Unwell Rotties

[kiahzen]

Hang in there CnR... It's a tough journey i know but you are being very brave for your girl and keep it up you are wonderfull and i know that Sohpie is very lucky to have a Mum like you....

Big hugs to you both....

[Chell]

CavNrott you could perhaps invent some new games to play with Sophie at home for a little gentle stimulation if she isnt up to running and fetch. A game Ive played with mine is you get a heap of containers and hide yummy treats under a few of them and get the dog to sniff it out and by tipping the container over when they sniff it they get the reward. Or you could teach her a couple of new tricks for fun and this might help you a little too by giving you a little escape mentally from remembering medication routines etc and we all get that happy feeling when we teach our furkids a new trick and she will feel this from you too not just your sadness.

[Vonasche]

I would like to Thank everybody for their kind words on Zed's passing, they were very much appreciated and a comfort at such a sad time.

[Bilbo Baggins]

cavNrot. Hope all is as well as possible with you and Sophie and the other kids.

[oonga]

cavNrott,

It would be very odd if you were not feeling down!!

When you say that it is all about Sophie,

well i have to disagree with you there.

You guys are a team, so really this is about you all!!!

and yes that includes YOU.

you need to be able to explore some of your feelings and express them!

you certainly can't be beating yourself up for feeling down!

I agree with Chell, let Sophie comfort you if you need it, it will surely make her feel valued as well

if there is anything i can do to help you please let me know.

in the mean time a BIG hug to you ALL!!!

[Staffyluv]

Thanks to all again who are thinking of Sophie and sending her best wishes.

She's about the same today, fairly quiet but comfortable. I wish I could drive her somewhere to sit quietly with me but she's an inquisitive dog an sitting quietly is not in her repertoire. She'd be off, sniffing and running around. She loves new smells and new places and she still feels well enough to explore. Keeping her anchored to me would frustrate her.

Her immune system is compromised so she'd pick up any bug going around. Oncologist has told me to keep her home but I want her to have some fun. I'll take the advice until we find out what the problem is with her liver. She's pain free but there's more to quality of life, surely. I'd walk her if I wasn't afraid she'd pick up a bug and feel sicker than she already is.

Thanks dandydog. I'll have a look at the website. I have to run everything that Sophie has past the oncologist. She wants a list of everything and doesn't want me to introduce anything new unless she approves it. I guess it has to do with all the medication. She's always contactable by phone which is great.

Chell thanks for your comments. I have doubts...often, that I'm doing what she needs. I do what I think she needs and just hope I get it right. Now that natural meds have been added, her medication routine is different and I second guess myself all the time.

This is about Sophie, not me, but I'm feeling really depressed this week. I'm so lucky to still have her but my sadness is overwhelming me in the last few days.

Morning sunshine.

Dealing with a dog with cancer is without doubt one of the most difficult things I have had to do in my life - unlike humans, they can't tell us where it hurts or even if it is hurting.

As their owners we question ourselves, almost on a daily basis, of whether we are doing the right or wrong thing, would it be kinder to let them go, should we hold out just a few more days to see if they pick up - there are so many more questions than answers.

However, they continue to surprise us every day, with their will to live and love us back. Their loyalty is unfaltering - which is why we continue to do everything in our power to keep them as well as we can.

Ollie's immune system was compromised on numerous occasions too, but our vet continued to live by the, 'it is all about quality of life now, not quantity'. We used to take Ollie to places like the local park or down to the river (he can't swim but he did like to lay on the edge of the water). I don't regret for one minute the times I took him out, even after the oncologist suggested it was risky - he enjoyed it too much to keep him confined all the time. He used to come home exhausted and often not eat dinner because he just wanted to sleep but it was worth it to see that staffy smile. I know not everyone is prepared to take the risks that I have with Ollie but we all we can do, is what we think is the right thing for our own dogs.

Keep your chin up CnR, you are doing the very best for Sophie and she knows it.

