Aerosmom

It's harder when it is a shock -- I'm so sorry you lost your sweet Otis like this.

Our sweet Cricket went to the bridge on Friday evening. I hope Snickers met her at the bridge and the two girls are running together on all four legs and playing together. I still haven't written a decent remembrance for Snickers because I choke up still and now I've got Cricket's to write. How do you sum up their personalities and how much they touch your soul and change your lives in a few paragraphs? Cricket was beautiful inside and out. I will miss her terribly. I don't think I can write anything more right now because it just is too overwhelming right now. Here's a picture of my big beautiful fawn girl snoozing with her sister Snickers. Roaching.... Begging... Snuggling... At Christmas, wearing an elf hat with dignity. Hanging out with Snickers. I hope the girls are together again at the bridge. We had them here for far too short a time, but I'm thankful for at least for that time.

She's gone. In an odd way I feel almost relieved because it was so hard watching her decline and not be able to do anything for her. We spoiled her like crazy today -- three pieces of liver cooked in butter, limitless chicken crack (dried chicken treats), hugs, love, ear scritches, and way too many tears. I know she recognized that we were telling her how loved she was and she snuggled and loved us too. I'm sad but it's been such a long road with ups and downs and the deterioration near the end has been really difficult. Sadly, the neurologist's report (which my local vet showed me) from Angell says that it was autoimmune disease probably stemming from an initial tick-born infection. I feel like I should have been more aggressive about the doxy treatment the first neurologist gave her -- he kept saying it couldn't be tick-born and that she had already received doxy for it --- in reviewing all her records he only treated her at 125 mg 2x/day for three or four weeks....nowhere near the levels she should have been treated. I remember asking him and the e-vet affilitated iwth the specialty hospital couldn't it be tick-born and no one listened. I'll never know but I don't think I am going to bring another dog to that place -- I'll stick with my local vet (Riverside) and Angell Memorial or Tufts should I need a specialist.

He looks like he is healing nicely. Sending hugs to Bill and his family.

I'm so sorry. Godspeed Buycut.

Just seeing this. I'm so sorry.

After consulting with a second neurologist and some positive response to the Cytosar, Cricket is now declining again, to the point where she is having trouble with her front legs. I took her in on Wednesday to Angell Memorial to consult with the neurologist and there's no positive spin on this. I know that we've been lucky to have had her for 18 months beyond the onset of all this but my heart is breaking. She's still eating and enjoying our company but I'm afraid I'm losing perspective. I know that it is for the best to send her to rainbow bridge to reunite with Snickers but I'm having the hardest time emotionally. When I look at the situation rationally I know that I've done absolutely everything for her and that it's better to help her now than drag things out much longer when she is susceptible to a massive infection. She can barely pull herself up to a stand on her front legs, and her back legs are in pretty bad shape neurologically. I've known that she wasn't going to live a long time but it's really hard, especially after losing Snickers in August. I know that once I make the decision and she's at the bridge that my heart will heal and time will ease the sadness but I'm having a really hard time making that final step for her.

Sending more good thoughts.

Sending prayers for Dee.

I'm so sorry to hear about Cannon. If it hasn't spread visibly to his lungs, amputation is an option. For one thing, it instantaneously relieves him of the pain, secondly you might be buying a reasonable amount of time for him if you combine it with chemotherapy. After going through this with Snickers, who was only five at the time, and having lost her to what must have been a blood clot just a few short months after the amputation I have mixed feelings but when I made my decision to go for the amputation and chemo it seemed like the best route. It's really up to you, but some people have had dogs live years after amputation and chemo. Osteosarcoma is a very aggressive cancer, but there are some rare cases where it is not as aggressive. I urge you to contact Dr. Cuoto and ask him questions. He is wonderful and very realistic. To be honest, having lost Snickers just a few months after we went through the amputation and three chemo treatments really was devastating, but we might have had an unusual situation. Sorry if this sounds very amibivilent, but I think I am feeling a little ambivilient about the whole topic because of what happened with us. Join Circle of Grey -- there are a lot of sympathetic and experienced voices on there. In any event, I'm so sorry you are facing an osteo diagnosis.

I'm so glad to read this. I've been following Dude's progress and was very worried about him. I bet he'll eat once he's home. I hope everything continues to go well. Keep us posted!

Sending prayers for Dee that it's only an infection that can be cleared up with antibiotics.

Tiger doesn't look that old. Osteosarcoma takes way too many of our babies. Just when our greys should be enjoying their retirement years. It stinks.

Oh Winslow. I think all the females (humans included!) are in love with you. I hope the ice clears for you soon.

Sending prayers for Dee. I'd get an x-ray to relieve your mind and hopefully it's nothing serious.

Did Monty's symptoms resolve while you were weaning him off the steroid or not until it was completely withdrawn? We just reduced her dose yesterday and her skin is so thin I'm worried she is going to tear it and we won't be able to repair it (the neurologist was worried too). The good news is that she seems to be tolerating the reduction so far. I think the new chemo drugs are working. But it really is a race against time.

Sending prayers that it's a UTI that can be cleared with antibiotics.

Cricket went to see a different neurologist on Wednesday at Angell Memorial. She is now taking two chemo drugs to reduce her immune response. In the meantime we are in a hurry to get Cricket off the Prednisone because she has steroid-induced Cushings. We dropped the dose last night and so far she's handling it okay. And her coordination has improved since the chemo drugs! It's a precarious situation because her skin is so fragile that we're worried she's going to end up with a massive skin tear that we can't repair. I'm trying to get a sense of how long it takes for her body to revert to normal or at least for some of the Cushings issues to subside and at what dose.... Send prayers for our brave Cricket -- I am feeling hopeful that this neurologist has her on the right track with the chemo but it's a race against the skin issues. I know there are a few of your pups who have experienced iatrogenic Cushings....what was your experience when you weaned them off the steroids? Gradual improvement, how low of a dose did you have to reach before there were any positive changes?

I'm so sorry to hear this about Tiger. Sending prayers for him.

Sending good thoughts to your sweet Rizzo. He is adorable.

Dempsey looks great and I'm so glad things are going smoothly. It won't be long until he's 100% back to his old self. Sending continued prayers for a great recovery!

Have you tried putting her pills in a peanutbutter sandwich (or part of a piece of bread)? We do this for Cricket and she loves it. The pills stick to the bread and peanutbutter so she eats everything together. I hope your vet can get things sorted out for her.

Sending healing thoughts to Beau. It really does look like your vet stitched him up very neatly. I bet it'll heal quickly.