XTRAWLD

Thank you.

Forgive me for the long tribute. This will likely be the only place I will chronicle the most vivid memories of my 10 years of doggership, and I’ve made it as compact as possible. When we got our first house, we got Kasey shortly after. It had a fabulous yard, actually that was pretty much the only thing that was great about the house! Boy, did he ever tear up the grass. He didn’t do circular zoomies, rather he would a straight line rush to one end, turn on a dime and rush back. One turn on a dime occasion resulted in a busted nail. Took him to the vet who gave it a big yank without so much as a small controlled inner yelp from him. We realized then that he was an extremely tough-as-nails greyhound. Stoic doesn’t really describe it. He just seemed to have an incredibly high pain tolerance. He would often talk to squirrels out there, that would just cackle at him high in the trees because he was out there having fun. He stood at the base of the tree and would look up wondering what their problem was, he was just a grey loving life, and doing what he was born to do – run. He would signal his intention about wanting to go outside by “tinking” the doorhandle with his nose. After doing his thing and letting him back in, he would run across the kitchen floor, jump into the living room and completely full out fly onto the carpet with an incredible slide and swoop with the stupidest grin on his face aimed at whoever was sitting in the room to announce that he did his duty outside and that he was now inside, “Look at me!” Kasey wasn’t allowed on furniture, but we did allow him on our bed after a year of “breaking him in”. He would lay between us every night, NEEDING to touch one of us in some way throughout the night. His back, his feet, his butt. Countless times I was booted from the bed, or had to orient myself so my head was where my feet should have been, just so this king roacher would be comfortable…..he was also a brick house to move when he didn’t want to move, and at 3am it was easier for me to just move. Also at that house, my parents came for a visit, and my dad decided to nap on our bed. A few hours later, we realized that Kasey had disappeared. Where was he? You guessed it, snuggled up with my dad, breathing into his ear. What made this so funny? Never have my parents allowed a dog to sleep with them. I think my dad secretly enjoyed this cuddling session and would often talk about it as a fond memory. Kasey would never pass up a good nap with a person. If I fell asleep on the couch, he would be on his bed a foot beside me – he had to absolutely be in the same room, and that part wasn’t necessarily a nap thing. Gregarious and wanting constant company. If one of us left for more than 2 minutes, you knew he would be trotting to find us and hang out. If I was moving from room to room, and took too long, he’d get up and follow….and wait to see if I would settle somewhere always in the way too…..never a straight line walk in the house, nope. He geocached and hiked with us like it was nobody’s business. I remember very vividly walking a Bruce Trail with GPS in hand and as we got close, realized it was in a cave, across a gap in some rocks. Well there was just no way Kasey could go to the other side, so off hubby went, jumped the gap and went down some rocks looking for it. Because coordinates could be off in the thicker woods, I tried to look for it on “this” side of the gap. To do so, I tied Kasey to a nearby tree and told him to stay. And he did and was within eyesight of me. I moved about 10-15 feet searching between rocks for the cache, glancing up every few minutes to check on the white one. There he stood, awaiting our return, just staring at mom and dad way over there looking under rocks for some reason and not including him. I went a little deeper into the rockery, and after inspecting the area backed out of the space and took a glance at Kasey. He had figured out how to get the leash taut and said, “to hell with this holding me back” had begun to chew his way through the leash. We hurled bark at him from a distance to get him to stop until we could get closer. He ignored our futile attempts at distraction. As I was laughing, I bounded over and got him to stop, untied him from the tree and brought him a little closer to an area to keep looking. As long as he was by one of our sides, he could help us to look, but he couldn’t help from way over there I guess was his thinking. I still have that gnawed up leash…..he thankfully never made it all the way through. He did however refuse to cross certain structures, and always when there really was no alternative. A grated bridge or a ladder type turnstile, he was carried up and over. The champion hiker, just when you’d think he was done for the day, we’d stop to grab a quick cache on the side of the road and he’d be up ready to go again. He’d walk to the end of the earth with us, and for us. Born for it. He hated water, but made him a part of our adventures. Naturally, we put a lifejacket on him and put him in a boat. We lowered him into Georgian Bay near Beckwith Island and joined him in the water. We called him “torpedo in the water.” There was no attempt to move, he would list and we would hold him by the handle of the life jacket to keep him upright, tail straight out the back like a little rudder. It helped to cool him off on that summer day, but I think he hated us for the rest of that weekend. It’s ok, I call that the one time I’ve gotten back at him for being a pain in the butt for all the years I’ve had him. Our road trips involved him sticking his head out the windows, but he REALLY loved sticking his head out the sunroof. We took him camping, and more geocaching that really took us everywhere. While he was primarily an Ontario hound, we did make it into Quebec, where he got so excited he stood for four hours, and decided he couldn’t contain himself and pooped in the car. We could not pull over fast enough for him to exit and vacate the rest of his system on the side of a country road. After that, he laid down for most of the trip, but finally that trip was one that did him in. This greyhound that would never relax, was now finally spent 15 hours later. Quick excerpts include encountering fleas, which