Jan 6 Eat puppy, Eat!

This morning I didn't force Arri to get out of bed with everyone else.  He would get up when he needed to.  It was not long after everyone was fed that he did get up and go to the door.  He seemed to have some energy so I was hopeful about breakfast.  Boy was I wrong.  He completely turned his nose up at turkey and rice.  He also refused:  cooked egg, dry kibble, canned kibble, cold chicken and much to my amazement - peanut butter on bread.  He took one bite and not another of:  baby carrot, meatloaf, bread and yogurt.  The only thing he would eat happily was Old Mother Hubbards Classic biscuits.  The goof ball will only eat cookies for breakfast.  Since it was the only thing he would touch, I gave in and he got a handful.    I am hopeful that as the day goes on, he will take something of a bit more nutrition.  He always loved popcorn so during the football games, I will see if he will eat some - no salt added.

Oregon and Summer are never far away when
Arri is getting his mini meals hand fed to him.

I was briefly encouraged after church when Arri gladly accepted a piece of hamburger and a chunk of canned food.  When the other 3 dogs went to the park, I fixed Arri a bowl.  He turned his nose up at it.  I gave him a few more cookies and he ate them.  Tim took him for a short trip to the park.  He really wanted to go.  He didn't go far but he enjoyed the trip.  While there, he ate a few carrots and 2 handfuls of kibble.  So I think now we know the game he is playing.  Some food still doesn't appeal to him but what food he will eat must be hand fed to him.  Well, if that is what it takes, we will do it.  Really small amounts of food seem to be better anyway.  If he eats to big a bite or too much at once, he starts coughing.

With all the trial and errors on food, the other 3 garbage disposals will be very happy with their dinners.  They will split what Arri refuses to eat.

Jan 5 Arri has trained me well.

After refusing breakfast, I went to the store for chicken and rice to make for Arri for lunch.  I didn't want to start him on special food just yet but he does need to eat something.

Around 1:00 I gave him a small meal of chicken and rice.  He only ate part of it.  Every time I walk through the kitchen, I grab a piece of kibble or biscuit and he eats those pretty quick.  Since he is not eating or drinking much I am not making him go outside.  As soon as he went to the door on his own, I jumped up and let him out.  I was so happy he was motivated enough to move.  He did what he needed to do and all was good.  Dinner was more chicken and rice.  Now this is how quickly Arri trained me.  Yes, he is already getting an extra meal and it is special food.  But now I am not even making him get up to eat.  I brought his dinner to him and let him lay down while eating.  Spoiled dog?  Maybe a little.  He managed to telepathically convince me to give him a bite of my bread with peanut butter on it.

I believe his lethargy and disinterest in food is a side effect of the chemo.  The doctors certainly did not give me an imminent end attitude.  Still, i touch his paw or scratch his ears often enough to annoy him.  And at the moment, Tim or I has to be at the house with him.  No reason other than I just don't want to leave him alone.

Annie replied to Arri's e-mail today.  What I didn't mention before is that Annie is also very close to the end. Her illness is slightly different but she was in the hospital at the same time as Arri with fluid in her lungs too. They took slightly different routes in getting there, but they are on the same road to the Rainbow Bridge now.  Arri was hoping to get there first so he could prepare the place for her and show her around but it may happen the other way around.  Everything Arri and I go through we think of Annie and her mom and pray for them.

Jan 5 Home!!!!

It was only 2 days at the MSU Vet hospital but it was a very long two days.

I'll start with yesterday.  Around 11:30 am, The oncologist called to review Arri's condition.  He was eating well and in high spirits.  He is such a flirt, I don't doubt he was having fun despite all the needles and tests.  The good news was that the mass on his liver did not appear to be cancer.  The bad news was that all the rest of the masses were.  In addition, they were at a fairly advanced stage.  Arri had chest x-rays and ultrasounds back in September and was declared clean.  So all of this has grown and spread in less than 4 months.

Checking out at MSU:
Hey mom!   Do you see the cookie jar by your elbow?
Those are for me!!  gimme one

As far as treatment, we have two choices.   A chemo injection that is repeated every 3 weeks.  It can also be injected right into the mass in the chest for more specific treatment.  The other treatment was an oral chemo that is taken 3 days a week at home.  Since time is a factor I chose to go with the injection.  There may be more side effects because the dose is higher but it also may be more effective in the short term.  We did not even talk about radiation.  They have to sedate him for that and his lungs are already compromised.

