February 26, 2012



From Jennifer, Chuck, Kessen and Brightie



Hallelujah!  Who knew the smell of wet dog would be so wonderful.  I have not been able to bathe Arri since October when this whole saga began.  With 4 surgeries, 18 radiation treatments and 3 weeks in the cone of shame, the boy smelled like a dog.  This morning he got all cleaned up.  He is so soft and snuggly.  More hair has fallen out of his leg but the skin looks nice and healthy.  The swollen node on his upper leg is still present but not as large.  

A few weeks ago, Arri received an awesome get well e-mail from some CCI puppy raisers.  I love the photo and appreciate the sentiments. 

February 15, 2012

Outside 



inside (treatment side)

 First follow-up visit.   It is cold – in the 30’s but the sun is shining.  Arri’s leg is looking really good.  He is still losing hair but the skin looks healthy.  At this point, the cone of shame is still being used since there are still some scabs that he wants to lick.   Arri had many visitors during our check up.  Lots of the girls had to say hello to the goof ball.  Even though all looks good, he does have a new lump on the upper part of his leg, deeper in, not on the surface.  One of the techs did a needle aspiration to see what might be growing.  She thought it might just be fatty.  The Dr. looked at the slide and confirmed it was nothing to be concerned about.  It is not a fatty growth but a node swelling as a result of radiation.  It is not uncommon.  I am to keep an eye on it but it should not be an issue.  Because of the swelling, Arri will continue to be on the anti-inflammatory for another few weeks.  He also is staying on the anti-biotic because he just won’t leave his leg alone.  We can remove the cone of shame when he stops obsessing over his leg.

Normally the next visit would be in two weeks.  Because we drive so far and the wound is looking good, we don’t have to come back for a month.  I am to call in after two weeks to just confirm all is well.

February 12, 2012



Summer seeking attention

Summer must be feeling neglected.  She has decided to have a bladder infection. We were not certain of her diagnosis so we were attempting to get enough urine for testing.  It is a real interesting chore to get a urine sample from a female dog with a very fluffy butt.  When we collected visible blood clots, we decided more urine was not necessary.  She did indeed have an infection but also crystals forming.  Two separate issues.  

Giving medications at the proper time and in the proper quantity was difficult enough with just Arri.  Now Summer is on antibiotics and a chewable cranberry supplement. Oy.  I have now added sticky notes to the top of each bottle with dog initial, quantity and time of day.  We are almost getting it right.  The hard one to remember is Arri gets a middle of the day antibiotic. 

There is still some scabbing but it is not nearly as red.

February 11, 2012

Today was a serious snow day.  After weeks of an incredibly mild winter, reality has returned.  I let the dogs out at 6 am.  We had received roughly 3 inches of snow during the night.  After the dogs were fed, I went out and started shoveling….and shoveling….and shoveling…..and shoveling…..At one point it was snowing at a rate of 2 inches an hour.  After an hour the driveway didn’t look any cleaner.  I woke up Tim and suggested he come out and help.  Naturally, this happens on a Saturday when I have customers and brides coming over.  So, we shoveled….and shoveled…..and shoveled…..There was always one of us out working until 12:30 pm.  In the course of 6 hours, we had received 15 inches of snow.  On the bright side, it was very light and fluffy.  For the most part, the dogs stayed inside during the whole storm.

SNOW CONE!

The snow was very deep for Arri.  Normally, he would have loved romping through it but I could tell, the cold was very painful on his leg.  The cone of shame was no help.  It kept filling with snow when Arri tried to jump through a drift.  Poor boy. 

February 9, 2012

Even at 13, Arri can do some things for the very first time.  Today was a big one.  As a young dog, Arri was a runner.  Given the opportunity, he would bolt into the ravine after any and every smell he came across, not to mention a dip in the creek.  People talk about dogs being able to find their way home…not Arri.  He has the brains, just not the attention span.  Deer, possum, raccoon, squirrel…..he just runs with the scent.

