Zoey's Experience

Well, it’s been a long time coming that I am able to post something good. It’s been a long and expensive road, but I am very happy to say after everything that my precious Zoey has gone through, she is having her last Chemo treatment of carboplatin this coming Wednesday. Oncologist says she looks great inside and out. Zoey is walking and balancing better than ever on 3 legs, although I still have to sling her to go up the stairs but she floats down the stairs with ease.

She is an amazing dog and my best friend will hopefully be with me for a while longer. Dr’s anticipate that once chemo is done (she went through 6 vs. the typical 4 or 5) she may have up to a year or more left.

Although this has been the single worst year of my life, my Zoey goes on as if she was never sick and still has 4 legs (except when she wants an extra cookie or feels like needing a drink of water and can’t get off the bed at 3am, then the puppy eyes and whining comes in). She just celebrated her 9th Birthday a couple weeks ago.

For anyone going through a similar ordeal – I pray for you that you have courage and strength for your dog. That you do what is best for your pets and know that 3 legs is a fashion statement! Who needs 4 anyway?

Well, week 1 was tough – but we got through it. This weekend was real progress. Zoey is using the sling less and less. I still have to help her up the stairs but going down the stairs is a piece of cake (althought I still keep the sling around her belly just in case).

We got some liquid tramadol last Friday that is chicken flavor. It still tastes horrible to Zoey – but it’s easier to get it down – providing I can get the little syringe back far enough.

I brought Zoey to work with me because her staples are still in and I hate her wearing that satalite dish around her neck. Great that my boss loves dogs. Zoey is getting so much love and play time that she sleeps wonderfully at night. 🙂

Tomorrow staples comes out and Chemo begins. I am nervous about how she’ll do after the first round of Chemo.

Zoey’s human sister has been in Alaska for the last 2 weeks and hasn’t seen Zoey in this condition. I think Zoey has been depressed that she’s been gone. It will be good for the two of them to be reaquainted.

I am anxious to get Zoey back to her loving playful self. I miss that part of her.

I can’t believe the range of emotions I am experiencing. I can only imagine what Zoey must be going through. Realizing there is no psychological emotion to her – it’s hard explaining to others the drastic measures that we took to save her life. I just say “you can replace money, but you can’t replace the love of your pet”.  I am pawsitive that this amputation was the best thing for her.

So this is day four since the surgery occurred. Zoey is doing well at home, but she really really hates the satellite on her head. I keep it off when there is someone with her, but put it back on whenever we exit the room. I am not taking any chances. 

Yesterday, Zoey was getting up on her own and standing for small periods of time. I think she’s bored stiff.  Today, she’s just scooting along and requires help to get up.  I wonder if she over did it yesterday. Is this normal? I know it’s only been 4 days.  Plus, she hasn’t pooped yet. She has been eating small meals of cottage cheese, hamburger and rice (sometimes scrambled eggs – but not too much cuz egg gas is unbearable).  I can only get her tramadol down her by offering it inside steak. Yep, you read right… steak.  I cooked a steak and have to pocket the pill inside the steak. I’ve even tried using a pill pusher, putting it in lunchmeat, peanut butter, yogurt, dissolving it in water and squirting it in her mouth. All these other ways she just lets it dissolve in her mouth and won’t swallow so she foams at themouth looking like a rabid crazy dog.  So, steak it is! 

I am anxious for her to get better. I miss her old self. I try to keep strong and not baby her.  I’ve been sleeping on a futon bed in the basement with her so she has someone with her at all times. When can I start leaving her to be by herself for small periods of time? I am so afraid she’s going to fall and hurt herself if I am not there.

I am rambling, but I have so many questions.

Kim

Well, today Zoey came home from the hospital. So far so good. She gave us a little scare before we left. Her gums were real pale so the dr. checked her blood – her red blood cells and protein levels were low – she wanted to make sure Zoey wasn’t bleeding internally anywhere so they did an ultrasound.  All checked out ok. She said maybe the gums blanched in response to pain from moving her into the car. 

Once we got home, most of the neighbors were outside. I tried to warn them before picking them up, but no one was home, so they learned the hard way. I never heard so many gasps.  It was a little frightening.  Zoey walked about 20 yards to the grass area and urinated like a pro.  The 20 yards back was tiring for her. 

She’s resting comfortably downstairs with her big cone. I had one of those inflatable donuts for her from when she had her TPLO done, which worked great, but this donut doesn’t work for her on the amputation. She can still lick the incision – guess I have to go with the big cone.

I am worried about the next few days. I am sure I’ll be fine. She seems happy to be home and is really alert, eating and drinking.  She does not have a Fentenyl patch on because during her TPLO, she refused all water/food and her kidney’s started to shut down. I didn’t want this to happen again so we stayed away from that drug.  She may have a bit more pain, but we can manage it pretty well with the tramadol.

I am so happy to have my baby back at home with me. I can’t wait for the day when she can walk upstairs and be with us on the main level and resume her life.  In time… but for now – I am happy to do whatever I can for her.

Hi. Zoey is my 8-1/2 year old rotty. About mid April she started panting constantly. We took her to the ER VET but they couldn’t find anything that would cause her to pant. They laid down new mulch, so we thought it could be allergies. Early May. Zoey was experiencing lameness on her right hindleg. Dr. gave her some NSaids to see if that helped. After no improvement, X-rays were done. This is when the nightmare began.

Dr. was sure that Zoey tore her Cruitiate ligament in her right knee. Although x-rays didn’t reveal anything on the right leg (no cancer), the left femur directly in the middle of the bone was a huge cause for alarm.

Beginning of June – took Zoey to Surgeon. He was certain she had a partial tear of that ligament and suggested surgery to repair. At the same time, we were going to do a biopsy of the other leg. Since it didn’t present in a normal way bone cancer does, they felt it would benefit her to have both surgeries at the same time. Well, Zoey doesn’t do anything half way, so she tore her ligament all the way. So now, a TPLO was scheduled.

Surgery went well. Five weeks later, this past Monday, we had to do the biopsy of that other leg. The biopsy went well, but Zoey was in enormous pain. She is stubborn and refuses to eat Tramadol even when masked in other food. She just lets it dissolve and then foams at the mouth.

Thursday, I got the results of the biopsy – it’s Osteosarcoma. I am devistated. The oncologist suggested we come in later that evening for a consultation so we can get her some pain relief as soon as possible. So we went in. She suggested the amputation, but I couldn’t think of her without her leg so we opted for radiation/chemo and a bone strengthening treament. They wanted to make sure the cancer hadn’t yet spread anywhere so they took her back for some chest x-rays. Upon taking Zoey off the table, her leg snapped and broke. I was left with 2 options: amputation or putting her down. She has so much life in her. She was happy Monday before the biopsy. She was feeling great with the TPLO and getting around great. She never told me she hurt on her other leg.

Yesterday, Zoey had her leg removed. I haven’t yet seen her, but I call every 3 hours to check up on her. They say she’s doing good. I am worried. I don’t know what to expect, how to help her, what to feed her, how do I know if she is in pain?

I get to take her home either tonight or tomorrow. I am anxious. I just want to love her. I just want to hold her and tell her everything will be ok. I told her I’d never let this happen. I feel like I broke all my promises to her. I pray I made the right decision. I pray this gives me more time with my precious girl.

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