Give her a big hug

Jodie

[cavNrott]

Jodie you are so right. We nursed my MIL at home when she was dying of cancer. Though it was sad we did have verbal battles due to her flat refusal at times to take medication so some annoyance and frustration was involved.

Nursing a loved dog is so emotionally draining because they can't tell us what they need and how they feel. Dogs are so innocent and trusting and never complain. Sophie calmly complies with whatever we need to give her or do to her without any fuss. Dogs put their complete trust in us.

You're right about there being more questions than answers. I second guess myself all the time with Sophie's treatment. I just counted out her tablets she has with her dinner....there are 10 of them and that's not counting the ones she had this morning. My poor girl. She feels well today so we've had a few games of fetch and we're both feeling a bit brighter.

I was walking her against advice until this liver problem was discovered. I'll wait until she has an ultrasound to find out whether it's caused by the meds or metastasis before I take her out again. I don't want to complicate any issues before we get past this hurdle, if we are to get past it.

I just told her it's time for dinner and she's very enthusiatic about it so I'd best go and feed her.

[Staffyluv]

You are doing a great job with her CnR, just keep doing what you are doing.

Glad to hear she is hungry. Ollie is not eating again tonight, he is a bit flat again but he will bounce back as soon as I offer him a walk in the morning.

Hugs to the boofer

Jodie

[cavNrott]

You are doing a great job with her CnR, just keep doing what you are doing.

Glad to hear she is hungry. Ollie is not eating again tonight, he is a bit flat again but he will bounce back as soon as I offer him a walk in the morning.

Hugs to the boofer

Jodie

Thanks Jodie. Sophie has had a great appetite all along. I tried the diet you recommended tonight, she loved it and ate it all without my assistance. I went to Macro and bought all her organic stuff.

She really loves the mashed sweet potatoe.

I hope Ollie picks up again quickly....He's amazing

Edited March 8, 2008 by cavNrott

[oonga]

Staffyluv,

I hope Ollie is feeling better again this morning

cavNrott,

That is awesome that Sophie ate on her own

BIG hugs to Ollie and Sophie!

Wolfgirl,

I hope Pearl is starting to feel better as well and that you have some sort of diagnosis!!

[Kaz]

CavnRot - love and hugs and cuddles for you and Sophie from Xander, Paddy and me.

Hang in there girl

[Staffyluv]

Isn't it great that we can share all the ideas of how our pets are treated to help each other.

So glad to hear that she liked the sweet potato - Ollie is stuck on it and has been for quite a while now but the vet said if that is what he wants, then give it to him... He does have other veges mixed in as well but I would say that half is sweet potato at the moment.

He picked up again this morning - enough to go for a walk in the park. Thanks for asking.

All the best

J

[cavNrott]

Thanks for the good wishes for Sophie.

Jodie, I mashed the sweet potato and fried slices of zuccini in grape seed oil and she had it with minced beef. She loved it. I made chicken stock from bbq chicken bones and put some in her meal. Soft food's easier for her. She was BARF fed so I see why she likes cooked food.

Going to Macro tomorrow to get more organic food for her. I've been feeding her cottage cheese with Flaxseed oil and read on a USA cancer dog site about Quark being better than Cottage Cheese for cancer dogs. I'd never heard of it but they have it at Macro so I got some along with some organic yoghurt. She likes all the organic stuff, I wonder if she knows it's good for her.

She had a quiet day, it was hot. Tonight when we were outside she was playbowing to entice Faith to chase her. Faith's a bit old for that but she was up for a game of fetch. I haven't seen Sophie play bow for ages.

I discovered a lump on her side, just under her ribs. It doesn't feel like a lipoma. It's recent because I check her daily for anything new. Not a good sign.

I hope Ollie is getting stuck into his food again. Would he eat if you fed him an hour or so before his walk? I'm learning that cancer tires them out quickly. Hope it's their system fighting the disease.

Hugs to you and Ollie and to Wolfgirl and Pearl.

[hortfurball]

Just dropping in to let you guys know I'm thinking of you and your dogs.