Today, Arri and I went on a walk.  Arri brought along his hedgehog.  He has never gone on an ‘unleashed’ walk before. There was no traffic or people or dogs out so I dropped the leash and said ‘let’s go’ and we went.  Arri walks faster than I do so he was a car length ahead the whole time but proudly showing his hedgehog the neighborhood.  He would pause and check on me.  Once he was sure I was doing ok, he moved on.  I think he had a very enjoyable walk today.  It’s funny, he only stopped to sniff one time.  If I had been holding the leash, he would have been sniffing every mailbox.

February 8, 2012

Arri is such a goof!  This morning, after feeding the critters, I was walking in circles.  I didn’t know where to start my day.  Arri was stalking me.  Habitually, after he eats, he chews a bone for about 10 minutes.  It is the only time he really chews.  Probably because he doesn’t chew his food, he inhales it.  I am standing by the kitchen sink and he is just staring up at me.  I realize he is asking for his pain pill.  The pill is not coated so he won’t take it, not even with his food.  I have to cover it with cheese and then he eats it right up.  I had not given it to him yet.  Once he got his cheese, he walked away.  I’m not sure what will happen when we are done with healing.  Where some people might get addicted to the pain meds, I think Arri is addicted to cheese.

I took Arri and Glamis for a walk today.  It is beautiful April weather in February.  He was a little stiff at the end but I think he was very happy to be out enjoying the day.   Of course, he had to catch up on pee-mail.  He finished one message and was leaving a response when Glamis started sniffing the same pee-mail.  Naturally, Arri baptized Glamis and I had to wash a dog when we got home

February 7, 2012

Forget about the leg looking better.  That was a one day fluke.  It all just depends on how much effort Arri makes to try and lick it.  Short of taping his leg in the bent position, he will be able to rub the wound with part of the e-collar. 

Today Arri went to see Dr. Mike – our home vet.  He only went as a guest. Teva was the patient.  Teva was due for all his shots.  Arri didn’t seem to like that Teva was getting attention so he did what he could to get pets and treats.  Dr. Mike has not seen a radiation treatment in years to I got to give him the skinny on what we have been up to. 

Teva

February 6, 2012

It seems as though we have turned a corner.  It is possible that the double e-collars did the trick.  Arri’s leg looks more pink than red.  There is still some swelling, he still favors it but the edges are looking healthier.

February 5, 2012

trying to get comfortable with both e-collars on.

I didn’t think I would have much to say now that we are in the healing process.  I guess Arri likes the attention.  Today we left for church as usual.  When we arrived home and let the dogs out of the bedroom, Arri had blood and fluid dripping down his leg.  He wasn’t able to lick the wound but in his efforts, the edge of the e-collar scratched and rubbed it, making it bleed.  I gathered up all the wound cleaning supplies and some bandages.  I am not supposed to cover the wound but for a little while, I need to so it can rest from irritation.  Arri was not thrilled with this soaking.  I can only imagine from my own injuries that even at room temperature, the water burned.  I covered and wrapped the leg.  Arri has been placed on double duty e-collar restrictions.  I pulled out the useless inflatable and put it on him, then added the traditional e-collar.  The boy looks pretty pathetic.

February 4, 2012

I have noticed that Arri is favoring his leg a lot more.  He is being much more careful when he stands and lies down.  Roughly an hour before it is time for a pain pill, he limps a bit more.  I was able to soak his leg twice today and finally feel I have it nice and clean.  The edges are still gunky but that area is more sensitive.  Every time I try to get the gunk off, more hair pulls out.  It seems to come off easily but at the same time, Arri flinches so it does cause some discomfort.  There is some definite swelling in the area.  He tolerates me poking around pretty well.  Of course, I feel pretty safe doing it since he has the cone on.  I am not so sure I would be so confident if I knew he could turn and snap if I hurt him.