made me go into sheer panic throughout the house; one day I came home and he was so excited he smashed into a glass table, cutting himself very badly and bleeding all over the foyer of the house; he never really escaped the house much, except one time where he ran down along the sidewalk to his favourite spot to pee. I guess he just really had to go! We took him to a charity event (Relay for Life), countless Greyhound events and Meet and Greets. He is such a social butterfly, and so very good with people. We also took him to a palliative care unit to visit an ailing family member. It took us about 15 minutes to get to her room however, since everyone wanted to stop and pet Kasey. Talk to him, to us, being a great ambassadog. After we sold that house we lived with my parents for a short time, and that became his second home. Whenever we went to visit them, he fit right in and was very happy there. Unfortunately, that move triggered a severe allergic problem that would haunt him the rest of his life. I cannot tell you how much knowledge I amassed during this time. Food trials, meds, blood work (right from the jugular), we are honourary vets! The things we do right? He was our ring bearer at our wedding and the one who helped propose as well. My marriage became a separation a little over a year ago, and what was the most heartbreaking was that Kasey would go on to live his most senior years without mom AND dad together. The split was amicable and while Kasey and Ryder both lived here permanently, they often went to visit their dad at his place, usually on weekends. Over the past winter, I noticed Kasey really changing. He’d fall in the house, just out of nowhere seemingly, his back legs not being able to hold his weight and he’d just skid across the floor. He was diagnosed with Lumbosacral Stenosis, essentially nerve compression in his spine, preventing the signal from going to his back legs to do what he wants them to do. His back legs would bend and he would just start to sink. We controlled this as much as possible by using a combination of gabapentin and prednisone. Just recently I cut his dose of pred to try to get him on Metacam, hoping to help with the LS. Also discovered a lump on his bum, got it aspirated, got it biopsied in May. It came back as Intramuscular Hermangiosarcoma. Floored, we tried what we could. Did an ultrasound first to determine if it spread, and after getting news it didn't (elation by the way) opted for some chemo to get rid of it. Chances were good that we could, since this apparently responds well to chemo. What a tough road. This dog is so strong and brave. He knew we were there to help him, and we laid down with him through all the IV rounds of chemo, and I picked up the pieces at home as we went through incredible rollercoasters of physical well being. He struggled to get up one night resulting in a torn dew claw right at the base. Just pile on as much troubles as we can, because we can get through all of this right? He had a full wellness check just last week, and bloodwork couldn't be more perfect. On paper he was stellar, in person he was really an old 12.5 year old dog with multiple issues. Cancer thread here - http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/313901-and-so-it-begins/ This long weekend, we agreed his dad would take them both up to Wasaga Beach, where he has family there. I figured with all this cancer and LS going on, and not knowing how much longer he has, he should have some more experiences. Ryder could also use the attention to, and as his primary caregiver really I also needed a bit of a break. It was there in the evening that the swollen lower leg was discovered. Thinking he maybe just banged himself, or overexertion, it was iced over-night with limited results. Hubby made the call to take him to the vet up there earlier this morning, where he was told the tumour was cutting off circulation to his lower leg and it continued to swell. The dog that would walk forever and a day, no longer couldn’t. A greyhound born to run, he could barely move a foot. Boy he tried, he never picked the bad leg up to hop on three legs….he just dragged it around as an anchor. The leg really looked like it belonged on another animal, it was husky like, very big, very furry. His regular vet closed at 2pm and wouldn’t re-open until Tuesday since it’s the long weekend. I felt that I still wasn’t ready and it was way too rushed for a dog I had been waiting on hand and foot for months, well years!. Kasey got back home around 1pm and I was able to see his condition first hand, and knew it was bad. We went for a short walk, and hubby and I chatted. Mom and Dad would be together for him, right till the end. I found a very nice mobile vet that agreed to come by later in the evening. I loaded him up on meds to make him comfortable until the vet would show up, chasing all those pills down with tasty cheese - his favourite being the dairy dog that he is. Kasey got a pound of raw hamburger which he licked and ate with vigour, and washed it down with some Ensure. He got pizza and pizza bones, and actually argued with us as we asked him to sit before he could get some. He got up a few times to just walk around the house, have a drink, but restless as had been the case lately. We let him look and sniff and survey until he laid down again. We chatted about all these memories, and I typed them out, all the while Kasey lightly panting in the background and dozing off now and again. I peered over my screen to see his chest heave with each breath. After he passed, we both swear we could still see those heaves. The vet checked one more time, and ensured us he was gone. Now I peer over my screen to just an empty bed. I’m certain he was put on this earth to teach us something, well teach us everything he possibly could about greyhounds in his white ticked red package. Grateful and thankful for all the moments, good and bad. His racing name is Goodbye Kasey, and I uttered that into his ear for the last time he was able to hear me, and repeated “you’re a good boy” the whole time, until that chest no longer heaved. My last pic of him just as the vet pulled up. May you run again completely pain free with nothing to hold you back anymore. One day, we shall meet again.

