Author: c1nicolei

Sarge has been the the love of my life since we rescued him in 2007. He was thought to be a carcass on the side of the road in our community park. As I walked over to look at the pitiful dead dog, I soon realized he was still breathing, barely. We rushed him to the vet and although severely malnourished and in a terrible state, with TLC he miraculously pulled through. Snap shot ahead to 6/2014, we decide to go outside to play fetch, he was so excited and full of energy, doing his typical bouncy boxer pelvic shuffle. He took a nasty tumble and the sounds that followed was nothing short of heart piercing. My heart stopped, because I knew it was bad, very bad. I am a PA, not a veterinarian, but I knew instantly the leg was broken badly. I splinted him and rushed him to the vet. What initially was going to be an orthopedic surgery to repair a broken radius and ulna, quickly turned into, "Your dog sustained a pathological cancer, we think he has osteosarcoma". I could not even hear what I was being told. How could this seemingly happy, healthy, FULL of life dog have CANCER?? The BX confirmed my worst fears. This whole process took over a week. In that time I researched every aspect of canine osteosarcoma I could find and I had already made up my mind, we were going to fight this, not for me, but I knew he was not done living!!! Making the decision to amputate was not one taken lightly. We ensured there were no macro mets and that his blood work looked stable. I also decided if we amputated we would also do chemo. Sarge had his leg amputated 2 days ago and I am amazed at his hour by hour improvement. We start chemo in 2 weeks. I will keep everyone updated and love reading stories on here that give me hope that he will be able to be a happy, pain free normal Sarge!!! This is when we joined TRIPAWDS! What a wonderful, reassuring supportive community! I love you TRIPAWDS!

Chemo (2) down, 6 to go.

My doctor said I did GREAT today.  Was talking all this mumbo-jumbo with my mom about “renal function, liver enzymes, granulocytes, heart rate, lungs” and a bunch of blah blah blah…. also said that my “WBC was 6”, which I guess is good because Mom seemed happy about all that.  I am pretty tired because they gave me something that would make me an “Ace”???  Hmm, thought I already was, but…. don’t feel like an “ace” right now, I feel like I drank a little too much beer (like I would know).  As you can tell, just holding my head up is quite the task and I cant seem to walk a straight line.  Heck, that’s already tough on 3 legs, come on folks!  Tonight is gonna be a hedgehog cuddlin’, relaxin’ with Mom & Dad kind of evening.  Those silly people have no idea, I got this cancer thing whipped and this chemo stuff is nothing for a strapping, strong muscled up dude like myself.  Cancer can kiss my bodacious ole gluteus maximus!

sarge chemo2

 

 

Hedgehog fluffy buddy

My friends came to visit today.   He is such a sweet kid, he hand picked a toy for me and boy did he get it spot on.  Squeaky toys are my favorite!   I just need to make sure my bratty siblings don’t shred it.  I’m appreciative of my toys, but my crazy housemates tear everything up, it’s so annoying.    I’ve carried it around refusing to put it down for the last several hours, the “others” can’t be trusted.   I even took it with me outside to go potty.  Did I mention I love squeaky toys?

This is one cool kid.
This is one cool kid.

Roller-coaster ride coming to an end?

I sure do not want to jump the gun on the celebratory happy dance here, BUT what has been a roller-coaster from day one has turned into an amazing survival story.   From the very first day that Sarge broke his leg, our world was spinning with frustration, anger and fear.  Then the DX of Osteosarcoma came and I just couldn’t bare the thought of removing his leg.  Then I came across this site and it gave me hope, hope that amputation could be the right decision.  I can honestly say for the first week post op, I completely doubted my decision on an almost hourly basis.  Then when Sarge started to become more active and strained his back leg, I was completely convinced I had savagely put my beloved best friend, who trusted me beyond everyone else in this world, through a living hell.

Then the seroma started after chemo and I was “doubting” yet again.  Then it was if a light switch went off, or the chemo started working, because my baby is back and he is better than he was 6 months before the pathological fracture!  I am beginning to think, looking back, that some of the lethargy I was observing, could have been due to the un-diagnosed cancer, beginning to wreak havoc in his body.

Sarge is now literally hopping, and jumping and begging to play, which he had not been doing for some time prior to the break.  

