She is doing pretty good. We are nearing the end of the treatment stage and entering into the "wait and hope" stage. She has tolerated the chemo well until two weeks ago when she just kind of pooped out. Tired, no real happy times, just kind of sliding along. I elected to forgo her chemo last Thursday, although her labs were fine, because she had just started feeling more normal. I think it was a good decision, as she has been more herself, and having fun with the other dogs.

She will have the Vinblastine (pred is ongoing) Thursday, labs the following Thursday and then the final chemo the week after. In general, we are really pleased with how well she has tolerated it and we know they kind of drag at the end of treatment, and she has only vomited twice in the whole thing. She is eating well. I was worried about the pred and weight gain, but she has only put on a pound in all this time, and I think a lot of that is because she is less active with three legs, and it has been so hot that the dogs tend to go out and do their business and come right back in.

She sleeps a lot, and goes to bed with my son at 10 PM, and gets up at 11 AM the next day, but she is happy to be with him, snuggled under his arm. That quality of life counts for a lot, and that is what we are hoping for. We have a feeling that this treatment is pretty much warding off the inevitable, but it has given us time to be with her, and her with us. We are hopeful, of course, but realisitic.

Hope you are all doing well.

Alicia

Can I ask what type of chemo Pixie is getting?  And, how far apart are her treatments?

Zack just had his first treatment last week, and we were planning every 3 weeks.  But, would like input on how that has worked for others?

 Good news that things are going good for Pixie, treasure every moment together as each day is a blessing.

 Jo Ann & Tasha

Thanks, Karen! She is still wearing her little harness, she looks so cute in it! Thanks again, SO much. I look forward to the cooler weather soon, so we can take Pix to the park for a walk.They said we were getting a cold front in on the weekend. I looked it up for Fresno, that means high 80's. Oh dear. I may melt.

My son is having his amputation revised Oct 11, and he is already stressing about leaving her. He is asking me to make sure not to forget to feed her. WTH? I have five other dogs and I do not believe that any of them have ever went without a meal. Too funny. Jordan gets a bit freaked out in the hospital, scared. I guess if I woke up and I was missing my leg and part of another, I would be scared too, but I told him that I would get a family picture to take with him, so he could have it. He said "no thanks, just get a picture of Pixie framed, that is all I need". Butthead. I worry more about Pixie not having HIM here. Whenever he is out of the house, she lies in front of the door, patiently waiting his return. Whether it is an hour….or two days. Frenchies are BULLHEADED!

grpescp, Pixie did vinblastine once a week, for four weeks, then every other week for a total of 8 treatments, with the prednisone ongoing.

That being said, we made the decision last night to stop the chemo.  She was due for 2 more treatments, and last night we got ready to get stuff together for her treatment today, and then went to give her her pred, and she hid under the furniture. She just was terrified. We decided, after talking to the vet office today, that it was time to stop, that her survival did not really hinge on these last two treatments. We are tapering off the pred for a couple weeks, then monitoring her. I took her out to the van with me, let her see me take the harness and leash from the seat and go back in the house and hang it up with the other stuff. She was relieved to be back in the house, and we really feel good about everything. For some reason, tonight I feel even….hopeful for her. She was on the bed last night with the Pug and Dachshund, and they were playing bitey-face and "lets try and eat the other dogs face off" and she was just getting knocked around and each time would leap back up and throw herself back into the game. And so I think we have made a good, informed decision; led by Pixie herself.

Alicia