And so it ends. He's gone.

His lower leg (same leg as the tumour) has become swollen. Went to the e-vet that said the tumour is cutting off blood supply to his lower leg. It's the long weekend, regular vets will be closed. I don't think I want this to get worse and for him to suffer until Tuesday. I thought I'd have more time with him.

I can't imagine what you are going through. How sudden of a passing, that's devastating.

Following up next week with a physical check up and next steps, whether that means more chemo or perhaps radiation (another thing I have ZERO experience with and will need some advice). I'm pretty certain I don't want to do the chemo route again, so radiation might be the only next option if any. For now just managing his pain from LS and getting him to eat.

I'm not one to have a pack, but certainly I feel like you should dictate the new schedule, perhaps set one up that works better for you. If it doesn't work, let sleeping dogs lie. They go out when they need to go out. I know Kasey and Ryder go when I say go, unless someone really has to go they will ask. We have our general routine but it is never to the minute. They know they go out now after breakfast and not before (A change made a year ago), they know they get walked when I come home and will get fed within an hour of that time. They know they have last pee before bed, usually when it's dark out. They don't have watches. Sammi musta been something special.

And finally got the spelling of the comparable drug - Onsior. He said that it's a new drug that goes immediately to the source of the inflammation and targets the area for 1.5 hours and then goes throughout the body for 24 hours. Anyone heard of/used it? It's similar to Metacam but works just a bit differently. Edited to Add: I noted this (which might be why many on the forum are not familiar with it). 5. Is Onsior available for dogs?Onsior is not approved for use in dogs in the United States at this time. Oh and I forgot to add, his Wellness Blood Test could not be more perfect. On paper he's doing fabulously. Too bad he's got this LS to deal with.

Chiro noticed general weakness through the spine mid back all the way to his hip bones, not a lot of weight bearing on either back leg, even less so on the one with the tumour. Seems to have ok mobility though, and no hip issues. The second she touched him he wilted...pretty much the whole time, it was like a "where do we start" type deal. I feel so defeated.

He actually had a great night last night and looked pretty perky this morning. Still just nibbling food though. He finished off the bag of "loaned" kibble from my mom, I"m trying to figure out if I should buy more of that or go for the canned or both. It's really a crap shoot with what he wants to eat and when and I go through the menu if one is refused. Trying the gaba three times a day but because I work during the day the dosage times are off, 830am, 530pm and 10pm. And he gets Tramadol on the non pred dose time. He had a pred this morning and his last one will be Thursday afternoon. I'm really worried about how he'll be come Saturday morning when he's expected to have pred again.

I've recently tried Advanced Hip and Joint and realize there is one ingredient in there not found in Fresh Factors or Joint Health that helps with inflammation and assists with arthritis etc. Kasey also seems to LOVE eating the plain powder of Longevity (refuses to eat it if I mix it with food ) which contains even more ingredients than Fresh Factors, etc. Kasey showed improvement within 2 weeks of using Fresh Factors. How much are you giving? That can be a big difference - I think I started him on 4 tablets a day.

Wash out is a week. I'm afraid it's too long for him.....

