My Baby Girl Cricket

[Guest jettcricket]

Hi All...please say a prayer for my little girl, Cricket. For the past 2 months she's been limping on her right rear leg. Initially aspirin seemed to help, then it stopped. I went to my vet and he gave me a sample pack of Rimadyl to try on her. It seemed to initially help as well, then she started limping again.

 

I finally took her to my vet who x-rayed her back leg and it came back clean. I thought, phew, thank God it's not cancer. He thought perhaps arthritis...although I was told that arthritis typically shows up on x-rays. We continued giving her Rimadyl but also started giving her Tramadol as well. She's still limping. It was suggested by my vet tech to try a chiropractor as well as some people here on GT. She's only had 3 treatments, but she's not any better. In fact, she's worse. I took her this past Thursday to an acupuncturist. I realize it's only one session, but my poor girlie is not getting any better. The last couple of days she's not been eating and she seems painful.

 

I finally decided to have an MRI done on her at Redbank Veterinary Specialist here in NJ. They are very good. I just got back from a consultation with Dr. Glass - a neurosurgeon. He viewed her x-rays and it was suggested because the x-rays were taken about 4-5 weeks ago to do another set just to rule out cancer. As soon as he said that my heart dropped. If the x-rays are clean, then they will proceed with the MRI.

 

I'm freak'n out. I'm so scared that maybe it is cancer after all. I know sometimes in it's early stages it doesn't always show up on a x-ray. If it's not cancer, then she may have a herniated disk or a pinched nerve. That they can fix. We won't know until they do the MRI early tomorrow morning.

 

I'm so afraid that I'm gonna lose my baby girl. I just lost my boy, Jett, in the beginning of May and I'm still so raw from that and miss him more than words can say. My heart can't take losing another hound....especially so soon after losing Jett.

 

They will call me tomorrow morning with the results.

 

I'm asking my GT family to please pray for my baby....would God be that cruel? If anything happens to her, I don't know what I will do. I can barely see thru my tears typing this. I don't even know how I drove home as my mind was not focused on driving.

 

It killed me to leave her. The look in her face, those big brown sad eyes. It was like she was saying, "Momma....why are you leaving me?"

 

As soon as I hear, I will let you all know.

 

Hug your hounds everyone.....every day is a gift.

 

Update 7/9/08

 

I'm numb. My baby girl has cancer. Dr. Hammond just called....she either has fibrosarcoma or chondrosarcoma. This just can't be happening. I knew as soon as I heard his voice that it wasn't good.

 

Wasn't it enough that God took my precious Jett? Can I not get a break? I realize my girl is almost 11 and that death is inevitable for all of us, but why now? Couldn't it have just waited even a few months. Why is this happening....I feel like this is a bad dream and I'm just waiting to wake up. I'm angry at God and I'm angry at the world.

 

Dr. Hammond initially recommended amputation...I told him no. Then he suggested doing a bone biopsy. I'm not crazy about that either. I've heard that bone biopsies are very painful. I need to focus and think what's best for my girl. I want to ask him what is the advantage of doing that. How would the treatments be any different weather it's fibrosarcoma or chondrosarcoma. He did mention radiation, which I will definitely consider. We need to manage her pain and give her some quality. That's priority one.

 

Am I going to be strong enough to get thru this? My heart is still so broken from losing Jett. I don't think that I've ever lost a pet that had such a profound impact on me. And now this....even thou we have our new boy, Dave, it just doesn't make it any easier as we all know that you don't replace your pets.

 

2008 has been very bad for me and my family....I know...I know. Pity party for one please. I know that there are people who have dealt with so much worse. But she's my girl....she's my daughter.

 

I'll let you all know what we decide on for my girl. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I love her so damn much.

 

Just wanted to share a few pics that were taken this past Sat. at a friend's house. My pretty girl. She just wasn't herself on Sat...so quiet, so not her.

 

I will take plenty in the months to come....

 

 

 

Getting some sugar from my friend Alison

 

 

 

 

Latest Update 7/10/08

 

Well....my girl is home. She's very sedate. It pains me to see her like this. I'm used to her being my silly, goofy, nutty girl. Spoke with Dr. Lachowicz who is treating her. He told me that they did the needle aspiration and now they are not sure, but it may be osteo after all.

 

She had her first chemo/radiation treatment yesterday. They are now giving dogs with bone cancer a product called "Pamidronate". It's equivalent to what women take for osteoporosis. The goal is to hopefully strenghten her bones so that it decrease the chances of the bone weakening. She'll receive 3 more treatments in the next 3 weeks and we will see how she's doing.

 

She was pretty out of it when I went to pick her up and on the car ride home she was shaking and panting. We got her in the house (DH carried her in) and she was so parched. I was a bit upset about that...she drank 3 bowls of water in less than an hour. Did they not give my girl water???? I was gonna call and complain, buy my boss at work told me they probably didn't give her any water prior to her radiation and chemo cause they had to knock her out. They may have offered her water after and maybe she didn't want it. When she goes next Wednesday for her 2nd treatment I will be prepared and bring her some water.

 

Her appetite has been a bit off, but she did eat steak and some canned Innova. I plan on going lunch time to buy her some chicken breast and some red meat. I'll do whatever it takes to get some nourishment into her system. Her hip area looks swollen. I would assume from the needle aspiration and being poked around.

 

I do want to thank everyone for your kind words, your compassion, your support and your PMs. I know so many of us have been thru this and it stinks.

 

I pray that some day they will find a cure this hideous disease. It takes way too many of our precious hounds.....