Feb 4 - pretty swollen today

February 3, 2012:

It's a good time to be done with treatment.    I feel a cold coming on.    Now we wait and see.  I will be cleaning and checking the wound many times a day.  I am also taking pictures of it so I can compare them.  It is easy to not notice change when you are staring at something so frequently.  I will be on alert for any sign of a growth.  The one indication of success I do have is that nothing new has grown since we started.  Based on past growth rate, he could have grown a golf ball on his leg during the time of treatment.

February 2, 2012:

February 2, 2012:  Happy Groundhog day and a VERY, VERY, VERY HAPPY LAST DAY OF RADIATION!!!!!   Between the beautiful weather and this being our last daily trip across the state, spring fever has hit.  There is no snow, the birds are singing, the plants are sprouting.  I hate to remind myself that it is just the start of February.

Despite being happy, I am a bit nervous going into this appointment.  I have no idea what happens next.  I haven’t talked to the Dr. since our first appointment on Jan 5^th.  I have no clue what the follow up schedule will be like.  How long does Arri stay on meds?  Always more questions, but today we get some answers.



'The beaver'



Before leaving, I took a quick look at the wound.  Then I took a closer look.  From a slight distance, it looked like a grey mold was growing over the wound.  Not quite a scab.  Upon closer inspection, it looked like matted hair.  Since he has no hair there at the moment, this was odd.  I gently grabbed and edge to see how attached it was to his leg.  It peeled off about as easy as a bandage.  It was indeed icky.  The wound is attracting loose dog hair.  It clings on to either the aquaphor or wound ooze and then dries. Blech…just one more thing I have to watch out for.  The entire edge of the wound looks like this.  By gently grabbing it, I am pulling out the hair and and gunk build up. I am not allowed to scrub or wash the area so fingernails it is.  It will take awhile to clean it all.  Some areas are clearly more sensitive than others.



Arri's graduation bandana



We had good driving weather and a routine treatment.  Maybe Arri understood it was his last day.  He came charging out of treatment as though they had not even sedated him.  He did sway once but really, he was very alert.  As a ‘graduation’ gift, he has a new bandana with his name on it.  We have two weeks worth of refills for pain meds, anti-inflammatory and now an antibiotic.  The next two weeks will be about wound care and healing.  We go back for a check up on Feb. 15^th.    

February 1, 2012:

This is my normal happy boy

Treatment 17:  Someone is about to be banned from giving prescriptions.  Yesterday I gave an educational lesson on prescriptions and the need to read the labels.  I explained what pills are given at what time of day.   I woke up to another note saying what was given.  Again, two meds were given.  (He only is supposed to get one).  At least today, he was not double dosed on pain meds.  I am glad tomorrow is the last day of 4:30 am feeding.

Today’s lesson is on hygiene.  Since Arri is in the cone 24/7, I have been remiss in maintaining proper hygiene.  When I rolled Arri on his back the other day, I realized his belly was a bit crusty.  Aside from his normal bodily issues, he lays on his wound, transferring lotion and stuff to his belly.  So as long as he is in the cone, he will be getting sponge baths as well.  Since he lays nicely while I soak the wound, Arri is allowed to have the cone off during that time.  It is pretty clear that not being able to groom himself bothers him. 

It was a pretty routine treatment today.  For his birthday, the office gave Arri a honking beaver toy to take home with him.  Of all the dogs I have seen go in and out of the clinic, Arri is the only one that is playful and grabbing the toys.

The house is quiet tonight.  The three stooges (Glamis, Summer and Teva) went to day care today so they are very tired.  You gotta love doggie day care.  Arri is feeling better. He was trying to instigate a game of Poke ‘em using a stuffed polar bear.  He has a huge advantage since he uses the cone of shame as a weapon. 

January 31, 2012:

Treatment 16:  Only 2 more after today.  HAPPY, HAPPY 13^TH BIRTHDAY ARRI!!!!   He will have to suffer the indignity of wearing a party hat to treatment. 

It is a fabulous spring day.  It will be in the 50’s today.  The sunrise is beautiful.  It is far too early for spring fever.  It will be a real bummer when winter actually arrives.