He's on 200 mg gabapentin twice a day, and 50 mg tramadol once a day while I'm easing him off the pred. Does Tramadol help for over all pain issues? I'm concerned that his tumor is starting to bug him and since that's intramuscular, I don't know what kind of pain med can manage that. IMO I can't get him on an anti-inflammatory fast enough. Vet suggested a half dose for a week and then stop and wait a week before getting him on Metacam. I feel like I want to ease off faster so I can get onto Metacam sooner, because he is really not happy. I recall when I eased him off pred for his allergies it was a much quicker process. Poor guy. And now he's decided to not eat "exotic" raw but you know, he really likes the vet prescribed High Caloric Gasto canned food, and it doesn't give him an D, but boy or boy his farts are back to clearing the room scale. Sigh.....off to buy a box of that tomorrow. I have officially decided that this is a losing battle and am coming to grips with this being his last summer.

Beautiful tribute.

Blood via CBC was in really good shape. I asked for a wellness check so that is going off to the lab. Got some Tramadol to help with pain while we're transitioning off the pred and got 2 cans of high caloric gastro food to see if it would help him eat, he's so far been interested in a couple spoonfuls big surprise. This is tiring.....

Oh wow. That is eye opening. Thank you. Is there anything you took to help with the pain?

I've set up a chiro appt for Kasey on Tuesday. He's just acting WEIRD. He was up on the bed with me last night, his back laying right against me straight as we drifted off to sleep. An hour later, i awoke to just his head touching my feet, and he had scooted his butt all the way to the edge of the bed, I thought he was going to fall off. I woke up and gingerly picked up his hind end and put it straight down the middle of the bed again. Half hour later I awoke to him panting and again his hind legs just dangling over the edge of the bed, with his butt nearly off. Clearly, his back must be bothering him, as it seems he's trying to get away from pain? I've started reducing his pred and upping his gaba. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get him onto something better for him. I think I'll ask for a wellness check tomorrow when they do the regular CBC. I'm concerned that something else is going on. Any other test I should maybe ask them to do?

Could it be Orudis? I'll reconfirm on Saturday. (Wasn't Prilosec since he spoke about it in similarity to Metacam)

Vet agreed to ease off pred and get on an NSAID and also to up his gaba. The NSAID he suggested was Metacam but also something else the name escapes me. It's a new drug, and begins with an O.... (thoughts?) I'll be picking up some meds on Sat when I take Kasey for bloodwork. Also agreed to give him some more appetite stimulant.

Yeah, so he's not right. He slept until about 3am and then got restless again. I gave him some gaba and some pepcid since he was licking his lips. Waiting on a call back from the vet later today. I've asked to consider getting off pred and maybe onto something else. I think he's in pain, and certainly he should be more comfortable than this pacing around the house for hours business (which he doesn't do much of when I'm home - this is all evidenced via webcam). I also think he's lonely at home now that chemo is over and he's not being monitored constantly. I think he got used to the attention and is having trouble going to back to the old 9-5 routine. Compared to the last Vincristine injection, he's not rebounding back as quickly. His appetite is still missing, and seems upset whereas that wasn't happening last week with the same dosage injection. Ryder I think is wishing for cotton balls to stick in his ears right now. He's sleeping soundly in the corner undisturbed. What a tough month.

Well I don't doubt that Gabapentin is working for him, but if it was just gaba alone it wouldn't be enough. Giving him pred is what makes his back straighten back out and his legs "strong". So I'm sorta looking for a replacement of the pred that isn't a steroid......

Ryder paces when he has to pee. He has no other signal, I just have to notice. He does drink like a fish, always has and always after we come back from a walk - necessitating another one in an hours time. Good luck!

Kasey is not really eating much, he's drinking a lot, he's very very restless, is whining and is fussy, and had a bit of D this morning. I'm not sure what is up. His general overall weakness seems to be improving though. Going in for bloodwork on Saturday to make sure all is well. I'm not really sure what else I can do for him or what else seems to be the matter. He's had a change of routine as well, but he's usually very quick to bounce back from change. It's day 3 of change and day 5 of the last chemo round.

I've been reading this since it happened and my thoughts go out to you. Hope you are Bernie are healing up better than ever. How are your boo boos?

i think it's fine. I'm deviating a bit, but it's timely - I was going over just this evening regarding what dried liver nutrients is in Springtime supplements and they had some interesting analysis breakdown in their dried formula that they put in their various supplements. Liver in general is good stuff to feed, full of vitamins and minerals, so I'd have to say dry or raw, they would likely be getting the same out of it. For easy organs to feed, I always went with chicken hearts. Cheap and very easy to add to food, since one little heart was generally enough to make up the ratio. On an aside, have you considered tripe instead of liver? Tripe can be a pretty good all around substitute for organs a few times a week.