 

Latest Update on Cricket, 8/24/08:

 

Hi All.....just wanted to let everyone know the latest update on my baby girl. She's doing good!!!! She's responded well to her chemo/radiation treatments and is now able to put weight on her leg again. She seems, for the most part, pain free and almost back to her old self. I'd say on a scale of 1-10, she's about an 8. Can't beat that!

 

I had my doubts with her course of treatment as my first greyhound, Chance, did not respond too well to his chemo/radiation. I think it was just the location of his tumor and the size.

 

She went this past Thursday to see her Oncologist for a checkup...although she's lost about 6 lbs. (she was a little overweight so she's still ok as far as body weight) and her leg is atrophied, he was pleased with how she's responding.

 

Once she started receiving her chemo/radiation, her appetite picked up again....although this last week she's been fussy. He put her back on "Ovaban", which has seemed to help a lot. The girls been eating like a little piggy...it makes my heart happy.

 

Our plan is to do a little more chemo/radiation more spaced out and to keep her comfortable and happy. I pray a lot for a miracle....I do have my moments, but I try not to let her see me upset. We all know dogs are so intuitive and pick up on are emotions.

 

We just celebrated her 11th birthday this past Thursday. I can't believe my little girl is 11. Where do the years go??? I still remember vividly picking her up as a foster and how excited she was the entire ride home, barking and licking my DH on his ears.

 

Thank you all for your support, your compassion and your understanding...this is indeed a very hard time for me and my DH, but I thank God everday that she's still with us and is happy. She is a much loved little girl no doubt.

Edited August 24, 2008 by jettcricket

[Bevd]

Thinking all good thoughts for lovely Cricket and for you

[Guest greyt2love]

Hoping for good news for Cricket ! Fingers crossed here !!

[Guest longdogs]

Lots of things cause lameness. We always worry about the worst but arthritis and strains are much more common than cancer. Although greys seem such wimps at times, they can put up with a lot of serious pain. My general impression and experience with my own greys is there would most likely have been something visible on the x-ray before you became aware of her problem if it were cancer. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

[Guest MomoftheFuzzy]

Sending many prayers and good thoughts, Linda.

[Guest whatahound]

Sending positive thoughts your way. Give Cricket a kiss from me.

[Burpdog]

Sending prayers!

[Neighsayer]

Hoping for a pinched nerve. All paws crossed. Hugs! You took her to a great place. They should be able to figure it out.

[Guest tricolorhounds]

Good thought coming your way for Cricket and you

 

Having had those thoughts swimming thru my head recently, I feel you pain. The power of GT is with Cricket... You just need to Believe

[Guest IrskasMom]

I do my Boy a Hundred Times a Day. Lots of Hugs to you and your Baby Cricket . The

Power of Prayers is awsome

Edited July 8, 2008 by IrskasMom

[CaliforniaGreys]

We will light a special candle for Cricket. It could be arthritis, it doesn't always show on an xray. Wayne has arthritis, didn't show on an xray but during a physical exam he has limited motion in his rear legs and it is arthritis. And sometimes, if one anti-inflammatory doesn't work, there's always a chance another one will. Anxious to hear how you and Cricket make out tomorrow

[Guest greytbookert]

Many prayers that this is nothing to worry about and is just a strain or something easily fixed.

 

 

[Guest SoulsMom]

Tons of good thoughts from MA

[Fiona3]

Fiona had a limp that lasted for two months last summer. X-rays ruled out cancer but it took a long time for the injury to heal. There was even talk of a cruciate ligament tear. Finally with only leash walking in the yard & rest and treatment with Metacam the limp disappeared. This is a leg that periodically bothers her but this was the scariest length of injury. I'll keep my fingers crossed for Cricket she has something treatable with medication and rest.

[queenwinniesmom]

Oh, Linda, I'm so sorry you and Cricket are going through this. I know it's hard to think of anything else when you are so worried about your baby girl.

Sending prayers and good thoughts and white light out to you and Cricket.

[galgrey]

Sending out good thoughts for you and Cricket!

[Guest vahoundlover]

Sending tons of prayers

 

 

[Xan]

Chanting!!

*Cricket, pretty soon, you'll be hopping around like your namesake! Shake it off, darling girl. Soft tissue injury, soon recovered, that's all! : Cricket, pretty soon, you'll be hopping around like your namesake! Shake it off, darling girl. Soft tissue injury, soon recovered, that's all! : Cricket, pretty soon, you'll be hopping around like your namesake! Shake it off, darling girl. Soft tissue injury, soon recovered, that's all! : Cricket, pretty soon, you'll be hopping around like your namesake! Shake it off, darling girl. Soft tissue injury, soon recovered, that's all! : *

[Houndtime]

Oh, Linda. Tons of prayers and good, warm thoughts for you and Cricket. From your pals, Paul and Fuzzy, the Jersey boys.

[tamborine]

Praying that it's nothing serious with Cricket.

Edited July 8, 2008 by tamborine

[Jackandgrey]

You have my prayers for sure. I know it will be a very long night for you.

Edited July 8, 2008 by Jackandgrey

[Guest Greyglo]

Adding our prayers from here for your Cricket -

[Guest K9_Lady]

Sending POSITIVE thoughts!!

[MerlinsMum]

Oh Linda your post made me cry too. Hoping, hoping, hoping sooo hard that it's just a pinched nerve. Keeping every possible extremity crossed really tight for you and Cricket. Please keep us posted when you can. Try not to freak out... i know it's easier said than done, but you are the anchor in Cricket's life, and she needs you to be strong for her. Sending you a big, big hug. We are here for you.

 

:goodluck :goodluck :goodluck

[Guest argolola]

I have your precious baby on my prayer list.