Staffyluv

Good morning, I hope that Lucinda had a great weekend... I was thinking about her when I was cuddled up to the boofer last night... Jodie

Well said Erny... If it was not for DBS, I dare say that I would have lost the plot a while ago... She is a virtual library of information... I really could never thank you enough, Helen, for all you have done for Ollie and I. I love that pic of Lucinda... Is she sleeping in the one in your avatar? Jodie

Ahhh the lovely Lucinda has her very own thread... She is such a pretty girl. You are both a huge inspiration to us with our battle against this horrid disease... I keep a diary (only after you mentioned it once) of what is going on with Ollie and all his medication... Thankyou Jodie and Ollie dog

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Helen, no he is not on anything to protect his GI tract. He is on antihistamines at the moment as well as a broad antibiotic (just in case it was more than a histamine release). We just came home from a check up and our vet went all over him and we could only find the one lump now (that has to be good news - well that is how I am looking at it). He also decided to give Ollie his chemo. I am glad he did as Ollie has missed so many chemo doses and I believe this is why the new lump has formed. Our vet wants to change his chemo protocol to try and put him into remission again. I will wait until I have all the information on the drugs before I make a decision to prolong this sort of treatment. We had MacDonalds chicken nuggets for dinner last night - he woofed them down (naughty I know but a special treat now and then is good for the soul). And we had porridge with a little brown sugar for breakfast. No walks at the moment as his right legs are still a little lame (not too bad, just a small limp - usually when he gets up from resting). I miss our park walks together... Helen, how is Lucinda going? You really should start a thread about her - we would love to see pics and updates. This whole ride is so much easier being able to share it with others who know and or just care about the pooches. Cheers Jodie and Ollie dog

Hi Karen, I have been thinking of you and Wags - how are you going? Jodie

We had the locum vet the other day when we went up. Our vet called us this morning and suggested that Ollie's allery reaction was in fact a histamine release. That is what the Mast Cell tumours do - release histamine and it looks like an allergic reaction. I feel so much better after talking to him, he is such a great vet. He got back from his holiday with his family and when he saw that Ollie had been in, he was straight on the phone to see how he was. He thinks that chemo can go ahead today or tomorrow. He also wants to change the chemo drugs that Ollie is using becuase he has come out of remission before he has finished the full course of chemotherapy. Will update again after we see the vet today or tomorrow. Jodie

Chemo has been delayed yet again... He was supposed to have it yesterday but he came out in a rash all over his body and his eyes and ears were really red. He also had a temperature of 40.5. To top it off he is quite lame in his right front and rear legs - he started limping on them yesterday afternoon. I don't know what happened as he was fine on his walk yesterday, we walked for about 45 minutes and actually jogged for about 20 minutes. My little trooper is on so many tablets, he has his usuals as well as antihistamines and antibiotics (just in case it is an infection). The vet seems to think that he has either come into contact with something or injested something that has made him sick. He was so sick by the time that I got him to the vet yesterday that I was in tears. But after the antihistamine, he started to pick up straight away. So now we have to wait until after this course of tablets and have another blood test to see if he can have his chemo later next week. He still smiles, chats and wants to go for a walk everyday (no walks for at least one week because of the lameness). Hoping and praying for better news next week... Fingers crossed Jodie and Ollie dog

I have a stafford with a thyroid problem (the chemo ruined his thyroid gland) and now he is on medication for it... The T4 test was only about $120 and the meds cost about $15 per month and he is now losing weight... Perhaps show your vet exactly how much food you are giving her (take up a sample dinner), that way the vet can say for sure if you are feeding too much.... Carrot and zucchini are both very low in calories and really should not be a problem. Maybe there is too much mince. Mince is often high in fat contect, perhaps change to a leaner cut of meat... Good luck Jodie

No chemo again today. We have to wait until Wednesday (that is 2 weeks overdue again)... He went to the vet this morning and due to him being sick last night and his temp being up a little (only a bit - 38.9) and I am going away for a couple of days (he is with my oldest son) and the vet is going away, we decided that it was safest to wait until we are all back after the weekend. I feel terrible leaving him when he is a bit unwell - wish I could take him with me but I can't. I know my oldest son will take really good care of him but I still worry... He seems well in himself (apart from bringing up his dinner), he is great. We had a big walk this morning before we went to the vets and he romped around the long wet grass - sometimes he acts just like a puppy ;) The new lump has gone down - ever so slightly - but down ;) Will update again soon Have a happy Easter all Jodie and Ollie dog

All Natural Vet Care are at Russell Lea... Good luck J

Barbara and Sue at All Natural Vet Care... I cannot sing the praises of this group of vets highly enough. I am in Canberra and they are in Sydney and it is never too much trouble when I need to speak with them. They even call to see how the lad is going... Here is the link All Natural Vet Care Thinking of you and Wags Jodie

Just letting you know I am thinking about you and Wags. Hope you are both OK. Jodie