I just have to vent my frustration.  Tim got up and fed Arri at 4:30.  I acknowledged that, and gratefully went back to sleep.  I failed to confirm what medications to give.  Arri is on pain meds 3 times a day and an anti-inflammatory once a day.  For the morning feeding, Arri only gets a pain pill.  I get up and see a note telling me how much and what bottle was given.  I have to sigh.  There are two bottles sitting out.  He gave the right dosage but from two meds.  Not just the pain.  A little later I put the bottles away and notice something was not right.  I look closer.  Arri had been given the correct pain med and dosage but the other bottle was not the anti-inflammatory.  It was a different pain med from his previous surgery.  It was the same dosage – ½ a tablet –  as the anti-inflammatory and the tablets look similar.  I am certain that the prescription label was not read.  He just looked at the tablet and thought it was right.  I should know better.  This is not the first time in the history of our dogs that this has happened.   I am glad he left a note with the bottles right there.   It certainly explains why Arri is so mellow.

Arri arrived at treatment wearing his party hat.  Everyone loved it.  He even posed for pictures with the squeaky lamb in his mouth. 

Today they did not give Arri an extra sedative.  The Dr. said it wasn’t really making a difference and there was no point to keep him sedated for that long.  Apparently, when he comes out of sedation, he is a wild man.  He is so spaced out that he vocalizes.  I asked if it was pain or excitement.  Kathy said he is so out of it, he just doesn’t know what is going on so he cries.  It would be very interesting to witness what happens.  As many times as he has been sedated in the last 6 months, this is the first I am hearing of the cries.  They always tell me he comes out very easy and is ready to go.  Because he was not double dosed, he walked out of the clinic much better.  He hopped in the car and did his scavenging for food or paper or anything really.

I did get a bit of a scolding today.  Some of the damage to Arri’s leg is from lick sores.  As soon as the collar comes off, he goes for his leg.  The only time he can have his e-collar off is if we are standing right next to him, watching.  I am allowed to do a soak on the area.  Using a clean, very wet cloth, I can ‘soak’ the wound.  No rubbing allowed.  Only lightly pat it dry.  That helps to get some of the old Aquaphor residue off.  Arri will be the only dog not in a kennel for the night.  We need to make sure no one else is cleaning his leg.  I am sure no one does it during the day but who knows what happens at night.

It was so nice to ride home with the ‘old’ Arri.  His eyes were bright and clear and he was a happy boy.  He did figure out how to relax by propping the e-collar on the dash board and then relaxing his head inside. 

We stopped at Iskape to exchange books again today.  Arri was invited in again (with the cone).  I think he only knocked 2 or 3 books down.  Mr. Steve hid some birthday biscuits on a variety of low shelves for Arri to hunt down.  Arri thought that was awesome.  From now on, I know Arri will be inspecting those shelves first, probably before greeting anyone.  Thanks Steve!

January 30, 2012:

Treatment 15:  What a gorgeous April day.  Considering it is still January, that is saying something.  50 degrees and sunny.  We live in the Lake Effect snow band along the southwest corner of Michigan.  This time of year it is normally in the teens, maybe 20’s and we have had a good 20 – 30 inches of snow.  I am pretty sure we are still under 8 inches for the season.  The daffodils are already poking out of the ground.  15 month old Teva (puppy in training) is not going to live to 16 months if he doesn’t stop digging up the little green sprouts poking out of the dirt.

Tim and I both made the trip today.  Good thing.   Kathy was on vacation again today.  I am even happier the appointment last Friday was cancelled. I don’t think I could have handled the sub for two appointments.   I am sure the sub technician is a competent worker but she lacks experience or maybe it is intelligence.  I didn’t realize Kathy was gone until the sub brought Arri out after treatment. 

