Bevd

My own vet (not an oncologist) administered Darcy's chemo. He was a vet of many years experience and he had administered different types of chemo but not for bone cancer. However, he researched the protocols himself and he got himself fully clued up on how to work out the dose, how the administer the dose, what protective clothing to wear (you may recall those pics!), what to check for in follow ups etc etc. I think he spoke to an oncology specialist too, to make sure he was correct in what he'd learned. My only concern about your vet, from what you have written, is that he doesn't seem willing to do this same research - under his own steam. I think it's very wrong of him to make you the go between. I hope you can sort something out

It was around this time, four years ago, that I had to call the vet and arrange for you to set off to The Bridge. I know you're up there, looking down and playing the odd joke on us. Keep it up, norty boy 22nd May 2001 - 13th July 2005

I'd not give him anything, personally, until you've seen the vet. You don't want to mask the pain and therefore make him feel well enough to overdo things and you don't want to mask the pain before any vet visit or else the vet won't get a clear indication of what the issue is. Hope he gets better soon!

If you did something wrong, it means a lot of us did something wrong. But in reality, we know it doesn't work that way. I'm very sorry to hear of Cuz's diagnosis and I wish him and his people lots more happy times

I think Darcy lost about 3 or 4 pounds....but then gained much more than she lost due to the high fat diet We joked with our vet that it's typical of Darcy to weigh a lot more on 3 legs than she ever did on 4

No wayyyyyy (thats what I said out loud when I saw the title anyway) But, as others have said, clean margins sounds like a good thing. Thinking all good thoughts

Very glad that the surgery is done. Sending lots of good thoughts for the joruney ahead

All good thoughts coming from here

And another vote for an immediate x-ray. Don't allow the vet to prescribe medication and to come back in a few weeks. Explain that you want an x-ray done straight away. Sending best wishes

So true.

It seems to be an insect bite or similar Jeeeez

We're off to the vets in 20 minutes. *breathe*

Poppy is now back at home and is very delighted to be here. At least I think she is. It's hard to tell as she is not actually speaking to me She ate a small chocolate brownie (as did everyone else) as a homecoming celebration (I got them for me in Co-op near the vets but they were vile so I donated them to the dogs) and then she had a big drink, did a wee and went to bed. She's had a little bit of dinner but I think she might be a bit overwhelmed and not in the mood for eating dinner (or maybe she's holding out for another brownie...) so I'll offer it to her again later this evening. The vets found that her larynx are fine and it's definately her trachea which is problematic. However, she's much better than she was when she went into the vets on Saturday and she's come home with antibiotics to finish and some of the bronchiodilator which she was started on over the weekend (Millophyline). She'll be checked again on Saturday afternoon. Thank you ALL for your kind thoughts and good wishes for Poppy. They seem to have done the trick and got our girl home again

All good thoughts coming from here

Firstly - Buddys lumpoid seems to be of the fatty variety so we're just going to keep an eye on it (phew). Poppy can come home this afternoon. Now then, someone sack me as a dog owner because when I got the diagnosis (months ago) of larangeal paralysis, what I actually meant to take on board was tracheal collapse instead The two conditions are seperate. This is tracheal collapse (link includes a surgical photo part way down the page) http://vetsurgerycentral.com/tracheal_collapse.htm So anyway, just to clarify matters and see if any more light can be shed, Poppy is going to have a mild sedative and both vets are going to have another look down her throat. She'll be able to come home later this afternoon When we were there with Bud this morning, I went down to the 'ward' to see Poppy and she was sulking when I spoke to her I told her that I'll be back later to collect her and she snorted and went back to sleep. Charming

Just spoke to the vet (who was eating her breakfast ) and Poppy has settled a lot and is much better than she was. The fact is that she'll not ever be 'fixed' but she's stable and she's eating and as long as she remains this way, she can come home in the morning (when we take Buddy in to be looked at because I found a lump on her yesterday ).

Vet nurse called. They are wanting to continue with the medications etc so will be keeping Poppy again today and overnight. I'm going to phone at teatime. I've said that I don't mind her staying there if we're likely to be making any inroads into getting her 'better' but if that's not going to happen, I don't want Poppys final days to be at the vets and would rather bring her home. This is what I'll be sorting out when I phone them later.

I just picked up the phone to call the vets and the nurse was there on the end of the line because she had called me at exactly the same time Anyway, the update is that Poppy ate her dinner last night and had a settled night. They've had her out for a walk around the hospital this morning and she does still get breathless but not as bad as she was yesterday morning. The debate is still on as to whether Poppy will come home today. If she's not coming, we'll go and visit her. I'll get another call from the vets sometime after 12, with another update.

