ultrasound.

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No Emergency Vet Trips For a Week

Posted on April 4, 2011 by daysofourdogs

All is well today in spite of the thunderstorms. Everyone went out to potty before the rain started.

The sick-call roster is looking better.

Windy did well with getting a tooth pulled and updated shots last week. She came home full of herself. Now my regular vet can take that trip to the Bahamas she has been wanting.

Hope is doing so well now I am afraid to praise how she is handing the chemotherapy. No vomiting or diarrhea and not really tired, she has been asking for a walk, and Jake is encouraging her to nag me for one. She is still on restricted activity. We get round three of chemo today, and maybe the vet will OK her for short walks.

Jake prepares to slurp Hope before lights out.

Thanks for the prayers. Please keep them coming.

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Dogs Do Puzzling Things

Posted on March 30, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Jake must clean the peanut butter jar before it goes into the recycling bin.

Hope is breathing better, but she is getting finicky about how she takes her pills. Yesterday, $6.98 a pound roast turkey from the Kroger deli was good enough for her.

Yesterday Windy enjoyed her breakfast so much she brought it back to eat it again. Today she is at our regular vet getting a tooth pulled. It’s always better to head off a situation before it becomes a problem, and problems with teeth can lead to bigger health issues.

Jake should have gone to medical school. Each night he gives Hope a good licking all over her back and hips. This relaxes Hope, and Jake seems to enjoy doing it. Perhaps Jake’s retirement career can be doggie massage therapist.

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Fun, Rest and an ER Visit

Posted on March 28, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Taking Prednisone means Hope drinks more water, and the bowl makes a headrest.

Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest and play—and it almost was.

The afternoon gathering of local dachshund owners was fun. Dozens of wiener dogs, and a few non-wieners, were there with their owners. Jake and Windy socialized a bit. Hope could not go because she is on restricted activity. I missed her terribly; she stayed home and kept an eye on my husband. At these gatherings she will socialize a bit then will sit near us.

That evening we had to make a trip to the emergency vet. Hope’s breathing became labored, and she did want to lie down.

The ER doctor on call did not find any breathing problems and her lungs were clear, but Hope still didn’t want to lie down and sleep. They kept her overnight to help her rest and to monitor her.

This morning Hope’s oncologist examined our little girl. She said the lymph nodes you could feel were smaller, and I had felt them the day before and noticed the same thing. The nodes we can feel are under her jaw and on one hind leg. The doctor is concerned about Hope’s loud breathing. She has no obstructions, and her airflow is fine. Is there something going on in her throat we cannot see?

Hope’s blood work was OK, so she had chemotherapy. The doctor is hoping the chemo will improve her breathing. The vet said Hope was well behaved and stayed alert.

To help her rest Hope will take Tramadol, in addition to her other medications. Last week she did not vomit or have diarrhea. I’m hoping this week will be the same.

Windy and Jake enjoy the afternoon spring sun while waiting on Hope to come home.

Jake and Windy welcomed Hope home with a competition to see who could sniff her butt the most.

 

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Barking At Squirrels, Taking Medicine

Posted on March 25, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Windy and Jake prepare for an afternoon nap.

All is calm with the furkids today. Everyone seems to feel fine.

Hope, Windy and Jake have decided they hate squirrels. As they look out the bay window and bark, they watch the little tree rats try to steal seed from the bird feeder. This feeder, though, doesn’t allow theft. The squirrels ignore my furkids’ barking.

Hope has been taking her medicine and eating fine. She is drinking more water, but that was to be expected. She will go Monday afternoon to get her stitches out and have her second round of chemotherapy.

As for Hope taking pills, I use sliced American cheese, peanut butter, hot dogs and Pill Pockets, which are a product made by the Greenies company. Pill Pockets are a bit pricey, but they get the job done. Hope doesn’t like the same food items all the time, so I have to mix it up.

After a chat with a co-worker who treated her dog’s cancer with chemo, I feel better. She was pleased to give her furkid an additional 10 and ½ months. The little girl would have lived longer if she had not cut her paw. Infection set in and could not be conquered.

So far so good. Thanks for all the prayers. Please keep them coming.

 

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Waging War On Cancer For Hope

Posted on March 23, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Hope, Windy and Jake like perching on the ottoman in front of the bay window.

Between today and Friday we may see some side effects of the chemotherapy, but far so good.

Hope will get weekly treatments for between 19 and 25 weeks. She came home with four medications (one is in case she needs her appetite stimulated), and three more I need to fill: Cipro to start Friday and two more just in case. Thus far she has been great at taking her pills.

We weighed the possible outcomes verses the time and effort to go through all this. Hope cannot be cured, but we will try for a remission. If all goes well, we can get her a year. Only 20 percent of all dogs with lymphoma are alive two years after diagnosis, according to the paperwork from the oncology vet.

Hope will not need a port in a vein, an e-collar or time in a crate—all things we would not do because we think that would be too hard on her remaining time.

Jake and Windy were happy to see her Monday. After she walked in the door they had to have their noses up her butt to make sure Hope was Hope.

Yes, this will be expensive. We are dumping the two-week vacation we had planned to pay for Hope’s treatment. We will not lounge on a cruise ship while our little girl would be dying. We have to try, but we promise we will not make her suffer because we want to keep her around.

 

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Cancer Battle Begins

Posted on March 21, 2011 by daysofourdogs

Hope has started chemo right now. Risks are minimal. Should not be torture.

We want remission. Vet is positive. Thanks for the prayers. Please keep them up.

Will post more later.

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Sweet Schnauzer Girl Has Cancer

Posted on March 20, 2011 by daysofourdogs

We are facing our fear. Hope has lymphoma.

We brought her home yesterday afternoon. The surgical oncologist removed one tonsil and biopsied her soft palate Friday. She had a CT of her head and her nasal passages scoped.

Two enlarged lymph nodes were found in her throat. The biopsies confirmed the lymphoma.

Hope is on pain medicine and prednisone. She will need her stitches removed in 10 to 14 days. Yesterday she wanted a walk, but she is on restricted activity for the next two weeks.

We have an appointment Monday with an oncologist. Will we be able to slow this disease down? Is she too far gone? Would the attempt at intervening cause her suffering? We don’t know.

I never have had to fight a cancer battle with a dog. I don’t know what to expect. If any of you readers have fought this battle, please give me some advice.

Hope suffered for five years in an Amish puppy mill. I refuse to let her suffer more. If the treatment will not cause further suffering, and we can give her more time—or a remission—then we will do it.

The lymphoma will kill her.  I swing from anger and sorrow. I wanted more time to give her a normal life.

 

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