I picked up Arri at 4:00 on Jan 4.  He was happy and playing the 'I'm disabled' game.  They were using the sling with him.  I met the Oncologist and then we walked over to check out.  I didn't use the sling and Arri was fine.  The Dr thought that was pretty funny and was impressed with his attitude considering he is fairly sick.

The drive home was quiet.  He is breathing much easier.

Arri teaching Freckles the proper way to watch my back.

Once home, he was inspected by the other dogs.  Oregon was a bit pushy but never knocked him down.  It didn't take long to notice he was feeling weak.  His rear end was riding low when he walked.   A side effect of the chemo - at least for a few days.   Inside the house, I sat at the computer and he immediately was back to work, guarding my back.  He must have been training his successor because Freckles the cat, Summer and Glamis were close by him.  Yep, Oregon was in the other room killing a toy.

I lifted him onto the sofa but he seemed fidgety.  Like he couldn't get comfortable.  Possibly because he was pinned by two other dogs.  He needs a bit more space now.   Last night everyone was in the kennel except Arri.  He only had to share the bed with me.  Even then, he wanted his own space and not my space.  He did seem to have a good night.

This morning, he didn't get off the bed until I picked him up and moved him.  He had no interest in breakfast. Yes, this concerned me ALOT.  The hospital said he was eating fine.  I took a deep breath and remembered he just had a big chemo shot and nausea can be a side effect.  He ate a baby carrot and a piece of pupperoni but turned his nose up at a banana.  i won't force him to eat with special food just yet as it may just be the chemo.  I will offer him a bunch of small meals during the day - chicken and rice is always a winner.

Jan 4 A letter to Annie

This morning I found this letter in my e-mail from Arri to his girlfriend Annie.  Annie is a month or so  younger than Arri and they cyber grew up together.  They have never met but have been long distance sweethearts since the beginning.  



Hey Sweet Annie

It's Arri.  I'm going to be moving to the Rainbow Bridge soon.  I am still in the hospital but mom is coming to get me today whether they like it or not.  She is upset that I am two hours away so she has not been able to come to see me every day.  I have been doing ok but this morning I woke up breathing a little harder.  My heart heart has been declared perfect but then I already knew that.  Our lab hearts are pure love, nothing wrong with that.  It is rest of me that is breaking down.  I have nodules in my lungs, masses on my liver and kidneys and there is a mass in my chest cavity.  Today I am being transferred to an Oncologist to see if there is any medicine to shrink the lump in my chest.  It is a good thing mom talked to the 'real' doctor last night.  The student dr she talked to this morning upset her because she didn't know what was going on.  She tried to tell mom that oncology might not see new patients on Fridays.  But mom kept her cool because she already knew the reason I was not going home was because oncology would see me right away if I was transferred.  If I had come home and tried to get an appointment, we wouldn't get in until next week.   Mom has not given up but we know that time is running short.   As I am typing this, the student oncologist called and said the 'real' oncologist will call in a little bit but the plan is to start a chemo treatment and go home for the weekend.  They reported that I am happy and comfortable.   She believes them but having me so far away and dealing with different doctors everyday is taking it's toll on her.  She will be 100 times better once she comes to get me because my happy butt is just what she needs. 

I'll keep you posted on how I am doing.  You take care of yourself and don't catch what I have.  It scares our moms.

Licks, wags, wiggles and LOVE from 

Arri

Jan 3 Road Trip

Yesterday, Arri just wasn't co-operating.  Doc said he did well but could not remove enough fluid to get a clear x-ray.  From this we had 2 options.  We can go with 2 days of diuretics while waiting for results from the tests.  The fluids drained from his chest can be tested to see what the source is.  After 2 days, we would do more x-rays and hope they are clear enough to see something.  Depending on those results, we either make a plan of action or we need to go to a specialist to try different test methods.  Option 2 was just to go straight to the specialist.  We chose option 2.  I had already delayed treatment over the holiday, I wasn't waiting any longer.

On the road again....

 There wasn't much point to delaying the trip until today.  So at 4:00, Tim and I gathered up Arri, Oregon, tubes of fluids, dvd of x-rays, maps and reading materials and started the road trip. We could not get an actual appointment but they have a 24 hour ER so that was where we went.  It is 2+ hours to get to the MSU Vet School hospital.  Arri traveled comfortably and based on his pee - the diuretics were working.