I didn't realise how many sick rotties there were until I read Shek's thread

My heart goes out to all of those with sick dogs, stay strong.

My condolences to those who've already lost their much loved friends.

[Wyhldher]

A roller coaster thread - proof of courage, dedication, and that wondrous bond of love. Deepest condolences to those who earth-loved, and now angel-love Tyson and Zed. Strength and white light to all others at the coal face - I find it hard to read, let alone deal with it as you do; with your heroic hearts and endless care and compassion. Special thoughts to Sophie whose progress has been watched from afar; with great admiration for all that you know and do for her Anne. Blessings to all who find support here - it's a dreaded for journey everyone who's ever loved. You're all incredibly amazing. In these stressful and heartbreaking times, be proud of how beautifully, and well you love those who love you back.

:rofl:

[shekhina]

We used to take Ollie to places like the local park or down to the river (he can't swim but he did like to lay on the edge of the water). I don't regret for one minute the times I took him out, even after the oncologist suggested it was risky - he enjoyed it too much to keep him confined all the time. He used to come home exhausted and often not eat dinner because he just wanted to sleep but it was worth it to see that staffy smile.

This is how I am doing things also. Jaida went out the other day to the river and she loved it. She was tired that night and the next day, but she was running around down there and had a big grin on her face and that's what this is all about...giving them the best time they can have.

She's having another quiet day today, but she's still eating really well and seems comfortable and the heat knocks all the dogs around a bit as well.

Anne, I am also finding other lumps on Jaida. She has a small one on her foot and a slightly larger one on her neck now too just behind her ears.

I hope Sophie is doing well today and I hope you are feeling much better also

[Bilbo Baggins]

cavNrott I hope Sophie does oaky this wekk as its predicted to be so hot. Keep cool :)

[cavNrott]

This is how I am doing things also. Jaida went out the other day to the river and she loved it. She was tired that night and the next day, but she was running around down there and had a big grin on her face and that's what this is all about...giving them the best time they can have.

I would love to take Sophie out but there is a diagnosis to be made on the 20th of this month. It's important to find out the cause of her liver problem. I don't want to muddy the waters of the tests by taking a risk of her contracting a virus or bacterial infection and spiking a temperature, thus getting us way off track.

There's a decision to be made about whether or not she stops the chemo drug. She'll also have an ultrasound. If it's the drug causing the liver problem then we stop it and the cancer will progress rapidly. If this is the case I'll walk her again but at this stage I won't risk messing with her tests.

I want it all for Sophie. For me is isn't all about a good time but quantity as well as quality. She's a happy, vibrant dog who enjoys life whether or not she gets walked. The oncologist keeps me fully informed of all test results and on Sophie's progress and of any problems that crop up that I would otherwise be unaware of. I am also assured she will be kept pain free for the time she has left.

I base my decisions on what I think Sophie would want. I think she would choose to stay home for a couple of weeks if it means she can hold onto life for longer. She's not ready to go yet and I'm not ready to give up on her yet.

Thanks to all who are wishing Sophie well and posting their encouragement to me. It helps me so much.

Edited March 10, 2008 by cavNrott

[oonga]

cavNrott,

You just keep doing what you are doing!

you know Sophie better than us, better than the oncologist better than ANYONE else!!!!

you know what is right for her in your heart!

now go and give each other a big hug on my behalf

[cavNrott]

cavNrott,

You just keep doing what you are doing!

you know Sophie better than us, better than the oncologist better than ANYONE else!!!!

you know what is right for her in your heart!

now go and give each other a big hug on my behalf

Thanks oonga :rolleyes:

I will keep doing what I'm doing for the time being because I trust the oncologist completely.

She knows this disease far better than I would ever want to know it. She's become very fond of Sophie because she's always so happy and easy to deal with. She lost her own Rottweiler (also called Sophie) to osteosarcoma. That's why she decided to specialise in oncology.

Sophie is having do make do with car rides until we get these tests done. She loves car rides and we can go out on the hot days with the airconditioning on so she's not totally confined to barracks.

Hugs shared all round from you