We are booking in for chemo today... Yes pampa, we will definitely look at increasing the holistic treatment if and when we stop the chemo... The lad had another outstanding weekend... Helping his dad and the landscaper move more dirt around the back yard (so he had another bath last night)... He amused himself for about 20 minutes chasing one of the big cockroaches that live outside under the pavers (ewww) - he would hold it under his paw and when it wriggled, he let it go and chased it... Then he would stomp on it until it wriggled under his paw again. Not my idea of fun but he had a good time. His thyroid meds have been changed since last week and I have noticed he is slowing a little on our walks (not much - but I notice every little thing with this lad). He is also panting a little more and earlier in the walk. I will bring this up with the vet today. Looks like our roller coaster is levelling out at the moment. Fingers crossed it stays like this... Helen, how is our Lucinda? Hoping she is feeling well Jodie and Ollie dog

Hugs to you Chrissy - he was a special boy... Jodie

I just wanted to add that DOL has been a wonderful support for me and Ollie. With some members that offer great advice and others emotional support (that we would be lost without)... So feel free to let it all out - you will be amazed at how the DOLer's come to your rescue, every time it gets to be a little too much... Hugs Jodie and Ollie

Oh Karen, my heart goes out to you and Wags - I am so sorry... Chemo rarely cures cancer in dogs, all it does is put them in a remission... They cannot recieve doses big enough to cure the cancer as they do not have the luxury of being able to have a bone marrow transplant like humans... But in saying that, Ollie has done really well. He does not get sick from the chemo. He gets sick when his immune system is low and he picks up other infections... I knew when I started this road with Ollie that he was never going to be cured - we just want him to be with us as long as we can have him... He is also being treated holistically by Sue at All Natural Vet care (Sydney). The ladies there are wonderful beyond words... If I had my time over, I don't think I would do anything differently. I think that the chemo and the holistic treatments (our wonderful vets are working together), complement each other really well... Lucinda (dogbesotted's) girl has only ever been treated holistically (same holistic vet as us) and she is still her 3 years later... You have plenty to think about with what is happening in your life at the moment. If you want to talk, PM me and I will give you my numbers. Big hugs to you and Wags, we will be thinking of you. Jodie and Ollie dog

Quick update today... No chemo again this week as the blood cell count is too low... Love this roller coaster The lad is really well (touch wood - dare I say it)... Bouncy and happy, having lots of walks... He is snoring his head off under my desk at the moment - the joys of having the pooch at work... Thanks again for all the good thoughts and wishes Jodie and Ollie

What is the latest on Wags - is he home yet? Jodie

That is pretty well what I wanted to say... My boy has mast cell cancer and we go to the vet twice a week for two weeks then we have a week off for chemo... I know it can be expensive but as a responsible animal owner, it really is the right thing to do... Hope your pooch has been to the vet and is feeling better Jodie

If it was my dog - I would take it to a vet... It may be a different type of skin infection than last time (just because it looks the same, does not mean it is).. Poor little buggar, so many of them suffer from skin complaints... Good luck Jodie

He is eating but being a bit fussy - that is OK, I figure if he is really hungry he will eat... Hope Wags gets to come home today... Jodie

I am so relieved that Lucinda is doing better... Fingers crossed for more prayers answered when we need it most... I think she needs her own thread, so all the wonderful DOLers can send her the same good luck that they send Ollie - it does appear to work... Every time he goes down hill a little, I let you all know and then he bounces back - gotta be all those good vibes coming our way I really do believe in the power of positive thoughts... We are not going to the park tonight as he has been helping (for want of a better word), his dad and the landscaper all day and he is absolitely filthy, so he just had a bath... But we are having roast lamb and veges (probably better for him)... Cheers Jodie

We have just spent yesterday and this morning doing what Ollie dog wants... Yesterday morning we went for our walk and he sniffed everything in town (twice)... Then we came home and had porridge with brown sugar for breakfast (yep, him too)... For lunch we had a couple of party pies and dinner was steak and kidney with some veges - I think he thought it was his birthday He rumbled with the boys, fought with the vacuum cleaner and moved all the dirt that the landscaper dug up (unfortunately back to where it was removed from ) - but he had fun... This morning we went for another walk, we even ran for about 15 minutes... We said hello to the old couple that we see on our weekday walks and he sat on the old mans foot like he always does. Then we came home and had cinnamon french toast with maple syrup.. At 8am he went out the back with his dad and they moved the dirt back to where it should be (he really needs a bath now...) Right now, he has the futon mattress on the floor, he is laying on my 3 pillows, under a doona fast asleep... This afternoon we are going to go to the park and have ocean master fish for dinner (he loves it)... Then we will come home and have a banana paddle pop for dessert... Little does he know that it all goes back to normal on Monday But it has been a great weekend He is well and eating and that is all that matters to me now - that he is happy... I did leave him for about 2 hours yesterday to go and buy a new mobile phone with a camera in it... Just so I can take more pics of him... Thanks all, will keep you all updated as the roller coaster continues... Hugs Jodie and Ollie dog xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Karen and Wags, It is good to hear that he is eating, that is always a good sign... Poor lad must have been missing you Karen... I have my fingers crossed for you that it is all good news that comes back... Hugs Jodie and Ollie dog

Perhaps she does not eat it because she does not like it - just like you don't like some foods... Jodie