They did not fully wake him up again.  They gave him a shot of downers to keep him subdued.  The sub mentioned she gave it to him ‘because of the way he cries, you know’.    HUH??????  What in the world is she talking about?  I should have stopped and asked right at that moment but Arri’s current condition was more important.  He could not stand.  Hoist his rear up and it fell back down.  She was half dragging him down the hall by herself without a sling under his rear.  Tim ended up carrying him out to the car.  He was a glassy eyed, basset hound again.  He pretty much passed out for the ride home.  Occasionally he would lift his head.   I should have brought toe nail clippers.  He is much nicer about that when he is unconscious.

So tomorrow, I will have a little chat with Kathy.  First, what is this thing about him crying?  Was the sub confusing him with another dog?  Second, the sub needs to know that if the dog can’t walk, she should help him before he hurts himself.

The wound is larger today or maybe it is just that some hair has fallen out around the edge.  He is limping a bit more as well.   I have grounded him from going to the park today.  All the snow has melted and the park will be a muddy mess.  I don’t want to get mud splashed up on his leg.

Whether it was the drugs, fighting disease or a combination, Arri did not play tonight.  For the last 3 nights, he has been very active playing his favorite game of poke and tug.  He pokes you with his toy until you grab it.  Then you tug with him until you get tired because you will tire before he does.  Then he starts poking again.  He really likes to do this outside with a wet tennis ball when you are wearing nice pants.

So much for thinking today would be a routine day with nothing to comment on.           

January 28 and 29

January 28, 2012:  day off from treatment: 

January 29, 2012:  day off from treatment:

Today I have to take a minute and thank everyone for their kind words, support, well wishes and prayers.  When we got the initial diagnosis, I never once thought it was a death sentence.  Sadly some cancers are.  For me, they were ‘fightin’ words. 

Writing this journal has been therapeutic for me. I am glad you find yourselves laughing.  The hard times don’t seem so hard when you find a reason to laugh.  I know I have not always lived my life that way.  Trust me, it is a much easier way to live.  If you could meet Arri, you would see that there is a reason to laugh.  He is just a hoot.  There are not too many dogs that are so excited to go to the vet.  When they take the annual blood draw for heartworm, after they remove the needle, Arri will follow the tech to the counter and do an UP to see what she is doing next.  He could care less that she just jabbed him in the leg with a sharp object. 

To follow up on a topic someone brought up.  Making the decision for treatment is a very personal decision.  Looking back, my vet was very careful in his wording so as not to try to persuade me in any direction.  Initially I found this unhelpful and quite annoying.  I realize though that it forced me into doing the homework myself.  Time, money, type of illness, degree of illness and quality of life are all factors that need to be considered.  There are those who ask if it is worth it financially. (For those who could not do treatment due to cost, there are foundations out there to help).  There are those who think I am nuts for making the daily drive.  Either I should not do the treatment or I should kennel for the duration.  I think I have done pretty well in my responses.  So far I have not reached out and smacked anyone.  I am sure there are some that think ‘it is just a dog’.  Those folk are wise enough to keep that thought in their head.  No matter what choice is made, it has to be the one that is best for the family. 

Arri and I have had some interesting quality time together in the car.  He is holding up incredibly well.   I can tell he is a little under the weather because when I plant myself on the sofa, he sprawls out across me. A bit more snuggly than normal.   Every so often, I see a little hitch in his step, like there was some pain.  But we can handle it.  He certainly has not lost his desire to go to the park.

I appreciate the e-mails.  I hope someday this journal will help someone else who has to make the trip into the unknown, scary world of cancer. 

January 27, 2012

Snow day!!!!  I got a call from the clinic on the way home yesterday.  Our appointment today was supposed to be at 9am.  Kathy will be out of town so a sub was coming in.  The sub has pneumonia so the treatment was rescheduled for next week.  Good because I don’t have to be on the road at 6 am.  Bad because just like a snow day, we don’t get to skip a treatment, we have to go one extra day.  Treatment will be officially done next Thursday.  It was a bit disappointing.  For 10 days, I have been looking forward to stopping at Panera for breakfast this morning.  I did pick up a bagel on the way home yesterday.  I’ll have to toast it myself and it is day old, but I’ll use my imagination and pretend it was just what I wanted.

