Sassy's Tripawd Journey

Today is Sassy’s one month ampuversary.  She is adjusting very well.  It is also 2 days after her first chemo appointment.  Still eating good and no nausea.  Have been keeping her confined away from Bosch, for the first few days after chemo.  The vet recommended it as most of the chemo residue is excreated the first 4 days after the chemo.  Still drinking more water, no problems with diarrhea (the vet said it was a possibility as that could be a side affect of the chemo.)

Sassy has not been on any kinds of meds for awhile.  Doing good getting around.  Back leg is getting stronger.

Well today we started chemo.  The first of 5 treatments of Carboplatin.  We also had CBC & x-rays done to know where we are since October.  All blood work came back great and lungs were CLEAR.  Which is great news.  Sassy spent all day at the vets so they could monitor her and make sure everything was going good.  Got the phone call about 2 pm that we could pick her up anytime.  Sassy was all waggles when we went to get her.   I noticed that she did drink a lot of water after coming home and pottied a lot more too (sure that is from all the water)  Next chemo is in 3 weeks Jan 2,2013.

Day before 1st chemo.  We made a fenced off area for Sassy while she needs to be kept away from Bosch while going potty.  Not sure exactly how long it is.  but I will include a picture. Kept Sassy up in the front to try her potty area out so she wouldn’t be so weirded out not being around Bosch for potty time.  She did use the area so that was good.  After keeping her more confined for a few days and not over doing it she seems to be doing a little better had a Rimadyl in the morning to help with some discomfort.  I don’t think she needs it all the time but just once in awhile.

I am kind of nervous about how the 1st chemo of Carboplatin will go.  Sassy has to be at the vets at 7:45- 8 am.

Here is what I call Sassy’s Chemo confinment pen.  I know it doesn’t look cold but it was really cold and it snowed this night.

Sassy actually came in at 3:30 am and got up on the bed and slept the rest of the night with me.  She hasn’t slept in the bed for such a long time it was nice having her back in “her” bed with me.  The little things after this amputation make me so happy and her too.  She loves a pig ear once in awhile and her scratchies and when she gets up on the bed she is so proud of herself and her little stubb of a tail waggles.

Today was my actual first day pretty much away from Sassy since her amputation.  She did great.  Called Dr Boyer and set up Chemo to start December 12, 2012.

Exciting day for us.  Sassy got up on the bed all by herself.  She used to sleep on the bed all the time and since the 2nd day of amputation she wouldn’t try to get up there because her leg (the rear one that was left) couldn’t support her yet getting up there.  But she did it and then she got up on the couch pretty much by herself.  I know its not much to get excited over but to me it was.  It was exciting to see her get up on “her bed” as she always too pretty much all of it.

Stitches came out.  This was not a good day for mom (me).  Sassy was doing really well.  When we got to the vet and waited for her to come in and check Sassy out.  We waited for a little bit.  The tech came and started to take Sassy stitches out.  When the vet finally came in and checked her out she also told us the pathology report came back.  It came back spindle cell Osteoscaroma.  I was praying and hoping this wasn’t the outcome.  Now that we know.  We know where we have to head for her treatments.  The vet is recommending 5 Chemo treatments 3 weeks aprat of Carboplatin.

The CANCER DIAGNOSIS SUCKS but we will beat it.  This I am certain.  I am still praying every day that it goes into remission and Sassy is healed.

Very busy day for everyone.  Sassy tried to run today.  She did pretty well but then decided she wasn’t going anywhere and just laid out in the sun for a long time.  Thank goodness it was warm out and not cold like it has been in the past.  She laid there until I had to go get the car and take her for a ride around the block and then help her in through the garage.  Very tiring day for her as everyone was around.

These 2 days pretty uneventful.    Sassy was uncomfortable, kept panting and walking back & forth on day 6.  So gave a tramadol and she relaxed and slept.

Day 7  Had to go into the office so I wasn’t really sure how Sassy was during the day.  She seemed pretty good spirits walked in the yard and then decided she wasn’t going anywhere until mom (me) went to get the car to bring her in.  Of course that meant a ride around the neighborhood that she loves to do.

Over all so far it has been a good recovery period for Sassy.

Today was the first fullday of no fentanyl patch.  Sassy did really well up until 1 pm.  She needed a Tramadol as she was whimpering.   Walked to our kennel yard and pottied down there.  Sassy didn’ t eat her breakfast in the morning but did eat her yogurt with her probiotics when I hand fed it to her.

Here is a picture of Sassy earlier in the year in her yard running (Just so you can see what I mean about her kennel yard)