I hope someone out there, that finds themselves in the same unfortunate situation as I did, can read this and know that there is hope!  I can tell you that this journey comes with many twists and turns, ups and downs and many doubtful moments.  Had we not decided to at least TRY, I would have always doubted that decision too.  Not every case is the same, not every recovery is the same and not every story has a fairy tale (tail) happy ending.

We have no idea how many days, weeks, months or YEARS we will be blessed to have Sarge with us, but what I do know is I will treasure every butt wiggling minute we have together and his time with us will be the best years of his life.

If only we had the ability to load up and take off on an amazing adventure like Jerry did… Can you imagine a road trip with 5 dogs and 2 kitties!!!! Now that is a picture! 

Better to “hop on 3 than limp on 4”. AMEN!!!

I have always loved cooler weather.

My energy level was so high this morning and I begged my Mom for a walk.

I think she was a little nervous I might hurt my back leg again, or tucker out too fast, but I kept pushing the issue, she finally gave in,  and OFF we went.

I showed her!

This is just what I needed to make my first real walk perfect!!

Check me out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqIt_UFMi3s

Contacted surgeon about seroma

Dr. Streeter said that there should be no reason for concern with swelling this late after amputation as long as he is acting OK and does not have a fever.  I advised her via phone conversation that it was VERY swollen and oozing, but she assured me as long as fluid is pink and clear, no worries.  I almost wanted to hear she would advise a drain because it looks just terrible, but I know she knows best.  So, for now, we will press on with the warm compresses and washing LOTS of towels!  :o)  Sarge got to lay in the sunshine and munch on his venison leg this afternoon.  He really seems to be in great spirits.  It is kind of funny when the vet(s) asks about his energy level…. he has ALWAYS been a very low activity boy.  We even screened him for thyroid disease at one point because I have never had such a chill young dog before.  I just say he is his typical “lethargic self”.  :o)

Day after chemo

The weather here today was nothing short of spectacular.  Sarge has never been fond of the really hot days but it was in to 60’s- 70’s all morning.  He actually went outside with me while I mowed, which he has not done since this ordeal started, and even walked/hopped with me down to our berry patch on the far end of our property!  I am waiting on the side effects of chemo to kick in but the Vet said to let him maintain his normal activity as long as he is up for it.  So digging this improved Sargee-pooh >  Delta Cookies baby!!!

7/9/14 Chemo round ; Carboplatin and Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)

Sarge was dropped off at around 8:30 am today.  The vet called around noon and said I could come get him at 1:30.  Dr. Hintz said he did wonderful. and that he was very pleased with how his back leg is now doing.  I could hear Sarge barking when I got there and I know that bark, he had to go potty!    As soon as they brought him out to me, he was pulling (I actually LOVE to say my dog was PULLING now!!!!)  for the door.  He ran to the yard in front of the clinic and peed for what seemed to be an eternity!  I guess the 2 IV bags of fluids were working his kidneys!   The Dr. said he did wonderful and was a fantastic patient.  He told me I was “doing the right thing because Sarge still so full of life!”  What a wonderful thing to hear from a professional.  Sometimes I get caught up in emotion and, at times,  have doubted my choices.  To hear him tell me that meant SO much!  He told me to expect few to no symptoms for 3 days them look mostly for diarrhea and anorexia.  He advised Imodium AD IF he had more than 1 episode and to call if it was happening more than 3-5 times a day.  I also have my 100% pure pumpkin and chicken broth handy, thanks to Tripawds suggestions!!  Thanks for your advice!.

I have to work a 12 hour shift Friday so granny and paw paw will be staying with Sarge in case any symptoms develop.

 This was a good day on our osteosarcoma roller coaster.  We have an inside “high five” phrase at out work and we call it delta cookies….. today earned major DELTA COOKIES!  

So proud of you Sarge!  

Name this fluid!

imageSarge has had a huge collection of fluid that seemed to make him uncomfortable.  I made the decision to drain it.   I drain knees and such at work so I figured this was just begging to come out!  It was dangling and sloshing around like an overfilled cows utter full of fluid.    I brought home the syringe and an 18g needle.   He was such a brave boy, didn’t even flinch.  I drew out 8 – 10cc syringes, under sterile technique,  just kept unscrewing at the hub and redrawing.  He seems much more comfy now.   After seeing how brave he was I bet he will OWN chemo on Wed!   Was also happy to see this fluid was not infectious looking.