Today we go shopping for a new e-collar.  The lampshade he has now has sharp edges and he is able to reach part of the treatment area.  The edge of the collar is cutting into the wound.  I have an inflatable one but it is too large.   I am REALLY hoping we find what we need. 

Seriously, you would think I was getting radiation to my frontal lobe.  I take Arri with because I want to make sure it fits, is long enough, whatever.  He is a complete goof anytime he is around people and dog food and treats and toys.  I foolishly did not put his prong on him.  I get to the store and realize I can’t use the gentle leader because he is wearing his e-collar.  Let’s just pretend I am not allowed to EVER remove the e-collar (because I did not even think of that option allowing me to use the gentle leader while we were inside). 

We get into the PetSmart and he is dragging me around.  Flat collar corrections have no effect on him. Every display he sniffs, the e-collar knocks stuff off the shelf.    I stop to clean it up, he is at another display destroying it.    Naturally, the e-collars are at the back of the store by the grooming area.  Smash, crash, thump, the destructive satellite dish makes his way to the back of the store, stopping briefly to inhale the scent of hamster.

I end up picking the largest e-collar they have.  It is the only one long enough to prevent him from reaching the ankle.  The inflatables are at the other end of the aisle.  Between us and them are shelves full of bottles of shampoo, vitamins, grooming stuff.  No way I am taking him down there.  We swing wide by the grooming room and come across the 65% off toys.  I pick out a squeaky duck to amuse Arri while I look at the inflatable collars.  I grab a large and hope for the best.  Back to the front of the store we go.  Did I think to use the end aisle where there are dog beds, kennels and very little stuff to knock on the floor?  No, we went back down the center.  At least the duck helped.  He very proudly carried to the register and did an UP.  The things that goofball remembers from training. 

Because we absolutely can’t get out of the store without any more incidents, we have a cashier who is on the register for the first time.  Was anyone helping her?  No.  Would my stuff ring up?  No.  Was Arri a complete dork while waiting in line?  Yes.  He entertained the people behind us with his collar.  They felt bad for him so they gave him a new squeaky.  When he tired of that, he tried to get behind the register to sniff around and eat any paper or treats.  Thankfully the collar prevented him from getting back there. 

I know.  I was the complete picture of one of those pet owners that has no control of their dog.  Shame on me.  I going to blame it on the drugs and pretend that isn’t his normal personality. 

Arri with the old e-collar

WOW…not 5 minutes have passed since I typed the above story.  I walk into the living room and Arri has ½ his leg in his mouth.  Ok, not literally, but he could have.  The inflatable collar wasn’t preventing him from licking anything except his chest and he can’t reach that anyway.  I am SO glad I didn’t put the new lampshade back on the shelf.  So on goes the new e-collar.  Once that is on, I smear on some fresh Aquaphor.  While I am leaning over doing that, a cat climbs on my back preventing me from standing up without painful  cat-u-puncture.   Sigh…what next.

January 26, 2012:

Treatment 14:  I woke up at 1 am thinking I was about to burst into flames.  My side was plastered by dog from armpit to ankle.  Why do they feel it is necessary to touch the heat source?   I was never able to fall back into a deep sleep.   It is going to be a long day on the road.   

34 degrees with lots of clouds, some mist, some rain but no ice or snow.  Not too bad. Today was a day of impatient drivers trying to push me out of the way.  I was very happy when one particularly annoying driver flew past me.  5 minutes later, I passed him as he was discussing his day with a police officer. : ) 

Kathy must have seen us pull in the lot.  She met us at the side door.  Arri was more than happy to go in and see her.  New door, must be a different outcome.  Before she took him back, I pointed out the collar bone/chest growth.  I asked her just to look at it while he was under.  It is still too small and mobile to hit with a needle.   They measured it and we will both watch it.  I also mentioned that I thought Arri’s foot looked a little swollen.  She wasn’t surprised.  It came a little sooner than she expected.  Apparently we are into the worst of the side effects.  So now with we have an anti-inflammatory prescription to add to the pain meds.