We arrived around 6:30 and I was pretty pleased from the start.  Within two minutes, two Senior Vet students were out meeting us and Arri.   They took our information, history etc and then took Arri to the back for an exam.  At this point Arri seemed a bit perkier just from having the fluid drained.  Once they took him to the back we didn't see him again.  We were asked more questions and then the 'real' doctor came in after having reviewed what the students learned and made sure they had all the information.  We were there about an hour.  Checking out, Oregon had to make sure everyone knew just how cute he was.  He did an 'UP' on the counter and then laid his head down to show just how cute he could be.  Yep - it got him two biscuits.  Sadly, no discount on the bill but I guess a free dessert.

I am so grateful for my Smartphone and Google maps.  We did not have reverse directions to get home and I managed to get us turned in the wrong direction.  It was only a slight detour through Lansing before we got back on the right road.  We were home by 10.

At 11:30 pm, we got a call just letting us know Arri was doing well, resting comfortably and that more fluids were drained and everything was being tested.

8:30 am, a student vet calls to introduce herself and let us know she has checked on Arri and he is doing well.  She said Arri is a sweet dog and very silly.  He must be feeling a little better as he is up to his old tricks.  She said he pretends he can't walk and they need to help the poor tripod (my wording).  He tried but they are on to his scam.  The Dr is on rounds so I don't get any information at this point but they will call later.

1:00 p.m.  Dr Lisa calls.  They have some results but at the same time, no results.  The cystology came back with 'probable' cancer cells in the fluid.  The x-rays showed small nodules in his lungs and a mass in his chest cavity.  Nothing definite on what it is.  They are going to do a belly ultrasound to check for other masses and do some aspirating to see what they learn.  Arri has so many fatty tumors (lipomas) that (wishful thinking) it could be benign.  There is also the RARE chance that it is fungal in nature.  Pathetic as it is, I bit on that piece of hope.  Arri was exposed to a fungus.  Back in October, the second mass we had removed from Summer - turned out to be a fungal infection.  I suggested that she contact Dr. Mike about that possibility.  I know it is a long shot but i have to keep trying.  I read two devotionals yesterday and they both were about not giving up.  It wasn't a coincidence.

So, Arri will not be coming home tonight - or not likely.  They will call again later to let me know about the ultrasounds.

Oregon's making faces again.

2:30 Jan 2...waiting

I have one report back from the vet and it was not good.  There was so much fluid in Arri's chest that the x-ray was white.  He couldn't even find his heart.  The next step was to do a chest tap and try to drain some fluid via needles.  Still waiting to hear how that went.

I keep getting freaked out thinking my boy is here.  Sitting at the desk, he always has my back.  Today, there is a stupid white polar bear toy in the middle of the room and each time I see it out of the corner of my eye, I think it is Arri.

Arri's got my back.

Jan 2, 2013 (Not so) Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Arri!!

It has been awhile since our last post.  So little has been happening and that was a good thing.  Unfortunately, we start the new year off with uncertain news.

Naturally things have to happen over a weekend and just for good measure, lets throw in a holiday.  Arri started coughing on Saturday the 29th.  I wasn't concerned because this had happened before and goes away after a few days.  Coughing leads to gagging with an occasional fainting spell.  By Monday, he was breathing shallower and tiring easier.  The vets office was closed for the holiday and I wasn't ready to take him to the emergency vet.  It just seemed like a winter cold.

New Years day brought a bit more concern.  Arri was not first in line for food.  He has stopped telling me what time it was a few months ago.....(follow the rabbit trail).....   we have noticed more 'senior' moments.  Not hearing or seeing as well.  Seeming to forget why he went into a room or outside. It all goes with the aging process.  The hard part is to distinguish between normal and take him to the vet.  ......(back on track)   but he still would be first in line when I got up to feed them.

 Jan 2:   Arri was coughing quite a bit last night and I had to encourage him out of bed this morning.  He was ready to get up but seemed cautious about jumping off the bed.  I guess for good reason, boy did he have a wipe out.   Poor guy.  Time to start helping him off the bed as well as on.  He was last to his food bowl and walked away 1/2 way through.   Without question, something is not right.  Arri never walks away from food.  He went outside and toileted fine and finished his breakfast after he came in.

Dr Mike was able to see us this morning.  The thought has crossed my mind of cancer in the lungs or other such place but I am still holding out hope for antibiotics and go home. The concept that never crossed my mind was congestive heart failure.  After listening to his breathing, that was the first thing out of the Drs mouth.  Of course, cancer was also a prospect.  So much for antibiotics.  Arri is currently hanging out at the Dr  for x-rays, ekg, blood work etc.  We will know in a few hours what the next step is.


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