Well……….

Princeton completed his sixth and last round of chemo last Thursday.  Throughout the process he seemed to do remarkably well.  His blood values always rebounded before chemo and he only twice showed any symptoms of the treatment.  Either time was only for a few hours.  Both vets now refer to him as the "wonder dog".  They seem in awe of how a twelve year old farm dog can to do so well.  He happily bounces on his three legs, preferring to run that walk.  He will still be on some holistic stuff for about another month, and then we'll hope for the best.  It's been about six months so far.

Want to hear a neat story?

About two months ago Princeton had a tumble.  My house is built on a river bank, with the bank itself about seventy-five feet down at about an eighty degree angle.  In other words, very steep.  Anyway, Princeton was chasing a fox around the yard when it jumped down the bank.  Princeton, being Princeton, launched himself over the edge after the fox.  I ran to the edge only to see him sitting at the bottom with a look as if he knew what he was doing all along.  I had to get a rope, tie it to a tree, and lower myself down to retrieve him.  It took two hours to pull ourselves up.  A week later, he did the same damn thing!  My twelve year old dog, with three legs, undergoing chemo, was again sitting at the bottom of the bank.  I told him that he was idiot and that he would have to wait until chores were done.  After about fifteen twenty minutes I went to the shop to once again get the rope.  When I returned he wasn't there.  I hollered for about ten minutes hoping he would show himself.

By this time I was getting pretty worried and wondered what had happened to him.  It was dusk and I decided I had better get a flashlight to bring with me when I lowered myself down the bank.  I went to the shop to get one and made my way back hoping I would find him shortly.  Just before lowering myself down I looked around.  By some fluke I looked at the neighbour's field and saw a tiny black blob bouncing towards me.  Waiting for a few minutes I realized it was Princeton.  The little bugger had gotten tired of waiting, hopped along the river's edge to where the incline was gradual and he could pull himself up.  This area was about half a mile away!  Once up he decided he would hop back to the farm.  When he reached me he had a smug look on his face and immediately went to his water dish.  The wonder dog.  Indeed.

Anyway, I just though people might want to know what happened to my boy.  I'm both proud and pleased to announce that he is doing fine.  Unfortunately, my cat is experiencing non-reversible kidney failure and I've been dealing with that the last few months.  Hopefully she'll rebound like Princeton, although I know it will eventually take her.  The thing we do for our furkids…………….

Terry

Sorry to hear about your cat, but love thePrinceton update. Love a dog with a smug expression! He sounds like something else!

Hope he continues to do well,
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom

Hi everyone

I thought I would give an update on Princeton and share experiences to help others.

As you know, Princeton completed his last round of chemo in early January.  Since then he has been quite well.  Of course each time he seems a little slow I always worry, but I suppose that's natural.  Anyway, two weeks ago Princeton went to his holistic vet for a followup.  He had acupuncture and an examination.  The vet didn't bother with bloodwork or x-rays because Princeton would get them when visiting his western vet a week later.  After the examination the vet was confident that his cancer was in remission.  

A week after that it was time for bloodwork and x-rays from the other vet.  A few sleepless nights leading up to that day.  Anyway, Princeton had a full set of x-rays, bloodwork, and urinalysis performed.  He also had another complete physical examination.  I would receive the results the following day.  The following day came……………..

Perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  My thirteen year old dog, diagnosed with osteosarcoma about eight months previous, was doing fine.  The vet compared the new x-rays to the ones taken before chemo and there was absolutely nothing on them.  Other than a slightly elevated protein, his bloodwork was also perfect.  The urine test also showed a dog in perfect health.  I've overjoyed, but cautious at the same time.  The holistic vet has taken him off the primary medication, although has prescribed a light mushroom extract.  The western vet will continue to monitor him every three months.

Don't give up hope everyone.  Stick by your furkids and hope for the best.  Princeton is proof that good things can happen.

Since the battle began, this has been Princeton's treatment:

Amputation of the rear leg

Six rounds of chemo using Carboplatin 

Continuous use of Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (now withdrawn)

Continuous use of mushroom extract (now light use)

Acupuncture treatments (now withdrawn)

Lots of love

A pic taken of my old boy a few months ago:

Terry