When he came out of treatment, Kathy said they gave him a watered down version of the wake up drug (insert 15 syllable medical name here).  He has been waking up very quick and ready to run.  This way, he would be more subdued on the ride home.  He sure was.  He looked like a basset hound with the saggy eyes and droopy head.   Arri climbed in the front seat again but wouldn’t lie down.  He was still so weak his front legs were quaking.  I pulled over to the side of the road and  learned that the passenger front seat reclines almost flat.  Once I did that, he laid down and slept the rest of the trip.  Only took me 14 trips to figure that one out.

1-26-12:  some swelling, bleeding is from the edge of the e-collar

January 25, 2012:

Treatment 13:  The cone of shame is ready for use if he doesn’t stop licking the leg.  Whether he is licking because of pain or because of the lotion, doesn’t matter.  Kathy will be upset with him if he keeps licking.

Once again, no issues with the weather.  I am so grateful for that.  Arri needed a little encouragement to go with Kathy again today.  He would gladly follow her for a treat but since he is fasting at that point, she can’t use that trick.   He came out of treatment like a bull in a china shop.  He was really amped up today, dragging Kathy down the hall.  We had him relax in the waiting area for a few minutes.  He would have been a real handful in the car. 

I did spread the food around the back of the van and it helped a little.  Instead of a 15 second meal, it took him 45 seconds.  He is back to sitting in the front seat.  He just doesn’t want to lie down and relax. 

We stopped at Iskape Audiobooks on the way home.  Fellow puppy raisers, Dyan and Steve, own the store.  I traded in some books and Dyan invited Arri in the store.  He was so happy to run around (no one else was there so I didn’t have the leash on).  Arri  sniffed almost every inch of the place.  He was grinning from his adventure for a good part of the way home.  Thanks Dyan : )

I quickly realized that the cone of shame is necessary.  Poor Arri, he will probably have to wear it for 2 – 3 weeks.  Coincidentally, I was looking at the catalog ‘In the Company of Dogs’.  They have a t-shirt that says “it’s all fun and games until someone ends up in a cone”.  Made me laugh.  I may have to get one of those.

January 24, 2012:

Treatment 12:  Tim and I both made the trip today.  We dropped off my van in the process for an oil change and whatever else they find.  It is always something.  I’ve put a lot of miles on that vehicle in the last 2 weeks.  We had a fairly uneventful drive.  It is 27 degrees and dry roads.    We saw 4 police before we even left the county. 

Today was a reality check.  So far this journey has been incredibly easy.   I had lulled myself into believing that would not change.  When Kathy came to get Arri, she mentioned that we would need to start applying a product called Aquaphor.  It is an OTC lotion for dry, chapped skin.  Arri would need it at least 3 times a day but not before treatment.  So the last application would be before bed and the next would be after treatment. 

Arri was happy to see Kathy but did not want to go back with her.  I walked him to the door and he went willingly at that point.  This was my realization that the rest of the journey will not be all tail wags.

Treatment took a few minutes longer than normal.  When Arri came out, Kathy handed me a prescription bottle.  Reality check head slap.  It was a pain medication that we will start out with 3 times a day and then adjust as necessary.  She said his leg was going to start to get ‘ouchie’ now. 

He was quite the scavenger today.  Arri tried to eat a plastic bag, a towel and a glove.  This was after he ate his lunch.  Tomorrow, instead of putting the food in the bowl, I am going to spread it around the back of the van.  It will take him longer to eat and maybe, just maybe he will not try to eat the van.  He generally settles down after about 10 minutes.

January 23, 2012:

Treatment 11:  Tim made the trip on his own today.  We were supposed to have rain and I wondered about icy roads.  This has been the strangest winter.  We had a huge thunderstorm in the middle of the night and warm temperatures.  I woke up to 50 plus degrees outside.  The only snow left are the large piles on the side of the driveway.

