My old friend is dying...

[imported_palehorse]

Originally Posted by Varzandeh

Hi,
If she plays , barks and acts good, I 'm not agreed with chemo she will lose her health and will feel ill.
Let her leave untill she will have pains or sufferings.Of course if they diagnosed the tumor progressive.
Good luck,

That's totally not true. Chemo for dogs is different from chemo for humans. The dosage is significantly lower. Pretty much all dogs undergoing chemo do not suffer like humans on chemo do.

The reason is the goal of the therapy. The goal is to cause a one to two year remmission. In humans the goal is 10 years or more. I researched this in-depth as I too would not want her to suffer.

Had I not done this as fast as I did she would likly not have lived to see the new year.

The only draw-back is it is expensive. I can deal with that. The drawback for Bitsy is pretty much non-exisitant.

Today's veternary medicine is far better then it was years ago.

There are other dogs here at the clinic, a few in the waiting room were returning for their once every three weeks therapy. They seemed happy, had all their hair etc etc. I have not encountered ANY stories in the real world and the internet where anyone "regretted" putting their dog through chemo.

[imported_palehorse]

Here's an update. She went through her first batch of chemo.

I am happy to report that the giant swollen lympth nodes on her face have vanished!!!!

She has more energy then ever, and is doing really great! I am so glad I started her on chemo, the vet says she is responding above average and has a great chance for full remission!

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

That picture that you posted looks really special. Looks like the sort of dog that you put in for competitions. Glad to hear the treatment is working.

[rmahil]

Congratulations on her recovery!!

[imported_palehorse]

I thought it might be helpful to anyone that might find themselves going through something similar to post a few updates.

Week 2 on chemo, here's an update.

She developed a small cyst on her back which the vet drained and gave her antibiodics for. :shock: She is reacting well to the chemo otherwise. She gets somewhat lethargic after she gets a dose, but recovers pretty quick. Last night about 2 hours after chemo she was trying to get me to tug of war with her with one of her toys! :?

Here is a current picture took last night:



She don' really like the antlers on her head lol!

She is doing great though!

[imported_palehorse]

Hi,

Here's an update.

She is doing much better, she is over the worst part of the chemo, today she is in for another all day treatment, but not a harsh one, not like the lst one.

A couple of weeks ago she had her harshest treatment with no ill effects, except some very minor hair loss.



Looks like my old friend is gonna pull through this! I will post a fresh picture of her later.

BTW if anyone is interested in followning Bitsy's story, I will be updating it at:
http://www.pethealthforums.com/forum...ma-cancer.html

It is a new message board I created inspired by Bitsy, a non-profit site devoted to pet health care.

Thanks for the notes of support

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

Nice to hear things are going smoothly

Is that pet forum yours too?

Thanks Bobby.

[imported_palehorse]

Originally Posted by unclesirbobbyrobson

Nice to hear things are going smoothly

Is that pet forum yours too?

Thanks Bobby.

Yes, I created it basically in honor of Bitsy.

[Palehorse]

Well, Bitsy passed away. She had a bad relapse and the lymph nodes got so big they were slowly suffocating her... Her only hope was to go back to Auburn have radiation treatment done, and at that would only get a couple more weeks to live at best. She was in a lot of pain, needed two teeth pulled, but was too weak for that. I made one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make... I let her go.

I will always miss Bitsy, she was like my own child, and I loved her dearly. I guess God needed a schnauzer...

[Sowelu]

(((((Ohhhhhh Mike!)))))))

I'm so, so sorry, sweetie.

Blessings and tons of love,
Sowelu