Sorry for the delay in updating (new computer is being a pain in the rear) I spoke to the vet just after 7pm and Poppy was still quite settled. There wasn't much to report really and it's hard to get concrete answers, which I understand. I think the vet is wary of saying "oh yes she'll be home tomorrow" when in reality, it could all still go pear shaped. So, the way we left it was with the vet saying that there is currently nothing to worry about but that she doesn't want us getting too excited. Make of that what you will... I've arranged to phone tomorrow morning and we'll formulate a plan at that point. Thanks for all the good thoughts

Our little Poppy has taken a turn for the worse today and is at the vets. Poppy has found our recent hot weather very hard to deal with. We got through the week with all manner of cold and cooling things (cold towels, water sprays, ice lollies, ice cream, mini milks ....) and we were very pleased when the weather finally turned cooler yesterday. However (and quite ironically), she was very unwell this morning and was obviously in some discomfort, one way or another so we took her to see the vet just after 11am. Poppy had a moderately high telperature of 103 degrees and she was tender at the back part of her abdomen but the worst thing was her panting. She was given an antibiotic, a painkiller and a bronchial dilator and we were going to bring her home to monitor for 24 hours but as we were chatting to the vet, Poppy had a bit of a funny do and it was decided that she'd stay at the vets and have some oxygen therapy whils they waited for the medications to start working (if they were going to work). I've just phoned to see how she's doing and apparently Poppy didn't fancy having oxygen (she wasn't in a fit state to be sedated and she wouldn't let them insert nasl tubes and nor would she tolerate an oxygen mask). The drugs however do seem to have kicked in after about an hour and a half and she is currently settled. I've asked the vet to get her out of the cage and walk her around for a short time to see if this makes her go funny again (because we can get her settled at home but then even a toilet visit to the garden can make her pant again). They are going to do this shortly and then phone me. If, having been out of her crate, she still remains stable, I'm hoping that they will do the ultrasound scan to see what the issue is within her abdomen. If she doesn't remain stable, we have a big problem. Please can you send 'remain stable' thoughts for Poppy Our little Poppy has taken a turn for the worse today and is at the vets. Poppy has larangeal paralysis and she's found the hot weather very hard to deal with. We got through the week with all manner of cold and cooling things (cold towels, water sprays, ice lollies, ice cream, mini milks ....) and we were very pleased when the weather finally turned cooler yesterday. However (and quite ironically), she was very unwell this morning and was obviously in some discomfort, one way or another so we took her to see the vet just after 11am. Poppy had a moderately high telperature of 103 degrees and she was tender at the back part of her abdomen but the worst thing was her panting. She was given an antibiotic, a painkiller and a bronchial dilator and we were going to bring her home to monitor for 24 hours but as we were chatting to the vet, Poppy had a bit of a funny do and it was decided that she'd stay at the vets and have some oxygen therapy whils they waited for the medications to start working (if they were going to work). I've just phoned to see how she's doing and apparently Poppy didn't fancy having oxygen (she wasn't in a fit state to be sedated and she wouldn't let them insert nasl tubes and nor would she tolerate an oxygen mask). The drugs however do seem to have kicked in after about an hour and a half and she is currently settled. I've asked the vet to get her out of the cage and walk her around for a short time to see if this makes her go funny again (because we can get her settled at home but then even a toilet visit to the garden can make her pant again). They are going to do this shortly and then phone me. If, having been out of her crate, she still remains stable, I'm hoping that they will do the ultrasound scan to see what the issue is within her abdomen. If she doesn't remain stable, we have a big problem. Please can you send 'remain stable' thoughts for Poppy (This pic was taken last week when Poppy fell asleep on her 'pot' which had contained a mini milk and some water) Further update:- They let her trundle around the hospital ward for a while and then put her back to bed. She did pant but not as bad as she was earlier and she settled down quickly once she was back in bed. The nurse just said that they've offered her a bowl of Chappie but Poppy is just peering at it I've said they need to add water and mix to a sloppy mess and then she may eat it. If not, they will need o add ice cream. The nurse giggled. I wasn't joking The thinking at this time is that the ultrasound will wait till tomorrow and that Poppy will stay at the vets overnight for continued monitoring and more drugs if necessary. I've said that I will call again early evening for an update.

Maddison had them (diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy), Darcy had them as a youngster but seems to have grown out of them and Striker has them - although he has not had any for a few months. With Striker, he has had two clear bouts of tremors and both times was when he was running an infection somewhere. Once was his teeth and once was an upset tummy. Strangely though, when he had a urine infection recently, it didn't trigger any tremors.

I'm so sorry Clare Sleep tight lovely Maggie

Well done Cosmo (Although I'm sure your Mother looks a bit like this :!! )

I can't advise re stairs as our gang don't go upstairs unless its for a bath (and Darcy refused to even contemplate our stairs when she had 4 legs never mind 3....but amazinly she will doany number of steps in the park ) but regarding walks. I think a gentle walk might be worth trying, just to keep Cosmo's spirits up and give her something else to think about rather than her home environment. Because Darcy was such a dreadful patient (as we've discussed) we were advised on day four, to take her out to her normal walking location (in the car) and just let her do as much as she would - which turned out to be virtually nothing more than lay on the grass and eat 'salad' but it did do her good mentally.