Arri’s treatment changed today.  They had been doing treatment to the general area but now they are doing a ‘cone drop’;  targeting the specific growth and scar area.   It is a narrower band of treatment.  They do this in part to protect the lymphatic system.  Kathy said the lymphatic system is more sensitive to radiation and continuing to treat the entire area lower leg, could cause the lymphatic system to stop flowing.  This would cause fluid to build up in his foot.

The area of treatment is much rawer today.  I took a picture to compare to day one.  Definitely resembles a very bad sunburn.

January 21& 22:

January 21, 2012:  Day off from treatment.  I am so glad because I am tired.  I am trying to limit myself to only making 5 cakes a week.  It is do-able but mentally exhausting.  After driving all day, I don’t start ‘work’ until 5 pm .  I have frequently worked 12, 14, even 18 hour days.  That is much different than working 2 different jobs. It doesn't require a mental shift.   I admire the people who do work two jobs.  You may not do it out of choice but the fact that you are able to, is impressive.   It is ‘bride’ time.  For the next 3 Saturdays, I have bridal consultations/tastings every hour from 9 -3.  I also have OCD when it comes to snow on the driveway.  I cannot stand it when cars drive over the un- shoveled drive.  So last night, at 10:00 pm, I was shoveling 4 inches hoping we don’t get much more.  Thankfully we didn’t so I went back to bed after feeding the critters.

January 22, 2012:  Day off from treatment  We really did take the day off from just about everything.

January 20, 2012

Treatment 10:  We are half way there!   Scary driving predicted for today.  We are supposed to get 7 – 9 inches of snow.  They say it won’t start until later in the day.  Let’s hope they are right and I am home before it gets bad.

The treatment seems to be going well. I am now wondering how they will know if they got the cancer.  I don’t think I ever asked.  He started treatment with a ¼ inch growth.  At one point last week, I was certain it was larger.  It is clearly more defined than it had been.  There is no question, when you look from a distance, that there is a lump on his leg.

Kathy said healing is a process.  I know from the early inquiry that the worst side effects may not happen until a week after treatment ends.  The same is true of knowing if everything we are going through will work.  At this point she does not believe the growth has changed.  Considering how quickly it grew, the fact that it has stopped growing is a good sign.   The area of treatment is a bit darker pink.  We have to wait for follow up visits to know for certain if the cancer is gone.  There is something else I failed to ask.  How often and how long will follow up last? 

Since our appointment is over the lunch hour, I usually pack a lunch.  I am happy to share my apple or orange with Arri.  Arri may be my first dog but I didn’t bring him home last week.  After close to 13 years, I should know better.  He is the dog that can’t hear me calling him from 5 feet away and yet can hear the peanut butter cabinet open from 4 rooms away.  For some silly reason, I made a PB & J to eat on the way home.  Never bring peanut butter when you are with a dog having drug induced munchies.  I was glad of two things. 1.  He did not climb in my lap while I was driving to steal the sandwich and 2.  He did not drool on my cell phone.  I let him lick my fingers when I was done and then gave him a slice of apple.  I will not be bringing peanut butter again.

The snow held off, mostly.  About 50 minutes from home, the flurries started.  20 minutes from home, the roads were pretty bad – icy and poor visibility.  We got home without too much delay. 

January 19, 2012:

Treatment 9:    My turn to drive in bad weather.  I didn’t leave quite early enough.  I thought the East side of the state would be in better condition.  I was wrong.  We were 10 minutes late.  I think we were forgiven because I happened to have brought cookies for the office.  The office has canvas paintings with purple and green paw prints on them.  In the middle is a logo for Paws of Hope.  Some of the paw prints are ‘signed’.  So I had made sugar cookies decorated with purple paw prints.

I am not sure if Arri is adjusting to the drugs or if they reduced the amount.  He does not need as much help walking to the car.  He still has jumping issues so I lift him in.  I have minimized the foraging in the car by filling his food bowl while he is in treatment.  As soon as he gets in, he sticks his head in the bowl.  Today he still climbed in the front and tried to eat any paper he could find.  I am now disciplining him for acting like a goat.